Dealing with the Circus, etc.

So I was stuck in traffic for an entire hour the other night. I was on my way home from Makati. The van's driver was muttering darkly the whole way but I really didn't care. I was going home to get some sleep and it was all good. It was 9:30PM and everything was easy-breezy until I got off Skyway and got onto Sucat. It was then that I understood why Mr. Driver was pissed off. My father texted me: there was a political rally of candidates for the local election, which explained why our side of the road was barely moving.

Ah, campaign season is truly upon us. 

The political party running after the current administration was gathered in Silverio Compound, the site of a rather bloody encounter between a demolition team and the urban poor. It left one dead and several others injured. Who's behind the demolition? Apparently the party that this political party's going against. 

Above: Taken around Jaka Plaza on Sucat Road.
Below: Political tarps and posters hung around Silverio
Compound, where opposition party gathered.  

That's Philippine Politics for you. I'm 24 years old (almost 25) and I've only been politically awake for a few years. From the words of one of my mentors, Alvin Dakis: Janina, di ka mabubuhay sa politika. My other mentor, Joey dela Cruz, phrased it more nicely: Janina, may puso ka.(He probably means "madalas wala kang isip minsan", although with all the sadistic love he has for me XD) Quite honestly, those are bulls-eye description of what I know about this circus. I do know some stuff, though, and here's a synthesis of what I've found out. 

1.  People probably believe that leadership is a genetic quality that can be passed down from generation to generation. 

People talk about political dynasty and how it should be abolished. Heck, a provision against the political dynasties in THE Constitution. Technically, it is illegal (although flawed, because law-makers are being quite slow on that anti-political dynasty law). And still, Pinoys vote for one guy, and this guy's baby girl and baby boy and wife and sister and mom and brother and uncle and aunt and dog... you get the picture. The point: there is no empirical evidence that leadership is a genetic quality. Why are people voting for entire families again?

2. Many political candidates have no sense of decency. 

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was tried for plunder because of the anomalies during her presidency, YET she still became congresswoman. Erap Estrada was imprisoned for plunder and he's blazing trail as candidate for Manila's mayor. Anti-Reproductive Health Law senatoriable Rizalito David assaulted and threatened a Pro-RH advocate. David and other oh-so-religious men and women openly piss at the Constitution by attempting to bring their religions into the Legislative Arm despite the separation of Church and State clause.  Many of our candidates have pretty faces and/or names that are easily remembered, but nothing of substance to fill their resumes (and sometimes nothing in between the ears), as if credentials are secondary to popularity and a popular name is a solution to social problems- complete and utter bullocks, if I may say so. We have many, many more stories  like these, it's starting to look like the typical Pinoy teleserye.

And yet, here they are again, running for positions. The blame, though, is not solely placed on these people. After all, WE are the voters.

3. It is unfortunate to say, but most of us are complete dunderheads when it comes to electing our officials. 

Information is on a click of a button. I do not believe that people have time to edit photos on Instagram or play Candy Crush or Tetris on Facebook but not have time to Google a candidate one plans to vote for (or to reply to a friend's text message, for that matter, but that is another story). Would it kill you to check if you're voting for the right person?

4. A grim prospect: nothing's changing unless we change.

And that takes time and consciousness to actually be smart about these things. The revolution would not be without pain, but really, after having spend ages dealing with this  circus we call politics, won't it be worth it to elevate the status of Philippine political arena and, essentially, how our country is run?

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I had the pleasure of sitting down with senatorial candidate Risa Hontiveros last Thursday, along with other social media people. We had lunch at the Alfredo's at Tomas Morato. The food was great. The conversation was better. I represented Philippine Health Bloggers Society, along with fellow blogger Raim of Filipino Queer Rants. I was quite happy to be learning more about the woman who's earned a slot in my senatorial bets, and I was satisfied that I made the right choice.  

Risa Hontiveros talks with Raim of Filipino Queer Rants
on why she is an LGBT advocate

I've met Ms. Risa several times before, mostly in gatherings of Reproductive Health advocates. She is one of the champions of RH, including Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Pia Cayetano. 

