The Ilocos Times

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter PAOAY, Ilocos Norte—The local government unit here is planning to establish a centralized embalming facility located at the town’s public cemetery. With the municipal government providing the funding, the proposed new embalming facility aims to provide a common center for licensed embalmers and funeral parlors to treat human remains prior to public display or final viewing. According to Paoay mayor Jessie Galano, he is set to meet with funeral parlor owners to discuss the establishment of an embalming site away from residential houses. For the safety of the public and to contain any disease which may be come from a dead person, Mr. Galano said the embalming facility regulation is one of his administration’s major priority this year. Once completed, licensed embalmers in Paoay shall only be allowed to treat human remains at the government-owned embalming facility for a minimal fee. Mr. Galano said some residents living nea

Batac City —“Ang e-Skwela and kwelang Eskwela ng ALS”.                 City division education program specialist II Mrs. Dolores Ubina said the ALS E-skwela is a community based e-learning center where ALS learners use computers. Ms. Ubina said the center has 21 computer units loaded with digital modules that include videos and animations. The E-skwela learners no longer need pens, papers and notebooks or even attend school every day to finish their secondary education. Instead, they only need three hours per week and their learning progress depend on their need and speed. The digitized modules follow the ALS learning strands, which are communication skills, critical thinking and problem-solving, sustainable use of resources and productivity, development of self and sense of community and expanding world of vision. Ms. Ubina said that the ALS strands are the same subjects in formal schools. (Dominic B. dela Cruz)

Batac City —Representatives from the Dept. of Public Works and Highways personally turned over to Batac city schools’ division superintendent Vilma Eda the Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Building intended for senior high school students. Ms. Eda thanked the DPWH for the immediate construction of the building for senior high school students’ use. Batac DepEd project development officer I George Manuel said the ₱ 6 million two-storey building consists of four “big classrooms” that can contain about 172 students. The turn over ceremony was attended by Batac mayor Albert D. Chua and Batac vice mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta. ( Dominic B. dela Cruz )

PINILI, Ilocos Norte—To further strengthen the Ilocano weaving tradition called “pinagabel”, locals here established the ‘House of Inabel’ by Magdalena Gamayo on December 26, 2016. A Spanish-style brick house had been renovated to provide a space for ‘abel’ weavers and their products, including Gamayo's nationally-acclaimed inabel, a hand-woven textile done on traditional wooden looms using unique and diverse weaving techniques. Magdalena Gamayo, 93 years old, is recognized by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts in 2012 as a national living treasure because of her excellent skills in textile weaving. According to Dr. Joven Cuanang, one of the founders of the House of Inabel, he said it was launched to engage people, especially young individuals, to learn the tradition of Ilocano weaving and to ensure sustainability of the inabel industry.  As an active supporter of the industry, Mr. Cuanang encourages schools, organizations, private sectors and