And finally, my Alma Matter. They say that it is not allowed to take a photo of yourself with Oble (short for Oblation) at the background because you might not graduate on time. How mystical this statue is. Anyway, if its true or not I would avoid to have a photo op with Oble as long as I don’t receive my diploma yet.

Facade of the UPV Administration Building

by Jezrel Kirby Dela Cruz and Kate Aubrey Hojilla

source: http://www.bulatlat.com/

Too big responsibility: Too few working hands

119 barangays: 1 local office.

15, 696 – hectare municipality: 10 sq. m. office space.

36, 991 voting population: 3 office staff.

Figures have it. The local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office of Miagao, Iloilo is challenged of having to reach out to as many, if not all, voting population of the municipality. Now that the 2010 Election is fast approaching and the need to educate the voters about the automated election is crucial, Miagao’s local Comelec office is rushing up paper works and alerting plans for wider information dissemination – or it SHOULD be.

But as comfy as it seems, there is still and always time for coffee.

In at least five visits since February 2010, the reporters were asked to wait for a minimum of an hour or, worse, return the next day because Mr. Jessie Borro, the municipal Comelec officer, is out for a coffee break.

The office, however, has always been as busy as it looks. When one enters the office, the atmosphere is always the same. Piles of paper works and hundreds of folders labeled with names of each Barangay in clustered precincts are being managed by the staff that has been and is always on her seat in the second desk. But the first desk, which is supposedly the receiving area, is more often than not empty. Thus, a visitor is always greeted by the same busy and warm “staff from the second desk”. Separating the staff desks from the main desk of the local Comelec officer is a tall, wooden divider. But one doesn’t have to cross or take a peek if Mr. Borro’s there because the “staff from the second desk” is always ready with her answer, “Ai, wala pa si Sir. Nangape pa siguro. I-text ko lang siya. Hulat-hulat lang gamay ah.” (Oh, Sir is not yet in. He may be having coffee. I’ll text him. Just wait for a little while.)

The municipal Comelec office is undeniably efficient in terms of paper works. For one, the clustering of precincts of each Barangay’s registered voters is well-organized. The big folders, clearly labeled, are neatly arranged side by side in tall, library-like shelves. And when Mr. Borro’s present, he readily gives out requested documents. He recognizes fairly well that such documents are public and any individual or group of people could ask for copies of such office files. And that is very commendable. All he needs is a letter of request and he will provide what someone needs for free, sometimes even taking effort to look into the office’s archives and print new, electronic copies. This is what happened with a request from an incumbent party list group on early February, representatives from the party requested for the number of registered voters per precinct, results of the 2007 election, and official list of local candidates for the 2010 election. And when Mr. Jessie Borro was present, he provided all the files needed after a short while and for free. He even printed new copies since the old copies are quite unintelligible to read.

However, there are always the BUTs. And this time, although the municipal Comelec office is efficient in paper works and alert in requests, the constant coffee breaks reflected in another responsibility of the office, which extends not only to the clerical duty of organizing voter’s names and precinct numbers but also to the widest possible information dissemination through the Voter’s Education Forum. And the reporters followed on the details of this setback.

It is mandated by the Comelec that the importance of a Voter’s Education Forum should be seriously considered and the forum should be implemented in the widest possible reach. Consequently, efforts do not only come from the Comelec itself, but also from the academe, such as private and public schools, and non-government institutions, such as private establishments and business sectors. Provided, however, that forums should be in close coordination with the recognized Comelec officials of any city or province.

The demand for a Voter’s Education Forum is especially high now that the Philippines is on its way to its first-ever, fully-automated election. But in the locality of Miagao, the reporters see lack of effort on the part of the local Comelec office, which is supposed to spearhead this activity, and not only co-partner with the academe such as the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) and Southern Iloilo Polytechnic College (SIPC).

