Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Philippines: A dangerous place for journalists


By Thea Alberto, Yahoo! Southeast Asia Tuesday November 24, 2009 05:31 pm PHT


The Philippines proved again it is one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, following the death of at least 24 people in Maguindanao, local and international media organizations said.


At least 12 journalists covering the filing of certificate of candidacy of Vice Mayor Ismael “Toto” Mangudadatu, and Mangudadatu’s wife Genalyn were among those killed.

“This incident not only erases all doubts about the Philippines being the most dangerous country for journalists in the world, outside of Iraq, it could very well place the country on the map as a candidate for a failed democracy,” the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines said in a statement.

Authorities have linked the murders to political rival Shariff Aguak Mayor Datu Andal Ampatuan, who has yet to give a statement to media outfits.

Among the journalists reportedly slain were Ian Subang (Dadiangas Times), Leah Dalmacio (Forum), Gina dela Cruz (Today), Marites Cablitas (Today), Joy Duhay (UNTV), Henry Araneta (DZRH), Andy Teodoro (Mindanao Inquirer), Neneng Montaño (formerly of RGMA), Bong Reblando, (Manila Bulletin), Victor Nuñez (UNTV), Macmac Ariola (UNTV), Jimmy Cabillo (UNTV), Bart Maravilla (Bombo Radyo, Koronadal) and lawyers Cynthia Oquendo and Connie Brizuela, according to a statement from University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP CMC), citing reports.

“This is the darkest day in the history of journalism in the Philippines, which, outside of Iraq, has topped the tables of countries where journalists are most at risk in recent years,” said the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Reporters Without Borders also condemned the ongoing culture of impunity in Mindanao, a region more known for extremists and clan wars.

“We have often condemned the culture of impunity and violence in the Philippines, especially Mindanao. This time, the frenzied violence of thugs working for corrupt politicians has resulted in an incomprehensible bloodbath. We call for a strong reaction from the local and national authorities,” Reporters Without Borders said.

Philippines' Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility however reminded journalists to steer clear of any danger.

"We affirm that it is the media’s crucial task to provide the citizenry the information it needs so it can make such decisions as to who to vote for as well as others related to its well-being and safety. We reiterate, however, that no story is worth the life of a single journalist," CMFR said in a statement.

Journalism instructors from the UP CMC meanwhile lambasted the government for its supposed failure to disband local politicians’ private armies.

“The Department of Journalism of the U.P. College of Mass Communication holds the Arroyo government accountable for the continuing state of lawless violence in Maguindanao and other parts of the country,” the UP CMC added in a statement.

They said that “while the massacre was being perpetrated, the President’s chief political adviser was in fact shaking hands with the Ampatuans in Malacañang yesterday, even as the PNP chief for Maguindanao refused to respond when the victims were calling him up by cell phone.”

“We need a strong and urgent response from the Philippine government and the international community,” added Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary.

Philippines now on the eye of the world media

After the success of Manny Pacquiao on Las Vegas Nevada for the winning fight againt Miguel Cotto on 12 round boxing match,,,,

and after Efren Pinaflorida named as CNN 2009 HERO OF THE YEAR ,,heres now the new story that the international news agencies got the eye to SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES specially to MAGUINDANAO,, a massacre still counting for death tolls..as of today news reports says that its almost 46 of total..

PHILSTAR.COM

HEADLINE: Maguindanao death toll now 46: Emergency rule in two provinces

AMPATUAN, Maguindanao , Philippines – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has placed two southern provinces under emergency rule Tuesday as soldiers and police unearthed more bodies from one of the worst incidents of election violence in the nation’s history, pushing the death toll to 46.

Police and soldiers found 22 bodies in a hillside mass grave Tuesday, adding to the 24 bullet-riddled bodies recovered near the scene of Monday’s massacre in Maguindanao province, said Chief Superintendent Josefino Cataluna of the Central Mindanao region.

An adviser to President Arroyo has described the massacre as the worst in the country’s recent history.

A media rights watchdog also says that it appears to be the world’s worst mass killing of journalists, with as many as 23 feared dead.

Dozens of gunmen abducted the group of journalists, supporters and relatives of a gubernatorial candidate as they traveled through Amputuan town Monday to file candidacy documents in the provincial capital for May 2010 elections.

The gubernatorial candidate, Esmael Mangudadatu, who was not a part of the convoy, accused a powerful political rival from the Amputuan clan of being behind the slayings. There is a long-standing bitterness between the two families.

Mangudadatu’s wife, Genalyn, and his two sisters, were among the dead.

The bodies found in the grave, about six feet deep, were dumped on top of one another. They included a pregnant woman.

Officials were still trying to determine the exact number of people intercepted by the gunmen and whether any had survived.

Authorities said the convoy comprised about 40 people, but Cataluna said at least five other people were still missing.

Arroyo declared an emergency in the provinces of Maguindanao and nearby Sultan Kudarat, allowing security forces to conduct random searches and set up checkpoints to pursue the gunmen.

Arroyo said she ordered police and the military “to conduct immediate, relentless pursuit against the perpetrators to secure the affected areas.”

The state of emergency will remain in place until the president is confident that law and order have been restored in the region, Press Sec. Cerge Remonde said.

Police and Joy Sonza, head of a small private TV station, UNTV, identified at least three journalists among the dead.

Noynoy Espina, vice chairman of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, said at least 20 other journalists were believed to be among those killed, based on reports from union chapters in the area.

If confirmed, it would be the “largest single massacre of journalists ever,” according to Paris-based Reporters Without Borders.

