The World

Support the Campaign for the ‘Rare Diseases Act of the Philippines’

Posted on September 29, 2010 by Yoshke in Causes, Public Affairs |

Last month, I had the pleasure and honor of being invited into the home of Philippine Society for Orphan Disorders President Cynthia Magdaraog for a very important social media project. Although I have been a social media specialist for two years already, this project has got to be the most ambitious yet the most “worth-it.” The goal is to gather 500,000 signatures to rally lawmakers in passing Senate Bill 3087 or the Rare Diseases Act of the Philippines. All these signatures should be in by February 26, 2011, in time for the World Rare Diseases Day.

It’s a noble cause and I believe everyone should be a part of it. That’s why, together with the PhilippineBeaches.org fan page, we are pushing for this campaign the hardest we can. Please take some time to give us your signature. You have no idea how much of a difference your signature can make.

Every baby is truly a bundle of innocent bliss and joy. He is a picture of hope and promising future. However, he could be one in every 20,000 babies—although appearing normal at birth—will, at some time, develop a disorder counted among the group of dreaded diseases called rare or orphan disorders. These are long standing, life threatening, progressive, and disabling conditions that require multi-disciplinary care and which afflicts babies from all social and economic classes.

But since some of these disorders are yet to be fully grasped and understood by medical science, babies afflicted with these medical conditions, often times, are not given immediate attention due to delayed and incorrect diagnosis—subjecting them even more to serious health risks and consequences. Still, babies fortunate enough to have been diagnosed properly and promptly faced yet another serious challenge: the high cost of treatment and medication well beyond the reach of most Filipino families. But for the few who may have the capacity, optimal care is still elusive due to the scarcity of specialists and facilities that can handle their special needs.

Since these disorders affect only a small percentage of the population, very little attention is spared by the government, the private sector and the public at large. Very few doctors specialize in this discipline. Pharmaceutical companies tend to overlook the manufacture of products for these conditions because of the small or even zero profit potential. And the genetic nature of these disorders makes research painstakingly long and difficult.

Consequently, patients with rare disorders have been isolated from the health sector and the society. As such, they have been considered as social and medical orphans.

You can help by filling out the form below. Accomplishing the form is considered a signature.

Loading…

You can also show your support by forwarding this link to your network of family and friends.

http://bit.ly/500Ksignatures

For more info, visit www.psod.org.ph or email info@psod.org.ph.

Viewed 1358 times by 471 visitors this month

8 Comments

The Road to Death

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Yoshke in Family, Public Affairs, Rants, The World |

This is our home in Batangas. And this road in front of it is part of the national highway connecting the Batangan towns of Lemery and Balayan — also known as the Road to Death. This part of the road in the picture is just before the crossing that connects this highway to another highway leading to Tagaytay City in Cavite, and if you go farther, Manila.

Given these facts, you can just imagine how busy it is. When I’m home, I always have to close the windows tight so the noise could not distract me from doing my usual activities comprised mainly of watching TV and err… watching TV. Open the window a little bit and your viewing experience is ruined. This explains why almost every room in our house is air-conditioned.

But the noise is not what makes this part of the road earn its name “The Road to Death.”

The noise is tolerable. It’s been there before us so we have no right to complain. What’s relatively new is the long island in the middle of the road. It was added to this wide street perhaps four years ago, making both of its sides narrower. What they failed to install in addition was a light post. You see, at night, this little road island is invisible. And because it is part of the national highway and may even be the only part of the highway in 5km radius with a concrete island or anything protruding from the ground, motorists are always caught off-guard. Ergo, ACCIDENTS.

As a matter of fact, every time I spend the weekend in our Batangas house (which is every three weeks), I always witness road accidents in this area. The culprit — you bet it’s that damn island. Most of the time, motorcycle drivers fall victim. Sometimes, bigger vehicles. I have seen a truck carrying hundreds of chickens tumble over here. There was even an incident where a truck containing inflammable content having the same fate — my neighbors were all in panic.

Viewed 1599 times by 523 visitors this month

6 Comments

Responsibility Comes with the Territory

Posted on May 2, 2010 by Yoshke in Public Affairs, Rants |

image courtesy of www.uproxx.com

Remember this post in which I enumerated the types of people that annoy me the most? Well, let add some more to it.

One of the things I hate the most is neglecting responsibilities. Many times, we find ourselves under a certain obligation. You see not all obligations require written agreement or contracts. Most of the time, different scenarios impose obligations on you. These are responsibilities that are not written, but courtesy dictates that we honor them.

Confused? Well, let me enlighten you with these examples, which I believe many of you have experienced.

JEEPNEY

Don’t you just hate it when you ride a jeepney and the person seated closest to the driver refuses to get your fare to pass on to the driver? Others would do it but would give you an irritated sneer.