Detailing the Voter’s Education Forum: Office-style VS Real Scenario

Miagao’s local Comelec office set February 19, 2010 (Friday) for the biggest Voter’s Education Forum in the municipality. The venue was Britanico Hall, known as the Miagao Cultural Center, located just beside the municipal plaza. According to an interview with Mr. Edison Molanida, the municipal tourism officer, the Hall could accommodate 800-1,000 persons only. The success of the activity is highly questionable. The municipality roughly has 37, 000 registered voters, and the bulk of it comes from far-flung barangays. And unlike other nearby municipalities such as Guimbal, there weren’t any visible promotions for the said activity. Also, take into consideration what the Comelec has failed to provide: their promised, as scheduled, showcase of the Precinct Count Optical System (PCOS) machine. As usual as it is and also what always happens in every Voter’s Education Forum which is supposed to show the machine live, PCOS never arrived. The Miagaoanons who attended the forum were left with no choice but to settle with just viewing the machine from a video presentation through a multimedia projector, which was obviously not big enough for an effective learning experience, given the venue’s lighting system and the number of participants. A voters’ education is ineffective if the people do not experience the machine first hand.

Aside from the Voter’s Education Forum as scheduled above, Nilda Callado, Election Assistant III, said that the municipal Comelec office has conducted Voter’s Education Forum in four clustered precincts, namely Brgy. Palaca, Brgy. Kirayan, Brgy. Valencia, and Brgy. Buenavista Norte. But what is four (4) clustered precincts compared to a total of one hundred twenty-two (122)? It is roughly two months until the elections on May 2010 and this leaves the office a very limited time to pursue their efforts, if there are still any.

The question now is to how the many other barangays, unfortunately located far from the municipal center, could have their Voter’s Education Forum. Mr. Borro answered this by citing that the municipal Comelec office has left the responsibility to the barangays’ respective population offices, or to Barangay councils headed by Barangay captains. Ms. Callado said that they have difficulties in reaching far barangays so in order to solve the problem; they assigned the barangay captains of each barangay to conduct their own voters’ education forum. Ms. Callado added that the Barangay Statistics Population Office (BSPO) in every barangay will also help organize these events. Although it is a good idea to reach far barangays and still organize voters’ education forum to reach the less informed people about the new election process, it is not an assurance that all barangay captains and the BSPOs have proper knowledge about the automated elections. The level of implementation is also questionable, the office may be very busy already to still apply strict measures in order to monitor the progress and effectiveness of the forum.

In the previous interviews with Mr. Borro, he mentioned that one of the office’s strategies to inform the Miagaoanons about the new election process is by asking them some time after masses in Miagao Church. This strategy, however, may not be very effective since after every mass, Miagaoanons usually hurry to go about their other daily activities. And the time may not be sufficient because a thorough Voter’s Education Forum usually take up at least two hours.

Delayed Mock Election

In other municipalities in Iloilo, the Mock Elections have been finished early this year. In Miagao, however, there weren’t any schedules yet.

As of press time, Mr. Borro is attending a training seminar for teachers at the Sarabia Manor Hotel, Iloilo City. This seminar started March 10 and will end on March 13, 2010. After the seminar, Mr. Borro is also expected to attend other election-related trainings and seminars. These are the reasons why as of this writing, there is still no definite schedule for mock elections in Miagao. Ms. Callado said their target date for mock elections will be on April. This is already considered late considering that the actual elections will be held on May and the Comelec is expected to be much busier a month before the elections. This could cause failure to organize a mock election in Miagao. And a failure to organize a mock election, where registered voters could practice the new election process first-hand, may hinder a fully effective automated election, and may even cause spoiled ballots, or wasted votes.

Conclusion

119 barangays: 1 local office.

15, 696 – hectare municipality: 10 sq. m. office space.

36, 991 voting population: 3 office staff.

Again, figures have it. And could we blame the municipal Comelec office of Miagao?

Partly, the reporters say.

While the office is undeniably efficient in terms of paper works, it has taken for granted another responsibility. And this responsibility is the one which extends to the people it is supposed to serve. The office should reconsider their being lax when it comes to the pressure of educating as many Miagao voters as possible when it comes to the new election process. Furthermore, the office should also reconsider their being overconfident when it comes to time. It is roughly only two months left before the May 2010 election.

