UPDATE 4 :Two more Filipinos infected by H1N1 virus

Two more Filipinos have tested positive for influenza A(H1N1) virus, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the Philippines to 16, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Saturday.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the two new cases include a 51-year-old female and a 21-year-old male, who both have travelled in the United States.

Duque said the two arrived in Manila on May 26 and they started to exhibit flu-like symptoms two days after.

He also announced that the DOH is currently monitoring 29 people for possible H1N1 infections. He said a total of 240 people have been monitored by the DOH since May 1, 16 of whom were found positive.

The health secretary said three of the 16 confirmed cases have already recovered from the viral infection and have been discharged. 

Among the three are the first and the second confirmed cases in the Philippines -- a 10-year-old-girl and a 55-year-old woman. The third is one of the people who attended a wedding in Zambales province last May 17.

Five other guests at the wedding party, which was attended by an infected Taiwanese woman, have also been found positive for the dreaded virus.

The DOH said that based on the latest H1N1 report by the World Health Organization, there are 2,120 new cases and four deaths. The new deaths were from Canada, Mexico, and US. There are already a total of 15,510 cases and 99 deaths from 53 repotring countries.

The new countries that have confirmed H1N1 cases were Czech Republic, Dominican republic, Slovakia and Uruhuay.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/05/30/09/two-more-filipinos-infected-h1n1-virus

(UPDATE 3 DOH: 4 new A(H1N1) cases in RP; total now at 14

MANILA, Philippines – Another four new cases of Influenza A(H1N1) were reported by the Department of Health (DOH) today — bringing the total number of flu cases in the country to 14. 

According to reports, the new cases include a 19-year-old female and a seven-year-old girl from the US. The remaining two were a two-year-old girl and a 20-year-old male who had contact with Taiwanese nationals at a wedding in Zambales province.

This announcement came a day after the DOH confirmed four people to be infected with the virus. 

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III yesterday identified the patients as a 47-year-old man, a 13-year-old boy, a 24-year-old woman and a one-year-old girl.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=472505&publicationSubCategoryId=200

Update 2: RP confirms second H1N1 case

The Philippines on Sunday confirmed its second influenza A (H1N1) case.

In an interview on ANC's Dateline Philippines on Sunday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the second H1N1 patient is a 50-year-old female from Chicago, United States. She arrived in the Philippines on May 20.

She had no symptoms upon arrival at the airport but became symptomatic the next day. She immediately consulted health authorities, according to the health secretary.

"She only has mild symptoms, which include fever and cough," he said.

Her health condition has improved and she is already "recovering," Duque assured.

The second H1N1 patient is still being closely monitored in an undisclosed health facility. The government is also now tracing those who had contacts with her.

"We cannot be too complacent because many factors can make a mild illness manifest severely and more fatally in people with pre-existing conditions," he said, adding:

"The only thing that's sure is that this virus is unpredictable."

Three days ago, the Philippines confirmed that a 10-year-old girl tested positive for the virus. The girl was the first confirmed H1N1 case in the Philippines.

The girl arrived in the country from the United States on May 18, reports said.

Duque said the Philippines' first H1N1 case is also recovering and that 15 out of the 17 passengers who sat next to the girl on the airplane have not developed flu symptoms.

"On the first confirmed case, the child is now almost fully recovered with only mild sore throat. She is completing her antiviral medication," he said.

Duque, who just arrived from a World Health Organization (WHO) meeting in Geneva, said that based on the new H1N1 infections all over the world, the new flu virus is turning out to be a "mild form...similar to ordinary flu."

He said the H1N1 cases now have a low fatality rate of less than 0.1 percent.

In WHO's latest tally, the strain has already infected more than 11,000 people in 42 countries and killed 86

List of Forbes Philippines 40 Richest

1. Henry Sy 
$4 billion 
82. Married. 6 children. 

Philippines' leading retailer opened his biggest mall yet in May on Manila's waterfront. Now on verge of becoming nation's second-largest banker, once merger with his Banco de Oro and Equitable PCI is finalized ( Click here for story).

2. Lucio Tan 
$2.3 billion 
72. Married. 6 children. 

The Filipino-Chinese magnate made his fortune from a variety of sources, including tobacco and beer. Also owns Philippine Airlines. With Hong Kong property portfolio, cashed in on booming Asian real estate market.

3. Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala 
$2 billion 
72. Married. 7 children. 

Patriarch of Ayala Corp., Philippines' oldest conglomerate, founded in 1834. Interests in real estate, water, telecom. Officially retired in April, though sons Jaime Jr. and Fernando have run daily operations for the past decade.

4. Eduardo Cojuangco 
$840 million 
71. Married. 4 children. 

Known as "Danding." Shares of San Miguel Corp., the food and beverage group he chairs, briefly suspended in November, after alleged inflation of sales figures of its Coca-Cola Bottlers. Company denies allegations.

5. George Ty 
$830 million 
74. Married. 5 children. 

Founder and chairman of Metrobank, one of the Philippines' largest financial institutions with branches in Asia, U.S. and Europe. Known to wear suit and tie to office every day. May soon relax a bit: founder handed over chairmanship earlier this year.

6. John Gokongwei Jr. 
$700 million 
80. Married. 6 children. 

Lived on street at age 13 after wealthy father died. Peddled thread, soap, candles during World War II. Later founded JG Summit, a conglomerate with telecom, property, food, airline and textiles interests, that is celebrating fiftieth anniversary this year. Chairman emeritus, leaves daily operations to son Lance, who is president.

