The Ilocos Times

Umbi  Amado I. Yoro Ewa, Hawaii Yumbik dagitoy: kinasudi ti ayat sagutko kenka ita nga aldaw adtoy ti balonko sangakopita a diro arak ti rabii ti pammasangbay Riknaek ti dungngo dayta pusom  No umayak ita saan a  Naliday a sallapingaw Ngem naamo a kalapati Ti ayat  Bay-am a simsimak nga umuna Ti sardam; palludip iti apagdeppel Agek-iliw; karayo Iti bibig ni ayat. Ay-ayatenka: yumbi manen toy pusok Bay-am nga ubbaenka nga isala iti danggay ti samiweng sonata Anem-em ti diro ti darikmat Sirok ti bubongan-langit Ayan-ayatta, adtoyak! agkasingin a riknata Bay-am a mabartekak iti rabii Denggem-denggek naisangayan A talukatik ket ammomton Ti kaipapanan rinibu a kinaumel Iti nagtengko a nagsapalan Pasetnakon ti nabayag a panaguray Adtoy beggang ti ayat !

Protesters from Barangay Malasin, Bangui, Ilocos Norte. Lei Adriano By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Pagudpud , Ilocos Norte—A silent protest by about 15 families affected by alleged intrusive transmission lines put up by the Ayala-led North Luzon Renewable Energy Corporation marred the November 19 inauguration of the 81-megawatt Pagudpud wind farm. On board a white van with streamers decrying constitutional right abuses, the family of Joseph Baloaloa along with other families including children from Brgy. Malasin of neighboring Bangui town went to the NLREC main station at Brgy. Caparispisan  herein  Pagudpud as they held each other’s arms shouting for help from the government to mediate the possible relocation of some NLREC’s towers passing through their residential houses. “ Tulongan niyo kami. Nilabag ang aming karapatan. Huwag niyo kaming patayin. Ilayo kami sa kaba at alisin ang tower malapit sa bubong ng aming bahay ,” the protesters s

PREPARING THEM. Schoolchildren of Caaoacan Elementary School in Laoag City participate in a nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill on November 14. The drill was organized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. (Andy L. Mangapit)   By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters Laoag CITY— The regional Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spearheaded a five-day earthquake and tsunami drills in the city’s 14 coastal barangays. The drill, participated in by all barangay officials concerned, also included a discussion on the signs of tsunami as well as its catastrophic effects. The OCD officials and the City Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) chose Brgy. Caaoacan as site with the Ilocos Norte National High School campus as evacuation center. Laoag mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas thanked the OCD officials for their efforts as well as the CDRRMC members, barangay officials and Caaoacan residents for their cooperatio

USA Today published on November 18, the results of a poll it conducted showing that 46% are against President Obama’s plan to issue an executive order granting amnesty to millions of illegal aliens while 42% were in favor. Considering that USA Today is generally regarded as a liberal (translation pro Obama) newspaper, one can speculate that the margin of error is at least 10%, meaning that 56% could be against amnesty. A question of fairness and the rule of law During our radio talk show on community issues at KPRP in Honolulu on Monday morning the three panelists—Atty. Abraham Mariano, newspaper editor Rafael Alimbuyuguen, and this writer—albeit with different political persuasions, were unanimous in opposing Mr. Obama’s planned amnesty on the ground that it would be unfair to Filipinos who are following the law and patiently waiting in line for the visas of the relatives they petitioned to become available. I described the situation as akin to that of a movie theater’s p

THEN AND NOW . With the help of Dr. Miramar Bumanglag and other donors, Cruzel Mae Bartolome of Bacarra, Ilocos Norte is given a new artificial eye. (Photo courtesy of Argie Lorenzo) A pencil scribbled the painful stage in the life of Cruzel Mae Bartolome, four-year old, of Barangay Sangil in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte. When she was only one-year old, a pencil accidentally pierced her right eye. Since then, only one eye is making sight possible for Cruzel Mae—a reality which darkened a part of her life. Initially, she was given an artificial eye. But it was too small that it often fell off from her eye socket. Also, it looked so hideous that sometimes it made her a laughingstock in their neighborhood and in her preschool classes. Her parents—who are farmers—couldn’t afford to buy her a new artificial eye. But, they didn’t stop looking for ways to ease the pains of Cruzel Mae. In their desire to find help for their daughter, they approached Argie Lorenzo and Hanz Mab

A multi-functional flying device called “Drone” is being considered as potential monitoring instrument that will help researchers gather accurate data and conduct studies efficiently. Roger Barroga, lead of Future Rice Program in the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), said that a training program on drone technology will be conducted following its recent introduction to the savants early this month. To be implemented with the University of Southern Mindanao next year, the training program will highlight flight tutorials and application of the drone`s features. The technology features a high definition camera, flight stabilizer, and GPS (Global Positioning System) that allows users to program its flight path. It can fly for 8-10 min and can travel up to a maximum distance of 2 km. Mr. Barroga said that the technology can be maximized for research activities such as data collection, tracking growth patterns, and pests and nutrient managem

Members  of the Technical Working Group of the first Regional Convergence Initiative initiated by the local government unit of Piddig led by mayor Eduardo Guillen conducted a field inspection on Friday at the on-going organic coffee farm development in sitio Lammin, Barangay Dupitac, Piddig, Ilocos Norte. (Lei Adriano) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Laoag City , Ilocos Norte—Who can say no to coffee? For at least 18 national and local government organizations in Region 1, the awakening aroma of world-quality coffee which will soon be brewing in Piddig, about 18 kilometers from the Laoag International Airport gave birth to the first Regional Convergence Initiative (RCI) which is expected to boost agribusiness and eco-tourism development in the upland area of Piddig, which is covered by tall pine trees. The technical working group tasked to extend support for the sustainable development of the P 62 million worth  Piddig coffee plantation initiall