When I was still a child, my mother used to bring me to a manghihilot whenever I have fever. (Folks just seem to believe in supernatural powers especially when they do not have much money.) After the manghihilot assess me, she would give us some ampalaya leaves she herself planted in her backyard.
It might seem odd, but it has worked for me most of the time when I have colds. I never sensed the bitter taste ampalaya gives off when boiled; I became used to it and would even have it for baon in school.
Remembering that experience, I understand Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral’s action for issuing a disclaimer order on herbal food and dietary supplements. She is just protecting the other side of the pharmaceuticals industry. If consumers will discover a cheaper alternative to their medical needs, mainstream medicines would surely suffer.
The herbal industry, meanwhile, maintains that the disclaimer would turned prospective consumers off, as each box of the herbal supplement would bluntly specify that the product inside is not a tested, proven medicine.
The ongoing argument between the health department and the herbal industry of the country seems like the classic David-Goliath case, with the DoH overtaking the helm. It is THE health department, after all—-the main governing body on health in the Philippines.
Their row reached the courts. And so far, the herbal industry has the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) on its side. It has issued an order that allows the herbal market to continue displaying its products with only a subtle warning.
Translating the present disclaimer listed on herbal food and dietary supplements to the vernacular has been a simple problem gone awry. It revealed not only the medical ignorance of most Filipinos but also the competition of two medical industries that are supposed to take care of our health.
No Approved Therapeutic Claim vs. Mahalagang Paalala: Ang (name of product) ay hindi gamut at hindi dapat gamiting panggamot sa anumang sakit
It is a linguistic problem. Somehow, the warning implied in English sounds as if herbal products are generally safe and could be effective even though there is no solid proof yet that they could replace the medicines prescribed by doctors in hospitals.
Should the health department forbid a citizen's learning of an English line he or she has understood? How could anyone still spend money on a product untested and unverified?
It is an industrial problem. Mainstream medicines would definitely see a dent in their marketing records as Filipinos begin to patronize cheaper ‘medicines’.
I don’t believe Sec. Cabral. I don’t believe that she only intends to forewarn consumers that the products they are going to buy are not medicines per se. While I see her point, I don’t believe that the poorest of the poor of Filipinos would be cajoled by a trivial warning. Let a person decide if a certain product—mainstream medicine or not—is working. Assuring that a certain Filipino could understand a four-word phrase is not just her [Sec. Cabral] responsibility if that’s what she’s worrying about. Filipinos are not that dumb.
27 June 2010
24 June 2010
To steal or to love should not be a question
Last May 24, two comediennes exchanged raucous remarks during the live telecast of Showtime, a daily variety show.
It started with Tado’s comment on the show’s contestants. “Pang-gay ang performance niyo,” he said. “Ano namang masama sa pang-gay? May problema ka ba sa mga bakla, Tado?” Vice Ganda asked. “Hindi naman. Just read my shirt,” Tado replied.
Printed in the shirt are these words: Hindi bale nang magnakaw kesa mamakla.
This annoyed Vice Ganda even more. “Ang hindi marunong na tanggapin ang katotohanan ng buhay ay ang totoong bakla. Tandaan mo 'yan,” he said.
"Ang mga gipit, sa bading kumakapit," Tado added, seemingly unaware that he already had infuriated Vice Ganda.
To this, Vice Ganda answered, "Pero ang gipit kung ganyan ang hitsura, walang baklang magpapakapit!"
It was only then Tado tempered down. But the damage has been done. The glass has been broken. The issue has begun to spread like wildfire in social networking sites.
Vice’s side
"Pasensiya na kayo ha, naging masyado talaga akong emosyunal sa pagkakataong ito. Naapektuhan talaga ako sa sinabi ni Tado. Gusto ko lang maging totoo. At gusto ko lang itaas hindi lang ang sarili ko kundi lahat ng baklang nabubuhay sa mundo... At pati na rin lahat ng mga magulang na may anak na bakla. Gusto ko lang sabihin sa kanila na walang nakakahiya sa pagiging bakla."
Loosely translated, he disagrees with Tado. He is a gay, and he is proud to be one. He is just standing up for himself and for the rest of the gay community who are often ridiculed for their sexual preference.
Tado’s side
Even though he immediately tried to appease Vice Ganda, Tado (I believe!) still meant what he said. He is furious with gays, and wouldn’t ever accept them.
Tado, or Arvin Jimenez, is a TV and radio personality in the Philippines. He is hosting Strangebrew, a reality comedy show in UNTV, and BrewRats! a three-hour anything-goes radio show, which stands for Brew(R)amon(A)ngel(T)ado(S)how. As a freelance actor and filmmaker, he had appeared in some independent short films, applying what he had learned at the Mowelfund Institute. He is actually a frequent character in the music videos of Parokya ni Edgar. He had worked as a staff in a mental hospital, a waiter, a scriptwriter for television and a photojournalist.
He put up a clothing store, LimiTado, which he runs with his wife, Lei. The store basically alters what people buy in ukay-ukay to make it more usable and brand-new. The tees are also printed with limited designs, hence the name. LimiTado is also a ‘home to a lot of other quirky finds’ including bags, accessories and Volkswagen toy collectibles.
There’s more than meets the eye with Tado (Mallari, PG. Tado Jimenez seriously. The Manila Times. 07 Sept 2008). He co-founded Dakila, an artists group aiming to instill modern-day heroism in everyday people, and volunteers for RockEd, a group that intends to educate the youth through rock culture. “As a Filipino you should be serviceable. You don’t have to be shot in Luneta to become a hero,” Tado was reported saying.