The government stressed that it would go after the culprits, regardless of where the investigation leads.

“No one will be untouchable,” Remonde told reporters, calling Monday’s killings “unconscionable.”

Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa relieved Maguindanao’s provincial police chief and three other officers of their duties and confined them to camp while they are investigated. One of the police officers was reported to have been seen in the company of the gunmen and pro-government militiamen who stopped the convoy, police said.

Mangudadatu said Tuesday that four witnesses had told him the convoy was stopped by gunmen loyal to Andal Ampatuan Jr., a town mayor belonging to a powerful clan and his family’s fierce political rival.

He refused to name the witnesses or offer other details.

“It was really planned because they had already dug a huge hole (for the bodies),” Mangudadatu said.

The Ampatuans could not be reached for comment.

The region, among the nation’s poorest and awash with weapons, has been intermittently ruled by the Ampatuan family since 2001. The family is allied with Arroyo.

Arroyo’s political adviser Gabriel Claudio said he was meeting with Zaldy Ampatuan, governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, where Maguindanao province is located, to try to mediate in the long-running rivalry between the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus.

Shocking

Shocked journalists demanded answers from authorities on Tuesday following the unprecedented murders of at least 12 local reporters, who became ensnared in a feud between rival political clans.

International media groups also expressed outrage over Monday’s massacre, in which gunmen allegedly hired by the governor of a province in the strife-torn south of the country abducted and shot dead at least 46 people.

The Philippines has long been recognized as one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, but hardened reporters in the Southeast Asian nation were reduced to shock by the scale of the slaughter.

Members of the staff of Manila Bulletin, one of the leading national daily newspapers, were also in mourning after one of their long-time colleagues, Bong Reblando, who had seven children, was found to be among those murdered.

“We are deeply saddened and we denounce this blow to press freedom,” the paper said in a statement.

“We call on the authorities concerned, both our police officials and our political leaders, to get to the bottom of this incident and ensure that justice is done.”

It emerged Tuesday that local journalists who regularly cover Maguindanao had stayed away from the opposition activity amid concerns the Ampatuan clan may resort to violence.

Most of the reporters who were targeted had come from neighboring General Santos city.

Bong’s widow, Myrna Reblando, said she had tried to dissuade her husband from covering the opposition nominating process.

“I told him, ‘You will be put in a dangerous situation there and you should not proceed’,” she said on local radio.

But Bong told his wife he thought he would be safe because of the large group of journalists covering the nomination event, as well as the presence of opposition lawyers.

Meanwhile, global press freedom and rights groups said the event stained the Philippines’ international reputation.

“Never in the history of journalism have the news media suffered such a heavy loss of life in one day,” said Clothilde Le Coz, the United States director for the global press watchdog Reporters Without Borders.

The Thailand-based Southeast Asian Press Alliance said the Philippines had one of the highest rates of journalist killings in the world “even prior to this heinous episode of barbarism”.

Before the massacre, the New York-based monitor Committee to Protect Journalists ranked the Philippines as the fourth deadliest country for journalists in terms of reporters’ deaths for 2009.

However Monday’s killings will see the Philippines leapfrog Somalia, Iraq and Pakistan into the top spot.

In Cebu, the local chapter of the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines expressed their concern for the welfare of the members of the media.

NUJP Cebu Chapter president Rico Lucena said that they strongly condemn the abduction and killing of the group of politicians, their supporters and the journalists who were accompanying them at that time.

Lucena said that they consider the massacre of journalists “as the darkest point of democracy and free press in this recent time.”

Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama, president of the Vice Mayor’s League of the Philippines, has also condemned the massacre.

Among those killed was the wife of Bulunan, Maguindanao Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu.

Rama personally called Mangudadatu to express his concern and relay his condolences. – AP, AJ de la Torre and Elly Bolonos/NLQ (FREEMAN NEWS)

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Efren Peñaflorida a pinoy pride named CNN Hero of the Year


(CNN) -- Efren Peñaflorida, who started a "pushcart classroom" in the Philippines to bring education to poor children as an alternative to gang membership, has been named the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year.

CNN's Anderson Cooper revealed Peñaflorida's selection at the conclusion of the third-annual "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday night.

The gala event, taped before an audience of 3,000 at the Kodak Theatre, premieres on Thanksgiving, November 26, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on the global networks of CNN.

The broadcast, which honors the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2009, features performances by Grammy Award-winning artist Carrie Underwood, R&B crooner Maxwell and British pop sensation Leona Lewis.

Peñaflorida, who will receive $100,000 to continue his work with the Dynamic Teen Company, was selected after seven weeks of online voting at CNN.com. More than 2.75 million votes were cast.

"Our planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor, man, woman of different colors, shapes and sizes. We are one great tapestry," Peñaflorida said upon accepting the honor. "Each person has a hidden hero within, you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero to the next one in need.
"So to each and every person inside in this theater and for those who are watching at home, the hero in you is waiting to be unleashed. Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve. As I always tell to my co-volunteers ... you are the change that you dream as I am the change that I dream and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be."

The top 10 CNN Heroes, chosen by a blue-ribbon panel from an initial pool of more than 9,000 viewer nominations, were each honored with a documentary tribute and introduced by a celebrity presenter. Each of the top 10 Heroes receives $25,000.

"With the recognition they receive on our stage," said Cooper, who hosted the tribute, "they'll be able to help thousands and thousands of people. Through their efforts, lives will be changed and lives will be saved."

