The Ilocos Times

Laoag City —In a significant boost to education support in the province, a total of 1,028 senior high school and college students aged 18 years old and above, all non-recipients of any government scholarship program, each received PHP5,000 in educational assistance to support their continued pursuit of education and help meet school-related expenses. Through a funding request initiated by the Office of the Governor with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the assistance was provided to qualified students in the province, underscoring the government’s continued effort to support learners who are not covered by existing scholarship programs but are actively pursuing their studies. Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos urged the beneficiaries to use the assistance responsibly and prioritize their studies, stressing the value of discipline and perseverance in pursuing their academic goals. For many beneficiaries, the aid provides timely relief for daily ...

Manila — This Father’s Day, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) joins Filipino families across the country in honoring fathers for their invaluable contributions in nurturing, protecting, and guiding their families. For generations, fathers have been regarded as the “haligi ng tahanan”—the pillar of the family whose hard work and sacrifices help provide stability and security for their loved ones. As Filipino families continue to navigate changing social, economic, and demographic realities, CPD recognizes that the role of fathers has evolved beyond being providers to becoming active partners in building healthy, resilient, and future-ready families. "Fatherhood today encompasses many roles," said CPD Executive Director Usec. Lisa Grace S. Bersales. "Fathers are not only providers but also caregivers, mentors, role models, and partners in making decisions that shape the future of their families. This Father's Day, we celebrate Filipino fathers wh...

A recent study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) found that students under the MATATAG Curriculum performed better on assessments after a year of implementation, while teachers in participating schools reported stronger collaboration that may help improve classroom practices over time. The study, “Teaching through Transition: What Influences Teachers’ Practices amidst Curriculum Reform?”, evaluated the curriculum's first year of implementation in selected public schools during School Year 2023–2024. It drew on teacher surveys, classroom observations, and assessments administered to about 15,000 students. The findings come as the Department of Education (DepEd) continues to implement the MATATAG Curriculum nationwide in School Year 2026–2027, providing early evidence on how the reform affected teaching and learning during its pilot phase. Introduced by DepEd to address learning losses and long-standing concerns over education quality, the MATATAG Cu...

By Carlos V. Cornejo The third kind of anger is the good one.   It’s sometimes referred to as just anger or rightful anger.   The Psalmist implies this when he writes, “Be angry, and sin not” (Psalm 4:4).   It is the kind of anger of a parent for example to a child who has not done his school work because the kid was busy playing computer games the whole day.   The parent has to express clearly his or her emotion of anger so as to send the message to the kid that what he has done was very wrong.   Otherwise, if the mother will just put on a sober face while reprimanding the child, it could be misinterpreted by the kid that mommy is not angry after all and therefore I could do it again.   St. John Chrysostom says, “He who is not angry when he has cause to be, sins.” If we don’t get angry when we are supposed to be angry, more bad things happen.   If the mother had tolerated the misdeed of her child, it would have made the kid lazier. The same sa...

  Recycling is increasingly becoming a viable means of livelihood in the Philippines—especially through community-driven initiatives, social enterprises and LGU-supported programs. It offers income opportunities while promoting environmental stewardship and circular-economy principles. Here’s the basic change we need to accept: anything that has commercial value is not garbage. If something can be sold, reused or turned into income, it stops being wasted. In that sense, recyclables have value—therefore they are not garbage. We have already tried our best to promote recycling in the Philippines, yet the level of compliance remains low. Many Filipinos still ask: “What’s in it for me (pakinabang) if I recycle?” Telling someone that recycling is good for the environment no longer suffices. But what if we shift the narrative: “It’s good for your pocket.” What if recycling becomes directly linked to income every time you participate? That is precisely my idea: create livelihood ...

  THE story of the leper who took the effort to get close to Christ, asking for healing, (cfr. Mt 8,1-4) teaches us several powerful lessons about faith, humility, God’s authority and the right use of good works. As the story goes, a leper approaches Christ, kneels and begs: “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” And Christ responds not so much with power as with mercy as he stretches out his hand and touches the leper: “I do choose. Be made clean!” Let us remind ourselves that though we may not have the condition of leprosy, we cannot deny that we are dirty, no matter how much we try to be clean, and we gravely need to be healed, to be pardoned and purified. Our weaknesses and sinfulness will always be with us all our life. We always need to go to Christ, begging for spiritual and moral healing. But, yes, whenever we have physical illness or problems regarding our bodily health, we should not hesitate to go to Christ, asking for healing. Let’s imitate the example of ...

SEARCH AND DESTROY. Local residents in Baccara, Ilocos Norte, search for and destroy mosquito breeding sites in this undated photo. The Provincial Health Office recorded a surge of dengue cases with zero deaths as of June 11, 2026. (Contributed photo) By Leilanie G. Adriano LAOAG CITY—The Ilocos Norte Provincial Health Office (PHO) on June 11., 2026, reiterated its call for proactive measures against dengue in communities to maintain the province's zero-deaths record from the mosquito-borne disease. The latest record from the PHO, however, showed a surge in dengue cases, with a total of 443 cases, compared with 272 during the same period last year. Most dengue cases were recorded in the cities of Laoag and Batac, and the towns of Solsona, Sarrat, Dingras, Piddig, Badoc, Banna, Bacarra, and Paoay. “While no dengue-related deaths have been reported, the public is urged to remain vigilant and continue practicing the 5S strategy to help prevent the spread of dengue,” PHO chief ...