Buy only labelled gifts, shoppers advised

By: Leila B. Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inqurer

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MANILA, Philippines—Environment Secretary Ramon Paje reminded shoppers not to buy toys and other gift items that were not properly labelled as they may contain toxic or other hazardous chemicals.

Paje said shoppers should check the labels of the gifts they buy, especially cheap toys from China, and report to authorities products that are not properly labelled.

In a statement, Paje noted that toys from China had flooded the market and some of them could have high lead content which could make children ill.

“As parents, we have to be mindful of the gifts we give to our children. Life may be difficult, but still it is no reason to patronize toys that are cheap but dangerous to their health,” he said.

“I advise parents and other gift-givers to be extra careful, and be updated on news reports. The government, media and some well-meaning nongovernment organizations never fail to inform the public of their findings.  There is no more reason for us to fall victim to unscrupulous business practices,” he said.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, exposure to lead could be toxic to the organs and tissues, and to the reproductive and nervous system. Children exposed to lead could have learning problems and behavioral disorders.

Lead is a metal that comes in granule, foil, sheet or powder form.

Paje said the DENR was working with the Department of Trade and Industry in ensuring that the guidelines on proper labeling of locally made toys and other products were followed.

The DENR is also poised to issue a directive that would regulate the importation and use of lead and its compounds in the country.

At present, the Environmental Management Bureau is conducting public consultations on the proposed chemical control order for lead.

The order would cover the importation, distribution, manufacture and use of lead and lead compounds, as well as their storage, transport and disposal.

Lead is often used as a raw material or additive in such industries such as the semi-conductor sector, printing, smelting, recycling and soldering. It is also used to make ammunition, batteries, paint and pigments.

Lead-based paint is used on bridges, ships, railways and other steel structures because they slow down rusting and corrosion of iron and steel.

In connection with lead use, the DENR is monitoring registered industries to check their compliance with regulations that require users, importers and manufacturers of chemicals to submit an annual report on their waste disposal.

An insult to our physicians

By Philip Chua
Cebu Daily News

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GLORIA Macapagal-Arroyo has shown vicious contempt and grave disrespect for the Filipino physicians and the healthcare in the Philippines when she and her husband decided the quality of medical care in the Philippines was not good enough for her, the implied reason why they were attempting to go abroad for treatment.

Apparently, they feel that our physicians and surgeons are not competent enough, not good enough, to treat her illness, cervical spondylosis, or neck arthritis, which is a degenerative condition due to wear and tear of the spine of the neck, a most common condition that afflicts at least tens of millions of the Filipinos. Just like arthritis of the back spine, hip, knee joints, or of the fingers, this condition has pain, which may wax and wane. But certainly, it is not a serious or life threatening condition that GMA and her supporters want to portray to win the sympathy of the Filipino people.

In 2007, her husband underwent a successful repair of a thoracic aneurysm, which is a million-fold more complex a surgical treatment, compared to spondylosis, which even an intern or a “hilot” can treat on an outpatient, as declared by GMA’s physician. All it needs are pain and anti-inflammatory pills, with or without physical therapy in most cases. Indeed, we have the medical competence and quality of care right here in the Philippines. Our physicians may not be able to cure a corrupt and evil mind, but they can competently manage complex medical conditions right in our own country, and most certainly treat arthritis and its complications well.

For several years, I have been pushing for the Philippines to throw its hat into the arena of medical tourism in Asia. I posted the challenge a few years ago at the Annual Clinical Congress of the Philippine College of Surgeons, because of my strong faith and conviction in the talent and competency of my colleagues and in the quality of care in the key medical centers in the country. I believed then and more so now that the Philippines is a potential mecca of medical tourism in Asia. So, how could Gloria Arroyo insult our country’s well-trained physicians and quality medical care? Obviously, to get what she wants, GMA will say or do anything.

As a former president, Arroyo should be the first to show confidence and pride for the quality of medical care in the Philippines by her preference to be treated at home rather than go abroad. GMA’s determined desire to get treatment outside of the country is a slap in the face of the medical and allied health professionals in the Philippines. She has disgraced the entire medical profession in our country before the whole world with lies her decision has unjustly implied.

As a Filipino cardiac surgeon who had practiced in Northwest Indiana, just south of Chicago, for nearly three decades and at the Cebu Doctor’s University Hospital, Cebu City, Philippines, for more than twelve years, and knowing countless medical colleagues in Cebu and Metro Manila, I can categorically say that our country today has at least a dozen medical centers with modern equipment and manned by impressive medical talents, comparable to those in the United States.

