This is what I get from being idealistic!

Note: Please understand. I only have few avenues to shed my pain.

me: You have no time for someone like me. I should have seen that.
friend: Andito na... Pusong mamon naman ito.
me: I'm sorry. It's not fair for me to say anything that might offend you now.
friend: Break na kayo ni Jad? Totally?
me: Yeah.
friend: Bakit daw?
me: Nakalimutan ko eh.
Hindi niya kaya ang long-distance relationship. Something to that effect.
friend: Hmm, what was your defense?
I mean, how did you ask him to hold on?
me: He wouldn't hold on. Wala na talaga.
friend: Cry it out.
That's the only way to release the pain.
me: I can't cry.
friend: Then hangout with your friends there. Go somewhere.
me: I can't walk, remember?
friend: I thought you have had your therapy.
Keep on writing....
That could help.
me: I also can't write.
But I'm practicing to do again the things you've mentioned.
friend: You have a recorder, right. Instead of writing, record them. Then when you're stronger again, you can transcribe them and write a book out of it.
me: If things would be just that easy...
Heh! You might be wondering now what I bugged you for!
I am ignoring your suggestions.
friend: Translate your sadness into something productive. A book.
When you get here, I can look some publisher for you.
me: I'll see.
That would make four books in line for me.
friend: Don't pressure yourself.
me: Have I told you? I'll be going back on May 1.
Hindi ka kasi nagbabasa ng Multiply.
friend: You did not! I don't have a Multiply, remember?
Talaga, sige, sige. Let's prepare for our reunion. Hehe!
me: Wala na ba yun?
friend: Wala na. Active ako sa Facebook!
me: Labor Day yun. Wala naman pasok.
friend: Oo nga. At resign na ako.
April 15 effective resignation ko.
me: I don't know how to use Facebook. Masaya na naman ako sa Multiply.
friend: Mas masaaya ang Facebook.
Mag-aaral ako sa law school.
me: Didn't you just get in there?
I plan to have Master's and teach.
What made you decide that?
friend: Because there are a lot of job opportunities when you're done with law school.
Study and teach here.
me: Ganun ba.
friend: Yeah. Wala na kayong communication ni Jad?
me: We talked yesterday.
friend: And how was it?
me: Civil naman. Can you believe? I was the one trying to get back!
friend: Lucky, give him space to think. So do you.
me: I'm just continuing to be a friend.
friend: This isn't the right time to label both of you as "just" friends. Let everything heal first.
me: Dapat ba ganun? This is what I get from being idealistic.
friend: So now, let's be realistic here.
Jad, from an spectator's point of view, is realistic, and you're the opposite.
me: Yeah..
friend: Kaya, the way to move on is lose the communication first.
I know it's hard, that's why get busy with something productive.
me: Any suggestions?
friend: Look forward to your vacation here. Are you getting back there after May 1?
me: I have to.
Kasi as Mama's sole beneficiary, I can have free medications here.
friend: Ah, yeah. Write a book, Lucky Mae. You're rich in experiences.
me: What's keeping you busy?
friend: Work. I close the world page. I write whatever interest me. I work for Newsbreak, Entrep, a Dubai-based magazine.
me: Love life?
friend: That's one. Pero mas busy ang work. Hehe!
Write a book.
me: On how to lose relationships?
friend: Possibly. Fictional. You could even release it through that book. I mean your pain now.
me: I was just joking! How could I write that? Would someone believe me? They would just think I deserve what had happened. I took my relationship for granted.
friend: Flaws, themselves, would make your novel believable.
Time to close look for stories for the world page. Give me an hour.
me: Thanks. Can I post our conversation in my blog?
It might help couples on the brink of break-ups.
friend: No, no! Nakakahiya.
me: Just asking.
friend: Hehe! You can post it wag lang i-mention na ako yung kausap mo.
I-sikreto mo na lang ako yun.
me: Take care, friend.
friend: Bukas lang Gmail ko. Keep your message flowing. Lilipat na ako ng PC.
me: Who would've thought that it would take a break-up for you to talk? Thanks again.

