The Ilocos Times

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter BADOC, Ilocos Norte—Residents here sang and danced in joy as they chanted, “Viva La Virgen Milagrosa” following the crowning of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary carrying infant Jesus in her arms. Pope Francis mandated the crowning. More than a liturgical ritual, the people of Ilocos Norte, mostly composed of Catholics acknowledged the significance of the pontifical coronation as a show of love and devotion to Mary, revered as “queen of heaven and earth, a protector and inspiration” to mankind. For church historian like Father Danilo Laeda, who is also a native of Badoc, he said Ilocos Norte’s devotion to the miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary began in the 1980s. Catholics believed she chose her enshrinement at the St. John the Baptist Parish here. Since then, several accounts of miraculous healing started and the people of Badoc and Ilocos Norte exalted for joy for the ultimate show of unity among govern

By Bernard Ver Contributor The pontifical crown of La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc features an immaculate depiction of cascading ocean waves—a tribute to the waters that brought the image of the Blessed Virgin to the Ilocanos. Inspired by the fortified buttresses of the St. Augustine Church of Paoay and St. John the Baptist Church of Badoc, the band of the crown displays stylized volutes. Also included in the band is the elaborate shell motif that pays homage to St. John the Baptist, patron of the town of Badoc. The vertical bands holding the orb depict Ilocos garlic, tobacco leaves and flowers—major cash crops of Ilocos Norte, and the bado-badoc grass, where Badoc got its name. Noli Principe Manalang . A native of Bocaue, Bulacan, Mr. Manalang is an architecture graduate from University of Santo Tomas in Manila. He was a recipient of the Freeman Fellowship Grant of Vermont Studio Center, VT, U.S.A. in 2004 and has won numerous painting competitions in the Philippines. He is

  The Ilocos Norte DepEd office By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Department of Education (DepEd) earmarked a total amount of PHP315 million for the improvement of schools in Region 1. Elmer Sabado, DepEd regional director confirmed this on May 28, 2018 as various education stakeholders from the four provinces of Region 1 shelled out financial support for the successful implementation of Brigada Eskwela 2018. Under the Adopt-a-School Program of Republic Act 8525, private entities that will join the Brigada Eskwela will have a reward of recognition and 50% tax-incentive entitlement from the government. “We are grateful to all volunteers and those who donated to the schools,” said Mr. Sabado referring to the PHP243 million in kind donation plus an additional PHP72 million worth of services for the cleaning and fixing of schools in the entire Region 1. Compared to last year, the amount generated had increased more than three times, or to PH

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) launched the new number of its Text Center to make rice information more accessible to farmers. Farmers can now reach the PhilRice Text Center (PTC) through 0917-111-7423. The Text Center agents are available to answer queries about rice seeds and modern farming practices from Monday-Friday, 9 am-5pm. A digital platform, PTC provides daily consultation services to rice farmers around the country through call and SMS. It will also regularly send farm advisories, rice technology updates, market information, and other farm insights to the registered farmer-clients. Originally launched as Farmers’ Text Center by the Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture in 2004 with 28 users, the PTC now has more than 35,000 registered clients. Currently, it receives an average of 200 SMS every day. “Our top queries are usually related to seed quality and varietal information, pest management, seed availability, and nutrient manage

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —Atty. Fidel Gines, Laoag election officer from 2004-2007 returns to his old post effective June 4, 2018. Mr. Gines, however only reported on June 9, 2018 due to an illness. He transferred from Candon City, Ilocos Sur; the same post former Laoag election officer Atty. Julius Balbas now occupies. In his return, Mr. Gines was in time for the submission deadline of the statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) for the recent barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. He explained that the SOCE is a “thorough and comprehensive report about the campaign contributions and expenditures of all political parties that took part in the May 14 elections. The SOCE submission deadline was on June 13, 2018. Citing his stint in Candon, Mr. Gines said the winning candidates must have the certificate of compliance from the Commission on Elections before they formally assume their offices. “ Daytoy iti p

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —The Sangguniang Panlungsod here unanimously approved a resolution that creates an administrator post for the city’s 80 barangays. The council passed the unnumbered resolution unanimously, with Laoag Liga ng mga Barangay president and council ex-officio member Mary Michelle Louise “Mikee” V. Fariñas moving for its approval on May 21, 2018. Laoag vice mayor and council presiding officer Michael V. Fariñas suggested the measure. According to the former Laoag mayor, if municipal and city governments have administrators, he said believes barangays can also have their own. Mr. Fariñas added that barangay administrators “would be a great help and big participants for the betterment of the barangay’s programs, plans and activities”. Laoag councilor Franklin Dante A. Respicio, committee on laws chairperson, agreed with the vice mayor; he however suggested they invite city interior local and government officer Andres Vend

Dr. Elisea dela Torre, Chief of Tagbilaran City's Curriculum Implementation Division and Dr. Casiana Caberte, Bohol's Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, review USAID-do nated learning materials at the completion ceremony for USAID's Php1.9 billion Basa Pilipinas project. Manila —The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) completed its five-year, Php1.9 billion Basa Pilipinas project, which improved literacy and reading comprehension among more than 1.8 million students from kindergarten to grade three.   USAID partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) to implement the project in eight school divisions in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Cebu, and Bohol, and the cities of Mandaue, San Fernando, and Tagbilaran. The Basa project strengthened the reading skills of more than 1.8 million students from kindergarten to grade three, trained more than 19,000 teachers and school heads, and provided more than