An appeal to lawmakers

Beyond Brushstrokes

By Marivic Rufino

SMOKING CAUSES impotence and blindness, according to recent studies. The health hazards are numerous.

Smoking tobacco is primarily linked to 10 kinds of cancer: lung, oral cavity (mouth), throat or esophagus, kidney, stomach, bladder, white blood cell (a form of leukemia), cervix. Research by the University of California in San Francisco shows that breast cancer is caused by second hand smoke. There are more studies being conducted on relationship between smoking and colon and liver cancer. Unofficially, there is a link.

In Thailand, 40% of the population (11 million adult men and one million adult women) smoke. In the Philippines, 47% are smokers, approximately 17.3 of which 15 million are men. The numbers are staggering. We qualify for the Bloomberg list of smokers together with the Chinese, Indians, Indonesians and Thais.

"My dream is to see the smokers decrease from 40% to less than 30% in Thailand," said Prakit Vathesatogkit, M.D., executive secretary, The Action on Smoking and Health Foundation. He knows that smoking cannot be stopped but its spread can be prevented by addressing the teenagers before they start smoking.

The multi-awarded lung specialist, professor-author and public servant, former Senator has received the Knight Grand Cross First Class of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand, WHO’s Tobacco or Health Medal, and Bloomberg Award for Global Tobacco Control 2009 in recognition of excellence in warning people about the danger of tobacco use through graphic pack warnings.)

Sponsored by the Health Justice Philippines, Dr. Prakit came to Manila to speak to our legislators on the urgent necessity to pass a law increasing the taxes on tobacco. This bill is to help prevent young people from smoking by making the price of cigarettes so expensive that it becomes a deterrent.

A percentage of the "sin" tax is revenue can be used for public health and wellness programs similar to those done in Thailand where they have 2%.

Cigarette smoke makes the eyes burn. The burning, irritating sensation is because of the chemicals in the smoke. Dr. Prakit explained there the eyes have a pain filter to protect them from harm. There is no pain filter in the mouth and throat when one inhales.

"Smoking is an abnormal action! Dogs run away!" Dr. Prakit exclaimed.

"When Columbus discovered America, he found the Indians smoking in religious rites. He brought tobacco back to Portugal. The French Ambassador Nico brought tobacco plant to France and it spread throughout Europe. The Dutch brought it to Indonesia and the Spaniards to the Philippines."

He explained that the addictive chemical in tobacco derived its name from Amb. Nico. Thus, the scientists called it Nicotine. It is not a carcinogen but it is harmfully addictive. The carcinogens are in the tar and other additives (for flavor and taste and aroma) in the cigarette, cigar, or pipe tobacco. There are 70 carcinogens in one puff of cigarette smoke. People who smoke but don’t inhale are also at risk because the chemicals go to the saliva and it is ingested.

Contrary to the public perception, the Philippines is not the largest tobacco grower. It is China and Brazil. We are only No. 13. The Philippines imports a lot of its tobacco from the United Sates. The local farmers do not grow enough tobacco for the Philippine market. A lot of misinformation has been spread by the strong tobacco lobby.

Other alternate crops can be grown in Ilocos, Batangas and Cagayan.

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