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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Wika bilang gunita

Ithink
By JAMES SORIANO
August 31, 2011, 12:45am

MANILA, Philippines — Malawak ang diskurso ukol sa wikang Filipino. Sa isang banda, may mga nagsasabing tapos na ang debate, sapagkat humantong na tayo sa punto ng ating kasaysayan na dapat matutunan ito at gamitin bilang pangunahing wika sa pakikipag-ugnayan.

Sa madaling salita, nagwagi na ang wikang Filipino, at ang paggamit ng nasabing wika ang tanda ng pagiging Filipino.

Sa kabilang banda, pinag-uusapan pa rin ito, lalo na sa akademya at mga umpukan ng intelektwal. May mga nagtatanong pa rin tungkol sa kalagayan ng wika: sa paggamit ng wikang Filipino bilang "second language" sa wikang Ingles, at sa tensyong rehiyonal na nananatili ukol sa konsepto ng wikang Filipino, sapagkat para sa marami, sadyang magkatumbas ang Tagalog at Filipino.

Subalit ang nakagagambalang katotohanan ay naiiwan ang diskursong ito sa mga palihan at silid-aralan.

Sa palagay ko, malay tayong lahat na may ganitong uri ng diskurso. Nakabaon nga lamang siguro ito sa ating kubling-malay, at hindi binibigyang boses o panahon. Kaya naman ninais kong bigyang-pahayag nang pahapyaw ang diskursong ito sa konteksto ng aking pagpapalaki -- sapagkat sa aking karanasan, "English-speaking" pa rin ang ating bayan.

Mahirap sabihing isinasabuhay nang nakararami ang wika bilang tanda ng pagiging Filipino. Mahirap, sapagkat, sa kongkreto, Ingles ang wikang binibigyang pribilehiyo sa ating opisyal na mga gawain. Mahirap, sapagkat maraming katulad kong pinalaki sa wikang Ingles — na nag-aral, natuto, at nag-iisip sa wikang Ingles — na itinuturing bilang suliranin ang kanilang pagiging "split-level Filipino."

Sa nakaraang artikulo, ninais kong magambala ang mambabasa para basahin ang di-nakasulat. Inimbitahan ko siyang suriin ang kaisahan ng aking tono sa estadong panlipunan na isiniwalat ko. Tinangka kong hamunin ang mismong pag-unawa ng mambabasa sa kondisyon ng ating wika at identidad bilang Filipino. Minarapat kong isiwalat ang kondisyon ng wikang Filipino sa aking mga mata upang maabot ang madla, sapagkat ang kondisyon ng wikang Filipino ay kondisyong pangmadla.

At dahil kondisyon ang aking tinatalakay, kundisyonal o "descriptive" rin ang aking mga pahayag. Hindi ako nagdududang may mga dalubhasang nagsusulat, nagtuturo, at nakikipagtalastasan sa Filipino; ngunit hindi rin natin maikakaila na, sa kabuuan, ang wikang Ingles ang pinipiling gamitin sa mga pamantasan.

Masakit ring sabihin na ang wikang Filipino ay wikang pangkalye. Ngunit may nailabas rin itong diskurso ukol sa relasyon ng wika sa kondisyong panlipunan. Kung pantay-pantay nga ang ating tingin sa bawat isa, bakit nga ba masakit marinig na ang wika natin ay wikang pangkalye? Sa madaling salita: bakit magkatumbas sa ating isipan ang "wikang pangkalye" at "wikang mababang-uri"?

Sa bansang Pransiya, hindi ba't wikang pangkalye rin ang wikang Pranses? Hindi ba't ito ang wikang ginagamit ng mga trabahador, ng mga nagproprotesta? Ang pagkakaiba, sa madaliang tingin, ay wika ng lahat ang wikang Pranses. Maituturing talaga ito bilang wikang pambansa.

Hindi ganito ang trato sa wikang Filipino. Ang diskurso ng wika bilang tanda ng pinag-aralan ay halimbawa ng pagkakawatak-watak ng ating lipunan. Filipino ang wika ng mga militanteng nagproprotesta sa harap ng Malacanang, ngunit sa Ingles naman isinulat ang mga batas, executive order, at court order na pinoprotesta nila. Filipino ang wikang ginagamit natin kapag kakuwentuhan ang ating mga kaibigan at kasambahay ukol sa maiinit na isyu ng lipunan, ngunit inuulat ang mga isyung ito sa Ingles na "broadsheet” o pangunahing diyaryo.

Dagdag pa, suriin natin ang estado ng Filipino bilang wikang opisyal; kaakibat ito ng Ingles. Kung isinasalin man ang mga batas natin sa wikang pambansa, kakaunti lamang ang makikita mo sa internet. Laging nasa Ingles ang mga official memorandum, deed of sale at judicial issuances.

Sa madaling salita: kung nakabababa man ang wikang Filipino, hindi ito dahil mas mababa ang Filipino bilang wika, kundi dahil mababa ang tingin natin dito sa ating mismong lipunan. Masakit pakinggan, ngunit ganito natin itinuturing ang wikang "pambansa."

Pinagtatawanan din natin kapag isinasalin sa Filipino ang mga pelikula't palabas na banyaga; hindi ko alam kung may susubaybay pa ba sa Gossip Girl kung naka-dub ito sa wikang Filipino. Sa mga bilihan ng aklat, kakaunti na ang mga aklat na isinulat ng mga Filipino, mas kakaunti pa ang talagang nasa Filipino.

Sa ilang paaralan, "Language" pa ang tawag sa asignaturang "English," samantalang hindi "Wika" ang tawag sa "Filipino." Dagdag pa, tinuturo ang sipnayan, agham, at "Reading" sa Ingles; kaya siguro mas gusto nating magbasa ng Noli at Fili sa SparkNotes pagtuntong natin sa mataas na paaralan. Nakapagtataka pa rin bang marami pa rin sa atin, mayaman man o hindi, ang nahihirapan pa ring magbasa at magsulat sa Filipino?