Hindi baleng magnakaw, huwag lang mamakla
Better to steal than to appeal [with gays].
It really sounded offensive. It’s like the speaker or, in this case, the wearer, is advocating theft than to have a relationship with members of the third sex. Vice Ganda was just right for speaking up against what Tado has done.
There’s just another way to interpret it. It could mean that ‘It is better to steal than to play with a gay’s feelings [to have money]’. Knowing who Tado is from the features written about him in dailies and in the web, I think that this is what he really intends to convey. No one has the right to toy with somebody else’s emotions, gay or not. If he would be pushed to do so, he would rather dirty his hands and commit a crime.
Hopefully, that was his reason. Hopefully, that was what he believes in. Hopefully, nobody would discriminate against his or her fellow, especially against Filipinos.
References
It started with Tado’s comment on the show’s contestants. “Pang-gay ang performance niyo,” he said. “Ano namang masama sa pang-gay? May problema ka ba sa mga bakla, Tado?” Vice Ganda asked. “Hindi naman. Just read my shirt,” Tado replied.
Printed in the shirt are these words: Hindi bale nang magnakaw kesa mamakla.
This annoyed Vice Ganda even more. “Ang hindi marunong na tanggapin ang katotohanan ng buhay ay ang totoong bakla. Tandaan mo 'yan,” he said.
"Ang mga gipit, sa bading kumakapit," Tado added, seemingly unaware that he already had infuriated Vice Ganda.
To this, Vice Ganda answered, "Pero ang gipit kung ganyan ang hitsura, walang baklang magpapakapit!"
It was only then Tado tempered down. But the damage has been done. The glass has been broken. The issue has begun to spread like wildfire in social networking sites.
Vice’s side
"Pasensiya na kayo ha, naging masyado talaga akong emosyunal sa pagkakataong ito. Naapektuhan talaga ako sa sinabi ni Tado. Gusto ko lang maging totoo. At gusto ko lang itaas hindi lang ang sarili ko kundi lahat ng baklang nabubuhay sa mundo... At pati na rin lahat ng mga magulang na may anak na bakla. Gusto ko lang sabihin sa kanila na walang nakakahiya sa pagiging bakla."
Loosely translated, he disagrees with Tado. He is a gay, and he is proud to be one. He is just standing up for himself and for the rest of the gay community who are often ridiculed for their sexual preference.
Tado’s side
Even though he immediately tried to appease Vice Ganda, Tado (I believe!) still meant what he said. He is furious with gays, and wouldn’t ever accept them.
Tado, or Arvin Jimenez, is a TV and radio personality in the Philippines. He is hosting Strangebrew, a reality comedy show in UNTV, and BrewRats! a three-hour anything-goes radio show, which stands for Brew(R)amon(A)ngel(T)ado(S)how. As a freelance actor and filmmaker, he had appeared in some independent short films, applying what he had learned at the Mowelfund Institute. He is actually a frequent character in the music videos of Parokya ni Edgar. He had worked as a staff in a mental hospital, a waiter, a scriptwriter for television and a photojournalist.
He put up a clothing store, LimiTado, which he runs with his wife, Lei. The store basically alters what people buy in ukay-ukay to make it more usable and brand-new. The tees are also printed with limited designs, hence the name. LimiTado is also a ‘home to a lot of other quirky finds’ including bags, accessories and Volkswagen toy collectibles.
There’s more than meets the eye with Tado (Mallari, PG. Tado Jimenez seriously. The Manila Times. 07 Sept 2008). He co-founded Dakila, an artists group aiming to instill modern-day heroism in everyday people, and volunteers for RockEd, a group that intends to educate the youth through rock culture. “As a Filipino you should be serviceable. You don’t have to be shot in Luneta to become a hero,” Tado was reported saying.
Hindi baleng magnakaw, huwag lang mamakla
Better to steal than to appeal [with gays].
It really sounded offensive. It’s like the speaker or, in this case, the wearer, is advocating theft than to have a relationship with members of the third sex. Vice Ganda was just right for speaking up against what Tado has done.
There’s just another way to interpret it. It could mean that ‘It is better to steal than to play with a gay’s feelings [to have money]’. Knowing who Tado is from the features written about him in dailies and in the web, I think that this is what he really intends to convey. No one has the right to toy with somebody else’s emotions, gay or not. If he would be pushed to do so, he would rather dirty his hands and commit a crime.
Hopefully, that was his reason. Hopefully, that was what he believes in. Hopefully, nobody would discriminate against his or her fellow, especially against Filipinos.
References
20 June 2010
FOI: For Our Information
For a long while, public access to information is frustratingly hard. It may be guaranteed by the Constitution but not yet codified by law. House Bill 133 could change that and oblige the government to disclose information whenever.
Having a law such as this had made it possible for Hong Kong to be the ‘most economically free’ country to date.
This Act to Ensure Public Access to Official Records, Documents, and Any Other Information of Public Concern would allow ‘absolute and mandatory access’ to official information, whether written, oral, or visual. Authored by Bayan Muna Reps. Teodoro “Teddy” Casino and Neri Colmenares, ‘the bill aims to ensure transparency and accountability in government and, ultimately, good and clean governance by laying down the procedures for the exercise of that right.’
If enacted, ‘all classified information contained in all government agency records that (1) are more than 25 years old, and (2) have been determined to have historical value shall be automatically declassified whether or not the records have been reviewed.’
