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No last rites for MERS-CoV patients

 News
Feb 142015
 
No last rites for MERS-CoV patients

SAN PEDRO CITY, Philippines—The Department of Health (DOH) has barred priests from administering the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, or last rites, to those infected with the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) even as another returning overseas Filipino worker showed symptoms of the deadly disease. Acting Health Secretary Janette Garin, however, allayed fears of easy contamination as long as there was no direct exposure to the person carrying the virus through saliva, coughing, sneezing or other means. “Because (of the) priests’ ministry to the sick that requires them to face and make direct contact with the patient, they are strictly prohibited from doing it, for the meantime, to avoid contamination and passing it on to parishioners,” Garin told parents, teachers, students and city officials at the Pacita Elementary School here on Friday. A 20-year-old woman from North Cotabato is currently under isolation at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) in Cotabato City after she showed symptoms of MERS-CoV, the hospital’s chief confirmed on Saturday. Not airborne Dr. Helen Yambao, CRMC chief of hospital, said the woman—whom she declined to identify—returned to the Philippines on Feb. 6 from Jordan where she worked as a domestic helper. Jordan is among countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula, where cases of MERS-CoV had been reported since 2012. The others were Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Lebanon and Iran. Garin explained that MERS-CoV was not an airborne disease, hence, could not be passed on to Read More …

BBC journalist to Chinese envoy: Stop it, make some friends

 News
Feb 142015
 
BBC journalist to Chinese envoy: Stop it, make some friends

Bill Hayton. SCREENGRAB from YouTube video/BBC MANILA, Philippines–A British journalist and author of a book on the South China Sea territorial disputes gave an official of the Chinese Embassy in Manila a dressing down at a forum organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday. “These countries (in Southeast Asia) are petrified of what you are doing. Stop doing it and make some friends,” Bill Hayton, a reporter of the British Broadcasting Corp., told Shan Ao, secretary to the ambassador of China to the Philippines. Hayton’s statement drew applause from the audience, composed mostly of diplomats and government officers, at the DFA headquarters. Shan earlier approached the microphone during the open forum to point out that China has no intention of waging a war to defend its nine-dash-line claim in the South China Sea. “China is not going to start a war. It is not true. [What it aims] is peace and stability in the region,” Shan said shortly after Hayton gave his lecture on “The South China Sea and China’s Geopolitical Interests.” China, Philippines, sea row, territorial dispute, BBC journalist, South China Sea, Bill Hayton, diplomacy, Shan Ao ‘Collective hallucination’ Hayton and former National Security Adviser and West Philippine Sea coconvenor Roilo Golez were speakers in the conference, which is part of the Foreign Service Institute Mangrove Forum on International Relations. Hayton is the author of the book “The South China Sea: The Struggle for Power in Asia,” published last year by the Yale University Press. Hayton Read More …

Champion speakers say, address the human heart

 General
Feb 142015
 
Champion speakers say, address the human heart

The prospect of speaking as a solitary figure on a stage to hundreds of people almost always “brings shivers up the spine” of even the most accomplished executive. Others often complain of “butterflies in the belly.” That’s because “to err is human.” And if we believe Murphy’s Law, “if something can go wrong, it will–at the most inopportune time.” And it can go very wrong very fast before the eyes and ears of at least a hundred people. Worse, your error in delivery can be picked up by a powerful microphone, and your highly visible embarrassing moment caught by television. And yet, speak in public we must. If you need to “rally the troops” in launching a product that will catch competition by surprise, you as CEO or COO will have to stand at an elevated structure–and, yes, speak! On the first Monday of every month, if you are one of those ranking officials handling a department in government, you will be the featured speaker in a flag ceremony. So, the employees will either love you their boss for your inspiring Monday morning speech, or they will have one more reason to get back at you by spreading an embarrassing–or ho-hum story–to prove that your feet, after all, are made of clay. Or, you are finally conferred a well-deserved doctorate and, garbed in hood and toga, you deliver a speech that inspires graduates in commencement rites. You can deliver a brief memorable speech and be an exemplar for their dreams Read More …

