Showing posts with label drugs. Show all posts

Prison Situation in the Philippines

By Apolinario Villalobos

THE GOVERNMENT NEED NOT LOOK FAR TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT BESET ALL PRISONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, INCUDING THE RAPID INCREASE IN NUMBER OF INMATES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ANTI-DRUG “OPERATION TOKHANG” WHICH WOEFULLY RESULTED TO “JAMPACKING” OF INMATES.

SINCE “TIME IMMEMORIAL”, THE SLOW HANDLING OF CASES IS ONE REASON, DUE TO SIMPLY INDOLENT JUDGES AND THE SLOW SYSTEM OF THE PNP’S OWN INVESTIGATION. SCHEDULED HEARINGS ARE ALWAYS “RESET”. ANOTHER REASON IS THE LACK OF JUDGES AND GOVERNMENT LAWYERS. AND STILL, ANOTHER REASON FOR  THE CONGESTION IS THE LACK OF LAND ON WHICH PRISON FACILITIES COULD BE BUILT DESPITE THE AVAILABILITY OF FUND KUNO, IF THAT IS TRUE….OR COULD IT BE THAT PROJECTS ARE NOT EXTENSIVELY JUSTIFIED?

WHAT IS THE DOJ DOING ABOUT THE “LACK OF JUDGES”?....WHAT IS THE DILG DOING ABOUT THE “LACK OF LAND”?...WHAT IS THE PNP CHIEF DE LA ROSA DOING ABOUT THE SLOWFOOTEDNESS OF THE PNP INVESTIGATORS?...WHY CAN’T THE POPULATION OF ALL PRISONS BE “STRAINED” AND CASES PROPERLY REVIEWED SO THAT PARDON CAN BE GRANTED TO THE DESERVING RATHER THAN WAIT FOR REQUESTS FROM THE INFLUENTIAL AND APPEAL FROM THE LAWYERS OF FAMILIES OF THOSE UNJUSTLY DETAINED?

ANG NAKAKATAWA PA, NAGKAUGAT NA ANG PUWET NG MGA NAKAUPONG MGA OPISYAL SA KANILANG PUWESTO LALO NA ANG MGA IMBESTIGADOR NG PNP, PERO DENY TO DEATH PA RIN SILA SA PAGKAKAROON NG “SECRET DETENTION CELLS” SA MGA ISTASYON NA ITINUTURING NA “STAGING POINT” NG MGA MAY KASO LALO NA SA DROGA UPANG MAKOTONGAN PARA HINDI MAI-BLOTTER “OFFICIALY” KAY PWEDENG ILABAS KAPAG NAKAPAGBIGAY NG “RANSOM” ANG PAMIYA.

ANG MGA SECRET DETENTION FACILITIES AY HINDI LANG SA MGA ISTASYON NG MGA PULIS MAKIKITA, KUNDI PATI SA MGA PRIVIATE FACILITIES O BAHAY O “SAFE HOUSES”….AT ALAM YAN NG MGA PNP OFFICIALS….KAYA HUWAG NILANG GAGUHIN ANG MGA PILIPINO.

THAT IS THE REAL SITUATION OF THE COUNTRY DUE TO THE SHITTY AND ABUSED PHILIPPINE-STYLE DEMOCRACY!

TODAY, THE CONCERNED AUTHORITIES ARE BLAMING EACH OTHER…AS EXPECTED!

IF DE LA ROSA WON’T BE CAREFUL IN HIS STATEMENTS….THE PNP PROBLEMS NA OPEN SECRET NAMAN SHALL DEFINITELY CAUSE HIS DOWNFALL!

ANG KASO NG PILIPINANG DRUG MULE

NA NASENTENSIYAHAN SA INDONESIA

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Nagpakita ng interes ang Indonesia na gayahin ang sistema ng Pilipinas sa pagsugpo sa droga, kasama na rito ang “legal process”. Kaya kung aabsuweltuhin si Veloso sa kaso niya bilang drug mule dahil lang nakiusap ang pangulo ng Pilipinas kahit pa mayroon nang conviction, mukha yatang walang “consistency” sa pagsugpo sa bisyong ito sa Pilipinas. Kung napatunayang may “kasalanan” si Veloso batay sa batas ng Indonesia, dapat lang na hindi hahadlangan bilang respeto. Ang mahalaga ay nalaman ng presidente ng Indonesia na nakiusap pa rin ang presidente ng Pilipinas na i-absuwelto si Veloso sa pamamagitan man lang ng presidential clemency.

