Don’t lose a child in Dinagyang

 

“At the end of the day, the goals are simple: safety and security.”

—Jodi Rell

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

ONE of the best executive orders by a sitting city mayor in Iloilo City intended for the Dinagyang Festival was signed by Atty. Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas on January 22, 2024.

I have known the Dinagyang Festival; what it is all about; how it is prepared, managed, celebrated, venerated and promoted since the 70s as a resident of Iloilo City in the City Proper since birth.

I have witnessed scores of children wailing, waggling frenziedly and getting hurt after being left behind accidentally in the sidewalks and roads by adult companions or parents and couldn’t immediately locate them.  

But it’s the first time that a city mayor has emphasized the need to safeguard our children who may be brought by their parents and/or guardians to the festival or tarry in the crowded venues of the festival activities unaccompanied by any adult.

It’s the first time that the parents are being seriously exhorted in a city hall fiat to ensure the safety and security of their children who might be physically present in downtown, City Proper during the festival and the revelry that will ensue.

 

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In an Executive Order No. 010 Series of 2024 “Providing for safety and security measures to be implemented during the 2024 Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City,” Treñas “adopted” or zeroed in on the Iloilo City Police Office’s child safety guidelines.

In Letter A (Safety Measures for the General Public) of Section 3 on Permissible Activities; Prohibitions of the Executive Order, Treñas stressed the following:

-Set a meeting place for a child to go when he/she gets lost;

-Use identification cards, bracelets, o tags with contact information;

-Make sure the child knows his/her name and parent’s contact information; 

-Pair each child with a friend or sibling;

-Wear bright colors to be easily seen in the crowd;

-Bring a recent photo of the child. Keep a good watch on the child and hold hands in crowded places;

-Teach the child about “stranger danger” and remind him/her to NOT to talk or go with strangers; and

-Identify and teach the child to go to the nearest police assistance desk.

 

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SIGNS OF LIFE. One manifestation of possible life in a certain planet is the presence of micro organisms. Scientists have reportedly found a micro organism in planet Mars. 

Was Mars inhabited by living creatures millions if not billions of years ago? How about in Jupiter, Saturn, among other planets in and outside the Solar System not yet explored by human beings from planet Earth?

Those who condemn the person who rejects an organized religion should study Plato's "Allegory of the cave"

The evolution of human thought is among homo sapien's best contributions to civilization.

COUGAR PHILOSOPHER. Ayn Rand, author of "Atlas Shrugged", was reportedly a cougar like Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of Europe's most powerful women, Elizabeth I, Catherine II, and Mae West.

"Who are you?" was the first question Sophie Amundsen got from an anonymous letter sender in the New York Times bestseller "Sophies's World", a novel about the history of philosophy, written by Jostein Gaarder, author of "The Solitaire Mystery"

 SEX education is a broad term used to describe education about human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, contraception, and other aspects of human sexual behavior. Common avenues for sex education are parents or caregivers, school programs, and public health campaigns.

YOUNG GENERAL. George Washington was only 18 when he was appointed general of the Continental Army, and was the only U.S. president who didn't live in the White House… The FBI seized at least six more classified documents from President Biden’s Delaware home on Saturday, the president’s personal lawyer said. FBI agents searched the home for almost 13 hours and walked out with “six items consisting of documents with classification markings and surrounding materials,” attorney Bob Bauer told reporters.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

Iloilo blackout threat: A game of musical chairs

“Without electricity, the air would rot.”

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE are confident the Department of Energy (DoE) is on top of the situation to ensure that the final stages of the Dinagyang Festival 2024 this week won’t be sabotaged by veiled threats of a possible power outage owing to the “precautionary” announcement made recently by the country’s favorite whipping boy, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). 

The national government should not and cannot abandon the Ilonggos during their most important and emotional moments while celebrating the festival’s major events.

The atmosphere this week calls for a festive, relaxed, and serene moments as the venerated fluvial parade, among other most valued and sacred programs are scheduled to unravel.