The returning artist: Citizen of the world

 General
Feb 142015
 
The returning artist: Citizen of the world

CANDIDO MANARPIIZ: On a mission to educate No amount of money or luxury can beat being with your family,” says Candido Manarpiiz, a Filipino artist who has traveled the world as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW). “When I was in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), everyone indulged in luxuries because money was easy,” Manarpiiz shares. “Over here, I celebrate Christmas freely with my family in whichever way we can. The happiness is unparalleled.” Chasing after artistic dreams Manarpiiz, currently an associate professor in the Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts at the Far Eastern University (IARFA-FEU), was born to a simple family in Aurora. He was working in a government agency when he was given the opportunity to join an international competition in Berlin, Germany. Joining the International Agricultural Film and Video Competition in 1982 was his first taste of the world. He took home the silver trophy. “I came back after that competition, but I knew I wanted to travel and work abroad,” he says. “That very same year, I left the Philippines and settled in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.” He spent seven years in Riyadh as a graphics supervisor, then found a golden opportunity in the form of art schools in New York. Using the money he saved during his employment, he traveled to America where he met Daniele Greene, a Hall of Fame awardee and one of the best American portrait painters. Manarpiiz enlisted in an intensive one-month training with Greene at Studio Hill Farm in 1985. “I’ve always wondered Read More …

3rd party monitoring team fear for BBL’s fate

 News
Feb 132015
 
3rd party monitoring team fear for BBL’s fate

MANILA, Philippines—A watchdog on the Bangsamoro peace process on Friday warned that there would be consequences if peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) failed during the Aquino administration. “We do believe the current peace process offers very good opportunity to establish peace in Mindanao. Should this opportunity fail, there will be many disappointed people in Mindanao,” Steven Rood, one of the five members of the Third Party Monitoring Team, which was tasked to monitor, review, and assess the implementation of the peace agreement signed by the government and the MILF in March last year. Former European Union ambassador to the Philippines Alistair MacDonald. AFP FILE PHOTO The team, headed by Alistair MacDonald, former European Union ambassador to the Philippines, on Friday presented its second annual public report, detailing the initial progress of the agreements on normalization, socioeconomic development and transition from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. Justice for those killed The team members admitted that the Jan. 25 clash between police commandos and Moro guerrillas in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province, has affected the peace process. They said it would be necessary for both sides to exert efforts to attain justice for those killed and wounded in the incident. Forty-four officers from the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF), 18 MILF guerrillas and five civilians were killed in the 12-hour gun battle that ended a police operation to get international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” and his Read More …

The need for emotionally intelligent leaders

 Economy
Feb 132015
 
The need for emotionally intelligent leaders

(Conclusion) We can be emotionally healthy individually, but an organization, a community and an entire nation can also manifest collective emotional health. Needless to say, that depends highly on the emotional health or emotional intelligence of the leader of the organization, the community, or a country. A leader must have high emotional intelligence to develop a high level of collective emotional health in his or her people. One cannot give or develop something which one does not have or only have a meager supply of. A highly emotionally intelligent leader is likely to be successful in leading his/her organization through whatever crisis they may be confronted with. From executing an organizational plan to attaining a nation’s agenda and vision, leaders in all walks of life are able to inspire hope in their people that no matter what the setbacks are, together as a united team and not as disunited fragments, they will be able to weather all the “storms” and achieve their collective dreams and aspirations. Hence, an emotionally healthy leader must possess all the qualities that will enable him/her to inspire hope in his or her people. And no challenge or setback can be strong enough to push the organization’s members, a community’s constituents, or the country’s citizens to a state of hopelessness and despair. Qualities leaders must have Integrity, character, intelligence, competence and facility for effective communication are all important qualities exemplary leaders must have. But without emotional intelligence, leaders are standing on shaky grounds and a tumult Read More …

Europe wants transparent probe on Mamapasano clash

 News
Feb 062015
 
Europe wants transparent probe on Mamapasano clash

The 42 bodies of the SAF 44 commandos inside the Camp Bagong Diwa multi-purpose hall. JOAN BONDOC MANILA, Philippines—Europe on Friday called for a transparent investigation into the Jan. 25 deadly clash in Mamapasano, Maguindanao province, saying this would help restore public trust in the Mindanao peace process. The call was made by the European Union Delegation and the Embassies of the EU member states in the Philippines, which expressed their condolences to the families of the 44 Philippine National Police Special Action Force troopers who were killed in a clash with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) guerrillas. The 44 police commandos were killed after a law enforcement operation was executed targeting Malaysian bomb expert Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan.” DNA testing by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation indicated that he was also killed in the incident. “In the last three years, the Mindanao peace process has brought about increased hope and optimism for future security and prosperity. However, this event has reminded us that this cannot be taken for granted and that violence can still erupt unexpectedly,” the EU statement said. The groups on Friday said the investigations to be done by both the government and the MILF into the incident was “necessary and a welcome step” as they acknowledge the reiteration of both sides of their commitment to the peace process. “A full and transparent investigation will contribute to the reestablishment of confidence by the public in the process,” the EU Read More …

