Nov 042014
 
Multiple issues: Love, life, death, freedom and genetics featured in ‘Blood Ransom’

The movie “Blood Ransom” featured love in three juxtaposed ways: romantic love, filial love and brotherly love. It’s a story borne out of filial love for the life of the unborn child with a rare blood condition called Rhesus factor, where the “unborn child if conceived, could actually poison the mother’s blood or vice versa;”  brotherly love between two brothers who always looked out for each other and romantic love that transcends beyond one’s existence. Anne Curtis The cinematographic features in the film reminded me of our college analytical classes in comparative literature under Professor Dadufalza who stressed to us that to achieve form in a certain genre, it has to have substance. Thus, the lighting angles used by both Director Francis Dela Torre and Jasmin Kuhn, Cinematographer delved into the “film noir” style where images were shot on “low key lighting producing unbalanced composition.” Darion Basco’s portrayal as Daniel, the detective who loved his brother with visual flashback images of their childhood,  continuously set up the mood for the story  And certainly, producer Albert Chang’s extensive background in music composition defined his outstanding selection in including the apropos background music of “Night”  a Chopin Ballad No.1 G minor, Op. 23. Though with minimal lines given to Anne Curtis who portrayed “Crystal”,” she became the central figure fighting for her “freedom” from Roman, her “master,”  played by Caleb Hunt. The aesthetically-done love scenes of Crystal and Jeremiah, played by European-born Alexander Dreymon defined romantic love without boundaries, defying Bill (played wonderfully by RIchard Harris’ son, Jamie Harries) who was the evil henchman of Roman. To all of you who Read More …

Nov 042014
 
Aquino: Ona’s fate hangs in the balance

Health workers practice wearing protective suits and equipment during the ‘One Nation, One Direction for EBOLA Prevention’ training at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) hospital in Muntinlupa City on Tuesday, October 28. A first batch of personnel from government hospitals from all over the country is undergoing specialized training on Ebola measures from six international experts. DOH spokesman Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy said the procedures in the training modules will cover, among others, the patient’s entry into triage, confinement, and in case of ‘non-event,’ how their case may be used in ruling future cases. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III admitted on Monday that the fate of Health Secretary Enrique Ona depends on his answers to questions on the government’s health programs. Asked if Ona still has his trust and confidence, Aquino said: “[The answer] will come after the results of the answers to questions propounded to him.” Ona supposedly took a leave of absence due to his allergic reaction to hair dye. Aquino said he had questions on the immunization program of the Department of Health, which Ona needs to answer. “He asked for time to prepare his answers… He will not be able to prepare for those if he continues his day to day activities,” he added. Aquino did not explain further, but said he wants a balance between the preventive and curative aspects of medicine for public health. “I keep on emphasizing that people should not get sick in order to prevent Read More …

Nov 042014
 
Gloria Arroyo seeks temporary house arrest to attend grandson’s wake

Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo arrives with husband, Jose Miguel, at the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court in Quezon City, Metro Manila, April 11, 2012. Arroyo entered a plead of not guilty to allegations of graft and corruption in the tainted telecommunications deal with China in 2007. REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo (PHILIPPINES – Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday asked the Sandiganbayan for a nine day temporary house arrest to attend the wake of her 13 month old grandson who died Sunday of a congenital heart disease. “Accused Arroyo respectfully prays that the Honorable Court immediately issue an order placing her under house arrest for nine days from November 3 to November 12 at her residence in La Vista [and to allow] her to attend daily the wake of her grandson at North Forbes [in Makati,]” Mrs. Arroyo’s motion read. In the same motion, Mrs. Arroyo asked that she be allowed to attend the burial of her grandson, the date and time of which has yet to be determined. In an emotional two page urgent ex parte motion for leave, Mrs. Arroyo asked the anti-graft court to allow her to visit the remains of Jorge Alonzo “Jugo” Arroyo Bernas, her grandson and the son of her only daughter, Luli Arroyo-Bernas. In her motion prepared by lawyers, the detained former Philippine leader detailed how she was devastated by the news that Jugo passed away. “Arroyo received the crushing news of Jugo’s death while Read More …

