Two New Cellphone Scam! Beware!

FIRST:

Please be informed of a new cellphone scam as follows: 
1. You will receive a call from somebody who would introduce himself/herself to be alledgedly from the customer service of your network provider. 
2. He/she would then ask you to turn off your phone for two to three hours for system update. 
3. They would then call your relatives that you have been kidnapped, and ask them to deposit money to a certain bank account. 
4. Since your relatives cannot contact you, they may be frantic and panic and would do as instructed. 

As a precaution, do not give any personal information over the phone without positively identifying the caller. Contact your network provider to verify calls received from alledged customer service. 

Kindly share this information with your relatives and friends in order that they may not be victimized.

SECOND:
Someone sent this story to me and now feel obliged to forward it to others as it is. 

A lady has changed her habit of how she lists her names in her cell phone directory after her handbag was stolen.Her handbag, which contained her cell phone, credit card, purse, etc was stolen. 

Twenty minutes later she called her husband, from a pay telephone telling him what had happened. Her husband said, 'I just received your text message asking about our pin number and I replied a little while ago.' When they rushed down to the bank, the staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text her husband listed in the directory and got a hold of their pin number. Within twenty minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account. 

Moral of the lesson: 
Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people on your call list. Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Mom, Dad, etc., and very importantly, when sensitive information is being asked for through text messages, CONFIRM by calling back. 

Also, when you are being texted (SMS-ed) by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you do not reach them, be very careful about going to places to meet 'family and friends' who text you. 

Statement of the ADB President

In my previous blog entry, I have mentioned that the world is nearing the realization of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.  Similarly, with my latest reading of the ADB Review, I would like to quote ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda to the High-Level Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly last 22 September 2010 in New York.

“No global effort to achieve the MDGs will succeed unless our region succeeds.”

Asia and the Pacific comprises 3/5 of the world population and 2/3 of the world’s poor is in this region.  With this populace, ADB President Kuroda is definitely right when he assessed that there could be no success in achieving the MDGs eventhough the global community desires or efforts so not unless our region, the Asia and the Pacific succeed in the realization of the goals.  Therefore, the best hope to achieve the MDG is the Asia and the Pacific.

Moreover, the target to reduce extreme income poverty is in sight as more than 500 million people had overcame poverty since 1990.  Additionally, Pres. Kuroda emphasized that the region is likely to achieve universal primary school enrolment by 2015, attain gender parity in education, meet the target on access to safe drinking water and halt the spread of the deadly diseases such as TB and HIV.

For more information and detailed copy of the Statement of President Kuroda, please download at ADB website.

Ilocos Sur's Preparedness with Typhoon Juan [Megi]

The province of Ilocos Sur has prepared for the entry of Typhoon Juan (internationally known as Megi).  Yesterday (Sunday, October 17), the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) convened and tackled on the province' preparedness, response and rehabilitation.  Provincial departments and national agencies has specifically defined their responsibilities.  Philippine Army on the other hand has already placed their equipment in front of the Capitol in anticipation of rescue.

According to PAGASA, the province of Ilocos Sur is the exit point of Typhoon Juan.  Its maximum winds is 225 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 260 kph at 19 kph and estimated to bring 20 mm of rainfall, half of Typhoon Ondoy last September 26, 2009.  Figure below shows the forecast of the agency.

The image below shows the satellite shot of Typhoon Megi from Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

Remembering United Nation Celebration

During our high school years, we always celebrate United Nation during October.  I can freshly recall the theme in our senior years (1994): “Building the Smallest Democracy in the Heart of Society”.

From this theme, one of my classmates made a composition for the Song Category [name of the category is different in our time; just can't recall it].  Irene Abigail Sistoza, with her excellent communication skills, composed its exquisite and splendor lyrics.  The picture in here is the original print out in October, 1994 during our computer subject with Mr. Eric Betita past 11 in the morning.  I have encoded this together with my classmate, Cherrie Anne Quipotla.