Joy, hope, happiness, stability; not fear, panic, and uncertainty.

The last thing that will happen is to interrupt the proceedings and all the other remaining activities before and during the festival highlights on January 27 and 28.

There should be no place for the game of the musical chairs during the big cultural and religious festival in Iloilo City, which is being monitored by people from all over the world.

It will be instant Armageddon if NGCP and other authorized players in the country’s power industry will uncork—or fail to prevent the opening of—a pandora box that will result in massive blackout. God forbid.

It will be difficult for the Ilonggos to forgive and forget.

 

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This was NGCP’s advisory on January 17, 2024 that made many blood pressures to shoot up:

Unscheduled power interruption in Negros and Panay sub-grid at 6:48PM due to the unplanned outage of PEDC Unit 3 (121.11MW) at 6:44PM.

The unresolved internal issues of the remaining major power plants (PEDC Units 1 and 2, and PCPC) that precipitated the January 2 incident, qualify as a significant threat to system security following a credible N-1 event, and justifies manual intervention by the System Operator NGCP under Philippine Grid Code Section 6.2.3.4.

In order to preserve the integrity of the transmission system, NGCP implemented manual load dropping. 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬/𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝟕:𝟎𝟕𝐏𝐌.

However, following DOE and ERC instructions, another MLD may be implemented in the event of the tripping of another large plant in the Panay sub-grid.

The DoE was quick to assure the public on January 20 there would be stable power supply in Panay despite this advisory from the NGCP of a possible outage due to “unresolved internal issues” of a power plant supplying electricity to the area.

DoE Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan said in a media forum NGCP’s advisory was just a precautionary measure and should not cause alarm.

 

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As of this writing, winter storm continued to batter some areas in the East Coast. We have been advised to prepare and defend ourselves from possible spread of flu virus. 

Not all of my friends have flu vaccines thus, to help avoid the flu virus, there are a number of things for us to do, as emphasized by health authorities here.

First and foremost, anyone can still get the flu vaccination. While some people who get vaccinated may still get sick, the flu vaccination prevents millions of influenza illnesses every season, according to health authorities.

In fact, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended getting vaccinated every year as the best protection against catching the flu.

However, we have been warned not to rely on the vaccination alone when it comes to avoiding the flu virus. 

There are several other things to do in order to keep ourselves as protected as possible:

—We must keep our hands clean by washing them regularly, especially if we have been out in a public place where there is likely to be a multitude of germs.

—We must disinfect our home by ensuring we’re properly disinfecting, regularly spraying and wiping the surfaces with disinfectant spray or disinfecting wipes.

—We must steer clear of anyone who is coughing or sneezing: Germs can potentially enter our body through the air we breathe. We must stay at least six feet away from anyone who is actively coughing or sneezing.

—We must get enough sleep: We must keep our immune system strong by ensuring that we are getting enough sleep each night.

—We must eat plenty of fruit and vegetables: We must give our immune system another boost by eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, packed with important vitamins.

—We must disinfect communal surfaces immediately after use: One of the best ways to try to avoid the flu is through disinfecting high traffic surfaces as regularly as possible, health experts said.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

Sorry, it isn’t a vindication

 

“Corruption happens because there is impunity. That's the reason why corruption is widespread at all levels - from the person who asks for a bribe on the street to those who hold prominent positions.”

—Joao Lourenco

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IF Senator Jinggoy Estrada were Japanese, he would have committed a hara-kiri.

It’s a form of ritual suicide in Japan by defeated warriors (samurai). From the 17th to 19th centuries, hara-kiri was a form of death penalty, disguised as suicide, for accused individuals of Japan's warrior class.

But Estrada is a Filipino, a traditional politician, who lives a privileged and glossy life.

Pinoy politicians have some of the most notorious reputations when it comes to dishonesty and corruption.

If you’re a Filipino politician (with due respect to the good ones) and happens to visit abroad, it’s difficult to admit who you are for fear of being sneered at.

A politician is different from a patriot. The former is synonymous to graft and corruption and grandstanding; the latter is synonymous to patriotism, probity, and incorruptibility.