Ang malaking katanungan ngayon ay kung ano na ang nangyari sa mga taong naging dahilan ng pagkasadlak ni Veloso sa kulungan sa Indonesia…ang mga recruiter niya. Dapat ito rin ang pagtuunan ng pansin ng mga taong gustong maabsuwelto si Maryjane, tulad ng Gabriela. Dapat noon pa lang ay kumilos na ang grupong ito na ipaglaban ang pagka-inosente ni Maryjane, sa pamamagitan ng paghantad ng mga taong talagang may kasalanan sa korte ng Indonesia. Ang kasong ito na usad-pagong ang pagdinig ay nasa korte pa ng Pilipinas at kaya noon hindi natuloy ang pag-execute kay Veloso ay dahil witness siya laban sa mga recruiters na may kinalaman sa international drug trafficking. Ang kasong ito ay nagsimula noong panahon pa rin ni de Lima bilang DOJ secretary. Kung pinabilis lang ang pagpausad ng kaso, malamang ay hindi nasintensiyahan ng kamatayan si Veloso sa Indonesia.

HELPING PRESIDENT DUTERTE

BY THE CITIZENS IS CRUCIAL

By Apolinario Villalobos

No amount of brutish approach can make a leader successful as traitors can always lurk around him. Not even dictators in the past had a peace of mind. Treachery is innate in man. In politics it is viewed with subtlety and benignly called “turncoatism”.

President Rodrigo Duterte may be brave and his brutish frankness may be emphasized with colorful cusses, but all these shall go to naught if even just a single traitor among his trusted will deceive him.  It should also be noted that while the chiefs of the various agencies have been traditionally booted out, there are still the so-called “career service officers” who are left behind, with some or many of them having been part of the machinery that churned out corruption with various impression under the past administrations. Chiefs stay and go but these CSOs whose butts got calloused in their chair for twenty or more years, and who are fully aware of how manipulations are done, could be rubbing their palms together while salivating for new prospects of suckers who will fall victim to their butt-licking and kowtow strategies

The Filipinos should be made aware this early, of the agenda or plans of the new appointees. They should be holding press conferences by now so that those who are closely watching the new administration could keep tab of their actions. If something has gone wrong, the citizens could readily call their attention so that necessary adjustments could be made to prevent stacking up of faults. This  “attention calling” effort can be done via the social media networks.

The whole nation is fully aware that many appointees are neophytes and that they were appointed because of their “specialties” and “exposures” in their past jobs…albeit, in private capacity and environment. All of them are all brimming with courage, no question about that as working with a gutsy president is no joke, because the ire that he may earn from his detractors can also spread out to his various working groups.

This time around, Filipinos should set aside their differences for the sake of changes that each has been longing for. It is not always that the Philippines can have a hard-hitting president who tells drug lords, “I will kill you”. It is only once in a lifetime that the country can have a fatherly president utter, “If you hurt my people, I will kill you”.

Filipinos should join hands and support Duterte…

Masarap Sana,  Subali’t Nakakalito ang Buhay sa Mundo

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Masarap sana ang mabuhay sa mundo, kung hindi magulo at walang mga kalituhan. Dahil ito sa likas na ugali ng taong mapanlamang, mapag-imbot, at maramot na kadalasang  tumatalo sa mga mabubuting ugali na mapagpakumbaba, mapagbigay, at bukas-palad. Kung mapagpakumbaba ka, siguradong yayapakan ang iyong mga karapatan. Kung mapagbigay ka, siguradong itutulak ka lang sa tabi ng mga mapag-imbot. Kung bukas-palad ka kaya maluwag sa loob ang pagtulong sa kapwa, aabusuhin ka naman.

Dahil sa nabanggit na mga kalituhan, yong isa kong kaibigan, ay halos ayaw nang lumabas ng bahay upang makaiwas sa mga hindi magandang mangyayari sa kanya. Dahil sa ginawa niya, itinuring siya ng mga ungas niyang kapitbahay na “makasarili”. Sabi niya minsan sa akin, kung magpapaputok siya ng baril sa kalye siguradong sasabihin ng mga kapitbahay niyang “siga” siya. Sinabihan ko na lang na madaling araw pa lang ay umalis na siya at umatend ng misa sa Baclaran o Quiapo, pagkatapos ay mamigay ng tulong sa squatter’s area at kapag padilim na ay saka na lang siya umuwi – walang mga ungas na kapitbahay ang makakakita sa kanya. Sabi ko nga sa kanya ay maswerte siya at ungas lang ang mga kapitbahay niya…hindi mapagkunwari at mainggitin.