7. Tony Tan Caktiong 
$575 million 
53. Married. 3 children. 

Got start with 2 ice cream parlors; soon switched to hamburgers. Today his fast-food group Jollibee, which he still runs, has almost 1,500 locations operating under 6 brands. Also 167 restaurants abroad, including 100-plus in China. Plans to open locations on U.S.' East Coast and in Las Vegas, and to enter India next year.

8. Andrew Tan 
$480 million 
57. Married. 4 children. 

Chairs Megaworld Corp., large real estate company known for its Manila complexes that integrate office, residential and commercial units. Now developing technology parks. Just broke ground on a new Marriott hotel in Newport City.

9. Emilio Yap 
$350 million 
81. Married. 

Controls Manila Bulletin, one of the nation's oldest and largest dailies. Hands-on chairman reportedly approves story lineups. Has investment in historic Manila Hotel. Son Enrique helps run the business.

10. Oscar Lopez 
$315 million 
76. 
Harvard grad heads family holding company Lopez Inc., which has controlling stake in ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., founded by late father, Eugenio. Now nation's largest media group, run by late brother's son, Eugenio III. Group also has interests in power generation, construction.


11. Enrique Razon Jr. 
$285 million 
46. Married. 2 children. 

Chairs International Container Terminal Services, which family cofounded in 1987. Group operates 9 port terminals, including 4 in the Philippines and 1 each in Brazil, Poland, Japan, Indonesia, Madagascar. In July won concession to operate terminal in Syria.

12. Andrew Gotianun 
$280 million 
78. Married. 4 children. 

Founded consumer finance group Filinvest 1955; eventually moved into property. Remains chairman emeritus of Filinvest Development; son Jonathan chairman; daughter Lourdes Josephine G. Yap president.

13. Enrique Aboitiz 
$275 million 
84. Married. 7 children. 

Heads family conglomerate with interests in 60 companies in banking, food, logistics. Runs nation's largest private network of ferries and buses.

14. Alfonso Yuchengco 
$225 million 
83. 

Father, Enrique, set up insurance group 1930s. Alfonso took over 1946, diversified into banking, construction, education. Empire now reportedly includes 40 mostly private companies. Yuchengco served as ambassador to China and Japan. In February announced that eldest daughter, Helen Yuchengco Dee, would succeed him.

15. Menardo Jimenez 
$210 million 
74. 

With 2 partners, took control of GMA Network, founded by an American war correspondent, in 1970s. Overhauled media group, adding local programming to stable of overseas programs. Now country's second largest. Former GMA chief executive sits on board of Cojuangco's San Miguel.

15. Gilberto Duavit Jr. 
$210 million

Executive vice president and chief operating officer of GMA Network. He and family own 35% of group, expected to finally go public next year.

17. Ramon del Rosario Jr. 
$205 million 
62. Married. 4 children. 

Chief executive of Philippine Investment-Management (Phinma), cofounded by his father. Served for one year as nation's secretary of finance. Known as RRR (Ramon R. del Rosario), this Harvard M.B.A. was recently elected chairman of the prominent Makati Business Club. Has big interest in education, pushing Phinma into investing in colleges. Also chairs board of advisers of the Ramon V. del Rosario, Sr. Center for Corporate Responsibility.

18. Felipe Gozon 
$180 million

Part of triumvirate that took over GMA Network in the 1970s. Remains chairman and chief executive of GMA, which has 46 VHF stations and 26 radio stations.

19. Beatrice Campos 
$160 million 
Widowed. 5 children. 

Low-profile widow of Jose Campos, who died in May. He was one of the cofounders of United Laboratories (Unilab), nation's largest pharmaceuticals maker. Secretive group is one of nation's largest private firms.

20. Luis J.L. Virata 
$150 million

Investment banker made headlines in 1999 when he briefly stepped in as chief executive of then nearly bankrupt Philippine Airlines, replacing Lucio Tan. His family is now a major shareholder in Nickel Asia, the Philippines' largest nickel producer. Company's plans to go public this fall were reportedly canceled because of poor pricing.


21. David M. Consunji 
$145 million 
85. Married. 8 children. 

Started out making chicken coops in 1954; eventually grew business into one of the largest construction firms. Chairs DMCI group, which has built such landmarks as the Manila Doctor's Hospital and Manila Hotel. Son Isidro is chief executive, daughter Edwina treasurer. Group's coal subsidiary, Semirara Mining Corp., is nation's largest.

21. Bienvenido R. Tantoco Sr. 
$140 million

From Cartier to Tiffany, the Tantocos bring life's luxuries to Filipinos through their Rustan retail empire. Tantoco Sr., who has served as Philippine ambassador to the Vatican, chairs the group, which has interests in malls and supermarkets; son Bienvenido R. Tantoco Jr. is president.

23. Betty Ang 
$115 million

President of privately held Monde Nissin, maker of instant noodles, biscuits and snack foods, founded in 1979. Brands include Lucky Me!, Monde and Bingo.

24. Manuel Villar 
$110 million 
57. 

Son of a shrimp vendor, grew up in a Manila slum. Started off with a couple of trucks to haul gravel to construction sites. Big break in 1983 when market crashed: bought up large numbers of abandoned projects on the cheap. Today his C&P Homes is a leading developer, specializing in affordable housing. Currently a senator in the national congress.

25. Mariano Tan 
$100 million

Opened a small drugstore in Manila in 1945; helped transform it into Unilab, which makes more than 300 types of medicine. Tan and 4 relatives still hold large stake.

26. Rolando & Rosalinda Hortaleza 
$90 million

Newlyweds started personal-care business in 1985 with $240, operating out of 270-square-foot apartment. Big break came two years later when they introduced a popular, affordable hair spray. Today he is chief executive and chairman of their company, Splash, which has $56 million in sales from such items as shampoo, hand lotion and massage oil. Bestselling brands include Extraderm and Skin White. Rosalinda is chairwoman and chief executive of subsidiary HBC chain of retail stores.