Friend is busy. You may be interrupting.

Julia

Jhoanna asked us to write her side in Dead Stars (Paz Marquez-Benitez). I do not remember anymore what I wrote then; I just remember Jhoanna scolding me in front of the class for starting to write from where it all began--right at the top of the 7-page story (Reason 1. I want to give Julia credit; Reason 2. I want her to be recognized.) As a result, Jhoanna gave me only 1.75 that semester.

I pitied Julia not because Alfredo didn't respond to her love. I didn't pity her because the rest of the community got her all wrong.

I pitied her because she was helpless. No one could take away her pain. Alfredo wouldn't ease her suffering.

Who would've thought that I would be as distress as Julia four years later?

Supporting actress ako!

When I was in grade school, I was always given 'nanay' roles. I thought it was because of my height--I was the tallest in class--or my looks---I was not exceptionally pretty.

Come high school and it was still the same. I thought it was okay then. I just had an operation and my aunties won't allow me to do more than what a high school student is required to.

So I join the Dramatics Club. That's when I learn that every character matters. Whether it's the lead one, whether it's your dream role.

So when we had a play in college and I was just assigned to be a Taong Bayan, I accepted it with all my heart. I would'nt deny--deep within me, I wanted to be Donya Victorina. Her character was just challenging. Sometimes, I wish I am like her. I may have appeared meek and humble but I definitely can pull the character off.

But I, at least, was given the chance to play.

I, at least, was picked for a role I didn't know I'd fit in.

I, at least, learned.

I remember Maha's role in the film One More Chance (trust me, it's not baduy). She is a singer at a pub. John Lloyd met her after Bea broke up with him. They become couples. John Lloyd enjoyed his relationship with Maha. He learned to do things more than for himself. He learned to sacrifice. He has also come to realize that he still loves Bea.

Maha, loving him, let John Lloyd go. Masakit. Pero ginawa niya kasi mahal niya si John Lloyd. Sometimes, sacrifices just have to be done.

I, at least, still have a chance for a lead role. It would keep me hungry. It would keep me chasing for my dreams.

The curtain closes.

Kris Aquino for President

Kris Aquino is qualified to be a Philippine President. She grew up within a political environment and graduated from a prestigious university in the country. People listen to her. She admits her mistakes and learns from them. She is an entertainment celebrity but is engage in industrial businesses as well. She believes in the Supreme Being and is a friend. She takes care of her family and listens. She worked her way up and is grateful too.

She is the youngest child of the former President Corazon Aquino, Asia’s first female president, and Benigno Aquino, Jr., a national hero and an opposition senator during the Ferdinand Marcos regime. She was born on February 14, 1971 as Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino.

She graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with Bachelor of Arts in English Literature in 1992. She had her secondary education at the Colegio San Agustin in Makati, and elementary in the United States. She came back after her father’s assassination in 1983 and attended rallies combating Marcos.

Businesses in the Philippines sought after Kris for product endorsements. A corned beef brand, a home appliance section, a brewery corporation, a cosmetic solution, to name a few. And this can only be because the public believes her. For this, she was labeled the "Commercial Princess of the Philippines." In October 2008, YES! Magazine listed her as the leading celebrity endorser, with 21 products to her name. She also hosted a model search show for a clothing company.

Kris’ fame does not end there. An entertainment celebrity she may be but some Filipinos turn to her for help a politician must be the one to provide. Bloggers would ask her assistance for things an entertainment celebrity should not be bothered for.

To the dismay of many, Kris got involved in several relationships. One was with Philip Salvador, her fellow actor in Nandito Ako (1994), who impregnated her with Joshua.

She also had an affair with Alvin Patrimonio, a basketball player of the Purefoods Chunkee Giants and a married man. The former mayor of Paranaque, Joey Marquez, also got hold of her heart. Marquez is a former basketball player, married, an actor and a television host. Kris separated with him upon being inflicted with Chlamydia, a type of sexual transmitted disease, because of Marquez’s activities.