Coffee breaks aren’t bad. They make busy minds relax. But they are also supposed to keep people in track when cups are emptied. And too much of anything spells disaster, and at this point of time when Comelec is on its toes of proving that it is capable of implementing fully automated polls nationwide, its local affiliates and offices should also take part in realizing this goal.

Recommendations

Miagao’s local Comelec office should reconsider its stance. And may these recommendations matter:

A calendar of activities. The office must be strict in deadlines and schedules.

Well-informed office staff.  The staff must be properly informed about the office’s plans so that they will have ready answers for the questions of any concerned body.

Well-delegated duties. The responsibility of the staff shouldn’t end in paper works. In the absence of Mr. Borro, the office shouldn’t appear incapacitated; hence, it should still be a venue that can provide necessary answers about elections. Since Mr. Borro is always busy or out, he should leave the staff knowledgeable about office’s plans and give tasks so that the staff themselves could be capable of conducting Voter’s Education Forum in behalf of him.

Last February, I visited barangay Lumangan, a rural area in the town of Miagao and interviewed the people there about their education. Based on my interviews, majority of the interviewers (all mothers) have finished high school which means they exceeded the expected level of education based on the millennium development goal. Their children are mostly day care pupils and most probably enroll in elementary education in a nearby school.

As far as the people I interviewed are concerned, money is the primary problem that could probably hinder their kids’ education. But since studying in a public elementary school is inexpensive, it is safe to conclude that this development goal could be achieved by the people there. But what remains to be the real dilemma aside from the financial problems, which people in Lumangan overlooked, is their big number of children. Most interviewees have big family sizes, with children exceeding more than three. Their children also have minimal age gaps, from one to two years. That could be a major problem in the future where their children start schooling at the same time. It is more difficult to send two or more children all at the same time with limited finances. This, among other problems should first be addressed by the people in Lumangan and the local government. The solution? Not just better family planning, but the it will be more easily achieved if the government gives more priority and of course budget on these goals.

 Image source: http://web.sau.edu/politicalscience/un.jpg

source: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2793097589_1a236a3f15.jpg

The University of the Philippines isn’t only limited to providing quality education at the four walls of the classroom but it is also committed in giving back to the community. Last November, UP Visayas donated several school facilities to public elementary schools in the towns of Miagao and Oton.

Based on the university publication, UPViews , eight public elementary schools in Miagao and one in Oton are the recipients of donated items such as office furniture, appliances, computer equipments and gadgets among others.

This only proves that the university doesn’t forget its responsibility to give back to the public.

While the University has various community development projects, the UP budget that is spent for the academe alone is competing with the budget allotted for other university projects. For the past years, we have witnessed how the present administration cut the UP budget so the university have a hard time to divide the budget among all its academic and non-academic concerns.

With the UP budget cut, it is good to note that the university, even if it has limited financial resources, still manages to give service to the people. While giving back to the community is just encouraged and not required, it is a noble move for the university to still push this project through amidst financial instability.

They say the UP student is the best of the best.  He leads a simple life; is well-rounded and smart.  The UP student is involved in the most pressing issues of the country because of his love for the motherland.  He is willing to serve it even after he graduates—characteristic of a true iskolar ng bayan.  He is noble, and he is proud of that.

Well, that’s what they think.  Right now, this UP stereotype needs a reality check.

The ideal UP student is intelligent—an honor student, an achiever, a leader.  Now, UP students are not necessarily intelligent.  They are however hardworking and diligent—the reasons why they excel in the academe.  Being a UP student is not merely struggling for knowledge and learning.  It is constantly enduring the demands of school work together with extra-curricular activities and social responsibilities and of course, your personal time.  But because you are from UP, the bar is raised higher as compared to the average college student.

The iskolar ng bayan is not the son or daughter of a business tycoon nor was he born to an old-rich family.  The iskolar ng bayan is the son or daughter of a humble worker in the fields or an employee in government offices or small enterprises or even self-employed individuals just struggling to make ends meet.  This why the ideal UP student is accustomed to and enjoy a simple lifestyle.  But now, the UP student has his fair share of branded outfits and sophisticated gadgets.  Havaianas footwear, signature shirts, and the best laptops only fall a little short of the ordinary.  UP has opened its doors a little wider now for the higher middle class and even the elite.