Mapapansin sa mga bumabatikos sa akin ang sumusunod na argumento: dapat itaguyod ang wikang Filipino sapagkat isa kang Filipino. Dito, makikita nating nakatali ang ideya ng pagiging Filipino sa paggamit ng wikang Filipino. Kung gayon, ibig sabihin bang ang mga hindi marunong — o tahasang hindi gumagamit — ng wikang Filipino ay hindi na Filipino?

Ang punto ko rito ay dapat din natin pansinin na sa ibang rehiyon, ibang wika ang nangingibabaw. Ang wikang Filipino ay nakabase sa wikang Tagalog, na isa lamang sa napakaraming wikang basehan ng indibidwal na identidad.

Dahil dito, hindi ito tinatanggap ng lahat; may narinig na rin akong kuwento ng kaibigang nag-taxi, na hindi pinansin ng tsuper sapagkat kinausap niya si manong sa wikang Filipino.

Kung gayon, talaga ngang limitado ang ating karanasan: iba ang kondisyon ng wikang pambansa sa labas ng Maynila. Sa kabisera mismo, Ingles pa ang ginagamit ng marami sa nakapag-aral.

Wala akong inambisyon kundi maisulat ang totoong nadarama nang walang takot. Ngayong napag-uusapan ang isyu ng wikang pambansa sa internet at media, naghahanap ako ng masusing tugon mula sa madla; sapagkat, sa palagay ko, walang mas mainam na paraan upang suriin ang gunitang pambansa kundi sa pagdiskurso tungkol sa Filipino bilang bansa sa Buwan ng Wika.

The Saudi OFW Bubble Has Burst

The specter of the OFW remittance bubble bursting seemed unthinkable in a time when the Filipinos, the Aquino government and the presidents before Noynoy pandered to economic serfs and call them as “heroes” because of billions of remittances.

In May 2011, I wrote:

The remittances are a bubble waiting to burst. We need more job-creation opportunities at home. We need to address the root causes that make the Philippines an unattractive investment destination – starting with removal of the restrictive 60/40 constitutional proviso.

Pop Goes the OFW Remittance Bubble

Guess what, KSA OFWs who were on vacation have been advised not to return to their former employers. Gulf News has reported that

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia were advised not to return to the Philippines to visit their relatives following reports that many of them were barred from returning to their jobs, a radio report said.

“To those who are planning to take a vacation, I hope they postpone their plans,” Carlos Cao, administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration told ABS CBN.

“We will get in touch with our counterparts in Saudi Arabia, to clarify reports that some vacationing OFWs were given exit visa without the accompanying re-entry visa,” said Cao.

About 30,000 to 50,000 OFWs were expected to return home in the next five months, records showed.

Earlier, John Leonard Monterona, of the militant Migrante in the Middle East narrated to the Philippine Star, “There were four OFW-engineers who called me in Riyadh. They expressed surprised that their respective exit/re-entry visa had been stamped ‘exit’ only by the Saudi immigration officer at the counter.”

“We reported that matter to Philippine Labour Attaché Albert Valenciano in Riyadh. He was surprised by that move,” Monterona said, adding this could be a sign that skilled Filipino workers and professionals might also lose their jobs because of Saudi Arabia’s labour policy.

What in the world is going on? Here’s what’s going on – while we had our attention focused on Spratlys, Mislang, Mendoza, Porsche, the latest Aquino speech, the oligarchs double digit revenue growth – the Kingdom of Saud has opted to adopt a labor policy similar to the labor policies in the Foreign Investments Negatives List – List A

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has created Task Force OFW (overseas Filipino workers) to prepare for the displacement of migrant workers amid the looming “Saudization”, or the move of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to limit the number of overseas workers.

The Saudization or what KSA refers to as “nitaqat” scheme involves categorizing public and private firms into color codes that represent if the company complies with the “Saudization” requirement in hiring its own nationals to at least 10 percent of the total numbers of their workforce.

The government, on cue, downplayed the “Saudization” ban on domestics won’t affect OFW remittances.

BSP assistant governor Almasara Cyd Amador told a news forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency that they are sticking to their target of a seven percent increase in remittances.

“Seven percent is an attainable, fighting target because there are many factors behind the growth in OFW remittances,” Amador said .

Remittances by Filipinos living and working abroad hit $1.5 billion in February, or a 6.2 percent growth from last year, the BSP said earlier.

Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia accounted for eight to 10 percent of these remittances, Amador said.

Yeah right, there are many factors behind growth – and there are factors behind the – reversal of growth. Not being allowed to work in KSA again is gonna hurt the OFWs.

Read the government’s lips ban on OFW domestics will not affect OFW remittances, – really? Well, obviously Noynoy needs to get the BSP, the DOLE, and the DFA to sit on the same table, speak the same language, and use the same figures because someone will look like a major doofus of dumbass proportions when the OFWs come home to the Philippines – without jobs or business opportunities waiting for them.

The figures differ greatly, with the Department of Labor and Employment saying Saudization will affect 90,000 “low-skilled” workers and the overseas worker advocacy group Migrante-Middle East saying as many as 360,000 could lose their jobs.

An official of the Department of Foreign Affairs, on the other hand, told InterAksyon recently that up to 150,000 mid-level professionals, including engineers and supervisors, stand to lose their jobs because of Saudization.

This is aside from the estimated 20,000 domestic workers who may lose their jobs or no longer be hired because of Saudi Arabia’s refusal to agree to the $400 minimum wage set by the Philippine

Clock is Ticking Noy

What’s Aquino gonna do? Send the KSA returnees to Libya? Yemen? Egypt? The clock is ticking for for OFWs in KSA.

