Maniolas

Coming down with the flu is never pleasant, but the good news is it happens only twice a decade after age 30, according to recent research.©Dirima/shutterstock.com (Relaxnews) – It may not seem that way when you’re lying in bed, asking “why me?” but according to a new study, adults really only catch the flu twice a decade. Many pathogens can cause influenza, according to the London-based research team, which has made it difficult to assess how often people come down with it. In the study, the team analyzed blood samples from volunteers in Southern China and counted antibodies that came from an array of nine flu strains that had passed through the area between 1968 and 2009. Data led them to conclude that while children come down with the flu every other year, on average, adults over 30 get it twice per decade. Flu symptoms are sometimes caused by common cold viruses including rhinovirus and coronavirus, says author Dr. Adam Kucharski of Imperial College London, and some never know they caught the flu because they show no symptoms. “In childhood and adolescence, it’s much more common, possibly because we mix more with other people,” says Dr. Kucharski. “The exact frequency of infection will vary depending on background levels of flu and vaccination.” To account for changes in human immunity to flu that occur over time as we are exposed to different strains of it, the research team developed a mathematical model. The model supports prior research suggesting that our immune Read More …

Ellen Adarna (MNS photo) Here’s some good news for the guys: Sexy actress Ellen Adarna is single again. The “Pasion de Amor” star said she and her boyfriend of almost two years, businessman Raoul Olbes, broke up last September. “Obviously, ‘yung first week, nakaka-miss, pero it’s better for us,” she said. “Kasi, if you think hindi na puwede, that’s the time you have to decide.” Adarna added: “Siguro, dumating ako dun sa point na I have to decide and ‘yun nga ‘yung decision. Wala na, break na. And may mga issues din kami na hindi na talaga naayos and mahirap na ayusin din. Alam naman niya kung ano ‘yung reason.” Opting not to detail what caused the breakup, Adarna continued, “’Tsaka sa personality ko kasi, if ayoko, ayoko talaga, at hindi mo ako mapipilit.” Olbes and Adarna, who have known each other for seven years, would have celebrated their second anniversary as a couple in August. Since their separation, Adarna said she and Olbes have decided not to communicate, “no calls or text,” explaining this is her way of easily moving on from the failed relationship. She said: “Kasi na-experience ko na dun sa first boyfriend ko, for three years, after naming mag-break, super-cry talaga ako. Dinamdam ko talaga. Pero as time flies by, parang hindi na uso sa akin ‘yun. “Kapag ayoko na, ayoko na and walang iyak-iyak. Kailangan move on kaagad! And besides, hindi naman kasi magiging ganun if walang reasons. Kaya naman nag-e-end ang relationships because may Read More …

Members of a religious group rally outside the Senate while the inquiry on the Mamasapano clash is ongoing on Monday. The group called for the scrapping of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in light of the clash that claimed the lives of 44 SAF policemen in the hands of Muslim rebels. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila M. De Lima on Wednesday said that the DOJ is pursuing a fair and comprehensive investigation into the encounter that happened in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25. According to De Lima, aside from seeking for justice for all the slain members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), they were also taking into consideration the slain members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), as well as the civilians. De Lima said that the investigation is not only centered on the “SAF 44” because the DOJ Chief believed that all the victims in the incident should be given justice. Likewise, De Lima also said that the DOJ would again send a letter to the leadership of the MILF to ask for their cooperation in the investigation. When asked whether the DOJ is ready to cooperate with the fact-finding mission being pursued by non-government organizations (NGOs) as they have in their possession a report about the testimonies of the MILF members and civilians, De Lima said, they prefer to directly coordinate with the MILF. (MNS)

Continuing its tradition of presenting quality, enjoyable concerts, the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO), the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside the Philippines, will perform an entire concert devoted to Broadway favorites. “FASO Goes Broadway,” featuring Filipino vocalists, including talented children, as backed by 50 orchestra members, will be staged on Saturday, April 25, 7:00 p.m. at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. As a follow up to its very successful “Swing the Night Away!” show late last year, the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) goes Broadway on Saturday, April 25, 7 p.m. at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. “This will be a thrilling show since it will be the first time that FASO will perform an entire concert devoted to Broadway music,” said Luis “Louie” Ramos, vice president and arranger-in-residence of FASO, the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside the Philippines. “ ‘FASO Goes Broadway’ will honor and feature Filipino artists who have made it and performed on Broadway, including Joan Almedilla and Bonifacio ‘Bones’ Deoso,” Ramos added. “We are also featuring talented Filipino American performers who deserve to be getting major breaks. We would like to help promote these artists.” FASO, which is known for its well-received, highly entertaining and enjoyable concerts, promises another special, must-watch evening. The orchestra, 50-member strong for this show, will treat the audience to songs from Broadway musical favorites including “Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Miserables” (“I Dreamed a Dream”) and “My Fair Lady” (“I Could Have Danced All Night”). Under the baton of Robert “Bob” Shroder, FASO’s highly esteemed musical Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III and The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta Fra’ Matthew Festing troop the line during the Departure Honors at the Malacañan Palace Main Lobby on Tuesday (March 03). (MNS photo) MANILA, Mar 4 (Mabuhay) – After three hours of dialog with the surviving police commandos who were in the Mamasapano mission, President Benigno Aquino III decided to skip formally addressing the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force during the leadership turnover ceremonies on Wednesday. The meeting with the PNP-SAF members that figured in the mission to capture terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan was supposed to last for only 30 minutes, but was extended to over three hours. SAF officers had to wait at the open-air venue in front of the elite unit’s headquarters in Taguig while the President talked with the police commandos. When Aquino finally arrived at the venue for the formal turnover from officer-in-charge Chief Supt. Noli Taliño to new director Chief Supt. Moro Virgilio Lazo, the SAF troopers did not clap. They just watched as the President entered the quadrangle. Media advisories sent to the Malacañang press corps on Tuesday night indicated that Aquino will speak during the ceremony. By Wednesday morning, however, Aquino’s speech was removed from the official programme. Still, a podium with the presidential seal was set up on Wednesday morning on the stage in front of the PNP-SAF headquarters in Taguig. The podium was however removed later in the afternoon. On January 25, 44 Read More …