Maniolas

Even if you live in a sun-filled paradise, sunshine might not be enough to give you the vitamin D you need during pregnancy, according to a recent study. ©Monkey Business Images/shutterstock.com (Relaxnews) – Even in one of the world’s favorite places to catch some rays – the Mediterranean – low levels of vitamin D are common during pregnancy, according to a new study. Presented Monday at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Dublin, the study’s findings are expected to reduce early childhood diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, bone formation disorders, high risk of caesarean delivery and premature birth. “Pregnant women with vitamin D deficiencies may be at greater risk of various problems and complications, both for themselves and their babies,” says Dr. Spiros. “It’s imperative for pregnant women and the medical community at large, to recognize the importance of vitamin D in overall health.” Until now, Mediterranean women were commonly believed to maintain normal levels of vitamin D thanks to a sun-splashed environment, yet up to 90 percent of pregnant women in Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey are vitamin D deficient. Racial, social and cultural habits could be at play, counteracting the health benefits of sun exposure, according to Dr. Karras Spiros who carried out the study with his colleagues at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Working with 2,649 pregnant women and 1,802 newborns, the team assessed for age, body mass index (BMI), race, socioeconomic status, skin types, gestation period, sun exposure, calcium and vitamin D Read More …

Starting next week, underpaid and overworked elementary and secondary public school teachers will report back for work as classes in all levels in both public and private schools in the Philippines will start June 1. As usual, the opening day of classes will be marred by teachers and classroom shortages, as well as insufficient number of textbooks intended for students in public schools. Traffic jams are expected to occur during rush hours to the detriment of commuters and workers, particularly in the congested areas of Metro Manila. In far flung or remote areas of the country, schoolchildren will be made to wait in makeshift classrooms for several hours until a teacher will show up for work. Most often than not, no one will show up.  The reason is simple. LOW PAY. It is very sad that the continuing government neglect of the plight of public school teachers have impacted the quality of education in the Philippines. According to Department of Education data, there are more than 600,000 elementary and secondary teachers taking care of their students in more than 60,000 schools all over the country. These teachers are paid a monthly salary of a little more than P19,000 a month, which probably does not ensure a decent standard of living for themselves and their families. Most probably, a public school teacher in a less affluent municipality, especially those teaching in remote barrios, are getting paid much lower than those who have teaching jobs in urban areas. No wonder, some teachers have Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III administers the oath of office to newly-appointed generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines during the oath-taking of military officers at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (May 27). (MNS photo) FORT SAN FELIPE, Cavite City (Mabuhay) – Defense Sec. Voltaire Gazmin said they are hoping for “a very positive verdict” on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), especially in the light of the dispute with China over territories in the West Philippine Sea. In an interview on Monday, Gazmin said, “We are hoping for a very positive verdict on the EDCA. Malaki ang maitutulong ng EDCA in the sense that there will be joint use of facilities and use of equipment by both armed forces.” The bilateral agreement was signed by the Philippines and the United States on April 28 last year. Amid questions over the pact’s constitutionality brought before the Supreme Court, Gazmin earlier said Chinese vessels stopped harassing Filipino ships after the signing. He once claimed that EDCA, which provides for increased US military presence in the country and US access to Philippine military bases, was “a deterrent” against external security threats such as those presented by China. Gazmin also told reporters on Monday that China’s reclamation activities over disputed territories with the Philippines would not have happened if the US forces were still in the country. This was in response to Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe, who said that the return of US military Read More …

Supporters rally outside the Indonesian Embassy in Makati City on Friday appealing for clemency for Filipino Mary Jane Veloso, convicted of drug trafficking in Indonesia. Veloso has been moved to an island prison and is awaiting final word on her execution from Indonesian authorities. (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Indonesian government did not set a deadline on the temporary reprieve it granted to Mary Jane Veloso to give way to the investigation of her case here in the Philippines, a representative from the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday. At the House hearing, Francisco Noel Fernandez III, special assistant to the DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Overseas Workers Affairs, said, “There is no definite time set by the Indonesian government on the reprieve.” Before this, Justice Sec. Leila de Lima said she did not know for how long the reprieve was going to stand. She added that they have an internal deadline for the investigation. This will be followed by a trial, whose length they cannot predict. She said because of this, they regularly update her Indonesian counterpart about developments in the investigation. “We submit regular updates… a comprehensive report on the investigation, so that he (Indonesian Justice secretary) knows the Philippines is determined, is serious, and that the request is not just to delay the execution. That it is a much-deserved temporary reprieve,” she said. De Lima, however, pointed out that it is still up to the Indonesian government to determine whether Veloso will be spared from Read More …

Marian Rivera (MNS photo) It’s been done before, notably by Hollywood actress Demi Moore, who agreed to pose in the nude even while she was pregnant. But Marian Rivera is not likely to follow suit. The expectant mom said she has already decided not to join year’s FHM party even if she tops the men’s magazine poll of sexiest women. Aside from her condition, Rivera said she is also thinking of her husband, actor Dingdong Dantes. “Actually napag-usapan namin ‘yan ng FHM at saka ng management ko. Naka-receive ako ng letter sa management. Sabi ko huwag na, tama na. Kahit lumalabas sa FHM – kung palarin ulit ako, may bumoto ulit sa akin at maging number one ako, for example – hindi ko kayang rumampa. Mahiya naman ako sa asawa ko, buntis pa ako. So huwag na muna,” Rivera said at a press conference for this year’s PEP List. Rivera and Dantes were hailed the Pepsters’ Choice for Newsmaker of the Year. Rivera admitted that a lot of things have changed after she got married last December. “Iba ang buhay ng may asawa, iba ang buhay ng buntis,” she said. “Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng biyayang ipinagkaloob sa akin ng Panginoon pero ito talaga ang buhay na pinapangarap ko at inaasam-asam ko – ang ikasal at magkaroon ng isang anak at magkaroon ng pamilya. ‘Yun talaga.” “Sabi ko nga, ‘yung showbiz parte ng buhay ko, minahal ko ‘yan. Madami akong nakilala madami akong natutunan. Diyan ko nakilala ang asawa ko. Read More …