I had several questions for her, particularly in light of the Supreme Court's Quo Ante order against the RH law. Risa took time off from the campaign to continue to meet other advocates and ready herself for the oral arguments regarding the Status Quo Ante, which will be held in June. She also addressed the issue of the White Movement of the Catholic Bishop's Conference and the inclusion in Team Patay. She laughed when I congratulated her and told her that her inclusion is one reminder of who I would vote for. The CBCP is currently endorsing for and against candidates on basis of their stand on the RH Law. "Sabi nila it's voter's education. It's citizen's miseducation and disinformation."  Risa maintains that her method of countering the campaign against her is to continue educating people on the true content and intentions of the law. "Naniniwala naman ako na walang Catholic vote na anti-RH. Kung may Catholic Vote man, it's Pro-RH," she said. (I believe that there is no Catholic vote that is anti-RH. If there is a Catholic Vote, it is Pro-RH.)

Apart from what I already know about her, I also learned many other things such as her stand on reviving the Bataan Nuclear Powerplant versus finding more renewable sources of energy, how she began to be an advocate, and the rationale behind the singing in her TV ad. There was also talk on her dare for rival Nancy Binay, her stance on divorce, and the personal roots of her LGBT advocacy. Issues of the pork barrel and electoral reforms in correlation with cultural change and abolishing personality-based elections were touched. Her stance on security on tenure is something that Risa is asking PNoy to consider. "Walang nag-aantay ng kawang-gawa. People just want to work." 

Having to listen to a candidate answer impromptu questions from scrutinizing social media people is an enlightening experience,  and I wish that, as a voter, I had time to do the same with other politicians (I especially want to sit down with Rizalito David and ask a few questions about equality of public service and propriety), but I just had to ask something that's a bit more personal and a tad inconsequential to Risa's platform. I couldn't pass up the chance and I thought it's best to the get tips first-hand.

"How do you keep pretty?" 

She laughed at my question and replied, "Tawa lang ng tawa, ngiti lang ng ngiti... simpleng healthly regimen lang... everything in moderation."

Everything in moderation, but I don't think there's any moderation with Ms. Risa Hontiveros, especially when it comes to fighting for what she believes in. Despite the soft voice that she's well known for, this woman is game: laban kung laban. 

At magandang laban ito. 

Bloggers and social media users at Alfredo's with
senator-aspirant Risa Hontiveros

For more information regarding your senatoriables, check out http://momblogger.podomatic.com/.

SOAR Abroad: Freebies Day Experience!

I had a blast yesterday at the SOAR (Study, Opportunities, and Residency) Abroad Immigration Expo that the company I work for, Jrooz Review Center, organized. Apart from being able to stretch my hosting muscles, I was also able to learn so many things. I mean, who knew, there were more sheep than people in New Zealand?!

SOAR was conducted in partnership with Jrooz's corporate clients to benefit those who would like to go abroad but have absolutely no idea how to. The morning was dedicated to talks by Jrooz's partners who gave the crowd an idea of the hows and the whys of life in another country. AIMA Group spoke of getting international accreditation in the land of sexy British accents. The United Kingdom is certainly one of the top places to go to if you want international standards education. Sidney Australia, with its beautiful beaches and accommodating community, is another place to go, and those who aspire to someday be a business mogul would do well to take a course or two at Kent Institute of Business and Technology. They recently opened an admissions office in the Philippines that makes application much easier. New Zealand, Australia's neighbor, is another possible destination. VMC pointed out that it is a pretty good destination or an entry country for Australia. Cool huh? Plus they have lots of sheep (totally can't get over that part). 

Photo by Nr. Drei Dela Cruz of PHBS
and AYNLA who
attended SOAR Abroad. Kick-arse necklace
courtesy of my awesome boss Ria Hilis. 