The real UP student takes a lot of pride from where he’s from.  You can see him in his UP jacket, UP shirt, UP lanyard, UP baller and everything else that screams “UP” to anyone who bothers to look.  But where does this UP pride stem from?  It is from the realization that the UP student owes his education to the taxes of the Filipino people, and he is supposed to give back what he owes.  But what is there to be proud of when this is precisely what the UP student has forgotten?

UP pride is not anymore about being of service to the motherland.  It is not the reason why the UP student excels in school.  He continues to excel in school to advance his status in the competitive economic and business-centered world that will welcome him when he graduates.  The love for learning and the eagerness to seek knowledge is not anymore the driving force in intellectual discourse.  The UP student doesn’t anymore seem interested in making significant changes through innovation.  He is merely struggling to keep his head above the turbulent waters of trying economic times.  The priority is a better life for himself, because more than anything else, he needs to ensure his own survival first.  He has become just like everybody else.

People may say that the UP student is the head of the pack of his generation.  He has what it takes to make things happen.  But people change and nothing stays constant.  We may attribute these changes to an evolving culture or increased influence from all over the world.  But we cannot deny that every individual still has his own choice.  And given that UP is a symbol of democracy, free will and social responsibility, we can stay that the UP student has taken a stand for himself, one that people cannot question, a decision we can only hope is intelligent.

source: http://www.chiltonmemorial.org/images/motherbaby.jpg

There has been an alleged maltreatment by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) on the students of UPV Miagao. This issue was later labeled and known as the “OSA Harassment”.

To give a basis for this issue we cited incident reports that claim to prove that “OSA Harassment” is present:

1.)   Sandigan ng Mag-aaral Para sa Sambayanan Party Alliance (SAMASA-PA) distributed pamphlets entitled “Home Sickness and How to Combat it”. It is an information drive which aimed to help the freshmen students survive the university. It was given out during the Opening Ceremony of A.Y. 2009-2010 in the UPV Auditorium, Iloilo City campus.

2.)   On July 22, 2009, the alleged maltreatment of OSA was given a name. In a game show launched during the 62^nd Foundation Week of UPV called the “Family Bee”, there was a segment which resembled a version of a GMA-7 game show called “Family Feud”. A survey about the top issues that students face in the university became a controversy. One of the top issues was labeled “OSA Harassment”. The survey was done by the UPV Statistical Society. The organization responsible for the survey was then summoned by the OSA.

3.)   In February 2009, a dorm to dorm “consultation” was done by the OSA. It was headed by Director Geraldine Garcia. The “consultation” was about the Electric Bill Adjustment (EBA). The students didn’t take it as a “consultation” as labeled by the OSA. Instead, they considered it as a mere information dissemination since on that time, EBA was already final and is about to be implemented.

4.)   Because of security lapses, like the incidents of theft inside the UPV Miagao campus, OSA initiated a proposal on adjusting the curfew hours from 10-12pm to 9-11pm. This wasn’t able to undergo any consultation and it violates a provision in the UP Charter which states that there should always be a consultation with the students in any policies drafted or proposed.

5.)   In case a student is called, the OSA does not follow a due process. There isn’t any formal note relayed to the students nor clear guidelines set as to how they should be treated and how they should present their defense.

source: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/47/154567026_6d96a13b5d.jpg

According to one of the mass leaders of SAMASA Party Alliance, on the issue of the Electric Bill Adjustment, the request of former OSA Director Agustin Huyong to adjust the Electric Bill on UPV Dormitories was later on pushed-through by current OSA Director Geraldine Garcia. He added that the dorm to dorm visit of the OSA Director was not a consultation but just mere information dissemination. The breakdown of bills that will show the reason why an adjustment should be imposed was not presented. He said that the reason for the implementation of EBA could be traced to the UP Budget Cut wherein the additional money they get in the implementation of EBA could supplement the budget of the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenditures Department (MOOE).

According to students randomly interviewed, nine out of ten agreed that the implementation of EBA did not undergo a genuine student consultation. They also agreed that it became another burden for the students.

