MikeLigalig.com

Quote from: preciousNpolite on January 09, 2008, 04:05:56 AM
After i had presented the shocking concern with documents of the accident, and the sketch of the police report, and the police report with a copy of the Americans death certificate the Mayor Dan Neri Lim was only left to "JOLT!"

What a slap in the face that an American writer in the local media would have the job to confront the mayor the robust has to have it his way mayor at that and then he reacts in a follow up interview with me that he and the local city government were totally negligent in the way the case was not handled by either the Mayor or the water department.
Last Friday in a discussion with mayor and a follow up to the story  that was also printed on the back page of Sundays The Bohol Standard edition Mayor admits to negligence resulting in the following disciplinary measures; The driver Peter Blanco was terminated for life to work there ever again.
The city water Dept. Eng. Wellington Pilongo was also suspended as of Monday for one month with out pay.
The police have filed a case against the driver.

When I had questioned the mayor on wether or not if Peter was his Barkada he shrugged his shoulders foreward and backwards and said "No thats not even true."

I am confident that i did a great job on aspects reporting everyone side that was involved.

Maybe I will do a follow up with the police tomorrow?

For next Sundays edition  of the news.

Good job on the interview. I agree. A follow-up is necessary. For Zach's case.

Psalm 19

The Witness of Creation and Scripture

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky proclaims the work of his Hands.
Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.

There is no speech; there are no words their voice is not heard.
Their message has gone out to all the earth; and their words to the ends of the inhabited world.

In the heavens, he has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a groom coming from the bridal chamber;
it rejoices like an athlete running a course.
It rises from one end of the heavens and circles to their other end;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

The instruction of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy,
making the inexperienced wise.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
making the heart glad;
the commandment of the Lord is radiant,
making the eyes light up.

The FEAR of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are reliable
and altogether righteous.

They are more desirable than gold
than an abundance of pure gold;
and sweeter than  honey
than honey dripping from the comb.
In addition, your servant is warned by them;
there is great reward in keeping them.

Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
Morever, keep Your servant from the willful sins;
do not let them rule over me.
Then I will be innocent,
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart
be acceptable to YOU,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 15

A Description of the Godly

Lord, who can dwell in your tent?
Who can live on your Holy Mountain?

The one who lives honestly, says the Lord.
Practices righteousness.

And acknowledges the truth in his heart-
who does not slander with his tongue,
who does not harm his friend
or discredit his neighbor;
who despises the one rejected by the Lord,

But honors those who fear the Lord,
who keeps his word whatever the cost,
who does not lend his money at interest
or take a bribe against the innocent-
the one who does these things will never be moved.

Psalm 14

A Portrait of Sinners

The fool says in his heart,
"God does not exist."
They are corrupt; their actions are revolting.
There is no one who does good.
The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race
to see if there is one who is wise,
one who seeks God.

All have turned away;
all alike have become corrupt.
There is no one who does good,
not even one.

Will evildoers never understand?
They consume my people
as they consume bread;
they do not call on the Lord.

Then they will be filled with terror,
for God is with those who are righteous
You sinners frustrate the plans of the afflicted,
but the Lord is his refuge.

Oh, that Israel's deliverance would come from Zion!
When the Lord restores
His captive people,
Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.

Welcome to Tubag Bohol, Charie!

Warm Regards

Wow Cebu!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MIdTOOWtcNY

Pretty pumped up; going gun shooting with my Uncle Steve tomorrow.
Right now, getting ready for an evening jog.

Peace out 'folks.

Very much so.

hahaha anti-fecha dos crusade da! LOL

Lami man gud nang sushi, 'te!

Quote from: Spiderman on January 08, 2008, 02:51:11 AM
aj bay Lorenzo. You disappoint me. All the time I thought you are an intelligent and well read person. But you failed to know the truth about your own hometown.

I dont doubt about your titos honesty but the Lims?
Wow pare..panagsa ra gayod diay siguro ka makauli as Valencia.

I try to get in contact with relatives as much as possible, given the circumstance. I have not been back to Valencia since 1998 and talk to relatives frequently. I do agree with you that corruption is a problem, not once did I deny that fact. All I am trying to say ,sir, is that the problem will not fix itself, if there is something that the people want done to solve it, then do it. It is easy for them to talk and talk; if they are truly against the current situation and the current administration in Valencia, then they should make it known in the polls.

You dont have to be sorry. Your opinion is very important, and so is mine. The good thing, sir, is that we are discussing this and exchanging words and points of view.

Forgive me lang if I came out rather defensive in my initial post.

My warm regards,
Bran Lorenzo

haha! Give my regards to Lola! your nanay!
Okey ra man mi tanan, dinhi, Tita. Naa mi dinhi sa New Jersey. Ahong mama man si Liza Salvo Lucino, ahong papa man si Rico Lucino. Akong ante, Celeste Salvo naa siya sa Texas with her family. I pa hatag pod ahong regards sa imung pamilya!

God Bless, Tita!

lol. Thats one big panty.

The American economy is somewhat under a sloop, some say it is due to the fiscal spending; the Billions of dollars spent in the Iraq War. However, the American economy has been known to bounce up from such predicaments.

I know that the Philippine economy is surging, and this surge manifests in a greater Peso-to-Dollar equivalence. Our economy is growing at 7%! That is massive! I can only hope that the Peso stabilizes; growth stabilizes and maintains its course until we become a 1st world nation.

I do agree. The country has boomed because of the GMA administration.
Keep up the good work!

I do hope Obama wins. He is the epitome of the New America.

A multi-cultural America.
A reinvigorated America.
The America of the Future.
The Mighty, Proud, and Just America.

My heart beats proud as a Filipino-American. I Support Sen. Barack Obama!

Thanks for sharing that anecdote, Smiff. I hope that your friend is dealing with it, I know how hard it is to loose a very close friend. The death of one of my closest friends this past November 20th  will forever be etched in my mind. Sometimes, it feels so surreal, one cannot believe that it is happening to them or the family members of the victim. I have never felt such a loss till the death of Rob Matson. I can close my eyes and remember our last conversation, the last time we went out to the bar in college- Chippers Bar. I can still clearly remember me, rob and some other friends walking to the bar--it was a  Tuesday evening because Chipper's has a 30 cent wing night; lol. I ordered a dozen spicy barbeque and Rob, for his size he had a huge appetite, ordered 24 hot wings LOL. I still remembering toasting a mug of beer with him and some friends.

I miss him, I miss the fun times that we had, and I thank God all the time for the good memories, the fine memories that I had with him. All of us who were affected by his death took it hard. You know. Imagine it was our fall semester of our senior year--that he took his life. I only saw him 2-3 days before he passed. Had I only known such things were going in his head, I WOULD have gone to him in a heart beat. Mourning for him was hard for me. I never mourned that much for anyone--nor can I remember being affected so drastically. Emotionally and physically drained, I cried almost every day--and fell into a slight depression immediately afterwards. For about 2 weeks, this went on. The only way I was ever to climb out of it was my faith. Talking to friends helped for a bit, but not so much. It was the hours I spent in prayer in church--before the Crucifix--prostrated--that is where I poured my tears.

Before, I could not feel such comfort in silence, but after the incident-I can surely witness the power of prayer. There is comfort in prayer, and the Lord who is boundless of Love and Mercy hears all our prayers. Our prayers are like sweet incense to the Lord. I would not have been able to cope with the loss of my best friend had it not been for prayer, and the church visits at night.

I can never forget this incident, and the void and emptiness after the loss of a very strong and close friend is hard to fill in, hard to secure. And I will carry it with me to my dying day. It is only through the Grace of God and his Mercy that we strive to do the best that we can, with the days we have been allotted in this green earth. Let us make the best of it.

As of late, its got to be The Kingdom starring Jamie Foxx.

No One

by Alicia Keys

[mp3tube]e20756d36e4d12ddc782b1a4e2b9d800[/mp3tube]

Very interesting info, Mr. Ferniz.

My condolences for the family. It hits home, since Zack was only 2 yeas older than me. Very sad news, indeed.

Very true.

History declares that ie, Hitler, Napoleon, Mussolini, Franco, Milosevic, Stalin, Mao, Tojo, Robespierre etc.

For me, the greatest poverty of our time is also the doom of our time. The growing secularist society that we live in and the retreat from religious conviction equates to poverty, in my opinion. Too many of our youth commit suicide by the thousands due to the alienation of family members, due to the decreasing religious influence in our lives. There needs to be an upswing to claim that umbilical cord.

