The Ilocos Times

Laoag City —A Facebook poll conducted February 11-18, 2019 by radio station DZJC shows entrepreneur Edward “Boyet” Quilala amassing 72 percent of the votes in the mayoralty race for the Municipality of Currimao. He is running against incumbent Mayor Gladys Go Cue who obtained a 28 percent vote share in the survey participated in by over 1,200 netizens. An online poll conducted earlier, January 28-February 4, 2019, by The Ilocos Times also saw Mr. Quilala winning over Mrs. Cue, with the former obtaining 58 percent of the almost 3,000 votes cast. In an interview with The Ilocos Times , Mr. Quilala expressed his gratitude for the very strong support he has been getting from his townmates. Reading from the poll comments and through his personal interactions with Currimaoeños, Mr. Quilala surmised that “ Nabannogda metten ” [They have grown tired] and that they are crying for change. However, while Mr. Quilala is appreciative of the snowballing support, he says he is car

By Bernard Ver Contributor Laoag City --Laoag councilor Roger John C. Fariñas II filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeals opposing the decision of a lower court in Ilocos Norte after it sided with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in invalidating the city’s cockpit ordinance. According to Mr. Fariñas, he does not agree with the decision of the court thru Judge Francisco Quilala of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 14 favoring the Ilocos Norte Board on the issue of ‘Ultra Vires [beyond powers]’ in bringing the city ordinance to a halt. “I respect the court's decision… it has the only power to do so, yet, I filed an appeal in the Court of Appeals for further review on the case”, Mr. Fariñas said Two years ago, the city council passed an ordinance giving Mr. Alejandro “Bong” Taylan a franchise-to-operate the cockpit arena in Laoag. The provincial board, however rejected the said ordinance upon review due to “deficiency of requirements, thus invalid

Typhoon Ompong lashes the province. (File photo) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Various fisherfolk associations in the coastal city and towns of Ilocos Norte received various fishery livelihood projects on February 19, 2019 courtesy of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). Composed of 56 payaos and two gillnets, BFAR Regional Field Office I Director Lilibeth L. Signey handed them to the beneficiaries in a simple turn over ceremony held at the Centennial Arena, this city. The fishermen association of Pasuquin who were among those hit hard by typhoon “Ompong” got 16 payaos and gillnets worth PHP2.7 million next to Laoag’s PHP1.59 million worth of fishing gears; Pagudpud and Currimao received gears worth PHP1.2 million each. Other recipients include fisherfolk associations in the towns of Bangui, Burgos, Bacarra, Badoc and Paoay. “We are thankful for the government support. This is a big help for us to boost our livelihoo

Bauang , La Union—In 2006, Asuncion and Oliver Kenneth DeLong are living a happy married life in Kentucky, United States of America, but something has been missing over the past three years of marriage. Having a child has always been important to the couple, particularly to Asuncion, a Filipina who values a strong sense of family relationship. Oliver, a retired American military, together with her wife has been constantly praying to give them a child but unluckily, it was all unanswered.    Exactly on their third wedding anniversary, a video call from the Philippines was received by the couple. Asuncion’s mother showed to them a newly-born baby girl who was voluntarily given up for adoption by her displaced biological parents. Due to the excitement of Asuncion’s mother, she immediately went to the local civil registry of this municipality to register the baby girl whom they named Kendall Ann DeLong. However, Asuncion and Oliver found the process inappropriate. Despite liv

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributed on a total of 1,614 certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) to 711 farmer beneficiaries in Ilocos Norte. Covering a total land area of 583.6947 hectares in the towns of Bacarra, Badoc, Banna, Burgos, Batac, Marcos, Paoay, Piddig, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Pasuquin, Bangui, Pagudpud and Vintar, Atty. John R. Castriciones, DAR Secretary said in an interview it was a long tedious process but with the convergence of all concerned government authorities, the intended farmer beneficiaries finally got hold of their CLOAs on February 22, 2019. As he climbed up the stage to receive an authentic copy of his land title at the Laoag Centennial Arena, 84-year old Isidro V. Calma Jr. from Bacarra said he is thankful that at last, he has acquired an evidence that he is indeed the owner of a 1,395 square meter lot his father has long tilled when he was younger. Under the exten

By Bernard Ver Contributor LAOAG CITY—The Child Rights Network (CRN) held a policy caravan on child protection issues at the Northwestern University in this city on February 13, 2019. The caravan engaged universities around the country to raise awareness on child abuse, especially child rape with the help of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development. In lieu of Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa  “Imee” R. Marcos, Atty. Saul Lazo, in her speech, said that "The provincial government of Ilocos Norte is continuously supporting the advocacies of the national government’s child protection program." According to data from the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), there are at least one in five children suffering traumatic experience during their childhood. Meanwhile, businessman and child rights advocate Reynaldo “Ryan” R. Remigio shared his thoughts on the impact caused of child abuse, especially rape case

Ti kararag ket isu ti kangrunaan nga igamtayo iti panagbiag. Isu’t dalan ti pannakagun-od kadagiti ar-araraw ken kalikagumtayo. Ngem saan nga amin nga iyareng-engtayo babaen ti kararag ket matungpal. Adda dagiti saan a maikkan ti sungbat gapu ta saan a maikanatad dagiti linaunda. Intay man pagsasangnguan ti listaan dagiti kararag a saan nga umno. Itartarustay metten a pagraramanan dagiti naduma-duma a misteryo iti panagbiag *** 5 a kararag a saan nga umno: 1. Apo, ikararaganmi man dagiti tsimoso ken tsimosa. Sapay koma ta pagbalinem a kimmot dagiti ngiwngiwatda, nga agungap laeng no umiblengda. Tapno imbes a sabali a tao ti inda mirmiraen, dagiti laeng bukodda a bangsit ti maang-angotda. 2. Apo, ikararaganmi man dagiti traysikelan a saan nga agilugan ti maymaysa. Sapay koma ta no nasursurok ngem maysa ti pasaherosda, bumtak amin a ligay ken matukkol ti sidecar ti tricycleda. Kasta koma, Apo, agingga  a masursuroda ti mangrespetar kadagiti pagbibiaganda a pasahe