The Ilocos Times

  HAPPY GRADUATION. Ilocos Norte's second batch of DICT RIS graduates pose for posterity with their mentors and local officials on Dec. 2, 2019 at the Provincial Capitol session hall. (Lei Adriano)   By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter   LAOAG CITY—Eighteen trainees from Ilocos Norte graduated on December 2, 2019 from a 12-day blended learning on digital marketing and e-commerce course courtesy of the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s Rural Impact Sourcing (RIS) Technical Training program.   In a simple graduation ceremony held at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol, Honey Eileen Julian said she feels more confident now after going through many sleepless nights to complete the comprehensive technical program.   “It’s quite fulfilling to finished the program—a survival of the fittest indeed!” said Ms. Julian saying her experience in digital marketing along with the small and medium enterprises they work with gave her new perspect

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter City of Batac —The Sangguniang Panlungsod here passed a resolution requesting Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to allocate funds for an additional school building at the Petra Q. Pimentel Elementary School. Batac councilor Violeta Daradar-Nalupta, who sponsored the measure, expressed confidence that the senator will accede to their request as the school is named after his great-grandmother. Mrs. Nalupta likewise announced that Mr. Pimentel’s staff told her to immediately submit a council resolution for the said request. The Batac councilor stressed that the Pimentel elementary school also served nearby barangays aside from Brgy. Pimentel. She also pointed out that the school buildings there are already 50 years old and can no longer cope with the demands of 21 st century education. They, also, can no longer keep up with the growing school population, especially with today’s K-12 implementation. Mrs. Nalupta hopes Sena

Batac has always played second fiddle to Laoag since time immemorial. And with the resurgence of San Nicolas as an alternative business hub in the province, the erstwhile municipality skidded a rung lower. Yet in 2016, things in President Ferdinand E. Marcos’ hometown began to change. Shaking free from decades of political dynasty, Batac voters opted to elect a new mayor with a different surname. The new mayor was not a political neophyte, mind you; he was as political as any politician. But the refreshing change in this young city’s political landscape also heralded a drastic pivot in governance thrust. Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua personified the change the city needed for it to return to relevancy—both politically and economically. Now a three-year term later, Mr. Chua managed to significantly tilt the city government towards a more inclusive governance. From agriculture to education and to health care; up to caring for senior citizens and gaining a major foothold in

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—Several Ilocos Norte youth is supporting the revival of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program for senior high school students. For 25-year-old Moyra Colobong of the Ilocos Norte National High School, she said the Philippines need to strengthen its defenses and one way of doing so is to utilize its available resources by training the young to undergo reserved officers’ training course. “This is a stepping stone for us to strengthen our defenses, learn to follow rules and become disciplined,” said Ms. Colobong as she admitted kids these days are becoming hard-headed or out of control due to so many reasons. Like Ms. Colobong, Marian Sidly Madamba, 17, also observed these misbehaviors from fellow youth hence, with the revival of ROTC, she hopes the rigid training will make them more responsible individuals. At first, Samuel Guzman, 18, of Brgy. 8, Laoag City, said he was hesitant to supp

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —The Sangguniang Panlungsod here has approved the appointment of William Albino Antonio Agcaoili as the city government’s new community affairs officer with an official position of city government department head I. Laoag councilor Roque Benjamin Ablan moved for the passage of the resolution and was approved by all members present. Prior to its approval, the session was suspended to accommodate Mr. Agcaoili to answer queries from council members. Laoag Mayor Michael Marcos-Keon appointed Mr. Agcaoili on October 16, 2019. Prior to this, Mr. Agcaoili served as executive assistant IV to the city mayor. Mr. Ablan also manifested that all members of the city council are sponsors of the measure.     In an interview, Mr. Agcaoili thanked all the member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod for their “trust giving their concurrence to his appointment”. Mr. Agcaoili promised to do his best for the Community Affairs Di

FOUR OF THEM  come from government, two from the academe, one each from the religious, health, and beauty sectors, and one from the realm of heroes. Seven are male while three are female. Of the seven male awardees, at least three are openly gay.  The oldest is 75, the youngest 21. Nine are living and one we hope to keep alive in our collective Ilocano memory. Different backgrounds, different advocacies, but all exemplifying the great Ilocano spirit. Here are The Ilocos Times Outstanding Ilocanos for 2020, receiving well-deserved recognition as we enter the second decade of the 21st century. ONE OF THE MOST awarded provincial treasurers in the Philippines, Mrs. Josephine Prieto Calajate is a name to behold. Through the years, she has been repeatedly recognized as Most Outstanding Provincial Treasurer of Region I, a meritorious award presented by the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) of the Department of Finance for her “remarkable performance in

By Bernardo B. Ver II Contributor San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—For the second time, the Brgy. 11 San Fernando Day Care Center (DCC) won the Federated Day Care Center King and Queen of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte in celebration of this year’s Universal Children’s Month with the theme, “Karapatang Pambata: Patuloy na Pahalagahan at Gampanan Tungo Sa Magandang Kinabukasan”. His Royal Highness King Mark Jacob B. Gonzales and Her Majesty Queen Diovel Zameiah Ulep were crowned on November 25, 2019 at the Barangay 11 Basketball Court with Phemy Rose Raquel-Javier as crowning guest and speaker. Of the 24 Day Care Centers in San Nicolas, Barangay 11 DCC, represented by King Mark Jacob and Queen Diovel Zameiah, received the highest amount garnered in the federation. King Mark Jacob is an American citizen and the son of Maricon Rosan B. Gonzales of Los Angeles, California and presently under the guidance of his grandparents Rosendo and Susan Dela Cruz-Batangan and aunt, Ma