Maxwell sang "Help Somebody" from his first album in eight years, 'BLACKsummers'night.'

Lewis, a three-time Grammy nominee, performed "Happy," from her second album, "Echo."

All three performances echoed the spirit of the CNN Heroes campaign, which salutes everyday people whose extraordinary accomplishments are making a difference in their communities and beyond.

Presenters included Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Neil Patrick Harris, Pierce Brosnan, Dwayne Johnson, Eva Mendes, Randy Jackson, Greg Kinnear, George Lopez and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

"This record number of nominations is further evidence of the momentum CNN Heroes has built in just a few short years," said Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide.
Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve.


"Viewers have been engaged by these stories of inspiration and accomplishment beyond our expectations. It is truly an honor to be able to introduce the CNN Heroes to our global audience every year."

Again this year, producer/director Joel Gallen served as executive producer of "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute." Among his credits, Gallen produced telethon events supporting victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina, winning an Emmy Award and a Peabody Award for "America: A Tribute to Heroes."

Sunday, November 15, 2009

type ka ni prof?

haha..paano ka lalayo sa bading na professor mo if palagi mo siyang teacher?..nkakaramdam ka ng kakaibang takot kc alam mong may history sya sa ibang estudyante..what gagawin mo?

whats the best way to do for you as a student that your gay professor is showing some unproffessional act with you, after your class?

Monday, November 9, 2009

SM CITY soon to rise at CALAMBA CITY LAGUNA


eto po ung side gate along crossing calamba.




photo from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SM_City_Calamba_Design.jpg



ACCORDING TO JOELL LAPITAN OF

http://www.jlapitan.com

I also heard that Engineering Graduate ng Letran Calamba ang nakakuha ng project for SM. Nice! Arriba Letran!

Di ko po sure yung exact size ng calamba, yung map sa taas is based lang po sa nakita ko sa may walter. Hehe..



SM pushes expansion; Calamba mall next

SM Prime Holdings Inc., the country’s top mall chain developer, expects to post a double digit growth in its revenues for the first half of the year on the back of its aggressive expansion program.

Meanwhile, SMPH President Hans Sy said construction has is already ongoing for a new mall in Calamba, which is targeted to open next year as the firm 37th mall.

In an interview, Sy said though that he is not at liberty to disclose the firm’s bottomline but noted that earnings in the second quarter and for the first semester were good.

He disclosed that performance in the second quarter was better than the first three months of the year due to the additional revenues from new malls opened during the period, such as the one in Naga City.




ACCORDING O WIKIPEDIA.COM

SM CITY CALAMBA
Location Maharlika Highway, Brgy. Real, Calamba City, Laguna, Philippines
Opening date October 2010
Developer SM Prime Holdings
Management SM Prime Holdings
Owner Henry Sy, Sr.
No. of stores and services 300+ shops
No. of anchor tenants TBA
Total retail floor area TBA
No. of floors 3 floors

SM City Calamba is an upcoming mall owned and operated by SM Prime Holdings. It is located at Maharlika Highway, Brgy. Real, Calamba City, Laguna, Philippines. It will be the second SM Supermall in the Province of Laguna with a land area of 195,000 sq.meters.

Anchors

SM Department Store

SM Hypermarket

SM Cinemas

SM Food Court

Junior Anchors

Friday, November 6, 2009

A H1N1 flu to-do (and don't do) list

(Health.com) -- Swine flu vaccines are rolling out this month -- finally. Health-care workers in Indiana and Tennessee were the first to get the nose-spray version, while New Yorkers clamoring for the H1N1 vaccine finally had their chance too.

However, the onslaught of information about H1N1 -- be it playground rumors, employer signs telling you to cover your cough, memos from your kids' school, or scary-sounding news reports -- is making it pretty hard to figure out what you should be doing right now.

Although some people have already been vaccinated, it could be weeks -- depending on your age and risk factors -- before you even get a chance at the shot (or spray). So now what?

Sometimes it feels like you have two choices. A: Wring your hands endlessly about something over which you have no control. Or, B: Tune out the static and pretend this is all just a horrible dream. (Call it the ignore-the-whole-sorry-mess-until-my-neighbor-is-sick approach.)

Well, guess what? There are a few things you should -- and should not -- be doing at the moment. Here's your guide.

Look up local flu outbreaks.

If you're getting most of your news from the Internet -- and about 40 percent of people say they do -- you may not be up on H1N1 activity in your community.

Take the time to check local flu activity on the online version of your local newspaper (remember those?) or health department, or check out Web sites like Google Flu Trends (though keep in mind that this map is based on search trends and could be skewed if lots of healthy people are searching for information). There's also FluTrends, which is produced by Rhiza Labs, and includes past cases and current activity, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) weekly flu update.

If your city or state is a bit of a hot spot, you may need to focus on some of these to-do points sooner than others. The good news is that some of the hardest hit areas in spring -- like New York -- don't seem to have that many H1N1 cases at the moment. (Experts estimate that up to 1 million New Yorkers may have had H1N1 in the spring, which would protect against subsequent infections.)

Don't panic.

For most people, an H1N1 infection is generally mild and can be cured with time, bed rest, and fluids. The virus is serious, though -- particularly for those in high-risk groups. So far this year, 28 pregnant women have died of H1N1, and 76 children died in the spring. "At least two-thirds of [the children] had underlying conditions, which we recognize as putting them at increased risk for complications," says Dr. Nathan Litman, the chief of pediatric infectious diseases at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, in New York City. High-risk people, whether adults or children, tend to have chronic heart or lung conditions (including asthma), weakened immune systems due to disease or chemotherapy treatment, or diabetes.