For there is only so much monetary and material goods can provide, the spirit of a man can not be satiated by food, sex, money, riches. The spirit, which is eternal, can only be satiated by God and his Grace. And if deprived of that Love, the spirit will deteriorate.

What does it mean to be poor? To lack riches; to lack something. Yes. I agree. The lacking of God in our daily lives. That is what it means to be poor.

I love this quote, Ms. Blue.

I agree jud. One earns respect, not just simply given it.

So me and my pares went to a Japanese sushi place. Hahaha.
1 Filipino, 1 Puerto Rican, 2 puti, and 1 chinese.

Creative juices come out as with hungry mouths. LOL




The Filipino and the Puerto Rican conquered this. 

God Bless all of you, uy!
You gals are the angels of Tubag Bohol

From the heart jud na.

Excellent! Congratulations to Jagna and to our young inventor.

He doesn't deserve the life sentence. Why should the people of Bohol and the families of the victim have to pay taxes that will be used to buy food, wash, and care for this spineless rapist. P.I. As this man had no mercy, why should he also be given mercy for his act? He doesn't deserve it.

Thank you for clearing that, Mike. Ka ingoon ko namatay siya kai ang first sentence sa story.
Salamat kaayo that the attacker was identified, and may justice be firm and swift for him.
No mercy for this man. He deserves the firing squad; just as he thought she was dead and had the disgusting will to throw her off a 54 feet precipice, so too does he deserve such a fate.

If I was a relative of the victim, my Kriss/ Sundang would be justice enough.

Looy lang pood ang pamilya ug ang batang baji. Dili pood na fair uy.
P. I.

Na suko baja ko ani da!

Mr. Bruce Lee.

This individual is both hated and loved. He is known and regarded as the father of evolution; and coined the concept of the theory of natural selection during his trip to the Galapagos in the early 19th century where he found 14 species of animals and noticed slight variances in their physical phenotypes. Their differences were notable from island to island. This man's findings inexplicably aided in the birth of modern day Animal Biology, Botany, Toxicology, and Genetics-Evolution.

Ka luuy pood sa ang bata. My prayers and condolences go to the bereaved family.
I hope Meligorio gets the firing squad. He deserves a punishment that is equal to his crime.

Quote from: jtabaco on January 08, 2008, 06:56:44 AM
Lorenzo...I live in Ronkonkoma, NY, half way out to Montauk Point from NYC on Long Island. My son Jon lives in Moorestown just off NJ73. My newest gkid Connor was born in the hospital up in Willingboro. That's where the profile pic was taken. Jon works for NJ Verizon and is one of the folks stringing fiber thru your hood. He was trying to buy a house nearer to you off the White Horse Pike US30 before the mortgage meltdown.

When I attended a FAHNS event at the Cebu Restaurant in Philly, I was told there is a Filipino Center for southern NJ in your hood somewhere. I think they said it was in Berlin. Your on the south side of the ACY Xway...joey

Hahahaha! Yes, Sir!

Moorestown is not far from where I live, its around the Cherry Hill area, no more than 20-30 minutes from my good ol' Billsville (Williamstown). Its pretty much the same area, super suburbia, lol. Yes, sir, there is a Filipino community here. It is called the "Filipino Association of Williamstown", we had our first annual 'get to gether' in fall of 2005, there is about 100 Filipino families here in Williamstown. There is a larger Filipino association tho that is stationed in Berlin, its known as the South Jersey Filipino Association. I was selected and given a scholarship by them in 2004, one of 10 Filipino high school seniors at the time. Perhaps you know one of the contributors, Dr. Dioscoro Villanueva, M.D. There's alot of Bisayans here in South Jersey, whereas the Filipinos in Northern New Jersey tend to be of the Tagalog and Illocano stock. hahaha

Our locations truly illustrate our regionalism back in the philippines. LOL!

Give my regards to your family and little Connor!!

Another little Pinoy born is a shining star added to our Bisaya family here in New Jersey.

Quote from: BlueAngel on January 08, 2008, 02:23:44 AM
hahahaha Dong Lorenz
nakasakop diay kog gamay hah?
datz only the remaining knowledge of my Spanish subject 1-4
during college days, and dat was almost 20 yrs. now agoy

Mao ba, Ms. Blue. You have a very sharp memory then, haha!
Mas bright jud na ang tawo sa Anda da!
I've been to Anda when I was about 12  years old, you guys have beautiful coast lines and the food over there is simply scrumptious! Diba?
Ang kinilaw sa Anda is really good, says my father.

I can understand your feelings, Spider. Corruption, indeed, is a problem in the Philippines. It is a problem in my very own hometown of Valencia. But I am not so displeased with Valencia. As you know our town is one of the richest in Bohol, and for the most part, the town is progressing.

I know Mayor Lim, almost family actually. She's not a bad person, and the administrators and SB members are hard workers in Valencia. My own Tito is the Municipal Civil Registrar, and they are honest, simple people.

Valencia is a shining star in Bohol. One of the well-endowed communities, if everything was so bad as what these posters claim, then why are there progress in expanding the public schools, development of Bajang Springs, expanding the health clinics, etc. The town remains one of the wealthiest municipalities in the entire province, if it was so bad, then poverty would be wide-spread in Valencia. The fact is, it is not. Change must come from the new generation that wish to enact them. And I am very sure the younger generation will do the right thing for our precious Valencia.

And I say this as a Son of Valencia.

Mo agree ko nimo, Mr. Jun Ayag. Filipinos, in general, tend to stay together and make the marriage work, even if there are marital and economic problems. Here in the United States, and I dare say this, marriages come and go. Couples marry and divorce as if it is a mere 'relationship'. I cannot help but observe the deterioration of the true meanings of marriage as a 'life-long' bond. Secularism has made that evident. I do not know if the modern day Filipino couples retain the old customs of the sanctity of marriage, but from seeing and knowing many neo-Filipino American couples, marriages work. They tend to be more serious.

I could never dream of marrying a non-Filipina, but that is my own personal view. So of course, I have a bias to begin with.

American women, for the most part, want to live the high life, Mr. Jun Ayag.
They want a big ring, drive their BMW Z5s/ Porsche Carreras'/ Mercedes S-Class, have the husband's credit card for their daily shopping and trips to the mall, have 2-3 kids, pick them up from soccer practice, get their pedicures/manicures/salon, live an easy--stress free life. Money is key. Many marry for money, many do marry for love etc. I have a friend who graduated medical school 2 years ago, is now a resident in Emergency Medicine, and this guy never dated outside his race before (he is Indian), now he's 28 y.o, and dating a girl who is 4 years younger than him and spends most of his money. I will not deny that she is extremely attractive. Blond, physically well-endowed, but sometimes I question her motives. Is it for love, or is it for Ranjit's wallet? All I know is that Ranjit's family is angry at him for not dating an Indian; or for his case, not proceeding with the arranged marriage his family had in place.

Hahaha, im a very sentimental man, Agnes. If music can only explain

Excellent use of diction, Mr. Jun Ayag.

"When no money..no honey."

haha!

Quote from: Mari on January 06, 2008, 12:37:45 AM
it was an exciting day at Loboc


Miss Universe Miriam Quiambao and her court 

TB Friends enjoying the Loboc River Cruise (Leo sitted)

Beautiful

Quote from: frog70 on January 07, 2008, 03:25:34 PM
and she's hot

Of course. Bol-anon gud.

Hahaha, diba, ladies?

ah taga Loctob diay? Asa man diay nang Loctob? Di ko familiar with that area. Pero it is a pleasure to meet you!
Actually we had a gathering at one of my Tita's house this Sunday for the starting of the Novena for the Blessed Santo Nino.
Everyone that came, over 30 people, were either from Valencia or from Bohol area. Kaila ba mo ni Mr and Ms. Lim of Valencia, their daughter was there, my Tita Mae, and so was her husband, my tito, Dr. Owen Panglininan, as well as Mr. Jan Jan Palaca and others. Perhaps you know them?

There were alot of taga-Valencia people at the house tho. Hahaha.

That is one thing I love about us Valencia folks, we are such a close-knit family, even abroad we are still a close knit family.
How I wish I could have gone to the Fiesta this January 2008.