As the Saudi Gazette has pointed out – the Nitaqat (Saudization program is now in full swing – there will be winners and there will be losers. OFWs will not be happy – but unemployed Saudi citizens will be less inclined to boot the Saudi royals as Nitaqat spurs recruitment of Saudi workers

RIYADH: Saudi-owned and multinational companies have stepped up their recruitment of local workers following the announcement of Nitaqat, the Labor Ministry’s newly introduced Saudization program.

Under the program, private firms, based on the percentage of Saudization, are classified into green, yellow and red categories. Companies with high Saudization rates will come under the green category, while those who fail to achieve the required rates or refuse to employ Saudis will be included in the yellow and red categories, respectively.

Khalid Othaim, General Manager of the Dani Food Group, said the group is currently in a process of recruiting more Saudi nationals in different job categories.

“Although our company is in the ‘green category,’ as defined by Labor Ministry’s recent Nitaqat program, we are moving ahead with the recruitment of large number of Saudis to reach at least 50 percent,” he said.

Pinoys get a dose of Pinoy-style labor protectionism

Before MIGRANTE or some other Filipino elected officials come up with another retarded statement about imposing Filipino whims on the Saudi government – now would be a good time to remind Filipinos that the Saudi government is just following a protectionist policy similar to the constitutional and FINL restrictions on limiting the practice of professions to Filipinos only – sure sucks doesn’t it?

The argument for more cost effective and more productive competitive foreign labor is being made to allow the continued deployment of the OFWs. It becomes so hypcritical that what’s good for the Saudis and other developed economies of the world – foreign labor – is not good enough for the Philippine economy. The argument is that we have enough graduates to fill in the vacancies left by existing Filipino professionals. What’s lacking in this proposition is the lack of real-world experience of fresh grads who are plunged into teaching positions does not benefit students at all. And, with the teacher to student ratio rising we can certainly use more science, math, and literature teachers. But no, we want to keep our doors closed pinning our hopes in misguided nationalism.

What to do with the excess manpower?

The KSA returnees not only count blue collar workers – but also count among them a lot of our technical professionals, the sort of people that keep economies going. It will be such a waste to see such talent rendered unproductive. But what really is the alternative? The moment the KSA returnees leave the NAIA, they will face the stark reality of once again being either jobless or underpaid. Perhaps, they will have a brief spending binge – the last hurrah of the Pinoy petrodollar. After the well dries up – what next?

Search for more jobs in overseas economies? Search for jobs anywhere – yup, anywhere but here.. the Philippines. Unless of course you want to put up with the same Pinoy companies, their suck ass managers, the equally inept rank and file – and the pay which is slightly above starvation pay. Gosh – for all the talk of protecting our workers overseas, we can’t even provide a decent working environment to our local workers. Just go to your nearest retail store chain and inquire about the perpetual temporary employees and weep.

Saudi Arabia is but the beginning in the bursting of the mid-east/north africa OFW remittance bubble. Will the government open up the economy to allow foreign investors to own 100% equity and generate jobs locally? Aquino is sending out political signals that he will not endorse opening the economy – or even make a half-assed attempt to do so. For the meantime, expect the local dailies and local media to play up the sob stories of laid off KSA returnees – with Aquino and all his merry men taking turns in having photo ops with the soon-to-be jobless OFWs. That’s all there is to it – a photo op, and nothing more.

Let me spell it to you again gentlemen. We don’t have to send our workers overseas and break their families apart. We don’t need the bantay-salakay POEA or MIGRANTE to “protect” us. Free the market, open up the economy, remove the 60/40 – is the best way to protect our workers and consumers. Allow foreign investors to own up to 100% equity of the businesses they register in the Philippines and generate jobs LOCALLY.

The thing about the Arabian spring is that it can be contagious. When people don’t have jobs while the oligarchy is living it up – callousness and impunity often wind up as the proverbial needles that break the backs of camels. EDSA may very well find itself transported to the deserts of the middle east face to face with the jinns it has been trying to avoid.


About the Author

BongV

has written 277 stories on this site.

BongV is the webmaster of Antipinoy.com.


2 Comments on “The Saudi OFW Bubble Has Burst”

  • bokiyo wrote on 12 July, 2011, 3:05

    And… it won’t be long before OTHER countries follow the same suit . . . to reduce foreign workers in lieu of the locals (which should be the case). Singapore is now stepping up the plate to reduce foreign skill dependencies (even though most MNCs still prefer foreigners).
    On another note, “Saudization” is more hell bent on providing job opportunities for their locals, so why Philippines have a less efficient program of the Philippine “Saudization”. Yeah, we know, fingers are pointing to the 60/40 protectionism.

    [Reply]

  • Hyden Toro wrote on 12 July, 2011, 13:40

    Saudi Arabia is just doing the right thing. It is employing its own people.. Noynoy Aquino administration has no way to remedy the unemployed OFWs to have jobs…we don’t have industries . We programmed our way to solve unemployment; by sending people to work abroad as OFWs or even Drug Mules…We have to face the realities; that more and more people will be unemployed; and there are no waiting jobs for them in the Philippines…
    World recession is the name; and finding a good job abroad, is the game…like finding a needle in a haystack…

    [Reply]

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Coal, the Cause of Silent Death

Fr. Shay Cullen
(His columns are published in The Manila Times,

in publications in Ireland, the UK, Hong Kong, and on-line)

Andrea, a young child is gasping for breath, she has to go to a nearby clinic to get relief from the pain as her lungs seize up and she feels she is suffocating. She cries, begging her mother for medicine to stop the pain in her chest and back but there is no quick or easy cure for this cruel condition of chronic asthma. Thousands of Filipino children and adults near the dirty coal burning power plants are suffering. The plants are supposed to give energy for a better economy and healthier happier and dignified life, but they don’t.