Another policy that according to students did not undergo consultation is the curfew adjustment of dormitories. From the original closing hours wherein students who are outside dormitory premises are only aloud to get in every thirty (30) minutes from 10 pm – 12 midnight, was adjusted to 9 – 11 pm. The reason for the implementation of this policy, according to OSA, is the rampant theft incidents inside the UPV Miagao campus. But according to JI Aquino, Councilor of the Fisheries Student Council, the issue on theft should be addressed to the security and not the students.

It is during night time that students have the chance to make their school works. With the new curfew policy, students who live in different dormitories can no longer extend their work until midnight. Thus, it is another burden for the students especially those who will have their thesis next year when the curfew will be implemented.

In issues such as this that students are the ones greatly affected, it is a legal mandate to hold a genuine consultation that will enable students to give their stand and opinion.

Sarah Jean Toriano, Councilor of the School of Technology-Student Council said that there is no assurance whether or not a new curfew could mean that students will be more secured.

Victoria Plameras, an Applied Mathematics student is also worried that even private dormitories around the campus could also be affected by the curfew hours. She said that she saw this announcement on the publicity posted by the OSA. She also noted that Natonio’s Dormitory, one of the private dorms inside the university is already having a logbook wherein students record their late and/or overnight permits. She said that the reason for a student to stay in private dorms is that the regulations are less strict compared to UP dormitories. But the implementation of the new policy in private dormitories doesn’t make it different with UP dorms anymore.

On the issue of the survey that gave a name to the alleged maltreatment (“OSA Harassment”) as one of the top issues being faced by UPV students on a game show called the “Family Bee”, the president of the UPV Statistical Society (StatSoc) who led the conducting of the survey refused to give a statement. However, her friends (who refused to be named) told the reporters that she (the Stat Soc president) was not treated very well by the OSA officials after the incident. They do not anymore pay attention to her once she asks them to sign permits for her organization’s activities, while it is a must that any activity proposed should be approved by the OSA.

On the issue of students being called by the OSA without formal notice, a mass leader of the SAMASA-PA said that when they released pamphlets of “Home Sickness and How to Combat it” during the opening ceremony of the Academic Year (A.Y.) 2009-2010, the OSA questioned it. As for the questioning, the OSA summoned their presence. According to him, they received a text message from an OSA official that they will be having a meeting with the OSA Director. He said that the means of coordinating with them through text messaging is acceptable but the reason for why they are being called by the OSA was not stated in the text message. He added that by doing this, OSA is violating their right to know as a student. This also made them formulate assumptions as to what their violations may be, therefore adding stress that could have been avoidable if only they knew what they were being called for.

The students were also asked of their perception with OSA Director Geraldine Garcia. One said that it is difficult to contradict Garcia’s decision. For instance, Garcia did not consider the suggestion of a student council that the Lantern Parade be held in Miagao. She refused and stick to her decision that the Lantern Parade should be held in the Iloilo City Campus.

Meanwhile, the reporters asked the students on how they would rate OSA’s performance on their duties on a scale of 1-10, one being the lowest and ten the highest. The result was 5.6 over 10. This means that OSA’s performance based on the perception of students only falls under the average level. We also asked them why they chose to give that score and majority of them answered that OSA lacks in finding good solutions to the present problems that the students have. There are also some other pressing problems that are left behind. Most of the solutions they present to the students are also questionable, especially on the argument on effectiveness.

A student leader, who refused to be named, said that the OSA is not performing the function it is mandated by the university. It should have been a facilitator of student’s concern. But what shows is apparently the opposite.

They said that OSA is becoming anti-student, it is too restrictive and that it has the tendency to deny some of the basic students’ rights that make UP a symbol of freedom.

Of all the points raised by the students to question the performance and credibility of the OSA, as well as justify and validate the maltreatment labeled as “OSA Harassment”, it is only proper to get the side of the office being questioned.