I have plenty of politician “friends” in the Philippines who are dedicated and mission-oriented, but they are outnumbered by politicians who are disgraceful and dishonorable.  

Thus, Estrada could still manage to smile and hollered, “I’m vindicated” after being cleared January 19 by the Sandiganbayan 5^th Division for plunder in relation to the pork barrel scam.

 

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Despite being sentenced by the same division to two to three years of imprisonment for indirect bribery and penalized with suspension of holding public office, public censure and perpetual special disqualification of the right to vote, Estrada thought he just won a Wimbledon tennis match by grinning from ear to ear while talking to reporters after the sentencing.

Being found guilty of one count of bribery and two counts of indirect bribery after allegedly pocketing P183 million in kickbacks from ghost projects masterminded by the “queen of pork barrel scam” Janet Napoles, is not a vindication.

The real meaning of vindication, according to Oxford, is a “proof that someone or something is right, reasonable, or justified.”

No, Jinggoy, you weren’t vindicated. You were found guilty and the reason why you weren’t delivered straight to the calaboose was because you availed an appeal in the higher court.

Estrada was sentenced to eight to nine years in prison for direct bribery and is ordered to pay a P3-million fine.

This isn’t a vindication.

  

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SAVING OUR PLANET. Let’s de-scorch with milk. To remove iron scorches from colorfast clothing and fabrics, let’s gently simmer the scorched article in one cup soap flakes (or grated pure-Castile soap) and four pints of milk for 10 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly, allow to dry, and wash normally.

IF WE GRAB A CANDY BAR when we have PMS, we're likely to recognize the hormonal connection. but what if it's our credit card we're reaching for? Turns out that spending may also be influenced by hormones.

No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek Him. -- HEBREW 11:6.

What is impossible for man is possible for God -- LUKE 18:27

I SUPPORT THE WELCOME CORPS. As an immigrant from the Philippines, I support the Welcome Corps commemorated January 19 by the Department of State, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services. Welcome Corps, a private sponsorship program that empowers everyday Americans to welcome refugees arriving through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), is now one year. Welcome Corps sponsors support refugees’ resettlement and integration as they build new lives in the United States. Through this service opportunity, more than 15,000 Americans have already applied to sponsor more than 7,000 refugees through the Welcome Corps, exceeding our mobilization goal for the program’s first year.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

 

 

 

Blackout plus signal shutdown will turn Iloilo into a purgatory

“When I try to be patient on my own, my patience is forced and short-lived. It is obvious to everyone that I am desperately trying to be patient.”

—Mother Angelica

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IT’S hard to imagine Iloilo City being swallowed whole by two behemoths while the Ilonggos are celebrating the Dinagyang Festival 2024, which officially romped off on January 12.

If this happens, it’s like watching the city and province of Iloilo turning into a purgatory, a place of purification or temporary punishment in which, according to medieval Christian and Roman Catholic belief, the souls of those who die in a state of grace are made ready for heaven.

Extremely scary and unpalatable. It would be one step closer to perdition and hell.

Ilonggos would explode in total revulsion and forcefully curse the national government for its inability and failure to safeguard the region’s power supply and protect Iloilo after being hit by a shocking darkness, a post new year howitzer. 

We’re referring to the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) proposed shutdown of telecommunication networks during the festival’s major events, and the looming power blackout as feared by the Department of Energy (DoE) because of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ (NGCP) intransigence and unforeseeable attitude toward power stability in Panay Island and the neighboring provinces in Western Visayas.

It seems the Ilonggos are being made to suffer and punished for the sins of irresponsible and incompetent bureaucrats. 

 

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Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC), with plants located in Iloilo City and servicing both the city and the province, can’t give any iron-clad assurance to the Ilonggos, as well, that massive blackouts that greeted the Ilonggos after the New Year’s Eve celebrations, won’t occur anew.

It will be uncertainty and fear once again. No one can tell when will the thief in the night strike again. What a year for the Ilonggos.

