The Ilocos Times

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Laoag City —In celebration of the Philippine Book Development Month, the National Book Development Board (NBDB), a government agency mandated to promote the country’s book publishing industry is calling writers to submit applications for the National Book Development Trust Fund (NBDTF) grant for 2015. With a grant of P200,000 for each category, NBDB director Wilfred Castillo said during his visit to Laoag City on Dec. 18 that authors and organizations are now accepting applications. He said interested applicants may start downloading application forms at the NBDB official website. For interested applicants, they may submit at least 20 percent of their manuscripts or research works for books on or before the May 31, 2015 deadline. According to Mr. Castillo, this year’s grant covers topic on the following categories: local history and culture written in Filipino, English or any Philippine language, traditional medicine, integrative

My humble message to the members of the Ilocos Surian Association of Hawaii (ISAH) as co-Chair of the Christmas Party Planning Committee, and also co-organizers and advisers of this ‘action group’ tay pagsasao nga “aramid ti pakakitaan” [action tells everything] "Nothing is impossible as we have that spirit of commitment, time, and priorities and consider yourself as an ‘achiever’ are the key in achieving things, it is action over idea and intent. It may be immediate or in long term.”    For only two successive ISAH Christmas Planning Committee meetings held at McDonald, Pearl Kai with Danny Villaruz, Al Sabangan, Roger Tapat, Amado Yoro, [Art was not able to attend] on November 25, 2014; and on December 9, 2014, with Danny Villaruz, Al Sabangan, Rose Sabangan, Art Abinsay [Roger Tapat was not able to attend] but as the meetings progressed and developed, most part of the program of activities were set and agreed upon. After those two Christmas Planning Committee mee

A photo of Atty. Lotilla being sworn in by PIDS Board Chairman and NEDA Director General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan.   State think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies welcomed former Energy Secretary Atty. Raphael Perpetuo M. Lotilla on December 16, 2014 as the new member of its Board of Trustees. He took his oath before PIDS Board Chairman and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan at the NEDA Head Office in Pasig. Atty. Lotilla brings to the Board his vast experience from years of government service and leadership.    He replaces Dr. Maria Cynthia Rose Banzon-Bautista whose term as PIDS Board member ended. Aside from his stint at the Department of Energy from 2005 to 2007, Atty. Lotilla’s sterling credentials include teaching at the University of the Philippines College of Law, and serving as former Deputy Director General of NEDA, Pre

Conflict, Ebola and adverse weather exacerbate local food insecurity Rome —Latest indications confirm that world cereal production will reach an all-time record of more than 2.5 billion tons in 2014. Buoyed by bumper crops in Europe and a record maize output in the United States of America, this year's cereal output should reach 2.532 billion tons, including rice in milled terms, or 0.3% higher than 2013, according to FAO's latest Crop Prospects and Food Situation Report.  The record global cereal harvest in 2014 will outpace projected world cereal utilization in 2014/15, allowing stocks to rise to their highest level since 2000 and pushing the worldwide stock-to-use ratio, a proxy measure for supply conditions, to rise to 25.2 percent, its highest level in 13 years, according to FAO.  However, the report also warns that food insecurity is worsening in a number of countries due to civil conflicts, adverse weather and the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak. So

The 2014 OFW Family Day, one of the most awaited institutional events of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), was celebrated on December 14, 2014 at the Jose Aspiras Hall of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU- SLUC) in Agoo La Union. The event was participated in by a total of 1,197 participants comprising of 233 delegates from Ilocos Norte, 62 delegates from Ilocos Sur, 404 delegates from La Union, 448 delegates from Pangasinan and 50 guests consisting of MOFYA Regional Winners for the past ten years, partner- agencies, sponsors, member of the media and the DOLE- Regional Coordinating Council. This institutional activity is part of the government’s effort to recognize the OFWs’ fortitude in conquering the dilemma of being temporarily separated from their families as a consequence of overseas migration. This event is an opportunity for OFWs, their families and other OFW families to gather together this Christmas s