I have a couple of friends who do refuse to touch other people’s coins in the jeepney. They say it’s dirty. As if the coins in their pockets aren’t!

God, if you’re taking a jeepney, it is a given that you are obligated to pass other people’s money to the driver, especially if you’re sitting right behind him. Agree?

Viewed 1354 times by 377 visitors this month

12 Comments

Farmville Gets Real | Globe Bangon Pinoy Joins Gawad Kalinga for Bayan-Anihan!

Posted on November 9, 2009 by Yoshke in Public Affairs, Travel |

Alright, I admit. There was a period of my life that I was so addicted to Farmville on Facebook. Sometimes, I’d even go an extra mile just to level up. My housemates would invite me to dinner and I’d respond with “Wait lang. Mag-a-ani lang ako.” It was fun. Harvesting my virtual crops was a fulfilling experience. I felt like my efforts paid off and I deserve all my Farmville cash.

But the moment it started to affect my life (I’d get up early in the morning just to harvest lest my super berries should wither), I made the painful decision of quitting. Sayang, I was on Level 28!

Farmville never entered my head again except for a few occasions when a friend would find an ugly duckling or a brown cow and I was being prompted to adopt them. As much as I’d like to collect chocolate milk, I just had much more important things to do, like, let’s say my job and my blogs.

The next time Farmville got alive in me was when Globe invited me and a couple of other blogger friends to join them on Bayan-Anihan! Globe works with Gawad Kalinga to push a food sufficiency program that aims to put food on Filipino’s tables. The end-result that they wanted was obvious in their cheer: “Goodbye Gutom!”

It was an opportunity I did not let pass. “This is it,” I thought. “Farmville in real life!”

We gathered at Globe Telecom Plaza at 4:30am. We were given a shirt, a towel, and a buri hat, which all proved useful. We arrived in Concepcion, Tarlac at around 9am and we were overwhelmed by the warm welcome the community gave us. Old women in their traditional Filipinana attire and children showing their smiles.

Viewed 700 times by 250 visitors this month

8 Comments

What’s With the H?

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Yoshke in Public Affairs, Rants |

I found this statement somewhere. (But of course, it’s not just somewhere.) Someone described herself with this:

I hate people whose names have the letter H in their names randomly inserted to it, like in Mhe-Ann and Rhon. It’s just uncalled for. It pisses me off.

The first time I read it, I gasped, “What did I do to her?”

To all who don’t know, Yoshke is just a pen name. My real name is quite common but (yes, you guessed it right) it has an H randomly inserted to it. Like Mhe-Ann. Or Rhon.

I don’t even know the girl, yet she hates me for my name. Of course, my first reaction was “It’s not my fault. I didn’t choose my name.” But the more I think about it, the more I realize that it wasn’t my parents’ fault either. Or anyone’s. It isn’t a fault at all. What’s so annoying with a randomly inserted H, really?

But then, I can’t blame anyone who hates people who have the letter H in their names where there shouldn’t be. After all, I have my own share of irrational hatred. For one, I hate cooked carrots. It’s yummy and delicious and orange. But I hate it for no reason at all. My friends say I discriminate cooked carrots but I can’t help despising it.

Viewed 1151 times by 372 visitors this month

34 Comments

Protected: A Not-So-Straight History:
Top 10 Great People in History Who Might Be Gay

Posted on October 8, 2009 by Yoshke in Gay, History, Lists, The World |

Viewed 1634 times by 569 visitors this month

Enter your password to view comments.

The Drowning in Batangas

Posted on September 1, 2009 by Yoshke in Public Affairs, Travel |

Someone drowned in Matabungkay, Batangas last Sunday. But it seemed like that guy was not the only one that needed saving.

My travel buddy and I spent the long weekend at a beach in my home province. We had grander plans actually — Palaui Island in Cagayan, Caramoan in Camarines Sur, Sagada in Mountain Province, Hundred Islands in Pangasinan — but our weird schedules made the long weekend completely pointless. So we were forced to choose a beach that was close to the city.

Matabungkay in Lian, Batangas is indeed close to me. I’m not just talking about physical proximity but more importantly emotionally. I stayed there for two months when I managed an English camp for Korean grade school and college students in 2006 and we made wonderful memories and bond in that barangay. I was very familiar with the place. Matabungkay was an easy choice. You see, memories, which needed revisiting, were littered on the sands of Matabungkay.

Apparently, it wasn’t just memories that were all over Matabungkay. Trash, too. I wish I’m talking figuratively here.

It had been three years since I last visited the popular Batangas beach but a lot has changed. There was so much garbage lying on the sand and swimming with tourists. Seaweeds are a common sight in the area but what really ruined the place were plastic cups, glass bottles, aluminum foils, Lucky Me Pancit Canton wrappers… (Sorry, the brand got stuck in my head coz it’s my favorite and there were so much of them there.) It was really heartbreaking.

