The Ilocos Times

A recent study of state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the Department of Health (DOH) reveals that the leading cause of high tuberculosis (TB) cases in urban poor communities is the patient’s delaying to visit the doctor.  Titled “Barriers of Early TB Diagnosis among the Poor in Highly Urbanized Areas in the Philippines”, the study noted that although there is a significant drop of TB prevalence over the last decade, TB remains the fourth leading cause of mortality among Filipinos. The 2007 Philippine National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey revealed that there are approximately three TB cases in every 1,000 Filipinos. Moreover, the DOH confirmed that there is a prevalence of the multidrug resistance TB in the country, a fatal form. “Higher risk of tuberculosis can be attributed to delayed diagnosis,” said Krishna Reyes, study co-author and PIDS research consultant during a recent seminar held at NEDA sa Makati Building, Makati City. “Ea

IF we believe in what St. Paul once said that it is “when I am weak, that I am strong,” (2 Cor 12,10) then there must be something good in our weakness, whatever form it may take. If we follow his logic that “the foolish things of the world has God chosen, that he may confound the wise, and the weak things of the world has God chosen, that he may confound the strong,” (1 Cor 1,27) then indeed the goodness of weakness must indeed be something. Christ himself affirmed so in his beatitudes. He considered as blessed those who are poor in spirit, meek, those who mourn, who hunger and thirst for justice, who are merciful, clean of heart, peacemakers, those who are persecuted and reviled. In many other instances in the gospel, he praised the little children, gave special attention and healing to those with all kinds of affliction. He even raised the dead. He fraternized with sinners and what are generally regarded as the scum of the earth. What peeved him were the proud an

Headlines  scream about Senator Miriam Santiago clashing, over pork scam lists with Panfilo Lacson, former fugitive who morphed into quarter-before-midnight rehabilitation czar. That is underpinned by a feudal political system that that sports a thin veneer of democratic governance. Take the Estradas.  Manila mayor and cashiered president Joseph Estrada, along with son Senator Jinggoy Estrada, tongue-lashed their kin:  Senator JV Ejercito. Why? He signed the Blue Ribbon Committee report on the pork scam. It recommended charges against JV’s half-brother, plus senators Juan Ponce Enrile and   Bong Revilla.  “Erap reprimanded” him, JV said. He merely echoed the  stand by  the  padre de familia  and Jinggoy, that “all bogus NGOs be probed."  Did the patriarch understand?  “I hope,” JV said. Not so with his half-brother. Jinggoy fumed, “I’m trying to make myself look good at his expense... I'll have to be honest. We are not close.” At last count, 178 family dynas

  WE need to figure out how the exclusivity of truth can blend with the inclusivity of charity. Truth and charity should go together, not one without the other. St. Paul says it to us very clearly: “Do the truth in charity.” (Eph 4,15) He says that it is by this guideline that we will become like Christ. He reiterates this point when in another letter, he says: “Let all your things be done in charity.” (1 Cor 16,14) And that’s simply because charity is the mother of all virtues, the summary of all goodness, and, in fact, the very essence of God in whose image and likeness we are. Nothing is genuinely good and proper to us unless it is infused or motivated by charity. Truth, of course, is about what is objective, real, right, fair. It is more about how things ought to be which may not coincide with how things are at present. In the end, truth is Christ himself, his whole self, his entire teaching and example. He himself said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” (Jn 1

‘Himala sa Buhangin’ shoots to national fame ELSA IMMORTALIZED, BAMBOO ROCKS PAOAY SAND DUNES. Superstar Nora Aunor and Governor Imee Marcos unveil the sculpture depicting the lead role in Himala, acclaimed as the best film ever produced in the Asia Pacific. ( Right ) Bamboo wows a crowd of over 25,000. (Herdz Yumul) By Herdy La. Yumul Around 3,000 extras took part in the filming of Himala, the 1982 Ishmael Bernal masterpiece shot in Paoay. Considering its limited budget, it was a miracle of sorts putting together what is now largely considered, both by critics and the viewing public, as the best film ever produced in the Asia Pacific. Last Saturday, May 10, the miracle happened anew, with a crowd ten times bigger witnessing the immortalization of the film’s iconic character, Elsa. The unveiling of a fiberglass statue depicting Elsa was the highlight of this year’s Himala sa Buhangin, an offbeat outdoor arts and music festival staged in the Paoay Sand Dunes. Act

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos checks the devasatation of supertyphoon Yolanda in Leyte (File photo) Typhoons could become violent this year because of the El Niño weather.  El Niño doesn't mean just drought; it could bring strong tropical cyclones, said Dr. Landrico U. Dalida, Deputy Director for Operations of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). This is because hotter temperatures than normal have been observed over the Pacific, causing more evaporation and thus condensation, bringing more rains in the Central Pacific, a mix that could spawn stronger typhoons, he explained. “Westerly winds will get stronger because of the effect of El Niño and typhoons normally tend to shift northwards, towards Northern Luzon,” he told Malaya Business Insight. The Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly in the Central Equatorial and Eastern Pacific has been observed at .4 for over three months now, since January to April 23014.

There was joy and madness at the Centennial Arena when the winners were announced. After four years of limbo, Miss Ilocos Norte is back! The capacity crowd was on fire, with supporters from the province’s 21 municipalities and two cities rooting for their respective candidates. I have not seen an Ilocano crowd—usually hard to please—so vibrant since Daniel Padilla’s mini-concert in the same venue last year. All the candidates showed their best and glided elegantly on stage. They were trimmed down, with only the fairest surviving, from 23 to twelve, and then five. In the end, Laoag City’s Czarina Marie “Yna” Viloria Adina bagged the title. The newly crowned queen is a real beauty: flawless, charming, smart, and this is the best part: she is really Ilocana. It is a bonus for me and other proud Laoagueños that she comes from our city. There was excitement in immense proportions. Maybe we have forgotten how such experience feels? The most anticipated and biggest fun