The following is the clearer text of the composition:

GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION

 

The morning breeze calms the heart

Every possible peace we can start

Behind the barricades of fear and war

We’ll survive and reach that distant star.

We all belong to the human race,

No matter who or where you are

The day is drawing near

When we people of the nations

Fight for what is right and

Democracy is what we see.

Let’s begin global transformation

And share in the fulfillment of peace

Let the love come thru the stormy seas

And proclaim the freedom that we’re fighting for.

The society where family lives

Let the human race see and feel

The warmth of love that mends every broken heart

That the silence of peace is the voice of all.

United Nations for global transformation

Its wings spread out for industrialization

A step towards one vision in democracy.

Ilocos Sur League of Civil Societies

Last October 13, 2010, the Ilocos Sur League of Civil Societies (ISLCS) convened for their General Assembly at Baluarte, Vigan City.  ISLCS is the association of the province' accredited non-government organizations (NGOs).  The following sectors were represented in the assembly:

1. Agribusiness
2. Industry, Trade & Tourism
3. Education
4. Governance
5. Senior Citizens
6. Health
7. Cooperatives
8. Environment
9. Labor
10. Infrastructure & Utilities
11. Women & Children
12. Youth
13. Indigenous People

Among the participants was the Jerry C. Singson Foundation Inc. whose Board Secretary (Liberalis) participated and belonged to the health sector.  

According to Dr. Roberto delos Reyes, the President of Regional Association of Non-Government Organizations (RANGO Region I), the objectives of the assembly are:

1. Make 5-year action plan to become a successor plan of the PNoy administration; and
2. Unite and strengthen all NGO of Region I through provincial assemblies.

Private Sector representatives facilitated in the action planning and sessions conducted by each of the sectors.  As for health sector, the following were the programs to be considered by the ISLCS:

1. Dengue Prevention
2. Responding to Malnutrition
3. Proper Waste Management
4. Family Planning
5. Breast Feeding
6. Immunization
7. Reflexology

Aside from the JCS Foundation, the following were the composition of health sectors who participated in the action planning session:

1. Barangay Health Workers
2. Barangay Nutrition Scholars
3. League of Government Nurses
4. Burgos Association of Reflexologists

DENGUE CURE

Speak out: Cure for dengue?
By Bernardo Rocha Calibo 

Director, National Police Commission 7
 
THERE is hope that the dengue scourge will be obliterated.

I was in a meeting in Manila recently with other Napolcom officials. While waiting for my flight back to Cebu , I happened to talk with friends. The conversation eventually turned to dengue. Some of their statements shocked me. I called up the persons concerned and they confirmed these revelations.

Computer technician Wenceslao Salesale Jr., 27, was downed by dengue. His platelet count plunged from 180 to 80. He was rushed by ambulance from Novaliches to Manila . Inside the ambulance, a relative, acting upon the advice of a missionary priest, made him drink soup made from camote tops. The following day, his platelet count was normal.

Dengue attacked the 7-year-old daughter of engineers Mar and Lita Budlongan* of Calookan City . Her platelet count read 80. The same treatment was used. The following day she was back to normal.

The 15-year-old daughter of businessman Nepomuceno Salaga* of Sampaloc, Manila had a dangerous platelet count of 80 due to dengue. The same treatment was followed. The following day she was back in school.

I asked a doctor of medicine about herbal cures and he said that many, if not most, medicines come from plants. He also said that under the Hippocratic Oath, doctors are bound to encourage anything that can cure a patient.

Research

We need not do research deep in the rainforests of the Amazon or venture into the ocean depths in search of the elusive cure for dengue. It is right there in the backyard.

The following information is from Wikipedia:

"In 1992, the Center for Science in the Public Interest compared the nutritional value of sweet potatoes to other vegetables. Considering fiber content, complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A and C, iron and calcium, the sweet potato ranked highest in nutritional value. According to these criteria, sweet potatoes earned 184 points, 100 points over the next on the list, the common potato (NCSPC).