27. Oscar Hilado 
$85 million 
69. Married. 3 children. 

Chairman of Phinma. Was Smith Mundt/Fulbright scholar at Harvard Business School. Said to be an eternal optimist who enjoys picnics.

28. Vivian Que Azcona 
$80 million

Her father sold drugs from a pushcart, eventually opening a store in 1945 and pioneering many services such as selling drugs in small doses, known as "tingi tingi," that were more affordable to the masses. Family's Mercury Drug, which Que Azcona now runs, is country's largest drugstore chain with 500 locations.

29. Manuel Zamora 
$75 million 
66. 

Chairman and cofounder of Nickel Asia, Philippines' largest nickel producer, formed in early 2006 to consolidate ownership of several related companies. Plans to take group public this fall were shelved. A lawyer by training, also director of Philippine companies Philex Mining Corp. and CLSA Exchange Capital.

30. Magdaleno Albarracin Jr. 
$73 million 
70. Married. 1 child. 

Nicknamed "Mag," known as a cement-industry pioneer. Remains chairman emeritus of Philippine Cement Manufacturers Association. Chief executive of Holcim Philippines, a joint venture between Phinma and Holcim of Germany, and vice chairman of Phinma. Got M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Avid tennis player.


31. Jesus Tambunting 
$70 million 
69. Married. 4 children. 

His family known for chain of pawnshops, but this Tambunting has no connection to that business. Instead, he took control of Planters Development Bank, the nation's biggest private lender to small and midsize companies. Briefly listed before being taken private again during the Asian crisis. Bank recently launched private equity fund with British-Norwegian joint venture to invest in small and midsize companies. Tambunting, who shares fortune with siblings, served as Philippines ambassador to the U.K. and still likes to use the title "Ambassador."

32. Frederick Dy 
$65 million 
51. Married. 3 children. 

Took control of Security Bank, founded 55 years ago, in early 1989; listed it in 1995. Largest individual shareholder, benefiting from recent run-up in its stock.

33. Tomas Alcantara 
$60 million 
60. Single. 

Father, Conrado, got start, according to lore, with $100, a jeep and a typewriter. Today Tomas is chairman of the family's listed holding company, Alsons, named reportedly for Alcantra and sons, with interests in power, property and distribution. Shares fortune with several relatives. Has an interest in art and M.B.A. from New York City's Columbia University.

34. Lourdes Montinola 
$50 million 
78. 

Father, Niconar Reyes, founded Far Eastern University 1928. Lourdes served as sixth president from 1970 to 1989; now head of the board of trustees. Also its largest shareholder.

35. Salvador Zamora 
$45 million 
59. 

Brother of Manuel (No. 29), Salvador is chief executive and cofounder of Nickel Asia, which has interests in 6 mines. President of its subsidiaries, Taganito Mining Corp., Hinatuan Mining Corp. HMC and Cagdianao Mining Corp. since 1980, 1987 and 1997, respectively. Also chief executive of Montreal Entertainment (Phils.) Inc., a private entertainment company, and director of Baguio Leisure Corp., a resort and hotel operator.

36. Antonio Roxas 
$40 million 
64. 

Family founded one of nation's first sugar mills 1927. Today Roxas chairman emeritus of Roxas Holdings, nation's largest producer of raw sugar and second-largest refiner of raw sugar.

37. Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Sr. 
$38 million

79. Married. 3 children. 

Chairs Alaska Milk Corp., which was founded as a partnership between a Dutch milk company and his General Milling Corp. in 1972. Now the nation's leading provider of milk. Son Wilfred Jr. is now group's president. AMC recently gained rights to distribute Kellogg's cereal products, helping diversify its business and boost profits in the latest quarter. Firm also owns the Alaska Aces, a contender in the Philippines Basketball Association league.

38. Philip T. Ang 
$35 million

Vice chairman of Taganito Mining Corp. and a business associate of Zamora family, holds stake in Nickel Asia.

39. Marixi Prieto 
$30 million 
66. Married. 5 children. 

Family is majority owner of Philippine Daily Inquirer. Newspaper claims to have 2.7 million readers, up from 30,000 when it was founded in 1985, partly to provide an alternative to that era's 3 government-owned papers. Marixi is chairman; daughter Alexandra Prieto-Romualdez is chief executive.

40. Manuel Pangilinan 
$25 million 
60. Single. 

Expatriate is chief executive of Hong Kong's First Pacific Company Ltd., which owns major stakes in Philippine Long Distance Telephone and Indonesian noodlemaker Indofood, controlled by Indonesia's wealthy Salim family. Loves badminton; well-known tournament named after him

http://financemanila.net/2008/10/forbes-philippines-40-richest/

Forbes Philippines 40 Richest

Still the country is showing signs of life, according to Forbes. Its stock market is up a third, making it one of the best performers in Asia this year. And foreign investors and businesses are more welcomed than in the past, thanks to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's policies. 

In summary, the top 10 richest Filipinos are:

1. Henry Sy & family; US$3.1 billion ( SM Malls, Banco de Oro)

2. Lucio Tan & family; $1.5 billion (Asia Brewery, Tanduay Holdings,Fortune Tobacco,Philippine Airlines, University of the East.Philippine National Bank,Allied Bank, Eton Properties)

3. Jaime Zobel de Ayala & family; $1.2 billion (Ayala Malls and Corp,)

4. Andrew Tan; $700 million (Megaworld Corporation,Emperador Distillers Incorporation)

5. Tony Tan Caktiong & family; $690 million (Jollibee Fastfood Chain, Red Ribbon, Chowking, Greenwich, Delifrance Philippines and Manong Pepe's.)

