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IN FRATERNAM MEAM
Monday, May 31, 2004
KNOWING A WOMAN'S HEART
1. Knowing the warning signs of heart attack:

Some heart attack are sudden and intense, but most start slowly, with one or more of the following signs:

** discomfort in teh center chest that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. it could be uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

** pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

** shortness of breath.

** sweating

** nausea

** lightheadeness



Are you Living on an Adrenaline High?

If you thrive on the rush that comes from excessive busyness and the following describe your behaviour, you may be a chaos addict.

1. Do you often run late to appointments, business meetings, or dates with friends so that you arrive feeling rushed?

2. When you slow down, do you feel bored or anxious?

3. Are you a procrastinator, leaving important tasks for the last minute?

4. Are you driven to please people, finding it hard to say no?

5. Do you find a way to sabotage yourself, even though you look successful to the outside world?



(see www.womansday.com)
posted by infraternam meam @ 1:53 PM   0 comments
HOME FOOT PHARMACY
Here's a formula that will soothe your tired feet. try it and see what will happen.

Soothing Smoothing Callus Scrub

2 tbs salt or table salt
2 tbs vegetable oil
5 drops orange or peppermint essential oil

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl until the salt is completely covered by the oil, then set aside.

Now, soak and your feet for five minutes in warm water in order to soften the dead callused skin.

(optional) if your feet are particularly odoreferous, add 1 cup of baking soda to water as a natual deodorizer.

Using i tbs of scrub per foot, firmly massage the mixture into yiur feet (concentrating on callused areas)for at least three minutes. rinse with warm water and rougly rub your feet dry. your feet will feel smoother and your senses will be invigorated.


ESSENTIAL ESSENCE FOOT BUTTER

2 tbs grated beeswax or beeswac beads
2 tbs cocoa butter
4 tbs almond, apricot, hazelnut or soybean oil
1 tbs lanolin
20 drops essential oil of orange, lavender, geranium, spearmint or peppermint.

in a small saucepan or double boiler, warm all ingredients, excpet essential oil, until wax is melted (donot allow to simmer or boil)

remove from heat and stir occasionally until almost cool, then add essential oil, stir again and pour into a tin, glass or plastic containe. mixture will thicken as it cools. it reuires no refrigeration and will last up to one year. use 1 teaspoon per foot. rub the each feet with this formula for at least 5minutes each foot, and feel the difference.

(taken from Essentail Life/ 2004)
posted by infraternam meam @ 4:07 AM   0 comments
Sunday, May 30, 2004
DO YOU HAVE (ADD) ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER?
Here's a simple test.use the rating scale below to evaluate how well each of the following statements best describes you.RATING SCALE

1.. Strongly disagree
2.. Somewhat disagree
3.. Neither agree or disagree
4.. Somewhat agree
5.. Strongly agree


___ you often procrastinate and have trouble beginning tasks.

___ you often experience a sense of under achievement or of failing to meet your goals (regardless of your status or the amount of success you've achieved)

___ you often act impulsively and have a tendency to "speak before you think" (you often say what's on your mind at inappropriate times)

___ you rarely follow through on new ideas or simple tasks.

___ you often sabotage your efforts as you're about to acheive a goal (pursuing a goal excites you, but achieving one leaves you flat.)

___ you're often very disorganized (your office or house is a mess)

___ you crave stimulating and new activities and challenges

___ you are prone to extreme and inaccurate self observation (you tend to exaggerate how good or bad you really are)

___ you're easily bored -- it's rare that anything interests you for long.

___ you either have trouble focusing or are focused to an extreme (you either get very distracted or you're so focused that you're able to block everything else out.)

___ you're intelligent and creative, with strong intuitive sense.

___ you tend to be very impatient (about trying to lose weight for example )

___ you are prone to obsessive-compulsive worrying or to not worrying when you should (for example you'll stay on the golf course in the midst of a lightning storm)

___ you are prone to restless thoughts and behavior. such as pacing or wringing your hands.

___ you have a tendency toward addiction and/or habits you can't break.

___ details make you crazy -- you're put off by tedious tasks.

___ you have a family history of manic depressive ilness ADD, depression, addiction (substance abuse) or problems with impulse control.

___ you often experience muddies or racing thoughts that feel like they're out of control.

If you responded with a 4 (somewhat agree) or 5 (strongly agree) for five more of the items above, its quite possible your fitness (and life) may be hindered by ADD. seek profesional diagnosis and investigate your treatment options by consulting some of the recommended resources below:www.addresources.org
www. add.org
www.coachfederation.org


(taken from "Experience Life"2004)
posted by infraternam meam @ 3:14 AM   0 comments
Saturday, May 29, 2004
HERBAL MEDICINE AND ITS PURPOSES
ASIAN GINSENG

Uses for Asian Ginseng:

Athletic performance and endurance, type 2 diabetes, epilepsy, immune function, erectile dysfunction (impotence) and infertility (male)

HOW MUCH IS USUALY TAKEN?

** standardized ginseng extracts (5 to 7pct ginsenosides), 200 to 500 mg per day.

** crude, powdered root products may require a higher intake, generally 1 to 4 grams per day for tablets or 2 to 3 ml for dried root tincture three times a day.

** asian ginseng is often used for two to three weeks continously, followed by a one to two week "rest" period before resuming.

GINKO BILOBA

dan be use for age related cognitive decline, alzheimers disease (early stage) intermittent claudication, depression, erectile dysfunction, macular degeneration and vertigo.

HOW MUCH IS USUALLY TAKEN?

** 120 to 240 mg of gingko biloba extract (standardized to contain 24 pct flavone glycosides and 6pct terpene lactones) per day, generally divided into two or three portions.

** although non- standardized dried leaf or tinctures are available, there are no well established levels of these forms to take.

ECHINACEA

can be use for common cold, infleunza, immunce function, infection and gingivites (periodontal disease)

HOW MUCH IS USUALLY TAKEN?

** at the onset of a cold or flu, 3 to 4 ml of echinacea tincture can be taken every two hours for the first day fo illness, then three to four times per day for the next 10 to 14 days.

** alternatively, 300 mg of powedered echiocea in tablet or capsule form may be taken three times per day for 10 to 14 days.


GINSENG (Eleuthero)

this can be used for athletic performance, immune function, fatigue and stress.

HOW MUCH IS USUALLY TAKEN

** 2 to 3 grams daily of dried, powedered root and rhizomes are commonly used.

** 300 to 400 mg per day of a concentrated solid extract, standardized with eleutherosides B and E can also be used.

** alcohol based root and rhizome extract (2-11) can be taken at 4 to 5 ml two times per day.

** historically, eleuthero is taken continously for 6 to 8 weeks, followed by a one to two week break before resuming.

GINGER

can be use for motion sickness, epilepsy, irritable bowel syndorme, indigestion, morning sickness, nausea following chemotherapy, nausea and vomiting following surgery, osteoatrhitis, pre-and post surgery health, and vertigo.

HOW MUCH IS USUALLY TAKEN?

** for prevention or treatment of motion sickness, 500 mg of dried ginger powder can be taken one half to one one hour before travel and then 500mg every two to four hours as necessary.

