On Men and Mangroves

                The problem with society is that it responds quickly, but temporarily.

                Security in malls tightens right after a robbery incident.

                People rally along the streets upon hearing news about misappropriated funds.

                Everyone participates in relief operations after a calamity strikes the country.

                Yet, two months, or maybe even two weeks after these events occur, people again revert back to their regular habits as if nothing ever happened.

The forum about mangroves and beach forest greenbelts by the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society, Inc. held last December 9, 2013 can be considered as an immediate response to the disaster that was typhoon Yolanda. Judging from the audience present in the auditorium that day, this forum had a wider scope, catering mostly to the older crowd instead of college students. I observed that many of them were also taking down notes and taking snapshots of the slideshow presentations of the speakers, and were able to ask intelligent questions that benefitted everyone present at the event.

The forum boasted exceptional speakers, who managed to keep the talk interesting even whilst tackling very technical topics and using uncommon terms. Prior to the forum, I used to think that plants were just plants, and mangroves were just mangroves. Little did I know that it took so much research and skill just to determine where and what type of plants to grow in each area. The speakers even showed detailed aerial images of the lands, and sketched out precisely where mangroves must be established in order to protect against typhoons and other calamities. I appreciated that they really did their best to communicate with the audience. In a forum like this, it is important that the speakers strive to be understood. Communication is everything, especially when the goal is to make people act and be moved by what one is saying.

 Despite the knowledge that I gained that day, I left the forum feeling very disappointed. I found it sad that there were these people who had so much knowledge and ideas on how to better the country, yet seldom do these plans get put into action. What particularly saddened me was when Dr. Primavera mentioned that she had already been studying this for over 20 years. I could not fathom how easily translating this research into reality could have saved thousands of lives, and still, only a few people have listened. It may be ignorance, or sheer lack of care, but whatever it is, something must be done about this system. Although the lives in the past cannot be brought back, it is never too late to nourish mangrove rehabilitation. This can save thousands more in the future.

                       

Nature really is such a wondrous thing, but it is equally terrifying because the environment is not a slave to mankind. The way society cares for its surroundings can determine a nation’s life or death. Sadly, in the case of Yolanda and other other calamities, it was the latter. Hopefully, the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society, Inc., along with the speakers and other experts on plant life, can reach even more people and educate them. In this way, the immediate response can see long-term results and be able to prevent future tragedies from occurring through proper planning and the cooperation from people in various sectors of society. Let this not be another concern that people forget about in two months’ time. Restoring the mangroves to their ideal ratio is not something a handful of people can do on their own. Ultimately, people should work hand in hand in creating an environment that will be fit to house this nation’s children, and along with this, cultivate their minds into awareness and action.

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Reflect and Accept

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” –Jimi Hendrix

Photo from www.sunstar.com.ph

A few months had passed after the Zamboanga City crisis in Mindanao but souls are still not healed; homes are still not built; and lives are still not at peace. What good does really a war bring if it costs lives and peace? After the war, what happens next?

A symposium regarding the Zamboanga City crisis was held last December 11, 2013 in the College of Mass Communication by its Graduate Studies Department. The speaker of the event entitled:  “Zamboanga City Crisis: Reconciling a Divided Community” was Ms. Armina T. Rasul-Bernardo, president of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy. She talked about how the Bangsamoro struggled during the Marcos regime, how they lost their land and power even necessities for living like electricity and water sources. She also discussed some background of these people like the religion and culture of Islam which significantly helped in understanding the situation from their perspective. The origin of the problem that led to the war in Zamboanga was also explained in her talk.

When people experience hardships and sufferings, we tend to cope and aspire for change, for a better life that we, undoubtedly, deserve. As humans who have suffered a lot, who lived in the poorest slums, and were put in the lowest kind of low, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) wanted to gain back what were rightfully theirs and what they deserve as Filipinos and they believed that the only way to achieve this is by a bloody war. And shame, this was also what our government had to offer them back.

Ms. Rasul-Bernardo was right as she emphasized on her talk that acceptance and unity are the key to rehabilitation of Zamboanga. Communities must be rebuilt with unity and no discrimination. Our country may be comprised of thousands of separate islands and hundreds of tribes with different religions and culture but we should unite as Filipinos and accept each other’s differences to be able to live in peace and harmony. Wars and bloodshed are never the answer to a better life. Wars only create victims and break bonds.  Hunger for power won’t lead us to anything good. Once we embrace our differences and accept one another as brothers and sisters, and treat every being as equal, we are never too far from this peace that we have always been talking about.

by Mykha Marie B. Tabuzo, 2010 24968

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Some Like it Cool

Photo taken from: student.societyforscience.org
Courtesy of Kathleen Kokolus and Sandra Sexton

I’m writing this blog entry as a dedication to a close family friend who I recently found out is in her 4^th stage of colon cancer. Cancer is a very painful thing to happen to anyone – not just to the patient but to his/her family and friends as well. As of press time, the cure to cancer has yet to be discovered.