Apart from hosting, I also got the chance to talk about the International English Language Test System (IELTS), a most popular test of English proficiency that is required by embassies, schools, and work places in English-communicating countries. I did a mini-lecture, performed a bit of tongue twister, and got beat by blogger and nurse-advocate Erick Bernardo. It was all good fun. I do hope I've dispelled the myth that accent completely affects IELTS scores. I've been teaching IELTS since 2010 and being a Jrooz instructor has given me insight to the needs of my students. I'm quite happy to say we're all very well provided here - both students and those of us who take care of students. The class size is small - a maximum of 20 - which makes it easy for us teachers to give individual help to our students. Our classroom is comfortable and well-lit, and the students are not crammed like sardines, and are able to stretch tired limbs without risk of hitting their classmates in the face. The program Jrooz has is original. Months were spent in observation and development of materials that would be of help to students. Teachers are not overworked, which meant we could give really focus to helping our students grow. 

Above (photo by Cecilia Roberts): Jrooz Students
while taking a break from lecture.
Below (photo by Ronald Buli): Ronald Buli (at the back),
 a passer, poses with fellow students and instructors. 

SOAR Abroad is just another of Jrooz Review Center's offering to possible students. Usually, getting dibs on the how-to's of migration would cost money, but SOAR Abroad gave its attendees the opportunity to get up-close and personal with experts who reviewed their credentials. Canadian Immigration Consultancy (CIC) joined AIMA Group, VMC, Kent Institute and VMC to handle the participant's questions about going abroad. The afternoon was dedicated to this. 

And, of course, Freebies Day, as I like to call it, would not end without more giveaways, so Jrooz Review Center gave out a couple of 100% scholarship to our IELTS Review Program. Our buddies at IDP Philippines, one of the organizations that administer the IELTS, gave out some books to the audience as well. 

Finding options for a brighter future, plus a whole lot of freebies - definitely 

nNot a bad way to spend the Saturday. 

For more goodies, check out Jrooz Review Center. Link and contacts are below, so knock yourselves out. 

http://www.jroozreview.com/

Makati Branch
MakatiBranch

1514 Cityland Herrera Tower
Valero cor. Rufino St. Salcedo Village, Makati City

desk@jroozreview.com
(02) 813 7137 •(02) 846 4533| Fax (02) 846 4533
| 09178954671

Manila Branch
6th Flr. Stanisco Tower 999 Pedro Gil cor. Felipe Agoncillo Sts. Ermita, Metro Manila

Unit 409 and 412 Dona Felisa Syjuco Building, 1872 Remedios Street Corner Taft Avenue Ermita, Metro Manila

desk@jroozreview.com
(02) 846 4532 | 09209519546 

Cebu Branch

Unit 1102A Metrobank Plaza Building
Fuente-Osmeña Blvd, Cebu City

desk@jroozreview.com
(032) 266 2822 | (032) 236 6726 | 09178657669

Davao Branch

Suite 2-5 Mezzanine Floor Jaltan Bldg. corner C.M Recto and Bonifacio, Davao City

desk@jroozreview.com
(082) 282 4479 | 09178941546

 Hope to see you in the SOAR 2.0, readers! Or better yet, the class room.#

4 Less-Suicidal Ways for Doing Penance

Primary School Me, complete with the apple haircut mismatched
printed shirts and flowery blue shorts - a mayhem of prints. 
Just look at that cross! It was about as tall as I was 
(though I was never very tall to begin with).  

I was in elementary when my parents took me to Lucban Laguna, where one of their former friends resided. I remember that it was during summer, and there was a fiesta. During the fiesta, one family would be assigned to feed everyone else. That's what my parents told me anyway. When the got to the town, the house we went to was indeed bursting with food and people, to the point that the bloody ladder going up the house creaked ominously and my mother, along with a bunch of other namimiyesta, scampered up the steps to reach the safety of the living areas, which were up on the second floor. I remember the food was great, and that there was bingo in the afternoon. My mother rarely ever played, but I remember she won. It was only about PHP500, and it was probably not enough to put gas in the car's tank, but she was happy anyway.  

What we really went there for was not the food or the company. It wasn't even the bingo. It was the penitensya. Penance. 


Here are merriam-webster.com's definition of the word.

