2009 to 2014 Chronology


(October 27, 2014 to January 15, 2015)

A Chronology of Ilocos Norte History

2009

November 12
Museo Ilocos Norte celebrates its 10th year anniversary; the history continues.

November 22
Christ the King Celebration. Thousands of Catholics led by Bishop Sergio L. Utleg of the Diocese of Laoag participated in the nationwide celebration of Christ the King.

December 03
Robinsons Ilocos Norte made an incredibly big hit on opening day on December 3, as thousands of people,trooped to the opening of the first and only full service mall in the Ilocos Region.

2009
November 12
Museo Ilocos Norte celebrates its 10th year anniversary; the history continues.

November 22
Christ the King Celebration. Thousands of Catholics led by Bishop Sergio L. Utleg of the Diocese of Laoag participated in the nationwide celebration of Christ the King.
December 03
Robinsons Ilocos Norte made an incredibly big hit on opening day on December 3, as thousands of people,trooped to the opening of the first and only full service mall in the Ilocos Region.

December 10
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo awards the Gawad sa Kampeon ng Kabataang Pilipino 2009 to Ilocos Norte Provincial Board Member, for the city government’s support and programs for the youth. Atty. Kristian Ablan received the award for his legislative achievements as young legistrator on December 10 at Malacañang Palace.

December
Laoag City Schools Division Superintendent Ms. Araceli Pastor announced that the city’s delegation took the overall championship in the recently concluded Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) held at the Juan G. Macaraeg National High School in Binalonan, Pangasinan.

December 28
Dingras – Local candidates of the Nacionalista Party in this municipality were on their way from a Christmas party in a local village when heavily armed men fired at them, killing one barangay official and injuring 10 others, in the early morning of December 28.

2010
January 16
The wild bird club of the Philippines and the DENR in cooperation with the Municipality of Paoay conducted a thorough Asian Waterbird Census at the Paoay lake on January 16, 2010. Dr. Pete Calope, representing WBCP and head of the Ilocos Birders, takes a look at the lake for migratory wild birds. Among those predominant were the Philippine Duck A. luzonica (total count is 829) and Tufted Duck A. fuligula (239); others counted were – Great Egret (7), little Egret (5) and Baar’s Pochard (2), etc.

January 27
The more than half a billion peso farm-to-market road cutting travel time for 24 villages to reach the municipal hall and bypassing the Padsan River was inaugurated on January 27 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

February 26 to March 02
Ilocos Norte team continued with its winning streak as it stretched its run for the 11th year after they bested 13 other divisions to rule the 2010 Ilocos Region Athletic Association meet on February 26 to March 2.

March 13-14
World-class tourism attractions and local products from the province of Ilocos Norte were showcased in a Hawaiian festival in Honolulu County on March 13-14, aimed at enriching cultural exchanges between the people of Hawaii and the Pacific.

March 24
The Ilocos Norte Hotel and Convention Center (INHCC), the newest addition to the province’s tourism industry, featuring a hundred-room hotel and a world-class convention center that could accommodate 1,200 people was formally opened on March 24.

April
Stephanie Cimatu, 16, of Bangui, Ilocos Norte has been acclaimed as the best Filipina javelin thrower when she recently put the Ilocos region in the national sporting map, after winning the first gold medal in the 53rd Palarong Pambansa held in San Jose, Tarlac City.

May
People line up at a small buying station of a newly introduced pandesal in the province mixed with malunggay (moringa) powder. Trained baker Eleno Samson, 44, of Durong’s Pandesal in Laoag City, says Durong’s Pandesal sells about 6,000 to 8,000 pieces of pandesal at P2 each.

May 10
The Marcoses showed who the political powerhouse in the province is as they dominated the first-ever automated elections in the country by winning the highest positions in the province.

2nd District Congresswoman
MARCOS, Imelda R.

Governor – MARCOS, Maria Imelda R.
Vice-Governor – BARBA, Eugenio Angelo Marcos

Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. took the seventh position in the senatorial race of the recent May 10 automated elections.
May 13
Fire breaks out at Marcos Hall of Justice second floor of the old building at about 7 pm on May 13. Important court documents, books, computers, tables and chairs and other office equipment turned into ashes as the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court Branches 11 and 12 were heavily damaged by fire. In August 2009, another fire broke in the archive room of RTC Branch 15 of the same building but was immediately controlled by firefighters.