Pres. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III agreed with this and vowed to ratify the bill once he steps in. Pilipina Ako couldn’t agree with him further. Information is power, and those who can have it could do with it whatever they please. How would the government people learn to handle accountability and responsibility if some people would rather spend their days watching someone else’s back?
This could safeguard the nation from abuse of the very people it has elected, but what will be the consequence? It could encourage crooked politicians to test their limits. It could disarm the public, assuming that a mere piece of legislation could already dishearten a politician intending to corrupt.
Yes. What Pilipina Ako is proposing would be long and tedious. But if we let ourselves depend on a paper, when will we learn? The 62 countries that already favor a law such as this aren’t still spared from dishonesty and corruption. Every privilege has a limit. What makes the governed think that the governors will turn themselves in? Pilipina Ako's proof is this list of the legislators who were among the proponents of the bill but were absent during the roll call.
Abaya, Joseph Emilio A.
Agbayani, Victor Aguedo E.
Agyao, Manuel S.
Almario, Thelma Z.
Alvarez, Antonio C.
Amatong, Rommel C.
Angping, Maria Zenaida B.
Arnaiz, George P.
Arroyo, Diosdado M.
Arroyo, Ignacio T.
Balindong, Pangalian M.
Barzaga, Elpidio Jr. F.
Biron, Ferjenel G.
Bondoc, Anna York P.
Briones, Nicanor M.
Cagas, Marc Douglas IV C.
Cajayon, Mary Mitzi L.
Castro, Fredenil H.
Celeste, Arthur F.
Chong, Glenn A.
Clarete, Marina P.
Climaco, Mara Isabelle G.
Coscolluela, Ma. Carissa O.
Daza, Paul R.
Dimaporo, Abdullah D.
Dumarpa, Faysah RPM
Durano, Ramon VI H.
Dy, Faustino III G.
Enverga, Wilfrido Mark M.
Estrella, Conrado III
Fabian, Erico Basillo A.
Fernandez, Danilo Ramon S.
Ferrer, Jeffrey P.
Fua, Orlando B.
Fuentebella, Arnulfo P.
Garcia, Albert S.
Garcia, Pablo P.
Gonzales, Aurelio Jr. D.
Gonzalez, Raul Jr. T.
Gullas, Eduardo R.
Gunigundo, Magtanggol I.T.
Hofer, Ann K.
Ilagan, Luzviminda C.
Jala, Adam Relson R.
Jikiri, Yusop H.
Kho, Antonio T.
Lacson, Jose Carlos V.
Lagdameo, Antonio Jr. F.
Lim, Teodoro
Mamba, Manuel N.
Marañon, Alfredo III D.
Matugas, Francisco T.
Mercado, Roger G.
Nava, Joaquin Carlos Rahman A.
Nicolas, Reylina G.
Pancho, Pedro M.
Pancrudo, Candido Jr. P.
Plaza, Rodolfo G.
Prieto-Teodoro, Monica
Puno, Roberto V.
Ramiro, Herminia M.
Remulla, Jesus Crispin C.
Reyes, Victoria H.
Robes, Arturo B.
Rodriguez-Zaldirriaga, Adelina
Romarate, Guillermo Jr. A.
Romualdez, Ferdinand Martin G.
Romulo, Roman T.
Salvacion, Andres Jr., D.
Santiago, Narciso III D.
Singson, Ronald V.
Suarez, Danilo E.
Teodoro, Marcelino R.
Teves, Pryde Henry A.
Tieng, Irwin C.
Uy, Edwin C.
Uy, Rolando A.
Uy, Reynaldo S.
Villarosa, Ma. Amelita C.
Yu, Victor L.
Zamora, Ronaldo B.
This list just proves that, although House Bill 133 is a righteous piece of legislation, there is a great probability that it would be trashed in time.
References
Having a law such as this had made it possible for Hong Kong to be the ‘most economically free’ country to date.
This Act to Ensure Public Access to Official Records, Documents, and Any Other Information of Public Concern would allow ‘absolute and mandatory access’ to official information, whether written, oral, or visual. Authored by Bayan Muna Reps. Teodoro “Teddy” Casino and Neri Colmenares, ‘the bill aims to ensure transparency and accountability in government and, ultimately, good and clean governance by laying down the procedures for the exercise of that right.’
If enacted, ‘all classified information contained in all government agency records that (1) are more than 25 years old, and (2) have been determined to have historical value shall be automatically declassified whether or not the records have been reviewed.’
Pres. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III agreed with this and vowed to ratify the bill once he steps in. Pilipina Ako couldn’t agree with him further. Information is power, and those who can have it could do with it whatever they please. How would the government people learn to handle accountability and responsibility if some people would rather spend their days watching someone else’s back?
This could safeguard the nation from abuse of the very people it has elected, but what will be the consequence? It could encourage crooked politicians to test their limits. It could disarm the public, assuming that a mere piece of legislation could already dishearten a politician intending to corrupt.
Yes. What Pilipina Ako is proposing would be long and tedious. But if we let ourselves depend on a paper, when will we learn? The 62 countries that already favor a law such as this aren’t still spared from dishonesty and corruption. Every privilege has a limit. What makes the governed think that the governors will turn themselves in? Pilipina Ako's proof is this list of the legislators who were among the proponents of the bill but were absent during the roll call.
Abaya, Joseph Emilio A.
Agbayani, Victor Aguedo E.
Agyao, Manuel S.
Almario, Thelma Z.
Alvarez, Antonio C.
Amatong, Rommel C.
Angping, Maria Zenaida B.
Arnaiz, George P.
Arroyo, Diosdado M.
Arroyo, Ignacio T.
