Alcoholic Exuberance

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Having fun for the holidays with your friends and family? But after all these, who on Earth would be delighted to see deaths and injuries all over the news flash due to violence in pubs and clubs or car crashes by unsober irresponsible bums? Well, neither do I.

The standard way of thinking about “alcohol drinking” is natural to be part of everyone’s lifestyle. Even media and literature exhibits this pursuit, to take a case in movies, books, advertisements, T.V. and reality shows, and much more. Spaniards, known for establishing Roman Catholicsm in the Philippines, introduced alcohol drinking along with festivities and merry-making activities granting that it have already existed for a long period of time. Labajo herself stated, “It has been traditionally associated with happiness, success, thrill and sexual prowess, especially for the males, contemporary images of the young and the women emerging" (5). So to speak, Filipinos drink to socialize, to relieve stress and pain, and to have fun which is usually done during parties, birthdays, gatherings, reunions, and even quality time for one’s self. It also reflects certain Filipino values and traits such as brotherhood – camaraderie, bonding, and friendship. However, do these desires and purposes actually take place to majority of the alcoholic users or will just end up in exacerbating depression and anxiety?


Healing by means of alcohol drinking has also been common before. This method is usually done in rural and remote areas. Some Filipinos tend to believe that “tuba”, fermented from the flowers of the coconut, cures tuberculosis and caters a healthy start to the newly-born. Lately, I also learned that red wine is good for the heart because it has an antioxidant that is capable of reducing bad cholesterol. But technically speaking, do we have to drink alcohol merely to recover and be healed? To be honest, instead of repelling the disease away through alcohol drinking, it lures the disease to the inebriate more.

Alcohol beverages vary in units (10 mL) of pure alcohol, and one unit takes about one hour to relinquish depending on one’s age, gender, height, and weight. Its content serves as a depressant to our body where in it relaxes our muscular and nervous system, but this may build up to tolerance and dependence once on a regular or heavy intake (4). For instance, Eva Cyhlarova from The Mental Health Foundation pointed out that excessive consumption of alcohol have higher risks to mental health problems. In addition, alcohol’s toxicity also produces cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, liver cirrhosis and prematurity in pregnancies. We are rest assured that this issue is definitely a concern that needed to be stopped for it causes direct and indirect harm to our society.

About a year ago, Weiss reported, “12-year-old Faith Carberry, of Longford, Ireland, filed a lawsuit against her parents, Mary Carberry and Tommy Varden, after sustaining severe injuries from a drunk driving accident caused by Carberry, driving a car purchased by Varden.” Faith here is not the only victim from this havoc brought by Driving Under the Influence (DUI). She had lost her sister and her friend while her very own parents were the ones behind the wheel. On the contrary, some people are still not afraid even if these disparaties occur. They continue to booze themselves with beer, spirits and wine. In fact, according to Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, 3% of the 86,602 vehicular accidents tallied in 2012 were drug or alcohol-related (2). Furthermore, accidents are the one of the ten leading causes of mortality in the country ranking 9th with a rate of 11.2% in 1982, then ascended to 4th in place with a rate of 41.6% last 2006 proving that, indeed, the influence of alcohol have outgrown (3).

Besides the high rates of DUI, brutality and sexual abuse are dominant in alcoholism. It is often said that once you are drunk, you can not completely control your words and your actions. Our anxiety somehow helps us to evade circumstances we do not wish to happen, and if intoxicated, it is replenished. This often leads to confrontational situations, altercations, and rape that also create deaths and injuries. Even in relationships, it causes unexpected arguments if one of them is frequently engaged to a regular or heavy pattern of alcohol drinking. Unfortunately, alcohol drinking is being used as an excuse to justify such behavior in order to at least lessen or settle the account. Summing it all up, this are just a few of more than 60 major types of alcohol-related diseases and injuries and results that causes “approximately 2.5 million deaths each year” or in other words, adverse effects of the said propensity.