** children below the age of 6 should use one half the adult amount.

** for the treatment of nausea associated with pregnancy, women can take up to 1 gram daily, but should only use for the symptomatic relief of nausea and not on an ongoing basis.

** ginger may ptoentially be used for nausea associated with anesthesia or chemotherapy, but only under the supervision of a physician.

** some herbalist suggest the uses of a tincture at 1.5 to 3ml three times daily.

GREEN TEA

is used for altherosclerosis, colon cancer (reduces risk) high cholesterol and leukoplakia.

HOW MUCH IS USALLY TAKEN?

** much of the research documenting the health benefits of greentea is based on the amount of green tea typically drunk in asian countries, about three cups per day (providing 240 to 320 mg of polyphenols) however, other research suggests as much as ten cups per day is necessary to obtain noticeable benefits. (e.g cancer prevention) from green tea ingestion.

** to brew greent, 1 teaspoon (5 gams of green tea leaves are combined with 1 cup (250ml) of boiling water and steeped for three minutes.

** standardized extracts containing up to 97pct total polyphenols are available. one tablet or capsule containing 300 to 350 mg of green tea extract may provide the same amount of polyphenols as three cups fo green tea. many of these standardized producs are decaffeinated.

GARLIC

can be use for altherosclerosis , colon cancer (resuces risk of stomach, esophageal, and colon cancers) high cholesterol and high triglycerides, high blood pressure adn intermitten claudication.

HOW MUCH IS USUALLY TAKEN?

** persons wishing to consume garlic and have no aversion to its odor can chew one or two whole cloves of raw garlic daily.

** odor controlled enteric coated tablets standardized for allin content are also available. these products typically supply approximately 1.3 pct allina nd 0.6pct allicin potential. the amount used in clinical studies is 600 to 900 mg (delivering about 5,00 to 6,00 mcg of allicain potential) per day in two to three divided doses.

taken from SAVON.COM
posted by infraternam meam @ 2:09 PM   2 comments
Friday, May 28, 2004
MEN'S HEALTH
OVERVIEW:

Men and women each face unique health concerns, and it is important to address many of these concerns separately. Men are especially encouraged to educate themselves about health risks, as there is an overall tendency for men to visit the doctor less frequently than women.


Having regular physical exams in addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise are necessary to maintaining good health.

SOME MAJOR ILLNESS OF MEN:
>-------------------------

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia )(BHP)
This illness is the enlargement of the prostate gland that occurs as men age. BPH is common. About half of all men over 50 years of age experience this problem and some symptoms occur.

It is not clear that BPH is a disease. It may be a natural part of aging process in men. The enlargement is usually harmless, but as the glands gels gets bigger, it may squeeze the urethra causing urinary problems such as:

** Difficulty getting a urine stream started and completely stopped (dribbling).

** A frequent urge to urinate or being awakend at night by the urge to urinate.

** A decreased force of the urine stream.

** A sense that the bladder is not completely empty after urination.

An enlarged prostate can be inconvenient, but it is usually not a serious problem.in a samllnumber of cases, irination may bedome extremely difficult, or backed up urine may cause bladder infections or kidney damage.

A man with BPH may also have irritation to the bladder muscles as the muscles enlarge to compensate for the increased force needed to empty the bladder.this quality of life maybe affected if frequent nightime urination disrupts sleep.

BPH does not cause prostate cancer, and it has no effect on man's ability to have erections or to father children. symptoms of BPH can often be controlled with medications and home treatment. few men have symptoms of complications severe enough to require surgery.

Another name for Prostate Enlargement is BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERTROPHY. urinary sumptoms from prostate enlargement are often called PROSTATISM.

PROSTATE CANCER
---------------

Overview:

Prostate Cancer is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the tissues of the prostate gland. the prostate gland creates fluid for semen.

Prostate Cancer is more common in men over 50 years of age. it is the second most common cause of cancer deaths among men. lung cancer is the first. prostate cancer maybe curable if it is discovered early enough.

WHAT CAUSES PROSTATE CANCER?

Experts donot know the excat cause of prostate cancer, but they believe factors such as age and family hisotry may increase your risk of developing the disease.


HOW IS PROSTATE CANCER DIAGNOSED?

the results of a digital rectal exam (DRE) and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test can indicate that prostate cancer may be present. a biopsy of tissue from the prostate gland is needed to definitively diagnose prostate cancer.

HOW IS PROSTATE CANCER CLASSIFIED

Prostate cancer is classified into two :

GRADE describes how the cancer cells look and act compared to normal prostate cells. the high the Grade, the more likely it is that the cells will grow rapidly and spread to other past of the body (metastasize).

STAGEdescribes how much the cancer has spread.


(taken from SAVON HEALTH)
posted by infraternam meam @ 11:04 AM   1 comments
TO ALL CONCERNED FILIPINOS
Note: this was forwarded to me by a friend. told me to let it be posted in my blog to be read, if my blogspot is being read, by pinoys abroad. to understand this reponse, please read:

http://www.inq7.net
---------------------

here's the response to the article that is attacking pinoys as "SELLOUT".

We resent you calling Filipino who chooses to stake his own futurein a foreign land as a "sellout". how easy it is for you to say that, you in your comfortable office cubicle! have you ever gone to a foreign land to work as an entry-level employee, struggling upwards against an oh-so-subtle but evr-present current of discrimination as a "second-class citizen"? have you ever worked 12 long hours on your feet, answering to the needs and demands of multilingual, multicultural patients, only to come home to have to cook your own meals, do your own laundry, throw your own garbage before you throw your tired, aching body to bead and wake up 5 or 6 hours later to put in another long day at work?

Have you ever fought, loneliness, homesickness, and despair all at once, and then have to present a brave voice to the people back home: "yes, Mama, I'm all right here. the pay is good, Papa. opo, i will send $300 on my next payday so you can go to the doctor to have your heart checked and buy your medicines. ingat po kayo". and then burst to tears when you put down the phone, the loneliness gripping your heart so tight you almost can't breathe, wishing you were back home. but a ticket back home will you another $900.00.... better to send it home so that your parents can pay for the doctor, your pamangkins can go to school, your aging lolo can buy his medicine. Inq7 editorial staff, have YOU ever done that?

No, perhaps you with your "katulongs" at home , surrounded by parents who pamper you (whome you take mostly for granted), with your own secret sense of arrogance (yes- arrogance!) that you work in a major newspaper and are better than the masa andmiddle-class lot who have to FIND work abroad- you have never been in our shoes and you will not understand the battles we fought to get here, stay alive here. you donot understand, donot een TRY, and that is why you judge us. you- with your overworked maids, your university education, your comfotable 15-30 paycheck, your big shot arrogance- you are hypocrites.

Do you think this person you are judging, or like him, have not fought to stay in our country. if only we saw that staying would assure us of a good future for ourselves and our families? do you really ignorantly believe that just because a person is young and smart, that his life is "unencumbered by challenge", as you put it so euphemistically? do you not know that our parents sacrficed and scraped together their own meager salaries to send us to school, only to find us, after graduation, working for years in measly - paying jobs in hospitals, getting paid as little as P3,000.00 a month, barely enough to cover our "pamasahe" to and from work?

do you really think millions of unemployed or underemployed hungry young doctors and nurses langushing in poverty will be good for the country's economy and future?