Hind lang sa pakikipagkapwa-tao ang may kalituhan, kundi kahit na rin sa mga bagay na kailangan upang mabuhay tulad ng pagkain. Kailangan daw ay kumain ng gulay at isda dahil masustansiya ang mga ito. Subali’t sa palengke, hindi lang isda ang nilulublob sa “formalin”,  ang kemikal na ginagamit sa pag-embalsamo, kundi pati na rin mga gulay upang hindi malanta agad. Ang karagatan at mga ilog na tinitirhan ng mga isda ay marumi na rin. Ang mga nahiwang gulay ay nilulublob sa tawas upang hindi mangitim tulad ng hiniwang langkang nakagawiang iluto sa gata at talong na tinanggalan ng bulok na bahagi, pati binalatang gabi, kamote, at patatas. Ang mga gulay sa pataniman ay alaga din sa mga chemical na pamatay-peste habang lumalago. Yong sinasabing mga “organic” daw ay hindi rin sigurado dahil maraming mga nagtitindang mahilig magsinungaling, makabenta lang. Kung totoo man, ay nakakakuha naman ang mga ito ng lason mula sa hangin.

Ang mga karne ay may mga anti-biotic, kaya ang akala ng isang kumpanyang nagdede-lata ng produktong karne ay bobo lahat ng mamimili dahil sinasabi ng ads nila na walang sakit ang mga baboy at manok nila – siyempre, dahil alaga sa antibiotic!...talaga din namang kumita lang, lahat ay gagawin upang makapanlinlang. At, yong mga batang lumaki sa gatas at karne ng hayop, ngayon ay may ugaling hayop na rin…dahil kung hindi man bastos ay lapastangan at suwail pa!

Ang mga softdrink lalo na ang “Cokes” (tawag yan ng Bisaya sa Coke”), na pampagana sa pagkain kahit bagoong, toyo, o patis lang ulam ay nakakasira ng kidney at atay. Kung mag-ulam naman palagi ng instant noodles na pinakamura at pinakamadaling iluto, subalit ginamitan ng kemikal upand hindi magdikit-dikit, ay lalo namang sisira ng kidney. Mismong bigas na sinasaing ay may mga chemical din upang hindi kainin ng uod at kuto habang nakaimbak sa bodega, kung saan ay iniispreyhan pa sila upang hindi upakan ng mga daga at ipis.

Ang instant na kape ay dumaan din daw sa mga paraan o process na nangailangan ng mga kemikal na hindi maganda sa katawan kahit pa sabihing nakakatulong ang inuming ito sa paglusaw ng cholesterol at bara sa daluyan ng dugo patungo sa puso. Ang asukal na puti ay mayroong bleaching chemical na nagpaputi sa dating manilaw-nilaw na katas na ito ng tubo. Naka-imbento ng artipisyal na asukal upang makaiwas sa diabetes, subalit nakakasira naman din daw ng kidney.

Pati mga bitamina na ginagawa sa mga laboratoryo ay pinagdududahan na rin. Kahit maliit lang ang sumobra sa naimon ay magsasanhi na ng overdose na maaari pang maging sanhi ng sakit. Sa puntong ito, ang mga gamot na akala natin ay nakakapandugtong ng buhay ay hindi rin pala magandang basta na lang iinumin, kaya mismong anti-biotic ay hindi na rin ligtas.

Ano pa nga ba at, animo ay nag-uunahan ang mga bahagi ng katawan natin kung alin sa kanila ang unang manghihina hanggang bumigay  dahil sa mga pagkaing akala natin ay pampahaba ng buhay, yon pala ay may mga lasong unti-unting nakakamatay. Kaya siguro, madalas na payo ng doctor sa pamilya ng pasyente na may taning na ang buhay, ay pagbigyan na lang ito sa lahat ng hihilingin niyang pagkain dahil wala na rin namang mangyayari bunsod ng lasong nagkakaiba lang ang dami sa bawat pagkain.  Ang maratay dahil sa sukdulang epekto ng lason na nakukuha natin sa mga pagkain at hangin ang ultimate na sitwasyon kung saan ay talagang angkop ang kasabihang, “no choice” at “…no turning back”.  Ang kalagayan ring ito ang nagpapakita na ang tao ay nagsi-self destruct!

Take Note of the Signs and Reminders

About Diseases

By Apolinario Villalobos

What we do normally is to take the necessary steps only when we are already feeling the effect of a disease or sickness. What most people forget is that signs and reminders are also manifested by other bodies, especially, the first-degree relatives. Their suffering from a certain disease or sickness should remind us that the same can happen to us. If for instance, our mother, or father, or brother, or sister, or first cousin, or uncle, or aunt, are suffering from or worse, died of cancer, hypertension, or complications triggered by diabetes, then most likely, we can have the same fate because the same diseases are in our blood. The signs pointing to them should immediately caution us to be very extra careful…at least, to delay the effect if we want to live longer…or, at least minimize the pain of the effect upon their occurrence.