That said, H1N1 will feel like seasonal flu for most people. "I'd say at the present time the swine flu looks no more serious than the routine seasonal influenza," says Litman.


Stay home.

Are you sick right now? Say, with flu-like symptoms such as fever, aches, stuffy nose, and chills? Sorry, but it's quite possible you already have swine flu. Experts say that flu activity is higher-than-normal for this time of year and almost all of it is due to H1N1. If you (or your child) are not in a high-risk group, it's best to stay put.

If a child is 2 or older "and has no risk factors for complications and has fever, runny nose, or cough, the best thing to do is to stay home," says Litman. "Plenty of fluids, Tylenol, Motrin, or Advil for fever, and it should run its course on its own."

If a child has difficulty breathing, is unable to take fluids, or starts to be less responsive, or after appearing to recover from the influenza develops a fever and starts coughing again, then see a doctor.

If you are pregnant and have flu symptoms, it might be best to call your doctor before going in to see him or her, says Litman.

"They may want to set up a separate location to be seen or separate times to see sick patients," he says. "You don't want the pregnant woman with influenza who is coughing and sneezing to go into the room with pregnant women who are well and just there to get routine prenatal care."

Understand the risks.

While the symptoms of H1N1 may be no different from seasonal flu, there are some key differences. H1N1 may be easier to catch than regular flu, and younger people may be more likely to come down with it than older people.

"From what I've seen, I actually believe it to be more contagious," says Litman. Often with the seasonal flu that's circulating, a percentage of the population has some immunity to it. With H1N1, it looks like most people -- other than the elderly -- have no immunity to it, and that may be why it appears more contagious, he says.

People who are older than 60 may have been exposed to a swine-flu-like virus in the distant past, which is giving them an edge with this pandemic. That's not to say they can't get sick, but "many of them appear to have immunity from a prior infection with a similar virus or cross reactions with a similar virus that help protect them against the swine flu," says Litman.

Get a seasonal flu shot. The regular seasonal flu shots are available now, and it makes sense to "get the jab" (as the Brits say). While most flu cases happening right now are caused by H1N1, "in two months or three months it may be the regular seasonal flu and we should be prepared for that," says Litman. "Since that vaccine is currently available, I recommend that everyone considered a risk group receive the seasonal flu vaccine." Seasonal flu can be just as dangerous as H1N1; about 36,000 people die, including about 80 children, of seasonal flu every year.

Get a pneumonia vaccine.

What, another shot? For the vaccine wary, this might just feel like one too many pinpricks. However, the pneumonia vaccine, a shot that can help prevent any illness caused by certain types of pneumococcus bacteria, including meningitis and ear infections, may be a good idea too.

The CDC has analyzed H1N1-related deaths and found many people who died had dual infections, including some with pneumococcus. The good news is that if you're up-to-date on your child's vaccines, they probably already have it. Approved in 2001 and called Prevnar, it's routinely given to children.

Another vaccine, Pneumovax, is available for adults, and is recommended for the elderly and those at high risk of infections.

Wash your hands.

Just about every expert is chanting a "wash your hands" mantra. And, in fact, washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol rub can help. However, when it comes to flu, just keep in mind that hand-washing may fall into the "can't hurt and may help" category. Because flu virus can hitch a ride on airborne water droplets, you can inhale the virus and get sick even if you wear gloves 24-7 or scrub-in like a brain surgeon. But again, flu viruses can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours. So, yes, wash up. Plus, good hygiene can protect you from other germs, like pneumococcus, which could make a simple case of flu much worse when added into the mix.

Don't stock up on face masks or Tamiflu.

If you're the type of person who hoarded cans of soup and bottled water in 1999 just in case the world ended in 2000, it can be tempting to grab a box of surgical masks "just in case." The CDC and most experts say that's not a recommended or a proven way to prevent infection, although some studies suggest that they can be helpful in homes with a flu-infected family member or when used by hospital workers in place of a N95 respirator.

And while it may seem perfectly harmless to stockpile antiviral drugs, it isn't. If Tamiflu is gathering dust in your medicine cabinet, then people who truly need it may find the pharmacies are fresh out. And the surest route to a drug-resistant flu virus is having people taking it "just in case" or for symptoms that would go away on their own.

Get a swine flu vaccine -- really.

Or at least seriously consider it. Lots of people are not crazy about vaccines in general, and fully one-third of parents say they're going to skip them for their child, according to an AP poll. Understandable. Taking something that could cause side effects, when you feel (or your child feels) perfectly healthy is tough. But keep in mind that if you're thinking about waiting until swine flu is in full force in your community, it may be too late. It can take several weeks after vaccination before your immune system ramps up to full-protection mode.

If you or your child is perfectly healthy, you can get the nose-spray version, which contains a weakened, but not killed, virus. Unfortunately, if you're in a high-risk group, you may have to wait a bit for the version with killed virus, which is given in shot form. Those should be available in mid- to late-October.

While mulling over your options, try not to think of large federal agencies as faceless giants trying to impose vaccines on you. In fact, such agencies are staffed by scientists and doctors who are trying to protect the public.

"Each year approximately 30 percent to 40 percent of children between 5 and 19 years of age get influenza, that not only keeps them out of school for a few days, but they are also the epicenter of the epidemic -- they spread it to household contacts, other school contacts, and high-risk people in the community, like the elderly -- their grandparents," says Litman. "For their benefit and for the benefit of others, it's wise to get both the seasonal flu vaccine and swine flu vaccine."

