Category Archives: Ilocos
Now, this is really something
Sometimes, as a writer, a title for an article pops in my mind before I write the piece. And that was the case when I went to the “Himala sa Buhangin” event of the provincial government at the Paoay Sand … Continue reading
Official Smoking
A Laoag City executive was unabashed in smoking in full public view during grand parades in last month’s Pamulinawen Festival. While school boys and girls passed by to show respect for the VIPs, there he was at the middle of … Continue reading
Filed under Government/Politics, Health, Ilocos
Sked! Sked! The 2012 Laoag City Fiesta
Wish to share with you, dear karikna, the line up of activities for this year’s Laoag City Fiesta. There are events of various shapes and textures slated throughout February, and I am sure you will get yourselves interested in a … Continue reading
A grade school reunion
It’s December 30 as I write this, and you would think that I have, as most of you have, gone to over a dozen get-togethers and parties this Holiday Season. You’re right. And last night, I went to one of … Continue reading
Nuestra Señora de la Mantsa: The Case of the Laoag City Bell Tower ‘Apparition’
And we did it again. Ten years ago, I wondered in an essay why this Catholic Nation has produced only one saint so far while Thailand, Japan and China–all non-Christian countries–have more. Maybe, unlike Filipinos, I said then, people from … Continue reading
Michael, how could you?
The bell tower of Paoay Church is defiled by a man named Michael, or by someone deeply in love with a Michael. That this graffiti has been there for over a year disturbs me. Now, there are at least two … Continue reading
Boy from Currimao tops fisheries exam
This young man makes me proud to be from Ilocos Norte. Jerick Christian P. Dagdagan, a cum laude graduate of the BS in Fisheries program at the Mariano Marcos State University, landed at the top spot of the Fisheries Technologist … Continue reading
Filed under Education, Filipino Youth, Heroes, Ilocos
But did tourists come?
I ARGUE, dear karikna, that the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office folks are the busiest bees in this part of the world. And I argue further that their queen bee, Governor Imee Marcos is Awesome with a capital A. After the … Continue reading
Umaydan! Umaydan! (The biggest Halloween fest in the country)
MY DAD, if only he was given a chance to get into the fields of media and communication, would have hit it big time as a writer or filmmaker on the “dark side”. Coming from work (he was a market … Continue reading
The best Crispy Dinuguan in this bloody universe
Laoag City’s Tina Tan, one of the country’s top lifestyle bloggers, wrote in her blauearth.com, wholeheartedly I hope, that I could also be a good food blogger. Yes, I love food and I love blogging, but I’d rather write about … Continue reading
Alumnus pained by DWCL ban
I have always known Jaime Lao as an admirable human being. While undergoing dialysis treatment twice or thrice a week, he managed to serve as president of the Central Student Council at Divine Word College of Laoag, and president, too, … Continue reading
Super Imee
Okay, the title may sound hard sell at first, but you just have to talk to people who saw her in action when Typhoon Mina pounded Ilocos to believe this is apt. “Ma’am, pahinga naman po kayo, hindi po kayo … Continue reading
Filed under Government/Politics, Heroes, Ilocos
The (other) Lady at the Capitol
Matilda Ricardo Mandac, 63, is a truly powerful woman, and it’s not because she has stayed and worked at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol, and has seen 5 governors in a span of over three decades. Nana Gretchen, as Mandac … Continue reading
Filed under Ilocos, Sociology, The Good Life
Rooting for Apo Jack
As you read this, Sergio Utleg would have been installed as archbishop of Tuguegarao. In an interesting turn of events, The Ilocos Times, where articles critical of Utleg’s leadership have seen print, paid tribute to the religious leader in a … Continue reading
Not so tempting
The saving grace is that it was partly shot in scenic Ilocos. Aside from that, there is nothing else much. A remake of Joey Gosiengfiao’s magnum opus, Chris Martinez’s Temptation Island is like a China phone: substandard, pretentiously glittery, disposable. … Continue reading
Filed under Arts, Ilocos, Movie Review
“Uleg”