All kinds of diseases are inherited, although, the “amount” varies according to the genes. It is for this reason that prevention for the onset or worsening is very necessary. This is also the reason why blood sample is taken from the newly-born infant to determine the stages of its life when certain diseases may occur and the parents are counseled what precautionary measures to take or when they should go back to the pediatrician so that necessary prescriptions could be made.

Those who were born before the blood sampling for newly-born has been popularly practiced, rely on the time when diseases occur. When a member of the family succumbs to the heart attack, for instance, he is brought to the hospital which could  already be late.  Of course “maintenance medicines” are prescribed after check- ups done usually at the age of 50 or 60. But such may be considered late, as the disease could have fully developed to become well-entrenched in the person’s system….arteries have been clogged, diabetes has reached uncontrolled level, inflammations in the organs have occurred and developed into cysts, kidneys have been damaged, etc.

What I am trying to say here is that parents themselves should remind their children about “family diseases” as shown by deaths in the family. At a young age, the children should be counseled on what food to avoid or at least eat in moderation. Each one of us should also open our mind for inputs from other people and what are gathered from the media, especially, the internet. WE SHOULD NOT ONLY READ BUT ACT ON WHAT ARE BEING SHARED. The inputs should not only be appreciated but put into practice. They should not only be made as “conversation pieces”, but emulated.

There is always resistance every time chili, garlic, ginger, ampalaya, turmeric, saluyot, okra are mentioned- foods that are beneficial. They would say, it is hot, slimy, bitter, etc. And, those who have read or heard testimonies about their healing effects, express their appreciation …and it ends there, nothing else is done by the person who appreciates.

When an acquaintance died of cancer or complications brought about by diabetes or stroke, friends ask questions….but I doubt if the unfortunate incident has ever made them think if their lifestyle, especially, their diet, will also lead to such, or it made them curious about deaths in their family which necessitates asking their elders about their family history, so that preventions can already be taken.

Again, I say…regrets comes always at the end.

More on Herbal Remedies and Philippine Vegetables

…that I personally tried

By Apolinario Villalobos

I would just like to emphasize that discipline is very necessary if one shall try herbal remedies which require consistently patient preparation. On the other, conviction resulting from “conversion” to the nutritional benefits of Philippine indigenous vegetables is necessary before one can make the edible leaves and roots part of his or her diet – for consistency’s sake. The following are enhancements to what I have already written on this subject:

MALUNGGAY (MORINGA) – this plant is a “must” in every Filipino’s yard;  for those living in the city, it can be planted in plastic containers that saw good old days as “water bottles” on dispensers; the juice of the mashed leaves can stop bleeding even of open wounds in seconds; the dried seeds can lower the level of bad cholesterol; one of the discoveries of archaeologists in Africa were several thousand year-old water jars with dry malunggay seeds at the bottom, proof that the seeds were used as anti-bacterial; it is considered as among the “miracle” plants, infused by nature with plenty of nutrients, that is why, it is being used as enhancer for instant noodles and rice porridge to make them healthy, and fed to the children in feeding programs; it is not bitter as many people believe; the leaves can be air-dried, crumpled or powdered and stored; a teaspoon in powder form can be added to a mug of coffee, while the crushed  dried leaves can be added in pasta sauce, as well as, vegetable dishes, especially, monggo, or in fried rice.

SOFT, YOUNG GUAVA LEAVES – in my earlier blog, I forgot to mention that the guava leaves tea can alleviate the diabetes; the finely chopped young leaves can be added to salads, to lessen the tangy taste and odor of onion; it is suggested that the tea be always ready on hand as an after-meal deodorizer of the mouth; the fruit, I still maintain, to be more laden with vitamin c than citrus; my day is not complete until I drink at least two mugs of this tea.

LEMON GRASS (TANGLAD) – this herb can be frozen even for one month (I have tried it), but first, each root with stem must be cleaned thoroughly and entwined or interlaced before being kept in a plastic bag, to save on space in the freezer; the tea can alleviate colds aside from purportedly weakening cancer cells; before the “guyabano craze” hit the herb market, lemon grass was already very popular in Europe; an Israeli travel agent enhances his Holy Land package tours for Europeans by offering a side trip to a “desert  garden” for unlimited cups of lemon grass tea;

PAPAYA – the green fruit is full of vitamin C and has anti-cancer properties; the leaf has similar use as “tawa-tawa” grass, as the tea from the boiled leaf can increase the red blood cell count of the dengue victim; the ripe fruit can give one comfort in moving his or her bowel; the seeds can be dried, peeled and eaten as they are also full of nutrients; the dried seeds can also be added to guyabano and other leave to be boiled into tea.

