The Good Life

10 Golden Rules of Twitter

2012-11-14T18:53:00.001-08:00

10 Golden Rules of Twitter

TipidSale.com Online Advertising - • View topic - Home Based with 100% Commission!!

2012-08-08T21:16:00.001-07:00

TipidSale.com Online Advertising - • View topic - Home Based with 100% Commission!!

Masturbation good for your health? | ABS-CBN News

2012-01-17T19:40:00.000-08:00

Masturbation good for your health? | ABS-CBN News

April 2011 LET Results, Congratulations to All Passers!

2011-05-13T23:36:00.000-07:00

As an administrator of a school (HCDC-Babak Campus, IGACOS), it would be a great news to us when we hear and knew that one of our graduates belongs to the passers lists. Though it would be hard at first to know that some names are not being found but may be a best luck is waiting the next time.

Our nation is waiting to new batch of educators. Congratulations to all passers of the April 2011 LET Examiners, Mabuhay!

Here is the link of the said results: Click----->

ONLINE BUSINESS WITH NO INVESTMENT

2011-04-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

Click the Programs, Get Registered and Start Earning Right Away!!!

Fr. Jose Maniyangat: A Priest who saw Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory.

2011-04-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

Fr. Jose Maniyangat is currently the pastor of St. Mary’s Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Macclenny, Florida. Here is his personal testimony:

I was born on July 16, 1949 in Kerala, India to my parents, Joseph and Theresa Maniyangat. I am the eldest of seven children: Jose, Mary, Theresa, Lissama, Zachariah, Valsa and Tom.

At the age of fourteen, I entered St. Mary’s Minor Seminary in Thiruvalla to begin my studies for the priesthood. Four years later, I went to St. Joseph’s Pontifical Major Seminary in Alwaye, Kerala to continue my priestly formation. After completing the seven years of philosophy and theology, I was ordained a priest on January 1, 1975 to serve as a missionary in the Diocese of Thiruvalla.

On Sunday April 14, 1985, the Feast of the Divine Mercy, I was going to celebrate Mass at a mission church in the north part of Kerala, and I had a fatal accident. I was riding a motorcycle when I was hit head-on by a jeep driven by a man who was intoxicated after a Hindu festival. I was rushed to a hospital about 35 miles away. On the way, my soul came out from my body and I experienced death. Immediately, I met my Guardian Angel. I saw my body and the people who were carrying me to the hospital. I heard them crying and praying for me. At this time my angel told me: “I am going to take you to Heaven, the Lord wants to meet you and talk with you.” He also said that, on the way, he wanted to show me hell and purgatory.

Hell

First, the angel escorted me to hell. It was an awful sight! I saw Satan and the devils, an unquenchable fire of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, worms crawling, people screaming and fighting, others being tortured by demons. The angel told me that all these sufferings were due to unrepented mortal sins. Then, I understood that there are seven degrees of suffering or levels according to the number and kinds of mortal sins committed in their earthly lives. The souls looked very ugly, cruel and horrific. It was a fearful experience. I saw people whom I knew, but I am not allowed to reveal their identities. The sins that convicted them were mainly abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, hatefulness, unforgiveness and sacrilege. The angel told me that if they had repented, they would have avoided hell and gone instead to purgatory. I also understood that some people who repent from these sins might be purified on earth through their sufferings. This way they can avoid purgatory and go straight to heaven.

I was surprised when I saw in hell even priests and Bishops, some of whom I never expected to see. Many of them were there because they had misled the people with false teaching and bad example.

Purgatory

After the visit to hell, my Guardian Angel escorted me to purgatory. Here too, there are seven degrees of suffering and unquenchable fire. But it is far less intense than hell and there was neither quarreling nor fighting. The main suffering of these souls is their separation from God. Some of those who are in purgatory committed numerous mortal sins, but they were reconciled with God before their death. Even though these souls are suffering, they enjoy peace and the knowledge that one day they will see God face to face.

I had a chance to communicate with the souls in purgatory. They asked me to pray for them and to tell the people to pray for them as well, so they can go to heaven quickly. When we pray for these souls, we will receive their gratitude through their prayers, and once they enter heaven, their prayers become even more meritorious.

It is difficult for me to describe how beautiful my Guardian Angel is. He is radiant and bright. He is my constant companion and helps me in all my ministries, especially my healing ministry. I experience his presence everywhere I go and I am grateful for his protection in my daily life.

Heaven

Next, my angel escorted me to heaven passing through a big dazzling white tunnel. I never experienced this much peace and joy in my life. Then immediately heaven opened up and I heard the most delightful music, which I never heard before. The angels were singing and praising God. I saw all the saints, especially the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph, and many dedicated holy Bishops and priests who were shining like stars. And when I appeared before the Lord, Jesus told me: “I want you to go back to the world. In your second life, you will be an instrument of peace and healing to My people. You will walk in a foreign land and you will speak in a foreign tongue. Everything is possible for you with My grace.” After these words, the Blessed Mother told me: “Do whatever He tells you. I will help you in your ministries.”

Words can not express the beauty of heaven. There we find so much peace and happiness, which exceed a million times our imagination. Our Lord is far more beautiful than any image can convey. His face is radiant and luminous and more beautiful than a thousand rising suns. The pictures we see in the world are only a shadow of His magnificence. The Blessed Mother was next to Jesus; She was so beautiful and radiant. None of the images we see in this world can compare with Her real beauty. Heaven is our real home; we are all created to reach heaven and enjoy God forever. Then, I came back to the world with my angel.