Coal plants cause not only health problems but huge losses to the economy in collateral external damage. Now private companies have started to build another coal fired plant on the beautiful scenic Subic Bay, despite widespread protest and the condemnation of provincial and city councils. The people are ignored; the rich control the public agenda it seems.

Meralco, controlled by the Lopez family in partnership with the Aboitiz family with a Taiwanese investor are behind this new coal plant that threatens life and the tourist industry. The government must act to protect the greater good and promote renewable energy.

Yet the nine coal plants around the Philippines, five of them in Central Luzon are belching toxic ash and fumes. The deadly chemicals threaten the health of people and animals. The most dangerous of all is the cancer causing mercury. It is a neurotoxin that can and does cause brain damage when it enters the food chain like fish and damages the people who eat them, especially children, affecting brain development. Yet big business and government continue to build these deadly polluting electricity generating facilities.

Mercury causes: growing fetuses to be malformed, mental disorders, lung problems and damages the nervous and muscular systems. A typical power plant burning coal can produce as much as 25 pounds of mercury a year. Enough to contaminate huge areas causing life long health damage.

There are nine coal fired electric generating power plants in the Philippines. Five in Central Luzon, two on Cebu Island at Toledo, and Naga, one in Misamis Oriental and one in Quezon operated by Meralco all others are operated by the National Power Corporation (NPC) a semi-state body. The industry earns millions in revenue by charging huge cost of electricity, the second most expensive in Asia. Yet the NPC is plagued by allegations of corruption, misapplication of funds waste and abuse, charges they deny.

Advocates of coal plants falsely claim that coal burning power plants are clean and safe. They are not! They are the dirtiest, most polluting and most dangerous form of electricity generation in the world. They are responsible for most of the CO2 in the atmosphere and the catastrophic global warming climatic changes that are causing untold harm and hurt to millions of people and the global ecosystem itself. Estimates for every 1 degree in temperature rise, crop yields will drop 10 percent. Only a Nuclear plant out of control is worse. It’s time to bring out the truth.

The external costs or the damage they cause to health, agriculture and the ecosystem is estimated by Greenpeace in 2003 alone the coal plants in the Philippines accounted for 28 percent of power generation and causes external losses to the nation from a staggering 19.3 billion pesos (US $ 459 million) to a whopping high of 67 billion pesos (US$ 1.59 Billion) in external damage.

The coal industry argues that coal is the lowest cost of electricity generation but in fact overall this is not so. Geothermal and natural gas is one of the most safe and natural forms of electricity generation, easily available in the Philippines with its volcanic environment but for some reason is not encouraged by government and hampered by regulations and high taxes. The same goes for natural gas. The new administration of President Aquino is now challenged to right this wrong. There is some corrupt power play going on in the industry.

Allegedly the foreign coal suppliers and local partners are blocking the development of the alternative natural renewable sources of energy like geothermal, small non damaging hydro plants, solar and wind. These are the ideal and best future for the Philippines as they have indigenous renewable resources abundant sunlight, wind and geothermal available.

For the sake of the children, the whole nation, the environment and to reduce global warming we have to stop this madness of coal burning and turn to renewable power generation. END

Only in Canada


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Eating fruit on an empty stomach

Dr Stephen Mak treats terminal ill cancer patients by "un-orthodox" way and many patients recovered. He explains: before he is using solar energy to clear the illnesses of his patients. He believes on natural healing in the body against illnesses. See the article below.

Letter to original email writer:

Dear Shereen,
Thanks for the email on fruits and juices. It is one of the strategies to heal cancer. As of late, my success rate in curing cancer is about 80%. Cancer patients shouldn't die. The cure for cancer is already found. It is whether you believe it or not. I am sorry for the hundreds of cancer patients who die under the conventional treatments.

Thanks and God bless.
Dr Stephen Mak



EATING FRUIT...

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat.

What is the correct way of eating fruits?


IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! * FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.


FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD.
Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.

In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil....


So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining — every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc — actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!


Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.


When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.


But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!


KIWI:
Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.


APPLE:
An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

STRAWBERRY:
Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE :
Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.


WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene — the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA:
Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content.. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.

Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer!
Can u believe this?? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE': (THIS IS NOT A JOKE!) Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Virgin coconut oil hailed as cure for Alzheimer’s

By

TREE OF LIFE. A farmer in Dumaguete City climbs up a 20-foot coconut tree to gather coconut sap known as tuba which his wife will cook into coco sugar or ferment into coconut gin called “lambanog” to provide livelihood to his family. The tree is known for its many other uses, which makes it one of the most versatile trees in the tropics. Coconut Week ends Sunday with an exhibit and sale of coconut products at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. MANDY NAVASERO/CONTRIBUTOR

After previous claims as an antiseptic, AIDS cure, anti-infective, cholesterol-basher, and remedy for various aches and pains, coconut oil is now being hailed as a possible miracle cure for Alzheimer’s.

The American physician, who has been dubbed “Dr. Coconut” for his tireless research into and championing of coconut oil’s healing properties, is back in the country bringing the latest breakthrough in the management of Alzheimer’s and other neurological conditions.

Dr. Bruce Fife presented his evidence at the ongoing 10th Coconut Festival in Mandaluyong City, relating the remarkable recovery of Steve Newport, 58, from five years of progressive dementia after just 35 days of taking virgin coconut oil (VCO).

Fife has written all about it in his book, “Stop Alzheimer’s Now.”

Newport’s case history

Newport was diagnosed when an MRI scan showed his brain had shrunk, a classic case of Alzheimer’s disease, the progressive, degenerative form of dementia that involves the loss of brain functions and extreme behavioral changes.

Newport’s wife Mary, who is a neonatal doctor at Spring Hill Regional Hospital in Florida, then began a relentless quest to seek a cure that would arrest his deterioration.