To compound the matter, NGCP had earlier disowned total responsibility but couldn’t explain the cause of the power plant outages except that an internal issue caused the trip off of PEDC Unit 1 plant on January 2. 

We hope the Sangguniang Panlungsod in Iloilo City, which recently “reviewed” the request of Police Regional Office (PRO-6) director, Brig. Gen. Sidney Villaflor, to reconsider the proposal made earlier by the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) to shut down the telecommunication networks during the Dinagyang Festival’s major events, will not succumb and reject with finality the absurd proposal.

It’s inconceivable and unthinkable to allow any authority or government agency like the PNP to play a Russian roulette with the Ilonggos. 

We also believe Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Trenas wouldn’t budge down or change his position regarding the telecommunication network shutdown.

Wishing that the Dinagyang Festival 2024 will be hassle-free and peaceful. Good luck to our fellow Ilonggos.

 

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OUR PERFECT VIEW. When burdened with life's trials and hardships, we ask God, "Why so many hills and mountains to climb in life?" God's answer, "For you to have a better view."

WINTRY WEATHER. After a frigid week complete with New York City’s first significant snowfall in nearly two years and a chilly arctic blast, even more wintry weather is in the forecast for the tristate area this weekend, the Daily News has reported.

Temperatures in the city on January 18 hovered in the mid-30s for most of the day. The National Weather Service issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook citywide and predicted that snowfall would begin late January 18 or early January 19 morning and continue throughout the day, likely dumping around 3 inches in the metro area. However, total accumulation will depend on how close the storm tracks to the coast.

Commuters should be wary, especially in the evening hours, the NWS added, warning of “snow-covered roads” and reduced visibility on Friday, June 19, warned the Daily news.

SECURITY THREAT. Foreign information manipulation and interference is a national security threat to the United States as well as to its allies and partners, according to the US Department of State, which announced an important new tool for addressing this problem: The Framework to Counter Foreign State Information Manipulation. This Framework seeks to develop a common understanding of this threat and establish a common set of action areas from which the United States, with its allies and partners, can develop coordinated responses to foreign information manipulation and protect free and open societies.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

 

 

Shut up, Janno! The public has the right to know

“By doubting we are led to question, by questioning we arrive at the truth.”

—Peter Abelard

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

“SHAME on you,” Filipino comedian Janno Gibbs lashed at people who tackled the controversial death of his award-winning actor father, Ronald James Dulaca Gibbs, a.k.a. Ronaldo Valdez in a press conference on January 15.

Almost a month since his dad died on December 17, 2023 in a bizarre manner, Janno was still seething with anger at people who “disrespected” his dad’s body when it was videoed and reportedly leaked in the social media, and at those who wanted to ferret out the truth.

Janno was furious when he first appealed to the public to “respect our privacy” a day after the incident happened in Quezon City where initial reports indicated Ronaldo, 76, was found with a gunshot wound while seated on a chair in his room with a gun allegedly in his hand, suggesting he might have accidentally pulled the trigger.

Now that Ronaldo’s thought-provoking death is slowly ebbing from the people’s memory, Janno, accompanied by his counsel, Atty. Lorna Capunan, suddenly came out swinging and haranguing those who “didn’t respect” his dad’s death and their family’s privacy.

 

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If Janno wanted the public to stay away from news regarding his dad’s controversial death, the logical thing to do was avoid the media and refrain from calling for a press conference. 

Before the press conference, no accurate detail was given to the public about Ronaldo’s case. Was he murdered or did he commit suicide?

The public has the right to know because Ronaldo was not only a celebrity, but also a famous potential victim of a heinous crime.

No one, not even the Quezon City police investigators, has ascertained yet whether Ronaldo killed himself or a member of the household murdered him, as of this writing, or more than a month since the incident occurred. 

There has been no official finding whatsoever from competent crime investigators and authorities as to the real story behind Ronaldo’s death.

The people—his legions of fans—have the right to know.

Janno’s saber rattling has no effect to the fans’ desire to find out the truth. 