6. John Gokongwei Jr. & family; $680 million (Cebu Pacific,Sun Cellular,Universal Robina Corp.,Robinson Malls)

7. Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.; $610 million  (San Miguel Corporation,

8. Enrique Razon Jr.; $525 million (International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI)

9. George Ty & family; $435 million (Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company,Bank of the Philippine Islands,Philippine Savings Bank,

10. Inigo & Mercedes Zobel; $430 million

Update 1: for AH1N1 Flu virus here in the philippines

17 passengers monitored for flu:::

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health is tracking down 17 passengers of the plane that carried the 10-year-old girl who tested positive for Influenza A(H1N1) – the first confirmed case in the Philippines.

Taiwan health officials, meanwhile, said yesterday one of their three confirmed cases of A(H1N1) involved a woman returning from the Philippines.

Dr. Mavic Vasquez of the DOH’s Bureau of Quarantine said they have determined the identities of the 17 passengers – all Filipinos – based on the manifest obtained from the airline company.

“We are lucky that the patient was (seated) way back in the plane near the wall. There were 17 possible persons with six-hour exposure (to the patient) and (situated) within six feet,” she said at a press briefing.

Vasquez said the 17 passengers are advised to undergo self-quarantine for up to 10 days, the period during which infected individuals manifest symptoms.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday announced that a 10-year-old Filipino girl from the United States was the first confirmed case of A(H1N1) in the Philippines. 

The girl had also traveled to Canada where there are also confirmed cases of A(H1N1).

She arrived in the Philippines with her mother on May 18 and complained of fever, cough and sore throat the following day. The patient was brought to an undisclosed hospital.

The swab throat samples taken from the girl were examined and confirmed at the DOH’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) Thursday afternoon.

DOH Undersecretary Mario Villaverde noted that throat specimens were also taken from the mother but these tested negative for A(H1N1).

Villaverde added the girl’s father and her other housemates have been notified of the situation and are now undergoing self-quarantine at home.

“It’s a good thing that the patient stayed mostly inside their house after arriving, probably because of the time zone difference, and she developed fever the following day. Her contacts are thus limited,” he said.

“The patient is now recovering well. She no longer has fever and cough but still has sore throat,” he said.

But the DOH will send a team of experts to the patient’s house to conduct a “more thorough assessment of the household contacts” who have already been given prophylactics, an antibiotic.

The doctors, nurses and other health personnel attending to the patient have also been given antibiotics and instructed to put on protective gear like face masks to prevent them from contracting the virus.

It was not clear yet how the girl contracted the virus.

“She traveled to many cities in the US but because there is already an established community level transmission in the US, even if we identify the cities, it becomes immaterial because it is almost in the entire US,” Villaverde added.

Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control, meanwhile, said a 30-year-old woman who had been traveling in Manila from May 16 to 20 with three relatives tested positive for A(H1N1) influenza.

“She was feeling unwell while in Manila. She went to a clinic on Thursday after she developed a fever. Her daughter was also screened after she too was running a fever,” said CDC spokesman Shih Wen-yi.

Test results for the five-year-old girl were scheduled Friday.

philstar.com

Katrina Halili-Hayden Kho-Maricar Reyes SEX SCANDAL?

 Hayden Kho on Thursday broke his silence when he begged for forgiveness over the proliferation of several video footage allegedly showing his sexual trysts with various women, among them actress Katrina Halili.

In a statement late Thursday, Kho said he had no intention spreading the videos on the Internet. He claimed these were uploaded without his consent.

“I deplore the fact that without my knowledge and consent, these recordings were uploaded on the Internet, downloaded, reproduced in optical media form, distributed and sold to the public," he said.

“I sincerely apologize for the harm it has done to other parties. I must emphasize that there was no malice on my part, or intention to hurt anyone with these recordings," he added.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has subpoenaed a certain Eric Johnston Chua, a friend of Kho. Chua is the NBI's suspect behind the spread of the video on the Net.

The NBI has also subpoenaed Kho and his erstwhile girlfriend, celebrity surgeon Vicki Belo, to shed light on the issue. The bureau expects the two to appear at its headquarters in Manila Friday.

Halili, devastated by the embarrassing experience, has already asked the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) to revoke the license of the embattled surgeon.

Kho said in his statement that as a result of the controversy, he has decided to suspend his practice of medicine.

“I own up to my responsibility as a professional, and have decided to suspend my practice of medicine," he said

AH1N1 FLU VIRUS now here on RP

MANILA, Philippines - A 10-year-old Filipino girl who had traveled to the United States and Canada was found positive for Influenza A(H1N1), making her the first confirmed case in the Philippines.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced this last night in a teleconference from the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Geneva, Switzerland.

"We now have the first confirmed case of Influenza A(H1N1) in the Philippines... The discovery of this first case is something we have been preparing for," said Duque.

The girl arrived in the Philippines last May 18, and eventually developed fever, cough, and sore throat the next day.

Swab throat samples were taken from the girl who is now confined in an "undisclosed health facility."

Duque said the samples were examined and confirmed at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) using the A(H1N1) testing kits donated by the Atlanta-based Center for Disease Control and Prevention through polymerase chain reaction machines.

"The patient was started on anti-viral and given supportive care. The patient no longer has fever and cough, but she still has sore throat," he added.

The family and those who had close contact with her have already been advised to go on quarantine.

"We advise the public not to panic. There is no community level outbreak. Measures are being implemented to prevent transmission," Duque said.

DOH Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said the results of the laboratory tests would be sent to a WHO-accredited laboratory in Melbourne, Australia.

He added the co-passengers of the girl in the plane home would be contacted to advise them to observe self-quarantine.