“It has been a nightmare to watch his decline and I feel helpless to do anything but watch it happen,” said Mary.

In May 2008, Mary stumbled on a company that was enlisting volunteers to test a new drug for dementia-stricken patients. But like all experimental drugs, the company preferred subjects with moderate forms of the disease, based on how they scored in the MMSE (mini-mental state exam), a standard test of mental status used to screen for Alzheimer’s.

Newport took the test twice and failed. He scored too low, shown to be on the border of severe dementia, to qualify as an experimental subject. Mary was devastated.

MCT miracle ingredient

Possessed of a research background, Mary was able to dig up the results for the new drug called AC-1202 (later known as Axona). She learned from the journal, BMC Neuroscience, that the active ingredient in the drug was MCT (medium-chain triglycerides), an oil that is used to treat epilepsy and also placed in hospital feeding programs for newborns.

Bingo! She knew as a pediatrician that babies needed to develop their brains with the right brain foods and MCT was found in great quantities in VCO, the oil extracted from the fresh meat of coconuts.

Intuitively, she started Newport on a feeding program. Instead of using Axona at $100 per month with 1 dose a day, Mary used VCO—at a cost of $10 a month—giving him 2 tablespoons of a mixture of VCO and its pharmaceutical isolate, MCT, with every meal.

Because of the high amounts of saturated fat in this diet, some have expressed concern about how this could affect blood cholesterol levels.

According to Fife, Newport’s tests have dispelled this notion and in fact his cholesterol levels have actually improved with the good cholesterol (HDL) going up and the bad cholesterol (LDL) going down.

In 18 months, Newport’s severe dementia was totally arrested. He scored high enough in the MMSE tests to be considered to be in the mild range of Alzheimer’s.

Tale of hope, persistence

Inspired by her husband’s recovery, Dr. Mary Newport travels all over the United States telling her story of hope and persistence. She encourages the medical scientific community to keep on with their research into the use of MCTs as a therapeutic aid in treating Alzheimer’s, as well as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and other neuro degenerative disorders.

In March 2009, the experimental drug AC-1202 was renamed Axona and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a medical food for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease with no therapeutic claims.

When Axona finally came out, it caused intestinal distress and diarrhea among some patients. Others reported that the drug’s effects wore out after only a few hours that they still had to take coconut oil to maintain their ketone levels. Ketones are organic compounds that result when body fat is broken down for energy.

Fife explained that drugs become ineffective after some time and coconut oil, converted into ketones, decrease the formation of free radicals that damage the cells. Hence, coconut oil is especially important for those taking medications.

“Following the Newports’ example, many people with neurologic disorders are now incorporating coconut oil into their diets with good results,” said Fife.

Brain food

He said if any food could be labeled as brain food it would be coconut oil.

According to Fife, coconut oil, converted into ketones, acts as a superfuel to the brain and normalizes brain function, stops the erratic signal transmissions that leads to seizures, and improves cognition and memory.

The MCTs in coconut oil are converted into ketones, which act as high-potency fuel for the brain. The ketone MCTs provide energy to the brain and stimulate healing and repair, he said.

The chemical structure of the MCTs and fatty acids in coconut oil enable them to pass through the blood-brain barrier, which ordinary food or oil cannot break into, he said.

Revived coco industry

Fife credits his visits to the Philippines as triggering his pursuit of coconut research. He said his first visit in 2004 was an eye opener for him. He was amazed at the warm reception he got from his Philippine audience.

“They were thanking me for reviving the coconut industry,” he said.

It was the economic implications for the people that have spurred Fife to continue his research into the health benefits of this tropical food endemic to the country, so much so that the American health community has dubbed him “Dr. Coconut.”

Fife has established a nonprofit organization, Coconut Research Center, to educate the public on the health and nutritional aspects of coconut. He has documented his researches in two books, “Coconut Cures” (2005) and “Coconut Water” which he has made available online in www.coconutresearchcenter.org.

The author has been active in the coconut industry for 35 years, and is a director of the Philippine Coconut Authority governing board.

JESSICA: A SAUDI SLAVE - OFW




Saturday, August 27, 2011

100 Best Things About Being Pinoy

This article is a worthy read. It speaks of 100 features about Filipino life which distinguishes us from other nationalities. As the author writes, the list ”celebrates the good in us.” The article was downloaded from <asianjokes.com>. The author preferred to remain anonymous. The item was written in the 1990s, -- so some of the information duly updated.

FROM the 1896 Revolution to the first Philippine Republic, the Commonwealth period, the EDSA Revolt, and the tiger cub economy, history marches on. Thankfully, however, some things never change. Like the classics, things irresistibly Pinoy mark us for life. They're the indelible stamp of our identity, the undeniable affinity that binds us like twins. They celebrate the good in us, the best of our culture and the infinite possibilities we are all capable of. Some are so self-explanatory you only need mention them for fellow Pinoys to swoon or drool. Here, in no particular order, are a hundred of the best things that make us unmistakably Pinoy.