LUPỘ - this is a wild indigenous vegetable more known among the Ilonggos, and lately, found to have anti-cancer properties, as just like the turmeric, it also blocks the passage of food to the cancer cells, thereby, starving them; it grows in rice fields and swamps; the vegetable can combine well with mongo or any fish dish, especially, milk fish or bangus.

CHILI – strengthens the immune system; its ‘hotness’, however, poses a problem to those who are suffering from hemorrhoid; if it cannot be avoided by people with the mentioned problem, suggested is drinking plenty of water to dilute the “hot substance” of the fruit, after meal; in my case, I add plenty of pounded fresh chili to the jar of salt, bottles of olive oil, canola oil, and palm oil to make them really hot; I add at least two spoons of dry chili flakes in any dish, or sprinkle them on fried rice, and instant noodles; I also add chili flakes to tomato sauce for my pasta;

PERIWINKLE (PAGATPAT) – the tea from boiled leaves can cure cancer as supported by testimonies of patients who got cured of breast cancer after religiously drinking tea from boiled leaves; it is really bitter, but if only for its medicinal value, one should endure the taste which I am doing, as the bitterness also neutralizes the sugar level in the blood; the tea cleanses the kidney; suggested intake is every other day of the week.

AMPALAYA (BITTER GOURD) – the sliced vegetable must not be mashed in salt and squeezed of its bitter juice as it becomes useless; the best way to lessen or remove the bitter taste is just to soak the sliced gourd in cold or iced water for about ten minutes – do not squeeze, just put the slices in a colander and allow them to drain; the fruit and leaves of this vegetable can prevent diabetes.

The Philippines is so blessed by Nature with plenty of plants with edible fruits, shoots, leaves and even flowers. Unfortunately, because of the “colonial mentality” that developed with the arrival of the Spanish and American colonizers, many of the Filipinos forgot about them or worse, refuse to eat them, in favor of the “western” vegetables such as cabbage potato, and many others, although, considered as nutritious, too, but comparably expensive. This mentality sort of, got worsened lately, with the influx of imported vegetables and fruits from other countries, especially, China and the United States. There is no question about the nutrients found in the imported vegetables and fruits. What I am driving at here, is that indigenous vegetables and fruit trees can be planted in our yard or any vacant lot! Can the same be done to the imported “food stuff” that may have been sprayed with insecticide to preserve them while in transit?

My Kitchen, Backyard, and Neighbors’ Yard are My Pharmacies

By Apolinario Villalobos

Today, it is back to basics for ailment remedies, a practice that the modern medical community is beginning to tolerate and respect. Preventive medicine is now being promoted instead of the reactive medications that are given to patients upon the inception of diseases. By “basics” and “prevention”, I mean herbal medications, clean and free from synthetic elements that are used to preserve extracted medicinal substances from plants.

One story I love to share among friends who are willing to listen is about the lowly “saluyot”, an indigenous vegetable in the Philippines that healed the open wounds of my former landlady, due to diabetes. She was not healed by many notoriously-priced and prescribed drugs that practically depleted her bank account. She was at the verge of despair as the latest doctor that she consulted prescribed amputation, when her former laundrywoman paid her a visit and upon seeing her sorry situation, immediately suggested “saluyot”. For several months, she forced herself to eat the said vegetable with her meals, three times a day, until the wound finally dried up and healed.

Anybody can have a pharmacy of sort in their home, particularly, in the kitchen. Shelves can be stacked with vitamins that can be eaten, and “drugs” that can flavor foods. The following are some of the few and their use that I am sharing, as I have proved them to be effective in my case:

TURMERIC – this spice can be purchased in powder form from groceries; known among Filipinos as “luyang dilaw”; a teaspoon can be diluted in mug of coffee in the morning and another at noon; the powder can enhance the taste of fish cooked in vinegar or vegetables cooked in coconut milk; it practically eliminated the cyst in my colon after five months.

STAR ANISE – I boil several of these with guyabano, mango leaves, and tanglad (lemon grass), and the concocted tea I use for my coffee with turmeric; it eliminated my sinusitis.

OLIVE OIL – a spoonful of this oil is mixed with practically everything that I cook even boiled rice, as it is good for the heart; it made my bowel movement comfortable.

VIRGIN COCONUT OIL – I take one spoonful of this oil with raw honey everyday; it reduced the level of my bad cholesterol; I add one spoon to a glass of water that I gurgle and drink the gurgled water to remove bad breath, especially in the morning.