My best regards na lang!
Our regards to the  Salvo-Salise-Ignalan -Tadlib- Tan-Lim- Chiu Clans!

Kuya man pood na ilang presentation uy. Looked like a play.
I loved the ending part tho. "Dali Na! Uli Na!"

hahaha na lingaw jud ko!

I Miss You, Valencia!

If I were in Bohol right now I would demand for some transparency in this matter. This is utterly ludicrous! How can any governmental form even dare to consider the closing of primary health clinics and hospitals based on monetary matters. Everything else should come SECONDARY before the status of Medicine and Health of the province. The province is already currently UNDER-SERVED when it comes to health and medical aid, how can there even be talks of 'SHUTTING DOWN' the already established health clinics?

Instead of Sub-par already, we're shooting for SUPRA-SUB PAR?

Are you kidding me?

Di ko sabot aning logic.

Greetings Ms. Awing!

Then we are distant relatives! My lolo of my mother's side is Casiano Salise Salvo, son of the late Mr. Ricardo Salvo and the late Mrs. Donisia Salise Salvo. Taga anas pood na sila. However, my grandfather is from Valencia proper--where he lived with my late grandmother, Mrs. Fortunata Tan-Salvo.

This is outrageous! Financial disposition should not be a concern when dealing with the health of the rural and municipal residents, particularly during this time of the year and the infestation of vector insects that are responsible for the tertiary infection of Dengue. These health clinics are the only primary answer to emergency calls etc. Outrageous.

I am totally abashed by these news. There needs to be some kind of transparency in dealing with this matter, politics and economics should always bow before the health of the people. News like this is disheartening.

I love it!! cute kaayo nang squirrel! Beautiful quality sa gawas pood, 'te.

Beautiful! I love it!

Beautiful.

Quote from: Bohol Bol-anon on January 05, 2008, 11:10:57 AM
In the middle of the night last night I woke up sobbing because I had a dream about my father. I was dreaming that I was crying because I was looking for him. Then for the rest of hour, I was crying on my bed with my head buried on the pillow. The tears in my dreams became real when I was already awake.

There is a longingness deep within my soul that only God can fathom.

Mike, I cannot even imagine to fathom how you are feeling, and those who have already lost a close family member. Blessed are you and those like you who are suffering because of that loss. I will offer a prayer to the Blessed Santo Nino tonight on our 2nd day of novena for the remembrance and for the Mercy of your Papa.

Sometimes I do not know how my father deals with such a loss. My dad lost his papa when he was only 21 y.o, and his mom passed away back in '95. I have not seen my dad, ever, cry for his parents since the funeral of Mama Luz, his mother, back in '95. I have never seen him cry like that--ever. I try not to ask questions about Mama Luz or Papa Titing with my dad because I know it is a very sensitive issue for my father. I am sure he does tho, because in his wallet, there is a picture of Papa Titing.

People say time heals all wounds. I think there are wounds that can never be healed. Time merely allows the individual to bear the pain with dignity. Or so that is what I think.

Quote from: jtabaco on January 03, 2008, 06:49:40 PM
I was asked by Mike that he wishes to know more about me so I thought I'd put it in this thread where it's supposed to go. Been into <a href="http://www.tabacofamily.com/jtabaco/joetcomp.asp">computers since HS</a>, online since the early 80s at work with the NWS and at home since the late 80s with the now defunct GENIE network. <a href="http://www.tabacofamily.com/jtabaco/jtabaco.html">My CV</a> pretty much covers my work life. Click the links for the details.

<a href="http://www.tabacofamily.com/main/tabacotree.asp">My parents and grandparents</a> were all from the barrios of Tagbilaran. <a href="http://tabacofamily.com/rn_sumo/Unheralded_Accomplishment.asp">My dad</a> came to NYC to work for the UN in 46, <a href="http://tabacofamily.com/grandma/">my mom</a> in 47. Since dad worked for the UN, he had home leave privileges back then which allowed the whole family to go back to Bohol almost every 2 years during summer vacation til each kid turned 18 until the old man retired.

The last time I did that was in 67. But while I was stationed on Guam with the USAF, I took an R&R leave to Bohol in 72. After I retired from the NWS in 04, I finally got a chance to go <a href="http://www.tabacofamily.com/main/bq.asp">back to Bohol in Feb 05</a>, since I was a <a href="http://naffaa.org">NaFFAA</a> delegate to the 3rd Global Filipino Networking Con held in Cebu during the last week of Jan 05.

I just became a <a href="http://tabacofamily.com/">lolo for the 4th time</a>. Click on Connor's pic for more pics. I got 3 kids. My baby pinay princess daughter still lives with me. My older son was a web designer during the .com bubble and when it went bust, he went to work for Verizon stringing fiber. My middle son was everything from a commercial fisherman, contractor to now a sou chef in a restaurant in Manhattan that I can't afford to eat at.

My wife's family is from Lubang, Occ Mindoro and she's been here in NYC since she was 8. Her dad retired from the US Navy as a CPO. Most of her siblings are here in the US except for one in Australia. She has no desire to go back to the RP other than for a vacation. She still is working as a Sr Manager for a large private radiology group here on Long Island, NY where we own a house in Ronkonkoma.

I'm also on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=579403073">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://profiles.friendster.com/joeytj">Friendster</a> and <a href="http://myspace.com/joeytjedi">Myspace</a>, tho I hardly log into the last 2 social networks anymore. Other than my part time job on most weekends and babysitting my grand-daughter Mon thru Thu, I do volunteer computer and web work for a few NGOs, non-profits and veterans orgs. I am the Admin for the <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fanhs-nyc/">Metro NY Chapter</a> of <a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~jmtc29/home.html">FANHS</a>.

My laptops has a WLAN card my son got me from his job at Verizon so anywhere I go with it, I have broadband access to the internet, even in a car, train or plane. I haven't figured out how to do it while I'm <a href="http://www.tabacofamily.com/jtabaco/bicycle.asp">riding my bicycle</a> but I'm working on it. You might say I'm a semi-retired geek...joey

Mr Tabaco, I realize that you live quite close to me. If you're around the Willingboro area, then you might know where Williamstown is. That is where I am from. Congratulations on becoming a Lolo!!

haha kuya pood uy! sa Egypt man.

Happy Birthday Ms. Blue!
And countless more!

Hanged out with friends and did what college students do
Courvoisier, anyone? 

Quote from: BlueAngel on December 12, 2007, 04:02:37 PM

"la tierra de la perfección total y absoluta".....
ohh yeah..jawohl, absolutely perfect jud..

haha Ms. Blue. you have uncovered me
Btw, what part of Bohol do you hail from, Ms. Blue?

It is adorable to hear the Russian professor speak in Tagalog with her Russian accent.

Great video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jefZjtEVFvY&feature=related

[Excerpt from the 1950's classic]

Nefretiri: [approaches Rameses as he is praying to an idol over his dead son] How many more days and nights will you pray? Does he hear you?
Rameses: [praying] Dread Lord of Darkness, I have raised my voice to you, yet life has not come to the body of my son. Hear me!
Nefretiri: He cannot hear you. He's nothing but a piece of stone with the head of a bird.
Rameses: He *will* hear me. For I am Egypt.
Nefretiri: Egypt? You are nothing. You let Moses kill my son. No god can bring him back. What have you done to Moses? How did he die? Did he cry for mercy when you tortured him? Bring me to his body! I want to see it, Rameses! I want to see it!
Rameses: This is my son. He would have been Pharaoh and would have ruled the world. Who mourns him now? Not even you. All you can think of is Moses. You will not see his body. I drove him out of Egypt. I cannot fight the power of his God.
Nefretiri: *His* God? The priests say that Pharaoh is a god. But you are not a god. You are even less than a man. Listen to me, Rameses. You thought I was evil when I went to Moses. And you were right. Shall I tell you what happened, Rameses? He spurned me like a strumpet in the street. I, Nefretiri, Queen of Egypt! All that you wanted from me he would not even take! Do you hear laughter Pharaoh? *Not* the laughter of kings, but the laughter of slaves on the desert island!
Rameses: Laughter? Laughter? My son I shall build your tomb upon their crushed bodies. If any escape me, their seed shall be spattered and acursed forever. My armor! The war crown! Laughter? I will turn the laughter of these slaves into wails of torment! They *shall* remember the name of Moses! Only that he died under my chariot wheels!
Nefretiri: Kill him with your own hands!