Don't let the past haunt you. Although the 2009 virus has been tagged with the unfortunate moniker swine flu (just like the 1976 version), there is a world of difference between the two. For one, they are different viruses. And if you were alive in 1976, you were probably digging the bicentennial, groovy pants, and platform shoes, but your chances of getting swine flu were pretty much nil. (There were roughly 200 cases in Fort Dix, New Jersey, and the virus never spread.)

Fast forward to 2009, which is truly a pandemic -- there have been more than 340,000 confirmed cases worldwide and nearly 44,000 confirmed and probable cases in the U.S. alone. (The CDC estimates that more than 1 million people have contracted swine flu, but that their cases weren't recorded because they didn't seek treatment.) And the '76 version did have a problem with side effects, including Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare condition in which the immune system attacks nerves, resulting in weakness and even paralysis (although most people eventually recover).

However, the vaccine production used in the 1970s now looks as outdated as your striped bell-bottoms and rockin' sideburns.

"Over the years there have been several improvements in vaccine manufacturing," says Dr. Claudia Vellozzi, the assistant director of the CDC's Immunization Safety Office. "That certainly plays a role in improved vaccine safety now, compared to 1976."

Of the 30 to 40 million people vaccinated for swine flu in 1976, about 1 in 100,000 did develop GBS. However, current research suggests there is little to no GBS risk associated with seasonal flu vaccine.

"There have been one or two studies that showed that if there is a risk, it's very small, or about one in 1,000,000 additional cases of GBS would be attributable to the flu vaccine -- but most studies have not supported any association," she says. (There are 2,000 to 3,000 GBS cases in the U.S. every year, unrelated to vaccines, says Vellozzi. The cause is unknown, but it can be triggered by infections.)

"In terms of our current vaccine, we expect to have a similar safety profile as our seasonal flu vaccine, which has a good track record," she says.

Be prepared.

If you do want to get an H1N1 flu shot, it's best to be patient. It may take weeks before everyone who wants one can get it. In the meantime, think about what you will do if you or a family member does get sick.

"Get immunized, wash your hands, cover your mouth and nose if you're sneezing or coughing, stay home if you're sick, and if any warning signs come up -- difficulty breathing, not responsive as usual, unable to take fluids, or after a day or two of the fever coming down and having more fever and cough again -- see the doctor," says Litman.

How to dodge germs in the time of H1N1

By Elizabeth Cohen, CNN Senior Medical Correspondent
November 5, 2009 9:15 a.m. EST

(CNN) -- On a recent flight from San Francisco, California, to Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Julie Gerberding was thrilled to get bumped up to first class. The thrill, however, quickly disappeared: As she did her victory walk to the front cabin, she noticed that the woman in the seat next to hers was hacking up a lung.

"She was on her cell phone, saying, 'I feel miserable. I just know I have swine flu,' " Gerberding remembered. "I thought to myself, 'Oh, great.' "

For the duration of her transcontinental flight, Gerberding played viral roulette as she sat shoulder-to-shoulder next to Ms. Sneezy in a confined space.

Gerberding, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, had a few strategies for avoiding this woman's germs, some of which you can use on planes, trains, automobiles and anywhere else if you get stuck next to Typhoid Mary -- or, in this case, H1N1 Mary.

Gerberding's first step was to point the air vent in the ceiling toward the sick woman and away from herself.

"That helped point the germs towards her and away from me," she said.

She then pivoted her body -- she was sitting on the aisle seat -- away from Ms. Sneezy.

"There wasn't much else I could do. At some point, I just crossed my fingers," Gerberding said.

Actually, Gerberding realized later there was one more thing she could have done.

"I could have approached a flight attendant and said, 'The person sitting next to me has swine flu. Could you please offer her a mask?' In retrospect, I wish I had done that."

On airplanes, you're most likely to catch an illness from the people sitting in your row and in the row behind you, according to researchers at Purdue University, who developed an animation showing how germs move around an airplane.

"The bad news is if you're in that strike zone, you're at risk," Gerberding said. "If someone sitting right near you has the flu, there's a pretty good chance you'll get it. Flu is very transmissible."

Watch how easily germs spread

Gerberding adds that you probably won't catch the flu from someone sitting several rows away, since circulating air on planes goes through a HEPA filter. "

The good news is, if you're not right in that strike zone, you're probably at low risk," she said.

Whenever you're out in public, you can catch a germ from anyone within about six feet of you; that's how far some germs can travel, according to Dr. Rhonda Medows, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Health.

"Air droplet spray actually comes into your body. You're inhaling it. You're breathing those respiratory droplets," Medows said.

Another way you can catch a germ from someone is if you touch something a sick person has touched. For example, think about a busy escalator handrail.

"You and millions of others have touched it," Medows said. "And they could be sneezing, wiping their nose, coughing in their hands, and then they touch the handrail."

Watch secret -- and not so secret -- sources of germs

If you're healthy, your immune system should be able to fight off most of what's on a germy handrail, but even if you're in tip-top shape, chances are you have no immunity to the H1N1 virus, since it's so new.

Medows' strategy: After you touch something like a handrail, make a conscious effort not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth, and use hand sanitizer as soon as you can.

The National Institutes of Health offers more advice about preventing the spread of germs.

Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona known as "Dr. Germ," says his research shows that another potential bastion of germs are water fountains. Some schools have actually shut down their water fountains for the duration of flu season.