In the interest of fairness, dear karikna, I talked to Mrs. Elizabeth Madarang Raquel, former president of Gumil Filipinas, regarding the ‘Stupid Quezon’ controversy that has haunted concerned parties in the past two years. To the uninitiated, just some background. … Continue reading
Imeemadness
Hindi ako mahilig makinig sa mga talumpati ng mga pulitiko. Karamihan kasi sa mga ito ay nakakabobo, nakakatorta ng utak. ‘Yung iba nga, mukhang maging sila ay hindi naiintindihan ang pinagsasasabi; malamang ay ipinagawa lang nila ang kanilang speech sa … Continue reading
Filed under Government/Politics, Ilocos
The lie of Eli
NOW IT CAN BE TOLD. Elizabeth Raquel, president of Gumil Filipinas, was “Mark Limon.” Two years ago, a news article supposedly written and contributed by one Mark Limon appeared in this paper. The news article, headlined ““University of Hawaii prof … Continue reading
Ianree kayganda
DEAR AIAN, On June 1, you took your new job as provincial tourism officer of Ilocos Norte. You left a teaching career in the university to assume a responsibility where you feel you can be of better service to society. … Continue reading
Bura vs Bora
Room 137, The Manor Hotel, Camp John Hay. I am in Baguio as I write this, but two other places are on my mind. Last month, I had the chance to join a trip to Boracay, which I first visited … Continue reading
200 call center jobs open.. and this time clean
The most difficult column I have written by far is that of Ilocos Norte-based call centers that sell—in ways deceptive and malicious—porn sites, for I knew it would create a stir and would affect the livelihood of those involved in … Continue reading
Fantastic Rudy
NEVER HAVE I been a fan of Rodolfo “Rudy” Castro Fariñas. I had always known he is brilliant, but the arrogance attached to his person turned me off big time. And it did not help that he got embroiled … Continue reading
Filed under Government/Politics, Ilocos
Disappointing Guling
I HAVE always believed in Paoay’s Guling-guling, which, I argue, is the only authentic festival in the region, being deeply rooted in the history and culture of the townsfolk, unlike most festivals, including Laoag’s Pamulinawen, which came out of nowhere, … Continue reading
Konsehales Japorms and the Fashion Police
ONE FRIDAY NIGHT, after an exhausting workweek, I was in a video shop in Laoag looking for a good movie to watch when I chanced at City Councilor Joseph Tamayo who was also on a scout for good films. The … Continue reading
Filed under Government/Politics, Ilocos
Tina, Helen, Christian, and Mary
FOUR human beings pervade my consciousness these days, and they happen to be all mothers. First is Tina Tan, whose recent appointment as Tourism Officer of Ilocos Norte made me so happy, I almost had permanent cramps on my facial … Continue reading
Filed under Family, Filipino, Filipino Youth, Government/Politics, Heroes, Ilocos, The Good Life, Tourism
Before Celdran, there was Rafales
AND THE present pales in comparison to the past. Carlos Celdran, a well-known tourist guide, made news recently when he walked into the Manila Cathedral in the middle of a Mass and shouted, “Down with Padre Damaso!” in protest of … Continue reading
Filed under Church, Government/Politics, Ilocos
“With Imee as governor, it’s exciting to live in Ilocos.”
YOU WOULD think the line is straight from a press release written by Imee’s young and brilliant media staff, or from a column penned by some paid publicist or corrupt journalist, but no, the generous adulation is lifted from the … Continue reading
Filed under Government/Politics, Ilocos
The better Kris
KRIS—the better Kris, the sincere Kris, the brilliant Kris, the wonder boy, my valued friend—did not make the cut for the congressional race. He fought the good fight, but the people chose someone, and it’s not him. We should see … Continue reading
Filed under Government/Politics, Ilocos
200
That, dear karikna, is not the number of yellow shirts I have purchased. I surmise not even Noynoy Aquino has that many in his wardrobe. Two hundred pesos is the current rate in the vote-buying operations for the first congressional … Continue reading
Filed under Government/Politics, Ilocos, Sociology
Rethinking Marcos
Asiong, a karikna, is confused about my stance about President Marcos. “I thought you were a Marcosian, you said so in one article, and then you were praising Cory in another post,” he laments. Riknakem habitue William S. has also delivered … Continue reading
Filed under Government/Politics, Ilocos
