Revisiting the MOFYA Winners in the Ilocandia

For the past years, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region 1 has been consistently among those regions who wins an award during the National Awarding of the Model OFW Family of the Year Award (MOFYA), one of OWWA’s institutional events that aims to recognize the outstanding OFWs and their families who have demonstrated financial stability, steady and enduring family ties, outstanding community service and success in business ventures.

On March 10, 2015, OWWA Region 1 conducted home visitation to 2014 MOFYA National Winner for the Special Award on Best in Community Projects, Engineer Isidro M. Cabantac of Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur and 2013 MOFYA National Winner for Sea-Based Category Chief Engineer Alberto L. Balbalan of Burgos, Ilocos Sur.

2014 MOFYA National Winner for Best in Community Projects, Engineer Isidro M. Cabantac (2^nd from Right) with (L-R) Mrs. Milagros Cabantac, OWWA RWO1 OIC Rhoda R. Lee, OFC Leader Elisa Acena and FWO Virna P. Agbayani.

Engr. Isidro M. Cabantac continues to extend his unconditional services to the people in his community particularly in the field of agriculture. Recently, Secretary Proceso Alcala of the Department of Agriculture, visited Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur particularly the agricultural projects being implemented in the municipality. One of the projects visited was the Tramline (Cable Car) project initiated by Engineer Cabantac and funded by DA and the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHILMEC). The 3-million project aims to facilitate the easier transport of agricultural products from the mountainous areas of Sta. Maria including the neighboring towns.

OWWA Region 1 has also handed one unit Electrolux Refrigerator to Engr. Cabantac as his additional prize for being a National Winner for the Best in Community Project Award in the 2014 National MOFYA held last January 23, 2015 at the Blue Leaf Filipinas, Parañaque City.

Mayor Riolita R. Balbalan holding the Father Jose Burgos Special Award of her husband Chief Engineer Alberto L. Balbalan, 2013 National MOFYA Winner for Sea-Based Category.

On the other hand, Chief Engr. Alberto L. Balbalan, 2013 MOFYA National Winner for the Sea-Based category, is continually being recognized in their locality. He was recently given the Father Jose Burgos Special Award by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur (PGIS) for being recognized as a Model OFW Family in a national search. PGIS acknowledged Engr. Balbalan’s exemplary performance as a seafarer and his commendable efforts to rise from poverty, provide the needs of his family, share his blessings to the community, and provide livelihood programs to identified recipients which contributed to the socio-economic development of the community.

The said award was received by his better half, Mayor Riolita R. Balbalan of Burgos, Ilocos Sur, last February 1, 2015 during the “Pammadayaw ken Panagbigbig Kadaguiti Annak ti Ilocos Sur” as part of the 8^th “Kannawidan Ylocos Festival” held at Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. Chief Engineer Balbalan was currently on board during the awarding rites.

These recognitions were just few of the many reasons why the families of Chief Engr. Alberto L. Balbalan and Engr. Isidro M. Cabantac were hailed as Model OFW Families. They truly exemplify the ideal OFW family who is successful in the various facets of life. They are indeed an inspiration to fellow OFWs. (OWWA RWO1)

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

PGIN honors Ilocano heroes of past, present through Heroes Walk

SPO1 Allan Lampitoc Franco of Banna, Ilocos Norte and PO2 Jovalyn D. Lozano of Adams, Ilocos Norte receive a resolution of commendation, a certificate of college scholarship grant to their family members and a P20,000 cash incentive each from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte represented by Governor Imee R. Marcos and Vice Governor Angelo M. Barba in recognition of their bravery and heroic acts in the Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao on January 25. Mr. Franco and Mr. Lozano were recognized on March 10 in time for the unveiling of the second batch of Ilocano heroes at the Heroes Walk located along the Sirib Mile in Laoag City. (Lei Adriano) By Jennifer T. Pambid PGIN-CMO In honor of the heroes who brought freedom, fame and glory to the province as well as to the country in the past century, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Education Department and Sirib Youth Office launched the second batch of Ilocano Heroes Walk on March 10, 2015.

Pagudpud’s tourism transformer passes away

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Retired Philippine Air Force Col. Ricardo Nolasco Jr., owner of Hannah’s Beach Resort and Convention Center in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte passed away on Wednesday evening, July 11, 2018. He was 67. “He did not survive an open-heart surgery,” said Ronald Dominguez, spokesperson of the largest resort at Brgy. Balaoi in Pagudpud. Known as the architect behind the transformation of Pagudpud town as a premiere destination of the north, Mr. Nolasco put up Hannah’s Beach Resort in what was originally meant as a family vacation resort. The rest is history when it expanded into more than 300-room executive villas and cabanas, with on-going infrastructure developments and set up various amenities. As a result, hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists visit here daily. The resort is on a cliff by the beach, which provides a spectacular view of the sparkling blue lagoon. “Yesterday will go down my lifeline as one

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