Depression had printed its mark on me. I can see that every time I look down at my left arm. I thought I was this screwed up bastard and the only way I knew how to ease my being screwed up was to plunge into loneliness. I loved being sad. I would lie for hours just thinking about my miseries. I could write sad poems back then because I felt alone and I embraced the entirety of it.
It is a cliché but happiness is a choice. I did not whole-heartedly choose to be happy. I just grew out of being lonesome. I have come to accept that people come and go into our lives – I just had more people going out of my life. I did not become numb. I just stopped feeling sorry for myself. I don’t think I have already toughened up because I know I have more years ahead of me. I might be even having my first nervous breakdown when I’m forty.
As much as I would love to lengthen this article with my life saga, I wouldn’t want to delve into those miserable memories anymore. And I wouldn’t want to share to the world that part of my life. I guess I may have shared everything to people I used to consider close. I may share some more information to people I would meet in the future but I hope I would be able to limit those information. It just takes away the privacy in me.
As what I have already mentioned, people just come and go. And I have learned quite a big of a lesson. I stopped feeling close to people. I’m careful now to consider someone close. Not that I wasn’t careful before, but I’m tiptoeing on the idea now. Friendship can be strong but it will always be fragile (relative to your history).
Monday, February 8, 2010
My View on Philippine Politics
Philippine politics has always been dirty. Allegations of corruption are being thrown left and right. It used to be surprising, now it seems to be a weekly if not a daily salvo. Politics seems to be synonymous now with fraud.
Let me lay first my own definition of politics. I do not have a major in Political Science or any related degree so my definition is most likely that of a layman. Politics to me mostly refers to the responsibility or the job (or any doing) of an elected official. I think that is why an elected official is called a politician because they do politics. I also call the job of an elected official’s cohorts as politics. Politics also largely means “gaining favor” from a higher official (elected, appointed or whatever) to me. This always involves hierarchy. I have not worked in an office devoid of politics. I have done politicking to gain favors at some point. This article though would discuss more on my first definition of politics.
I remember when I was a kid that campaigning meant stickers and making paste. My family had always been supportive of a friend’s bid for the city (then municipality) council. We would go around town just to post up stickers on walls or hand out stickers and flyers to voters. During the 1995 campaign period (it could have been 1992 but I was too young then), I learned that paste was made of baking soda so somehow this became educational for me. Although the excitement would only last until the night of the election, I somehow got interested in politics through this experience.
My very first solid interest in politics was during the impeachment trial of Joseph Estrada. I was an avid viewer of the live broadcast of the trial. I was in high school then and there was this television set in the dormitory that could only receive one channel. I would always be the first one to sit in front of it after school, eat dinner for a while, then be back to watch the trial again diligently. When I would come home, I would watch the same thing. People were watching because I think people really wanted to have a change in the system. It was a real-life drama. Erap won by a landslide but most of those who voted for him felt he failed them. He turned out to be this corrupt president and was having difficulty in speaking English, which later translated to stupidity. However bad a president he was, I don’t think he was/is stupid. He became rich on his own accord, and I don’t think a fickle mind could help him do that.
The People Power Revolution of 2001 became the climax of that drama. Everyone was happy because the country was spared from a terrible president. Everyone thought that another female president could save the country from total poverty and right the wrongs done by the ousted administration. All activists against Erap were now solidly supporting Gloria Arroyo. They cheered and shouted her name during her first inauguration. Most of these activists would later turn against her due to another bout of allegations of corruption.
Arroyo’s administration had been plagued by dozens of demonstrations, and even a few coups. Personally, I do have mixed feelings for her. I was a student of the University of the Philippines in Diliman for two years. And the student activists over there are done so relentless. During my sophomore year, never was there an issue of the school paper that did not contain anti-Gloria articles. For a time, I became anti-Gloria on my own simply because I was influenced by the demonstrations done all over the university all year round. But then I became so fed up with the Collegian’s articles that it prompted me one day to send them a text message that was definitely against them. That of course was met with pissed reactions from the paper’s administrators.