My discussion of the consequences of alcohol drinking is addressing the larger matter of valuing lives and safety of millions of people because if this pursues and increases, it would greatly affect the economy in terms of health, environment, and other premises. Other countries have already taken action regarding this issue using advanced technology and science to capture suspected drunken drivers. Urine and blood test were thought of as ways to detect alcohol levels, but of course, they were very impractical. Meanwhile, their policemen are currently using "Breathalyzer", invented by Dr. Robert Borkenstein of the Indiana State Police, to determine the blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Moreover, breathing is much appropriate since it gets absorbed from the mouth, throat, stomach and intestines into the bloodstream. Alcohol is not digested upon absorption, nor chemically changed in the bloodstream. When the blood goes through the lungs, some of the alcohol moves across the membranes of the lung's air sacs (alveoli) into the air. And then, alcohol will evaporate from a solution which will be volatile. With that, the concentration of the alcohol in the alveolar air is related to the concentration of the alcohol in the blood. The ratio of breath alcohol to blood alcohol is 2,100:1; meaning 2,100 milliliters of alveolar air will contain the same amount of alcohol as 1 ml of blood. In United States, 0.08 is the legal standard for drunkenness. In other words, it’s 0.08 grams of alcohol per 100 ml of blood (1). Hopefully, one day, Philippines will adopt this kind of system or discover cheaper methods in response to people's concern.

However, President Aquino then signed Republic Act No. 10351, known to be as the Sin Tax Reform Law last December 20, 2012.  Indicated in this law is the setting of higher prices in alcohol and cigarettes, so that some of the buyers will be discouraged or be controlled. “In its first year of implementation, the measure is expected to generate for the government additional revenues worth P33.96 billion, of which P23.4 billion will come from cigarettes, P6.06 billion from distilled spirits and P4.5 billion from fermented liquors” (2). As a Filipino, I do agree with this policy, but I do hope that the tremendous amount of tax the government bound to receive would be allotted for monitoring, surveillance, public health services, and community action. However, companies and small businesses producing said products might have massive job dislocation and and the fact that Filipinos will eagerly find more ways to buy them. Hence, if industries still proceed to collect millions and billions of pesos while Filipinos are being killed from the unceasing detriments of alcohol and drug use, then this will be madness for our country's state.

Restrictions on the sale of alcohol, preventive measures of alcohol delinquencies, and the consumption of people below legal age group are less evident compared to other countries which I think should also be given attention and focus by our government. Philippines have only allowed an age bracket of 18 years old and above for service and selling of alcohol. But I have seen a lot of convenience stores selling these products even to kids! Thus, there should be a proper government-sanctioned licensing systems that will obtain licenses from limited producers, distributors, and sellers of alcohol to prevent its widespread use. And one more thing, haven’t you noticed a plenty number of commercials, billboards, magazines, and calendars that showcase alcohol? There should be at least a regulating sector regarding the advertising and marketing of alcohol. Therefore, reliance to cessation of alcohol consumption is possible with global strategies at hand and essentially a need to have a sober world to live in.

References:
(1) http://www.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/automotive/breathalyzer.htm
(2) http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2012/12/21/888415/sin-tax-bill-signed-law
(3) http://www.doh.gov.ph/node/198.html
(4) https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/check-the-facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/mental-health/alcohol-a-cure-for-stress#adverse
(5) http://www.ihra.net/files/2010/05/02/Presentation_23rd_M10_Labajo.pdf



“WE SHALL RETURN” -DINOSAURS

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According to an article (Real-life Jurassic Park), dinosaurs may be brought back to life using the DNA of birds. As we all know, dinosaurs appeared during the Triassic period, 230 million years ago until it became extinct 20 million years ago. It is one of the biggest creature/animal in the world. Dinosaurs live in the forest. Some of them can fly while others can’t.

Scientists have discovered that one of their experimented mosquitos has a blood which came from a different animal back in 46 million years. A biochemist (Dr. Woollard) said that "We know that birds are the direct descendants of dinosaurs, as proven by an unbroken line of fossils which tracks the evolution of the lineage from creatures such as the velociraptor or T-Rex through to the birds flying around today" , which only means that it really is possible to recreate species through its relative’s DNA.

I don’t think a dinosaur reborn is a good idea, knowing that they are wild and uncontrollable animals. For me it won’t help our planet become better. Unless there is a Dinosaur zoo or an animal expert who will take good care of them. Instead of working on these, we need to focus more on reproducing endangered species and focus more on developing the nature’s needs and necessities. These will help our planet improve and help our nature to become healthy again.

With this experiment, could the Dinosaurs roam the Earth again? Is it a good idea to get back these huge creatures in our planet? Will these help us explore more about them? And how are they going to live with our new generation?

Reference:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/real-life-jurassic-park-dinosaurs-could-2954054#ixzz2oL22tf6T 

Zamboanga Crisis

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             Last December 11, 2013, I attended a symposium entitled, The Zamboanga City Crisis: Reconciling A Divided Community.  It was held in the College of Mass Communication Auditorium with the guest speaker, Ms. Amina T. Rasul-Bernardo, the president of Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID).  