*After Pharaoh loses his chariots to the Red Sea, Ramses II the Great goes back to his Throne in shame*
Nefretiri: *looking at Pharaoh Ramses* Where is the blood of Moses?
Rameses: *blankly stares at her*
Nefretiri: You couldn't even kill him..
Rameses: His God. Is God. *bows head in shame*

way kaso ana, when I come back to Bohol this summer '08, I will bring you some seeds of my mom's fortune plant. Maybe those will bloom for you, Agnes.

My mom bought that plant over 10 years ago, Agnes. And I have never once seen it bloom, until my father and brother captured it via picture. My dad and little brother came down at night a few days back and actually witnessed it bloom.  What I found warming was the fact that the plant bloomed a couple of days before my sister and I arrived home for winter vacation. I couldn't believe my own eyes after seeing the picture in my mom's dig cam of the plant blooming.

Hopefully, someday, I'll be able to actually see it bloom with my own eyes and not through a camera.

How old is your plant diay, Agnes?

A beautiful walk on a young January day.

This picture was taken on the 2nd of January as I was filming a documentary with my walk with Kaiser. As I crossed the bridge over a stream, I turned my head slightly to the right and saw the majesty of the setting sun that shined its light onto the stream, which radiated light to my eyes. I was compelled to capture it.

My mother's fortune plant blooms, part of the Alocacia Cuculata species.







These plants bloom once in a year. This species of plant blooms only at night as well, luckily my father and brother captured it at the right time. At the right place

I wouldn't be surprised if he Is dead. Bin Laden is a parallelist comparison to that of Eurasia and East Asia in Orwell's 1984. He, as East Asia and Eurasia were, is the enemy that legitimizes the emergency powers of many governments. The fear of Bin Laden and Al Qaeda was one of the many reasons Americans, after the catastrophe of 911, allowed the passing of the Patriot Acts. Once those powers were unleashed, no government is that willing to relieve oneself of those privileges. Power corrupts. Absolutely.

Bhutto represented a secular Pakistan. She was a strong proponent for a 'multicultural-multireligious' Pakistan. She embraced Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sindhi, Sikh etc religious faiths.

May God rebuke those who were involved in her death. May history remember her kindly.

PARIS (AFP) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to marry his new girlfriend, the former model turned pop singer Carla Bruni, a French newspaper reported Sunday, claiming a wedding was "imminent."

Citing several anonymous sources, the Journal du Dimanche said the couple, currently on a private visit to Jordan at the invitation of King Abdullah II, are believed to have set a wedding date for either February 8 or 9.

Presidential spokesman David Martinon declined to comment on the front-page report, which was widely relayed on French radio and television.

Sarkozy, 52, and Bruni, 39 -- a rich heiress whose past conquests include rock stars Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton -- have been trailed by a swarm of paparazzi since their romance was first publicised in mid-December.

During a Christmas trip to Egypt, where their presence sparked a media stampede, the president reportedly gave Bruni an engagement ring -- a pink diamond heart -- while Bruni gave him a luxury Swiss watch in grey steel.

Newly divorced from his second wife Cecilia, Sarkozy has yet to comment publicly on his relationship with Bruni, but is expected to answer the media's questions at a New Year's press conference on Tuesday.

The report of marriage came as a poll showed Sarkozy's confidence rating slipping seven points -- a drop blamed in part on voter concerns about his highly-publicised new romance.

The couple were photographed on Saturday as they toured the rose-red city of Petra in southern Jordan, the president carrying Bruni's young son Aurelien on his shoulders.

Bruni may also accompany Sarkozy on an official trip to India late this month, according to local media, which said the government of the morally conservative country was struggling to find the right protocol to greet her.

Sarkozy became the first French president to divorce while in office when he ended his stormy 11-year marriage to Cecilia, with whom he has a 10-year-old son. He also has two sons, Pierre, 22, and Jean, 21, from a previous marriage.

An elegant brunette and heiress to a tyre fortune, with a reputation as a "man-eater," the former supermodel had a surprise hit with the release of her first pop album "Quelqu'un M'a Dit" (Someone Told Me) in 2004.

Politically she has placed herself on the left, telling a British newspaper last year that she would vote for Sarkozy's rival Segolene Royal in the May presidential election.

Bruni's mother Marisa Tedeschi Bruni -- who accompanied Sarkozy on a trip to the Vatican last month -- has been quoted in the Italian press saying the president had asked for her daughter's hand, and that she had gladly agreed.

While polls initially suggested a majority of voters saw Sarkozy's romance as a strictly private affair, there were growing signs the paparazzi fuelled coverage of his love life could be harming his confidence rating.

According to a CSA poll published Sunday in Le Parisien, 48 percent of voters say they trust the president to tackle France's problems, compared to 55 percent last month. Forty-five percent said they did not trust him, compared to 38 a month before.

CSA director Stephane Rozes said the slip chiefly reflected fears about the economy and falling disposable incomes, but probably also unease among older voters -- he fell 15 percent among the over-60s -- about his new romance.

"The intense media coverage of the president's private life, touching on the image of the presidential function, appears to bother (his) traditional supporters," Rozes told Le Parisien.

The left-wing opposition meanwhile accuses Sarkozy of putting his love life on display to deflect attention from France's economic troubles.

Quote from: Brownman on January 07, 2008, 11:49:44 AM
Muy bien senyor ey senyoras.

Seguro. Ningún problema.

Quote from: Brownman on January 07, 2008, 09:32:59 AM
Yup! i've just read this article recently, it was also mentioned during the news that spanish subjects might be included again in college subjects, i think for minors only. ( karun wa na may spanish subject)

That is true, Spanish will become one of the official languages in the Philippines. When President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo went to visit Spain in 2004, His Majesty King Juan Carlos pleaded with the Madam President to consider re-instating Spanish as one of the official languages in the Philippines. It has been the plan for the Royal Spanish Cortes, under the auspices of His Majesty to re-institute good customs and relations with former Spanish colonies.

One of Spain's major foreign policy objectives since the advent of democracy has been to increase its influence in Latin America. Spain has a special interest in this area because of historical ties and a common linguistic, cultural, and religious heritage. In the post-Franco years, economic investments and diplomatic initiatives were added to the more nostalgic links between Spain and its former colonies.

Relations between Spain and Latin America have undergone profound transformation since Spain's imperial days. Resentment of Spain as the imperial power continued long after the colonial period, because many Latin Americans blamed Spain for their lack of progress and for their problems with democratization. In the early years of independence, the attitude of most Latin Americans was one of disdain for Spain. This changed, following the Spanish-American War in 1898. The devastating defeat inflicted upon Spain by the United States combined with increased United States interference in Latin America led the two Hispanic areas to draw closer together in the face of a common enemy. Both Spain and Latin America began to re-emphasize their common ties of culture, language, and religion, although trade, diplomatic, and political relations between the two areas remained minimal.

During the 1950s, modernized methods of communications and transportation facilitated closer contacts between Spain and Latin America. Trade increased, and Spain's rapid economic growth in the 1960s and the 1970s enabled the country to approach its relations with Latin America from a position of greater economic strength. A paradoxical foreign policy phenomenon during this period was the refusal of the fiercely anticommunist Franco to break off relations with Fidel Castro Ruz's Marxist Cuba. In this instance, historical ties appeared to take precedence over ideology.

After Franco's death, Spain's transition to a democratic form of government was paralleled by the establishment of various forms of democratic rule in some Latin American countries. The timing of these governmental changes was largely coincidental, although Spain offered its transition process as an example for Latin America to follow.

Concerning the Philippines, which was treasured by the Spanish Empire as "la joya del imperio español" (The Jewel of the Spanish Empire), Spain has always resented its loss of its longest-ruled colony to the Americans in the 1898 Spanish-American War and in the Spanish-Philippine Revolutionary War. Since the fall of Marcos, the Spanish government has tried to implement a policy known as "vieja táctica de la amistad" (old friendship). To regain the warmth and loyalty, friendship of the Philippines. The loss of the Philippines has always been a nationalistic etch to the Spaniards, which many regarded the Philippines as a Spanish province, and to this day many still regard it as the 'lost Spanish Bastion of the Orient'. There are Spaniards of the older generation, to this day, that still regard the Philippines as part of Spain.