She finally got married to a basketball player on July 10, 2005. James Yap, Patrimonio’s playmate and the 2006 Most Valuable Player of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), won her heart and tied knots with her on a civil wedding. Their fairy tale almost ended when a former receptionist from the Belo Medical Group claimed she had a relationship with Yap.

After an interview with Korina Sanchez where Yap denied the illicit affair, life went on for Kris. She gave birth on April 19, 2007 to her second son at the Makati Medical Center in Makati. “Baby James” is her first child with Yap.

She could have another child but Kris suffered a miscarriage a day after her mother was known to have colon cancer.
Kris also has several businesses under her name: Lena Restaurant, Sencillo, Sierra Madre Water and Roberto Antonio, an upscale flower shop in partnership with Boy Abunda. Also with Abunda, Nonon del Carmen and Agnes Maranan, she established the boutique ad agency MAD (an acronym for their surnames, Maranan Abunda Aquino del Carmen).

As a businesswoman, Kris recognized the need to be honest. The Bureau of Internal Revenue recognized her as the top individual taxpayer of 2007, as in previous years.

What she observes in her businesses, she also observes in her friendships. After a public falling-out two years ago, she rekindled her bond with Dr. Vicki Belo, a cosmetic surgeon. She also agreed to put her house in collateral just to fund Abunda’s candidacy for a congressional seat.

If she is a friend, Kris is also a loyal family member. She gave tribute to her mother through her album Greatest Love, which had gone gold in its first week of release, and contribute to the former president’s medical expenses. Kris’ biggest blessing, Cory Aquino, is diagnosed with colon cancer. She would then take care of her mother after her brothers and sisters did. She would accompany her to a salon (Bambi Fuentes’) for shampoo.

Kris is also a mother. Joshua, who happens to be autistic, already has a wealth-managed fund ensured. The same as with Baby James, who already has an educational fund.

Amidst their differences, Kris worked to make her marriage work. She and James would attend marriage-counseling sessions with Fr. Jun Sison who is the one who advised them to fly out of the country.

In an interview with Ricky Lo in Showbiz Stripped, Kris admitted that ‘[she] is not the most important person in the world.’ Those who have watched Boy & Kris could testify that she often quote the Supreme Being’s work in people’s lives.

Kris did not become an actress just because she is her parents’ daughter. She made her film debut with actor-comedian Rene Requiestas in the comedy Pido Dida, a blockbuster hit that proved Kris can be a box office queen, for not long after, Gawad Urian nominated her portrayal in The Fatima Buen Story. She also starred in the Vizconde Massacre, a true-to-life murder. For this, newspaper critics labeled her the “Massacre Queen.”

She starred in other movies too: Myrna Diones Story, Elsa Castillo-Ang Katotohanan, Humanda Ka Mayor, Feng Shui, So... Happy Together and Sukob. She again became a Box Office Queen in these movies with the latter becoming the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time. She a supporting actress award for the film Mano Po, produced by Regal Films in 2002.

Kris also ventured into hosting. In Startalk, a showbiz-oriented talk show in GMA7, her hosting wit was enhanced.

After her GMA and Viva contracts expired, she transferred to ABS-CBN and hosted Today with Kris Aquino, the Best Talk Show for the PMPC Star Awards in 1998. She also hosted in The Buzz a year after with Abunda. Two years later, the network tapped her to host the game show Game KNB? and compete with The Weakest Link and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? of IBC-13.

Alongside the game show, she hosted a morning talk show with Korina Sanchez, a media personality. Morning Girls with Kris and Korina lasted for 16 months (January 2003-May 2004) when it was only meant for two weeks.

But family remains to be a top priority for Kris. The country’s Queen of Talk left her two shows after giving birth to Baby James. She also always makes it a point to spend time with her mom and her sons on weekends.