1

: an act of self-abasement, mortification, or devotion performed to show sorrow or repentance for sin

2

: a sacramental rite that is practiced in Roman, Eastern, and some Anglican churches and that consists of private confession, absolution, and a penance directed by the confessor

3

: something (as a hardship or penalty) resembling an act of penance (as in compensating for an offense)

The town had a pretty painful way of showing God they're sorry: they cut their backs with a blade, the same kind suicidal people cut their wrists with, then they parade around town while hitting themselves with whips made from strips of wood. They do it for the forgiveness of God - infection and pain be damned. Other people prefer something a bit more dramatic: they act out Jesus Christ's last hours on Earth, except the nailing to the cross part is all but an act. It's a brutal, but relatively common practice in the Philippines during the Holy Week.

My barely-grade-3 impression: Since I am not going to submit myself to such pain, God will probably never forgive me. Hello fire and brimstone and Satan and sexy fallen angel wings.

Photo from Flickr.com. This one isn't so brutal as the rest. Feel free to Google. 

I understand religious freedom, and I don't want to offend anyone but I totally think this is crazy. Even the people at CBCP, who are known for their Dark-Age thinking, are not in favor of this. First time we agreed in a long while. 

Oh well, to each his own. Although as a person who cringe at unnecessary pain and infection, I came up with 4 ways to do penance that are not only less-suicidal, but can also be done outside the Holy Week. Because, you know, we really should be trying to make up for our effed-ups whenever we commit them instead of just one week a year.

1.  Sacrifice desire. You'd really love to have Coke right now, or maybe a Starbucks frappe, because the heat is just so punishing. You may want to buy that really cute new heels, despite having several ones at home. You really want to have crazy wild sex sans the rubber, but your partner is not comfortable with that. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and ask yourself if you really need it. Maybe instead of a Coke or a frappe, cold water will do. Maybe your closet-full of shoes deserves another look-over and you don't need a new pair of heels after all. The last one's not a maybe, though. Get the freaking glove!

2. Decrease vanity. So you love posting selfies on Facebook? Instead of like, an entire album of you doing duck-faces, your rock-hard abs, and whatever else, try for a couple of pix. I know: it's your social media, you can do whatever you like, including blurred names of the candidates you'll be voting for in May (which is nonsense, seriously, but people still do it) or even pictures of cats, dogs, and cute pet snakes, but I still say less vanity is better than whacking yourself bloody. 

Besides, too much self love can't be healthy. And after all, shouldn't, as the religious adage say, "love our neighbors as we love ourselves"? I'm betting you don't have as many pictures as your kapitbahay as you do of yourself. 

3. Be a healthier you. The worst you can do, in my opinion, is not to do something wrong, but to be stupid enough to believe that you can never be redeemed. And no, I'm not talking about confessions to a priest and saying Hail Marys and Our Fathers. I am firm believer of happy endings. Does penance only mean demeaning yourself? Can't being a better person be a form of penance? I think so. I mean, if you've got your mind set on walking around town to atone for your sins, (and trust me, this IS sacrifice if you're a total couch potato), at least do it so you decrease your risk for heart disease. Eating healthier stuff and giving up on your daily dose of Starbucks would also held decrease the risk of having diabetes, while letting go of your obsession for junk food and sugar-monster coffee. Instead of a pack of cigarettes, maybe 5 sticks will do? 

4. Be Useful. If you've, for instance, hurt someone in the past, it wouldn't really do them any good if you have yourself nailed to the cross (unless they have some sadistic streak, then that's another story) as opposed to you going back to them, asking for forgiveness, and actually doing something that would really make a difference? Instead of whacking yourself silly, why not be of service to the community? 

I believe I was also in grade 3 (in a Catholic school - surprise, surprise!) when I learned about the corporeal works of mercy. I've always thought that forgiveness does not end with apologizing. People should continue to pursue this through actions that would show a change of heart and a change of act. The corporeal works of mercy are actual service to the community, and is expected to be done by Catholics for their neighbors, although many of them don't.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the corporeal works of mercy are:

• To feed the hungry;
• To give drink to the thirsty;
• To clothe the naked;
• To harbour the harbourless;
• To visit the sick;
• To ransom the captive;
• To bury the dead.

Think about it: saying sorry to the person you've hate and doing penance by joining feeding programs as volunteer versus cutting yourself every year and parading in front of people while hitting yourself. Which one is of value to people, and to the God who apparently asked us to love one another?