June 11
Fr. Ericson Josue, a Filipino priest-historian, recently discovered at least three ‘lost towns’ in northern Philippines. These were the towns of Bangbang (which is now a part of Bangui), Adang (is now Adams, a remote municipality in Ilocos Norte) and Vera (which is still unknown in the province) of Ilocos Norte.

June 15
Jovelito “Lito” Agustin a local radioman was gunned down along the national highway in Laoag City at about 9:45 pm. Agustin, 37, married and radio reporter, is an anchorman of DZJC Aksyon Radyo-Laoag.

June 21
Burgos – Incoming Pagudpud Mayor and current Pagudpud Vice Mayor Matilde “Maja” Sales survived an ambush attempt on June 21, 2010 at about 4 pm along the national highway at Barangay Nagsurot. Two of his close-in bodyguards, however, were killed while one was injured.

July
St. Luke’s Medical Center’s Dr. Joven Cuanang and Dr. Maria Lourdes Otayza of Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital, sign the memorandum of agreement that would serve as a framework of cooperation between the two hospitals.

August
For the first time in the history of the Laoag City, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) won the Best City Jail of the Year award for Region I.

August
Laoag City has been declared under a state of calamity due to the outbreak of the dengue hemorrhagic fever. A total of 165 confirmed and suspected dengue cases with three casualties were reported.

September 23
Operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested on September 23 the prime suspect in the slaying of radio broadcaster Jovelito “Lito” Agustin at about 2:15 am in a hotel in Baguio City.

December 18
The people of Laoag City found another reason to be proud as a Laoagueño following the emergence of the Laoag City gymnastics group as overall champion in the grand finals showdown of a nationally televised noontime show.

2011
January 19
Currimao – An Ilocos Norte Fredelito Pingao, 51, judge was found dead in his own pool of blood at about 9:00 on January 19 inside his house at Barangay San Simeon, Currimao, Ilocos Norte. He was the acting presiding judge of Branch 1 at the Marcos Hall of Justice in Laoag City and presiding judge of the Municipal Circuit Trial Courts of Vintar and Sarrat suffered multiple hack wounds in his throat as well as other stab wounds.

February 14
Batac City — Batac Mayor Jeffrey Nalupta and City Officials welcomed with jubilation the latest Supreme Court decision upholding the cityhood status of 16 municipalities across the country, which includes Batac.
March 16-20
In the First International Vietnam International Choir Festival and Competition in Hoi An, Vietnam held from March 16 to 20, the Samiweng Singers, a choral group from the Ilocos Norte National High School, got the gold in the children’s choir category and the sacred music category under the direction of choir founder Robert Caluya and co-conductor Sherberk Cabrales.
May 6
Gov. Imee R. Marcos officiates the oath-taking of new Dingras Mayor Erdio Valenzuela on May 6 by law of succession. Valenzuela takes over from Mayor Marynette Gamboa, who was disqualified by the Comelec in the 2010 national and local elections, also elevating through the law of succession, number one councilor Ruben Marcos who takes over the vice mayoralty post vacated by Valenzuela.

May 23
National winners of the GAWAD SAKA from Ilocos Norte received their award and cash incentive from President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on May 23 at the Malacañang Palace. They are (from left) Rogelio Ceredon (representing his group) was awarded as the most outstanding Municipal Agriculture and Fisheries Council or MAFC (a non-government, non-political organization of farmers in Dingras, Ilocos Norte who helps in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of DA projects and programs); Edita Aguinaldo-Dacuycuy, (individual) national winner of High Value Commercial Crop (dragon fruit) category of Burgos, Ilocos Norte and Prescillano Tabios (representing his group), most outstanding Palayamanan 4-H working youth club of Catuguing, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.

June 16
On June 16, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI has promoted Laoag Bishop Sergio L. Utleg by appointing him as the next Archbishop of Tuguegarao succeeding retired Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan and will be formally installed on August 12, 2011 in Tuguegarao with around 1.5 million Catholics, more than 80 priests and at least 120 religious organizations.

July 2
The PGIN Norte and Cebu, represented by Governors Imee Marcos and Gwendolyn Garcia, respectively, signed a sisterhood pact that will enable both provinces to an exchange of ideas and opportunities on investment, tourism, and research and development.