GARLIC – I steam one whole clove or several on top of the simmering boiled rice; pungent smell is eliminated; I eat them with my meals; it normalized my blood pressure.

ONION – a very important ingredient for dishes as well as curing colds, especially, if eaten raw in salad or cooked as soup.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR OR PURE COCO VINEGAR – aside from its use as preservative of cooked foods and raw vegetables prepared as “achara”, it can also be concocted as a home-made refreshing drink, by adding two spoons to a glass of water sweetened with honey; the vinegar neutralizes acidity of the stomach. As information, during the Biblical time, vinegar which perhaps could have been derived from grapes, mixed with water, was considered as a refreshing drink; mixed with myrrh, it was used as a pain killer, reason why Jesus while suffering on the cross was made to drink such mixture…it was not part of his punishment, but to somehow to relieve some pain.

GINGER – the root can give a spicy flavor to fish dishes, and can add a piquant taste to salads and dips; as a medication, it can eliminate flatulence.

CHILI – it can make foods “hot” but can also strengthen the immune system; I eat not less than six pieces every meal.

BANANA – nobody can dispute the fact that it is a good source of potassium, and can relieve one of “loose bowel movement” or LBM.

GUAVA LEAVES – the tea made from boiling them removes bad breath aside from strengthening the gums; it has been accepted as an effective antiseptic and anti-bacterial. I prepare the tea in another kettle and drink at least 3 mugs every day, aside from the tea prepared from the boiled leaves of guyabano, mango and lemon grass.

GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES – I need not elaborate their importance; they are the manifestations of the vitamins that can be eaten; their fiber makes my bowel movement easy and comfortable.

If I want guyabano leaves, I just take a few steps to my backyard and pick a few from a drooping branch of my tree, and for the mango and guava leaves, I just ask from my neighbors for them. But the coffee, I buy from the grocery…

I invest on local fruits in season, as for the imported ones such as apples and pears I buy the blemished and old that come cheap and cook them in brown sugar and cinnamon powder into “apple sauce”.  I also buy green leafy vegetables in bulk to be half-cooked and apportioned in small containers, and keep in the freezer for scheduled use. Tomatoes that are cheap when in season, I douse with boiling water for easy peeling and stored in ref to be used when I cook pasta. The peeled tomatoes also go well with poor man’s salad that consist of onions, radish, raw pechay, shredded green papaya, chili and sprinkled with fish sauce (bagoong) or toasted dried anchovies (dilis) and vinegar. Those are my multi-vitamins served in plate and coffee mug…not in capsule or tablet, the non-soluble residues of which can get stuck and accumulated in the kidney and liver.

We Can Minimize, Delay, or Prevent the Devastating Effect of Diseases

…discipline and patience are the keys

By Apolinario Villalobos

Caring for our physical make up is our responsibility in the first place, and not somebody else’s. We can prevent diseases from pestering our body by espousing discipline and patience. We must be disciplined as regards our diet and vices. And, we must be disciplined in being consistent with the preparation of remedies not prescribed by doctors. We must not wait until a disease has set in before we toe the line in clinics for a costly diagnosis. Unfortunately for others, before they know that what they “feel” is a disease, and not just a fatigue or temporary pain, it is already beyond cure, so that the last resort for the doctor is to prescribe pain killing drugs, and loads of antibiotics and other strange sounding-named tablets and capsules.

Drugs are basically sourced from plants and enhanced with chemicals to preserve them as capsules, tables, suspensions, and injectibles. Curative properties of plants are “cloned” in laboratories to come up with their synthetic equivalent. But not all curative properties of plants can be cloned as in the case of guyabano (soursop), the information about which has been suppressed by drug laboratories for so many years. Due to their failure in cloning its curative properties, they finally let go of the information to confirm what have already been circulating anyway, about its anti-cancer substance.

Man since birth is already doomed with diseases that can manifest at certain points of his life. Fortunately, there is now a medical technique of predetermining the diseases that may befall infants by “reading” their genes at the time of birth with the use of their blood. At certain points of their life, diseases are already detected, thus, medications are already prescribed to prevent the onset. This is possible for those who will be born in hospitals and clinics, but for those in villages, this medical effort is not heard of, as in third-world countries like the Philippines. These children then grow without knowing that at a certain point of their life, they are bound to develop diabetes, rheumatism, heart failure, cancer, etc.

There’s again the problem with poor parents in urban areas who are told about the diseases that may befall their newly-born infants, because they cannot afford the prescribed drugs. Consequently, their children, though born in hospitals, grow just like those in the villages, without taking the preventive drugs for the detected diseases that may manifest at a certain age. Prescriptions are just set aside to be thrown later on.