And yeah, someone drowned while we were swimming. I hope he was able to reach the hospital on time.

Viewed 978 times by 355 visitors this month

14 Comments

Top 10 Laziest Ways to Fight Global Warming

Posted on August 6, 2009 by Yoshke in Lists, The World |

I know, I know. Mother Nature is not being herself lately. The weather is insane. We always find ourselves preparing for disasters like we prepare for Willie Revillame’s albums. Storms are starting to get as devastating as GMA7′s soap operas. And when it’s not raining, the heat, oh the heat, is just as intolerable as Erap running for President again.

Yes, Earth has been crazy lately. And maybe it’s time that we start doing something about it.

You don’t need to be Al Gore to contribute in the fight against global warming. You don’t need to stage several benefit concerts on seven continents simultaneously to become a hero for the environment. You don’t need to attend the Oscars to proclaim that you’re going green. In fact, no matter how lazy you are, you can still do your part in protecting this planet we call home. Here are the top 10 no-sweat ways of making sure that the world will still be here in the future.

10. Buy in bulk.

Buying in bulk is not just practical but also eco-friendly. Items are much cheaper when purchased in bulk and it is a nice way of doing the environment a favor. You’re not just spending less money. You are also expending less energy. If you have so many items stocked at you home, you don’t need to make so many trips to the store; thus, saving gas or fare. You also save energy because of the reduced packaging. Do you have any idea how much plastic you’d save by choosing a six-in-one pack of toilet paper over six separate rolls? You also don’t need to worry about running out of toilet paper while doing your thing inside the bathroom because hey, you purchased lots of them.

9. Eat less meat.

Yes, you’re tired of hearing this from your doctor who has been crazy worried about your ailing heart. But if you don’t care much about your health, then care about the environment. Aside from the health risks that red meat poses, more energy is required in producing and transporting meat. Did you know that much of our forests have been cleared just to turn them into grazing lands for livestocks? Fruits and vegetables require 95% less energy than meat so why not start a diet rich in fruits and vegetables? After all, they are healthier.

8. Open your windows.

Many of use are so used to air-conditioners that even when it is warm inside but cold outside, we still opt to use them instead of just opening the window. If you are living on the higher floors of your apartment building, you may give your air-con a rest and take advantage of the free cold air outside. If it’s not enough for you, then turn on the fan hanging comfortably upon your ceiling. You have no idea how circulated air does wonders in regulating the temperature in the room without cranking down the thermostat further. Besides, if you find it hard to sleep at night, you’ll be surprised by how the whirring sound could help you sleep.

Viewed 594 times by 244 visitors this month

10 Comments

Barako No More?

Posted on May 6, 2009 by Yoshke in Public Affairs, Travel, Trivia |

I spent most of my years in Batangas and although my Dad was from Masbate/Palawan, I’ve always considered myself a 100% Batangueno. I’m your typical Batangueno — great and proud of his roots. In Tagalog, magiting at mayabang. Joke lang. Pero half-meant. After all, wala pa akong nakitang Batangueno na hindi proud na taga-Batangas. Gaah, that’s for another story.

Ayun na nga, magiting at mayabang. Sa madaling sabi, barako. Haha.

image courtesy of wowbatangas.com

My mother has a store in Lemery’s New Public Market. Batang palengke ako, ika nga. I used to roam around the market. My eyes, feasting on almost endless colorful arrays of stalls selling toys, clothes, food and other stuff. One of the most noticeable colors also has a very noticeably strong smell. Brown. Coffee. Kapeng barako.

Barako is not a common coffee variety, although it is abundant in Southeast Asia especially in the Philippines. It has the largest beans of all the coffee varieties. Its taste is said to be superior to Robusta, and most Filipino coffee drinkers prefer Barako to Arabica. The Arabica-Barako blend is a popular gourmet coffee. Barako is considered to be the best among Liberica species. (Wiki)

The Lemery Public Market was like a vast coffee pantry. To be honest, even when sleeping, I’d know if we had entered the market premises once that aroma started tickling my nostrils. I used to see at least a couple of “barako stalls” within one block. Parang bigas na may mountain range-type na nakadisplay tapos doon sinasalok yung coffee beans or powder. In one lane, I’d find at least five coffee stores. And God knows how many lanes our market had at the time.

Since I stepped foot on college, I had always asked my mum to buy me packs of kapeng barako. I had not gone back to that market. Until last month. Seven years had gone so fast that I failed to see how much that market changed. At the time, I knew something had changed but I couldn’t quite put a finger on it. I couldn’t figure it out.