Balindong, Pangalian M.
Barzaga, Elpidio Jr. F.
Biron, Ferjenel G.
Bondoc, Anna York P.
Briones, Nicanor M.
Cagas, Marc Douglas IV C.
Cajayon, Mary Mitzi L.
Castro, Fredenil H.
Celeste, Arthur F.
Chong, Glenn A.
Clarete, Marina P.
Climaco, Mara Isabelle G.
Coscolluela, Ma. Carissa O.
Daza, Paul R.
Dimaporo, Abdullah D.
Dumarpa, Faysah RPM
Durano, Ramon VI H.
Dy, Faustino III G.
Enverga, Wilfrido Mark M.
Estrella, Conrado III
Fabian, Erico Basillo A.
Fernandez, Danilo Ramon S.
Ferrer, Jeffrey P.
Fua, Orlando B.
Fuentebella, Arnulfo P.
Garcia, Albert S.
Garcia, Pablo P.
Gonzales, Aurelio Jr. D.
Gonzalez, Raul Jr. T.
Gullas, Eduardo R.
Gunigundo, Magtanggol I.T.
Hofer, Ann K.
Ilagan, Luzviminda C.
Jala, Adam Relson R.
Jikiri, Yusop H.
Kho, Antonio T.
Lacson, Jose Carlos V.
Lagdameo, Antonio Jr. F.
Lim, Teodoro
Mamba, Manuel N.
Marañon, Alfredo III D.
Matugas, Francisco T.
Mercado, Roger G.
Nava, Joaquin Carlos Rahman A.
Nicolas, Reylina G.
Pancho, Pedro M.
Pancrudo, Candido Jr. P.
Plaza, Rodolfo G.
Prieto-Teodoro, Monica
Puno, Roberto V.
Ramiro, Herminia M.
Remulla, Jesus Crispin C.
Reyes, Victoria H.
Robes, Arturo B.
Rodriguez-Zaldirriaga, Adelina
Romarate, Guillermo Jr. A.
Romualdez, Ferdinand Martin G.
Romulo, Roman T.
Salvacion, Andres Jr., D.
Santiago, Narciso III D.
Singson, Ronald V.
Suarez, Danilo E.
Teodoro, Marcelino R.
Teves, Pryde Henry A.
Tieng, Irwin C.
Uy, Edwin C.
Uy, Rolando A.
Uy, Reynaldo S.
Villarosa, Ma. Amelita C.
Yu, Victor L.
Zamora, Ronaldo B.
This list just proves that, although House Bill 133 is a righteous piece of legislation, there is a great probability that it would be trashed in time.
References
17 June 2010
Dinky's relationship with GMA
Corazon ‘Dinky’ Soliman was a civic group leader when Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed her as the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) during the latter’s first term in the presidency.
She agreed, thinking ‘she could contribute to putting in place reforms.’ She was right: she was able to launch KALAHI-CIDSS in no time as well as the Early Childhood Development program. She also installed performance management systems, and set standards for DSWD institutions, among others.
Dinky eventually became the “president's messenger of bad news,” “Malacanang's conduit to civil society,” “GMA's troubleshooter” and “GMA’s travel companion.” She had restrained members of urban poor communities to attend rallies, and assisted in ‘commercial transactions’ where these people would be paid.
Dinky believed that leaders must sacrifice. They must ‘give up a significant amount of power and prestige… tighten their belts… and raise tax collection’. Unfortunately, this kind of sacrifice calls for the working class as well. Unfortunately too, she became one when Noli de Castro won the vice-presidency. She swore support for him nevertheless.
Her replacement did not surprise columnists. What got them thinking was Dinky’s reaction who should have known better. Most of them believed that Dinky was just assigned to the DSWD to repay a political debt to the civil society organizations that installed GMA to power.
Eventually, Dinky took part in a “class act” in the Hyatt Hotel in July 8 2005. She claimed losing her integrity during GMA’s term, and admitted ‘accommodating dirty politics and manipulating the poor’ during her post in the DSWD. The World Bank might have loaned her some fund to built 5000 villages and education programs for the poor, but that was in exchange for her silence on the presence of foreign military forces in the country. She also has to head the Operation Gentle Wind, which was aimed to educate those who do not agree with the importance of US troops in the country.
In her piece "Why I Resigned From Government, And Asked My Boss To Resign As Well" , Dinky narrated her story since she joined GMA’s Cabinet. I was not convinced though – and for libelous reasons. I simply do not trust her. Other than her, no one else could testify to her testimonies. Who's to say that she wouldn't do to Noynoy what she has done to a perceived ally when the going gets tough?
References
She agreed, thinking ‘she could contribute to putting in place reforms.’ She was right: she was able to launch KALAHI-CIDSS in no time as well as the Early Childhood Development program. She also installed performance management systems, and set standards for DSWD institutions, among others.
Dinky eventually became the “president's messenger of bad news,” “Malacanang's conduit to civil society,” “GMA's troubleshooter” and “GMA’s travel companion.” She had restrained members of urban poor communities to attend rallies, and assisted in ‘commercial transactions’ where these people would be paid.
Dinky believed that leaders must sacrifice. They must ‘give up a significant amount of power and prestige… tighten their belts… and raise tax collection’. Unfortunately, this kind of sacrifice calls for the working class as well. Unfortunately too, she became one when Noli de Castro won the vice-presidency. She swore support for him nevertheless.
Her replacement did not surprise columnists. What got them thinking was Dinky’s reaction who should have known better. Most of them believed that Dinky was just assigned to the DSWD to repay a political debt to the civil society organizations that installed GMA to power.