If truth will be hidden—or won’t be unravelled officially—we can’t blame the public to continue to speculate as the only vehicle to finding out what really transpired on December 17, 2023, like what happened to the cases of Alfie Anido and Pepsi Paloma in the 80s. 

Were they murdered or did they kill themselves as alleged in the initial reports? Truth continued to be elusive.

Instead of barking “shame on you”, Janno should shut up, pave the way for a transparent and no-nonsense investigation, and let the people know the truth.  

It will set the whole Gibbs family free.

 

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Time flies so fast. I made my first court appearance in the United States in the sala of Judge Kenneth Freeman at the Superior Court of the Los Angeles County Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles on January 13, 2010 afternoon.

I was a “witness” in the People vs Roach case. I was grilled in the witness stand by two white lawyers—a male and a female—for 45 minutes.

Before I could say something—or before the defendant’s lawyers threw their first questions—a court officer asked me to stand up and raise my right hand and “swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. So help me God.”

This exposure in the American judicial system made me realized that jury trials allow 16 juries (14 individuals and two reserves) to make findings of fact and render a verdict for the trial. 

The judge decides questions of law, including whether particular items of evidence will be presented to the jury.

The United States’ jury system is a key component of freedom and democracy. Juries are composed of average citizens who actively participate in deciding the outcome of legal disputes brought to trial. People who make up the jury are chosen at random from the community.

 

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GOOD NIGHT, POUNDS. We don’t have to dream about weight loss. One way to make it a reality: Relax for 20 minutes before bed, suggests Dr. Dawn Jackson Blatner, author of The Flexitarian Diet. Winding down before hitting the pillows helps keep us out of the kitchen (and away from tempting leftovers). Let’s try mellowing out to soft music or soaking in a warm bath.

HELP PREVENT EATING DISORDERS. Adolescent girls who eat five or more meals a week with their families, are about one-third less likely to develop dangerous eating patterns (like self-induced vomiting and using laxatives or diet pills) than those who dine with their folks less often, reports a recent study from the University of Minnesota.

PISTACHIOS LOWER CHOLESTEROL.  A daily 1.5-ounce serving (74 nuts) can drop LDL 9 percent, significantly cutting our risk of heart attack disease. The nuts’ phytosterols appear to help stop the absorption of cholesterol from other foods we eat. That amount equals 240 calories, but it’s the same as 1.5 ounces (48) of not-so-healthy corn chips. (Source: Pennsylvania State University.)

MEDICAL BILLS. "Support our Troops" paraphernalia; however, gov't-issued brochures and videos featured a slightly different slogan during the WWII era--"Don't forget-- Put it on before you put it in." During the Second World War, many soldiers returned home with veneral diseases, costing the gov't millions of dollars in medical expenses.

CONDOM BLUES. About 28 percent of men have lost their erection as soon as they put on a condom. (Source: Kinsey Institute)

SAVING OUR PLANET. Let's push away pests. The smell of camomile deters most small flies. Let's make our own pesticide by infusing camomile flowers in hot water for 10 minutes. Let's spray on plants to prevent pests alighting.

SAVING OUR PLANET. Let's close our doors. Let's remember to close doors behind us when entering or leaving rooms. Many people don't realize that shutting doors, especially if they lead onto a hallway or to the outside, helps conserve a lot of heat by cutting down on drafts.

FAITHFUL HOUSEWIVES. Women who are housewives are, as a whole, more faithful than working women. (Kinsey Institute)

PRISON TERM. Up until 1884, a Victorian-era woman could be sent to prison for denying a husband sex.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

 

 

 

 

 

One-sided policy

“It is important for people to be able to read all sides of every question; for a feeling of national unity does not come from one-sided or inadequate information, but from a sense of freedom impartially secured and of opportunity equalized by a just government.”

—Jeannette Rankin

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WHILE we are “obliged” or being obligated to adhere to the One China policy contained in the Joint Communique of the Philippines and China signed by the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and Premier Zhou Enlai in June 1975, we can’t compel the People’s Republic of China to respect our rights and jurisdiction in the disputed West Philippine Sea and stop them from harassing our vessels.