King Juan Carlos' request to the Madam President Macapagal-Arroyo is a manifestation of the old Spanish generation that still reflects a longing for the Philippines.

Their view is to 're-connect' the umbilical cord that once connected Spain with the Philippines, which was severed over a century ago.

Quote from: orChids on January 07, 2008, 10:30:43 AM
Game jod ko ana.

A la cama no te irás, sin saber una cosa más.

Sí por supuesto. Su bueno aprender nuevas cosas. Los nuevos temas son alimento para el cerebro.

Is it possible for a US academic physician to spend least several months a year working in a developing country?

There are many medical students and residents interested in this question. International training programs are increasingly common within medical school and residency curriculums as are global health projects (e.g. www.shouldertoshoulder.org/History.htm).

It has become a given that a number of young physicians in the US will wish to make a major contribution to international health care on an annual basis. The question is â€" Can this be done within the medical community, especially within academic medicine?

In general, the academic world will work with faculty physicians who plan to spend time working internationally. If what one wants to do is take a group of colleagues or students abroad once or twice a year for a few weeks to do primary care health and education, it won’t pose a problem for most institutions and they won’t likely ask for salary support to be provided externally. In academics faculty have a lot of control (usually) over their schedule and a few weeks for something like this is relatively easy to arrange. It helps to notify public affairs at the institution and provide them with pictures upon returning to put in the institutional magazine. I’m only half joking about this. It never hurts to work with public affairs to explain to the public the importance of ones work overseas.

However, beyond spending perhaps 4-6 weeks each year abroad, making arrangements in any setting, academic or private practice becomes much more problematic. Lets look at some of these obstacles and how they might be overcome.

Let’s consider:

   1. family
   2. personal finances
   3. legal and licensing issues
   4. research support

First comes family. Now this may not affect any individual’s situation but it does pose an issue for most people. It is a lot easier to be a med student and assume that ones life will work out so that they can spend 3-6 months traveling each year than to be a parent (or spouse!) and try to actually make this happen.

For many people, it will be best to spend 6 months to 2 years working internationally early in a career (see www.bayloraids.org/corps and www.doctorswithoutborders.org/volunteer/field/ as examples) than to make it work throughout a career. With that initial experience faculty are prepared to work within their career goals (e.g. a tenure track) to develop a more usual 4-6 weeks/year international travel schedule once interests and research areas are established.

It is also easier to do frequent travel at a later stage of ones family life and career. Teenagers and older children are often much more amenable to a parent being gone for a few months than small kids. It is still not easy, so for those who have or plan to have a family, this is an important issue. Better to think about it up-front and recognize the challenges than just assume that ones loving spouse and 2 children won’t mind living in a place without many amenities for 6 months at a time each year.

Small girl in remote village of BelizeThe second issue is personal finances. Someone has to provide a salary for each person while they are working abroad. In academics, faculty can find institutions that will work on this but it is not easy and there is no guarantee that faculty will be able to get their institution to provide 100% salary while working only 50-75% of the year. It is possible to work out a system in which one works intensively before traveling each year (clinics, night-call, etc all have to be considered) or have specific funding for the overseas work that will support the salary of those who go.

However getting international agencies to fund a large amount of salary for an American physician is exceptionally hard to arrange (albeit not unheard of). The team from the US may be willing to work for less than full salary, but the university has its needs too such as clinic and night-call coverage and must pay health insurance, malpractice and life insurance and provide office space throughout the whole year. Again, this is doable, but will involve some challenging negotiations.

It sounds easy to say that if a faculty member usually does 5 months each year of hospital work, they can just do them back-back over 6 months and then go off to see the world! This is a lot harder to do in reality and even then doesn’t account for the other tasks that will be left undone during that time such as committee meetings, teaching classes, etc.

Third are technical issues including licenses and working with the foreign government. If an American physician is going overseas for a long-term arrangement, or trying to set up a clinic somewhere, they’ll need to think about these issues.

I’ve never obtained a medical license in another country, but I’m told it isn’t always easy. Malpractice concerns may not really exist in some developing countries, but they exist in a lot more places than one might expect. The faculty will need to consider how the government might feel about an American setting up shop there. In some areas the Americans could be seen as competition for the local doctors and this could pose issues. As in the US, the more urban the practice, the more likely one is to have a problem.

Language issues are likely greater in a rural setting. I have seen physicians in The Gambia who were from Cuba and spoke only Spanish, working in a country where the health care system was almost entirely conducted in English, and the people spoke only Mandinka (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandinka_language). Not much communication going on there! But if truly rural, what about spending several months every year without much electricity, potable water and the like? Remember, the locals mostly don’t want to work there either â€" same issues as rural health care in the US.

Last is the issue of exactly what one is going to do there academically (teaching and research) and who is going to support the actual work that is being done. If it is a pure clinical practice, the American physician will need to find money to support the building, staff, and medications. I know academic physicians who spend much of their time while in the US fund-raising for their overseas clinic. If it is research-related one will have to go after grants and deal with ethical issues that are considerable. These grants can come from foundations, from companies, or from governments.

If one has a background in public health, this will help. Research-related grants in international health, especially from governments are not easy to obtain. US funding agencies often focus on the needs of the underserved in the US and overseas agencies may not be enthused to fund an American working abroad in this area. They may be more focused on large international groups and projects. One needs to find a niche, a unique research area based on ones training and skills. These exist (tropical medicine, HIV, nutrition, etc), but one needs to have a track record of research or work for someone who does.

American physicians and scientists can consider working on pharmaceutical trials. However this too is challenging. Clinical research has to be done under “Good Clinical Practice” www.fda.gov/oc/gcp guidelines, which isn’t easy to do in many settings.

In summary, we are at a time of tremendous interest in physicians from the US working overseas in clinical care settings and in education and research. Short-term projects can be readily accomplished and contribute substantially to the health-care of some of the world’s poorest people.

However, for an American academic physician to spend a large portion of their time overseas doing medical care and research remains very challenging to arrange. Medical students and physicians-in-training should have a realistic understanding of the obstacles they face in this area and develop realistic personal and professional goals.

In the battle of humans vs. bacteria, a new enemy has emerged as the most feared “superbug” of 2007. Forget West Nile and bird flu â€" Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is suddenly all over the media. It is an overdue and well-deserved spot in the limelight.

MRSA rose to prominence last month when a CDC report published in JAMA estimated that nearly 19,000 people had died of MRSA infections in 2005. Compare that with AIDS, which killed about 17,000 in the same year, and it becomes readily apparent that most of the country is unaware of the degree of threat posed by MRSA. In fact, many people still do not know what MRSA is.

Here is a quick primer on MRSA to help answer any questions your patients, friends, and family may have.

What is MRSA?

Most healthcare professionals know that culture results which return as “Gram positive cocci in clusters” are an ominous code for Staph aureus. Its name means ‘golden clusters of seeds,’ which describes not only its microscopic appearance, but also its golden sheen when grown on a blood agar plate.

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that was discovered in 1880 in surgical abscesses. Staph has a talent for antibiotic resistance, and it became resistant to penicillin nearly immediately after penicillin was introduced in the 1940s. Methicillin is an antibiotic that was used to treat this penicillin-resistant staph, but as the bug continued to collect resistances, MRSA was born.

MRSA is a strain of staph that was identified in 1961. MRSA is by no means a new bacteria, it is only new to the public consciousness. Due to the mathematics of infectious disease, MRSA has exploded along an exponential curve and now represents the majority of all staph infections seen in ICUs and in the ED.

Is MRSA really a “superbug”?

MRSA is potentially lethal, as is its parent, the pan-sensitive Staph aureus, often via bloodstream infections or bacteremia that leads to sepsis and ultimately to septic shock. However, MRSA is not deemed a superbug simply due to its resistance. It also has increased morbidity due to the accumulation of toxin genes via bacteriophages, such as Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). A bacteriophage is basically a virus containing a snippet of DNA that can spread through a population of bacteria, similarly to the way a bacterial infection spreads through a human population. PVL is called a ‘leukocidin’ because it has the ability to burst white blood cells (leukocytes).