I believe that no matter who the president is, activists would persist. And these activists would almost always be the same ones. These anarchists call themselves watchdogs but this “watching” that they do almost becomes paranoia sometimes. One very good example was when Hillary Clinton visited the country. A lot of these demonstrators were speculating before she arrived that Clinton was on a mission here to gain more advantages from the Philippines especially with the VFA. I personally believe that US presence in the country is advantageous for Filipinos. We need to get help from any well-developed country because the Philippines is way too underdeveloped. There may be bumps and tragedies along the way, but will we not get that from or fellow countrymen?
This election coming up is definitely not going to fall short of a spectacle. Already, Filipinos can see a lot of circus going on. One senator even called it “political prostitution”. Enemies become allies all for the sake of unity and common goals they may say. But it was almost an act of desperation. One wanted the kind of the other (never mind they had opposing views in the past), so they awkwardly politically copulated. People who witnessed the fall of Erap could never forget the names and faces of the senators and some congressmen who went up against and for him. Most of them had switched positions during the last couple of elections. If you have been to a political rally, you definitely have heard how most of these politicos trash talk each other. So they become hypocrites in their own rights. It is hard to believe that someone had a change of mind and heart at the age of 45.
Let me lay first my own definition of politics. I do not have a major in Political Science or any related degree so my definition is most likely that of a layman. Politics to me mostly refers to the responsibility or the job (or any doing) of an elected official. I think that is why an elected official is called a politician because they do politics. I also call the job of an elected official’s cohorts as politics. Politics also largely means “gaining favor” from a higher official (elected, appointed or whatever) to me. This always involves hierarchy. I have not worked in an office devoid of politics. I have done politicking to gain favors at some point. This article though would discuss more on my first definition of politics.
I remember when I was a kid that campaigning meant stickers and making paste. My family had always been supportive of a friend’s bid for the city (then municipality) council. We would go around town just to post up stickers on walls or hand out stickers and flyers to voters. During the 1995 campaign period (it could have been 1992 but I was too young then), I learned that paste was made of baking soda so somehow this became educational for me. Although the excitement would only last until the night of the election, I somehow got interested in politics through this experience.
My very first solid interest in politics was during the impeachment trial of Joseph Estrada. I was an avid viewer of the live broadcast of the trial. I was in high school then and there was this television set in the dormitory that could only receive one channel. I would always be the first one to sit in front of it after school, eat dinner for a while, then be back to watch the trial again diligently. When I would come home, I would watch the same thing. People were watching because I think people really wanted to have a change in the system. It was a real-life drama. Erap won by a landslide but most of those who voted for him felt he failed them. He turned out to be this corrupt president and was having difficulty in speaking English, which later translated to stupidity. However bad a president he was, I don’t think he was/is stupid. He became rich on his own accord, and I don’t think a fickle mind could help him do that.
The People Power Revolution of 2001 became the climax of that drama. Everyone was happy because the country was spared from a terrible president. Everyone thought that another female president could save the country from total poverty and right the wrongs done by the ousted administration. All activists against Erap were now solidly supporting Gloria Arroyo. They cheered and shouted her name during her first inauguration. Most of these activists would later turn against her due to another bout of allegations of corruption.
Arroyo’s administration had been plagued by dozens of demonstrations, and even a few coups. Personally, I do have mixed feelings for her. I was a student of the University of the Philippines in Diliman for two years. And the student activists over there are done so relentless. During my sophomore year, never was there an issue of the school paper that did not contain anti-Gloria articles. For a time, I became anti-Gloria on my own simply because I was influenced by the demonstrations done all over the university all year round. But then I became so fed up with the Collegian’s articles that it prompted me one day to send them a text message that was definitely against them. That of course was met with pissed reactions from the paper’s administrators.
I believe that no matter who the president is, activists would persist. And these activists would almost always be the same ones. These anarchists call themselves watchdogs but this “watching” that they do almost becomes paranoia sometimes. One very good example was when Hillary Clinton visited the country. A lot of these demonstrators were speculating before she arrived that Clinton was on a mission here to gain more advantages from the Philippines especially with the VFA. I personally believe that US presence in the country is advantageous for Filipinos. We need to get help from any well-developed country because the Philippines is way too underdeveloped. There may be bumps and tragedies along the way, but will we not get that from or fellow countrymen?