But you don't have to avoid water fountains. Gerberding says that if you want to drink from a fountain, follow these simple steps: Don't let your lips touch the spout, and before taking a sip, let the water run for a few seconds to flush away germs. Also, wash or sanitize your hands afterward, since the bar or button that turns on the fountain has probably been touched by many other hands before yours.

Watch what you can do to avoid germs

You might be wondering why Gerberding didn't go back to her seat in coach or ask for another one when she saw she'd be sitting next to Ms. Sneezy in first class.

"It was a full flight ,so someone else would have had to sit next to her," she explained. "And I'm healthy, so I figured if someone had to be near her, better me than someone who's immune-compromised in some way."

By the way, Gerberding didn't get sick from Ms. Sneezy on that long flight from San Francisco to Atlanta. She says she doesn't know whether it's because of her germ-prevention strategies or just dumb luck.

CNN's Sabriya Rice, Caitlin Hagan, Sharisse Scineaux and Matt Sloane contributed to this report.


H1N1 is now world's dominant flu virus, World Health Organization says

(CNN) -- The H1N1 virus has now become the dominant influenza virus around the globe, with high levels and an increase of activity in many regions, the World Health Organization said Thursday.

In a weekly update, the WHO's point person on the H1N1 virus, Dr. Keiji Fukuda, also warned the public not to treat the virus like just another flu.

Like seasonal flu, H1N1 is more active in the winter than in the summer, and a majority of infected people get better on their own, Fukuda said. H1N1 also is as transmissible and infectious as seasonal flu, he said.

But unusually for influenza, Fukuda said, H1N1 continues at high levels over the summer months, and many of the serious illnesses and deaths are concentrated in people younger than 65.

Seven months into the pandemic, the virus commonly known as swine flu remains at high levels and continues to increase in North America, Fukuda said. Mexico, for example, has seen more cases from September to November than they saw in the preceding months from April, when the virus emerged, he said.

The virus is also becoming more active in Europe and Central and Western Asia, Fukuda said.

Health officials this week reported an outbreak of cases in Ukraine, which now has more than 250,000 cases of influenza-like illness, with 235 patients requiring intensive care, the WHO said.

Activity is picking up in East Asia, Fukuda said. Mongolia reported "a number" of cases over the past week, he said.

"East Asia is one of the parts of the world where seasonal influenza viruses have remained in reasonably high circulation," Fukuda said. "But even in that part of the world, the pandemic virus is becoming dominant."

More cases are being reported from a number of Caribbean countries such as Cuba and Haiti, he said.

In Central America and the Southern Hemisphere, however, activity levels have dropped as those regions enter the summer season, Fukuda said.

"There are several regions in the world -- North America, Europe, Northern and Central Asia -- where we are clearly seeing pandemic influenza activity increase," he said, but "there is no one single place in the world where we are focused on."

Disease activity has been difficult to predict, Fukuda said.

"We really are not going to know what the future is going to bring, and so the main focus of our effort here is ... what steps are needed to make sure countries are as prepared as possible to deal with disease levels," he said.

H1N1 poses different challenges in different countries, but it does seem to be affecting indigenous groups more heavily than nonindigenous groups, he said.

In Australia, for example, "aboriginal groups are disproportionately represented in people who end up in hospitals from diseases related to the pandemic," Fukuda said.

The WHO still doesn't know whether the effect on indigenous groups is because of the pandemic itself or because of underlying factors.

Because most people infected with swine flu tend to recover on their own and don't suffer major problems afterwards, some people are tempted to dismiss the infection and think it's not serious. But Fukuda said that's a dangerous mind-set.

"At WHO, we remain quite concerned about the patterns we are seeing, particularly because a sizable number of people develop complications [that lead to death]," he said. "We do see that the serious complications are concentrated in the younger age groups rather than the older age groups."

While the complications are most often seen in people who have chronic, underlying health conditions and in pregnant women, they also can develop in people "who are currently healthy and young."

But contrary to some reports, Fukuda said, the WHO has not seen big mutations in the virus since it first emerged. He said viruses being isolated now are "generally similar" to those isolated over the past several months, indicating they haven't changed much.

The WHO also has no evidence of widespread resistance to antiviral medication, Fukuda said. There have been sporadic instances of resistance to oseltamivir -- the generic name for Tamiflu, one of the main drugs used against influenza -- but such cases are still "isolated and infrequent," he said.

"Antivirals are quite useful against these infections," he said.

Fukuda praised as "innovative" the decision by Norway to distribute antiviral medication over the counter for a limited period of time. The move can help take stress off the primary health system and allow patients to get the medicine more quickly, he said.

Other useful protections against H1N1 are vaccines, which the WHO recommends against pandemic infections, Fukuda said.

"These vaccines now have been used in a significant number of countries ... and based on this experience, in which millions of people have now received vaccine, we in fact see that these vaccines are very safe," he said.

The only side effects are swelling and pain at the injection site, but "these are occurring at rates that are expected and usually seen with seasonal influenza vaccine," Fukuda said.

"WHO, along with other public health authorities, believes that these vaccines are very useful against pandemic infections and [we] do support their use," he said.

H1N1 spreading even as supply of vaccine grows


ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- As the new H1N1 flu virus keeps spreading, more vaccine is available to fight it, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

Forty-eight states are reporting widespread flu activity, two more than a week ago, Dr. Thomas R. Frieden said at the CDC's weekly briefing.

There have been 114 pediatric deaths since April, when the H1N1 virus first emerged, with 19 reported to the CDC in the past week, he said.