Currently, she’s hosting “Deal or No Deal.” Starmometer.com named her the 29th Most Beautiful Filipina last year.

On capikat50megs.com, Kris was hailed as cute and lovely. ‘This woman is simply amazing, downright honest and very remarkable. She has her own unique and exquisite material when it comes to TV hosting. Concise, complete and just the facts. Entertaining and sometimes candid. Philippine lunchtime-TV will never be the same without her. She's an excellent TV host and described as the 'Queen of Philippine Daytime Talk-Show'. Viewers have always something to look forward on every show.’

Of course, there are people bothered by her presence (and much more, I guess, with this blog). They would call her behavior unrefined, infuriating and unprofessional. In fact, a student from the University of the Philippines has written an essay against her, implying that she just deserves the criticisms and violence she faced. A former fan labeled her a ‘Monster on TV’ when she and her nieces went to a taping of Pilipinas, Game KNB? all the way from Nueva Ecija only to be shouted at.

Kris Aquino ought to be the next Philippine president. She would be better than the politicians masked with scholastic achievements and holy oil. She does not believe in calls for change; she just changes herself. She recognizes faults and admits hers. She would be the President the country needs this time.

'Arabic will not die out '- Al Ain schools

March 08 - March 21, 2008
Issue 44
www.alaintimesuae.com

While some educators and international experts fear the possible death of the Arabic language because of education policies in the UAE, some non-Arab schools in Al Ain believe that it would not face extinction because the Ministry of Education still maintains a curriculum for the it in all schools, and Arab parents are still encouraging their children to learn the subject.

“Arabic is a living language. Billions of Muslims around the world are associated with Arabic because the Holy Scriptures are written in that language. It would be a living language for them till the doomsday,” said Tanveer Arshad, Principal of Al Ain Juniors.

“Teaching Arabic to Arab students is not a problem because we have books approved by the Ministry and we have allotted so many periods for it since Arabic is considered as the school’s second language. The Arab students are also interested and keen in [learning] the Arabic language. If anything is missed up or if they do not score very well [in their Arabic exams], their parents would come here immediately,” she added.

The Ministry of Education has decreed that Arabic Studies, Islamic Studies and UAE Social Studies should be taught in all schools six times a week for 40 minutes each. Non-Arab schools, which has English as the medium of instruction, is also encouraging their students to speak in Arabic whenever their subjects require them to do so.

“Arabic is not losing its value. In fact, it might become a more ‘user-friendly language’ just like English, which is often integrated into other languages used across the world, but it is definitely not waning.” Said Rocky Miller, Principal of Our Own English High School.

The ‘Problem’

What have could alarmed the educators who thought the Arabic language is in danger is the reduced periods for teaching Arabic. “The Ministry of Education sets that as well as the time that would be allotted for Islamic Studies and UAE Social Studies. But I do my best to give each of the subjects its weight, so for me, there is a balance. I have not gotten any comment from any parent asking me to emphasize more on Arabic or English,” said Elham El Abed, Principal of Al Dhafra Private International School, who was also recognized by the Organization for Protecting the Arabic Language in Sharjah in 2006.

The Advanced Level of Arabic taught in Arab schools was also introduced in non-Arab schools three years ago only, impelling Arshad to produce her own books for the Arab students in her school. “When Al Ain Juniors came into being, I began teaching the same curriculum being taught in Arab schools to our Arab students so that they would not miss out on the three important subjects. It does not make any sense to let an Arab child lose his or her appreciation of the language because he or she does not received the same kind of Arabic education,” Arshad said.

Grades 11 and 12 students are also not required by the Ministry of Education to take Arabic classes (except Islamic Studies) anymore if they do not wish to take it in their senior years. “As a principal of the school though, I advised the parents and the students to take the Arabic language so that they can acquire the Equivalency Certificate and be accepted in the committee of their chosen profession inside or outside UAE,” said El Abed.