Parting words, dear reader. This blogpost does not want to offend anyone's religious feelings, but is simply an expression of my non-religious ones. The rituals of achieving forgiveness is really up to people, and is thus none of my business. Maybe you're making it up to god, and maybe, if your god is cruel and sadistic as others make him to be, he would appreciate the effort.

Please consider: what good will it do for you and the people you hurt if you hurt yourself? 

My Friends are Stupid

This post is a bit personal, but in lieu of what has been happening, I thought it would be wise to write it now, while I am still soft from heartbreaks. I must take advantage, as next week I’ll probably be back to posting about neophyte politicians with abhorrently blank credentials and senatoriables who think that pissing at the constitution’s provision on separating Church and State is a-okay.

To start: My friends are idiots. I don’t mean that literally, of course. They have yet to descend to the worst classification of mental retardation, but it remains the same - they are idiots.

I would hear a lot of them despair about stuff that, yes, I’d have to admit, would make the optimistic pessimistic. It’s the same story for almost everyone: family problems, monetary needs, the pressure of having a stable career, growing old, being behind other people in terms of achievement, being fat, being ugly, and the age-old problem of everyone with a functioning limbic system: having their hearts ripped from their chest, stomped on, battered with a hammer, shattered into a million pieces by that one person who can hurt them the most and make all of their good traits seem as insignificant as dust in the wind.

Welcome to the real world, my friend, where everything is a carnival and emotions are toys to be played with. If God existed, then he must be having a heck of a time watching the largest and longest bloody telenovela. 

My friends are some of the youngest, most inspiring people I know (and if you are reading this, yes, you're included Mister-I-Feel-Ancient, you're not a grandpa yet, after all): professors and teachers of math and science (Krissy is a registered microbiologist and a UP prof), people whose names are carved in the advocacy, men and women younger than I am who've graduated from their masters and doctorate or are pursuing it, or simply people who are kinder and more generous than this bitter biatch of a world requires.

Why are they idiots when their credentials far exceed mine? Because they have this silly tendency to sometimes forget their worth when  faced with the crap that makes living such an ABS-CBN-worthy teleserye. 

I thought it would be nice for them to have something to go back to, just in case they're in a slump.: 

Have a little faith.

And if it matters (I really hope it does), I still love you. 

AMUMA Editorial: For We are Fire

A/N: This editorial was supposed to be published in the Amuma, a magazine that is planned by the Alliance of Young Nurse Leaders and Advocates. As editor-in-chief, I was the one who wrote this article. This piece might not be published soon, but since it only seems fitting, I am sharing this in my blog anyway. Please note that despite being Amuma's editorial(which means the collective opinion of the staff), I was the one who wrote this and it is now published in my blog. Thus, it may no longer represent the insight of Amuma's editors and writers. 

Perfection is a myth and many times in an organization’s, there will be those who will take note of a group’s imperfections and believe themselves capable of augmenting them. An organization with this kind of members – those rooted in both idealism and reality – is possibly meant for great things, simply because the people within it will never settle for mediocrity.

The Alliance of Young Nurse Leaders and Advocates is such an organization. We have seen our young group blaze through the opposition of many, in order to fight for what we believe in and for the people we advocate for. Our voices have been heard, and what we have to say has gotten across. In our three years f existence, AYNLA continues to prove that it is as much talk as it is action.

Nevertheless, it is not without faults, and the national election is proof of this. The fact that our members participated enthusiastically, as voters or candidates, is an indication that they have been trained to not overlook wrongdoings and to strive for betterment through both words and actions. It sends a message to our leaders: Do not be complacent. We are watching you.

The organization welcomes this. It recognizes everyone’s ability to contribute to the organization’s goals. However, two things may inevitably stem from this: either a call for action that will benefit the organization or a mindless struggle for power that may lead to the destruction of our group.

The latter has happened to many other organizations. Often in the name of change, many potential leaders become blinded by their quest for power. The resulting action is below them: in the struggle to take control, their professionalism is eclipsed by greed and arrogance.

There shall always be the struggle for power. There will always be people who seek reform. The Alliance welcomes this. It is a sign that everyone is empowered.