July
Three taekwondo jins from Ilocos Norte took home 3 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medals in the 5th World Taekwondo Culture Expo held in Muju, South Korea recently.

Melbourne Corales, 14, a student from the Pinili National High School won gold medals in sparring and poomsae competitions while Bradley Wayne Sacayanan, 15, of Paoay National High School took the gold medal in sparring and a bronze medal in poomsae.

Also, an eight-year old pupil from Mariano Marcos State University’s Laboratory Elementary School, Ignatius Vicente Lorenzo E. Piñera took home two silver medals in sparring and poomsae categories.

July
Using remote sensing satellite gadget to identify the schools of fishes, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte plans to purchase a commercial fishing vessel to boosts livelihood of 6,598 fisherman in Ilocos Norte. To date, there are about 5,922 metric tons of fish produced in Ilocos Norte valued at approximately P604 million annually.

August 29
The estimated damages from typhoon “Mina” has reached P362 million, P43 million came from agriculture, while P319 million was the estimated loss from infrastructure, mainly on irrigation services, provincial roads and bridges, and school buildings.

September 10
Gov. Imee R. Marcos and Camarines Sur Gov. L Ray Villafuerte formally established and signed a sisterhood pact that will enhance, promote and ensure enduring relationship, cooperation and understanding between the two provinces.

September 11
The 94th birthday celebration of President Ferdinand E. Marcos was celebrated grandiosely in Ilocos Norte with over 10,000 spectators coming from the province and also from all over the country. Claimed by witnesses as the most exciting and extravagant birthday celebration ever for the former president since 1986, a whole day activity was dedicated to commemorate his memories as a boy, a lawyer-turned-politician, and his legacy as the longest president who served the country.

September 15
San Francisco, California. Edita Aguinaldo- Dacuycuy, 66, is just a farmer by accident. But she made it as one of the top four female innovation leaders of the world, honored on September 15, 2011 at the grand ballroom of Westin St. Francis hotel in San Francisco, California.

October
The Municipalities of Burgos and Nueva Era bagged the cleanest, greenest and safest local government unit (LGU) in the recently conducted provincial clean and green search.

The municipality of Nueva Era topped the rating in the 1st to 3rd class municipality category while San Nicolas, the top contender, placed second.

For the 4th to 5th class municipality category, Burgos ranked number one followed by Banna, and third is the municipality of Sarrat.

November
“This is a dream come true!” This was the statement of a teary eyed Toribio Viernes of Barangay Tamdagan, Vintar Ilocos Norte when he received his real property original certificate through the PGIN’S project ‘Titulo a Natalged: Sagot ken Ilokano’ last November 14 at the Centennial Arena, Laoag City.

November 12
The PGIN is all set to display Ilocano talents from all over the province in its first, yet grandiose ‘festival of festivals’ dubbed as ‘Tan-ok ni Ilocano’. “Tan-ok ni Ilocano” is a showcase of festival dances from the 21 municipalities and two cities in Ilocos Norte.
December 9
Laoag City’s Children’s Choir, represented by their conductor Sherberk Cabrales tops the 2011 MBC National Choral Competition-Children’s Category held December 9, 2011 at the Aliw Theater in Metro Manila, beating erstwhile champion Quezon City Performing Arts Foundation.

2012
February 3
On February 3, the SM management and the PGIN represented by Gov. Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos inked a 20- year lease agreement to convert the Ilocano Heroes Hall into a commercial complex.

February 22
The Regional Development Council (RDC) through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) named the municipalities of San Nicolas and Burgos, and Laoag City as champions in the 2011 RDC-DILG Performance Awards held at the Oasis Country Resort Hotel in San Fernando City, La Union on February 22, 2012.

March 31
Laoag City General Hospital (LCGH) and St. Luke’s Medical Center signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) and memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the city hospital on March 31.

April
Former Bacarra Vice Mayor Villamor Ramelb, the accused mastermind in the 2007 killing of then Bacarra Mayor Philip Velasco has been acquitted of murder charges filed against him due to insufficient evidence.

May 10
In line with Gov. Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos’ “Paoay Kumakaway” tourism campaign, an event entitled “Himala sa Buhangin!” was held at the mysterious sand dunes of Paoay, the only desert-like landscape in South East Asia, thereby promoting the site as a prime tourist destination.

July
Living up to her billing as “Mother of the Country” Rep. Imelda R. Marcos built Mothering Centers in 10 municipalities, including Batac City, in the province’s second district.