While my body was at the hospital, the doctor completed all examinations and I was pronounced dead. The cause of death was bleeding. My family was notified, and since they were far away, the hospital staff decided to move my dead body to the morgue. Because the hospital did not have air conditioners, they were concerned that the body would decompose quickly. As they were moving my dead body to the morgue, my soul came back to the body. I felt an excruciating pain because of so many wounds and broken bones. I began to scream, and then the people became frightened and ran away screaming. One of them approached the doctor and said: “The dead body is screaming.” The doctor came to examine the body and found that I was alive. So he said: “Father is alive, it is a miracle! Take him back to the hospital.”

Now, back at the hospital, they gave me blood transfusions and I was taken to surgery to repair the broken bones. They worked on my lower jaw, ribs, pelvic bone, wrists, and right leg. After two months, I was released from the hospital, but my orthopedic doctor said that I would never walk again. I then said to him: “The Lord who gave me my life back and sent me back to the world will heal me.” Once at home, we were all praying for a miracle. Still after a month, and with the casts removed, I was not able to move. But one day while praying I felt an extraordinary pain in my pelvic area. After a short while the pain disappeared completely and I heard a voice saying: “You are healed. Get up and walk.” I felt the peace and healing power on my body. I immediately got up and walked. I praised and thanked God for the miracle.

I reached my doctor with the news of my healing, and he was amazed. He said: “Your God is the true God. I must follow your God.” The doctor was Hindu, and he asked me to teach him about our Church. After studying the Faith, I baptized him and he became Catholic.

Following the message from my Guardian Angel, I came to the United States on November 10, 1986 as a missionary priest… Since June 1999, I have been pastor of St. Mary’s Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Macclenny, Florida.

Fr. Jose Maniyangat

Tokay Gecko (Tuko), Cancer , AIDS and other Health Benefits

2011-04-20T08:32:00.000-07:00

The catching and trading in Tokay geckos have become a lucrative side business due to its high market value.

Many people said that Tokek or Tokay Gecko can cure AIDS. There is no cure for AIDS so far according to World health organization (WHO). The rumor about Tokek can cure AIDS is not supported by any medical studies. Most people said that Tokay Gecko tongue been used in medical studies because of the chemical substance that can help to prevent HIV from spreading. That's why the price of this Tokay gecko depend on how heavy this animal because the bigger it is, the bigger it tongue will be.

Another benefits of tokek in Medicine is that it has anti-tumor effects. China experts develop drugs treatment organ tumors from the gecko, because the organ is able to suppress growth and the addition of tumor cells. The team headed by Prof. Wang from Henan University, China, shows that the active substance gecko not only enhance the immune system response of an organism, but also induces apoptosis of tumor cells (which kill himself) and suppress expression of VEGF and bFGF protein, factor endowments of developing cancer. Their findings were published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. Gecko effectively utilized to remove malignant tumors, particularly tumors in the digestive system is used as an alternative treatment, namely surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Gecko has anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo; induction of tumor cell apoptosis and the down-regulation of protein expression of VEGF and bFGF may be contributed to anti-tumor effects of Gecko.

Another useful benefits of gecko in medicine that it has a very useful antibodies for humans to neutralize toxins in the body we know as an allergy to some classification of all types of skin allergies or respiratory allergies such as asthma, hives, scabies, eczema and others. The Ha Chieh Ting Chuan Wan (also known as Gecko Asthma Capsule) or Gecko Dingchuan Capsule can be taken daily for relieving asthma and cough. Some people also believe that gecko can cure impotence, enhance male sexual function and increase stamina.

The rumors that Holland buyer come to Malaysia buying tokek for a million ringgit make people looking for this animal. This Tokay gecko are keep as pets in the US for a cheaper price. Other then asthma and anti tumor effects, there is no medical journal that shows studies on Tokek as an AIDS medicine.

In the Philippines, gecko may be priced according to its weight, this may range from the following; 300gms-60,000, 400gms-150.000, 500gms -250,000, 1 klg-1,000,000 or more in Philippine peso. The image above was taken from the place in Bohol, Philippines (1 year ago).

I've heard a story about this Dabawenyo (Native in Davao City, Philippines) who is a bank employee who sold "tuko" to a certain Chinese buyer, true, this person became an instant millionaire! Now, he resigned from his job maybe enjoying the benefits of selling this very timid species. and now, some people (local Dabawnyos) are now on hunting of this tokay, a craze somewhat in the place.
Well, the Tokay gecko is the second largest gecko in the world. Tokay Gecko males can reach 12-14" in total length. Female Tokay geckos are slightly smaller averaging 8-10" long.

An adult tokay gecko averages 5-7 ounces in weight, but particularly large males may achieve weights closer to 11.5 ounces. Hatchling tokay geckos start life at 3.5"-4" and reach breeding age in 9-12 months, but it may take up to 2 years for a tokay gecko to reach is full adult size.

Male tokay geckos are a blue-grey body color with spotting that varies in color from redish-orange to whitish-yellow. Females tokays are a grey body color with the same spotting and generally not as brightly colored as the males. Both sexes have the ability to lighten and darken their skin to some degree to help them blend into their surroundings.

Investment Real Estate

2011-04-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

Real estate that generates income or is otherwise intended for investment purposes rather than as a primary residence. It is common for investors to own multiple pieces of real estate, one of which serves as a primary residence, while the others are used to generate rental income and profits through price appreciation. The tax implications for investment real estate are often different than those for residential real estate.

Investopedia explains Investment Real Estate

Common examples of investment properties are apartment buildings and rental houses, in which the owners do not live in the residential units, but use them to generate ongoing rental income from tenants. Those who invest in real estate also expect to generate capital gains as property values increase over time.