MRSA may be fearsome in its rapidity and pure purulence, but it is not invincible by any means. Most medical students know that MRSA can be treated empirically with vancomycin, a “big gun” antibiotic. However, many may not be aware that MRSA is also often susceptible to such “small guns” as doxycycline or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. As with any infectious disease, the best strategy is to start broad coverage antibiotics immediately with any suspicion of MRSA infection, and then to narrow coverage based on culture and sensitivity results. A CA-MRSA abscess, the most common manifestation that a normal, immunocompetent member of the community might face, can still be treated with a simple incision and drainage (I&D) of the wound. CDC recommendations suggest not adding antibiotic coverage unless the patient is immunocompromised, has severe local symptoms or signs of systemic infection, or does not respond to I&D. Antibiotic choices for outpatient treatment of MRSA skin infection include clindamycin and doxycycline.

Friends, family, and patients who are concerned about the danger of MRSA should be congratulated on their awareness of public health issues, then reassured with the following facts:

    * Colonization with MRSA does not equal infection. Many people (an estimated 2 million in the U.S.) carry MRSA with no symptoms at all.

    * MRSA infection is treatable with proper antibiotics, and does not always require antibiotics.

    * Simple prevention strategies can greatly reduce the likelihood of a MRSA infection, particularly a severe one.

Who’s at fault for the spread of MRSA?

One of the controversial aspects of the rise in MRSA infections is whether doctors or patients are to blame. Doctors point their fingers at patients who demand antibiotics regardless of whether they are indicated, and patients likewise are concerned that doctors have been reckless with their prescriptions.

According to Jessica Snyder Sachs, the author of “Good Germs, Bad Germs,” one of the big misconceptions that physicians have had about MRSA is “that it’s just a hospital bug. We have for years had patients dying of MRSA from the community.” Snyder Sachs points out that up until recently, physicians simply did not consider the diagnosis of MRSA unless patients had some exposure to a healthcare scenario such as a nursing home or a hospital. Invasive infections that are most dangerous are certainly far more likely in those who have these exposures, but in order to select appropriate antibiotics to prevent non-invasive infections from becoming invasive, MRSA must be considered in those with no risk factors at all.

Of course, the other side of the coin is that patients must be educated as to why antibiotics should not be used unless necessary. Patient ‘ordering’ of antibiotics in the manner of ordering a meal at a fast food joint has been lampooned by physicians, but as any drug-seeker knows, it takes more than one person to obtain a prescription medication. Consider whether antibiotics are necessary before prescribing, and consider discontinuing antibiotic therapy if cultures are negative or if coverage can be narrowed.

What is the difference between CA-MRSA and HA- MRSA?

Community Acquired (CA)-MRSA and Hospital Acquired (HA)-MRSA have historically been significantly different bacteria. HA-MRSA strains tend to have accumulated resistance to more antibiotics, but CA-MRSA is actually more toxic. CA-MRSA can replicate more rapidly and is more often associated with PVL toxin, presumed to be a key factor in how CA-MRSA infections notoriously produce necrotic lesions such as abscesses or hemorrhagic pneumonia. New studies have shown that CA-MRSA can basically pulverize white cells, with or without PVL toxin, and that makes CA-MRSA hard for our bodies to defend against despite the fact that it is not resistant to as many antibiotics as its hospital-acquired cousin. There are several of these highly virulent strains of CA-MRSA that are now wreaking havoc in the community, the most famous of which is the USA300 strain.

What are the best ways to prevent MRSA infections?

MRSA is spread mainly by direct and indirect contact with human hands - transmission by droplet/airborne routes is uncommon. Simple things like handwashing and use of gloves and gowns are still the best ways to prevent the spread of infections. For your patients, the most important things are not only to wash hands, but also to keep cuts and abrasions clean, dry, and covered. As many have noted, regular maintenance of hygiene in high-risk areas, such as locker rooms, is key. “What we don’t want is a one-time massive cleaning after a student has a case of MRSA.” Jessica Snyder Sachs points out, referring to the recent media blitz regarding MRSA infections in schoolchildren. “I also think that this is an opportunity to educate people about MRSA pneumonia that is community-acquired and tends to come on the heels of the flu” â€" another great reason to be sure that you and your patients get the flu shot annually.

What are some system-related ways to combat the spread of MRSA?

“We desperately, definitely need more antibiotics in the short term, because we are running out of them,” states Jessica Snyder Sachs. “In the long term, we need other solutions. The bacteria can evolve around antibiotics too quickly.” As examples of these future solutions, she notes that not only is there a MRSA vaccine in development, but also scientists are considering how we can detoxify MRSA. After all, many people are colonized with MRSA and do not have any manifestation of infection. What if we could leave the MRSA in place, but turn off the toxins? Or what if we could use our body’s ability to host friendly bacteria to create a hostile environment for MRSA?

In the past, mild forms of staph have been used in an attempt to displace virulent staph, or to prevent the virulent staph from colonizing in the first place. These are some of the exciting antibiotic-free ideas that we may see in the future. For now, making a habit of regular handwashing and good hygiene, particularly in the hospital, is the best way to fight MRSA. Any systematic change that helps to facilitate or ingrain a “culture of handwashing” (not to mention stethoscope-washing) will help. Reassure your patients that using regular soap, alcohol-based foams or hand sanitizers are all good ways to prevent MRSA that do not encourage further resistance. The use of cleansers that contain antibiotic ingredients like triclosan is unnecessary and should be discouraged.

This is not the first time that resistant strains of staph aureus have emerged and caused deadly infection. A prior pandemic of resistant staph called ‘phage type 80/81? caused the deaths of many mothers and babies from sepsis in the 1950s and 1960s. Studies have shown that CA-MRSA causing infections now is directly related to this killer staph from the past. In infectious disease, the adage that “history repeats itself” is as true as ever. Will the cycle continue? Unless we start fighting staph infections with smarter plans instead of with ever-bigger “guns”, the answer is most certainly yes.

Dr. Robert M. Wachter, a professor of medicine, chief of the medical service and chair of the patient safety committee at UCSF Medical Center, has been a central figure in educating the medical community and general public about pressing safety issues in healthcare institutions. Dr. Wachter has written prolifically on this topic, including the bestseller Internal Bleeding: The Truth Behind America’s Terrifying Epidemic of Medical Mistakes. He has discussed patient safety on CNN, NPR, and ABC’s Good Morning America, and been quoted in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Time, to name only a few. His new textbook, Understanding Patient Safety, will be published by McGraw-Hill in October 2007. Here, Dr. Wachter discusses the world of patient safety and healthcare.

What prompted you to write your book, Understanding Patient Safety, at this point in time?
I get asked all the time â€" by medical and nursing students, senior hospital administrators and board members, quality and risk managers â€" to recommend a lively, engaging and evidence-based introduction to the field of patient safety written with a clinical slant. I couldn’t find a book that fit the bill, so the time seemed right to write one.

What has had the biggest impact on patient safety in the last 5 years?
The first step was awareness. Beginning with the publication of the Institute of Medicine report on medical errors in 2000, we now recognize how serious the problem of medical errors is â€" how many people are harmed and killed each year from medical mistakes. We also have discovered that our old approach to errors â€" just try to be really, really careful â€" was hopelessly flawed. So I think the combination of increased attention and a new approach, known as “systems thinking,” has made the largest difference.

What is the most common medical error occurring in healthcare institutions today?
Most errors relate to poor communication, between doctors and other doctors, between doctors and patients, between nurses and pharmacists, you name it. These communication glitches result in medication errors, surgical errors, radiology errors, and more.

Have advances in medical technology helped to minimize or increase the number of medical mistakes?
Both. On the one hand, technology is helping to decrease errors, such as through the use of computerized medical records, computerized order entry, and bar coding. Even relatively simple technologies that we don’t think of as “safety” oriented â€" text paging, portable ultrasound for catheter insertion or drainage of fluid from the abdomen or thorax â€" are actually saving lives. On the other hand, technology has made medicine much more complex, and therefore created many new errors. MRI scans are spectacular, but we didn’t have to worry about tanks of oxygen being converted into potentially fatal projectiles before we had scanners with powerful magnets.

In your opinion, what is the most important step hospitalists can take to address patient safety?
After I coined the term “hospitalist” in a 1996 article, I worried that the field was becoming known as being largely focused on efficiency â€" cutting hospital length of stay and costs. I’m quite proud that the last decade has seen an increasing focus by hospitalists on patient safety and healthcare quality. Hospitalists have to serve as the orchestra conductors for sick inpatients, pulling all the information together to provide the highest quality, safest care. And then they have to focus like a laser on ensuring that there is no information “voltage drop” at the time of discharge.