When there was a glut in our professions and the lcoal hospitals tunred us away or asked us to work as "volunteers"(walang bayad), do you thin we sat on our behinds and waited for someone to give us handouts?NO! we pounded the pavements applying for work as hotel clerks, salespeople, telemarketers,anything, so we can put food in our stomach and clothes on our backs and maybe give a little something to our parents and siblings. and when we finally landed a non-medical job, we had to repeatedly answer questions like "O, nurse/doctor ka pala, bakit dito ka nagtatrabaho?anong ginagawa mo dito"? but we bore that in silence, in humility even, because the alternative- inertia, despair, poverty - were unacceptable to us. but perhaps you do understand this either, as you most probably got your job straight our of university, using your family's connections.

And have YOU ever voluntered on medical missions, unpaid but willing and ABLE, like many of us have before we left the country? most likely not, because it is easier to judge and write about it, thanactually DO SOMETHING GOOD.

And yet, are you with one side of your "doble-kara" going to judge and condemn us, brand us as "sellouts" and with the other side praise us and than us for send $7 BILLION ANNUALLY back home in remittances? and, me i point out that you write that haughty, arrogant editorial, even the very ADS in your website TARGET te very people whom you so arrogantly deismiss as "sellouts", hoy, mga IGNORANTENG HIPOKRITO dyan sa Inq7, mahiya naman kayo.!

You have deeply, deeply insulted us overseas Filipinos by branding us someone who wants to wrok abroad as a "sellout"but despite this, we will continue working, continue fighting, continue sending money home so that our families can have better lives, andour children, siblings, and even ralative to the nth degress can have better education and better futurs. someday we hope to come back home to our beloved Philippijes, to start businesses, open schools, create jobs for our fellow Filipos - all with our hard earned money. even then, we will continue to shore up the economy of the county, foght for its future the best we can. we wonder if, your comfortable room in your comfortable houses,when you look inside your judgemental soul (IF YOU EVER DO), you can say that for yourselves. that about that.

Even when our country has not been very good to us, we still help put families back home. even when our countrymen, kababayan kuno, call us "sellouts", we still send our hard end money to families who appreciates us. evenwhen you insult us we still try to find out what is going on the Philippines (see we read Inq7, ABS-CBN.COM and your Philstar.com and we wathc the Filipino channel and we know what you're yammering about when you think we're notlooking) andsee how we can help our country somehow, by helping our families.

==================================================
PLEASE FORWARD THISM TO TO OTHER CONCERNED OVERSEAS FILIPINOS, AND LET INQ7.NET BE AWARE THAT WE DONTO APPRECIATE THIS INSULT AND WE WILL NOT LET IT PASS.
==================================================
posted by infraternam meam @ 1:56 AM   0 comments
Thursday, May 27, 2004
ERECTILE DISFUNCTION
OVERVIEW:
--------

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION (impotence) refers to a man's consistent inability to get or maintain an erection. it does not mean a lack of sexual interest or desire, and the man with erectile dysfunction may or may not be able to have an orgasm or to ejaculate.

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION can occur at any age, and does NOT refer to the occasional difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection that all men experience at some time.

Doctor'sprefers to use the term Erectile Dysfunction instead of impotence. a man's sexual function involves more than an erection of his penis, and the term impotence always carries a lot of negative connotations.

Older men are morelike to have erection problems than younger men. However, this is not because of age, but because older men aremore likely to have medical conditions that contribute to erection probelems. Older men also ten to takemore medications, some which interfere with normal erectile function. Treatment of erection problems in older men can be just an effective as in younger men.



C A U S E
---------

Your risk of developing an rectile dysfunction is incread if you hae certain disease, or physical or psychological problems, oriof you do certain types of activities.

DISEASES AND PHYSICAL CONDITIONS THAT INCREASE YOUR RISK INCLUDES:

** DIABETES. Men with diabetes often have erectionproblems. about half of men with diabetes develop erection problems within the five years of being diagnosed with diabetes.

** HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE or blood vessel disease.

** HIGH CHOLESTERAL or los HDL cholesterol.

** LOW LEVELS OF THE HORMONES needed for normal function of the sex organs, leading to low testosterone levels.

**THYROID PROBLEMS.

**MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.

** STROKE.

** PARKINSON'S DISEASE.

FACTORS THAT INCREASE THE RISK OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL CAUE OF ERECTION PROBLEMS INCLUDES:

** Depression

** Anxiety problems

** Relationship problems

** A recent life change, like birth of a child, retirement, job change, loss or death of a partner, divorce or marriage.

SYMPTOMS OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:

** The man is unable to have an erection at any time, either with masturbation or with a sex partner.

** The man is unable to maintain an erection that is firm enough for sexual intercourse.

** The man is unable to maitain an erection long enough to complete sexual intercourse.

..... compilations taken from SAVON.
posted by infraternam meam @ 1:14 AM   3 comments
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
LOVE AT SECOND SIGHT by Nancy Collins
INTERNET LOVE AFFAIRS AND DATING

If you are not meeting quality people in your day to day life, you can take matters into your own hands and search for that perfect person using the INternet, dating services or personal ads.These services will allow you to screen out many undesirable people and let you concentrat on your desired age group, educational background, hobbies, appearance and geographical location. And with over 20 million people out there using the Internet what are you waiting for?
QUIZ

10 pnts for a "yes" ;5 pnts for"undecided"; o pnts for "no"

Ranking......... Questions
---------------------------

_____ 1. a am willing to use Internet Dating, dating service n
personal ads.

_____ 2. i have/would put my picture on an internet dating site.

_____ 3. i understand the basic rules and would meet someone for the first time in a public place.

_____ 4. i do not sound needy in my bio.

_____ 5. i have actually answered ads and have arranged a meeting.

_____ 6. i dont worry about the types of people i may meet, because i know i can do an adequate job of screening.

_____ 7. i have been successful using one of these methods and have had more than one date witht the same person.


SCORING

70 - 60 you have an enterpreneurial spirit and sound rady to try one of these approaches.

50 - 30 you have a more cautious nature and could take a little more risks.

20 - 0 something is holding you back. try it and see what good things will happen.
posted by infraternam meam @ 12:18 PM   0 comments
D E P R E S S I O N
Overview:

Depression is a mood disorder that causes sumptoms such as low energy, prolonged sadness ir irritability, and lack of interest in daily activities.It can be triggered by a chemical imbalance or by streesful, emotional situations.

DEPRESSION is a medical condition, not a character flaw or weakness. Many people with depression donot seek treatment because they are embarrassed or think they will get over it on their own. If you feel yoy hae depression, there are many successful treatments available to help you. You donot havet tolive with depression.

CAUSE OF DEPRESSION is not entirely clear. It is thought to be caused by an imbalance of certain brain chemicals (neurotransmitters). Depression seems to run in families and is often triggered by stressful lie evnets and lack of social support. It tends to recur.

SYMPTOMS. if you are depressed, youmay feel hopeless and sad or stop experiencing pleasure in almost everything you do. You may feel "down in the dumps", tearful or discouraged. You may also feel irritable, anxious or apathetic.