Nov 042014
 
No R&Rs for US soldiers in Subic

DOF says port calls cancelled due to ‘operational reasons’   SUBIC BAY, Philippines (Oct. 19, 2014) Sailors and Marines assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) participate in a 5K run sponsored by the Second Class Petty Officer Association during a port visit to Subic Bay Maritime Authority. Peleliu is on its final western Pacific deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region before decommissioning early next year. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Julianne Holland/Released) MANILA (AFP) – The US Navy has cancelled visits to the Philippine port of Subic amid public anger over accusations that a US Marine killed a Filipino on the city’s outskirts, officials said Monday. Foreign Department spokesman Charles Jose said the visits of three US ships to Subic this month had been cancelled, while the head of the Subic freeport said nine such visits scheduled for this year had been called off. “The DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) was informed through normal diplomatic channels of the cancellation of the visits to Subic of three ships for operational reasons,” he said. Jose told reporters he did not believe the cancellations were linked to anger stirred by the investigation of a US Marine for the killing of a Filipina in Olongapo City last month. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Robert Garcia said nine US ships due to dock at Subic this year had cancelled their visits. He told AFP that two US Navy ships were still Read More …

Nov 042014
 
Ambush survivor says six soldiers fought valiantly before they died

Relatives mourn 6 soldiers killed in Basilan ambush. In Zamboanga City on Monday, November 3, relatives of one of the six fatalities in the November 2 ambush staged by Abu Sayyaf bandits weep at the sight of their slain loved one. The soldiers were ambushed while conducting a security patrol in Sitio Mompol, Barangay Libug in Sumisip, Basilan around 7:30 a.m. The attackers were led by a certain Radzmi Jannatul and a certain Katatung. Jun Veneracion The remains of one of the soldiers killed in an ambush by the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan on November 2 arrived at Villamor Air Base Tuesday evening. Relatives of 2Lt. Jun Corpuz, 22, were emotional as they saw the flag-draped coffin bearing their loved one, radio dzBB’s Nimfa Ravelo reported. Photos posted by dzBB’s Ravelo showed the casket bearing Corpuz’s remains being carried by soldiers. A separate photo tweeted by GMA News’ Ian Cruz showed Corpuz’s parents Elizabeth and Cresencio holding back their emotions. Earlier Tuesday, the military held departure honors for the six in Zamboanga City before their remains were flown to their respective home provinces. Corpuz and his five fellow soldiers fought valiantly and would be missed, one of their fellow soldiers told GMA News’ Jun Veneracion on “24 Oras.” Private First Class Marvin Paragoso said he could have been among the fatalities. He suffered a wound in his foot in the incident. “Masakit kasi sa loob ko nangyari… Kaibigan ko sila. Masakit sa dibdib ko. Kasama ko sila sa katatawanan, sa Read More …

Nov 042014
 
First dengue vaccine likely to launch next year – DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) welcomed the possibility of the first dengue vaccine being available in the country by next year. “Definitely this vaccine will be of great help to the Philippines. This will add more protection for our community,” DOH spokesperson Dr. Lyndon Lee-Suy told GMA News Online on Tuesday. He added that once the vaccine is available, the DOH will create several models to determine which areas in the country need to be addressed first. According to a report on GMA’s “Balitanghali,” a French company is developing the dengue vaccine. The report also said that a pharmaceutical company that did research on the vaccine pegged the number of people hospitalized due to dengue every year at 500,000. At least 60,000 dengue cases nationwide have been reported since January. During the midyear, the following areas have been determined to have the most dengue cases: – Central Visayas (6,023 cases, up 51 percent) – Calabarzon (4,742, down 17 percent) – Davao Region (4,364, up 30 percent) – Western Visayas (4,444, up 102 percent) – SOCCKSARGEN (3,963, up 126 percent) — Andrei Medina/BM, GMA News