100 Best Things About Being Pinoy

1. Merienda. Where else is it normal to eat five times a day?
2. Sawsawan. Assorted sauces that guarantee freedom of choice, enough room for experimentation and maximum tolerance for diverse tastes. Favorites: toyo't calamansi, suka at sili, patis.
3. Kuwan, ano. At a loss for words? Try these and marvel at how Pinoys understand exactly what you want.
4. Pinoy humor and irreverence. If you're api and you know it, crack a joke. Nothing personal, really.
5. Tingi. Thank goodness for small entrepreneurs. Where else can we buy cigarettes, soap, condiments and life's essentials in small affordable amounts?
6. Spirituality. Even before the Spaniards came, ethnic tribes had their own anitos, bathalas and assorted deities, pointing to a strong relationship with the Creator, who or whatever it may be.
7. Po, opo, mano po. Speech suffixes that define courtesy, deference, filial respect--a balm to the spirit in these aggressive times.
8. Pasalubong. Our way of sharing the vicarious thrills and delights of a trip, and a wonderful excuse to shop without the customary guilt.
9. Beaches! With 7,000 plus islands, we have miles and miles of shoreline piled high with fine white sand, lapped by warm waters, and nibbled by exotic tropical fish. From the stormy seas of Batanes to the emerald isles of Palawan, over here, life is truly a beach.
10. Bagoong. Darkly mysterious, this smelly fish or shrimp paste typifies the underlying theme of most ethnic foods: disgustingly unhygienic, unbearably stinky and simply irresistible.
11. Bayanihan. Yes, the internationally-renowned dance company, but also this habit of pitching in still common in small communities. Just have that cold beer and some pulutan ready for the troops.
12. The Balikbayan box. Another way of sharing life's bounty, no matter if it seems like we're fleeing Pol Pot every time we head home from anywhere in the globe. The most wonderful part is that, more often than not, the contents are carted home to be distributed.
13. Pilipino komiks. Not to mention "Hiwaga," "Aliwan," "Tagalog Classics," "Liwayway" and"Bulaklak" magazines. Pulpy publications that gave us Darna, Facifica Falayfay, Lagalag, Kulafu, Kenkoy, Dyesebel, characters of a time both innocent and worldly.
14. Folk songs. They come unbidden and spring, full blown, like a second language, at the slightest nudge from the too-loud stereo of a passing jeepney or tricycle.
15. Fiesta. Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow is just another day, shrugs the poor man who, once a year, honors a patron saint with this sumptuous, no-holds-barred spread. It's a Pinoy celebration at its pious and riotous best.
16. Aswang, manananggal, kapre. The whole underworld of Filipino lower mythology recalls our uniquely bizarre childhood, that is, before political correctness kicked in. Still, their rich adventures pepper our storytelling.
17. Jeepneys. Colorful, fast, reckless, a vehicle of postwar Pinoy ingenuity, this Everyman's communal cadillac makes for a cheap, interesting ride. If the driver's a daredevil (as they usually are), hang on to your seat.
18. Dinuguan. Blood stew, a bloodcurdling idea, until you try it with puto. Best when mined with jalapeña peppers. Messy but delicious.
19. Santacruzan. More than just a beauty contest, this one has religious overtones, a tableau of St. Helena's and Constantine's search for the Cross that seamlessly blends piety, pageantry and ritual. Plus, it's the perfect excuse to show off the prettiest ladies – and the most beautiful gowns.
20. Balut. Unhatched duck's embryo, another unspeakable ethnic food to outsiders, but oh, to indulge in guilty pleasures! Sprinkle some salt and suck out that soup, with gusto.
21. Pakidala. A personalized door-to-door remittance and delivery system for overseas Filipino workers who don't trust the banking system, and who expect a family update from the courier, as well.
22. Choc-nut. Crumbly peanut chocolate bars that defined childhood ecstasy before M & M's and Hershey's.
23. Kamayan style. To eat with one's hand and eschew spoon, fork and table manners. Ah, heaven!
24. Chicharon. Pork, fish or chicken crackling. There is in the crunch a hint of the extravagant, the decadent and the pedestrian. Perfect with vinegar, sublime with beer.
25. Pinoy hospitality. Just about everyone gets a hearty "Kain tayo!" invitation to break bread with whoever has food to share, no matter how skimpy or austere it is.
26. Adobo, kare-kare, sinigang and other lutong bahay stuff. Home-cooked meals that have the stamp of approval from several generations, who swear by closely-guarded cooking secrets and family recipes.
27. Lola Basyang. The voice one heard spinning tales over the radio, before movies and television curtailed imagination and defined grown-up tastes.
28. Pambahay. Home is where one can let it all hang out, where clothes do not make a man or woman but rather define their level of comfort.
29. Tricycle and trisikad, the poor Pinoy's taxicab that delivers you at your doorstep for as little as PHPesos10.00, with a complimentary dusting of polluted air.
30. Dirty ice cream. Very Pinoy flavors that make up for the risk: munggo, langka, ube, mais, keso, macapuno. Plus there's the colorful cart that recalls jeepney art.
31. Yayas. The trusted Filipino nanny who, ironically, has become a major Philippine export as overseas contract workers. A good one is almost like a surrogate parent -- if you don't mind the accent and the predilection for afternoon soap and movie stars.
32. Sarsi. Pinoy rootbeer, the enduring taste of childhood. Our grandfathers had them with an egg beaten in.
33. Pinoy fruits. Atis, guyabano, chesa, mabolo, lanzones, durian, langka, makopa, dalanghita, siniguelas, suha, chico, papaya, singkamas -- the possibilities!