In order to be diagnosed with depression, you must have the symptoms of either the follwoing:

**SADNESS OR HOPELESSNESS.
**LOSS OF INTEREST OR PLEASURE IN MOST OF YOUR DAILY ACTIVITIES.


Along sadness or loss of interest that last forMORE THAN TWO WEEKS, you may also have at least four of the follwoing:

** A CHANGE OF APPETITIE that cuases either weight gain or weight loss.

** SLEEPING too much or not enough.
** FEELING RESTLESS and unable to sit still, or feelign that moving takes a great effort.
** FEELING TIRED all the time.
** FEELING UNWORTHY or guilty without an obvious reason.
** HAVING PROBLEMS CONCENTRATING remembering or making decisions.
** THINKING OFTEN ABOUT DEATH or suicide.

OTHER SYMPTOMS THAT COMMONLY OCCUR WITH DEPRESSION INCLUDES:

1). HEADACHES and other body aches and pain.
2). DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS including constipation or diarrhea.
3). LOSS OF INTEREST in sex or inability to perform sexually.
4). FEELING ANXIOUS or worried without an obvious reason.
5.) BLAMING YOURSELF or others for your depression.
6). NOT MOVING or talking for hours.


compiled from SAVONHEALTH.COM literature.
posted by infraternam meam @ 12:53 AM   1 comments
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
HAVE MERCY ON ME, MY SOUL
WHY are you weeping, my Soul?
Knowest thou my weakness?
Thy tears strike sharp and injure,
For I know not my wrong.
Until when shalt thou cry?
I have naught but human words
To interpret your dreams,
Your desires, and your instructions.

Look upon me, my Soul; I have
Consumed my full life heeding
Your teachings. Think of how
I suffer! I have exhausted my
Life following you.

My heart was glorying upon the
Throne, but is now yoked in slavery;
My patience was a companion, but
Now contends against me;
My youth was my hope, but
Now reprimands my neglect.

Why, my Soul, are you all demanding?
I have denied myself pleasure
And deserted the joy of life
Following the course which you
Impelled me to pursue.
Be just to me, or call DEATH
To unshackle me,
For Justice is your glory.

Have mercy on me, my Soul.
You have laden me with Love until
I cannot carry my burden. You and
Love are inseparable might; Substance
And I are inseparable weakness.
Will e'er the struggle cease
Between the strong and the weak?

Have mercy on me, my Soul.
You have shwon me Fortune beyond
My grasp. You and Fortune abide on
The mountain top; Misewry and I are
Abandoned together in the pit of
The valley. Will e'er the mountain
And the valley unite?

Have mercy on me, my Soul.
You have showm me Beauty, but then
Concealed her. You and Beauty live
In the light; Ignorance and I are
Bound together in the dark. Will
E'er the ligth invade DARKNESS?

Your delight comes with the ENDING,
And you revel now in anticipation;
But this body suffers with life
While life in life.
This, my Soul, is Perplexing.

In the silence of the night you visit
The Beloved and enjoy the sweetness of
His presence. This body ever remains
The bitter victim of HOPE and SEPARATION.
This, my SOUL, is AGONIZING TORTURE.
HAVE MERCY ON ME, MY SOUL!


(from the wisdom of Khalil Gibran)
posted by infraternam meam @ 12:03 PM   0 comments
THE NERVE PAIN THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY
i was not able to post any blog for a long time, i am having a hard time with this stupid illness that i got, (STN) SEVERE MANDIVULAR NEURALGIA, this is a very painful illness. i dont recommend it to anybody. i have to take codeine at night and the other tablet that i am taking is for Ephileptic seizure. my neurologist said i might have a seizure if i dont take the medicine. when i am in pain, as i am right now while i enter this blog, i wanted to jump out of the window. my two boys is always telling me that this will go away. but the pain is unbearable. i will see my doctor again this afternoon, i have to ask him to increase the dosage of my medicine. if i dont enter anything in my blog, it is because i am incapacitated.

THE OTHER PAIN THAT I HAVE is when my younger sister called me from the pinas. my younger brother has CANCER OF THE ESOPHAGIAL TRACT. he isnow at the Asia Hospital and i was told that the esophagus is badly swollen. he might have been a wayward kid when he was growing up, but the pain of knowing that he has cancer is also a part now of the cross that all of us in the family has to carry. we don't know yet if removing the tumor will make him better, but there is no medicine known to cure it, except removing it. out worry is when it gets remove it will spread to some other parts of the body.

if pain is God's test, maybe HE is a masochist. why does pain a constant part of the christian religion, why does pain a part of our life, why does pain becomes an unbearable thing to those who already have so much pain, in their hearts and in their soul.

CAN I ASK GOD WHY..... HOW WILL I GET AN ANSWER.... HOW WILL I GET A SIGN....WHO WILL EASE ALL THIS BURDEN OF PAIN THAT I AM IN RIGHT NOW.

i am in tears doing this blog, because my wife said tears is good, all men cry also, i have to cry, i have to shed my tears, my kid brother will leave behind two kids and myself, everytime i am in pain.... i am all alone. i am all alone in this big house... alone with my dog.

IS LIFE TO BE THIS CRUEL. IF NOT WITH MY WIFE...I WAS THINKING OF ENDING THIS UNBEARABLE PAIN IN MY OWN TERMS NOW.

i have to stop....i have wet the entire keyboard of my computer. i have to yell.... i have to scream.... i need somebody to cry on but where is everybody. i dont need this big house when during the day and during the suffering, i am all by myself.
posted by infraternam meam @ 11:28 AM   0 comments
Thursday, May 20, 2004
TEMPORO MADIVULAR JAWBONE/SEVER TRIGEMNIAL NEURALGIA
i was on medical leave for the past 15 days now. last summer, i was advised by a oal surgeon that i have TEMPORO MANDIVULAR JAWBONE (TMJ) problem or better know as athritis of the jawbone. so this oral surgeon made a special moutguard for me that i can only use at night when i go to sleep. at night i look like Hannibal Lectrer (SILENCE OF THE LAMB) with this mouth guard. its now been two years and i am still in pain and having a hard time functioning properly. i dont know what to do , the pain is unbearable. the oral surgeon charged my insurance a total of usd17,000.00 for the past two years of me visiting him. so now we are challenging the bill because this doctor did not do anything to me, nor did he opened me up. my wife who works in an insurance company is doing the challenging thru the insurance commissioner's office.

last 08 may, i visited an internists, then he found out i have a rare illness that is very painful and unbearable, which is called SEVERE TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA (STN), the doctor said this is the most painful illness that a person can have. literary, i am in tears at night. this illness is affecting the nervouse system of the facial area, most especially the left side of my jawbone. during the day, i am all by myself at this big house, cuz my wife goes to work and leaves the house at 530am, then my youngest son goes to school and the oldest son of my mine already went on his own and is now living in an apartment.

i was in pain one morning and literary screaming and i dont know if i was howling, but i have to make some sound. i will go nuts if i cannot express the pain that i have. then when i looked at the floor of my bedroom, i saw my dog misty imitating me, while i hold my left side of the jawbone, she was doing it also on herself and howling too. i love my dog.

because of the medication that i have, i can now rest for a while at nite. i have codeine to take if i cannot bear the pain, but i only take it when necessary.

i will go back to work on the 21st of may, hopefully i wont have a hard time at work when this illness of mine takes its toll while i am at work.
posted by infraternam meam @ 1:07 AM   1 comments
Sunday, May 09, 2004
GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORD/ 2004
------------------------------------------------------

(abstracted from the same book of the same title)


i bought some coffee table books this afternoon from the local cut rate book stores in my area. i love these coffee table books because it gives so many info and it has pictorials also. the new Guinneess Book is so attractive and nice to own, so i bought me a copy. my wife was very upset again with me, as usual cuz she is always telling me that i spend lots of money in books. and i told her, better books than me gambling or philandering. i just opened the Guinneess and i stumbled upon the topic of MASS PARTICIPATION.