Frieden also told reporters on Friday that in the past two months, more people younger than 65 have been hospitalized than would be expected in a full season of more common strains of flu.

He urged people with underlying illnesses who exhibit flu symptoms to seek medical attention promptly, saying that only half of the people in this high-risk group appear to be doing so.

To prevent getting H1N1, health officials continue to urge vaccination, and that might be becoming easier, Frieden said.


"We have more vaccine," he told reporters Friday -- 26.6 million doses are now available in the United States, up more than 10 million doses from a week ago.

Watch a video about rationing the vaccines

The CDC had hoped to have 40 million doses of vaccine by the end of October, but vaccine-manufacturing delays forced them to revise that number down to 28 million.

Earlier Friday, the latest recommendations from the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) were discussed by Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny, director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research at the World Health Organization.

The experts met Wednesday to review the current status of the H1N1 pandemic vaccines, including the results of clinical trials.

SAGE has concluded that one dose of H1N1 vaccine is sufficient for children older than 10, the vaccine is safe for pregnant women, and it can often be given at the same time as seasonal vaccines, said Kieny, speaking to reporters via teleconference from Geneva, Switzerland.

Doctors have found there is an immune response to the vaccine in children as young as 6 months. More clinical trials are being done on children ages 6 months to 10 years and on people with immune deficiency disorders, Kieny said.

She noted that in September, the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) recommended that children receive two doses of the H1N1 vaccine, as has the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia.

However, the EMEA also acknowledged that one dose may be sufficient, if a child has received a flu vaccine before.

Some countries may opt to give one shot in order to vaccinate more people, and that is their option, Kieny said. Nations also have a right to choose which company to use to supply the vaccine.

Not every country is getting the same vaccine. The virus for the vaccine distributed in the United States is grown in chicken eggs. Some vaccine licensed in Europe has been manufactured using a new cell-based technology.

Also, in some countries the vaccine has an added booster called an "adjuvant" to amplify the vaccine's ability to produce antibodies. Other countries, like the United States, are using non-adjuvanted vaccine. This makes a difference in how the vaccine works and how many doses may be necessary.

As a result, countries may have different guidelines.

Trials involving several thousand pregnant women are showing that the safety of the H1N1 vaccine is similar to that of the seasonal vaccine, Kieny said. Pregnant women should be vaccinated because they are at "significantly higher risk for infection," especially in their second and third trimesters, she noted.

WHO is donating vaccine to countries unable to buy enough. She said the goal is to distribute 200 million doses, which should allow 95 percent of the eligible nations to vaccinate at least 10 percent of their population.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Pacquiao graces Time cover



MANILA, Philippines – Boxing greats Joe Louis, Max Schmeling, Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Frazier, Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali.

And now Manny Pacquiao.

The Filipino ring icon is the latest fighter to make it to the list of professional boxers to be featured in the cover of well-respected magazine Time — and only the second non-heavyweight fighter to do so.

This also makes Pacquiao the second Filipino to grace Time’s cover after former President and democracy icon Corazon Aquino, who was named the magazine’s "Woman of the Year" in 1986.

Apart from heavyweights Louis, Schmeling, Frazier, Ali and middleweight Robinson, other boxers who had made it to the magazine’s cover include heavyweights Jack Dempsey, Primo Carnerra, Gene Tunney and the controversial Mike Tyson.

In its latest Asia edition issue, Time pays homage to the General Santos City-based southpaw in a story titled “The Meaning of Manny,” which branded the Filipino spitfire as “the latest savior of boxing.”

The story delves into Pacquiao’s stature as the Philippines’ favorite son, his humble beginnings, recent ring accomplishments, among others.

The same magazine previously included Pacquiao in its list of 100 most influential people in the world, with former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis providing a brief write-up on him.

Pacquiao is set to collide with Puerto Rican bomber Miguel Cotto for a record seventh world title in as many weight classes. The fight, dubbed “Firepower,” is scheduled on Nov. 14 (Nov. 15 in Manila) at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. - By Dino Maragay (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Michael Jackson soundtrack zooms to No. 1

MANILA – Certified chart-topper Michael Jackson, whose “This Is It” film was declared the No. 1 worldwide, scored another hit with the movie’s official soundtrack.

The “This Is It” OST is on top of the Billboard 200 with 373,000 copies sold during the week ended November 1, Nielsen SoundScan reported.

According to Billboard.com, “This Is It” is the late King of Pop’s 6th No. 1 album on the Billboard 200. Jackson’s other No. 1 albums are “Thriller,” “Bad,” “Dangerous,” “HIStory,” and “Invincible.”

“This Is It” edged “Full Circle” by rock band Creed (No. 2 with 110,000 copies), “Fearless” by country teen sensation Taylor Swift (No. 3 with 109,000 copies) and “Soulbook” by British singer-songwriter Rod Stewart (No. 4 with 84,000 copies).

The soundtrack features the original album masters of some of Jackson’s hits arranged in the same sequence as they appear in the movie, an article on MichaelJackson.com said.

It also has 2 versions of the “This Is It” song, a spoken word poem titled “Planet Earth,” and previously unreleased versions of some of his tracks. A 36-page commemorative booklet also goes with the CD.

Before “This Is It” topped the Billboard 200 this month, Jackson’s compilation of his greatest hits, “Number Ones,” was declared the best-selling album in the United States for 2009 with about 1.62 million copies sold.

The “This Is It” movie, meantime, earned about $101 million in five days since opening worldwide on Wednesday, Columbia Pictures noted as reported by Reuters.

