BRYANRREALGO

Kids of unmarried couples can now be baptized in Ilocos Su ILOCOS SUR  - Rolando Patubo, a candle vendor at the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral in Vigan City, has been living together with his partner for the past 10 years. They were blessed with four children aged 10, five, three, and one. But all of the children are not yet baptized because their parents are still unmarried in the Catholic Church. He is not sure when will they get married but he hopes that his children will finally become members of the Catholic Church through baptism. “Sana bago ako mawala mapabinyagan ko sila, kahit yun lang ang magawang tama sa aking pananampalataya” Patubo said. His wish may be granted soon. NEW POLICY  The Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia in Ilocos Sur has issued a new ruling allowing the baptism of children whose parents did not yet receive the sacrament of matrimony from the Catholic Church. The old policy only allowed the first child of those who are unmarri...

Why Vigan university attracts foreign students ILOCOS SUR – The pre-medicine courses and medicine program of the University of Northern Philippines (UNP) in Vigan City continue to attract foreign students. At the start of the new academic year Monday, at least 730 Indian nationals were enrolled in the school.  A total of 405 enrolled at the College of Medicine, while 110 were enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, where they are taking up pre-medicine courses like Psychology and Biology. About 215, meanwhile, are enrolled in the Community Health Management program of the College of Health Sciences. The university is becoming one of the top choices of Indian students because of the good performance of its graduates in the Ministry of India Medical Board Examination.  In 2013, a UNP graduate topped the board examination. The cost of education in the university is also a consideration for the students. “It’s more economical f...

Map of the Phillipines courtesy of Rappler.com showing the proposed 11 states to be created based from Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr resolution in 2008.  LOOKING BACK During the 2016 national and local elections in the Philippines, then Presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte openly campaigned that he will push for the shift of federalism in the country as he believes that economic development should not only be in Metro Manila but should reach the most far flung areas in the country. He also added that peace and order can be easily obtained if governance itself starts at the local – especially in the south. He won in that election, but it’s not clear if his campaign for federalism help him to earn the trust of millions of Filipinos.  FEDERALISM  Generally, federalism is defined as a system of government in which the same territory is controlled by two levels of government. An overarching national government governs issues that affect the entir...