July 4-14
The world-class choral group, Samiweng Singers of the Ilocos Norte National High School has bagged a gold medal and two silver medals in the 7th World Choir Games in Cincinnati, United States held from July 4 to 14.

July 09
In her second State of the Province Address (SOPA) on July 9, Marcos declared she would be running for reelection next year noting that more development is needed to be done in llocos Norte.

August
The PGIN, in partnership with private housing developers and Pag-ibig Fund, unveiled on August 8 two housing projects that would be affordable for Ilocanos the Adigi Homes, a 3.5-hectare gated low-cost housing community located in Brgy Quiling Norte, Batac City and the Ayuyang Residences, a condominium project to rise near the Pres. Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sports Stadium.

August 24
United States Ambassador to the Philippines, Harry K. Thomas, Jr., accompanied by U.S. Embassy dignitaries and friends visited Museo Ilocos Norte on August 24, where he was warmly greated by Museo staff and given a taste of basi and cornick. Here, he poses for a group picture with museum staff.

August
The Laoag City government was recently awarded as the Presidential Award Search’s Most Child-Friendly City in Region I for CY 2011, City social welfare officer Aurora Corpuz, said this is the first time the city has won this award and thus would represent the Ilocos Region in national level search.

September 29
Laoag City Vice Mayor Edward P. Domingo, otherwise known as “Sapatos” passed away at about 3:30 in the morning of September 29, 2012 after a heart attack. He was declared dead on arrival at the Governor B. Roque Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRBASMH). He was 73.

September
The former First Lady was in Nueva Era town where she led the ribbon cutting ceremony of this province’s newest commercial complex (municipal public market) funded through her Priority Development Assistance Fund and also the ground breaking of the proposed eco-cultural park.

October 2
Sarrat – Ten passengers, mostly students and including the driver and conductor of a passenger jeep died in a vehicular traffic accident along the national highway of Barangay Pariir in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte at about 7am on Tuesday, October 2. The passenger jeep driven by Ludwig Dela Cruz collided with a 14-wheeler truck, according to police investigators.

October 11
The LGU of San Nicolas and Laoag City again took top honors in the recently concluded search for the National 2012 Most Business-Friendly LGU awards held at the Manila Hotel Pavilion on October 11, 2012 in line with the celebration of the 38th Philippine Business Conference and Expo with His Excellency Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III as special guest of honor.

November 2
Bacarra – Inspired by having produced the most number of priests in the not-so-known “Vatican town” of the Philippines, the popular balikbayan capital of Ilocos Norte has made moves to regain its lost glory as an eco-cultural destination for tourists by putting up the Museo de Bacarra.

November 3
Ilocanos warmly welcome an image of San Pedro Calungsod on November 3 at the Laoag International Airport with a mass at the St. William Cathedral, after which the saint’s relic was transported to Vigan City in Ilocos Sur.

November
The Philippine Councilors League (PCL) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced that the Batac City and the municipalities of San Nicolas and Pagudpud are the winners for the city category, 1st-3rd class and 4th-6th class municipalities, respectively as the provincial winners in the recently concluded search for the 2012 Local Legislative Awards.

December
Mary Ann Yasay Luis, M.D., DPBO, FPAO, FPCS, has been chosen as an awardee of the search for The Outstanding Filipino Physicians (TOFP) 2012.

2013
January 3-6
Ilocanos welcome the holy relic of St. Therese on January 3 at the St. William Cathedral in Laoag City. St. Therese relic stayed in the Diocese of Laoag until January 6.
February 1
A day before its 195th founding anniversary, the PGIN received a positive verdict from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), an international certifying body, labeling Ilocos Norte as the first fully ISO-certified province in the Philippines on February 1.

February 8
In line with Gov. Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos’ commitment to education, the Sirib Mile project was finally kick-started with its gateway inaugurated and master plan unveiled on February 8.

February 17-23
Fatima Mitra and Jazinda Silvestre from the MMSU won each a gold medals in the 2013 State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) National Olympics held at the Jose Rizal Memorial State University in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, Feb. 17-23.

Fatima Mitra, a second year engineering student emerged champion in shot put (women category) after throwing down the formidable iron in the final round beating her opponents from the other 15 regions.