Eventually, Dinky took part in a “class act” in the Hyatt Hotel in July 8 2005. She claimed losing her integrity during GMA’s term, and admitted ‘accommodating dirty politics and manipulating the poor’ during her post in the DSWD. The World Bank might have loaned her some fund to built 5000 villages and education programs for the poor, but that was in exchange for her silence on the presence of foreign military forces in the country. She also has to head the Operation Gentle Wind, which was aimed to educate those who do not agree with the importance of US troops in the country.
In her piece "Why I Resigned From Government, And Asked My Boss To Resign As Well" , Dinky narrated her story since she joined GMA’s Cabinet. I was not convinced though – and for libelous reasons. I simply do not trust her. Other than her, no one else could testify to her testimonies. Who's to say that she wouldn't do to Noynoy what she has done to a perceived ally when the going gets tough?
"Each year she stays in power, she brings the nation closer to extinction," Dinky has said in a press conference at De la Salle Manila campus last July 26, 2008
References
10 June 2010
Population Growth and Sec. Cabral
Dr. Esperanza Icasas-Cabral is a cardiologist, physician, teacher, scientist and an advocate of the ideals and values she believes in. Among them is her stance to protect the Filipino’s health amidst the ire of the Catholic Church.
They also cried for her resignation and appealed to then-presidential front-runner Benigno Aquino III to lay off Cabral once he assumed the presidency.
Since her appointment, Cabral has been blunt of her policies and principles. She believes that the Reproductive Health bill can curb the country’s population, which totals to 92,226,600 people as of 2009. This Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development would enforce age-appropriate reproductive health education starting in Grade 5, and mandates purchase of contraceptives by state hospitals.
She also issued an administrative order instructing tobacco companies to add graphic information on cigarettes’ packs. This would just be in compliance with the "Framework Convention on Tobacco Control" signed in 2003 and ratified by the Senate in 2005. Cabral obliged the herbal industry to translate the warning “No Therapeutic Claims Approved” on their products.
She gave away pills. She distributed condoms right at Dangwa on Valentine’s Day. Better spend the P2.5 million donated by international companies than risk the society’s vulnerability for sexually transmitted infections (STI). There are 4,424 cases of HIV/AIDS to date, 835 of which occurred in 2009 alone.
Cabral banned mercury importation. Some 20 students from St. Andrew’s School in Paranaque were poisoned by the chemical, one of which was diagnosed of Parkinsonism and nerve damage. Since then, she refrained from issuing mercury permits on all local health units. Mercury is used in sphygmomanometers and thermometers.
Her opposition with tradition displeased some people, according to a Pulse Asia survey conducted March 21 to 28. Funny because despite of the ratings drop, Cabral remained as the highest rated of all seven Cabinet officials included in the survey, and the DOH remained the second highest-rated government agency.
For everything she has done that labeled her ‘immoral’ with ‘one of her feet already in hell,’ President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stayed with her, along with the Forum of Family Planning and Development (FORUM), the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN) and the Philippine NGO Council on Population, Health and Welfare Inc. (PNGOC)
Cabral earned her medical degree at the University of the Philippines. A Pasay native, she went to the United States to train at the Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital and Joslin Clinic. She taught at the UP College of Medicine Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology thereafter and became the director of the Philippine Heart Center. She also served at the Asian Hospital & Medical Center as a chief cardiologist, edited a number of medical journals and publications, authored and co-authored about 85 scientific papers, and hosted a TV show on Channels 13 (HeartWatch) and 9 (InfoMedico).
As if her professional career isn’t already brimming, Cabral was appointed director of the Philippine Heart Center, consultant for the Dangerous Drugs Board, the Bureau of Food and Drugs and the Department of Health, and commissioner of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women.
Cabral received only four awards for all of her efforts (a nice reminder for people who measure their efforts in recognitions). These are the National Outstanding Young Scientist for Medicine Award (1981), Philippine Society of Experimental & Clinical Pharmacology Achievement Award (1982), Outstanding Woman in the Nation’s Service Award for Medicine (1986) and Dr. Jose P. Rizal Award by the Philippine Medical Association (1991).
It’s probably high-time for Pilipina Ako to soften her guard on ‘artificial means of population control’. Espie, with an ophthalmologist (Dr. Bienvenido V. Cabral) for a husband and three medical doctors (Cristina, Patricia Anne and Brian Michael) for children, seems to be a reasonable person. Pilipina Ako thinks she would support a ‘manmade regulation’, provided that the society would commit itself to learn accountability and responsibility meanwhile.
References
They also cried for her resignation and appealed to then-presidential front-runner Benigno Aquino III to lay off Cabral once he assumed the presidency.
Since her appointment, Cabral has been blunt of her policies and principles. She believes that the Reproductive Health bill can curb the country’s population, which totals to 92,226,600 people as of 2009. This Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development would enforce age-appropriate reproductive health education starting in Grade 5, and mandates purchase of contraceptives by state hospitals.
She also issued an administrative order instructing tobacco companies to add graphic information on cigarettes’ packs. This would just be in compliance with the "Framework Convention on Tobacco Control" signed in 2003 and ratified by the Senate in 2005. Cabral obliged the herbal industry to translate the warning “No Therapeutic Claims Approved” on their products.
She gave away pills. She distributed condoms right at Dangwa on Valentine’s Day. Better spend the P2.5 million donated by international companies than risk the society’s vulnerability for sexually transmitted infections (STI). There are 4,424 cases of HIV/AIDS to date, 835 of which occurred in 2009 alone.