Villaverde had also urged the public to observe personal hygiene, take nutritional food, get enough sleep, take vitamin C, and drink lots of water and fruit juices to strengthen their immune system.

"If you can postpone travelling to other affected areas, that would be good for you," he advised the public.

Sex Before Marriage or Marriage Before Sex????

Wait To Have Sex!

Although there are many people having sex, you shouldn’t. I am going to give you some reasons on why you shouldn’t. First of all, you shouldn’t have sex before marriage. You want to be pure for your soul mate.

Another reason is cause you don’t want to get no STD’S. You don’t want to have no diseases at all, especially at your young age. You can die from a lot of STD’S, and I know you don’t want to die from STD’S, that’s a sad way to die. Another reason why you don’t want to have sex before marriage is because you might become pregnant or you might impregnate somebody. I don’t think that nobody here is ready to have a child.

A child is a big responsibility that a lot of you guys ain’t ready for. Kids shouldn’t be having kids. What if a guy tells you girls that he loves you so much and that you guys should have sex because you guys are going to be together forever any ways.

As soon as you have sex he leaves you and then you realize that, that was the biggest mistake you made and you cant take it back. I know nobody want to feel like they are being used, but that’s what happens. The biggest reason why you shouldn’t have sex before marriage is because God gave us our virginity, for we could share with some one special, like soul mate, not just to anybody.

Sex is a very special thing that should be shared with two people that really care about each other and our responsible to know what they are doing. So that’s why you should wait to have sex into or before you got married.

Teenage Smoking for experience? or for being "IN"?

There are several causes for teenage smoking, as well as many effects. There are no positive effects of teenage smoking, so there are no only negative causes for teenage smoking. The effects of teenage smoking can be both physical and mental.


Despite all of the warnings there are, teenage smoking is not on a decline.


Teenage smoking has many causes. Several teens take that first puff just to try something new. One might see his or her peers smoking and think it is the “coolest”
thing. One that has grown up with a parent that smokes might think that smoking is okay and is unaware of the dangers smoking causes. Other teens may begin smoking to rebel against parents or other authority.



There are several physical effects of teenage smoking. Some of these physical effects include emphysema, lung cancer, throat cancer, and other various types of cancers. Lung cancer is a very serious disease that kills millions of people every year.

Many of these lung cancer victims are smokers. Another physical effect of smoking is the actual appearance of a smoker. Many years of smoking causes the skin to wrinkle and age. Smoking causes the teeth to turn yellow, and eventually black. One who smokes might have yellow finer tips. Cigarette smoke also has a very strong and
recognizable smell. The smell sticks to all fabric around the smoker, as well as the
smoker’s hair.



There effects of teenage smoking other than the physical effects. The main non-physical effect of smoking is addiction. People who begin smoking as teenagers are
more likely to become addicted. Many people become addicted to smoking every day.

Smoking is one of the most difficult addictions to break. The addiction of smoking also leads to people spending much of their money every week on cigarettes. Another non-physical effect of teenage smoking is the bad influence it has on younger generations. Younger children always look up to teenagers as examples and role models.




When a small child sees a teenager smoking, he or she might think that smoking is a
behavior to mimic. Another effect of teenage smoking is that cigarettes could lead to
other drugs. After smoking for a while, a teen might decide to try marijuana, which
might lead to other drugs, and so on.



There are many causes and effects of teenage smoking. Unfortunately, both the causes and the effects of teenage smoking are negative. Despite the many warnings of smoking’s dangers, more and more teens begin smoking every day. Children are beginning to smoke at younger ages.

Teenage Love and sex....

In the following paragraphs below I will be discussing three reasons on why teenage love is very controversial. Adults can misunderstand teenagers when teens say that they are in love. I also think that teenagers can mistake love for physical attraction or, as many people know it as lust. Finally the last reason will be that maturity adds to the controversy about teenage love. 

Adults can misunderstand teenagers when teens say they are in love. Most adults think that teenagers are just to young to experience the feeling of love without going through the trials and tribulations of what love comes from. Being an adult, I am sure there are many things that come with being in love, such as: trust, understanding, respect, compatibility, and many other things that can make a relationship last. It is very understandable to see the point of view from an adult's perspective. But they must realize that it is just as easy to look at it from their perspective as well as the teenagers. 

Teenagers can mistake love for physical attraction. This is a very big problem among the teenage world. With some many teenage single moms and kids having sex among an early age, they use the phrase "I love you" a little to loosely. Lust is what makes people that they know is crazy but yet keep going on with their actions. When two teens how so much lust for each other and all they ever do are just have sexual relations, they may very well think they are in love. The phrase "making love" is used for sex, so in time teenagers may convince themselves they are in love, when all it is just simply physical attraction. 

Maturity adds to the controversy about teenage love. People set standards for age and understanding. Unfortunately society has set standards on everything, especially teenagers and their actions. Since most people live the attitude of doing anything they want when they want to, teenagers have gotten stereotyped. Contrary to belief there are actually teenagers that are in love. Yes, I will be first to say, this is plenty of lust in the world but among teenagers it seems to show more. But with television shows, movies, commercials, and cartoons talking about sex, it seems to be out in the open and nothing really bad about it. But society must understand, not all-teenage kids are like this. 

In conclusion, I would like everyone, adult or children, to look at love in a different way. Teenage love can cause just as much confusion as adult love. Just because someone is not an age of society acceptance, doesn't mean they do not know what they are feeling or talking about. Further more, I would just like people to have an open mind about teenagers and their feelings. Not only to love but also to everything else that a teenage kid has to deal with in day to day life. A better understanding with the next generation can create better understanding with adults on children.