"...Sweet potato tops are excellent sources of antioxidative compounds, mainly polyphenolics, which may protect the human body from oxidative stress that is associated with many diseases including cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Sweet potato greens have the highest content of total polyphenolics among other commercial vegetables studied.

"Sweet potatoes contain protein, dietary fiber, lipid, and essential minerals and nutrients such as calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfur, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, aluminum and boron. Sweet potatoes are also important sources of vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and ascorbic acid."

Camote

In the case of Salaga, he bought five sheaves (bugkos/bigkis) of camote cuttings. Each sheaf consists of about 12 cuttings. Each cutting measures about one foot. A sheaf costs about P5.

Camote tops are boiled in water to extract the juice. The boiling lasts for about five minutes. A little salt is used to give flavor to it. The patient is made to drink slowly and gradually. The body's immunity system is thus revived, making dengue helpless against the body's natural defenses. Camote enables the body to heal itself.

Now you know why I earlier said that my friends' revelations shocked me. They were shocking because people are needlessly dying all around us from dengue, while their very cure is also all around us.

In the past, many were fond of using the derogatory statement, "Go home and plant camote." Now, camote is big news. It can save lives. What could be bigger than that? So, to fortify your family against dengue, "Go home and plant camote!"

 

* Engr. Lita Budiongan and Mr. Nepomuceno Salaga personally related to me their experiences with their respective daughters. I asked their permission to use their names.

 The ARTICLE is shared by Mr. Emmanuel Sevilla via PhilKOFA Yahoo! Group Alumni.  All text is courtesy of the writer/sharer (Dir. Calibo).  Since Liberalis blog has tackled Dengue issues in its past posts, the blogger deemed it beneficial to post this with acknowledgment of its sources.

Photo is extracted from Virology

World Teacher's Day

Today - October 5, 2010 - marks the world celebration of teachers.  The first World Teacher's Day was celebrated in 1994 to commemorate the October 5, 1966, signing of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-International Labor Organization (ILO) recommendations on the Status of Teachers.

Let us pay tribute to teachers who help shape and challenge the minds of the young, and guide and train them for lifelong learning, thereby contributing to the social, economic, and intellectual development of our nation. Perhaps the most precious gift that we can give them on World Teachers’ Day is to show them that we have become the best of what we can be – responsible, caring, and contributing citizens of our country and the global community.

On personal note, here are the following that I consider the best teachers that have touched my life and left great lessons and insights which I can ponder upon to help me succeed in my lifetime:

1. Elementary - Ms. Suzima Alcantara (Grade IV)

2. High School - Mr. Santiago Reolalas (English I)

3. College - Atty. Alfredo Benzon (UNP Law 101, 102, 103)

4. College - Mr. Orlino Mandac (MMSU Economics subjects)

5. Masteral - Mr. Rolando Ragasa (Management)

Thank you, Sirs, Ma'am!  

But my PERPETUAL choice for my best teacher is my aunt, ESPERANZA TAGORDA.  She passed away last April 26, 2007.  She was my first teacher, she has showed me how to value education.  When I was still 6 years old when there was still no formal pre-school in the province, she wakes me at 6 AM, gives me food on bed and changes my clothes as well.  She brings me to Paras-Parada Community School where I was a "saling-pusa".  During recess, I move in her classroom (Grade IV), and sleep on her table.  After snacks, I won't be going anymore to my class since I hated Math then.  With full support and encouragement, I have completed Economics course where Math is the foundation of all the solution to problems.

In the mysterious equations of my Aunt's love that I have found answers to the physical and meta-physical problems I have encountered in the past and certainly will guide me to achieve success in the future.  

Thank you, Aunt Esper!

On a lighter note, below is the artwork done by my 3-year old son, Vince, for her Day Care Teacher Jelai for this World Teacher's Day!