34. Filipino celebrities. Movie stars, broadcasters, beauty queens, public officials, all-around controversial figures: Aurora Pijuan, Cardinal Sin, Carlos P. Romulo, Charito Solis, Cory Aquino, Emilio Aguinaldo, the Eraserheads, Fidel V. Ramos, Francis Magalona, Gloria Diaz, Manuel L. Quezon, Margie Moran, Melanie Marquez, Ninoy Aquino, Nora Aunor, Pitoy Moreno, Ramon Magsysay, Richard Gomez, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Sharon Cuneta, Gemma Cruz, Erap, Tiya Dely, Mel Tiangco, Gary V.,
Korina Sanchez, Willie Revillame, Tito, Vic and Joey.
35. World class Pinoys who put us on the global map: Lea Salonga, Paeng Nepomuceno, Eugene Torre, Luisito Espinosa, Lydia de Vega-Mercado, Jocelyn Enriquez, Elma Muros, Onyok Velasco, Efren "Bata" Reyes, Lilia Calderon-Clemente, Loida Nicolas-Lewis, Josie Natori, Manny Pacquiao, Charice Pempengco, Jessica Hagedorn, White House executive chef Cristeta Pasia Cumerford.
36. Pinoy tastes. A dietitian's nightmare: too sweet, too salty, too fatty, as in burong talangka, itlog na maalat, crab fat (aligue), bokayo, kutchinta, sapin-sapin, halo-halo, pastilyas, palitaw, pulburon, longganisa, tuyo, ensaymada, ube haleya, sweetened macapuno and garbanzos. Remember, we're the guys who put sugar (horrors) in our spaghetti sauce. Yum!
37. The sights. Banaue Rice Terraces, Boracay, Bohol's Chocolate Hills, Corregidor Island, Fort Santiago, the Hundred Islands, the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ, Rizal Park, Mt. Banahaw, Mayon Volcano, Taal Volcano. A land of contrasts and ever-changing landscapes.
38. Gayuma, agimat and anting-anting. Love potions and amulets. How the socially-disadvantaged Pinoy copes.
39. Barangay Ginebra, Jaworski, PBA, MBA and basketball. How the verticaly-challenged Pinoy compensates, via a national sports obsession that reduces fans to tears and fistfights.
40. People Power at EDSA. When everyone became a hero and changed Philippine history overnight.
41. San Miguel Beer and pulutan. "Isa pa nga!" and the Philippines' most popular, world-renowned beer goes well with peanuts, corniks, tapa, chicharon, usa, barbecue, sisig, and all manner of spicy, crunchy and cholesterol-rich chasers.
42. Resiliency. We've survived 400 years of Spanish rule, the US bases, Marcos, the 1990 earthquake, lahar, lambada, Robin Padilla, and Tamagochi. We survived Erap.
43. Yoyo. Truly Filipino in origin, this hunting tool, weapon, toy and merchandising vehicle remains the best way to "walk the dog" and "rock the baby," using just a piece of string.
44. Pinoy games: Pabitin, palosebo, basagan ng palayok. A few basic rules make individual cunning and persistence a premium, and guarantee a good time for all.
45. Ninoy Aquino. For saying that "the Filipino is worth dying for,'' and proving it.
46. Balagtasan. The verbal joust that brings out rhyme, reason and passion on a public stage.
47. Tabo. All-powerful, ever-useful, hygienically-triumphant device to scoop water out of a bucket _ and help the true Pinoy answer nature's call. Helps maintain our famously stringent toilet habits.
48. Pandesal. Despite its shrinking size, still a good buy. Goes well with any filling, best when hot.
49. Jollibee. Truly Pinoy in taste and sensibility, and a corporate icon that we can be quite proud of. Do you know that it's invaded the Middle East, as well?
50. The butanding, the dolphins and other creatures in our blessed waters. They're Pinoys, too, and they're here to stay. Now if some folks would just stop turning them into daing.
51. Pakikisama. It's what makes people stay longer at parties, have another drink, join pals in sickness and health. You can get dead drunk and still make it home.
52. Sing-a-long. Filipinos love to sing, and thank God a lot of us do it well!
53. Kayumanggi. Neither pale nor dark, our skin tone is beautifully healthy, the color of a rich earth or a mahogany tree growing towards the sun.
54. Handwoven cloth and native weaves. Colorful, environment-friendly alternatives to polyester that feature skillful workmanship and a rich indigenous culture behind every thread. From the pinukpok of the north to the malong of the south, it's the fiber of who we are.
55. Movies. Still the cheapest form of entertainment, especially if you watch the same movie several times.
56. Bahala na. We cope with uncertainty by embracing it, and are thus enabled to play life by ear.
57. Papaitan. An offal stew flavored with bile, admittedly an acquired taste, but pointing to our national ability to acquire a taste for almost anything.
58. English. Whether carabao or Arr-neoww-accented, it doubles our chances in the global marketplace.
59. The Press. Irresponsible, sensational, often inaccurate, but still the liveliest in Asia. Otherwise, we'd all be glued to TV.
60. Divisoria. Smelly, crowded, a pickpocket's paradise, but you can get anything here, often at rock-bottom prices. The sensory overload is a bonus.
61. Barong Tagalog. Enables men to look formal and dignified without having to strangle themselves with a necktie. Worn well, it makes any ordinary Juan look marvelously makisig.
62. Filipinas. They make the best friends, lovers, wives. Too bad they can't say the same for Filipinos.
63. Filipinos. So maybe they're bolero and macho with an occasional streak of generic infidelity; they do know how to make a woman feel like one.
64. Catholicism. What fun would sin be without guilt? Jesus Christ is firmly planted on Philippine soil.
65. Dolphy. Our favorite, ultra-durable comedian gives the beleaguered Pinoy everyman an odd dignity, even in drag.
66. Style. Something we often prefer over substance. But every Filipino claims it as a birthright.
67. Bad taste. Clear plastic covers on the vinyl-upholstered sofa, posters of poker-playing dogs masquerading as art, over-accessorized jeepneys and altars. The list is endless, and wealth only seems to magnify it.
68. Mangoes. Crisp and tart, or lusciously ripe, they evoke memories of family outings and endless sunshine in a heart-shaped package.
69. Unbridled optimism. Why we rank so low on the suicide scale.
70. Street food: Barbecue, lugaw, banana-cue, fishballs, IUD (chicken entrails), adidas (chicken feet), warm taho. Forget hepatitis; here's cheap, tasty food with gritty ambience.