UPDATED NEWS FOR SWINE FLU (AH1N1) VIRUS

(we're are lucky here in the philippines because we still don't have any case of swine flu.)

("thanks GOD")

17 May 2009 -- As of 06:00 GMT, 17 May 2009, 39 countries have officially reported 8480 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection.

Mexico has reported 2895 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 66 deaths. The United States has reported 4714 laboratory confirmed human cases, including four deaths. Canada has reported 496 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death. Costa Rica has reported nine laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths -

Argentina (1),

Australia (1),

Austria (1),

Belgium (4),

Brazil (8),

China (5),

Colombia (11),

Cuba (3),

Denmark (1),

Ecuador (1),

El Salvador (4),

Finland (2),

France (14),

Germany (14),

Guatemala (3),

India (1),

Ireland (1),

Israel (7),

Italy (9),

Japan (7),

Malaysia (2),

Netherlands (3),

New Zealand (9),

Norway (2),

Panama (54),

Peru (1),

Poland (1),

Portugal (1),

Republic of Korea (3),

Spain (103),

Sweden (3),

Switzerland (1),

Thailand (2),

Turkey (1),

and the United Kingdom (82).

WHO is not recommending travel restrictions related to the outbreak of the influenza A(H1N1) virus.

Individuals who are ill should delay travel plans and returning travelers who fall ill should seek appropriate medical care. These recommendations are prudent measures which can limit the spread of many communicable diseases, including influenza.

Further information on the situation will be available on the WHO web site on a regular basis.

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_05_17/en/index.html

para sa lahat ng mga anak na may mga magulang pa,,,lalo na kay inay,,huwag natin hintayin na mahuli ang lahat bago tayo kumilos...

Mahal kong Anak,

Sa aking pagtanda, unawain mo sana ako at pagpasensiyahan.
Kapag
dala ng kalabuan ng mata ay nakabasag ako ng pinggan o nakatapon ng
sabaw sa hapag kainan, huwag mo sana akong kagagalitan.
Maramdamin ang isang matanda. Nagse-self-pity ako sa tuwing sinisigawan mo ako.
Kapag
mahina na ang tenga ko at hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi mo, huwag
mo naman sana akong sabihan ng ‘binge!’ paki-ulit nalang ang sinabi mo
o pakisulat nalang. Pasensya ka na, anak. Matanda na talaga ako.
Kapag
mahina na ang tuhod ko, pagtiyagaan mo sana akong tulungang tumayo,
katulad ng pag-aalalay ko sa iyo noong nag-aaral ka pa lamang lumakad.
Pagpasensyahan mo sana ako kung ako man ay nagiging makulit at paulit-ulit na parang sirang plaka.
Basta pakinggan mo nalang ako. Huwag mo sana akong pagtatawanan o pagsasawaang pakinggan.
Natatandaan
mo anak noong bata ka pa? kapag gusto mo ng lobo, paulit-ulit mo ‘yong
sasabihin, maghapon kang mangungulit hangga’t hindi mo nakukuha ang
gusto mo. Pinagtyagaan ko ang kakulitan mo.
Pagpasensyahan mo na rin
sana ang aking amoy. Amoy matanda, amoy lupa. Huwag mo sana akong
piliting maligo. Mahina na ang katawan ko. Madaling magkasakit kapag
nalamigan, huwag mo sana akong pandirihan.
Natatandaan mo noong bata ka pa? Pinagtyagaan kitang habulin sa ilalim ng kama kapag ayaw mong maligo.
Pagpasensyahan mo sana kung madalas, ako’y masungit, Dala na marahil ito ng katandaan. Pagtanda mo, maiintindihan mo rin.
Kapag
may konti kang panahon, magkwentuhan naman tayo,kahit sandali lang.
Inip na ako sa bahay, maghapong nag-iisa. Walang kausap.
Alam kong
busy ka sa trabaho, subalit nais kong malaman mo na sabik na sabik na
akong makakwentuhan ka, kahit alam kong hindi ka interesado sa mga
kwento ko.
Natatandaan mo anak, noong bata ka pa? Pinagtyagaan kong
pakinggan at intindihin ang pautal-utal mong kwento tungkol sa iyong
teddy bear.
At kapag dumating ang sandali na ako’y magkakasakit at
maratay sa banig ng karamdaman, huwag mo sana akong pagsawaang alagaan.
Pagpasensyahan mo na sana kung ako man ay maihi o madumi
sa higaan,Pagtyagaan mo sana akong alagaan sa mga huling sandali ng
aking buhay.Tutal hindi na naman ako magtatagal.
Kapag
dumating ang sandali ng aking pagpanaw, hawakan mo sana ang aking kamay
At bigyan mo ako ng lakas ng loob na harapin ang kamatayan.
At huwag kang mag-alala, kapag kaharap ko na ang Diyos na lumikha, ibubulong ko sa kanya na pagpalain ka sana …
Dahil naging mapagmahal ka sa iyong ama’t ina…

Written by Rev. Fr. Ariel F. Robles
CWL Spiritual Director
St. Augustine Parish
Baliuag, Bulacan

ANG ALAMAT NG MARINDUQUE

 ALAMAT NG MARINDUQUE


Noong unang panahon may pamayanan sa Timog Katagalugan na pinamumunuan ng isang haring mayaman at makapangyarihan, iginagalang ngunit kinatatakutan. Siya’y si Datu Batumbakal, tinaguriang gayon dahil sa siya’y may pusong bakal.

Namuno siya sa Balayan, isang pamayanang sagana sa mga yaman ng kalikasan. Sa panahon ng anihan, naging ugali ng mga katutubo na magpasalamat sa Poong Maykapal sa kanilang masaganang ani. Nagtitipon sila sa tahanan ng Datu at sama-sama silang nag-aalay ng kanilang mga ani tanda ng pasasalamat at sa kapayapaan ng kanilang pamumuhay.