Real Estate Investment, Real Estate Investing

Real estate investment involves the commitment of funds to property with an aim to generate income through rental or lease and to achieve capital appreciation. Real estate refers to immovable property, such as land, and everything else that is permanently attached to it, such as buildings. When a person acquires real estate, s/he also acquires a set of rights, including possession, control and transfer rights.

Understanding real estate investment is crucial because it usually involves a substantial investment and a long-term one. Moreover , the real estate market can be unpredictable. This is particularly important when one goes beyond buying a home to actually 'investing' in real estate. There are a number of ways in which an investor can participate in the real estate market.

Real Estate Investment: Rental

One can opt for real estate investment with an aim to rent the property out to a tenant. The owner (landlord) earns a continuous stream of rent from the tenant, but is responsible for paying the mortgage, taxes and any costs associated with maintaining the property. The owner also benefits from capital appreciation (a rise in the value of the property over time). The landlord runs the risk of not finding a tenant and could suffer negative monthly cash flows, with mortgage payments and maintenance expenses still to be borne. As compared to owning stocks and bonds, rental real estate requires a significant amount time and effort to be devoted by the landlord.

Real Estate Investment Groups

Real estate investment groups are similar to small mutual funds. They are set up for rental properties. While an investor may own one or more units, a professionally managed company acquires, builds, maintains and lets out all the units on the properties in exchange for a percentage of the monthly rent.

Real Estate Trading

Real estate traders hold properties for only a short span of time (less than four months), aiming to sell them at a profit. This process is called flipping properties. Investors aim at purchasing significantly undervalued or very hot properties. Such owners may or may not invest money into improving the property before putting it back on sale. A bear market could result in substantial losses for a real estate trader, since the investment is large.

Resources

Listings of available REO properties are a great starting point to exploring available real estate investment opportunities.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a corporation that invests in real estate. REITs trade on major exchanges. A REIT uses investors' money to acquire and operate properties.

The benefits of REITs are:

REITs provide fairly regular income.
Investors gain exposure to non-residential investments (like malls and office buildings).
REITs are highly liquid.
REITs are required by law to distribute 90% of their taxable income in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Before making a choice regarding the kind of real estate participation, an investor must evaluate his/her investment capacity and risk appetite.

How to Avoid High Interest Rates on Credit Cards

2011-04-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

For loans and credit cards, avoid or limit interest charges. While it may sound like a bargain to pay the minimum due on your credit card so you have more money to spend on other things, the long-term costs of this strategy can be staggering. That's because credit card interest rates can be quite high -- with the best of rates often being in the low double-digits. Instead, try to pay all or as much as possible of your outstanding credit card balance to avoid interest charges. "The amount you pay toward your credit card bill each month can have greater long-term consequences for your finances than how much money you save or invest each month," added FDIC Consumer Affairs Specialist Howard Herman. Similarly, many people send in more than the amount due on their mortgage and other loans so they can pay off the debt faster and reduce their total interest cost.

The Meaning and Definition of Debt

2011-04-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

An amount owed to a person or organization for funds borrowed. Debt can be represented by a loan note, bond, mortgage or other form stating repayment terms and, if applicable, interest requirements. These different forms all imply intent to pay back an amount owed by a specific date, which is set forth in the repayment terms.

Happiness, is it a choice?

2011-03-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

Happiness, we say, is a choice. Happy people understand this, while unhappy people struggle with judging themselves for not being able to easily shift to a happy state of mind. Many people believe that happiness is a form of luck and that some people are destined to be happy while others are destined to be unhappy.

If you want to be happy you need to understand that you can be happy and that you should be happy. Many people make the mistake of believing that they don’t deserve happiness and accept their unhappy state as their destiny. The truth of the matter is that happiness, like anything else in life, needs to be nurtured.

image source: daragrennie.com/happiness/

Here some of my personal tips on how happiness can be experienced as our choice in life.

1. Surround and hang around with happy people.

2. Laugh to the extreme and find humor.

3. Act like a child sometimes or do an awkward tasks, like playing basketball while eating ice cream.

4. Sing a lot, listen to music and try to dance.

5. Pray, meditate and be positive.

6. Make reading a habit and try to compose an article or any form of literature.

7. Practice patience.

8. Work with passion.

9. Smile a lot and be inspired.

10. Eat, exercise and sleep well.

To enlighten you more, here are few quotes about happiness.

1. “Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.”

2. “We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

3. "Happiness depends upon ourselves." Aristotle

4. "The amount of happiness that you have depends on the amount of freedom you have in your heart."

5. "All the happiness you ever find lies in you."

And here's a good music for you listen to, I am sure you will enjoy it.

Stay happy guys!

The Bad Idea of Reproductive Health Bill (RH Bill 5043)

2011-03-26T20:49:00.001-07:00

Our Stand about the deceiving RH Bill.

1. Reproductive Health 5043 Cannot Be Pro-life, Pro-women and Pro-poor

The bill cannot be pro-life because of many sections in the bill that promote harm than health, promote injustice rather than a greater good, and do not respect the solemn union of spouses in marriage. Most contraceptives carry scientific proof of serious medical side-effects. The Pill for example, can cause hypertension, brain diseases, etc. IUDs can cause perforation of the uterus. Some contraceptives are abortifacients. That means they prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. Additionally, how can it be pro-poor when the P2B initial funding will be allocated to contraceptives, instead of food on their tables, or jobs for their livelihood, or education for their children? (http://khanterbury.blogspot.com)

2. Choosing Life, Rejecting the RH Bill

The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights (Art. II, Section 11). The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception (Art. II, Section 12).

http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node/14472

3. NO TO RH BILL!

Filipinos must oppose this bill, for this promotes immorality more than its intended purpose, and it violates a lot of our enjoyed rights as citizens of dignity, responsibility and core values. We in 100% KATOLIKONG PINOY! oppose the RH Bill. This advocacy is open to all, regardless of religion. Though we uphold the separation of Church and State, we have the right to react when the state interferes with our religious beliefs, the belief that God favors purity above all, of body and intent. We also wanted to keep our rights of responsibility to one another.