The film’s run in the US has been extended up to Thanksgiving (November 29) from a limited 2-week screening. The movie’s screening will also be extended overseas on a per-country basis, Columbia Pictures added.

“This Is It” puts together Jackson’s rehearsal footage for his “final curtain call” concert tour slated in London. Jackson was not able to stage the concerts as he suffered a cardiac arrest and died on June 25.

His death has been ruled a homicide by the Los Angeles County coroner, Reuters reported, due to an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol.

Meanwhile, several exhibits paying tribute to the music legend have opened in the US and Great Britain.

The GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles, California has the “Michael Jackson: A Musical Legacy” exhibit which will run until 2010. It earlier had a temporary memorial display after Jackson’s death.

“Michael Jackson: The Official Exhibition, the Arts and Exhibitions International,” meanwhile, opened at The O2 bubble in London last month.


With reports from MichaelJackson.com, Top40.about.com, Billboard.com and Reuters

Sunday, November 1, 2009

M.Y.M.P. breaks up!



Win some, lose some?

It’s true.

The other night, the duo M.Y.M.P. (Make Your Mama Proud) Juris Fernandez and Chin Alcantara won the top award for Group Artist of the Year at the first Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards for Music held at the Sky Dome of SM North EDSA.

It was a happy-sad victory for the duo who wasn’t present at the awards. Instead, it was talent manager Noel Ferrer who received the trophy on their behalf.

“I was asked to do the honor by the manager of M.Y.M.P.,” said Noel. “The manager told me to get the trophy kung sakaling manalo ang M.Y.M.P.”

Noel called up the manager to congratulate him and M.Y.M.P. and that’s when he got a little shocker.

The manager thanked Noel and said, “Congrats sa album natin. Pero ‘yon na ang last nina Juris at Chin as a duo. Juris is going solo.”

Sad, isn’t it? As the song goes, some good things never last...

“Nalungkot ako,” sighed Noel.

Funfare did some sleuthing and here’s what I dug up:

Juris quit the duo after Chin “booted” her and her manager Carla Lozada out due to disagreement over an “exposure” in the A.S.A.P. Sessionista.

Added Noel, “Juris is slated to launch her long-overdue solo album under Star Records, with five songs produced by Chin. The other original cuts were done by Jimmy Antiporda, Ryan Cayabyab and Gary Valenciano.”

No, Juris won’t be using her M.Y.M.P. “connection” anymore.

According to Noel, Chin told her, “Magkakamatayan tayo kapag ginamit n’yo ang pangalan ng M.Y.M.P. But what’s in a name? The people are after Juris’ voice, not so much the duo’s name. She will sound just as well even under another name.”

But still, Juris and Chin still have commitments as a duo until end of this year and they will honor them, thank you.

“Juris is excited about her new career as a solo artist,” assured Noel. “She’s looking forward to a happy brand-new year.”

Meanwhile, Chin is looking for a new partner.

* * *

The Men of the ‘80s continues its successful tour with a one-night- only stint at the Sky Dome SM North EDSA on Nov. 21. Just back from a successful US concert tour, Raymond Lauchengco, Randy Santiago, Louie Heredia and Gino Padilla are doing the hits that made them the top heartthrobs of two decades ago and other memorable songs from the ‘80s era.

Raymond, an actor and singing star, was part of the Bagets. He is best known for enduring favorites like Farewell, I Need You Back, So It’s You and others.

Randy comes from one of the country’s top showbiz families. He made his mark with songs like Babaero, Hindi Magbabago, Paikot-ikot, Para Sa ‘yo and Yakap-yakap.

Louie also had a long series of hit recordings that included Nag-iisang Ikaw, Can Find No Reason, Iisang Damdamin and Kahit Kunwari Lang.

On the other hand, Gino is fondly remembered for having sung with Tina Turner and tunes like Closer You And I, Gusto Kita, I Believe In You and Let The Love Begin.

Presented by Viva Concerts & Events, the Men Of The ‘80s show is sponsored by PCSO, People’s Journal, Business World, MYX, PBO, Viva Prime and Viva Cinema.

(Note: Tickets to Men Of The ‘80s are now available at all SM Ticketnet outlets. Prices are P1,500 for Gold and P1,000 for Silver. Call Ticketnet 911-5555 or Viva Concerts and Events 687-6181 local 627 or 620 for inquiries. For more info, log on to www.viva.com.ph.)

(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com) - FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

FRIENDSTER VS FACEBOOK



Di ba kaylan lang, FRIENDSTER kainitan
Milyon-milyong miyembro, ito'y pinagpiyestahan
Bata, matanda, may ngipin o wala
Lahat ka- FS, lakas ng tama

Hanggang sa nalibang dito sa isa
FACEBOOK, nagmula doon sa Amerika
Dating miyembro ng FS, dito lumipat
FS noon, FB ang naging katapat

MGA PAGKAKAIBA (ADVANTAGE AND DIS-ADVANTAGE ON BOTH SIDE:

1. sa FS walang laro,
sa FB lahat ng klaseng laro naroon
2. sa FB walang layouts,
sa FS pwedeng mamili sa ibat ibang sites
3. sa FB pwedeng magcomment sa status,
sa FS di pwedeng magcomment sa bulletin
4. sa FS pwede ang photo grabbing
sa FB dapat save as
5. sa FB may profile badge panlagay sa blog
sa FS link lang ang pwedeng icopy
6. sa FB pwedeng magchat
sa FS di pwde
7. sa FS may testimonials
sa FB wala
8. sa FB may comment notification
sa FS comment approval lng