Kasama ng Datu ang kanilang anak na si Marin, isang dilag na pinipintuho dahil sa angking kagandahan. Maraming mga manliligaw ang dalaga na nagmumula sa iba’t-ibang kaharian, ngunit tatlo lamang ang masugid: Datu Bagal ng Mindoro, Datu Saguil ng Laguna at Datu Kawili ng Camarines. Sa kanilang pagluhog, hindi naaantig ang puso ng Prinsesa Marin.

Isang araw, naakit ang dalaga ng mga awit ng Garduke, isang makata na humabi ng mga awitin at tulain sa kagandahan at kariktan ng kalikasan. Siya’y dukhang mangingisda mula sa Taal, nagbibigay aliw sa kaharian ni Datu Batumbakal. Naakit si Marin sa kakisigan ng makata na nagtapat ng pag-ibig sa dalaga. Di nagtagal at sila’y naging magsing-irog.

Nang matuklasan ito ng Datu, nagalit siya. Sumalungat siya sa pag-iibigan ng dalawa. Nais niyang ang mapangasawa ng anak ay isang maharlika. Iniutos niyang patayin si Garduke kung igigiit niya ang pag-ibig sa Prinsesa Marin.

Nalungkot ang Prinsesa, ngunit isang araw habang namamasyal sa dalampasigan ng Bombon, nasalubong niya si Garduke. Ipinahayag ng dalaga ang walang kamatayan niyang pag-ibig sa binata, na di alintana ang pagsalaysay ng binata na siya’y walang kayamanan at kapangyarihang maipagmamalaki.

”Hindi ko kailangan ang kayamanan at kapangyarihan,” wika ni Prinsesa Marin. ”Kailangan kita; may wagas na layunin. Mahal ko ang isang taong mapagkumbaba, makatao at tagahanga ng kalikasan”, dugtong pa ng dalaga.

Nalaman ng Datu ang lihim ng pagtatagpo ng dalawa kaya iniutos niya na pugutan ng ulo si Garduke. Dahil diyan, ipinasya nina Prinsesa Marin at Garduke na tumakas. Sumakay sila sa bangka patungo sa Tayabas Bay, hinabol sila ng mga sundalo ni Datu Batumbakal kasama ang tatlong masugid na manliligaw. Nang inaakala ng dalawa na maaabutan sila ng mga sundalo, iniutos ng dalawa sa kasamang utusan na magkasamang gapusin silang dalawa at ihulog sa gitna ng karagatan. At ganon nga ang nangyari.

Sa pagdaraan ng panahon, may umusbong na hugis pusong pulo sa pook ng pinaglagakan ng katawan nina Prinsesa Marin at Garduke. Ang pulo ay pinangalanang Marinduke, ang pinakamatahimik at mapayapang pulo sa Timog Katagalugan.

alamat ng magapua

ALAMAT NG MAGAPUA


Panahon noon ng pananakop ng Espanya sa ating bansa. Nasa kamay nila ang malalawak na lupain , mga bayan at mga probinsiya na noo’y iilan pa lang ang may pangalan.

Katunayan, ang ating isla ng Marinduque ay nasa pamumuno ng Gobenadorcillo na nasa Mindoro. Ang bayan pa lang ng Boac ang nabigyan ng pangalan at ito rin ang tumayong kapitolyo. Nasa pamumuno ito noon ng isang Cabeza de Barangay, na sumasaklaw ang kapangyarihan sa mga lupaing nasa silangan, hilaga at timog nito.

May isang nayon noon na nasa gawing silangan ng Boac, na bantog na bantog dahil sa isang taong dito’y naninirahan, si Juan. Siya ay isang masipag, matiyaga at mabait na anluagi (karpintero). Nagtatrabaho siya mula sa pagsikat hanggang sa paglubog ng araw. Gumagawa siya ng mga muebles na yari sa kahoy.

Napabantog siya sa buong bayan, kaya nagpasya ang Cabeza na siya ay puntahan. Kasalukuyan noong nagtatrabaho si Juan. Halos di makapagsalita dahil sa pagkabigla nang makita niya ang pangkat ng Cabeza.

“Magandang araw, Juan” ang sabi ng Cabeza, “balita ko’y bantog ka sa lugal na ito dahil sa iyong kasipagan.”

“Ma-magandang a-araw din po senior,” pautal na sagot ni Juan, “maupo po kayo!”

“Huwag kang matakot Juan, hindi ka namin sasaktan,” paniguro ng Cabeza, “ katunayan narito ako upang magpagawa ng isang aparador. Anung oras ka baga nagasimulang magtrabaho at para yatang kanina ka pa dito.” Usisa ng Cabeza.

“MAAGA PO AH! Maaga po! Ka-Kanina pa pong madaling araw, senior” nangingilig pa ring sagot ni Juan.

Napahalakhak ang Cabeza dahil sa paraan ng pagsagot ni Juan na animo’y natatakot na bata. Halos ulit-ulitin pa niya ang salitang, “MAAGA PO AH!” habang naglalakbay pauwi.

Mula noon ibinansag na ng Cabeza sa lugal na pinagtatrabahuhan ni Juan ang salitang “MAAGA PO AH!”

Sa pagdaan ng maraming taon ng paninirahan ng mga dayuhan at marami na ring mga tao ang lumipat ng panirahan sa pook ni Juan, tinawag ang lugar na “MAGAPUA” na hango sa katagang “MAAGA PO AH!”

HI TO ALL: NEVER DO THIS AT HOME!!

HI TO ALL:

NEVER DO THIS AT HOME!!