4. Below is the Full Text of the Bill. Let's be informed about it and stand not to support for its untruthfulness, let's preserve life and promote true Filipino values. Be counted, let's promote, No to RH Bill!

HOUSE BILL NO. 5043

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND POPULATION DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008“.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State upholds and promotes responsible parenthood, informed choice, birth spacing and respect for life in conformity with internationally recognized human rights standards.

The State shall uphold the right of the people, particularly women and their organizations, to effective and reasonable participation in the formulation and implementation of the declared policy.

This policy is anchored on the rationale that sustainable human development is better assured with a manageable population of healthy, educated and productive citizens.

The State likewise guarantees universal access to medically-safe, legal, affordable and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information thereon even as it prioritizes the needs of women and children,among other underprivileged sectors.

SEC. 3. Guiding Principles. – This Act declares the following as basic guiding principles:

a. In the promotion of reproductive health, there should be no bias for either modern or natural methods of family planning;

b. Reproductive health goes beyond a demographic target because it is principally about health and rights;

c. Gender equality and women empowerment are central elements of reproductive health and population development;

d. Since manpower is the principal asset of every country, effective reproductive health care services must be given primacy to ensure the birth and care of healthy children and to promote responsible parenting;

e. The limited resources of the country cannot be suffered to, be spread so thinly to service a burgeoning multitude that makes the allocations grossly inadequate and effectively meaningless;

f. Freedom of informed choice, which is central to the exercise of any right, must be fully guaranteed by the State like the right itself;

g. While the number and spacing of children are left to the sound judgment of parents and couples based on their personal conviction and religious beliefs, such concerned parents and couples, including unmarried individuals, should be afforded free and full access to relevant, adequate and correct information on reproductive health and human sexuality and should be guided by qualified State workers and professional private practitioners;

h. Reproductive health, including the promotion of breastfeeding, must be the joint concern of the National Government and Local Government Units(LGUs);

i. Protection and promotion of gender equality, women empowerment and human rights, including reproductive health rights, are imperative;

j. Development is a multi-faceted process that calls for the coordination and integration of policies, plans, programs and projects that seek to uplift the quality of life of the people, more particularly the poor, the needy and the marginalized;

k. Active participation by and thorough consultation with concerned non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs) and communities are imperative to ensure that basic policies, plans, programs and projects address the priority needs of stakeholders;

l. Respect for, protection and fulfillment of reproductive health rights seek to promote not only the rights and welfare of adult individuals and couples but those of adolescents’ and children’s as well; and

m. While nothing in this Act changes the law on abortion, as abortion remains a crime and is punishable, the government shall ensure that women seeking care for post-abortion complications shall be treated and counseled in a humane, non-judgmental and compassionate manner.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined as follows:

a. Responsible Parenthood – refers to the will, ability and cornmitTrient of parents to respond to the needs and aspirations of the family and children more particularly through family planning;

b. Family Planning – refers to a program which enables couple, and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and to have the information and means to carry out their decisions, and to have informed choice and access to a full range of safe, legal and effective family planning methods, techniques and devices.

c. Reproductive Health -refers to the state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its funcitions and processes. This implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so, provided that these are not against the law. This further implies that women and men are afforded equal status in matters related to sexual relations and reproduction.

d. Reproductive Health Rights – refers to the rights of individuals and couples do decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children; to make other decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence; to have the information and means to carry out their decisions; and to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health.

e. Gender Equality – refers to the absence of discrimination on the basis of a person’s sex, in opportunities, allocation of resources and benefits, and access to services.

f. Gender Equity – refers to fairness and justice in the distribution of benefits and responsibilities between women and men, and often requires. women-specific projects and programs to eliminate existing inequalities, inequities, policies and practices unfavorable too women.

g. Reproductive Health Care – refers to the availability of and access to a full range of methods, techniques, supplies and services that contribute to reproductive and sexual health and well-being by preventing and solving reproductive health-related problems in order to achieve enhancement of life and personal relations. The elements of reproductive health care include:

1. Maternal, infant and child health and nutrition;

2. Promotion of breastfeeding;

3. Family planning information end services;

4. Prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications;

5. Adolescent and youth health;

6. Prevention and management of reproductive tract infections (RTIs), HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmittable infections (STIs);

7. Elimination of violence against women;

8. Education and counseling on sexuality and sexual and reproductive health;

9. Treatment of breast and reproductive tract cancers and other gynecological conditions;

10. Male involvement and participation in reproductive health;,

11. Prevention and treatment of infertility and sexual dysfunction; and

12. Reproductive health education for the youth.

h. Reproductive Health Education – refers to the process of acquiring complete, accurate and relevant information on all matters relating to the reproductive system, its functions and processes and human sexuality; and forming attitudes and beliefs about sex, sexual identity, interpersonal relationships, affection, intimacy and gender roles. It also includes developing the necessary skills do be able to distinguish between facts and myths on sex and sexuality; and critically evaluate. and discuss the moral, religious, social and cultural dimensions of related sensitive issues such as contraception and abortion.

i. Male involvement and participation – refers to the involvement, participation, commitment and joint responsibility of men with women in all areas of sexual and reproductive health, as well as reproductive health concerns specific to men.