The Alliance burns with the drive of advocacy, but its leaders (for, in AYNLA, no one is just a member) are faced with this dilemma: shall we direct our fire to our goals, or direct it to ourselves?

You decide.

How to Keep Your Heart from Breaking

And no, I'm not talking about that figurative thing we all blame whenever we love and lost (the culprit's your brain, by the way), but that amazing beating four-chambered organ that brings precious blood to your cells and keeps you alive. That, and the arteries that act as roads and highways for what I, as a self-proclaimed frustrated poet of the allied medical profession, call as the Elixer of Life. 

One thing I learned from Nursing school is that when  the cardiovascular system (heart, blood vessels, and blood) fails, everything goes down the drain eventually. This means that any disease affecting these organs can lead to the end of life as we know it or simply to the end of life. According to the Department of Health, the top two causes of mortality in the Philippines are heart diseases and vascular diseases (1). Hypertension is one of the conditions afflicting the cardiovascular system, and is also the focus of the World Health Organization's 2013 World Health Day. 

WHO Banner for 2013 World Health Day

Hypertension is a condition wherein the pressure of the blood inside the arteries are above normal. The bad news is that a high BP can cause stroke, kidney, and heart problems (2) All over the world, diseases which root from hypertension have killed billions. The good news is that since hypertension can be caused by many lifestyle-related factors and it is also preventable. 

Basing from the causes of hypertension here are some non-meds ways to prevent (and control) BP shoot ups: 



1. Junk the chips and nibble on rabbit food. 
 I don't know about you, but there is nothing more refreshing to me than a nice crispy apple to snack on and I'd choose orange juice over cola any day. I like junk food, but real food is still the best. Processed stuff and fast food are high in salt, which is used as preservative and flavor enhancer. Unfortunately, sodium, a main chemical comprising regular table salt, is a water retainer. Like my critical care nursing instructor said, "where sodium goes, water follows". Water is usually good for the body, but too much water increases the blood volume unnecessarily, which does not only put a strain on the heart, but also increases the pressure in the arteries. 

2. Turn off the TV (or the computer) and explore the world.
I am as addicted to Facebook, Pokemon, and the Wikipedia-ing random stuff, but this kind of past time is a huge contributor to unwanted tummy fat, which is a health risk as well as unflattering. Most people in an 8 to 5 job are already spending too much time sitting around with very little physical activity. As much as I love seeing my Charmander evolve to its fearsome last form like the next nerd, spending the weekend in the same position and barely moving is not good. This is actually a pretty serious problem. I mean, honestly, how many hours do YOU spend on Facebook, or playing online? 

Obesity is a major risk factor in developing cardiovascular diseases. Fat plaques build up around arterial walls, narrowing the vessel and rendering it less flexible. The result? High BP.

3. Get a-movin'!
If you're like me, you're probably financially poor and forever busy. This means that you, like me, have neither the time nor the cash to get into a gym. That sucks, but that's no excuse to not get any exercise. Walk, use the stairs, and, instead of working out on a stationary bike, get on a real one and use it to go to work or to the market. Not only will you be much healthier because of the physical activity, you'll also saving mother nature and yourself from bankruptcy secondary to gym dues. Good deal. 


4. Be happy.
Being pissed off is NOT good for your heart. The adrenalin produced when a person is angered increases the heart rate (thus, the volume of blood pumped out) which leads to the blood pressure shooting up. 

Chill. Being angry all the time can't be good for you. Breathe deeply for ten counts. Do yoga. Meditate. Read a book. Watch Alex Goot on Youtube and enjoy good music. Go to a buddy and tell jokes and laugh. Sleep on the beach. Exercise catharsis through blogging about your anger and negative emotions. Or if you're like me, spend 10 minutes just standing in the shower, literally chilling. 


I hope these reminders are helpful in controlling your blood pressure and safeguarding your heart from breakage via hypertension. Remember: being healthy doesn't have to be difficult. 

From us at the Philippine Health Bloggers Society, Happy World Health Day!

Layout by Nr. Alvin Dakis, PHBS Founding Chairman

Sources: 
1. http://www.doh.gov.ph/node/198.html 
2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000468.htm