 A friendly reminder for everyone.




 Never, Never, Never do this.


 A few days ago, a person was recharging his mobile phone at home.

 Just at that time a call came in and he answered it with the
 Instrument still connected to the outlet.

 After a few seconds electricity flowed into the cell phone unrestrained and the young man was thrown to the ground with a heavy thud.

 His parents rushed to the room only to find him unconscious, with
 a weak heartbeat and burnt fingers.

 He was rushed to the nearby hospital, but was pronounced dead on
arrival.

 Cell phones are a very useful modern invention.

 However, we must be aware that it can also be an instrument of death.

 Never use the cell phone while it is hooked to the electrical outlet!



 FORWARD THIS TO THE PEOPLE THAT MATTER IN YOUR LIFE!!!!

Number of confirmed H1N1 cases worldwide soars

GENEVA, Switzerland (CNN) -- The number of confirmed H1N1 cases soared to 615 on Saturday with the World Health Organization reporting 15 countries were infected with the virus commonly known as swine flu.

The organization had reported 367 cases on Friday. The jump in cases was due to ongoing testing of a backlog of of specimens in Mexico, the WHO said.

The most cases were in Mexico, where 397 people are infected, according to WHO. The United States is second with 141 cases.

"What the increase reflects is that we are moving forward in confirming many of the cases that have been left untested for some time, so in an way that's reassuring," said WHO spokesman Paul Garwood. "We know that these cases are being dealt with, these specimens are being looked at and assessed, and we're getting more and more info about this virus.

"So we haven't seen, say, a spike in new cases or new influenza cases appearing in Mexico City, for example," Garwood continued. "It's just the fact that this reporting backlog is bearing fruit and we're seeing the results of that."

Hundreds of guests and staff were under quarantine in China on Saturday after health officials determined that a hotel guest had contracted the H1N1 virus. 

Nearly 200 hotel guests and 100 staff members were ordered to stay in Metropark Hotel in Hong Kong for seven days to stop the spread of the H1N1 virus, a government spokesman said.

The quarantine was ordered after a 25 -year-old Mexican man stayed in the hotel and became sick, according to the spokesman. The man reportedly flew from Mexico to Shanghai on April 30 and then went to Hong Kong.

The traveler was taken to a hospital and tests confirmed that he had the virus, said York Chow, the secretary for food and health.

Chow said officials would isolate the hotel and that "relevant people" would be quarantined for seven days and treated with an anti-viral medication, commonly known as Tamiflu.

It is the first confirmed case of the virus in Hong Kong, local medical officials said. None of the cases have been confirmed in mainland China.

South Korean officials on Saturday confirmed their first case -- a 51-year-old nun who recently traveled to Mexico for volunteer work.

The other countries with confirmed cases are Canada, with 34; Spain and the United Kingdom, which each have 13; Germany and New Zealand, which each have four; Israel, with two; and Austria, China, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Switzerland, which each have one

As the number of swine flu cases across the globe is expected to rise, scientists are racing to develop a vaccine to confront the virus. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, hopes to have a vaccine for the virus available to manufacturers within a month, said Michael Shaw, the agency's lab team leader for the virus response.

"We're doing the best we can as fast as we can," he said.

Still, it would take four to six months from the time the appropriate strain is identified before the first doses become available, said Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research.

"Of course, we would like to have a vaccine tomorrow. We would have wanted to have it yesterday," she said. "It's a long journey."

Kieny said there is "no doubt" that a vaccine can be made "in a relatively short period of time."

Producing a vaccine involves isolating a strain of the virus, which has already been done, and tweaking it so manufacturers can make a vaccine, Kieny said.

Once the virus reaches manufacturers, it faces additional testing before national regulatory agencies decide whether to approve a vaccine.

CDC officials were asked Friday how the H1N1 virus measures up to the deadly virus that sparked the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.

"What we have found by looking very carefully at the sequences of the new H1N1 virus is that we do not see the markers for virulence that were seen in the 1918 virus," said Nancy Cox, chief of the CDC's Influenza Division.

However, she added, "we know there's a great deal that we do not yet understand about the virulence of the 1918 virus or other influenza viruses that have a more severe clinical picture in humans."

As researchers work, the mayor of Mexico City expressed optimism Friday.

Authorities in Mexico are "beginning to see evidence that the (virus) might be letting up, and the number of people who have been hospitalized has leveled out in regards to people who are contagious, at least as of yesterday," Mayor Marcelo Ebrard told reporters.

"I do not say this so that we lower our guard or so that we think that we do not have a problem anymore," he said.

"We do have a problem, but I say this so that we know where we are as a city after we have done all we have done, and in what direction we are heading and how much we have progressed. And what I can say is that we are heading in the right direction."

The CDC gave the following state-by-state breakdown of the 141 confirmed H1N1 cases in the United States: Arizona, 4; California, 13; Colorado 2; Delaware, 4; Illinois, 3; Indiana, 3; Kansas, 2; Kentucky, 1; Massachusetts, 2; Michigan, 2; Minnesota, 1; Nebraska, 1; Nevada, 1; New Jersey, 5; New York, 50; Ohio, 1; South Carolina, 16; Texas, 28; and Virginia, 2.

One death in the United States has been attributed to swine flu -- a toddler from Mexico whose family brought him to Texas for medical treatment.

At a Cabinet meeting Friday, President Barack Obama praised the "extraordinary" government response to the virus but emphasized that "we also need to prepare for the long term."



"Since we know that these kinds of threats can emerge at any moment, even if it turns out that the H1N1 is relatively mild on the front end, it could come back in a more virulent form during the actual flu season, and that's why we are investing in our public health infrastructure."
Several other countries were investigating hundreds of other probable cases of the virus