LARGEST MULTIPLE VENUE SIMULTANEOUS TAP DANCE
---------------------------------------------------------------------


organized by the North London Perfoming Arts Centre, Londo, UK, a total of 7,596 children from 40 schools across north London tap danced simultaneously to the tune "To the Show" for five minutes from 10:00 am on 22 March 2002.


LARGEST SIMULATNEOUS PERCUSSION PERFORMANCE
---------------------------------------------------------------------


the world's largest percussion performance was held at the Hong Kong Colisuem on 02 July 2002. a record of 10,102 people played a percussive rhythm for over six minutes as part of t "The Music of the Dragons Concert".


LARGEST SIMULTANEOUS CHEERLEADING
----------------------------------------------------


the largest simultaneous cheerleading event occurred when 328 past and present cheerleaders between the ages of 4 and 60 oerfiormed a cheer in full uniform on the filed of Cardinal stadium, Louisville, Kentucky on October 20,2001. the event was organized by the Power Cheer Training Center.


LARGEST LINE DANCE
----------------------------


a record total of 11,967 people took past ina line dance organized by NTUC Income Insurance Cooperative Ltd. of Singapore at the Singapore Expo Centre on May 1,2002 dancing to "Rasa Sayang" for 7 mins and 9 sec.


LARGEST MULTIPLE VENUE SIMULTANEOUS DANCE
----------------------------------------------------------------


a total of 196,569 people from 681 schools across cancada danced simultaneouly for eight minutes from 11:25 am druignt he "Activ8 the Nations Schools Hokey Pokey Challenge" on april 9,2002.


LARGEST SIMULTANEOUS MULTIPLE VENUE SING ALONG
-----------------------------------------------------------------------


the largest simulataneous sing along was staged by Young Boices, Sargent Caner Care for children and EMI (all UK) there were 83,121 participants from hundreds of schools across UK who simultaneously sang a specially written song " Tell Me Why" at different venues on December 9, 2002.


LARGEST YMCA DANCE
-----------------------------


a total of 13,588 people danced to the song 'YMCA' for five minutes prior the baseball game between the Spikes and the Salt Lake Stingers at Johnny Rosenblat stadium, in Omaha, Nebraska on july 4,2001.


LARGEST SALSA DANCE
-------------------------------


a toal of 3,868 people danced to Perez Prado's "mambo No. 5" for 5 minutes to create the largest salsa dance on October 19,2000 at Palau Sant Jordie, Barcelona , Spain.


LONGEST CONGA LINE
----------------------------


the Miami Super conga consisted of 119,986 people who gathered to conga in Miami / Florida on Marcdh 13, 1988.


LARGEST MULTIPLE VENUE SIMULTANEOUS QUADRILLE
---------------------------------------------------------------------


a total of 7,518 dancers danced a quadrille in nine towns across Slovenia on May 24, 2002. a quadrille is a French square dance originating from the 18th cent and is executed by four couples.
posted by infraternam meam @ 1:57 AM   0 comments
Saturday, May 08, 2004
TO BE A MOM
(sent by a friend for this sunday's Mother's Day)


we are sitting lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of starting a family. we're taking a survey, she says half joking, " Do you think i should have a baby?" and i said, "It will change your mind"., carefully keeping my tone neutral. i know, she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations. but that is not what i meant at all. i look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. i want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes. i want to tell her that the physical wounds of childbearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.

i consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking , "What if that had been my child?".

that every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her.

that when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.


i look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub.

that an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop anything in her hand without a moments hesitation.

i feel that i should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood.

she might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell.

she will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right. i want my daughter to know that every days decisions will no longer be routine.

looking at my attractive daughter, i want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself.


that her life, now so important, will be less value to her once she has a child.

that she would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, no to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.

i want her to know that Cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor.

my daughters realtionship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks.

i want to describe to my daughter the exhiliration of seeing your child learn to ride the bike.


i want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time. i want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts.

my daughter's quizzical looke makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "YOU'LL NEVER REGRET
IT". , i finally say.

then i reached across the table, squeezed my dauther's hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful callings........

THIS BLESSED GIFT FROM GOD.....THAT OF BEING A MOTHER!".

posted by infraternam meam @ 2:22 AM   0 comments
Friday, May 07, 2004
INSOMIA/ TOSS AND TURN NO MORE
(abstracted from an article of Harriet Edleson)

what is it?

an inability to fall or stay asleep through the night that lasts for at least a month and affects daytime functioning. the incidence of insomia tends to increase with age and affects about 40pct or women and 30pct men.

cause:

Primary Insomia has no known physical or psychological cause. it can be the result of stress, anxiety, caffein or alcohol.

Secondary Insomia is often a symptom of an underlying condition such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, pulmonary disease, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease, chronic pain, diabetes, sleep apnea or perimenopause. certain medications, such as those used for high blood pressure, can also disrupt sleep patterns.

symptoms:

* fatigue
* crankness
* irritability or bad mood
* lack of concentration
* memory lapse
* difficulty learning
* a constant preoccupation with getting enoug sleep


prevention:

some incomia is most often the symptom of a bigger problem, it is difficult to prevent without solving the underlying cause. however, certain lifestyle may help. for instance.

** if you think stress is the cause of your insomia, look for ways to lighten your load. ask your spouse(if married) or say no too many social engagements.

** avoid daytime napping.

** eliminate caffeine, including coffee, chocolate, soft drinks and some pain relievers.

** don't smoke or drink alcohol.

** try distracting yourself from the day's events with light reading to relax and induce sleep.

** avoid large meals near bedtime, they can contribute to indigestion, which disrupts sleep.

** go to bed and get up at the same time each day.

** exercise 20 to 30 mins each day, at least five to six hours before bedtime.

** take a hot bath to relax just before bedtime.

** keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet, temperature extremes can disrupt sleep or prevent falling asleep.