The Philippines and the rest of countries in Asia and South America are profuse in herbal “medicines”.  Long before the western colonizers came, the natives were already thriving on these. The folk medicine men who are unfairly called “quack doctors” have been prescribing leaves, barks and roots of trees, vines and shrubs to dispel diseases. For instance, guyabano or soursop was first used by the South American Indians, particularly, those living in the jungles of the Amazon, while the use of tanglad or lemon grass was first used in Asia. In every country of these regions, there are always nooks and corners occupied by herbal vendors. In Manila, these can be found in Quiapo, while in the provinces, one can find them in public markets. But most of all, these curative plants are found in neighborhoods, or if not, can be planted just anywhere, even in pots.

Discipline is needed if one is really interested in preventing the onset of a disease. A ritual is involved, because every morning, all the necessary leaves, seeds or barks have to be boiled in a kettle dedicated for this purpose, followed by the preparation of the concoction to be drunk with coffee or as is. Most often, this simple effort is abhorred by most, as they would rather take synthetic drugs in capsule or tablet form which is a very convenient way. But then, the danger with such “convenience” is the latest finding that not all components of these drugs are dissolved, thus, turning into sediments that get deposited in the liver and kidney, eventually resulting to a disease that destroy the said organs.

Those without discipline in their diet are also easy victims of diseases. They are not satisfied with having tasted certain unhealthy foods and should have told themselves “enough”. Unfortunately, they want these to be part of their daily fare on the dining table. Parents who have this kind of attitude pass it on to their children, who will later on pass it on to their own, and so forth. And, when members of the family develop and die of diseases, they blame their ancestor!

What Excesses can Breed

By Apolinario Villalobos

Anything that is beneficial but taken in excess can be lethal, and anything that is done with good intention, though, in excess can be vicious.

Drugs are supposed to prevent or cure diseases, but when taken in excess can result to unexpected death of a patient, that is why some of these cannot just be bought over the counter of pharmacies, as they need proper prescription from authorized medical practitioners. On the other hand, an overdose of food can cause obesity which can lead to diseases. Drinking water in excess may affect the proper functioning of the heart that is why one of the worst thing that can happen to anyone, is the unchecked water retention of the body.

Too much love can mean pampering that could result to the “spoiling” of the person being loved. It can also drive one to commit a crime of passion because of the fatal attraction that developed. And, worst, it can lead the weak of emotion to the verge of insanity. The same is true with kindness which can result to the abuse of the kind-hearted. Along this line, too much familiarity among friends could develop abuse, too, on the part of the ones with weak discipline, disposition, and who are naturally selfish. 

It is not bad to be hard working, but abusing the body to the point of exhaustion could mean fatigue and if left unchecked could be fatal, too. Also, in a group that is expected to work as a team, those working hard, may be abused by the indolent members who may become overly dependent. That is why, for the sake of teamwork, it is important that roles are played fairly.

As to the expression of faith, those who manifest it with utmost sincerity according to what their religion says, is admirable. However, to be boisterous about it, and be proud about their belief that only they have the right to be saved, really stinks. It is revolting to see a faithful with outstretched hands and who walks on his or her knees from the door of the church to the altar, or pretend that he or she is overcome by the “spirit” while praying as shown by his or her fainting or uncontrolled shaking body…a scene that can be comical for others. All these overdose of faith is fanaticism.

Too much freedom in a nation can breed abuse on the part of inconsiderate and undisciplined constituents. And, too much discipline instilled in a person can make him too “sterile” and oblivious to the imperfect, albeit, normal actuations of others.

The world needs air and rain, but too much of them, results to typhoons and floods. The same is true with the cool and immaculate snow, as too much of it, results to snowstorm. The wildlife has its own way of “moderation”. And, it seems that lesser creatures are more intelligent than man in observing such discipline. I have seen film footages of different kinds of wild animals milling around drinking holes where the strong are shown chasing the weak with the obvious intention of enjoying the latter as dinner. After the overpowering animals have had their fill, they back off and leave the rest of the packs.

Greed and selfishness are innate in man’s character, but should be manifested in moderation to prevent exploitation of others that could result to their suffering. Unfortunately, it does not happen in politics where greedy officials are not satisfied with what they may have already stolen from the government coffer, and which could already ensure them of a comfortable retirement. They practically, want everything by all means….not only money but lifetime power!

May Bagong Pinuno ang Bilibid Prison

pero datihan pa rin ang mga tauhan

….magkakaroon kaya ng pagbabago?