j. Reproductive tract infection (RTI) – refers do sexually transmitted infections, sexually transmitted diseases and other types of-infections affecting the reproductive system.

k. Basic Emergency Obstetric Care – refers to lifesaving services for maternal complication being provided by a health facility or professional which must include the following six signal functions: administration of parenteral antibiotics; administration of parrenteral oxyttocic drugs; administration of parenteral anticonvulsants for pre-eclampsia and iampsia; manual removal of placenta; and assisted vaginal delivery.

l. Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care – refers to basic emergency obstetric care plus two other signal functions: performance of caesarean section and blood transfusion.

m. Maternal Death Review – refers to a qualitative and in-depth study of the causes of maternal death with the primary purpose of preventing future deaths through changes or additions to programs, plans and policies.

n. Skilled Attendant – refers to an accredited health professional such as a licensed midwife, doctor or nurse who has adequate proficiency and the skills to manage normal (uncomplicated) pregnancies, childbirth and the immediate postnatal period, and in the identification, management and referral of complication in women and newborns.

o. Skilled Attendance – refers to childbirth managed by a skilled attendant under the enabling conditions of a functional emergencyobstetric care and referral system.

p. Development – refers to a multi-dimensional process involving major changes in social structures, popular attitudes, and national institutions as well as the acceleration of economic growth, the reduction of inequality and the eradication of widespread poverty.

q. Sustainable Human Development – refers to the totality of the process of expending human choices by enabling people to enjoy long, healthy and productive lives, affording them access to resources needed for a decent standard of living and assuring continuity and acceleration of development by achieving a balance between and among a manageable population, adequate resources and a healthy environment.

r. Population Development – refers to a program that aims to: (1) help couples and parents achieve their desired family size; (2) improve reproductive health of individuals by addressing reproductive health problems; (3) contribute to decreased maternal and infant mortality rates and early child mortality; (4) reduce incidence of teenage pregnancy; and (5) enable government to achieve a balanced population distribution.

SEC. 5. The Commission on Population (POPC0NI). – Pursuant to the herein declared policy, the Commission on Population (POPCOM) shall serve as the central planning, coordinating, implementing and monitoring body for the comprehensive and integrated policy on reproductive health and population development. In the implementation of this policy, POPCOM, which shall be an attached agency of the Department of Health (DOH) shall have the following functions:

a. To create an enabling environment for women and couples to make an informed choice regarding the family planning method that is best suited to their needs and personal convictions;

b. To integrate on a continuing basis the interrelated reproductive health and population development agenda into a national policy, taking into account regional and local concerns;

c. To provide the mechanism to ensure active and full participation of the private sector and the citizenry through their organizations in the planning and implementation of reproductive health care and population development programs and projects;

d. To ensure people’s access to medically safe, legal, quality and affordable reproductive health goods and services;

e. To facilitate the involvement and participation of non-government organizations and the private sector in reproductive health care service delivery and in the production, distribution and delivery of quality reproductive: health and family planning supplies and commodities to make them accessible and affordable to ordinary citizens;

f. To fully implement the Reproductive Health Care Program with the following components:

(1) Reproductive health education including but not limited to counseling on the full range of legal and medically-safe family planning methods including surgical methods;

(2) Maternal, pen-natal and post-natal education, care and services;

(3) Promotion of breastfeeding;

(4) Promotion of male involvement, participation and responsibility in reproductive health as well as other reproductive health concerns of men;

(5) Prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications; and

(6) Provision of information and services addressing the reproductive health needs of the poor, senior citizens, women in prostitution, differently-abled persons, and women and children in war AND crisis situations.

g. To ensure that reproductive health services are delivered with a full range of supplies, facilities and equipment and that service providers are adequately trained for reproductive health care;

h. To endeavor to furnish local Family Planning Offices with appropriate information and resources to keep the latter updated on current studies and research relating to family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition;

i. To direct all public hospitals to make available to indigent mothers who deliver their children in these government hospitals, upon the mothers request, the procedure of ligation without cost to her;

j. To recommend the enactment of legislation and adoption of executive measures that will strengthen and enhance the national policy on reproductive health and population development;

k. To ensure a massive and sustained information drive on responsible parenthood and on all methods and techniques to prevent unwanted, unplanned and mistimed pregnancies, it shall release information bulletins on the same for nationwide circulation to all government departments, agencies and instrumentalities, non-government organizations and the private sector, schools, public and private libraries, tri-media outlets, workplaces, hospitals and concerned health institutions;

l. To strengthen the capacities of health regulatory agencies to ensure safe, high-quality, accessible, and affordable reproductive health services and commodities with the concurrent strengthening and enforcement of regulatory mandates and mechanisms;

m. To take active steps to expand the coverage of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), especially among poor and marginalized women, to include the full range of reproductive health services and supplies as health insurance benefits; and

n. To perform such other functions necessary to attain the purposes of this Act.

The membership of the Board of Commissioners of POPCOM shall consist of the heads of the following AGENCIES:

1. National Economic DevelopmentAuthority (VEDA)
2. Department of Health (DOH)
3. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
4. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
5. Department of Agriculture (DA)
6. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
7. Department of Education (DepEd)
8. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
9. Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
10. University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI)
11. Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAFI)
12. National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPQ
13. National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW)
14. National Youth Commission (NYC)

In addition to the aforementioned, members, there shall be three private sector representatives to the Board of Commissioners of POPCOM who shall come from NGOs. There shall be one (1) representative each from women, youth and health sectors who have a proven track record of involvement in the promotion of reproductive health. These representatives shall be nominated in a process determined by the above-mentioned sectors, and to be appointed by the President for a term of three (3)years.

