The Ilocos Times

The recent move of a Laoag councilor to give cash incentives to Laoag City’s elementary and high school students who participated in the Regional Schools Press Conference is a step in the right direction towards helping further development journalism locally. But, as much as it is a needed boost to local campus journalists, the question is why only now? And the more curious thing is why at this juncture when the midterm elections is just a few months away? Journalism has been dying a very slow death, not only here in our locality, but also around the world. The advent of social media has both sidelined and blindsided genuine journalism as everyone who has a camera phone and an internet connection can now become a “reporter” by posting what they can see and what they can hear. Unfortunately, this becomes more of misinformation and disinformation, as regular people not trained properly in the way of journalism often miss out on verification and analysis of issues and situations. A...

  Laoag  vice mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas personally hands over 61 foam mattresses, acquired from his personal finances to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Laoag as earlier requested by Jail Warden Sheila Marie Sapaden. “Dagitoy ket regalok para iti panang selebrar da iti Valentines Day ta nakitak a saan da a komportable gapu ta daanen dagiti agdama nga us-usaren daken nangibati tayo pay bassit a pinagsasangwan da,” Fariñas said. (Photo courtesy of the Office of the Vice Mayor)

Laoag  councilor James Bryan Alcid (standing left) promises to give PHP100,000 to the 200 participating students as their token cash incentives for the recently concluded Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) held at Dagupan City during the last regular session in the presence of the junior city officials. ( Doms Dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City -City councilor James Bryan Alcid promised to give PHP100,000 as token cash incentives to all the 200 participating Laoag students in the recently conducted Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) held in Dagupan City recently. Alcid made the promise during a regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod wherein it was reported that the DepEd Laoag Division has demonstrated outstanding performance during the RSPC emerging as the overall champion in the elementary level and first runner-up in the overall result of the event, further showcasing the talent, hard work, and dedication of both the students...

Laoag City – Former Senator Manny Pacquiao officially launched his senatorial campaign in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, alongside the administration ticket under the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas.  Addressing a crowd of supporters, Pacquiao acknowledged the indomitable spirit and resilience of the Ilocano people, drawing parallels between their strength and his own journey from poverty to becoming a world boxing champion and public servant.  "Ang mga Ilocano ay kilala sa sipag, tiyaga, at pagiging matatag sa harap ng pagsubok. Bilang isang taong lumaki sa hirap, nauunawaan ko ang inyong determinasyon at pagmamahal sa pamilya," Pacquiao said.  He emphasized his commitment to pushing for legislations and programs that will uplift ordinary Filipinos, particularly in livelihood, sports development, and poverty alleviation.  Ang mga Ilocano. Kilala sa pagiging resilient. Masisipag, matiisin, at matiyaga. Kilala sa pagiging matibay sa kahit anong pagsubok. Pareho tayo—mu...

AFTER 17 years of championing a legislated across-the-board wage hike for workers in the private sector, Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. today expressed his elation that the measure is within arm's reach. After the Senate's approval of a legislated wage hike last year, Congress recently approved at the Committee Level a counterpart bill providing for a PHP200 legislated wage hike. “Mukhang malaki ang tsansa! Abot-kamay na itong legislated wage hike! We have been advocating for a decent living wage since 2008," Bong Revilla expressed. "Labis tayong natutuwa dahil yung matagal nang inaasam-asam ng ating mga kababayan, at matagal na rin nating isinusulong ay malapit na nating makamit. Ngayon nagkakaroon na ng linaw ang legislated wage hike na simula pa noong 2008 ay paulit-ulit kong nang ipinapanukala dito sa Senado,” Revilla said. The veteran lawmaker has been filing a legislated across-the-board wage hike bill since his first term in the Senate. Revilla detailed that t...

THIS should be no surprise to us. With the way things are now—new technologies offering more temptations than real advantages, and people spiritually and morally impoverished—what can we expect? That’s why requests for exorcism and deliverance have dramatically increased these days, not to mention the increasing cases of mental illness, psychological disorders, suicide, etc. We should never take the devils for granted. They are always around, ever scheming and plotting against us in many, many ways, and often in a manner that is so subtle that we may not even notice them. As St. Peter would put in his first letter: “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.” (5,8) We should never consider the devils as a myth, or as some kind of literary device only to highlight a point in the drama of our life. They are as real as you and me. Our problem is that we think lightly or, worse, falsely of them. And so, we become completely unprepared to de...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Currimao , Ilocos Norte—At least 35 baby sea turtles from a guarded hatchery in a barangay in this town were guided back to the wild on Jan. 29, 2025. Engineer Erickson Biag, Currimao municipal environment officer-designate, told The Ilocos Times in a phone interview that barangay officials of Brgy. Paguludan, are monitoring the pawikan hatchery. He said the latest batch of released hatchlings are on top of the 32 hatchlings that emerged from the relocated sea turtle eggs last December, guarded to keep them safe during high tide and protect them from predators. “The pawikan eggs in the first nest were laid last December and we are counting 52 days for them to emerge and guide them back to their natural habitat,” he explained. Biag added there are two more nests at the hatchery and they are expecting them to emerge until February. The pawikan hatchery in Currimao town was established last year and the coastal barangays of Pangil all the way to Pagu...