The reporters tried to get OSA’s statement on the issue but OSA Director Geraldine Garcia has been very busy trying to finish her work in the campus because she is, as of press time, about to leave for Bangkok, Thailand. The reporters, however, managed to talk to her but she instead advised them to talk to Ms. Estella Pador, UPV-Miagao Guidance Counselor.

The reporters then tried to get a statement from Ms. Pador, but she is also, as of press time, very busy since she has delayed tasks such as interpreting the psychological exams of graduating students. The delay caused her weeks.

The Office of the Student Affairs, by virtue of its duties and responsibilities in the student body, should spearhead policies that cater to the needs of their constituents. The name of the office itself embodies a mandate that it should be “for the students”.

However, the points raised qualify the maltreatment that it has been alleged to commit. Majority of the students questioned is not satisfied with OSA’s performance. Although they weren’t able to experience first-hand this alleged maltreatment, they are, in one way or another, affected by the anti-student policies that OSA itself have proposed and drafted.

Typically, the OSA should be the very office that students run into when they are troubled or if they have concerns, but now; the circumstances fell on the opposite way. The OSA is not anymore concerned of the “student affairs”, it is now becoming an office for mere signatories to approve school activities.

The reporters would have been more enlightened if the OSA was able to answer the points raised by the students, or at the very least, explain their side as to what could have been the possibilities why students feel maltreated.

It is evident that a problem exists. And this same problem will continue to persist until the OSA could address the students’ clamor and concern.

That’s JUST money.” Can you remember someone saying to you this line putting a proper emphasis on the word “just”? Nowadays, it seems that money is indeed just money. A paper instrument to get the item you want. Imagine spending money in a matter of a click. The internet provides you that great service. Before, money makes the world go round. Now, even if you don’t have money, you can still buy what you want since money comes into a new form these days: credit cards! During a busy day of shopping on malls, a swipe or two is enough and your bills are already paid even without a single penny on your pocket! Wow! Imagine a life where your bills are being paid by someone else.

So how to be a one-day millionaire? (Not how to become a millionaire in one day, okay?) Here are some few easy steps:

1. Make sure first that you have the ability to pay. Say, your a young executive who earns 30,000 pesos a month. If you are what this step describes, then you can freely proceed to the next step. If you are not, you can always find “other” means to get into the next step.
2. Go to a bank- Apply for a credit card. You can choose from different bank offers of credit cards. There are those who offers credit limits but there are some banks who offers unlimited credit.
3. Wait for a few, and shop, shop and away! Being a one-day millionaire doesn’t just mean to spend your credit card limits, but spend it the high-end way. And that means including designer brands Prada, LV and Hermes into your shopping list.
4. After shopping, it is important to put your card straight to the wallet without even glancing at it! It takes a talented man/woman to do that! No worries. That should summarize your shopping day. Shopping should be managed to be as easy as A,B, C.
5. The last step and the most glam way of ending your shopping spree is to flaunt your shopping bags! It is fulfilling to see those envy eyes looking around you. And those dreamy looks that wanna be shopaholics give to you.

Life is an experience. You should at least experience a lot of feelings before the inevitable happens. And feeling rich for one day should be in the list  of feelings you might want to try. At least for less privileged people like me. By following those few easy steps, then feeling rich is just a card away.

Sadly, this essay doesn’t provide suggestions on what to do after your “one day millionaire experience”. But since life is an experience, whatever happens next after spending so much should also be felt! But at least whatever may happen, you get a lesson out of it.

If you still don’t have any idea what happens next after spending the limits of your credit card then we’ll give you a hint. A ringing telephone! Then the next thing you do is now according to your judgment.

As an extension of this essay, I suggest you watch the movie “Confessions of a Shopaholic”. There you’ll learn how pleasurable it is to shop, but if you want to, just forget about the down side.