Nov 042014
 
Palace extends condolences to Arroyo family

Malacañang on Tuesday extended its sympathies to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo over the death of her 13-month-old grandson on Sunday. “We respect the decision of the Sandiganbayan and we condole with her and Luli for the death of their grandson and child,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said at a Palace briefing. On Tuesday, the First Division of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan partially granted the motion filed by Arroyo to leave her detention from 12 noon to 10 p.m. on November 4 to 9 to attend the wake of her grandson, Jorge Alonso “Jugo” Arroyo Bernas, at North Forbes Park, Makati. The baby, who died on Sunday due to a congenital heart disease, was the son of Arroyo’s only daughter Luli. The court also allowed Arroyo to attend her grandson’s burial set on November 10 from 7 a.m. to 3 pm. The court, however, denied Arroyo’s original motion for a nine-day temporary house arrest during Jugo’s wake. Arroyo is detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City since 2012 for plunder charges in connection with the alleged misuse of P366 million Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office intelligence funds. —NB, GMA News

Nov 032014
 
DFA says 3 US ships canceled port visits

In this Oct. 17, 2014, photo, a US marine walks inside the USS Peleliu, where US Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton was said to be detained after allegedly killing Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude at the Subic Bay free port, Zambales province. Nine US Navy ships scheduled to arrive in Subic in November until December have decided to cancel their port calls due to “anti-American sentiments” in the country after Pemberton was implicated in the slaying of Laude, a group of business owners said. AP PHOTO/AARON FAVILA MANILA, Philippines–Three US Navy ships have canceled their scheduled port visits to the country this month for operational reasons, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday. “The reconsideration of the port visits is a normal occurrence as US ships are deployed in many areas in the Pacific and are subject to changing operational requirements,” DFA spokesman Charles Jose said at a press briefing, citing a US Embassy diplomatic note. The Inquirer reported Monday that the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce had said that nine US vessels had scrapped scheduled port calls because of “anti-American sentiments” stemming from the slaying of Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude on Oct. 11 in an Olongapo City motel. US Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton is under detention at Camp Aguinaldo in connection with the killing, which has provoked new protests by leftist groups against the United States and calls for the scrapping of the Visiting Forces Agreement between Manila and Washington. Jose said he had Read More …

Nov 032014
 
Healthy, tasty fruit clusters

MANILA, Philippines – Looking for delicious grab-and-go snacks that pack a healthy wallop? Healthy Options, the Philippines’ leading all-natural products store, suggests delightful bite-sized organic apple pieces rolled into tasty clusters. Munch away at Peeled Snacks Apple Clusters, which offers a heaping of vitamins and minerals. Such good nibbles come without refined sugar, and also have no preservatives. Suited for all age groups, the product line, which consists of organic apple pieces rolled into clusters, contains fiber.  Such snacks are as close to natural as possible. They are a far healthier alternative to ordinary chips and other junk foods.  The innovative individual-serving packaging makes the product line a very suitable snack option for school-aged kids as well as adults on the go. The stay-fresh pack also seals in freshness. Take your pick from the palate-pleasing cinnamon crunch, apple crunch, or berry crunch. Visit the Healthy Options store near you. For more information, visit the Healthy Options website at www.healthyoptions.com.ph.

Nov 032014
 
CA Public Health establishes Ebola hotline

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/ SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has established an Ebola hotline call center to respond to public inquiries related to Ebola it was announced today by Dr. Ron Chapman, CDPH director and state health officer. “This hotline has been set up and staffed to answer questions from those concerned about the possibility of Ebola in California,” said Chapman. “Our goal is to be available to eliminate the mystery of this disease and offer the facts to Californians as the situation evolves. This is one in a series of steps we have taken in the last few months.” The hotline, 855-421-5921 will be in operation from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are currently no confirmed cases of Ebola in California and no suspect cases. Since the Ebola outbreak began in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, CDPH has worked with state, federal and local health officials to prepare for potential cases of Ebola in California. In August, CDPH launched an informational website compiling information about the outbreak and preparing California health care providers with guidance and protocols from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDPH has developed an interim case report form for reporting suspected cases of Ebola to CDPH and has distributed CDC guidance on specimen collection, transport, testing and submission for patients suspected of having Ebola. Last week, CDPH posted interim guidelines for Ebola medical waste management and recommended that all health care facility environmental services personnel and infection control staff work together to develop facility-specific protocols for safe handling of Ebola Read More …