71. The siesta. Snoozing in the middle of the day is smart, not lazy.
72. Honorifics and courteous titles: Kuya, ate, manong, diko, ditse, ineng, totoy, Ingkong, Aling, Mang, etc. No exact English translation, but these words connote respect, deference and the value placed on kinship.
73. Heroes and people who stood up for truth and freedom. Lapu-lapu started it all, and other heroes and revolutionaries followed: Diego Silang, Macario Sakay, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, Melchora Aquino, Gregorio del Pilar, Gabriela Silang, Miguel Malvar, Francisco Balagtas, Juan Luna, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Panday Pira, Emilio Jacinto, Raha Suliman, Antonio Luna, Gomburza, Emilio Aguinaldo, the heroes of Bataan and Corregidor, Pepe Diokno, Evelio Javier, Ninoy Aquino, Lola Rosa and other comfort women who spoke up, honest cabbie Emilio Advincula, Rona Mahilum, the women lawyers who didn't let Jalosjos get away with rape.
74. Flora and fauna. The sea cow (dugong), the tarsier, calamian deer, bearcat, Philippine eagle, sampaguita, ilang-ilang, camia, pandan, the creatures that make our archipelago unique.
75. Pilipino songs, OPM and composers: "Ama Namin," "Lupang Hinirang," "Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal," "Ngayon at Kailanman," "Anak," "Handog,""Hindi Kita Malilimutan," "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit"; Ryan Cayabyab, George Canseco, Restie Umali, Levi Celerio, Manuel Francisco, Freddie Aguilar, and Florante--living examples of our musical gift.
76. Metro Aides. They started out as Imelda Marcos' groupies, but have gallantly proven their worth. Against all odds, they continuously prove that cleanliness is next to godliness--especially now that those darned candidates' posters have to be scraped off the face of Manila!
77. Sari-sari store. There's one in every corner, offering everything from bananas and floor wax to Band-Aid and bakya.
78. Philippine National Red Cross. PAWS. Caritas. Fund drives. They help us help each other.
79. Favorite TV shows through the years: "Tawag ng Tanghalan," “Balintataw,” “Student Canteen” “Dancetime with Chito,” "John and Marsha," "Champoy," "Ryan, Ryan Musikahan," "Kuwarta o Kahon," "Public Forum/Lives," "Student Canteen," "Eat Bulaga,” “Wowowee,” “Filipinas, Game Ka Na Ba?” “ Kapamilya, Deal Or No Deal?” “TV Patrol,” “Dyesebel,” “Pinoy Big Brother,” “Imbestigador,” “The Correspondents,” “24 Oras.” In the age of inane variety shows, they have redeemed Philippine television.
80. Quirks of language that can drive crazy any tourist listening in: "Bababa ba?" "Bababa!"
81. "Sayang!" "Naman!" "Kadiri!" "Ano ba!?" "pala." Expressions that defy translation but wring out feelings genuinely Pinoy.
82. Cockfighting. Filipino men love it more than their wives (sometimes).
83. Dr. Jose Rizal. A category in himself. Hero, medicine man, genius, athlete, sculptor, fictionist, poet, essayist, husband, lover, samaritan, martyr. Truly someone to emulate and be proud of, anytime, anywhere.
84. Nora Aunor. Short, dark and homely-looking, she redefined our rigid concept of how leading ladies should look.
85. Noranian or Vilmanian. Defines the friendly rivalry between Ate Guy Aunor and Ate Vi Santos and for many years, the only way to be for many Filipino fans.
86. Filipino Christmas. The world's longest holiday season. A perfect excuse to mix our love for feasting, gift-giving and music and wrap it up with a touch of religion.
87. Relatives and kababayan abroad. The best refuge against loneliness, discrimination and confusion in a foreign place. Distant relatives and fellow Pinoys readily roll out the welcome mat even on the basis of a phone introduction or referral.
88. Festivals: Sinulog, Ati-atihan, Moriones. Sounds, colors, pagan frenzy and Christian overtones.
89. Folk dances. Tinikling, pandanggo sa ilaw, kuratsa, itik-itik, alitaptap, rigodon. All the right moves and a distinct rhythm.
90. Native wear and costumes. Baro't saya, tapis, terno, saya, salakot, bakya. Lovely form and ingenious function in the way we dress.
91. Sunday family gatherings. Or, close family ties that never get severed. You don't have to win the lotto or be a president to have 10,000 relatives. Everyone's family tree extends all over the archipelago, and it's at its best in times of crisis; notice how food, hostesses, money, and moral support materialize during a wake?
92. Calesa and karitela. The colorful and leisurely way to negotiate narrow streets when loaded down with a year's provisions.
93. Quality of life. Where else can an ordinary employee afford a stay-in helper, a yaya, unlimited movies, eat-all-you-can buffets, the latest fashion (Baclaran nga lang), even Viagra in the black market?
94. All Saints' Day. In honoring our dead, we also prove that we know how to live.
95. Handicrafts. Shellcraft, rattancraft, abaca novelties, woodcarvings, banig placemats and bags, bamboo windchimes, etc. Portable memories of home. Hindi lang pang-turista, pang-balikbayan pa!
96. Pinoy greens. Sitaw. Okra. Ampalaya. Gabi. Munggo. Dahon ng Sili. Kangkong. Luya. Talong. Sigarillas. Bataw. Patani. Lutong bahay will never be the same without them.
97. OFWs. The lengths (and miles) we'd go for a better life for our family, as proven by these modern-day heroes of the economy.
98. The Filipino artist. From Luna's magnificent "Spoliarium" and Amorsolo's sun-kissed ricefields, to Ang Kiukok's jarring abstractions and Borlongan's haunting ghosts, and everybody else in between. Hang a Filipino painting on your wall, and you're hanging one of Asia's best.
99. Tagalog soap operas. From "Gulong ng Palad" and "Flor de Luna" to today's incarnations like "Mula sa Puso"--they're the story of our lives, and we feel strongly for them, MariMar notwithstanding.
100. Midnight madness, weekends sales, bangketas and baratillos. It's retail therapy at its best, with Filipinos braving traffic, crowds, and human deluge to find a bargain.