But the real challenge is on how to motivate the students, Arab or non-Arabs, to study. “Studying Arabic or any subject is always a challenging task because students just do not want to study, period. It has nothing to do with Arabic, English, Physics, or Chemistry. Children will always say no to the things they do not want, but that does not mean that the language is causing the problem,” said Miller.

Arabic for non-Arabs

If the Arabic language is not widely used in the country as it was before, it is only because of the growing number of expatriates in the UAE. “Anywhere you go, the language is a must. But how come this country is not insisting on the foreigners to know Arabic? They should undergo a training program for it. [Arabic] is a beautiful language. It is the binding force in the Arab world,” said Arshad.

Arshad also criticised the curriculum and the books that do not encourage a non-Arab student to learn Arabic effectively. “The schools are where the problem is. I have written letters to the Ministry of Education, asking them to formulate books that teach Arabic in its spoken form, or supply us with the same kind of material used in the language centers, but they do not take heed.”

The schools were also not advised on how they would deal with non-Arab students who are already in their middle years when they start studying in the UAE. “How would a Grade 6 non-Arab student know where to begin? How would they manage?” she asked.

“Of course, English is there, but they would come across with people who speak Arabic only. Many of the non-Arab students will also stay here after graduating to work, so being able to interact with different people is very necessary. They can all read and write Arabic, but they cannot speak and understand! Unless [the Ministry of Education] takes interest to what is happening in non-Arab schools, Arabic language would suffer,” said Arshad.

Teaching English

Al Dhafra, which has more Arabs in their student population, on the other hand, finds difficulty in teaching English because the native speakers of the language are not staying in their school for long. “In our life, we need to learn everything as much as we can because we need to learn. I believe Arabic is needed like English. But the world today, especially the Gulf area, is tending towards English, so we encourage our students to speak it in school,” said El Abed.

Miller also thinks positive about learning English. “As I always maintain and continue to maintain, it is always good to understand a ‘world language’ like English, and one if not two community languages depending on where you plan to settle down. It is a big world and English is important because you are in it.”

Reference: Call for balance between Arabic and English. Khaleej Times. 24 Feb 2008. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2008/February/theuae_February811.xml&section=theuae&col=

Local orchestra plays for 8th Al Ain Music Festival

March 08 - March 21, 2008
Issue 44
www.alaintimesuae.com

Alongside the Dresdner Staatskapelle of Germany, the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra of Poland, and the Milan La Scala Orchestra of Italy is a UAE-based orchestra that only aims to represent the country nationally and internationally through music.

Formed in 2006, the UAE Philharmonic Orchestra (UAEPO), is originally a chamber ensemble composed of 20 people only. But it had grown to 65 members and had already performed with international singers Cara-Jane Roberts, Melanie Roberts, Duncan Royce, Cedric Vandenschrik, Margrit Anne Deppe, Irish musicians Frankie Gavin and Hibernian Rhapsody, and the Australian Jazz Quartet.

The UAEPO is also the first orchestra that featured the works of Darrol Barry, an Oman-based composer and Composer-in-Residence of the Royal Omani Symphony Orchestra, who also wrote the Arabian Sands Overture and 5 Arabesques, the two symphony works the UAEPO would be performing in March 10.

They would also present Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No.8, which is the composer’s preamble to his famous Symphony No. 9 The New World; and Richard Wagner’s prelude to the opera Tannhaeuser.

Below is an exclusive interview of the Al Ain Times News with Philipp Maier, the Conductor, Artistic Director and Project Manager of the UAEPO.

When was the UAE Philharmonic Orchestra established?

The orchestra was established as a chamber ensemble - then called ‘Dubai Philharmonia’ in early 2006. I started by attracting local musicians through interesting and varied concerts such as the Fairmont City Serenades and soon had a group of around 20 people rehearsing regularly and performing occasionally at public and private events.

Until December 2006, the ensemble has grown to a strength of around 35 musicians representing a full orchestral complement. We then decided to rename it the ‘Dubai Philharmonic Orchestra’ and launched it with two public concerts at the Dubai Community Theater and Arts Center (DUCTAC).