Researchers at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., found out that mice kept at lower temperature developed more cancer tumors than those kept at higher temperature.  (See main article here: https://student.societyforscience.org/article/cold-environment-suppresses-mice-immune-system-can-foster-cancer-growth). A batch of mice was kept at about 22.5°C and another separate batch kept at a temperature raised to 30.5°C. The batch of mice kept at a warmer temperature developed fewer tumors, their cancer cells grew more slowly and were unlikely to develop more tumors throughout the body. It was suspected that cold room temperatures mess up the immunity of the test mice and thus had fewer killer T cells, a type of white blood cell. Also, cells known to partially turn off immunity were found in higher numbers in the tumors in those housed in colder temperatures.

While this new discovery only aids in minimizing the tumors and the development of more cancer cells, it still doesn’t eliminate cancer totally. Another study conducted at the University of Alberta (see article here: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/06/26/dichloroacetate-university-of-alberta-doctors-discover-a-cure-for-cancer/) suggests a link between pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and cancer. 

Dichloroacetate (DCA) was also found to shrink solid tumors, including the aggressive primary brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme in humans. It has been proven to reverse cancer growth. The drug tricks cancer cells into normal energy production by changing the ways they handle nutrient fuels. This causes the cancer cells to “self-destruct” without harming other cells in the body. Many researchers around the world have confirmed the validity of the research study conducted by the University of Alberta. Disputes over public funding vs biased industry ties are seen to be suppress known cures that won’t make them profit. 

Through the years, extensive research and efforts have been put up to develop a cure for cancer. Billions of money and time are continuously being invested, but issues concerning culture and religion among others as well as lack of support from the medical industry hamper the development for a cure.

I am positive and I feel hopeful that a cure for cancer is on its way very soon.

by Audrey Raposa

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Christmas after Haiyan

Photo from www.gmanetwork.com

“Nothing can stop us from welcoming Christmas even though we have lost our home,” says Ellen Miano, a survivor of the devastating typhoon-hit in Eastern Visayas.

Gifts under our glam Christmas tree, scrumptious feast for Noche Buena, simbang gabi  with loved ones, heavenly Christmas carols and never-ending parties… Can Christmas get any better? Well, this year’s a bit different especially to our fellowmen who were struck by Typhoon Haiyan in November. After a month there had been confirmed more than 6, 000 death cases and more or less 2,000 people missing. (http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-1-222569-Typhoon-hit-Philippines-celebrates-Christmas-despite-continuing-hardship).  With 4.4 million homeless people and $12.9 billion worth of damage, the yuletide season does not seem very happy in the region.  Water and electricity are yet fully repaired in the whole region so a literally dark Christmas is expected. It is still very far from recovery but with help of the government, Filipinos, and the whole world, it is never impossible.

Despite all the devastation, our kababayans from Leyte did not postpone Christmas but embraced the coming of the Lord maybe with empty hands but with hearts full of hope. Ronfrey Magdua, also a survivor, built a 4-meter-tall star-shaped lantern made of wood and wrapped in the Philippine’s flag which he displayed in the yard of a family that perished in the disaster.

In Palo, another town very badly devastated by the typhoon, Jean Dotado and her family feasted with apples, oranges, grapes and sliced bread with peanut butter which they got from the funds from UN. The UN’s World Food Programme has given out P 1,300 to the poor families in Tacloban and nearby towns and they plan to give out $6 million to 100,000 families next week. Others spend the money on medicines and rehabilitation of their houses.

Despite severe damage, churches in Tacloban still opened their doors and held the simbang gabi or the Christmas Novena and Christmas masses.

Yes it is a cliché but there will always be a rainbow after the rain. No matter what, we are still lucky that we are here to celebrate the birth of our savior and no casualty should keep us from having a merry Christmas.  Our fellow kababayans in Eastern Visayas are great examples of hope and strength. This Christmas, let’s cherish all our blessings and take part in helping people in need. This is the true spirit of Christmas.

Source:

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-1-222569-Typhoon-hit-Philippines-celebrates-Christmas-despite-continuing-hardship

By: Mykha Marie B. Tabuzo

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The Hospital of Tomorrow

Through the years, technological development in our society has been happening with then end of easing the lives of the people. We have seen the development of communication devices through the years as well as other technologies that are now almost necessary in our everyday life. With the fast-changing society, the people's needs also changes, and we attempt to satiate those needs by developing and inventing new forms of technology. But one development that caught my eye is the development of healthcare service.

In an article in Keep It Running (The DSS Blogs) IT Solutions from the Desktop to the Data Center, Jack Gesualdi discussed the possible healthcare development that will happen in the next few years and how do these changes will ease the lives of the patients and doctors alike.