What future trends do you see emerging in the realm of patient safety and medical errors?
Computerization has clearly reached the tipping point â€" within a decade, it will be very unusual to find a hospital or large doctors’ office that still relies on pen and paper. We’re finding that IT improves safety in many ways, but that we’ve introduced a whole slew of unanticipated consequences, including some new classes of errors. The recognition of the critical importance of culture in safety is another major trend, with lots of effort going into trying to improve teamwork and collaboration. Simulation is beginning to take off. More attention is being paid to the importance of a well rested, well trained workforce. The residency duty hour limits of 80 hours a week are only the start. And the increased public attention to medical errors is leading to much more public reporting. There are truly 1,000 flowers blooming when it comes to safety.
What can Program Directors do to enhance residents’ attention to issues of safety and quality?
As a former residency program director, I had my residents partly in mind when I wrote Understanding Patient Safety. I find that residents are incredibly interested in patient safety, and they appreciate being taught it in a case-based and engaging way. They are also great at coming up with solutions. Go into any teaching hospital and try to figure out which systems need improving. All you need to do is ask the residents and the nurses and you’re done. The trick is to give them the opportunities to tell us, and then the skills to help be part of the solution.

What does ACGME expect and look for in terms of patient safety and health quality?
There are new mandates, from ACGME and some of the certifying boards, for residents to become competent in systems-based approaches, such as those in patient safety. But institutions and programs are still trying to figure out how to teach this material to residents in ways that engage them and stick. I hope this book can be one helpful tool.

How are the specialty boards handling the issue of patient safety? Are we seeing more cases and questions related to the topic?
Yes, it is all of a piece â€" the accreditors of medical and nursing schools, of residencies, and of practicing specialties have all recognized how critical patient safety is, and are using all their levers to promote a deeper understanding of the topic among their stakeholders. We’ll see more and more questions on every type of certifying exam on issues of safety and quality.

On September 7, 2007, the House and Senate approved the Conference Report (100-317) for H.R. 2669, also known as the “College Cost Reduction and Access Act”. This Act was signed into law by the President of the United States on September 27, 2007 with an effective date of October 1, 2007.

Why should you care? The Act, while providing additional benefits to undergraduate students, eliminated the economic hardship deferment qualification known as “20/220”, used by many health profession students to delay loan repayment while in residency or fellowship. Prior to the passage of the Act, a borrower would be eligible for the economic hardship deferment if they met two requirements: 1) employed full-time with federal education debt burden equal to or greater than 20 percent of monthly income and 2) the requirement that income minus the education debt burden was less than 220 percent of the greater of the minimum wage rate or the federal poverty line for a family of two.

Under the new rule, in order to qualify for the economic hardship deferment, a borrower’s income cannot exceed the greater of either the minimum wage rate or 150 percent of the poverty line applicable to the borrower’s family size with no regard to the amount of repayment of loans. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), 67 percent of medical residents qualified for economic hardship deferment under the 20/220 criterion. As the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) states the average medical student debt is over $120,000 a year for public schools and $160,000 for private schools, this new revision creates a fiscal dilemma for many residents.

Many organizations, including the AMA and AAMC, are lobbying for change because during the deferment period, the federal government pays interest on the subsidized portion of the loan, but interest continues to accrue on the unsubsidized portion. The AAMC reports “…at the end of a student’s three years of residency, the $120,000 median debt of a 2006 public medical school graduate using the federal direct loan program will have grown to $151,342, and the $160,000 median debt of a private medical school graduate will have grown to $205,707. These graduates’ monthly payments will be $1,718 and $2,336, respectively, if they pay over the default period of10 years, and $1,022 and $1,389, respectively, if they extend repayment over 25 years.” If the borrower is not eligible for economic hardship deferment or eligibility for economic hardship deferment has expired (either through no longer qualifying or having used all 3 years) this debt will be increased by the compounded interest on the subsidized Stafford loans (approximately $34,000 for the average public medical school in 2006) that usually are interest-free during deferment in residency.

The only options other than deferment are: repayment, pursue an income-contingent repayment plan available through the U.S. Department of Education, or go into forbearance. Forbearance is available for the entire duration of a medical internship or residency, regardless of the length of the program. Laws regarding forbearance are not impacted by the Act. Under forbearance, no payments are required; however interest continues to accrue and the federal government no longer pays interest on the subsidized portion of a borrower’s loans (which could be up to $8,500 of your Stafford loans a year.) An additional difference between deferment and forbearance is interest may be capitalized under forbearance, adding insult to injury in the form of additional debt.

On November 1, 2007, the AMA reported that the Department of Education has granted an extension until fall of 2008 for correction of this provision. On November 2, 2007, Senator Richard introduced a bill, S.2303, to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 regarding the definition of economic hardship as well as there are revisions to the Higher Education Act circulating through Congress. So please remember to contact your Senators and Congressperson to support this new legislation! The AMA has a web site to make it easy to send a message to your Senators and Representatives and voice your concern.

by Barry Manilow

[mp3tube]25305e5b0261847bc97e91d1b9208fde[/mp3tube]

I remember all my life
Raining down as cold as ice
A shadow of a man
A face through a window
Crying in the night
The night goes into

Morning, just another day
Happy people pass my way
Looking in their eyes
I see a memory
I never realized
you made me so happy, oh Mandy

Well you came and you gave without taking
but I sent you away, oh Mandy
well you kissed me and stopped me from shaking
I need you today, oh Mandy

I'm standing on the edge of time
I Walked away when love was mine
Caught up in a world of uphill climbing
The tears are in my mind
And nothing is rhyming, oh Mandy

Well you came and you gave without taking
but I sent you away, oh Mandy
well you kissed me and stopped me from shaking
And I need you today, oh Mandy

Yesterday's a dream I face the morning
Crying on the breeze
the pain is calling, oh Mandy

Well you came and you gave without taking
but I sent you away, oh Mandy
well you kissed me and stopped me from shaking
And I need you today, oh Mandy

by Lionel Ritchie

[mp3tube]002e12b8b52ca871790810b0725cedde[/mp3tube]

(chorus:)
Say you, say me; say it for always
Thats the way it should be
Say you, say me; say it together
Naturally

I had a dream I had an awesome dream
People in the park playing games in the dark
And what they played was a masquerade
And from behind of walls of doubt a voice was crying out

Say you, say me... (chorus)

As we go down lifes lonesome highway
Seems the hardest thing to do is to find a friend or two
A helping hand - some one who understands
That when you feel youve lost your way
Youve got some one there to say Ill show you

(chorus)

So you think you know the answers - oh no
couse the whole world has got you dancing
Thats right - Im telling you
Its time to start believing - oh yes
Believing who you are: you are a shining star

(chorus)

Say it together... naturally.

This song caught my attention last night, when my Tito sang it in the magicmic.

Of course it was in the Bisaya Version. The Tagalog version sounds soft, IMO.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=sjycQHULTMw

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cIgQCdbOMwE

Such a beautiful song.

Para mis hombres del compañero con los ojos hambrientos.





Ana Mujica







Angela Zamora







Blanco Romero

It looks beautiful. 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RXUjAXgdSzo&feature=related

Philippine President Gloria M. Arroyo and first gentleman Miguel Arroyo in Spain around Dec 2007. seen here welcoming guests together with the complete Spanish Royalty and the president of Spain. among the guests are Isabel Preysler, the filipina ex-wife of Julio Iglesias seen doing the kurt-zee.

this is also one of the earliest appearances of the beautiful and kind (btw, totally foxy when wearing a business suite and a modern hairstyle) Spanish Princess Letizia wearing royal attire.

the Spanish senate is adorned with a large mural by Filipino painter Juan Luna.

A well written article. Thank you for sharing with us, Ms. Blue.

For me it is very rare that I forgive, and never can I forget. Transgressions committed by one person to another should be solved by the one who committed the transgression, in my personal view. It should not be left to the one who was afflicted by the said transgression. I wish I could be more like you guys who are boundless of compassion and forgiveness. I guess it is one of the things that I need to work on.

I guess to better state my position on this topic is that I can understand the reason for the act, if explained and if we talk. However, I cannot cleanse the memory of the act. I can only ask the Lord to forgive my heavy heart. That is one of my flaws,however, I am learning to forgive. Its a process.

Yes, Mike.