SEC. 6. Midwives for Skilled Attendance. -Every city and municipality shall endeavor to employ adequate number of midwives or other skilled attendants to achieve a minimum ratio of one (1)for every one hundred fifty (150) deliveries per year, to be based on the average annual number of actual deliveries or live births for the past two years.

SEC. 7. Emergency Obstetric Care. – Each province. and city shall endeavor to ensure the establishment and operation of hospitals with adequate and qualified personnel that provide emergency obstetric care. For every 500,000 population, there shall be at least one (1) hospital for comprehensive emergency obstetric care and four (4) hospitals for basic emergency obstetric care.

SEC. 8. Maternal Death Review. – All LGUs, national and local government hospitals, and other public health units shall conduct maternal death review in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by the DOH in consultation with the POPCOM.

SEC. 9. Hospital-Based Family Planning. -Tubal ligation, vasectomy, intrauterine device insertion and other family planning methods requiring hospital services shall be available in all national and local government hospitals, except: in specialty hospitals which may render such services on an optional basis. For indigent patients, such services shall be fully covered by PhilHealth insurance and/or government financial assistance.

SEC. 10. Contraceptives as Essential Medicines. – Hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine devices, injectables and other allied reproductive health products and supplies shall be considered under the category of essential medicines and supplies which shall form part of the National Drug Formulary and the same shall be included in the regular purchase of essential medicines and supplies of all national and lord hospitals and other government health units.

SEC. 11. Mobile Health Care Service. -Each Congressional District shall be provided with a van to be known as the Mobile Health Care Service (MHOS) to deliver health care goods and services to its constituents, more particularly to the poor and needy, as well as disseminate knowledge and information on reproductive health: Provided, That reproductive health education shall be conducted by competent and adequately trained persons preferably reproductive health care providers: Provided, further, That the full range of family planning methods, both natural and modern, shall be promoted.

The acquisition, operation and maintenance of the MRCS shall be funded from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of each Congressional District.

The MHCS shall be adequately equipped with a wide range of reproductive health care materials and information dissemination devices and equipment, the latter including but not limited to, a television set for audio-visual presentation.

SEC. 12. Mandatory Age-Appropriate Reproductive Health Education. – Recognizing the importance of reproductive health rights in empowering the youth and developing them into responsible adults, Reproductive Health Education in an age-appropriate manner shall be taught by adequately trained teachers starting from Grade 5 up to Fourth Year High School. In order to assure the prior training of teachers on reproductive health, the implementation of Reproductive Health Education shall commence at the start of the school year one year following the effectivity of this Act. The POPCOM, in coordination with the Department of Education, shall formulate the Reproductive Health Education curriculum, which shall be common to both public and private schools and shall include related population and development concepts in addition to the following subjects and standards:

a. Reproductive health and sexual rights;

b. Reproductive health care and services;

c. Attitudes, beliefs and values on sexual development, sexual behavior and sexual health;

d. Proscription and hazards of abortion and management of post-abortion complications;

e. Responsible parenthood.

f. Use and application of natural and modern family planning methods to promote reproductive health, achieve desired family size and prevent unwanted, unplanned and mistimed pregnancies;

g. Abstinence before marriage;

h. Prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other, STIs/STDs, prostate cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer and other gynecological disorders;

i. Responsible sexuality; and

j. Maternal, peri-natal and post-natal education, care and services.

In support of the natural, and primary right of parents in the rearing of the youth, the POPCOM shall provide concerned parents with adequate and relevant scientific materials on the age-appropriate topics and manner of teaching reproductive health education to their children.

In the elementary level, reproductive health education shall focus, among others, on values formation.

Non-formal education programs shall likewise include the abovementioned reproductive Health Education.

SEC. 13. Additional Duty of Family Planning 0ffice. – Each local Family Planning Office shall furnish for free instructions and information on family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition to all applicants for marriage license.

SEC. 14. Certificate of Compliance. – No marriage license shall be issued by the Local Civil Registrar unless the applicants present a Certificate of Compliance issued for free by the local Family Planning Office certifying that they had duly received adequate instructions and information on family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition.

SEC. 15. Capability Building of Community-Based Volunteer Workers. – Community-based volunteer workers, like but not limited to, Barangay Health Workers, shall undergo additional and updated training on the delivery of reproductive health care services and shall receive not less than 10% increase in honoraria upon successful completion of training. The increase in honoraria shall be funded from the Gender and Development (GAD) budget of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

SEC. 16. Ideal Family Size. – The State shall assist couples, parents and individuals to achieve their desired family size within the context of responsible parenthood for sustainable development and encourage them to have two children as the ideal family size. Attaining the ideal family size is neither mandatory nor compulsory. No punitive action shall be imposed on parents having more than two children.

SEC. 17. Employers’ Responsibilities. – Employers shall respect the reproductive health rights of all their workers. Women shall not be discriminated against in the matter of hiring, regularization of employment status or selection for retrenchment.

All Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) shall provide for the free delivery by the employer of reasonable quantity of reproductive health care services, supplies and devices to all workers, more particularly women workers. In establishments or enterprises where there are no CBAs or where the employees are unorganized, the employer shall have the same obligation.

SEC. 18. Support of Private and Non-government Health Care Service Providers. – Pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof, private reproductive health care service providers, including but not limited to gynecologists and obstetricians, are encouraged to join their colleagues in non-government organizations in rendering such services free of charge or at reduced professional fee rates to indigent and low income patients.

SEC. 19. Multi-Media Campaign. – POPCOM shall initiate and sustain an intensified nationwide multi-media campaign to raise the level of public awareness on the urgent need to protect and promote reproductive health and rights.