           I was aware that there was a conflict with our government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) that lasted for weeks.  As time passed by, I was not able to follow the news on the television or in the newspaper.  At the symposium, I was more exposed with the current condition of Zamboanga City and as well as of other Muslim communities.  

This conflict greatly affects our economy as there were a lot of innocent citizens injured and some even died, businesses were off for a few weeks, and even the Zamboanga International Airport had shut down for days. 

The Islam first arrived in Sulu during the 13th century.  When the Spaniards and the Americans came to the Philippines, they made treaty arrangements with the Moro people, so the Sultanates retained their sovereignty.  But today, we can see that the Moro have lost their sovereignty as they are now the least served region by our government.  During 1990, Sulu had better access to electricity than in Ilocos Sur, and also had better access to water than in Pampanga.  But only after 20 years, it was the other way around.  The Moro belong to one of the poorest people in our country and their region has low access to electricity and water.  In ARMM, there were destruction of infrastructures because of the bombings, more than one-third of the people who are 18 years old and above are illiterate, and most people left their places to seek employment.

There is a racial discrimination as there is less funding by the government to the Muslim regions.  I think that the government should view the Moro people or the Muslims the same as they view other Catholic citizens.  They should give support for the ARMM as they do in other regions.  

In order to rebuild Zamboanga City, the government should protect and give aid to refugees, especially the children.  Psychological counselling should be given to the citizens who were traumatized because of the sudden events.  Discrimination against Muslims should be abolished to promote the freedom of expressions of the Muslim people.  Peace agreements should be properly arranged to prevent another crises from happening. 

Media also plays an important role in unifying the people in our country.  Through the reports shown in televisions, radios and internet articles, the content should be fact-based which does not promote discrimination, but religious tolerance and cultural sensitivity.  All events should be able to reach the media for a more reliable documentation.  

It is important for every community to be united for the development and improvement of the country.  As the saying goes, “We belong in the same boat, and we will sink if we don’t get together.”

Solar Cell. Cheap energy for Everyone!

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Solar Cells are now Becoming popular here in the Philippines. Such researches from different Universities as UP, Ateneo, LaSalle and now THEIR research focus on cheap / cost-efficient solar cell designs According to the DOST (Department of Science and Technology) [1]. As an enthusiast of solar cells, what exactly is a "solar cell"?

Simple. It simply converts sunlight into electricity. How does it do that? Well I will not talk about the details here, as you can find it on this website:


Some applications of Solar Cells are (obviously):


Solar panels in the home. It lessens the bills of electricity in the first few years of operation, but is not a 100% substitute fro Meralco. 




Useful Solar phone chargers are. Solar Cells generate small current and high voltage output, so it's typically Useful for charging batteries of cell / smart phones, laptops, and other gadgets.

Now why is it popular here in the Philippines?
The Philippines is, if you do not know, right near the equator, where we receive the most amount of light energy from the sun as compared to most countries. Even if it's cloudy we still get some ultraviolet light penetrating through the clouds. (That's why you can still get a sunburn if you stay outside the whole day on a sunny day). Sunlight is one our Valuable energy resources, that's why the Philippines Should Invest in solar cells!

One important value of solar cells is its efficiency (%) . The efficiency is the maximum power it generates given its surface area (how big is the solar cell) and irradiance from the sun (amount of sunlight it can capture from the sun). The higher the efficiency the better the solar cell.

The silicon solar cells currently stands at 44.7% efficient [2], the world record as of today! But the solar cells you buy in CD-R King are just usually only 10-15% efficient. The Chinese, the geniuses of manufacturing any devices and low price due to THEIR sheer number of workers, cut the price of solar cells to a dollar per watt. Not only that, but the managed to Mass Produce 15% efficient solar cells and lower prices. But they fail to optimize the solar cells. So it's a second-rate and most solar cells. 

That's where all our research comes in!

Hopefully the Philippines would lead the solar business and other non-renewable energy Businesses (such as wind, and geothermal) 

One of my bright ideas are internal waterproof solar cells. Internal waterproof meaning you can place the solar cells in seas or oceans, or if it's raining hard, it will not destroy the solar cells as fast. (Instead of using glass and coating to waterproof it). Another idea of ​​mine is bendable / flexible solar cells! You can bend them so They be placed on umbrellas (sunbrellas - although I these are very fragile). So while someone is walking out in the hot sun (like most UP students) They can generate a bit of electricity.