** try sleeping in different room (if married) than your spouse.

** practice evening relaxation routines such as progressive muscle relaxation or meditation.

** expose yourself to an hour of morning sunlight each day. this help the body's interna;l logical clock reset itslef daily
.
posted by infraternam meam @ 1:16 AM   0 comments
Thursday, May 06, 2004
SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO
(sent by a friend)


ALWAYS WASH IT FIRST

a stock clerk was sent to clean up a storeroom in Maui, Hawaii. when he got back, he was complaining that the storeoom was really filthy and that he had noticed dried mouse or rat droppings in some areas.

a couple of days later, he started to feel he was coming down with a stomach flu, complained of sore joints and headaches, and began vomiting. he went to bed and never really got up again. within two days he was severly ill and weak. his blodd sugar count was down to 66, and his face and eyeballs were yellow. he was rushed to the emergency at Pali-Momi, where he was diagnosed to be suffering from massive organ failure. he died shortly befor midnite.

no one would have made the connection between his job and his death, had it not been for a doctor who specifically asked if he had been in a warehouse or exposed to dried rate or mouse droppings at any time.said there is a virus called (much like the Hanta Virus) that lives in dried rat and mouse droppings. once dried, these droppings are like dust and can easily be breathed in or ingested if a person does not wear protective gear or fails to wash face and hands thoroguhly.

an autopsy was performed on the clerk to verify the doctors suspicions.....

this is why it is extremely important to ALWAYS carefully rinse off the tops of canned foods, or canned soft drink/sodas and to wipe off pasta boxes or cereal boxes or any boxed food items. almost everything you buy at the supermarket is always stored in a warehouse at one time or another and often times stores have rodents. most of us remember to wash fruits and veggies but never think of boxes and cans.

the ugly truth is, even the most modern, upper class, super store have rats and mice. and their warehouse most assuredly does!

whenever you buy canned soft drinks, please make sure that you wash the top with running water and soap, or if that is not available, use a straw.
posted by infraternam meam @ 1:28 PM   0 comments
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
JOURNAL OF WWII SURVIROR
-------------------------------------

(taken from the personal journals of my father
and his private collections and compilations
by: Donald Knox)



"i was incarcerated at Capas, Tarlac and we were treated inhumanely by the japanese captors. members of the phil. scout are most treated badly by the japanese because we were branded as traitor and collaborator with the Americans in the war and agression against imperial japan. we were not given enough food, medicine and clean water.

one time one of my soldier friend was screaming like anything. because the americans are prone to have hairs in their body, the ticks and fleas have infested the chest hair and armpit and pubic area and head of my american friend (for privacy, i was advised by my dad not to mention names) to prevent from spreading to all americans with hairy body, they have to shave their complete body. to prevent the habitation and infestation of fleas and ticks. we dont have any shaving tools or implements, so we have to contend ourselves in shaving our hairy parts of our body with a broken glass from coke bottles. after the shaving, when a soldier has been clean shaven, one can see the traces of the blood sucking parasites wounds inflicted on the skin of these american comrades of ours. whose body are practically skin and bones. all of us are all malnourished.

there were lots of sicknesses inside the camp. one of the most devastating illness after malaria is BERIBERI. a persons stomach will become big and ballooned to a point that the person looks like a pregnant woman. one time one of the ill soldier who has this BERIBERI, vomited near my area where we were prepairing the dead for burial. big worms came out of his mouth and the smell and the blood that went with it was unbearable. there is no medicine, one has to cope with what meager things you have in the camp.

it was already high noon when we have just buried more than 100 corpses on the ground. it was very hot and humid. some of the corpses that was left under the son bloated. when we started carrying them, one of the corpse blew up and the stench and the smell engulfed all of us in the group. there is no water, and majority of the dead are of AMEABIC DYSENTERY. all the feces and the filth are all over our body and hands. there is no water to wash it nor disinfectant to remove the germs. flies are all over the place and dogs waiting to have their chance in eating some of the decomposed corpses. i was lucky i only have MALARIA. some of my friends have DENGE FEVER and they are howling and crying at nite.

new batches of prisoners comes almost everyday. and before they enter the enclave, they have to be searched. if any soldier has anything japanese, like japanese coins, japanese money or anything japanese as souvenir, they are automatically shot on the spot. the japanese said the reason they have these items in their posessions because they killed and rob a dead japanese.'

2nd Lt. KERMIT LAY, I Philippine Corps:

"there was a big tin warehouse or granary somewhere along the march that they (japanese) packed us into one night. you could sit or lay down but there is no water and it was very hot. and it stinks. the next morning across the road the Japs had dug a hole and had some Filipino soldiers burying some dead men.except not everyone was dead. one poor soul kept trying to crawl his way out of the hole. the jap guards really started giving these filipinos a hard time, tryin to get them cover this man up faster. finally a jap came over, took the shouvel and beat this guy in the head with it. then he ordered the filipinos to cover him up."

Pfc. BLAIR ROBINETT, company C, 803rd Engineer

" there was something i could'nt figure out. looking down, i saw one footprint in the dust. it was dark and it was perfect footprint shape. only one though. now, i could'nt imagine how a one legged man could be walking. finally i saw a man infront of me limping badly and his leg had blood running odwn it. then i figured out how i could see one print. it was being left by the blood. a mile or so later his limp was so bad that he dropped out of the line and he was beheaded instantly ny the japanese soldier."

Sgt. FORREST KNOX

" the filipinos were dying like flies. carried in a tent-half buttoned up to form a tube. their bodies went by in an endless column. it never ended. day and night the bodies were carried to the cemetery. i was kind of stunned by their death rate."

Sgt. CHARLES COOK

i was too sick and weak to go out on a detail. i remember one day, though, trying to carry a sick soldier to the hospital. thee were four of us and we were using one of the barracks doors as a stretcher. we went as far as we could before we told this guy he could die right there or he could walk, but that we could'nt go no more further carrying him. he got off and made it close enough to the infirmary so that we could carry him the rest of the way. he had malaria and he died."

Pfc. DANIEL STOUDT

we were given this wormy Lugaw in the mornings. tried to eat it in the dark, if you could, so you would'nt see the worms. if you are onec you could taste it. picked them out, if you wanted to look. other than that, you shut your eyes and ate, because you had to eat. i knew one guy, and ther were a lot of them, who would'nt eat. he always wanted to have a white shirt and suit on. he died gradually because he gave up eating."<

Cpl. HUBERT GATER

" a japanese soldier closely examineda the possessions of each of us. three were told to step forward. a captain and Arapaho Inidian still had japanese coins on them. my commanding officer, capt. Schultz had jap fan. they were charged by robbing dead jap soldiers after the battle, of course this was a lie. the morning of the surrender at Cabcaben Airfield in Bataan, a jap soldier stopped capt schultz and demanded for cigarettes. in return, the jap gave him a holding fan. it proved to be capt schultz death sentence, him the rest of the guys with souvenirs in their bodies were summarily executed and killed on the spot."

I HAVE RECEIVED AN EMAIL ASKING ME TO DOWNLOAD SOME OF THESE MEMOIRS IN MY BLOG. SO I DID. I CANNOT DOWNLOAD ALL OF IT, CUZ MY DADS MEMOIRS ALONE HAS HUNDREDS OF ENTRIES, NOT TO MENTION HIS PERSONAL COMPILATIONS THAT HE GATHERED FROM SOME WRITERS AND RESEARCHERS.







posted by infraternam meam @ 11:52 PM   0 comments
MY FATHER...THE DEATH MARCH VETERAN
----------------------------------------------------



I was jut talking to my father on the fon awhile ago to greet him belated happy birthday cuz i was sick on the day of his birthday so i was not able to call on time. my father is now 82 years old, a retired army man of the phil. scout attached to the U.S. army in Bataan, the Northern Province of the Phils. in the Island of Luzon. he was part of the famous Death March and was incarcerated in Capas, Tarlac on the Northern part of the Phils.