Last month, I was approached by someone from Howie Severino’s team from GMA7′s iWitness. She asked me what was worth featuring in or about Batangas. Topics flooded my mind — from the fish pens on the edges of Taal Lake to the soon-to-be-erected Monte Maria Shrine (bigger than Rio de Janeiro’s Jesus Christ the Redeemer) to political dynasties (ahem Ermita ahem Leviste ahem).

As I was thinking of something to suggest, it hit me. What is “wrong” with our local public market today, what’s changed, what’s missing are the barako stalls. They are practically vanishing.

Viewed 1764 times by 474 visitors this month

36 Comments

Top 9 Most Evil Women in History

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Yoshke in History, Lists, Mysteries, Public Affairs, The World |

Because the world is celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8… Wahaha, joke lang! It was supposed to be Top 10. I wanted to include Imelda Marcos but…. Nah. Not that evil, I think. And then Queen Isabella of Castille. And then my sister crossed my mind but I got too lazy so I just settled for nine. And oh, originally written for crunkish.com, a superduper fun website I used to write for.

They say that behind every great man is a great woman. Following this principle, we can also assume that behind every evil man is an evil woman. Yes, there have been cruel women in history that we fail to notice because we sometimes focus on male atrocity. However, some women have shown great inhumanity and have caused tragedy by their own, without any help from any men.

Whether they were the Bonnie to their respective Clyde or the independent, loner type, here are nine of the most utterly despicable women in history who interpreted “girl power” the wrong way. But first, a disclaimer: your ex is not on this list.

9. The Bloody Mary: QUEEN MARY I (1516-1558)

The first woman to be crowned ruler of England, Queen Mary I reigned through a brief period. Her marriage to Prince Philip of Spain caused Parliamentary dissent and rebellion. She forced England back to Roman Catholicism in a vile manner. She ordered the so-called Marian Persecutions, the execution of countless religious dissenters especially Protestant leaders; thus the epithet “Bloody Mary.”

8. Good Queen Bess: QUEEN ELIZABETH I (1533-1603)

Her nickname “Good Queen Bess” proves to be improper because of her bad behavior. Forget about Cate Blanchett’s excellent portrayal. Queen Elizabeth was as cruel as any ruler could get.

If Queen Mary brought England back to Roman Catholicism, Elizabeth suppressed it in the cruelest way possible. She had thousands of Catholics in Ireland and England murdered. She may have done good things as regards to parliament, it doesn’t take away the fact that she was an evil tyrant. She even ordered piracy and raiding of Spanish ships. She was also heavily involved in slave trading movement as she sponsored slavers to capture Africans. She also gave Queen Mary of Scots refuge but she kept her prisoner for 19 years before finally killing her.

7. The Angel of Death: BEVERLY GAIL ALLIT (1968-)

If you think all nurses are so adorable and admirable, you should meet Beverly Gail Allit. Also called “the Angel of Death,” she was a British pediatric nurse who was convicted of the murder of four kids at the children’s ward of Grantham and Kesteven Hospital in Lincolnshire in 1991.

As a nurse, she used a medical tool in her murders — the syringe. Yes, she would inject the child with potassium or insulin, leading to cardiac arrest. If she was unable to get the injections, she would suffocate the child. In total, she had assaulted 13 children. Only four were killed. You may be thinking that it’s a very small number for a serial killer to actually make it to this list but she did all these in a span of only 58 days. This made her earn a slot on the list of the most notorious serial killers in Britain.

Viewed 4256 times by 1396 visitors this month

67 Comments

Follow Me!
Subscribe via Email!
Be the first to know when I post new entries!

Feedburner Email Subscription Widget Powered by zourbuth
Subscribe on Facebook!
About Yoshke

On May 31, 1985, tragedy struck when 41 tornadoes hit Canada and the US, leaving 76 people dead. At the same time, a doomed couple in the Philippines were having the best orgasms of their lives. Nine months (280 days) later, a healthy baby boy was brought into this world by normal delivery. That was exactly a week before Microsoft had its initial public offering.

Today, Yoshke Dimen resides independently in Mandaluyong City. He got a degree in Film from a university in Diliman but is now pursuing a career in Social Media.

Follow me on Twitter!
Like me on Facebook!
Subscribe to my RSS feeds!
Dream Big! Win Big!
Browse by Date
Browse by Category
Copyright Notice

This copyright applies to all posts, portions, pictures (except otherwise stated) and pages of this blog. Any of these may not be reproduced / duplicated, posted, stored electronically or archived except for personal non-public use without the author’s expressed written consent.

All applicable copyright laws apply and will be enforced.

You can reach the author by sending an email to yoshke (at) philippinebeaches.org
Register!
- Register
- Log in
- Entries RSS
- Comments RSS
- WordPress.org