In fact, our relationship with the People’s Republic of China has been a Punch and Judy show.

But if the People’s Republic of China wants us to explain something about a diplomatic faux pas, we tremble in our boots and immediately correct the “mistake” or “mistakes.” 

If this isn’t a one-sided policy, we don’t know what is.

For instance, shortly after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made a gaffe when he congratulated newly elected Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was forced to issue a statement “reaffirming” the principles contained in the Joint Communique of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the People’s Republic of China signed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos and Premier Zhou Enlai on June 9, 1975.

The Joint Communique states that “the two Governments agree to settle all disputes by peaceful means… without resorting to the use or threat of force.”

 

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The Philippines has accused the People’s Republic of China of parking its navy and coast guard vessels near some artificial island. As a result, Philippine vessels cannot pass through this area.The Philippines called this a floating barrier.

Meanwhile, some of the major bilateral agreements signed between the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China over the years, were as follows: Joint Trade Agreement (1975); Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement (1978); Postal Agreement (1978); Air Services

Agreement (1979); Visiting Forces Agreement (1999); Cultural Agreement (1979); Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (1992); Agreement on Agricultural Cooperation (1999); Tax Agreement (1999); and Treaty on Mutual Judicial Assistance on Criminal Matters (2000). 

On the eve of the 25th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in May 2000, the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China signed a joint statement defining the framework of bilateral relations in the 21st century.

 

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FOUR WAYS TO LIVE LONGER, ACCORDING TO GOOD HEALTH: 1. Let the sunshine in (maintaining a positive outlook in life) 2. Do good works (volunteer in at least two organizations) 3. Say a prayer 4. Socialize selectively (The landmark MacArthur Study of Successful Aging established that people with strong social connections enjoy better health).

KEEPING OUR BRAIN YOUNG. The glut of information on the internet can seem mind-numbing, but the stimulation we get from wading through it exercises our brain, which may keep it more youthful. UCLA scientists who connected older Web surfers (all were 55 and up) to a brain-scanning MRI machine found that searching the internet, like reading a book, stimulates the brain.

ACCEPTANCE AND PEACE OF MIND. What will we do if something which is lost can't be found, can't be replaced and can't be forgotten? Accept it! And live with a peace of mind!

CHUBBY HUBBY? Here's a way to get him to slim down: Tell him overweight men are at high risk of clogged arteries--and not just heart. Because of those vascular problems, heavy men are 30 percent more likely to have erectile dysfunction.

GO FISH. Omega-3 fats are good for our heart, but they can also be a boon to our waistline. In a multi-center study involving 232 overweight volunteers on a reduced-calorie diet, researchers found that when the dieters ate a meal rich in fatty fish, they felt fuller longer than those who had eaten leaner fish, such as cod.

FOUR TRAITS MEN FIND IRRESISTIBLE. 1. Ignore him after five minutes 2. Be comfortable in your skin 3. Show off your playful side 4. Talk about what you really love (Source: Cosmopolitan)

ON THE PILL? There is no evidence that oral contraceptives impair your fertility, no matter how long you take them. (Source: Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, professor of Ob-gyne at Yale School of Medicine.)

 

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BEST WATER FOR WEIGHT LOSS. If we're trying to control our appetite, let's drink fizzy water. The carbonation produces gastric distension, which can trick our tummy into thinking it's full. Beyond sipping on bubbly, try seltzer with a dash of juice or enjoy a white wine spritzer. It's a two-fer: It has fewer calories than a regular glass of wine, and we'll eat less as well. Source: University of Ulster.

MEDICAL MONEY SAVER. The next time our doctor offers us a free drug sample for an ongoing condition, let's think twice before accepting. Drug firms typically give out only more expensive brand-name drugs for samples, and in the long run, that can cost us money.

FROM EGGS TO FETUS. A fertilized egg is as small s the point of a pin. An 8-week-old fetus is about the size of a nickel.