However, it is obvious that Gloria Arroyo and her husband were simply using the brutal excuse to escape justice, with the help of their lawyers, who are apparently willing to utilize all technical maneuvers to impede the legal process to allow the couple to flee and avoid prosecution. At least, that’s how it looks to the public, who equates running away as a sign of guilt. If they are innocent, they should stay and fight it out to clear their name.

GMA and her husband should be presumed innocent of the charges against each of them till proven guilty in the court of law. That right, they deserve, in spite of the obvious contempt they have for the decent and law-abiding Filipinos and the legal system of the Republic. The Arroyos must have their day in court. The integrity of the whole nation is at stake. The people demand justice. Let’s make sure they get it, fairly, swiftly, without unnecessary delays, even if Chief Justice Corona and his Seven (all Arroyo appointees) might be willing to allow the couple to simply get away scot free.

The demand by Senator Drilon, Bantay Gloria Network, some religious and other civic groups for Corona to inhibit himself from this case is clearly in order, even for delicadesa, because the people suspect that the Chief Justice is beholden to GMA for his controversial May 2010 midnight appointment by Arroyo as Chief Justice and for his past association with her as Chief of Staff when GMA was vice president and later as president. Drilon also cited 19 cases (2004 to 2010) involving the past administration of Arroyo, where Corona voted consistently in favor of GMA, which “have created doubts in the public’s mind about his impartiality.”

The popular clamor to impeach Corona is brewing and gaining ground. The “crown” of Arroyo must be removed and GMA must be treated like any other citizen who is charged with a crime, electoral sabotage, which is unbailable. Anyone obstructing justice, including justices of the Supreme Court, must be answerable to the people.

The same responsibility and culpability equally apply to the lawyers on either side, to the physicians treating Gloria Arroyo, to members of the Aquino Administration, the Congress, and generally to anyone involved.

All this drama is a hopeful sign of great things to come to the Philippines. The wisdom of the overwhelming majority of Filipinos who elected P-Noy and his vision of “daang matuwid” (The Straight Path) is now starting to manifest and bear fruit. The earnest war against graft and corruption is the only way for us to save our nation and our people, especially those in the gutter of poverty and hopelessness. It might sound crazy, but I bullish about the Philippines. I sincerely believe there is hope for our country to be a great country, a nation with justice, dignity, integrity, compassion, prosperity, and peace. But then again, I am a sentimental dreamer.

Indeed, the Philippines must show the world that we are a nation of justice and that no one, not even a president, past or present, is above the law. As always, the ultimate power and justice rest in the hands of the people, in the Parliament of the Streets, if and when any of the three branches of the government defaults by failing to act responsibly to protect the integrity of the nation and its citizens.

At this early stage, we, the people, should not even attempt to make a diagnosis, in spite of the speculations around and what seemingly appears to be obvious. If we want justice, we must first be just ourselves and allow the prescribed judicial process to go through without delay. Let us be patient, steadfast, calm, but vigilant. After all, the truth will come out soon enough, and justice will prevail.

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Sex libido killers

By Philip Chua
Cebu Daily News

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ABOUT 33 percent of men over 40 and as many as 15 million men in the US have erectile dysfunction (ED). While low sexual desire is another condition, ED in men can induce lack of libido because of the awareness, consciousness, and fear of inability to have effective erection during intercourse. The problem of low sex libido is likewise significant among women in general, especially among those with lack of natural vaginal lubrication. The dilemma is really widespread around the world, affecting not only older persons but individuals as early as in their 30s or 40s.

One of the most enjoyable instinctive pleasures in life is intimacy with a loved one, and yet a significant number of us seems to have lost the desire for sex. Why? What kills this natural drive?

There are many factors in today’s complex society that kill natural sex libido, negatively affecting millions of man and women.

Age is one of them. As we grow older, our sex

hormones dwindle as expected, and with this goes our sex drive. Of course, this varies a lot among individuals. There are persons who continue to be sexually active, many without the aid of medications, even past their 60s and 70s. Some are actually “addicted” to sex.

Besides genetics, general health plays a major role in our sexual health.