SEC. 20. Reporting Requirements. – Before the end of April of each year,the DOH shall submit an annual report to the President of the Philippines, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on a definitive and comprehensive assessment of the implementation of this Act and shall make the necessary recommendations for executive and legislative action. The report shall be posted in the website of DOH and printed copies shall be made available to all stakeholders.

SEC. 21. Prohibited Acts. – The following acts are prohibited:

a) Any health care service provider, whether public or private, who shall:

1. Knowingly withhold information or impede the dissemination thereof, and/or intentionally provide incorrect information regarding programs and services on reproductive health including the right to informed choice and access to a full range of legal, medically-safe and effective family planning methods;

2. Refuse to perform voluntary ligation and vasectomy and other legal and medically-safe reproductive health care services on any person of legal age on the ground of lack of spousal consent or authorization.

3. Refuse to provide reproductive health care services to an abused minor, whose abused condition is certified by the proper official or personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or to duly DSWD-certified abused pregnant minor on whose case no parental consent is necessary.

4. Fail to provide, either deliberately or through gross or inexcusable negligence, reproductive health care services as mandated under this Act, the Local Government Code of 1991, the Labor Code, and Presidential Decree 79, as amended; and

5. Refuse to extend reproductive health care services and information on account of the patient’s civil status, gender or sexual orientation, age, religion, personal circumstances, and nature of work; Provided, That all conscientious objections of health care service providers based on religious grounds shall be respected:Provided, further, That the conscientious objector shall immediately refer the person seeking such care and services to another health care service provider within the same facility or one which is conveniently accessible: Provided, finally, That the patient is not in an emergency or serious case as defined in RA 8344 penalizing the refusal of hospitals and medical clinics to administer appropriate initial medical treatment and support in emergency and serious cases.

b) Any public official who prohibits or restricts personally or through a subordinate the delivery of legal and medically-safe reproductive health care services, including family planning;

c) Any employer who shall fail to comply with his obligation under Section 17 of this Act or an employer who requires a female applicant or employee, as a condition for employment or continued employment, to involuntarily undergo sterilization, tubal ligation or any other form of contraceptive method;

d) Any person who shall falsify a certificate of compliance as required in Section 14 of this Act; and

e) Any person who maliciously engages in disinformation about the intent or provisions of this Act.

SEC. 22. Penalties. – The proper city or municipal court shall exercise jurisdiction over violations of this Act and the accused who is found guilty shall be sentenced to an imprisonment ranging from one (1) month to six (6) months or a fine ranging from Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) to Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. If the offender is a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the president, treasurer, secretary or any responsible officer. An offender who is an alien shall, after service of sentence, be deported immediately without further proceedings by the Bureau of Immigration. An offender who is a public officer or employee shall suffer the accessory penalty of dismissal from the government service.

Violators of this Act shall be civilly liable to the offended party in such amount at the discretion of the proper court.

SEC. 23. Appropriations. – The amounts appropriated in the current annual General Appropriations Act for reproductive health and family planning under the DOH and POPCOM together with ten percent (10%) of the Gender and Development (GAD) budgets of all government departments, agencies, bureaus, offices and instrumentalities funded in the annual General Appropriations Act in accordance with Republic Act No. 7192 (Women in Development and Nation-building Act) and Executive Order No. 273 (Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive Development 1995-2025) shall be allocated and utilized for the implementation of this Act. Such additional sums as may be necessary for the effective implementation of this Act shall be Included in the subsequent years’ General Appropriations Acts.

SEC. 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health shall promulgate, after thorough consultation with the Commission on Population (POPCOM), the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), concerned non-government organizations (NGOs) and known reproductive health advocates, the requisite implementing rules and regulations.

SEC. 25. Separability Clause. – If any part, section or provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 26. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, Orders, issuances, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 27. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation.

The 2nd Annual Philippine Bat Festival 2009

2009-05-01T19:34:00.001-07:00

March 1, 2009, Sunday, it was the 2nd Bat Festival held here in Holy Cross of Davao College-Babak Campus. HCDC, is one of the sponsoring partner of the festival. Dr. Ma. Iris A. Melliza, president of HCDC gladly delivers her opening remarks and she is the who one cuts the ribbon for the celebration together with Ms. Norma Monfort, president, Monfort Bat Conservation Foundation (pictures above). The core objective of the activity is to educate the people of IGACOS especially the high school students. It aims to further educate the public about the importance of bats and to dispel myths about these creatures and to promote bats as friendly creatures. IGACOS has the home of the largest population of Rousette fruit bat which now houses about 2 million plus in number (see picture below). For added information, Monfort Bat Cave is about 245 feet (75 meters) long and has five entrances. Bats cover 75 percent of its ceilings and walls. These are large bats, with males averaging just under a quarter of a pound (112 grams).

Series of activities were being held which are participated by the different high school students in IGACOS. Aside from that, there were booths for food fair, free henna tatoo, dance contest, film viewing and forum about the importance of bats in the ecology, cultural night, and lots more. In the morning, we have Bat Quiz and the Bat Jingle Contest, Poster Making Contest, and the Bat Kite Making and Flying Contest. As one of the hosts for the festival, we are tasked to be the judge of the following contest mentioned. I was pretty amazed of the talents of the people of IGACOS. The picture below shows the Bat Forum held in the social hall of the school. Honestly, I have lots of learnings about the bats, it really changed my understanding about them. I learned that bats are the primary predators of vast numbers of insects that fly at night and Geoffroy’s rousette fruit bats feed on fruit and nectar. Their role as pollinators and seed dispersers is essential in sustaining Philippine forests, including our important commercial fruits as durian. Each bat consumes 11⁄2 to 3 times its body weight nightly in fruit and nectar. This colony could consume 550 tons (500,000 kilograms) of nectar from durian and other trees, pollinating an incredible number of flowers.

