The Ilocos Times

(File photo) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Badoc, Ilocos Norte —Thousands of devotees, guests and visitors all over the Philippines and abroad witnessed on February 5, 2019 the solemn declaration of Saint John the Baptist Parish in Badoc, Ilocos Norte as a ‘Minor Basilica’. In the Philippines, the 200-year old Basilica Minore of Saint John the Baptist where the La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc is currently enshrined, becomes the 14 th of its kind that was granted with privileges, obligations, and conditions as a minor Basilica. Barely nine months after the May 31, 2018 pontifical coronation of La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc with the infant Jesus, thousands of pilgrims and devotees continue to visit the church believed to have been chosen as the sanctuary of the miraculous image of the Blessed Mother. In his homily, Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, OMI, Archbishop Emeritus of Cotabato said, “In his mysterious ways, God makes what it seems to be absurd as a chan

Mangrugi iti daytoy nga issue, irugitay man ti monthly horoscope, kailian. Intay tan-awan no ania dagiti mabalin a gunay dagiti bitbituenyo iti uneg ti maysa a bulan. Ngem intay laglagipen a ti gasatyo agdepender met laeng kadakayo. Ken no iti Dios inkay agkararag, magun-odyo ti naimbag a biag. Siempre, kas nainkasigudanen iti daytoy a column, adda met latta ipadigomi a “listaan”. Iti daytoy a lawas, ammuentay man dagiti lima a paborito a taraon dagiti Ilocano, a no masobraam, mabalin a pakaisagmakan. *** Gasatyo iti daytoy a bulan: AQUARIUS – Nasam-it dagiti isem nga ipasabat ni bes kenka. Agsaganaka, umutang dayta. Lucky color: Pink. Lucky numbers: 5-6 PISCES – Maammuam a gimmatang ti baro a brief ni papam. Agsiputka, adda sabalina dayta. Lucky color: Red. Lucky numbers: 1-30 ARIES – Madlawam a peke dagiti uyek ti maysa nga empleadam. Sintirem, ag-absent manen dayta. Lucky color. Yellow. Lucky numbers: 13-3 TAURUS – Makitam nga aginbi-busy ti kaobraam.

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—About 42 home-grown entrepreneurs and several farmers groups in the province gathered at the Dap-ayan Center starting February 4, 2019 for an 11-day trade fair showcasing the best products in the province. Organized by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, the ‘Tienda ni Gob’ trade fair continues to attract local entrepreneurs and farmer associations to sell their produce in downtown Laoag. In time for the opening of the Laoag Pamulinawen Festival, the trade fair’s venue this year became more accessible to buyers as it is strategically located at the heart of the city proper, or just adjacent to the Ilocos Norte Capitol building. Aside from the usual processed food products such as bagnet and longganisa , abel hand-woven cloth and wood furniture, the province is known for, organized association of farmers also displayed their unique farm produce and livestock. Some micro, small and medium entrepreneurs incl

  By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Tingguians of Nueva Era in Ilocos Norte took the center stage on February 2, 2019, beating 21 other contingents from different parts of the province in a grand showdown of talents, culture, tradition and pride during the Tan-ok Festival held at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Sports Stadium. The winning tribe featured their own Tadek Festival, a decades-old annual celebration showcasing the town's rich culture and traditions, and emerged the grand champion in the eighth staging of Tan-ok Festival that is considered the mother of all festivals in the province. The group comprising young participants delivered a six-minute well-coordinated dance, video and audio presentation wherein they stomped their feet and swayed their hips to the beat of gongs and festival music unique to the Tingguians. The spectacular world-class performance left the audience in awe. The group's storyline portrayed the courage

Solsona Mayor Alexander Calucag answers queries from the local media. (Berong Ver) By Bernard Ver Contributor Solsona, Ilocos Norte - Solsona Mayor Alexander Calucag disclosed that there are missing funds from the local budget intended for farmers in this town. Mr. Calucag made the revelation a day after Commission on Audit representatives visited him at this office. Mr. Calucag said COA rendered queries to the municipality thru Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) all over the week to seek missing funds amounting to more or less PHP11 million that were allegedly handed thru the past administration to farmers. After a thorough examination, COA discovered that only PHP4 million were delivered to the zanjeras of Solsona.   The issue began when former Solsona Mayor, now Vice Mayor Joseph de Lara requested the COA to look up the missing funds. Unknowingly, the inclusive years are from 2013 to 2015 covering Mr. De Lara's term as mayor. Mr. De Lara i

Ni Rey E. Andres Adda risgo nga itden ti saan nga umno a pannakaaramat dagiti kemikal a ganagan ken pestisidio iti panagtalon. No maabuso ti pannakaaramat kadagitoy a kemikal, apektaranna ti salun-at dagiti tattao ken dagiti ayup. Ngem saan laeng a ti panagaramat kadagitoy a kemikal ti nasken nga annadan dagiti mannalon. No maminsan, tumaud ti risgo kadagiti apitda nga isu ti angipangta iti salun-atda ken dagiti tarakenda nga ayup. Maysa kadagitoy ti dakes nga epekto dagiti buot a kadawyan a tumubo kadagiti apit a mangparnuay kadagiti makasabidong nga elemento a mangdadael iti salun-at dagiti mangan kadagiti apitda. Pagarigan, iti biang ti mani ken mais, kadawyan a tumaud kadakuada ti makasabidong nga elemento a parnuayen dagiti buot. Maawagan dagitoy nga elemento iti mycotoxins. Adda dagiti sumagmamano a klase ti mycotoxins a parnuayen dagiti buot ket maysa kadagitoy ‘tay maaw-awagan iti aflatoxin. Kuna dagiti sientista a napeggad ti aflatoxin iti salun-at dagiti

By Bernard Ver Contributor Laoag City —Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R.   Marcos bid adieu on her last speech at the “Tan-ok ni Ilocano Festival of Festivals” as the province’s governor on February 2, 2019. Ms. Marcos is on her third and final term as governor. In her speech, she thanked the “powerful team” that crafted the Tan-ok fest years ago to celebrate Ilocanos and give thanks for the good harvest of every hardworking Ilocanos. The celebration showcases the unique historical and cultural tradition of 21 municipalities and two cities in the province. The magnanimous aura at the stage and the direction of the show remains iconic thru the support of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte especially its tourism office spearheaded by Aian Raquel and the PGIN Communications & Media Office.