(link: http://www.dsscorp.com/blog/2013/12/17/what-do-we-already-know-about-the-hospital-of-tomorrow/ )

Gesualdi gathered information from health professionals and government officials of what the hospital of tomorrow will look like. Interest in the development of healthcare has arose in the last few years with the continuing development of healthcare benefits for citizens around the globe. Most of the answers gathered focused on the technology, cost-savings and efficiency of hospitals in the future.

The most efficient development that may possibly happen in the next few years is the technology-centered operation of the hospitals. This will not just benefit the doctors but will benefit the patients and the patients' families as well.

First is the 'digitization' of patients' records. The records of the patients will be kept in a server and will be easily accessed by the doctors through hand-held gadgets and computers. IT professionals may also develop software that will alert doctors when there are patients with records that should be taken care of immediately. Aside from the benefits that the hospital gets, there will be much less space to be taken up since papers will not be used and stored in the hospitals anymore. It is greener and cost-efficient since papers will not be used anymore in keeping records.

Second is the development in patient-doctor communication. It has always been a problem in the past since doctors are always busy and has many patients to look after. Even if the patients are able to communicate with their doctors, this is only a short matter of time since doctors would have other things to attend to. However, in the near future, this problem will be solved. With the aid of technology, patient-doctor communication may be done now through social media. It will be easier for both parties to communicate since both of them may not have to personally see each other to talk. Doctors can update the health status of their patients through social media. Doctors can also hold 'conferences' on social media and talk to several patients with the same diagnosis. Doctors can also post their schedules on their social media to indicate when they will be available for consultations.

But people must never forget that these technological development is not for the sake of just developing technologies. These developments should always aim for the betterment of human lives, and these developments should always be centered on its users, the people. With the continuing development of technology, one should always keep in mind the purpose of these developments. Developers and users of these technologies should be responsible enough to use these kind of technology.

by Ryoichi Okada

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Ever Heard of "Arctic Cyclones"?

“Arctic cyclones” are, obviously, cyclones that occur in the Arctic regions. It is parallel to the Pacific “typhoons” and the Atlantic “hurricanes”.

Recent news that I read in http://esciencenews.com/articles/2013/12/11/arctic.cyclones.more.common.previously.thought tells of an increase in identified cyclones in the Arctic, that these cyclones are actually more common than what is previously thought. Although this does not imply that the actual number of cyclones in the Arctic has drastically increased in the recent years as compared to what it might have been hundreds or thousands of years ago, it still certainly deserves global attention.

There is considerable information about Arctic cyclones and there is constant monitoring of the ice levels in the Arctic, but much research still has to be done to connect the dots and know which causes which and to what extent they do. Probably this phenomenon is still a little overlooked by most because it is spatially distant to most countries, but the implications of changes in the patterns in the Arctic will surely affect global climate.

It might be helpful to share some information with their corresponding contexts: http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/.

The thing about Arctic cyclones is that, it does to the ocean waters the opposite of what a tropical cyclone does. While a tropical cyclone pulls colder water from deep towards the warmer surface, an Arctic cyclone pulls warmer water towards the colder surface. The cooling of the ocean in the tropical regions as result of a tropical cyclone might be harmless, but the warming of the ocean in the Arctic regions brings about the melting of ice, which obviously cannot be good for, well, the world.

I think that this is not just a concern of the countries near the Arctic. We know that all have an impact on the global climate and all are affected by it. The oceans are connected, and a rise in the sea waters can be really dangerous for low-lying island countries. How will the international community react? More research has to be done, and action should result from the findings.   

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The Search for the Alternative Meralco

In a city of lights, brownout is a terror.

Return of electricity after a brownout or power outage is considered a simple joy in metropolitan life. Undoubtedly, people of all lifestyles are electricity or energy dependent. Every move corresponds to certain amount of energy used. Nearly everyone has a gadget or two in their households. Power consumption is a way of life. Power corruption is also inevitable.

Considering the newly announced electricity rate increase by the country’s biggest power distributor, I am intrigued by the idea of alternate power sources. As stated in a Philstar.com article about a three-phase power rate hike, a staggered billing scheme for the increase in the generation charge and other transmission charges of Meralco was approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

This means a whopping Php803 increase in households with a usual minimum consumption of 200 kWh upon the P4.15 per kiloWatt-hour is in effect. Roughly a thousand pesos will be spent. 

In these times of economic instability and societal turmoil brought about by the recent Typhoon Yolanda and plundering issues in the government, one cannot help but check available resources that can help augment the situation. Such is the reuse of “waste energy” using triboelectricity.In these times of economic instability and societal turmoil brought about by the recent Typhoon Yolanda and plundering issues in the government, one cannot help but check available resources that can help augment the situation. Such is the reuse of “waste energy” using triboelectricity or the production of electricity through physical contact (rubbing, touching).