From then onwards, we grew from strength to strength as musicians and public alike realized that there is something special in the making. We also started attracting more and more musicians from other Emirates within the UAE and decided therefore to rename the orchestra into UAE Philharmonic in October last year. The orchestra now consists of 65 UAE-based musicians representing 19 nationalities – very much a reflection of the diverse multicultural society living in the UAE.

What is the your difference from other orchestras? What does the UAEPO offer that would make people listen to it?

We currently cannot compare ourselves to the major orchestras in the world as we are not funded and only have a limited amount of musicians available. [But] The UAEPO has a very unique approach to its program content. We perform music from literally all genres and are trying to include everything musically, which reflects the society in the country. We perform a lot of original compositions – we would be performing a world premiere in Al Ain - and I am constantly trying to uplift the orchestral education by including standard classical works as well as modern and contemporary music across all genres. A good example is the integration of Arabic music in our programs as well as projects like ‘Jazz meets Mozart,’ which we did last year with great success.

What is the UAEPO’s goal and expectations? Is it aspiring to be like the other orchestras in the world?

I think it is imperative for the UAE to have their own unique national Philharmonic Orchestra just like any other country in the world. The main goal and objective for all the hard work with the UAEPO is to achieve government recognition and a mandate to start a fully funded national orchestra.

Our participation in this year's Al Ain Festival means a big step ahead towards achieving this goal. I think we have proven over the last 14 months that there is a necessity for a national orchestra in the UAE. One cannot continue to permanently ‘import’ orchestras into the country. Like any other country in the world – especially one with such a culturally diverse society – should have an orchestra representing them nationally and internationally. Once the orchestra gets this government recognition, we will be able to build the UAEPO further and become a renowned orchestra representing the country.

What were the challenges the UAEPO has encountered during the years it has performed and how did UAEPO faced them?

The biggest challenge for us currently is the lack of funding. Due to this, we are not able to put on as many public concerts as we would like to. This, in return, also means that we cannot yet fully implement all the tasks of an orchestra such as educational outreach programs, varied public concerts with programs reflecting all the different cultures in this country, etc.

Also, there is still not enough understanding that a cultural institution like an orchestra needs funding, which does not necessarily yield a financial return. A symphony orchestra is an expensive cultural entity. Hopefully, we would be able raise this awareness in Al Ain.

There is also a lack of understanding between the relation of economic and cultural crossovers, as well as appreciation of the local musical culture.

How does the UAEPO choose the events it would play for, the singers it would play with and the kind of music it would play?

If the orchestra performs a corporate event I try to make no difference to a public concert. Program content gets chosen very carefully in line with the message of the event, but also in line with the artistic vision and principles of the orchestra. I always tell everyone that any corporate performance of the UAE Philharmonic should be seen as a step towards a wider awareness and realization of a local orchestra.

Unfortunately, there is too much of ‘gold digging’ in the events business here in the UAE and far too many entities around that do not realize the value of each orchestral performance. Aside from being a performing body, the UAEPO is also a cultural ambassador and institution.

Is there a plan to compose your own songs?

We already have performed many original compositions and are in the process of composing and developing more of our own material. We are in a very lucky position that we have many extremely dedicated and talented musicians in the UAEPO who are willingly contribute their talent and efforts to the orchestra.

We are also lucky to have a rather large basis of resources available to us such as a fantastic board of directors, PR and marketing companies, and three fully equipped recording studios, among others. There are many people in and around the UAEPO who help in many respects and we are very grateful for this. There will certainly be more original recordings and performances of the UAEPO in the future.

Does the UAEPO play for its audience or for the music it is interpreting? What are the ‘guidelines’ the UAEPO observes?