Also, Jazinda Silvestre, a fourth year BS Accountancy student, won another gold medal in table tennis mixed doubles. She was paired with Mark Anthony Espiritu of DMMMSU.

April 3
Dane Mikhael S. Calica led the 1,926-strong Mariano Marcos State University Class of 2013 in the Commencement Exercises held April 3 at the university’s Sunken Garden, making him the only second MMSU summa cum laude since the university’s birth in 1978. The late Gemma Ulep, who finished accountancy in 1999, was the first.

May 29
Following the arrest of four Chinese nationals found with illegal firearms and explosives in a nearby Pasuquin town, members of the PNP filed multiple charges against them on May 29. The suspects were identified as Dennis Co. Dang Hoi Yin, Lui Xin and Lei Guang Feng.

May 30 to June 5
Members of the Ilocos Norte Bonsai Society reaped awards for 12 out of the 22 bantique and blue bell bonsai they brought to the Asia-Pacific Bonsai Friendship Federation Convention and Exhibit held Ma 30 to June 5 in Quezon City. Foreign Bonsai Master determined the best of more than 200 bonsai from the Philippines and neighboring countries. Ilocos Norte won gold in the forest and full cascade bonsai style under the non-bantique category while six other bonsai were given silver award and four were given bronze.

June 12
Police officers prepare to raise the first Abel Iluko giant flag measuring 1 1/2 meters by 3 meters on June 12 in front of the Ilocos Norte capitol grounds in commemoration of the 115th Independence Day celebration.

June 23
A flock of rare spotted imperial pigeons, endemic to the Philippines were seen perched on a coral rock in Brgy. Davila, Pasuquin on June 23.

June 28
Newly elected and re-elected Ilocos Norte officials, led by Gov. Imee Marcos, take their respective oath of office on June 28 at the Centennial Arena.

July 25
San Nicolas – Local officials declared this town under a state of calamity on July 25 after the number of suspected Chikungunya cases surged to over 200, affecting at least four neighboring barangays.

August 27
A blind pygmy killer whale (ferese attenuate) was found by Jesie Sales In Brgy. Naglicuan, Pasuquin at around 3:30 pm on August 27. The endangered animal weighing approximately 150 kilos and measuring 226 cm. with a gunshot wound was successfully released after he was given antibiotics by Provincial Veterinary Office.

September 11
Sarrat – Ferdinand Marcos museum at the Sarrat was launched September 11, the 96th birth anniversary of the Late President.

September 22-24
Besting 18 other schools, MMSU was proclaimed as the “Most Awarded Local Chapter” during the 2013 Mid-year Convention of the National Federation of Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants – Region I and Cordillera Administrative Region.

September 23
The Laoag City Jail was named the best city jail of the year in the entire Philippines at Camp Aguinaldo during the Jail Management and Penology’s (BJMP) 22nd Anniversary and Awarding Ceremony.

September
San Nicolas – San Nicolas wins 3 national awards in just 2 months. Formers San Nicolas Mayor now Vice Mayor Dr. Afredo P. Valdez, Jr. was recently chosen as one of first ever Region I awardees in the 15th National Sandugo for Outstanding Local Government Executives (LGEs). Emerson B. Tabios was also selected as the Regional and National Outstanding Young Farmer during the Gawad Saka Search for Outstanding Agricultural Achievers for the year 2012-2013.
October 24
The San Nicolas municipal government was again adjudged as the most business friendly local government unit for 2013.

October 31 and November 1
More than 1,000 houses in Ilocos Norte were either damaged or flooded, affecting 1,377 families, as typhoon Vinta (International name Kroza) pummeled northern Philippines from October 31 to November 1, leaving one dead and two injured and left a total estimated damages worth ₱95 million.

December
Ilocos Norte got fresh pages in a European tourist guidebook which now features a locator to the province’s finest destinations including hotels, restaurants and transportation facilities. The book “Guide to the Philippines,” written by British writer Kiki Deere, is used by the European tourists travelling around the world.

2014
January 4
Herbert Kohler, Jr. president and chairman of Kolher Company, known for plumbing product, gleefully accepts the gift of Gov. Imee R. Marcos, the traditional hat called “kattukong”. The hat is a sign of nobility and was historically worn by village and farmer leaders in Ilocos Norte.

