The Ilocos Times

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos was impressed by the recently conducted earthquake drill in this municipality held May 8, 2015. The earthquake drill was initiated by the governor in all the 21 municipalities and two cities in the province in case of earthquakes and other calamities. In this municipality, Barangays 10, 11, 12 and 2, including a big supermarket participated in the drill. A series of practice drill was held prior to the official drill on May 8. Ms. Marcos thanked the participation of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the police, Laoag City’s search and rescue team, Philippine Red Cross (PRC), residents of the 4 barangays and the business establishment, and the local government unit headed by San Nicolas Mayor Melanie Grace Valdez for a good preparation and an overall job well done. Ms. Marcos said the award winning San Nicolas is the best of all the municipalities

Daniw Idiay Tapao Kayarigak ti Maysa a Mula a Nagallatiw iti Sabali a Similia [ Kabayatan iti Kaaddak iti Nakayanakak a Brgy Tapao, Sinait, IS ] Amado I. Yoro Arigko iti mula a nayallatiw iti similia Ti panagdakkel; ti pannakaitukit manen Barukong daga a nagpuonan ti amin. Ditoyak a nayanak, a nagubing iti kinaagtutubok Subliak kadi manen nga iladawan dagiti garaw Ti kinasiak iti nasurok uppat a dekada a naipusingak? Birokek kadi pay laeng ti daan a salamagi wenno duog a Mangga a nagbitinan ti kadkaduak iti diak ammo no karatay Wenno damili tapno baliwak ti maipasngay manen? Duogen ti singin nga algarroba ti pagilasinak duog a dadapilan Dagiti nasapa a parbangon a panagdakiwas ni sawak Iti nakedkedngan a dalan ti panagbaniaga sidiran ti anawang. Panaglupos kunak man ta awanen ti daan a pinan-aw  a kalapaw Ngem dagiti irik a nayaplag iti daga kasda balitok iti kainaran Iti sidiran daydi bunton ken pinullo a burnay-basi a lemma ti napala

“Mayweather must love me very much, he kept hugging me,” joked Manny Pacquiao after their “Fight of the Century”. There is an ancient adage that “the best defense is a good offense” which means that "if you attack your opponents, they will be so busy fighting off your attack that they will not be able to attack you.” See The Free Dictionary by Farlex. Mayweather’s defense was dance a boxing “cha cha cha” (one step forward, two steps backward) to evade Pacquiao’s punches and when Pacquiao managed to get close to Mayweather, he would hug Pacquiao, thereby preventing Pacquiao from hitting him. It was a winning strategy, although unimpressive. A disgusted spectator twitted that this was not a boxing bout but “Dancing with the Stars”. Mayweather’s tactic differs from Muhammad Ali’s winning rope-a-dope strategy against George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle. Ali would back against the ropes and protect his head while Foreman kept punching at Ali’s body until Foreman go

Worldwide campaign aims for complete eradication of Peste de Petits Ruminants by 2030 Abidjan , Cote d'Ivoire — High-level authorities from 15 countries pledged on Thursday to collaborate on a global plan to wipe out forever the devastating animal disease known as “Peste des petits ruminants” by 2030, a lethal plague for goats and sheep and the scourge of rural households in vast swathes of the developing world. Ministerial delegations, along with more than 300 participants from across the continents, representatives of regional bodies and international organizations, agreed to a plan to control and eradicate PPR drawn up by FAO and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and presented at a meeting organized by the two institutions with the Government of Cote d'Ivoire. The campaign will make PPR only the second animal disease ever to be eradicated, after rinderpest in 2011. PPR is estimated to cause over $2 billion in losses each year, mostly in Africa, Asia

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) cited the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) for filing the most number of patents and Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications.  The award, called the “Anak ni Juan,” is given to PhilRice Intellectual Property Office for submitting six patents and Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications under the office’s Patent Protection Incentive Package (PPIP), also coined as “Juan’s Thousand Inventions.”  More than 80 Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO) host institutions including research institutions and state universities and colleges participated in filling patent applications under the PPIP in 2014. Among entries recognized by IPOPHIL eligible for PCT application was the action research titled Cogeneration of Biochar and Heat from Rice Hull: Its Application in the Poultry Industry . The research, through the lead of Dr. Ricardo F. Orge and John Eric O. Abon, developed the continuous rice h

By Justin Paul D. Marbella OWWA RWO1 San Fernando , La Union—The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office I (OWWA RWOI) has extended help to families of late Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) by providing them assistance in the form of livelihood. Through the Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP), the OWWA RWO I has released a total of P645,000 worth of livelihood assistance to 43 beneficiaries all over Region I for the period of January-April 2015.  29 beneficiaries come from Pangasinan, six from La Union, five from Ilocos Sur, and three from Ilocos Norte. The ELAP is an OWWA program for survivors of deceased OFWs. It has two components: the Livelihood Component and Education Component. Under the Livelihood Component, qualified dependents receive livelihood assistance amounting to P15,000. Most of the new ELAP beneficiaries in Region I have existing livelihoods, such as sari-sari store, livestock raising, and transportation service

Manila —Applications are now being accepted for the 2015 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative   (YSEALI) Academic and Professional Fellowships. Academic Fellowships are intensive, short term programs in the United States that provide young leaders, ages 18-25, with a deeper understanding of the United States, while enhancing their leadership skills. YSEALI Professional Fellowships are for community leaders, ages 25-35, working in the fields of civic engagement, non-government organization management, economic empowerment, governance, legislative process or environmental and natural resources management. Professional Fellows will spend one month at a U.S.-based non-profit or government office to enhance their practical expertise, leadership skills, and professional contacts.  The deadline to apply for the 2015 YSEALI Academic and Professional Fellowships is June 1, 2015, and both programs are scheduled to take place in the fall. The U.S. government will cover all fees related t