Cabral banned mercury importation. Some 20 students from St. Andrew’s School in Paranaque were poisoned by the chemical, one of which was diagnosed of Parkinsonism and nerve damage. Since then, she refrained from issuing mercury permits on all local health units. Mercury is used in sphygmomanometers and thermometers.
Her opposition with tradition displeased some people, according to a Pulse Asia survey conducted March 21 to 28. Funny because despite of the ratings drop, Cabral remained as the highest rated of all seven Cabinet officials included in the survey, and the DOH remained the second highest-rated government agency.
For everything she has done that labeled her ‘immoral’ with ‘one of her feet already in hell,’ President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stayed with her, along with the Forum of Family Planning and Development (FORUM), the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN) and the Philippine NGO Council on Population, Health and Welfare Inc. (PNGOC)
Cabral earned her medical degree at the University of the Philippines. A Pasay native, she went to the United States to train at the Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital and Joslin Clinic. She taught at the UP College of Medicine Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology thereafter and became the director of the Philippine Heart Center. She also served at the Asian Hospital & Medical Center as a chief cardiologist, edited a number of medical journals and publications, authored and co-authored about 85 scientific papers, and hosted a TV show on Channels 13 (HeartWatch) and 9 (InfoMedico).
As if her professional career isn’t already brimming, Cabral was appointed director of the Philippine Heart Center, consultant for the Dangerous Drugs Board, the Bureau of Food and Drugs and the Department of Health, and commissioner of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women.
Cabral received only four awards for all of her efforts (a nice reminder for people who measure their efforts in recognitions). These are the National Outstanding Young Scientist for Medicine Award (1981), Philippine Society of Experimental & Clinical Pharmacology Achievement Award (1982), Outstanding Woman in the Nation’s Service Award for Medicine (1986) and Dr. Jose P. Rizal Award by the Philippine Medical Association (1991).
It’s probably high-time for Pilipina Ako to soften her guard on ‘artificial means of population control’. Espie, with an ophthalmologist (Dr. Bienvenido V. Cabral) for a husband and three medical doctors (Cristina, Patricia Anne and Brian Michael) for children, seems to be a reasonable person. Pilipina Ako thinks she would support a ‘manmade regulation’, provided that the society would commit itself to learn accountability and responsibility meanwhile.
References
08 June 2010
Sex education for Filipinos
The subject of sex will always be a problem for parents. Just how would you tell kids that they could become pregnant if they love or would be doomed for the rest of their lives for a moment of bodily pleasure? Not too many would disagree that sex is not equitable to love. Not everyone also understands the numerous reasons why certain species do it.
In the Philippines, its society abhors sex between minors, between people with no romantic relations as well as between people who are already bound to someone else. And so, its Department of Education (DepEd) chose to introduce the Adolescent Reproductive Health subject despite the 'vehement opposition of the Catholic Church’ in 80 elementary schools and 79 high schools.
A sex education class is ‘necessary in light of the alarming number of teenage pregnancies’, Education Secretary Mona Valisno maintains, the Catholic Church admits it or not.
In the UAE, Emirati social worker Wedad Lootah recently wrote a book on sex published in Arabic and English for pupils as young as 4 years old to someone as old as 16. It would be a three-book series: a picture book for the kindergarten, one with Islamic teachings for the juniors, and another with societal and scientific content for the high schoolers.
Some female Saudi students from the King Saud University’s Special Education Department thought so too after finding out that there are parents who approved of such a class since (1) they themselves were reluctant to share such information and (2) they were afraid that their children could be sexually harassed or abused.
The Shoura Council and the Human Rights Commission itself led by Mohammad Al-Sheddi agreed with the plan. “The Shoura recently approved a protocol to protect children from being exploited for pornography. Children should be equipped with enough information that would allow them to differentiate between right and wrong, and detect whether they are being used or lured into a situation in which they may be abused.”
Under the Obama administration, the United States has allotted $114 million to an "evidence-based approach" program to prevent teenage pregnancy.
Michael Carrera, an educator on teen sexuality and adolescent development started advocating against teenage pregnancy since his career in the Bronx University 50 years ago. He has started a number of after-school programs on 1984 sponsored by the New York City's Children's Aid Society. Today, those programs are incorporated into the US curriculum.
Giving young people information about sex is not the same thing as giving them permission to do it, Carrera pointed out. "Sexual ignorance is not bliss. You do not make responsible decisions in the dark." It would be already late if people wait for children to become teenagers first before talking to them about sex as views on relationships and roles of men and women are ‘hard to break down’ once inculcated.
So far, Susan Philliber, an independent evaluator, was impressed with the impact of Carrera’s program. Her team followed some students for four years all throughout their high school. Only 10% of the girls following Carrera’s model got pregnant. The girls were also taught to use contraceptives to protect themselves against sexually transmitted infections.
Indonesia, Mongolia, South Korea, India, Japan, China and Sri Lanka already ‘have a systematic policy framework for teaching about sex within schools’ while Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand have just assessed their adolescent populace’s reproductive health needs. Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan were completely without coordinated sex education programs.
Worldwide, the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the BBC World Service talked about sex, family, contraception and parenting in a 12-part series entitled Sexwise. Teachers in the Netherlands, on the other hand, encourage their students age 12 and 15 years old in an open talk dubbed as Lang leve de liefde (“Long Live Love”). “AIDS was an impetus for sex education in schools,” said Jo Reinders of Soa-bestrijding, a Dutch foundation composed of members of the church, health officials and family planning organizations. “It forced teachers to become more explicit and to discuss norms and values using a participatory approach.”