January 6
The country’s first bonsai school formally opened on January 6 at the MMSU, with not more than 30 expected enrollees to land a promising career as bonsai technicians here and abroad.
January 9
Bangui – In the first and largest wind farm in the country located in Bangui Bay, Mauro Baloaloa, 45, of Brgy. Baruyen here, said that he saw a hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate), an endangered species crawl toward the shoreline and dig a hole to lay its eggs.

January
After winning the gold medal in the 27th South East Asian Games in Naypyidaw, Myanmar in December 2013, decathlete Jesson Ramil Cid of Dingras is looking forward to bigger challenges.

January 31 to February 2
Paoay Lake Boat Club, the name for the new and first boat club dedicated to rowing in Ilocos Norte, will be launched along with a three-day invitational cup called Paoay Invitational Regatta on January 31 to February 2, to be participated by the Manila Boat Club (MBC) and the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, one of the oldest and most prestigious boat clubs in the world.

February 15
As part of continuing efforts to help victims and survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan), over 5,000 Ilocanos in this northern part of Luzon participated in a worldwide walk organized by the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) to raise funds and at the same time an official attempt to surpass two Guinness world records.

February 21
Gov. Imee Marcos and Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See, Mercedes Tuason share a meal with newly installed Cardinal Orlando Quevedo a native of Sarrat who was installed by Pope Francis in Rome, Italy, February 21.
March
After being honoured as a National Living Treasure (Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan) by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) 2012, Magdalena Galinato Gamayo, 88 years old, of Lumbaan Pinili, continues to strive in making the abel-weaving tradition in the country alive.

March 4
Paoay – On March 4 or a day before Ash Wednesday, Paoay residents to celebrate an old tradition that dates back to the 16th century when people gather and enjoy all forms of merry making such as cooking dudol (native rice cake) and drinking basi (sugarcane wine) before they enter the season of Lent, highlighted by the Guling-guling festival – the wearing of fashionable Abel Iluko or hand-woven textiles famous in this northern part of Luzon.

Mach 7
Pasuquin – On March 7, Edita Aguinaldo-Dacuycuy “Dragon Fruit Lady” of Ilocos Norte, along with 10 other successful businesswomen in the Philippines, were awarded by Go Negosyo’s Inspiring Filipina Starpreneurs at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, with over 6,000 attending.

March 10
Pasuquin – The Association of garlic and onion farmers in this town wants to claim their crown as the biggest producer of Ilocos white gold, asking the Department of Agriculture (DA) through Secretary Proceso Alcala to grant their request for financial assistance. Records from the Bureau of Agriculture Statistics show Ilocos Norte as the top producer of garlic in the Philippines, contributing at least 69 percent or 6,284 metric tons (MT) of the national output in 2010 next to Occidental Mindoro with 22.03 percent or 2,012MT, Nueva Ecija, 3.55 percent or 324MT, Quezon 2.93 percent or 268MT and Ilocos Sur 2.68 percent or 245MT.

March 14
The Ilocos Norte government, represented by Gov. Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos received the trophy and a check worth ₱4 million from Agriculture Sec. Proceso J. Alcala and National Rice Program Coordinator and acting Usec. for Field Operations Dante S. Delima on March 14 at the Resorts World Manila as one of the top 12 Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers in the country for its commitment in attaining high rice self-fufficiency. This is the second time Ilocos Norte was recognized as a top rice producer.

March 31
“Welcome His Eminence Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, first Ilocano Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church.” After 67 years Cardinal Olando “Orly” Beltran Quevedo returns to his home province as the first Ilokano Cardinal.

March 31
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has stepped up investigation on the reported illegal hunting of birds and cutting of trees in Adams, an emerging eco-tourism destination recently declared as the “last frontier of dipterocarp forest.”

April 2
Laoag City was named the cleanest, greenest and safest city in the entire Ilocos Region. The award was given by the Regional Development Council through the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on April 2 at a hotel in Bauang, La Union.

April 3
Seven college scholars of the PGIN are set to graduate with honors or cum laude this school year. Of the 115 honor graduates to lead a total of 1,972 graduating students to march at MMSU on April 3, seven are academic scholars of the provincial government.

April
San Nicolas – Mayor Melanie Grace P. Valdez announced that the municipality of San Nicolas took the top post in the 2013 Search for Best LGU Best Practices Award. San Nicolas entry in the Best Practices search was the “Unity Building” where the municipal government provided office buildings to the PNP, Fire Department and Municipal Trial Court.