I am sure that Mr. Batman feels happy about the activity. If you feel like you love bats already, try to visit MBCF here in IGACOS (ubanan tamo, hehe) and see yourself with these beautiful creatures.

Hairstyling and Make-up Application Workshop

2009-03-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

These pictures taken from the workshop we had for Basic Hairstyling and Make-up Application..

Physiological Bases of Behavior

2008-07-15T19:02:00.000-07:00

Physiological Bases of Behavior

In responding or interacting to environment, it involves three types of physiological structures:
1. Receptors – neural structures within the sensory organs (eyes, ears, skin, tongue, nose), it supplies information about the surroundings.
2. Effectors – enable to respond to stimuli, leads to action through muscle movement or glandular secretion (muscles and glands).
3. Connectors (Nervous System) – responsible for the transmission of messages and for the integration of various parts of the body so the individual can react as coordinated organism.

THE NEURON

Neurons are cells with specialized parts that can generate electrical signals and carry information to adjacent neurons, muscles or organs. It is the basic structural unit for the transmission of messages.
It three basic parts:
1. Axon – carries information away from the body to other neurons, organs or muscles through electrical signals.
2. Dendrites – receive information from other neurons and carries information to cell body.
3. Cell body – main structure where axon and dendrites attached.

Three types of Neurons:
Sensory Neurons – receive impulses from receptors (sensory organs or afferent)
Motor Neurons – send impulses to the effectors (muscles or efferent)
Connector Neurons – connect the sensory and motor neurons, it exists in the brain and spinal cord.

Afferent – implies movement toward something or away from CNS to muscles or organs.
Efferent – implies movement away from something or away from CNS to muscles.

SYNAPSE - region where a nerve impulse passes from one neuron to another neuron.

REFLEX - an automatic response, actions of some parts of the body.
- e.g. Knee jerk – the simplest circuit

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

CNS serves to connect the sensory and the motor fibers within the Nervous System, hence it is integrating center for all behavior and body functions.

Two divisions of CNS: Brain and Spinal Cord

Brain – the integrations of ascending complexity, it is the most intricate, complex and unique mechanism.

Three major division of the brain: Hindbrain, Midbrain and Forebrain
Hindbrain – close to spinal cord, includes three organs:
Cerebellum – little brain, coordinating movements from different parts of body and maintaining posture.
Medulla – plays important role in such as automatic activities (breathing, blood circulation, etc.)
Pons – contain nerve fibers that connect the two hemispheres of the cerebellum.
Midbrain – forming a connection between hindbrain and forebrain, portion of the organ have a special role in visual and auditory activity.
Forebrain – includes organs like:
Olfactory bulb – involve in the sense of smell
Thalamus – relaying incoming sensory impulses.
Hypothalamus – physiological activities as sleep and emotional behavior.
Cerebrum – are the cerebral hemispheres, each are divided into four lobes:
i. Frontal Lobe – Body movements
ii. Parietal lobes – cortical area of body feelings
iii. Temporal lobes – auditory experiences.
iv. Occipital Lobes – visual areas

PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

It includes nerve fibers and nerve cells lying outside the CNS, this is to conduct impulses to and from the CNS.

Two major divisions:
Somatic System – includes sensory system and motor nerves that activate skeletal (voluntary) muscles responsible for movements. There are 43 major pairs of nerves composed of somatic system.

12 pairs of cranial nerves – serves as receptors and effectors of the head, it extends
from head, neck and body directly into cranial cavity
(skull).
31 pairs of spinal nerves – outward from spaces between vertebrae in spinal column
to various parts of the body, it extends from neck, chest,
trunk and extremities.

Autonomic System – also called the vegetative nervous system, it concerned with activities of the body that make us alive – glands, internal organs, etc.

Make up of two parts:

Sympathetic – responsible for mobilization and expenditure of body energies, particularly to stressful emergency and threatening situations.
Parasympathetic – calms the body after the emergency situation is resolved.

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM:

The main function of the Endocrine system is to control body functions and behavior. Endocrine glands secrete hormones directly to the bloodstream.

Adrenal glands – top of the kidney
Medulla – secretes adrenalin and nonadrenaline which gives energy during emergencies.
Adrenal cortex – control basic chemical mechanisms within the body (metabolism of carbohydrates and reproductive organs)
Islets of Langerhans – posterior to stomach, it delivers a pancreatic secretion into the digestive tract, aiding digestions. Produce insulin and glucagons in utilization of sugar by the body.
Gonads
Testes – male secondary sex characteristics that make male look masculine, secretes testosterone.
Ovaries – female secondary sex characteristics that make female look feminine, secretes estrogen and progesterone.
Pituitary Gland – base of the brain, the master gland because it secretes hormones that control the activities of other glands. Two parts of the gland:
Anterior lobe – secretes important hormones which have to do with the growth.
Posterior lobe – controls excretion of water through the kidneys, stimulates breasts to produce milk and contraction of uterus during labor.
Thyroid Gland – base of throat, function is the general metabolism.
Parathyroid gland – attached to the posterior surface of the thyroid gland, controls balance of various minerals in the bloodstream, particularly calcium.

welcome to basicpsy

2008-06-11T20:18:00.000-07:00

Here are the topics that our Psychology Subject uses for the rest of the semester. I know this site will somehow help you understand and appreciate the beauty of life with Psychology.

The topics that I posted are coming from resource books that can be found in the HCDC Library and some are from the internet.

You may copy or print in advance the topics posted here and make an advance study on the subjects.

Feel free to post your comments and questions related to the topics.

Smile.