I’ll have to hang-up there, my phone’s ringing again! And wait, my door bell’s ringing too!

source: http://www.stanford.edu/group/ccr/blog/obese%20mcdonalds.jpg

Wikipedia defines obesity as a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems. To determine your body mass index (BMI), your weight and height is being compared. People who have a BMI between 25 kg/m2 and 30 kg/m2 are overweight while people who have a BMI greater than 30 kg/m2 are considered obese.

source: http://blog.gamer20.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/russianwrestler.jpg

As I watched ABS-CBN’s late-night documentary program “The Correspondents” yesterday, talking about the topic of obesity in the Philippines, I was awaken by the true lifestyle of obese people. Yes, they eat too much food, causing them to overweight but most of what they featured are people who are naturally fat. Naturally fat in a sense that they get it out of heredity. There is one person they interviewed where no matter how hard he tries in exercising, he’s still fat. Abner Mercado, the reporter of the documentary who is also obese based on the BMI test he did in the program, interviewed this person six years ago. I was hoping for a positive result after six years, but there he was pretty much looking the same since the first time he was interviewed, six years ago. I see no difference with his physical appearance six years ago and at present. But the difference with this man is that he exercises a lot this time. He may still look big but he could already be out of being obese for exercising regularly and he could be considered healthy now.

You see the issue here is not the weight but the measurement of us being healthy or not. I know some people who look fat but they are healthy. And there are those who are thin, which we assumed to have a normal, healthy body, but actually malnourished. I believe that it’s not on the body mass but on the health itself. Being healthy translates to eating nutritious food and exercising properly. I don’t think that it’s on the weight. I have a friend who thinks she’s fat and obese but can carry her body well. Obese people are those who cannot afford to walk, run or even climb stairs that is far or high enough since they cannot carry their body due to their weight. But my friend can do these things without exerting so much effort. It is just her self-esteem that determines she’s obese and not her actual health which could be considered healthy despite of her weighty appearance.

It is also not on the food we eat. There are people who eats a lot, but don’t become fat or obese. There are also people that no matter how hard they try in eating less amount of food, they still grow big. While watching the documentary, I was with a dorm mate who also assumes that he’s obese. He said that he was depressed watching the show so he will not eat a lot anymore. But according to Asian Bariatrics, an advocacy group committed to create awareness on the problem of obesity, dieting should be partnered with physical exercise. If a person does eats a lot but exercises regularly, he could prevent obesity.

With this, I would like to contradict the notion that the documentary gave to the audience that eating a lot could cause us obesity. I say that it doesn’t apply for all people. Of course, there are people who eat a lot and eventually become obese but some of the people they featured in the program are naturally fat. A woman interviewed, even admitted that she was fat even when she was a kid. I’m not a doctor, but I assume that her case is hereditary. Maybe she got it from her parents. So it is not always the food we eat that should be blamed.

Therefore, I conclude that it is not on the food we eat or how big we weigh on the scale but it’s the wholeness of our health practice. The prevention of obesity relies on our self-discipline. Not all fat people are unhealthy. So in order to avoid being obese, we should practice balance. No one’s stopping you from eating a lot as long as you exercise a lot too.

sources: http://asianbariatrics.rxpinoy.com/new_challenge.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity

www.flickr.com

I can just imagine how difficult it is to survive with that super earthquake considering that Haiti is just a small island country. In the Philippines, typhoon victims already struggle to survive, so how much more that in Haiti, it lacks medical services and other necessities. and what hit them was even greater than the super typhoons we had in the Philippines last year. It was a 7.0 magnitude earthquake! That was strong enough to rapture the whole island country of Haiti.

www.flickr.com

When I google some pictures of the Haiti Earthquake, I could only see one common feeling—sorrow. People there have all the reasons to be sorrowful. Hunger, lack of medical aide, people died due to the earthquake and many others are still missing.

As I analyze it, what happened in Haiti is worse compared to what happened in the Philippines just months ago. We are not actually talking about hundreds who died here but thousands and counting.

It’s a good thing that today, movements around the Globe are trying to find ways on how to extend their help. Social Networking sites like facebook and twitter already have applications that could help the victims by just making a click. See? You don’t even need to personally go there to help, by just searching in the internet, you could find trusted sites which will make you extend your help.

Humanitarian missions around the world has also sent their teams. Even third world countries such as the Philippines have a team sent there to help the people oh Haiti on their medical and other needs.

By just looking at those picture, I’m sure you would show compassion to those people. So if ever, you have a chance to help, then HELP NOW!