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

May bagong pinuno ang Bureau of Corrections na ayon sa balita ay ka-barilan daw ni Pnoy. Umiral pa rin pala ang buddy system. Ganoon pa man, nangako ang bagong pinuno na si retired General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, na gagawin niya ang lahat para magkaroon ng pagbabago ang Bilibid. Ilan nang mga pinuno ng nasabing kulungan ang nangako subalit napakộ lang. Kaya hindi na siya dapat mangako pa kung ayaw niyang mapahiya lang.

Hangga’t hindi nagkaroon ng total overhaul ng mg tauhan sa Bilibid, walang pagbabagong mangyayari, dahil ang mga taong ito ang nagbabantay sa mga priso, at hindi ang pinuno. Sila ang kadupang-palad ng mga priso na dahil sa pera ay itinuring na mga “kabalyero”. Ang mga gwardyang ito na may kontak na direkta sa mga priso ang mga dahilan kung bakit nagkakaroon ng katiwalian sa nasabing kulungan. Kaya kahit araw-araw man maglabas  ng daan-daang kautusan na naka-memo pa ang pinuno, siguradong iismiran lang siya, pagtalikod niya.

Kung maaari nga lang ay palitan ang mga dating bantay ng military personnel na itatalaga sa nasabing kulungan on rotational TDY or temporary duty. Sa ganitong paraan lang mawawala ang aspeto ng “familiarity” na nadi-develop upang maging malapit ang mga priso sa mga bantay. At, wala na ring dahilan ang Bureau of Corrections, sa pagsabi na kulang sila sa personnel kaya hindi lahat ng priso ay nababantayan nila 24/7.

Napapansin din na wala man lang napaparusahan sa mga nahuling tiwaling mga guwardiya ng Bilibid. Iniisip tuloy ng marami na may kutsabahang nangyayari sa pagitan nila at kanilang mga superior. Nabisto rin na hindi lang pala droga ang pinagkikitaan sa loob kundi pati prostitution pa. Ano pa kayang anomalya ang maaaring umiral sa kulungang ito?

Walang pakundangan kung gumamit ng pera ang mga Tsinong drug lords sa loob upang makapagpatuloy sila ng operasyon. Napatunayan ding walang epekto ang pansamantalang pagkalipat nila sa kulungan ng NBI dahil doon ay nakapag-operate pa rin gamit ang ipinuslit na mga cell phone sa kanila, at sa pagkakataong ito, ang gumawa ay mga tauhan naman ng NBI!

Kaylan lang ay ibinalik na ang mga Tsinong drug lord sa Bilibid, kaya lalong sasaya na naman ang mga araw nila sa piling ng mga dating mahal nilang mga bantay!

Ngayon, ang bagong pinuno namang ka-barilan ni Pnoy ay nagpapakitang gilas, subalit hanggang kaylan?...tatagal kaya siya kahit wala na si Pnoy na sinasandalan niya?

Illegal Drugs and Poverty –

The Miseries of a Society

By Apolinario Villalobos

 Illegal drugs and poverty are miseries of a society that breed corruption in a country’s government and erode the culture and virtues of its people. Illegal drug start its infection as a mere vice of the indolent portion of the population until it becomes an extreme psychological necessity for survival. On the other hand, poverty-stricken populace of a country gets controlled by corrupt government officials and politicians with the use of money…with such control driven by helplessness on the former. Worse yet, the money come from the coffer of the government in most cases.

In the Philippines, there are allegations that contingents of the New People’s Army based in the north have resorted to planting marijuana in hidden and almost inaccessible nooks of the cordilleras. In Mindanao, there are allegations, too, that the Abu Sayyaf Group uses drugs to lure the youth to expand their membership.

During the campaign period that precedes an election, buying of votes is no longer discussed discreetly. This corrupt practice of politicians has become a common subject among electorates, as to who among the candidates gives the highest bribe. The electoral trend has become a way of life of the people. Regrets of the people are like cycle, repetitive and without end, every time winning corrupt candidates assume office and begin to ransack the government coffer to recoup what have been spent during their campaign.

Narco-politics have already crept into the government system of other countries, especially, those in South America. Poverty has become the face of third world countries. And, corruption that has developed into the stinking fruit of the mentioned phenomena is ensuing seeds that are being sowed throughout the world, as shown by drug laboratories operated by Chinese in the Philippines. The phenomena have become universal with the use of different nationalities as drug mules or couriers that carry loads of drugs to unsuspecting countries.

The world is experiencing a tremendous metamorphosis in all aspects of development in such a fast phase, as if mankind is in hurry to commit a self-annihilation!