The so-called HSDD (hypoactive sexual desire disorder) is mostly caused by these additional factors:

1. Psychological—Daily stress, anxiety, anger,

jealousy, envy, greed, depression, and actual mental disorder

2. Medical—Illnesses, like diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, elevated cholesterol level, medications for treatment of hypertension, hair-loss drugs, HIV medications, chemotherapy agents, etc.

3. Hormonal—The sex hormone testosterone, which affects both men and women could be so low, among the older persons, although this also happens to a lesser degree in some young people, causing low sex drive. Deficient thyroid hormone and elevated prolactin hormone can cause the same problem.

4. Intrinsic Chemical—The brain is considered the largest sex organ, contrary to what some people might believe. The brain chemical messaging system that transmits and triggers sex desire, in response to external and internal stimulation, involves dopamine, among others, which increases sex libido. This is obvious among Parkinson patients being treated with dopamine-stimulating drugs.

So, if your sex drive is on neutral or on park, if could be possibly due to any of the conditions or factors above, or from any specific situations we will explore below. Analyzing your personal situation is a good start before seeking medical help.

One of the commonest libido killers, as listed above, is stress. This could come from a variety of situation, like work-related stress, money problem, personal or family health dilemmas, family relationship stress in general, all of which are stressors that knock out sex drive. Among women, vaginal dryness can contribute to lack of sexual appetite. But this condition is readily solved by a variety of lubricants available today.

Unresolved issues, from many fronts, are common causes of low sexual interest. Women, in particular, need emotional intimacy for a successful sexual arousal. While most men in general are more interested in the physical act, women are more into emotions and deeper meaning of a relationship. Any question of loyalty or brewing arguments can diminish sexual drive.

Fatigue, lack of sleep, lack of energy, busy routines with a lot of unfinished work, etc can take a big toll on the interest for sexual intimacy. Like in with any activities that need concentration, sex requires the mind to be fully engaged for the other parts of the body to function properly. Any distraction, external or internal, will negatively impact the drive.

Obesity is one condition with a social stigma that can lessen sexual desire, even if its medical and

hormonal side-effects are not considered in this

discussion. The body mass index alone affects the

actual performance, and the beholder and potential partners may also be less aroused. Medical conditions obese persons are prone too may also have the same impact.

Then, there is also self esteem as a part of the equation. Poor body image from being overweight will

decrease the feeling of the person that he/she is sexy. This in itself diminishes the libido. And, as stated

earlier, the partner could also be negatively influenced by this.

Among the external factors is alcohol intake. While one drink might be a stimulus for some, it could be a severe downer for others. I have often quoted Shakespeare, who wrote “alcohol increases the desire but

diminishes the performance.” The threshold, of course, varies from person to person, as far as their tolerance to the stimulating or sedative effect of alcohol. Some partners are also turned off by alcoholic breath alone, and, of course, more so, by majority, if not all, by the actual state of inebriation.

Smoking, cigarette-breath, and smoking cough are turn-offs for some people. When the lungs are weakened by smoking, the oxygen they can provide is

diminished, and so with the energy and physical

fitness of the smoker. This includes sex libido. Of course, the effect will be directly proportional to the damage already caused by smoking.

Along the same line, parenting can negatively influence the desire for intimacy, its timing, and opportunity. While it is not major problem, it can be a factor. A new addition to the family can certainly use up a lot of time and energy of the one taking care of the infant. Sometimes, it is worth hiring a baby-sitter, even occasionally, to free-up some time for rest, relaxation, and romance.

Medications can cause decreased sex libido. Drugs that zap libido include antidepressants, blood pressure medications, some oral contraceptives, medications for HIV, chemotherapy agents, tranquilizers, sedatives, even cough suppressants.

Menopause, on either gender, but more especially among females, where hormonal changes cause

decrease in libido and aggravated by dryness of the vagina, definitely lead to plummeting sexual desire.

Healthy lifestyle, including exercise and calorie

control to prevent obesity and promote a sexy body, and prevention of diseases, will tremendously

enhanced everyone ability to improve their libido and sexual performance. There is no drug that can replace or equal this natural strategy.

Finally, I cannot overemphasize the value of intimacy in a relationship. Creating a romantic atmosphere as often as desired or whenever possible among couples, no matter how old they are, and simply starting the day right, being nice to each other, being playful, snuggling together, or just holding each other, can help a lot in cementing a warm, loving, and enduring relationship. The bonus of improved or heightened libido is a great dividend for both partner for all the efforts and considerations they each invest in this endeavor of love.

*Please visit www.PhilipSchua.com