I will do what you request, Mr. Tabaco.

God Be with your family.

Ana Chica





Angela Vargas





Anne Mendizabal







Iberian Beauty - Arantha Santa Maria





La Panchera- Clara Mas

Lovely aren't they, 'te?   

Thanks for the link. And most of all thank you for sharing your family history with us here in Tubag Bohol. Its always nice to hear that families still retain an interest in their lineage and history. Food for the mind, so to say.

PS. Nice paintings. Extend my regards to your husband.


Gracias y adios mi amiga

Great news!

In tribute to the late Ms. Benazir Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, a mother, a wife, and a friend of the people of Pakistan. A great political mind, an honest and religious muslim has taken her rest. May the Lord God have mercy on her and her loved ones. My condolences to the people of Pakistan and the immediate relatives of  the Madam Prime Minister.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XoTFYUAhPxk

Quote from: jtabaco on January 03, 2008, 07:36:39 AM
Death Notice in Newsday

Obituary by Rene Sumobilla from the TANOCAL 25th Anniversary Album.

Another WWII vet passes away! His wife, Venancia Catay Tabaco, passed away in 2002.

The last of this line of the Tabacos who called Bohol "home"...joey

I salute all of you, specially the Filipino WW2 Vets. My prayers extend to the Tabaco family in their loss. May the Lord God shine on the soul of the late Mr. Natalio D. Tabaco. And may he, like those that went before him, sing eternal praises to the Lord with all the Angels and Saints.

Amen.

Single but currently not looking.

A beautiful home!

Quote from: fortune on January 05, 2008, 09:44:11 AM
Hello everyone. My name is Fortunato. Just call me "fortune"

What a blessing of a name! My late grandmother was Fortunata Tan-Salvo.

Fortune, it is a pleasure to meet you!

Quote from: mcjose on January 05, 2008, 08:46:57 AM
Hello Lorenzo,

No I do not have information of my relatives in Mexico but I do know of a way to get the names of my ancestors Canseco Family of Intramuros many generations back, since according to my brother while my mother was still alive she registered her name in the Intramuros registry as she has marriage, death and birth certificate for authenticity.  These was practice as she and her clan belongs to the Datu Lacandula, as the Datu’s descendants they are exempted from paying the Spanish Government taxes and I believe a conquistador named Jose Wenceslao Canseco (I’m not sure about this) was awarded by the King of Spain. They have kept records of these Family names and it was also the place where my mother got the photocopies of the family tree that I was talking about that was lost. I remember my mother told me about a tapayan (clay vat) full of gold or silver coins that the Canseco Family Matriach has inside her bedroom or it can also be the Santos Family she was referring to as my Lola Consuelo came from the Santos Family which were also very rich. I do not know whatever happened to that gold or silver coins as during the war my Lolo Jose Canseco together with my uncles became soldiers after World War II their family was reduced to the working class, my poor mom have to stop going to a private girl’s school and find employment to the horror of my great grand mothers. She was the last of the generation who can speak, read and write fluent Spanish, aside from English and Tagalog.

In addition my paternal relatives is the Salazar Family, my Lolo is Hugo Salazar Sr. married to Ramona Medrano of Cavite. My Lolo is a prominent figure during the 1900s in a political party, he is a pharmacist. My knowledge of this Family tree is vague and I would like to know more about them.

My father was born in 1911 and he died in 1986, while my mother was born in 1918 and she died 2000.

Try this site, which actually has the Canseco family tree; a world-wide base.

http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?surname=Canseco&given=

Quote from: mcjose on January 05, 2008, 09:39:55 AM
Hugo Salazar Sr. became a gobernador of Surigao after the Spanish rule and under the Administration of the United States in the Philippines. This was pass on to me by word of mouth according from my father Hugo M. Salazar Jr.

Okay. During the transitional period of Spanish-to Malolos-to American administration, most of the infrastructure that was established by the Spaniards, remained the same. For order's sake. The Americans merely built upon what the Spanish indoctrinated, instead of redoing everything. Even the provinces that we have now in the Philippines are of the old Spanish order.

 Jose,

It is very interesting to hear your personal and familial historical anecdote because this past semester I engaged in an independent study research with my Professor in Philippine Nationalism, its development during the Spanish Epoch, and one of the cases that were manifested during Pax Hispanica was the rise of the Filipino Illustrado class. Reading your historical anecdote refers back to that study.

You mentioned earlier that one of your ancestors belonged to Datu Lancadula's clan and were exempted from the annual taxes. One of the early techniques of Hispanifying the Philippines was the creation of a 'Nativo Filipino Principales'. By this, the Spanish Colonial government retained the power of the regional Lords (Datus, Rajas) and their families and instead of being referred to the proverbial 'Datu' or 'Raja', were given the reputable prefix of 'Don' or 'Dona'. The Colonial government relied primarily on the loyalty of the Principales class to retain control of the Philippines and in order to secure this order, gave the local lords positions in government and in the Church. Many of the Datus and Rajas became Gobernadorcillos, or lower-level governors, and  had the power to collect taxes for the Royal Audencia and the Royal Spanish Gobernador General. The creation of the Guardia Civil (Armas Constabularia) were mandated and controlled by the Governador General, but the authority of the Gobernador General was shared by the regional Gobernadorcillos. An example of local autonomy in practice within the greater sphere of Spanish Imperial Dictum.

It is very fascinating for me because your personal anecdotes fits in to what my research readings stated; reading something is different from actually hearing from a living source. So please pardon my excitement

Do you know anything more about Jose Wenceslao Canseco?

I'll look more into him.

When someone offends you or embarrasses you, do you find it hard to forgive them? Or are you the type that forgives and forgets; forgives but never forgets?

haha I await to have our EB soon, 'te.
'te tinuud kono that you will be meeting up with Ate Ging?
Uy take alot of pictures ha!

Mao bitaw, 'te.

Dogs truly are "Man's best friend".

That is true, 'te. I agree with you jud.

Your grandfather was a gobernadorcillo of Provincia Surigao during the early 20th century? Was his post in Surigao mandated during the pre-Philippine Revolution epoch or was he placed as gobernadorcillo after the war?

I want to know because I have some questions concerning his posting to the position by the Principales and the Colonial Audencia. Most of the Gobernadorcillos in the Philippines during the Spanish Colonial Epoch were part of the Illustrado class, the Principales, or proverbially known as the 'Enlightened Middle Class' that history text books write about. By this, all of the Gobernadorcillos in the Philippines were given a notary pendant from the Royal Spanish Cortes by way of the Gobernador General (Spanish Viceroy of the Philippines) and a written letter and signature of approval by His Majesty, the King of Spain at the time. Was your grandfather schooled in the Philippines or Spain? If he was schooled in Spain, there could have been a chance he met Dr. Jose P. Rizal. Filipino intelligentsias that schooled in Spain usually were part of the same circles.  The product of Pax Hispanica.

If you are willing, sir, I would like to ask you further questions privately. My great thanks.

I think they are chinese minorities, 'te.

I am sorry Ate Belle, I did not know that you had to experience that.
I am very happy and glad to have met someone like you here in TB, Ate Belle, because even if you don't recognize it, but you really remind me alot of my own Mom. Your voice, in particular, is like that of my own Mom. I wish I could give you a big hug, 'te.

Love you, 'te.

I have many friends that are Jews. One good friend is an orthodox Jew who I have shared many hours in conversation in college (he graduated already). Some of the things that we talked about was the history of Israel, which he explained in full detail, in accordance to the teachings of the Talmud. I respect the Jewish faith. I truly believe that they are God's Chosen People.

They have survived multiple plagues, wars, persecution, catastrophes that would have wiped out any other people or nation. Like budding flowers, the Jews are all over the world. And most of them are successful and influential people. As what the Lord God Promised them.

And because he loved thy fathers, and chose their seed after them, he brought thee out with his countenance, with his great power, out of Egypt
Deuteronomy 4:37

The Torah also states this:

According to the Torah, Israel's character as the chosen people is unconditional as it says in Deuteronomy 14:2, "For you are a holy people to YHWH {Yaweh} your God, and God has chosen you to be his treasured people from all the nations that are on the face of the earth."

Other Torah verses about chosenness, "For all the earth is mine: and you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:5, 6). "The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all people; but because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your ancestors." (Deuteronomy 7:7, 8 ).

Undying faith