April 22
Marcos – The saga of the town with two mayors continued on April 22 after a brief hiatus as the police padlocked the municipal mayor’s office. The lockdown of the said office is to scale down tensions in the town as former Marcos mayor Salvador Pillos and proclaimed Marcos mayor Arsenio Agustin continue to claim mayoralty of the town. The electoral case has been elevated to the Supreme Court.

May 13
Ryan Madamba, a designer from San Nicolas showcased his creations in the first ever Abellessima fashion show on May 13 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.

May 15-17
Eight representatives from the joint Foreign Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, were in Ilocos Norte on May 15-17 to explore Ilocos Norte’s potential for investments, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) along with the American, Canadian, British, Mexico and Korean chambers of commerce have expressed interest to partner with the provincial government in terms of logistics particularly in the fields of infrastructure development and in the possible export of fresh Ilocos mangoes and dragon fruit.

May 23
Dr. Purisima A. Bueno won the Jose P. Rizal Memorial Award for Community Leadership during the 107th Annual Convention of the Philippine Medical Association held at the Vigan Convention Center on May 23.

June 2
Laoag Ctiy – The Laoag City government has once again proven its mettle in terms of performance as it garnered the European Society for Quality Research (ESQR) for Best Practices. The awarding ceremonies were held on June 2 at Brussels, Belgium.

June 9
“We do not allow and support any black sand mining project in the province.” This was the reply of Gov. Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos to the letter of Laoag Bishop Rentao Mayugba on the issue on whether to allow black sand mining in the province or not.

June 22 to July 5
Mitch Glydelle S. Cacatian A fourth year BS Agriculture student of the Mariano Marcos State University – College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development (MMSU-CAFSD) delivered a lecture in line with the current innovative agriculture system in the Philippines at the Gwanak Campus of the Seoul National University (SNU) in South Korea, June 22 to July 5.

June 25
Pasuquin – The Department of Agriculture gave a two-storey hanger storage worth ₱1.3 million to this town, reputed as the biggest producer of onion and garlic products in the entire country. The newly-constructed hanger-type storage measuring 12×12 meters located at Brgy. Nalvo can store up to 50 tons of onion and garlic.

July 1
Laoag City – Starting July 1, the Laoag City government begins full implementation of the BAYONG (Bring Along Your Own Natural Greenbag) ordinance No. 2012-045.

July 1-8
Ilocano devotees took time out to welcome the Santo Niño de Cebu (Holy Child of Cebu) visiting the province on July 1 to 8 to mark the milestone of its arrival in the country about half a millennium ago.
July
Piddig – A town famous for being the site of the famous “Basi Revolt” during the Spanish era has started developing a coffee plantation. The switch from sugarcane, prime ingredient of basi (sugarcane wine), to coffee involves the development of an initial 10-hectare plantation of Arabica coffee in the mountain ranges of this town.

August 26
Gov. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Aug. 26 focused on the Ilocano greatness united by a vision to make this small province the best in the country by 2020.

September 1
Marcos supporter and family spokesman Otilio “Lito” Gorospe, 78, died on September 1 in a hospital in Manila due to aneurysm. Gorospe served as media consultant of then Ilocos Norte Governor, now Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.

September 2
Former Vice Governor Mariano R. Nalupta, Jr. 69, a pillar of the Nalupta clan in the province, died from a series of heart attacks at the Philippine Heart Center in Manila on September 2.

September 3
US ambassador to the Philippines Philip S. Goldberg visit Laoag City and Ilocos Norte on September 3.

September 3
Piddig – A new and modern two-storey municipal hall building of Piddig was inaugurated on September 3. The first municipal building was erected on the same site in 1922.

September 19-20
Typhoon “Mario” (Fung Wong) with storm warning signal no. 2 left million of pesos worth of damages in agriculture, infrastructure and forced hundreds of families to flee their homes in the province. Dept. of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas along with Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas and party arrive in the province to assure Ilocanos that help of typhoon victims. A C130 plane of the Philippine Air Force containing over 3,000 food packs from the national headquarters of the DSWD arrived in Laoag City to assist about 6,698 families affected by typhoon.

October 4
A 35-member cultural troupe from China’s Guangdong province staged an artistic performance at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena on October 4 as part of the extended Filipino-Chinese friendship day celebration.

November 12
Museo Ilocos Norte celebrates its 15th year anniversary; the history continues.

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