My father has completely settled in the Phils. with my mother cuz my father had a quadruple by pass four eyars ago and my mother has double hip bone repalcements and surgery and cannot endure the long flt to America. They are now living comforatbly in the Phils. surrounded by some fo their grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

My mother will be clelbrating her 80th brithday end of the month. she is showing early signs of Alzheimers and so both of them has a round the clock care giver to look after them.

After talking to my father, for some obvious reason, I saw my dads book in my library so i started reading it and i would like to share some of the excerpts that i have copied from this book. the entry on the story about my dad is his personal memoirs that I am holding now including all his medals.

ABSTRACT FROM THE MEMOIRS OF Pfc. PRUDENCIO DELOS SANTOS Phil. Army Detachment/US Army Unit /Bataan.
--------------------------------------------------------------


it was december of 1941, i was with my friends at the cinema at Anak ng Bayan,in Manila where i always meet my friends and check out some girls that come to the EDEN Theatre. right infront of this theatre is a bakery named VIRGINIA Bakery , which was owned by a chinese. all of my friends are called the EDEN Boys. i remember some of my friends from this Eden Boys group after the war bacame movie stars. i continued on to raise a family. one of the prominent members of the my group became a prominent movie director. his name was Artemio Marquez, then there was this bully looking guy who became known in the wide screen as Bruno Punzalan and Max Alvarado. dont be deceived by their looks and appearances, they are good man and young boys at that time.

i was 18 years old that time, when the japanese did the sneak attack at Pearl Harbour. my father is a shoe maker for BESA shoe store in downtown Escolta. we have a big family, we are eight total. i had a girlfriend during those testing moments in the history of the Phils. her name is Rosario, she is called "Charing". it was love at first sight. she was buying their pan de sal at Virginia Bakery when we happen to look at each other and the rest is history. we became boyfirend and girlfriend. her parents were very strict. it was her younger sister who was our link to each other. Leonor, or Nonoy as she was known is the one giving out and handing out my love letters to Charing.

then on Monday, Dec. 8, 1941 at 5:25 a.m. the super dive bombers came in at terrific speed and before anyone could realized what was happning, bombs were dropped and heavy damage was caused. Manila army and navy bases were heavily attacked by dive bombers. terrific destruction followed.

the U.S. needed to mobilize more men to repel the attack. i was recruited at the age of 18 years and because i have to go to war, i got married to Charing in a hurry--- she was only 17 years old that time. it was a very short honeymoon. then we were sent to war. we had our training at Fort Mckinley and we became what is known as the PHILIPPINE SCOUT under the detachment of the US Army. we were sent to Bataan to guard the entrance to the Manila bay aside from the fortification of Corregidor, known as the ROCK.

we have to fight hard to repel the japanese. they had a surprise of their lives when they entered thru the Manila Bay and the long guns of Corregidor came up and started the bombardment. there were plenty of casualties from the japanese side instantly. plenty of their battleships where sunk. japanese spies in manila did not know that there were big guns and an underground tunnel in the island of corregidor.

then the surrender came. it was inevitable. Gen McArthur thru corregidor island was picked up by a submarine with his family and that of the family of Pres. Quezon to be brought to the allied command center in Australia then Pres. Quezon and his family was taken to the United States, where he died of Tuberculosis.

we have to surrender to the japanese. i will never forget the atrocities that i have witnessed and it will never be erased from my mind.............



" we were walking under the extreme heat of the sun passing all the sugar cane plantation along the road. theres lots of chances to run and dive inside the thick sugar cane filed, but we are all very weak and dehydrated. the japanese have marched us all day long without food or water. i remember passing by a barrio in bataan and somebody handed me and my friends cooked rice and chicken wrapped in banana leaves. i shared it with my american friends and we ate even the banana leaves. if we will be given time to drink, the japanese takes pleasure by seeing us drink in the same pool with the carabao wherein the carabao was there soaking with all his filth and excrement. we have to drink because we are thirsty. this is the reason all of us got dysentery, diarrhea and malaria. there were no medicine and there is no quinine for the malaria sickness. we were marched into ten then into five. the japanese does not know what to do with us. the extreme heat of the sun and the dust is unbearable. if you lag behind, there were japanese soldiers who will shoot you or either jab the bayonet behind your back. i saw this best friend of mine, Lucas, from southern part of Illinois. he became disoriented and walked towards the ditch by the sugar cane field. the japanese colonel came over and chop his head off and left him on the side as if nothing happened. we have to move along. there is nothing we could do but to move forward.

at nite, we will be kept inside the rice warehouse that was found by the japanese, this KAMALIG could only fit at least 200 people but we were more than 800 so we have to be squeezed in. if you cannot fit inside, then you have sentenced yourself to die instantly. so all of us have to fit inside--some already are on the rafters or on the beams of the KAMALIG. you have to relieve yourself standing and you have to sleep standing. one cannot even scratch the mosquitoes that hovers all over the place. by the time the light came in the morning, more than 100 of my group had died. they were left behind and the barrio people will be the ones who will have to bury them.

we are thirsty and starving. along the side of the road, approaching San Fernando, Pampanga...we saw a papaya tree with fruits on it. the japanese corporal gave us permission to get some fruits for us, but we ate all of it and the only thing standing is the trunk of the papaya tree. that is how starved we are. towards the town proper of tarlac, the people were lined up the street and the byways. if the japanese is not looking, they will just pull you out of the line and hide you inside the sugarcane field and under the ditches where the irrigation water is coming out. if you get caught, the entire barrio will be excecuted by the japanese. but i saw the love and the respect of these simple farm folks to all of us and most especially to the american soldier. i saw a boy of 10 years of age who did the V sign and the japanese soldier saw him did the V sign, he was shot on the spot and the mother who came to the rescuse was beheaded.

we finally arrived at the concentration camp in Capas, Tarlac. this is hell on earth. i was very sick with malaria and people are dying. there is no medicine. i was part of the burial detachment. and this is very awful. corpses are all bloated cuz of the heat and we cannot dig enough holes to bury them. because we are so weak, at times we were not able to fit them all in a big communal grave. if we dig deep, water comes up and then the grave yard gets flooded. so that the dead bodies will not float, we have to poke them with bamboo poles for them to sink at the bottom. sometimes after burying them, rain will come and some parts of the corpses will stik out of the grounds and the dogs will come and have a feast on the parts of the corpses.

i made a mistake in one of my details at the graveyard and my ring finger was cut by the japanese soldier with a plier. i almost died of infection but i remember when i was young when i got circumcised, we have to use the guava leaves. and so i used this in my wound and rinse the boiled water with guava leaves to make my wound dried up.one of american medic saw this and i told him that this is a medicinal herb. they started using it to cleanse the wounds and scabs. nobdy is allowed to eat the leaves of the guava tree from then on. there was this ALAGAO tree near the camp and i told the medic we could boil it and drink the water to prevent dysentery. when the japanese found out that this is what we are doing, the next morning the guave tree and the Alagao tree was ordered chopped down and burned."
................................................


TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF SOME OF MY DADS FRIENDS THAT HE MENTIONED IN HIS MEMOIRS, I AM ENDING IT TO THIS POINT. MY FATHER HAS AT LEAST MORE THAN 200 PAGES OF HIS MEMOIRS THAT HE WROTE AFTER THE WAR WHEN IT WAS CALLED PEACE TIME IN THE PHILS.

MY FATHER'S NAME IS NOW ETCHED AT THE WAR MEMORIAL IN TARLAC.

I HAVE FRAMED MY DADS MEDALS AND DECORATION. BOTH THE MEMOIRS AND MEDALS IS NOW IN MY POSSESSION
.
posted by infraternam meam @ 12:23 AM  
Monday, May 03, 2004
MAYBE THIS IS WORTH KNOWING????
-----------------------------------------------



The Amazing Health and Household Uses if Hydrogen Peroxide
(from the book of the same title published by: The Leader Co.,INc)

did you know that HYDROGEN PEROXIDE CAN HEAL THE FOLLOWING:

** soothe arthritis pain
** make sore throats feel better
** ease the pain of bee stings
** treat athlete's foot
** erase the pain of rheumatism
** clear up fungus and minor infestions
** help treat minor burns
** treat bruises and rashes
** soothe aching muscles and joints and sore feet


aside from these remedies, these are some of the things HYDROGEN PEROXIDE can do at the house.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

** a powerful bleaching formula for formica
** a fantastic homemade scouring powder
** the perfect drain cleaner for clog drains
** a dishwashing detergent that make dishes gleam
** an oven cleaner that eliminates elbow grease
** a great rust remover formula
** a tile cleaner that works like magic
** a little known formula that really cleans old porous tub
** a solution to help house plants and garden plants flourish
** use this to clean your pets
** safety wash for fish and meat

** a spray that is great for sprouting seeds
** can sanitize vegetable soak
** a denture soak that works great
** a tooth whitener that maked the teeth sparkle
** a super polish for copper and brass
** a spot lifter for coffee , tea and wine stains


THE NATIONAL BEST SELLERS BOOKS
----------------------------------------------

(from the Chicago Tribune Sunday edition 02 May)

fiction hardcover

1. THE DA VINCI CODE by Dan Brown (my favourite)
(a murder mystery that evolve the curator at the Louvre)

2. THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN by Mitch Albom (my favourite)
(a novel about one man's encounter in heaven)

3. NIGHTTIME IS MY TIME by Mary Higgins Clark
(serial killer stalk a high school reunion)

4. GLORIOUS APPEARING by Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
(the 12th and climactic book in the "Left Behind "series)

5. ANGELS AND DEMONS by Dan Brown (my favourite)
(a thriller involving the Vatican and a sinister scientists)

6. THE CONFUSION by Neal Stephenson
(the second book in the "Baroque Cycle" series)

7. THE LAST JUROR by John Grisham (my favourite)
(the tale of a journalist and trial murder)

8. CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET by Sophie Kinsella
(a humorous novel about a woman who mistakenly revelas her deepest secrets to her new boss)

9. 3RD DEGREE by James Patterson and Andrew Gross (my favourite)
(a police officer must stop terrorists)

10. RECKLESS ABANDON by Stuart Woods
(Stone Barrington and Holly Barker join forces to solve a case)


MOVIES FOR MOMS AND THEIR TEENAGE DAUGTHERS
------------------------------------------------------------------


Associated Press

New York-- mothers looking to connect with their teenage daughters-- but don't want to learn instant messaging to do it--might find some common ground on the couch catching a flick. "Mothers Daughers:101 Films to See Together" suggest the follwing:

If you're interested in tackling family relationships, try "The Joy Luck Club" (1993) or "The Moonstruck " (1997) or if you want to address peer pressure, pop in "Never Been Kissed" (1999)

There also is a "squirm in your seat" rating to indicate how uncomfortable things might get if there's sex scene. for instance, "Cruel Intentions" (1999) and "Saturday Night Fever " (1976)


On the warning list of movies mother and daughter should not see together are "Basic Instinct" (1992) and "Body Heat" (1981)
posted by infraternam meam @ 2:12 AM   0 comments
Saturday, May 01, 2004
by:DEFYING AGING by: Miriam Stoppard
(a continuation)

HOW DO WRINKLES FORM?
---------------------------------

inside your skin cells the damage from free radicals activates messenger chemicals to tell DNA to turn on inflammation. each time this happens, the inflammation leaves behind a tiny scar and when these scars join together you have a wrinkle. this is one of the reasons why sunshine, particularly tanning, leads to wrinkled skins.


SIGNS OF GETTING OLDER
---------------------------------

** being less active
** increase in weight (including middle age spread)
** less stamina
** aches and pains
** fatigue
** inability to sleep
** loss of memory and impaired intellectual function
** loss of get-up-and-go
** declining sex drive


ACTION PLAN FOR LONGER LIFE
----------------------------------------

**LOWER FREE RADICAL DAMAGE by cutting your calorie intakes. eating fewer calories increases life span and lowers levels of free radicals in the blood. people who live to 100 have fewer free radicals in their blood at that age than 70 years olds.

** INCLUDE MORE ANTIOXIDENT FOODS and herbs in your diet, especially vegetables and legumes like soy.

** GET REGULAR, GENTLE EXERCISE Im convinced exercise- not necessarily intense- is the key to a long life and walking and gardening are fine.

** CULTIVATE POSITIVE ATTITUDES strong social networks and a strong spiritual life will increase your life span through a resilient immune system, sense of well being and satisfaction with life.


BENEFITS OF EATING LESS
---------------------------------


here are some of the antaging effects seen in Okinawans that we first noted in monkeys fed 30 percent fewer calories than usual:

* lower total body fat
* lower metabolic rate
* lower fasting blood sugar
* increased glucose tolerance (less insulin resistance)
* lower insulin levels
* greater insulin sensitivity
* lower blood pressure
* more lymphocytes( a type of white blood cells that fights infections)
* lower cholesterol


SO YOU THINK YOU'RE HAVING A MIDLIFE CRISIS?

check these statements.

1. the future looks as positive as it ever has.

2. my life is as rewarding as I expected.

3. security is getting more and more important.

4. compared to earlier, my life lacks adventure and excitement.

5. i seem to be getting more or less flexible.

6. there does'nt seem to be much satisfaction in life.

7. i feel time's running out.

8. i wish i could make all the tension and stress go away.

9. i"m sure of who i am than when i was young.

10.balancing work and family gets harder and harder.

11.i just can't accept my age.

12.i'm so tired of struglling to be successful.

13.work is as satisfying as ever.

14.i'm worrying about my health more.


**************************************************
SCORING: two points for YES to 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 19, 11, 12, 13, and 14
............... two points for NO to 1, 2, 5, 9, and 13

TOTAL SCORE:
------------------
0 - 8 ............. No Crisis
10-16 ........... you'll take slowing down in your stride
18 or more ... you need to make changes in your life

**************************************************

posted by infraternam meam @ 4:18 AM  
About Me

Name: infraternam meam
Home: Chicago, United States
About Me: I am now at the prime of my life and have been married for the past 25 years. Sickly at times, but wants to see the elixir vita, so that I will be able to see my grandchildren from my two boys.
See my complete profile
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