Anyway I was just simply inspired by the talk of Sir Carlos Primo David:

"The  best  way to  have  a  good idea  is to  have a lot of ideas "

Becoming Useful: A Typhoon Haiyan Story

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             Typhoon Haiyan had caused huge disasters that the Philippines never experienced before. It caused not just psychological and emotional problems but most especially, it also hindered people from affected areas to live a normal life again. The typhoon destroyed their houses, lands, and sources of income. What bothered the government, different organizations, and other people was it damaged the victims’ sources of food and water. We all know that food and water are basic necessities of life. People need it to function properly. People need it to live and survive.


              Many people and organizations have donated these basic necessities to the victims of the said typhoon. A lot did numerous fund-raising projects for them to help. As I read the news last December 5, 2013, I realized that these help cannot last for a long period of time. We all have to keep in mind that these are just for the relief of the victims. Someday all these help will be cut short and eventually will be gone. The victims have to stand up on their own and move on from what happened. Hence, the people also need help that could last for a long time and the potable water that Manila Water brought is a good example. Instead of donating tons and tons of clean and drinking water for the victims, Manila Water introduced a new technology to help them acquire water on their vicinity. It is called Manila Water Co.’s mobile treatment plant (MTP). This technologically advanced equipment is able to transform any type of raw water — whether floodwater, river water or even seawater — into potable drinking water for the people who need it most (The Philippine Star, Dec 2013). It is expected to make the dirty water available to the areas affected become efficient for the people. Through this technology, people could turn their dirty water into safe water that they can use for their daily routines. Manila Water had delivered its treatment plan to the Visayas region, specifically to Bantayan, Cebu, and Bohol. It also sent about eight to 10 of its personnel, including a chemist, an operator, a technician, a driver, and a security, to operate and man the MTP operations and ensure that potable water is provided to residents of calamity-stricken areas (The Philippine Star, Dec 2013).


Manila Water Co.’s mobile treatment plant is able to transform any type of raw water — floodwater, river water or even seawater — into potable drinking water. (Adapted from The Philippine Star, December 2013)


              The principle behind this treatment plant is the reverse osmosis system which has the ability to clean common contaminants present in raw water, such as pathogenic bacteria, viruses, microorganisms, parasites, and solids like salts and hardness present in seawater. It is a process that involves the de-mineralization or de-ionization of water by pushing it under pressure through a semi-permeable reverse osmosis membrane, which allows the passage of water molecules but not the majority of dissolved solids and other contaminants like dissolved salts, organics, bacteria, and pyrogens (The Philippine Star, Dec 2013).
            
              Because of this news, I remember a discussion from one of our STS lecturers and scientist, Dr. David. He introduced to us one of his inventions which also aims to make contaminated water useful.  The principle behind his invention was that the contaminated water will be cleaned by the natural resources available such as rocks, plants, charcoal and sand. Dr. David was inspired by the mangrove areas we have in our country as this invention came into existence.  Mangroves exist to clean up the world and by that, as mentioned on his discussion, he believed that we can create our own mangroves and put them in areas needed. Hence, he was able to invent something that could substantiate this principle. He first made four stations out of empty bottles where water will pass through. Each station has plants, rocks, charcoal and sand to filter the water. After passing through them, the water became clearer and cleaner. Dr. David hence made a bigger version of this and publicized it.

              The two inventions have a similar goal, and that is, to make dirty water (and useless as what people think of them) become clean and useful. Inventions, as what Dr. David also stated, arise from ideas that we think of to solve our problems. Typhoon Haiyan was one of the problems of the country today that we must face together. The Philippines may not have a lot of technologies and money to make many but it has lots of human and natural resources that is of great help in solving its problems. Such inventions are glimpses of hope that someday all these problems will be solved. We just have to value what we have and make the most out of them and stay positive of the things coming our way.

A CHALLENGE!

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Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system leaving the victim powerless against infection, (Junior World Encyclopedia, 1995). HIV is transmitted primarily via unprotected sexual intercourse (including anal and even oral sex), hypodermic needles, and from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding.

HIV/AIDS is a worldwide problem which needs immediate control of its spread and a good response to its detection and treatment because of its alarming and increasing number of infected persons. If not addressed in no time, more HIV/AIDS victims will crave for medical assistance and will experience excruciating pain not only physically but also psychologically.

Having such life-threatening sickness is like coming to a dead end. Life holds no meaning anymore. The one all-time high self-esteem, coupled with high level of self-confidence and high bright future expectations now dangerously touch the zero level because of the dreadful disease. These are some of the negative effects which need to be hurdled in order to have a positive outlook in life despite the unhealthy condition that one suffers specifically the HIV/AIDS patients.