China’s mischief: Expansion, reclamation

 General
Feb 062015
 
China’s mischief: Expansion, reclamation

Map showing the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea (south China Sea), including the Spratlys Islands and Scarborough Shoal. AFP PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—China has deployed a dredging ship at the disputed Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef) and is doing “substantial” reclamation in the partially submerged area, signaling Beijing may be preparing to expand its facilities there, according to the military command that is directly in charge of securing the country’s maritime interests in the West Philippine Sea. China has been earnestly conducting dredging activities at Panganiban Reef—a Philippine-claimed area in the Spratly group of islands, which Beijing occupied in the mid-1990s —similar to earlier reported land reclamation work in other areas of the Spratlys, said Rear Admiral Alexander Lopez, chief of the Western Command (Wescom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “We don’t know what they plan to do in Mischief. It is already a garrison to begin with and far from being just a fisherman’s shelter, which was what (China) claimed when they first occupied it,” Lopez said.   Aerial photos Lopez did not say when China started the dredging work or give any details on the extent of reclamation at Panganiban Reef, saying only the work had been “substantial.” He said the Navy has taken aerial photographs of the reclamation activities at Panganiban Reef but that his command was not authorized to release those photos. But Lopez said the physical change in Panganiban Reef since the dredging “has been substantial.” He said Panganiban Reef has been Read More …

Make fighting cancer a global health priority

 General
Feb 062015
 
Make fighting cancer a global health priority

This year’s commemoration of World Cancer Day on Feb. 4 adopted the theme “Not Beyond Us,” a phrase that hopes to take a positive and proactive approach to the fight against cancer while highlighting that solutions do exist, and that they are within our reach. The campaign will explore how we can implement what we already know in the areas of prevention, early detection, treatment and care, and in turn, open up to the exciting prospect that we can impact the global cancer burden. Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that is characterized by the rapid formation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries, and which can then invade adjoining parts of the body and even spread to other organs, causing the destruction of affected cells, tissues and organs. 14 million cases While 14 million cases of cancer are being added every year, over eight million deaths worldwide are being attributed to it. The number of new cases is expected to rise by about 70 percent over the next two decades. Here in the country, 189 of every 100,000 Filipinos are afflicted with cancer while four Filipinos die of some form of the disease every hour, or 103 cancer patients every day, according to a study conducted by the University of the Philippines’ Institute of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health. The 2015 campaign of World Cancer Day organizers will focus around four key areas: Delivering early detection; Achieving treatment for all; Maximizing Read More …

Stamp marks PH rescue of Jews from Holocaust

 News
Feb 052015
 
Stamp marks PH rescue of Jews from Holocaust

PHILIPPINE Ambassador to Israel Neal Imperial (center) with Philpost officials Enrique V. Tagle, Maria JosefinaM. Dela Cruz, Israeli postal official Haim Elmozino and Rishon LeZion Mayor Dov Zur during the unveiling ofthe Philippine-Israel joint stamp. MANILA, Philippines–A joint commemorative stamp marking the Philippine rescue of Jews during the Holocaust was launched on Jan. 29 in an event that reaffirmed the enduring friendly relations of the Philippines and Israel. The launch, held at the Community Hall of Rishon LeZion, came two days after the International Holocaust Memorial Day on Jan. 27, a significant event for all Jews around the world. The Philippine version of the stamp was unveiled by Philippine Ambassador to Israel Neal Imperial, Post Master General and Philippine Postal Corp. (Philpost) chief executive officer Maria Josefina M. de la Cruz and Philpost business lines department manager Enrique V. Tagle. Israeli’s version was unveiled by Israel Post chief executive officer and president Haim Elmozino, Rishon LeZion Mayor Dov Zur and Israel Philatelic Service Director Yaron Razon. The joint commemorative stamp features the national flags of the two states and the Open Doors Monument. The monument, which was unveiled on June 21, 2009, at Holocaust Memorial Park in Rishon LeZion, honors the humanitarian act of President Manuel L. Quezon in saving the lives of Jews fleeing the Holocaust from 1939 to 1942 through the issuance of around 10,000 visas. Only about 1,300 Jews reached the Philippines. Imperial said the humanitarian act not only saved the lives of a large number of Read More …

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