Not everyone favors deliberating about sex overtly though. Respondents who took part in an online poll ‘thought all sex education books should be banned.’ Lootah herself has received death threats because of her conviction.
There is wisdom in knowing about pain firsthand. If the Filipinos would not understand why a sacred act to show affection could be detrimental in the long run, Pilipina Ako does not know how they would even appreciate life and love.
References
In the Philippines, its society abhors sex between minors, between people with no romantic relations as well as between people who are already bound to someone else. And so, its Department of Education (DepEd) chose to introduce the Adolescent Reproductive Health subject despite the 'vehement opposition of the Catholic Church’ in 80 elementary schools and 79 high schools.
A sex education class is ‘necessary in light of the alarming number of teenage pregnancies’, Education Secretary Mona Valisno maintains, the Catholic Church admits it or not.
In the UAE, Emirati social worker Wedad Lootah recently wrote a book on sex published in Arabic and English for pupils as young as 4 years old to someone as old as 16. It would be a three-book series: a picture book for the kindergarten, one with Islamic teachings for the juniors, and another with societal and scientific content for the high schoolers.
Some female Saudi students from the King Saud University’s Special Education Department thought so too after finding out that there are parents who approved of such a class since (1) they themselves were reluctant to share such information and (2) they were afraid that their children could be sexually harassed or abused.
The Shoura Council and the Human Rights Commission itself led by Mohammad Al-Sheddi agreed with the plan. “The Shoura recently approved a protocol to protect children from being exploited for pornography. Children should be equipped with enough information that would allow them to differentiate between right and wrong, and detect whether they are being used or lured into a situation in which they may be abused.”
Under the Obama administration, the United States has allotted $114 million to an "evidence-based approach" program to prevent teenage pregnancy.
Michael Carrera, an educator on teen sexuality and adolescent development started advocating against teenage pregnancy since his career in the Bronx University 50 years ago. He has started a number of after-school programs on 1984 sponsored by the New York City's Children's Aid Society. Today, those programs are incorporated into the US curriculum.
Giving young people information about sex is not the same thing as giving them permission to do it, Carrera pointed out. "Sexual ignorance is not bliss. You do not make responsible decisions in the dark." It would be already late if people wait for children to become teenagers first before talking to them about sex as views on relationships and roles of men and women are ‘hard to break down’ once inculcated.
So far, Susan Philliber, an independent evaluator, was impressed with the impact of Carrera’s program. Her team followed some students for four years all throughout their high school. Only 10% of the girls following Carrera’s model got pregnant. The girls were also taught to use contraceptives to protect themselves against sexually transmitted infections.
Indonesia, Mongolia, South Korea, India, Japan, China and Sri Lanka already ‘have a systematic policy framework for teaching about sex within schools’ while Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand have just assessed their adolescent populace’s reproductive health needs. Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan were completely without coordinated sex education programs.
Worldwide, the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the BBC World Service talked about sex, family, contraception and parenting in a 12-part series entitled Sexwise. Teachers in the Netherlands, on the other hand, encourage their students age 12 and 15 years old in an open talk dubbed as Lang leve de liefde (“Long Live Love”). “AIDS was an impetus for sex education in schools,” said Jo Reinders of Soa-bestrijding, a Dutch foundation composed of members of the church, health officials and family planning organizations. “It forced teachers to become more explicit and to discuss norms and values using a participatory approach.”
Not everyone favors deliberating about sex overtly though. Respondents who took part in an online poll ‘thought all sex education books should be banned.’ Lootah herself has received death threats because of her conviction.
There is wisdom in knowing about pain firsthand. If the Filipinos would not understand why a sacred act to show affection could be detrimental in the long run, Pilipina Ako does not know how they would even appreciate life and love.
References
06 June 2010
Pinoy's fanaticism for Guinness
Such activities like playing music on a leaf, crafting a 5.5 meter-long shoe, meeting for a 30-minute aerobics exercise, eating 350 chilies in three minutes, and cooking 1,001 meter-long barbecued milkfish (bangus), pork, chicken, vegetables and cold cuts have enlisted the Philippines to the Guinness World Records.
This year, some students from Pasay City performed tinikling during the Pasinaya 2010 in the hope that they would be hailed for having ‘the most number of tinikling pairs’. Daniel Razon, dubbed as Mr. Public Service in Good Morning, Kuya! on UNTV 37, has spearheaded a number of welfare projects for indigent citizens (such as free medical and dental checkups, free land transportation for senior citizens, free legal consultations, free college program, and free “Transient Home”). These events were entered for ‘having a large number of participants’.
Deserving an acknowledgment from the Guinness World Records is quite difficult. Their applicants join at their own risk and expense. The proposals should also be ‘breakable, measurable and comparable’. Currently, the person who holds the most number of Guinness feats is an American. Ashrita Furman, has recorded some 110 Guinness records, one of which is having ‘the most current Guinness World Records held at the same time by an individual.’
Striving for something inspires. Especially if what one’s doing calls for cooperation and national pride. I just do not like it when the reason is disguised into fame. Suddenly, the Guinness World Records has become an excuse to be unimaginative and unproductive when all it aims is to set records straight.
This year, some students from Pasay City performed tinikling during the Pasinaya 2010 in the hope that they would be hailed for having ‘the most number of tinikling pairs’. Daniel Razon, dubbed as Mr. Public Service in Good Morning, Kuya! on UNTV 37, has spearheaded a number of welfare projects for indigent citizens (such as free medical and dental checkups, free land transportation for senior citizens, free legal consultations, free college program, and free “Transient Home”). These events were entered for ‘having a large number of participants’.