It is a fact that a victim or a patient of having HIV/AIDS experiences numbing fear and anxiety but we can do something in order to counterbalance, eradicate or diminish the agonizing feeling of that person. We should give them hope, encourage them to be involved in fruitful activities like spiritual healing, advise them to be responsible by not contaminating others, and lead them to love God because He has plans for us in this world.

I will inspire the victim with the following Bible lines and I quote “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). These lines from the Bible serve as a guiding power to inspire someone who suffers from intolerable dilemma which may end up to a tragedy if not properly guided. We should try to boost their morale in order to become optimistic and spend the rest of their lives with meaning and significance. We should not discriminate them because they can live normally and freely with strict and proper supervision of medical practitioner who is an expert to the said ailment and the loved ones who can devote their precious time in taking care of them.

On the other hand, there are ways to protect ourselves from HIV, so that life would not be like a slow death march. To protect oneself from HIV, one should avoid premarital sex (if single), be faithful to your husband or wife (if married), aim for safe sex (using condom), don’t use used needles, and internalize the words of God so that we’ll always seek for restoration of our spiritual health through spiritual healing. After all, prevention and protection are better than cure.


Therefore, we should protect ourselves from contagious diseases. Likewise, we should not discriminate persons who have HIV/AIDS, we should instead inspire them and advise them that their health problem is just a stepping stone to make them stronger and more persevering persons who are determined to cross over bridge of pain toward a beautiful life.

A Pinoy in Space

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Yes!!! You heard it right. A Filipino is set to conquer the space come 2015. 22-year old crossfit trainer Chino Roque who is also a graduate from De La Salle University with a degree in Psychology has made history as the first ever Filipino to make an expedition to space.

According to a recent article made by Francis T. Wakefield (2013), Roque was personally chosen by the judging committee chairman of the AASA Space Camp, Mr. Buzz Aldrin as one of the 24 astronaut winners of the recently held AXE Apollo Space Academy (AASA) Space Camp in the awarding ceremonies held at the Rocket Garden of the Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, Florida, USA.

It was indeed a definitive moment for Roque who bested out fellow Filipino hopefuls, Evan Ray Datuin and Ramil Santos in the concluded five days of intensive training to rightfully select the individuals partaking in this once of a lifetime journey. Although primarily, Roque was not one of the original 3 individuals to be sent to the AASA as he replaced then Pinoy hopeful, Air Force Lieutenant Mario Mendoza Jr. Mr. Mendoza left the competition in order to serve his military duties paving the way for Roque to join the competition. If it wasn’t a coincidence that transpired with the changes that happened then I would say that it is destiny that eventually gave Roque the ticket to explore the world outside Earth.

With everything that has happened in our country, this victory of our Fellow kababayan in a way serves as an inspiration to each and every Filipino citizen. We as a race may be devastated by countless typhoons and innumerable political issues but at the end of the day, we could certainly conquer it, even space!



 References:
[1] Wakefield, F. (2013). First Filipino Astronaut named. In Manila Bulletin. Retrieved on December 6, 2013 from http://www.mb.com.ph/first-filipino-astronaut-named/
[2] Image courtesy of Google Images

Every Action Counts

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A recent news article from Bloomberg talks about how extreme the air pollution in Shanghai is right now.  The country is taking actions on reducing the vehicles on roads and the productions in factories to prevent the haze level from increasing.  Because of the hazardous level of smog in the city, economical and health problems arise.

People walking on streets need to wear face masks to protect themselves from the heavy smog that can cause serious diseases such as lung cancer.  People were advised to stay indoors as much as possible.  Some flights were even cancelled due to the thick haze surrounding the city.

What about Philippines?  Our country may not be experiencing extreme pollution as what Shanghai is facing today; but who knows in the next years, we may face the same situation.  People who’ll live in future generations will be the ones much affected.  They have no choice but to endure the pollution we had caused.

Precautionary measures may be helpful but this does not solve the problem entirely.  Wearing a face mask lessen the polluted air you inhale, but does not protect you completely.  Staying indoors most of the time may be possible, but you also need to be exposed to the outside world to observe, learn and understand the world better.

In the small things we do, we can altogether make a big difference.  We can start by utilizing public transportation.  If we were to ride a jeepney instead of our own private vehicles, there would be at most less seventeen cars on the road, given that eighteen people ride a jeepney.  In this way, there will be less pollution and at the same time less traffic on the road. 

Let us not wait for our environmental problems to worsen before we take actions.  

Source: Bloomberg News