The Ilocos Times

By Carlos V. Cornejo Today we are bombarded with millions of moving images. It used to be on TV and movie theaters only, but with the emergence of the internet and along with it You Tube and the many social media outlets there would not be a day we don’t see videos. The problem that comes along with this is the dumbing down of people. TV, movies, and You Tube replace books. Thus, images replace words, passivity replaces active thinking. Life and You Tube have become inverted:   instead of You Tube being in life, life is on You Tube. When we read words, we actively create images with our imagination. When we just watch, only our senses are activated, hardly any reasoning and no critical thinking. Myths comes from images, pictures, visions, and dreams, not from reason. You often hear the clique “Image is everything.”   Meaning physical appearance and the appearance of having fun becomes the most important things in life. It’s not God, not the family, not others, not the con...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff reporter Pinili , Ilocos Norte—Besting other municipalities in the entire Region I , the local government units   of Pinili and Marcos won in the 2025 Regional Search for Local Legislative Awards (LLA), and they will automatically represent Region I in the national search. The award is in recognition of the exemplary performance of the Sangguniang Bayan in crafting ordinances and resolutions that support the foundation of effective local governance and development and their commitment to serving their constituents with integrity and excellence. In a letter received by Pinili Mayor Rommel T. Labasan thru Pinili Vice Mayor Maynard Francis R. Bumanglag, Department of the Interior and Local Government regional director Jonathan Paul M. Leusen Jr. congratulated the whole officialdom of Pinili for a “job well done” in the field of legislation. The municipalities of Pinili and Marcos won the LLA 2025 Regional Champion under the 1 st to 3 rd class...

Laoag Mayor James Bryan Alcid and SM Foundation Inc. executive director for health and medical programs Connie Angeles lead the reopening of RHU III Primary Care Facility and Birthing Home. They are joined with DOH development management officer Jay-R Cacao, city heath officer Dr. Rodrigo Catcatan, SM stall manager Maria Christina Sebastian, Laoag Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas, and Laoag councilors Donald Nicolas, Bjorn Lao and Kiko Ang. ( Doms Dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff reporter Laoag City —The Laoag City government has reopened the refurbished rural health unit (RHU) III on November 6. 2025. SM Foundation refurbished the RHU as part of its mission to strengthen communities through accessible healthcare. Laoag Mayor James Bryan Alcid and SM Foundation Inc. executive director for health and medical programs Connie Angeles led the formal reopening of the RHU III Primary Care Facility and Birthing Home. Joining there were Department of Health development managem...

Laoag City —The provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) showcased local mythology and creativity in this year’s “Semana ti Ar-aria” Ilocano Halloween Festival, a week-long celebration that brought together culture, artistry, and community spirit across the province. Held in commemoration of the Day of the Dead, the festival honored the memory of departed loved ones while celebrating Ilokano heritage and tradition. Leading this year’s festivities, Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos joined the parade dressed as "Inang Reyna" from “Encantadia,” a Filipino fantasy TV show. Provincial employees and public servants from across Ilocos Norte filled the streets in elaborate costumes inspired by Philippine folklore , bringing myth and fantasy to life through dance, music, and performance. Araneta-Marcos expressed PGIN’s continued support for initiatives that promote Ilokano culture and creativity, stating: “The Semana ti Ar-aria Halloween Celebration brings to lif...

WHAT criteria to use in choosing our leaders and public officials? Definitely, we should hold integrity and competence as indispensable requirements. We need to investigate the background of each candidate for public office whether these criteria are met. Integrity ensures ethical decision-making, transparency and accountability that can foster public trust. It makes a leader consistently following through on his commitments and promises. It safeguards the well-being and interests of others, approaching them with empathy and understanding. Competence requires the leaders and public officials to have the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to perform their job effectively. It enables them to navigate complex challenges that are sprouting, especially these days. There should be a process of leadership development that highlights these two requirements since leadership plays a crucial role in organizational growth. Such development programs should enhance the skills and kno...

San Nicolas Ilocos Norte—Barrio Onse, or Brgy. 11 San Fernando, in this town, celebrated its annual “Allawagi Festival Year IV”. The five-day celebration kicked off with a feeding program sponsored by balikbayan sisters Hazelyn, Ruby and Jenny Agustin from New Jersey, USA. The feeding program was held in the barangay’s Day Care Development Center led by teacher Miriam Currimao, serving 20 kids in the Nursery grade on October 24, 2025. A walkathon followed on October 25, with residents joining   the 5 am event. A Sumba followed   featuring the “Onse Sumbanatics.” Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson Jake Dela Cruz held the traditional “Laro Ng Lahi”,  with elementary grade pupils competing. Cash prizes were given to the winners of the native games. A mass officiated by Father Danilo Guevaras in celebration of the yearly Allawagi Festival every last week of October in the afternoon of the same day. A bloodletting program conducted by the Mariano Marcos Memorial ...

Are we missing something obvious here? For years now, the Philippines has been one of the world’s leading producers of seaweeds . But what have we done with this advantage? We’ve confined ourselves largely to food ingredients— carrageenan for ice cream and jellies , thickeners for toothpaste and cosmetics, and additives for processed goods. Nothing wrong with that. But have we considered that seaweeds could also fuel our future? India has. In fact, Indian innovators have already taken the lead in producing biofuels from seaweeds. A company called Sea6 Energy , founded in 2010 by young engineers from IIT Madras , is pioneering technologies to grow seaweeds in deep waters and convert them into “ biocrude ” using a process called hydrothermal liquefaction . This is essentially a fast-track version of what nature does to turn organic matter into fossil fuels, but instead of millions of years, it happens in minutes. Here’s the point: if India—with only 11,099 kilometers of coastlin...