There is always a split between the two. Of course, our main objective is to present interesting and innovative programs to our audiences. There is also a lot of work to do in terms of ‘orchestral education’ and classical music as the basis for that. Due to the rather large demand the orchestra is under, we were lucky to gain quite a lot of performing experience. I think our audiences realize the growth in professionalism within the orchestra very clearly. Whenever we perform public concerts, I can sense some kind of pride amongst the audience that this is their orchestra, it is not just an imported ensemble, but rather made up of the ‘fabric’ the society in the UAE is made out of. This is a huge compliment and we take this very seriously.

Our main guideline is that there is a growing need for a cultural institution like an orchestra and we would like to contribute as much as possible to all aspects relating to this.

How do you gauge your audience's appreciation and enjoyment of your music?

Since our inaugural performance in December 2006, we had nothing but extremely positive reactions of the audience. There is a real feeling of ‘welcome’ when we perform publicly. This fact is also reflected by the interest in the media. I permanently get approach from the media regarding the orchestra. Most notably there were TV productions about the UAEPO by Bloomberg International, the German RTL, a documentary on ARTE is in process, and many local TV and radio stations.

From the time UAEPO started, can you say that you have done it? How do you want the people to remember the UAEPO (or at least, during the time you were its Musical & Artistic Director)?

Because I have started this orchestra from scratch, I will always see it somewhat as ‘my baby.’ It is very difficult to let go sometimes, but this is a personal learning process I have to accept to embrace, especially as the UAEPO has now grown to an extent where I simply can't do everything myself anymore.

I think if you chose the job of a musical conductor, you can never say that you have done it. I would certainly say I would have achieved a lot if the government in the UAE will eventually recognize the orchestra and my work, and we can turn this orchestra into a full-time professional ensemble. But then I will face new challenges and will very happily deal with them.

In the end my biggest wish is that I can concentrate on the real task: building and educating a great orchestra as the conductor and artistic director to eventually represent the UAE nationally and abroad and just simply "make music".

Research encourages UAE residents to be ‘D-healthy’

February 23 - March 07, 2008
Issue 43
www.alaintimesuae.com

In a research on Vitamin D deficiency in Arab women and children: It is Time for Action, Dr. Hussein Saadi, Associate Professor of Medicine and Health Sciences at the UAE University, found out that Arabian women and children have low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D brought by their lifestyle and dress code, causing insufficient sunlight exposure.

“Many Arabian women live in modern air-conditioned flats and those living in traditional houses maintain a very modest dress code when they are in the courtyard thus limiting sunlight exposure,” stated Saadi in his research with Dr. Adekunle Dawodu of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, USA.

To this, Saadi recommended a daily oral intake of 800 IU of Vitamin D in Arabian women and 400 IU of Vitamin D in children to prevent rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, secondary hyperparathyroidism, hypertension, autoimmune disorders and cancer.

Calciferol, or what is commonly known as Vitamin D, is a fat-soluble vitamin mostly synthesized in the skin after exposure to sunlight. Eating foods rich in this nutrient, such as fatty fish and fish oils, can also decrease the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in Arab mothers and infants.

“In addition to adequate vitamin D intake, lifelong intake of adequate calcium is also necessary to maintain bone and general health. The best source of calcium is food, principally dairy products. All adults should receive at least 1,000 mg/day of elemental calcium. In a study of 185 healthy young UAE women almost a quarter of the subjects consumed less than 500 mg/day of calcium. Calcium supplements should be used when an adequate dietary intake cannot be achieved,” said Saadi.

Researchers from the University of Western Sydney also revealed that people ages 50 and above who take calcium supplements suffer fewer fractures and bone loss as well as and enjoy a better quality of life. But having a regular dose of 1200mg of calcium and 800 IU of Vitamin D can reduce the risk of bone fracture more and provide the ‘best therapeutic effect.’

“Taking calcium supplements is similar to superannuation insurance payments where small regular contributions build to much larger pay offs years down the track. This study shows the importance of starting supplements early in life, when bone mineral loss begins to accelerate,” Rany Victor, Senior Brand Manager of Novartis Consumer Health, was noted saying.