THE SKINNY ON SUGAR DRINKS. An average child consumes 224 calories each day from guzzling sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, sports drinks, and punches, reports a Columbia University study. So, let's take inventory of the liquid calories lurking in the fridge, and swap in calorie-free alternatives.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

Signal shutdown is scary

“Monsters aren't as scary if you start shining lights on them.”

—Wyatt Cenac

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

INSTEAD of making an appeal to the Iloilo City Government to approve the proposed shutdown of telecommunications network during the major events of the Dinagyang Festival, the Police Regional Office-Western Visayas (PRO-6) should focus on the police works vis-à-vis the potential saboteurs and other troublemakers.

The telecommunications network shutdown has been proven to be worthless and unnecessary if its intention was “to maintain peace and order” when it was implemented in the previous Dinagyang Festivals.

In fact, Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Trenas and the city aldermen were correct to nix the absurd proposal made earlier by the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).

We’re sure the Ilonggo populace and the civilian authorities will back City Hall on this matter. 

Ditto for the visiting tourists, the Department of Tourism, the Iloilo Business Club, and other major stakeholders and sponsors. 

We expect Trenas, et al to further deny the appeal made by PRO-6 director, Brig. Gen. Sidney Villaflor. 

Trenas was expected to explain to Villaflor a signal shutdown during the festival’s highlight days or major and side events wouldn’t be necessary.

Like a power outage, a signal shutdown during the important local events like the Dinagyang Festival is scary and appalling. 

It’s like shining lights on the sleeping Frankensteins who don’t intend to wake up in the first place. 

 

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In the age of Internet and the social media, where electronic and satellite communications are vital and compulsory, shutting down the signals is like separating the Ilonggos—or the entire metropolis for that matter—from the rest of the world.

It’s like cutting off the entire city and province from the civilization albeit temporarily; and it has major negative consequences in the business, tourism, and safety of the Ilonggos. 

Ilonggos can’t afford a double whammy. Only weeks ago, or in the aftermath of the New Year’s Eve 2024 celebrations around the globe, a massive and perilous darkness brought by unannounced power interruptions, blanketed the entire populace and its environs.

With no assurances from the authorities, including the badly battered National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the Department of Energy, and other major sentinels in the country’s power industry, it isn’t far-fetched that power blackout will once again terrorize the Ilonggos like a thief in the night.

And what it if would strike anew during the Dinagyang Festival, or on the days—the highlights of the religious and cultural festival—that telecommunication shutdowns were implemented? God forbid.

 

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Typically responsible for maintaining public order and safety, enforcing the law, and preventing, detecting, and investigating criminal activities, the police in the region aren’t actually hard-pressed to safeguard the Ilonggos and their visitors during the Dinagyang Festival.

It’s their primordial duty to monitor, check and countercheck the movements and activities of lawless elements even without a mammoth festivity.

The City of Love is not a war-torn territory; it has been relatively peaceful with no history of sabotage from malcontents and terrorist disruptions. 

There have been no reports of terror groups and organized gangs mulcting from the business establishments and threats to inflict a mayhem in the civilian population if their demands weren’t met. 

Iloilo City and the neighboring municipalities affected by the festival’s economic and cultural spheres and influence isn’t as big and complicated as Metro Manila where the police authorities have been able to safeguard the people without much ado especially during the recent chaotic and more dizzying Black Nazarene procession.

 

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BRUTAL TEMPERATURE. A brutal winter storm has been sweeping across the US, with around 79 percent of the country expecting below-freezing temperatures early this week. Over 140 daily cold records could be broken from Oregon to Mississippi as temperatures in Memphis, Dallas and Nashville could stay below freezing for at least 72 consecutive hours. The storm has caused dangerous road conditions and airports are experiencing thousands of delays and cancellations. More than 4,000 flights within, into or out of the country, were postponed on Sunday, and over 1,000 were canceled, according to tracking site FlightAware. Residents in some states, including Texas, have also been urged to conserve electricity to prevent straining power grids.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)