PWHS' Fore & Aft

Below is the email message I have sent to the Prayer Warriors of the Holy Souls published in PWHS Fore & Aft publication (July-Sept. 2010):

For the complete publication, you may download its PDF file at http://www.pwhs-mfi.org/

Pledge of Commitment

The following is a copy of the Pledge of Commitment from the Ilocos Sur Laban Contra Sa Dengue Program, a Local Control and Surveillance on Dengue:

Pledge of Commitment

Whereas, Article II, Section 15 of the Philippine Constitution provides that "the state shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them";

Whereas, dengue is still prevalent in the province and data show an increasing number of case and deaths;

Whereas, in 2009, the province had a total of 415 cases with 11 deaths;

Whereas, current data (as of September 24, 2010) a total of 796 cases with 13 deaths has been recorded;

Whereas, there is an urgent need to undertake sustained preventive and control and measures to address the increase in dengue cases and its occurrence anytime of the year;

Whereas, there is an urgent need to reduce the number of mortalities from Dengue;

Whereas, this requires collaboration and concerned efforts among various national government agencies, local government units, non-government organizations, peoples organization, the academe, all sectors of society and community participation;

Now therefore, we commit to support and promote the Laban Contra Sa Dengue Program of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur through the following measures:

1. Education and Information campaign of various dengue prevention & control strategies advocated by the Department of Health

2. Take an active role in the provision of emergency blood component to dengue patients in need by organizing, recruiting voluntary blood donor within my organization/agency/institution

Signed this 30th day of September, 2010 at the Provincial Capitol, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur on the occasion of the Provincial Dengue Summit.

First Provincial Dengue Summit

The provincial government of Ilocos Sur in partnership with the Provincial Health Team Office sponsored the first Provincial Dengue Summit last September 30, 2010 at the Provincial Capitol Building.  This Summit is the first and only in the Region.  It aims to open awareness among public and private institutions on the dengue situationer in the province. 

Provincial Board Committee Chairman on Health and Sanitation Jeremias “Jerry” C. Singon has welcomed the participants with the hope that each one of the organization, institution or agency may jointly do its share in the minimization of the disease’ prevalence.  He highlighted the essence of Joint Community Services where every willing, able and ready individual commits to fight against this dilemma.  Vice Governor Deogracias Victor “DV” B. Savellano delivered his message to the participants with high expectations that the community will come together and participate in the end activity of the Summit – volunteerism.

Participants to the Provincial Dengue Summit were representatives of the following:

1.    DILG

2.    Ilocos Sur Medical Society

3.    Provincial Health Office

4.    Philippine National Red Cross

5.    Department of Education

6.    Barangay Health Workers

7.    The Academe

a.    Ilocos Sur Community College

b.    University of Northern Philippines

c.    St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur

8.    LGU-based health workers

9.    Provincial Health Team Office

10. Philippine National Police

11. Philippine Army

12. Bureau of Fire & Protection

13. Government hospitals

14. Media

Provincial Public Health Coordinator Dr. Rosalinda Quisada gave dengue situationer of Region I and the province.  Among four provinces, Ilocos Sur ranked third in the most recorded cases of dengue with 22%.  Data used was as of September 24. The following figures show the statistics relative to dengue cases.

As noted by Dr. Quisada, the oldest patient on record was 88 years old and the youngest was 3 months old.

Provincial Health Officer II Dr. Carmeliza Singson shared the provincial initiative in dengue prevention.  Among these initiatives is Laban Contra Sa Dengue or Local Control and Surveillance (LCS) Program on Dengue.  With this, a Provincial Dengue Core Team will be organized to reduce the number of dengue cases by 50% and attain zero death in the province by 2013.

Provincial Health Team Leader Benjamin Castillo presented challenges and issues in dengue prevention and control.  Provincial Consultant on Health Dr. Gerry Lahoz elaborated how the Laban Contra Sa Dengue be adopted by the province.  Philippine National Red Cross, University of Northern Philippines and the Boy Scout of the Philippines also presented their plans and contributions for the program.

In conclusion, the participants signed in the gigantic-size tarpaulin with the pledge of commitment with the LCS Dengue Program.

Ms. Viker Albano of SPCIS signs the Pledge