Deserving an acknowledgment from the Guinness World Records is quite difficult. Their applicants join at their own risk and expense. The proposals should also be ‘breakable, measurable and comparable’. Currently, the person who holds the most number of Guinness feats is an American. Ashrita Furman, has recorded some 110 Guinness records, one of which is having ‘the most current Guinness World Records held at the same time by an individual.’
Striving for something inspires. Especially if what one’s doing calls for cooperation and national pride. I just do not like it when the reason is disguised into fame. Suddenly, the Guinness World Records has become an excuse to be unimaginative and unproductive when all it aims is to set records straight.
01 June 2010
REFERENCE LIST
24 June 2010
To steal or to love should not be a question
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfF_5DB4hHg&feature=PlayList&p=2E9D06AA0B41865F&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3n23bK1QLc&feature=PlayList&p=2E9D06AA0B41865F&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=5
20 June 2010
FOI: For Our Information
http://www.rightsreporting.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6998&Itemid=130
http://www.heritage.org/index/ranking.aspx
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/192799/noynoy-vows-to-make-foi-bill-his-administrations-priority
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/192853/updated-list-of-house-members-absent-during-foi-roll-call
17 June 2010
Dinky's relationship with GMA
References: http://www.kabayannoli.com/press/2004-0707one.htm, http://www.aer.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=46, http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2004/07/16/oped/ted.aldwin.ong.html, http://www.truthforce.info/?q=node/view/1205, http://www.gmanews.tv/story/32170/Soliman-is-Noynoys-campaign-manager, http://www.gmanews.tv/story/83137/Dinky-to-Noli-Take-a-clear-stand, http://www.malaya.com.ph/jul26/news1.htm
10 June 2010
Population Growth and Sec. Cabral
http://www.op.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=126&Itemid=30
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_Philippines
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/01/10/10/arroyo-appoints-cabral-new-doh-secretary
http://www.noharm.org/seasia/news_hcwh/2010/feb/hcwh2010-02-22.php
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/24/10/sometimes-vicious-catholic-church-wont-stop-cabral
http://www.spot.ph/2010/02/26/first-condoms-now-pills-cabral-continues-doh-program/
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=553329, http://www.mb.com.ph/node/245738/group
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/189149/cabral-doh-suffer-drop-in-approval-ratingssurvey
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/192450/noynoy-urged-not-to-retain-cabral-as-doh-chief
08 June 2010
Sex Education for Filipinos
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1278374/why_men_need_sex_.html?cat=41
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100603-273644/DepEd-to-try-sex-education-in-select-public-schools
http://gulfnews.com/news/world/philippines/catholic-church-to-be-consulted-before-sex-education-is-introduced-1.635989
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index2.php?option=com_gallery&id=584283&img=1&mment=n
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/584279-emirati-author-to-publish-kindergarten-sex-ed-book
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/585948-saudi-study-recommends-sex-education-in-schools
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/584783-almost-20-want-all-sex-education-books-banned
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127514185
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_education#Asia
http://www.unesco.org/courier/2000_07/uk/apprend2.htm
To steal or to love should not be a question
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfF_5DB4hHg&feature=PlayList&p=2E9D06AA0B41865F&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3n23bK1QLc&feature=PlayList&p=2E9D06AA0B41865F&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=5
20 June 2010
FOI: For Our Information
http://www.rightsreporting.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6998&Itemid=130
http://www.heritage.org/index/ranking.aspx
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/192799/noynoy-vows-to-make-foi-bill-his-administrations-priority
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/192853/updated-list-of-house-members-absent-during-foi-roll-call
17 June 2010
Dinky's relationship with GMA
References: http://www.kabayannoli.com/press/2004-0707one.htm, http://www.aer.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=46, http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2004/07/16/oped/ted.aldwin.ong.html, http://www.truthforce.info/?q=node/view/1205, http://www.gmanews.tv/story/32170/Soliman-is-Noynoys-campaign-manager, http://www.gmanews.tv/story/83137/Dinky-to-Noli-Take-a-clear-stand, http://www.malaya.com.ph/jul26/news1.htm
10 June 2010
Population Growth and Sec. Cabral
http://www.op.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=126&Itemid=30
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_Philippines
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/01/10/10/arroyo-appoints-cabral-new-doh-secretary
http://www.noharm.org/seasia/news_hcwh/2010/feb/hcwh2010-02-22.php
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/24/10/sometimes-vicious-catholic-church-wont-stop-cabral
http://www.spot.ph/2010/02/26/first-condoms-now-pills-cabral-continues-doh-program/
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=553329, http://www.mb.com.ph/node/245738/group
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/189149/cabral-doh-suffer-drop-in-approval-ratingssurvey
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/192450/noynoy-urged-not-to-retain-cabral-as-doh-chief
08 June 2010
Sex Education for Filipinos
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1278374/why_men_need_sex_.html?cat=41
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100603-273644/DepEd-to-try-sex-education-in-select-public-schools
http://gulfnews.com/news/world/philippines/catholic-church-to-be-consulted-before-sex-education-is-introduced-1.635989
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index2.php?option=com_gallery&id=584283&img=1&mment=n
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/584279-emirati-author-to-publish-kindergarten-sex-ed-book
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/585948-saudi-study-recommends-sex-education-in-schools
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/584783-almost-20-want-all-sex-education-books-banned
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127514185
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_education#Asia
http://www.unesco.org/courier/2000_07/uk/apprend2.htm
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