This election coming up is definitely not going to fall short of a spectacle. Already, Filipinos can see a lot of circus going on. One senator even called it “political prostitution”. Enemies become allies all for the sake of unity and common goals they may say. But it was almost an act of desperation. One wanted the kind of the other (never mind they had opposing views in the past), so they awkwardly politically copulated. People who witnessed the fall of Erap could never forget the names and faces of the senators and some congressmen who went up against and for him. Most of them had switched positions during the last couple of elections. If you have been to a political rally, you definitely have heard how most of these politicos trash talk each other. So they become hypocrites in their own rights. It is hard to believe that someone had a change of mind and heart at the age of 45.
What on Earth is Celiac
Celiac is a genetic digestive disease that attacks the small intestine. The small intestine is the part of the digestive system that is responsible for most digestive processes. This is where nutrients in food are mostly absorbed by the body.
A person with Celiac disease develops a reaction to gluten, a protein commonly found in wheat and other types of cereal. Gluten causes the small intestine to damage making it lose his nutrient-absorbing parts. Since absorption of food mostly happens in the small intestine, symptoms are related to nutrient deficiency. These include diarrhea due to malabsorption, weight loss or growth failure common to children, and fatigue, but some patients diagnosed with Celiac show little or no signs of known symptoms. Some even have symptoms that originate from other organs. The said disease is also linked to numerous other medical conditions based on the number of patients that exhibit one or more of these conditions while diagnosed with Celiac, but there has been no concrete evidence yet to prove that these other conditions are directly connected or caused by Celiac.
A 2005 study has proven that genetically susceptible people exposed to gluten-rich food within three months after birth were five times more likely to develop Celiac than people exposed after four to six months. The three months right after birth is the time when the gut barrier of an infant is still developing. This gut barrier is composed of bacteria that helps boost the immune system and produce some vitamins.
The first that should be performed to determine whether a person has Celiac is the blood test. This should be done to check the blood for anti-transglutaminase antibodies (ATA). A high level of ATA signifies the presence of Celiac disease. However, if the blood test result turns out to be negative, this does not mean the person does not have Ciliac. An endoscopy of the small intestine should be performed to double-check the diagnosis. There should be five characteristics present and all of them refer to the appearance of the small intestine.
The only effective treatment available right now is the gluten-free diet. This means that the affected person must avoid eating food items containing gluten such as wheat, barley and rye. This diet must be religiously implemented with the help of a dietician. The absence of gluten helps repair the damage it has done to the small intestine. Gluten-free diet has caused a stir in some religions specifically Catholicism and Judaism since they require all their members to take wheat items (i.e. the Host and the unleavened bread). No other treatment has been proven to cure Celiac.
A person with Celiac disease develops a reaction to gluten, a protein commonly found in wheat and other types of cereal. Gluten causes the small intestine to damage making it lose his nutrient-absorbing parts. Since absorption of food mostly happens in the small intestine, symptoms are related to nutrient deficiency. These include diarrhea due to malabsorption, weight loss or growth failure common to children, and fatigue, but some patients diagnosed with Celiac show little or no signs of known symptoms. Some even have symptoms that originate from other organs. The said disease is also linked to numerous other medical conditions based on the number of patients that exhibit one or more of these conditions while diagnosed with Celiac, but there has been no concrete evidence yet to prove that these other conditions are directly connected or caused by Celiac.
A 2005 study has proven that genetically susceptible people exposed to gluten-rich food within three months after birth were five times more likely to develop Celiac than people exposed after four to six months. The three months right after birth is the time when the gut barrier of an infant is still developing. This gut barrier is composed of bacteria that helps boost the immune system and produce some vitamins.
The first that should be performed to determine whether a person has Celiac is the blood test. This should be done to check the blood for anti-transglutaminase antibodies (ATA). A high level of ATA signifies the presence of Celiac disease. However, if the blood test result turns out to be negative, this does not mean the person does not have Ciliac. An endoscopy of the small intestine should be performed to double-check the diagnosis. There should be five characteristics present and all of them refer to the appearance of the small intestine.
The only effective treatment available right now is the gluten-free diet. This means that the affected person must avoid eating food items containing gluten such as wheat, barley and rye. This diet must be religiously implemented with the help of a dietician. The absence of gluten helps repair the damage it has done to the small intestine. Gluten-free diet has caused a stir in some religions specifically Catholicism and Judaism since they require all their members to take wheat items (i.e. the Host and the unleavened bread). No other treatment has been proven to cure Celiac.
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