The project revolves around the harvesting of otherwise considered “waste energy” to be transformed into sustainable power sources using piezoelectric generators but with two dissimilar materials. Different materials have been tested as to which can be the most efficient to use in the project. The article has reported that this kind of energy can make use of “excess energy” in mundane activities such as walking, vibrations, among others to transform into a portable power source enough to be used in phones and the like. Even if it is in its infancy, the project logistics reflected promising outputs  such as being highly efficient, a cheaper alternative, and ecologically inexpensive.

Although the project is still in prototype, efforts have been started to do upscale productions of such triboelectric generators. If successful, the innovation will become a hit not only in metropolitan areas but also in the rural and suburban areas.

If the government can at least match up to this kind of thinking, there wouldn’t be electricity plundering issues anymore. Fees would lessen. Wasted energy footprint will desaturated to a degree. Life will be easier.

  

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“HIV/AIDS in the Philippines PUBLIC FORUM”

Knowing about HIV/AIDS is not new to me. 3^rd of December 2013, that was the second time that I have got a chance to join a public forum about HIV/AIDS. My first was when I was in 4^th year high school when my Health teacher discussed it to us.

The World AIDS Day is celebrated during December 1 and the University of the Philippines has come up to a weeklong celebration of it. There are lots of activities including the public forum about HIV/AIDS.

The Human Immunodeficiency virus infection/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or simply know as HIV/AIDS is a disease of the human immune system caused by infection with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). (Source: WIKIPEDIA, The free encyclopedia)

It was said that in June 2013, there were 431 new HIV Ab sero-positive individuals confirmed by the STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory and reported to the HIV and AIDS registry. Also, since 1984 to present, there were 14, 025 cases reported. More than half came from the National Capital Region. Thirteen percent from the Region 4-A, followed by eight percent from Region 3, 9 % from Region 7, 6 % from Region 11 and the rest of the country comprises 13 % of all that cases.

Dr. Tayag discussed to us facts that are alarming about the HIV. He has presented statistics that are showing the number of individuals that has HIV. The statistics he presented also showed that cases have been rising. During the open forum, Dr. Tayag said that the rising number of people who are positive with HIV maybe because of the fact that people have limited knowledge about sex. He also discussed the possible transmission of the virus through mother’s breast milk, blood, and semen. It cannot be transmitted through saliva and sitting in public urinals.

I was a bit shocked when I heard that a number of cases were from the Region 4-A, because I am residing here in Rizal. And most number of cases was from the National Capital Region. I have watched a lot of documentary films about children and teens, who were engaged in pre-marital sex, early prostitution and others that are related to sex. Maybe, there are a lot of children have that possibility to acquire HIV or AIDS.

People are afraid to take some tests to ensure they are free from HIV. Many people also have no knowledge about this virus. Dr. Tayag said that there are no ways to eliminate this virus to the immune system but there are ways to prevent it. The Department of Health has projects to help people with HIV, to give people enough knowledge about HIV and others.  

Being healthy is important! We should be aware of what we do in our lives.

By Anne Francesca Marielle C. Torres

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Bye-bye TV?

by Elizabeth E. Escaño

Kids do seem to be drawn to television like a moth to a 42-inch, high-definition flame. But a new study of Japanese children gives more reasons not to park kids in front of the tube.*

             After reading the title of Laura Sanders’ article, a pair of questions popped in my head. Is this going to be a positive article or is it going to be negative, complete with an anti-media sentiment?

            But her writing style disarmed me. She wrote conversationally and with a natural flow, choosing to ease away from being too scientific. Sanders opted to link readers to the previous studies regarding the number of hours kids watch television. This resulted to an article that was kept short but interesting.

Growing brains from watching television?**

            It was surprising to know that the study of Japanese children that linked TV time to growing brains was one of the first of its kind. I thought that there would be more, but it turns out that this was not the case. And it is important to note that the findings were not necessarily good, as growing brains in this case correlated with a lower IQ!

            I think that there is a value in young children watching TV. It will help them see more of the world and let them see various shapes and colors. However, I think parents should be careful of what their kids watch and for how long.

            I think that TV time should be less than playtime. I also think that kids would learn more of the world by experiencing it, so more time outdoors is a must. This will also help them exercise instead of just sitting or lying down while watching the programs shown in the black box in the living room.

            In the end, as with all things, moderation is the key.

*(photo FROM GREENLAND/SHUTTERSTOCK, caption from LAURA SANDErS. BOTH GRABBED FROM SANDERS' article.)

**(PHOTO FROM DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD, CAPTION AUTHOR'S OWN. PHOTO GRABBED FROM GOOGLE IMAGES. )

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