by magnolia_eic | Mar 23, 2010 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, National News
COMING to the rescue of Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, World Health Organization (WHO) assured that condoms, when used properly can prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, WHO representative in the Philippines, said “the correct and consistent use of good-quality condoms confers a level of protection as high as 85-90 percent against HIV transmission.”
The WHO representative here said male and female condoms, when properly kept, stored, handled and used, are the only scientifically proven barrier products currently available against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
But even then, Boholano HIV-AIDS advocate Dr. Rene Bullecer earlier said there is only one excellent protection against AIDS: being faithful to the partner.
Acquired Immunity Disease Syndrome is often spread through multiple partners, faulty sexual habits and blood transfusion, Bullecer said. (PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Mar 23, 2010 | Headlines, National News
FINALLY, a respite from the drought, which has hit areas in the country.
A tropical depression, which would bring in the rains has been spotted off the Pacific Ocean and is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Thursday, says the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Nathaniel Cruz, Pagasa deputy administrator, said the weather disturbance predicts that it would bring rains over the eastern sections of the Visayas and Mindanao.
While talking about the possibility of the depression swerving towards Japan, Pag-asa noted that the high pressure prevailing in the country could block the disturbance from moving to Japan.
Seemingly too, the country’s prayers have been answered, sources said as the Catholic bishops issued a circular letter to pray the Oratio Imperata, or a prayer calling divine intervention and ease the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, which has destroyed crops harvests.
by magnolia_eic | Mar 23, 2010 | Headlines, National News
TEAM Philippines pulled one more miracle when they scored a goal in extra time, to win the Shield Trophy during the First Deloitee Street Child World Cup in Durban, South Africa over the weekend.
The Shield Trophy is an award for the teams eliminated from the Championship but nevertheless tops the win in the losers’ pool.
Beating host country South Africa, the Philippine team was reportedly thriving on miracles, from getting their 10-man team delegation their passports and then getting to South Africa, said Philippine coach Jess Landagan.
In the nine-nation soccer tournament, the Philippine Street Children Soccer Team was clearly the underdog when it faced host country, but after the win, the Philippine team went around the soccer pitch carrying the Philippine and South African flag, a sign of friendship, respect and discipline prompting African admiration, observers commented. (PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Mar 23, 2010 | Headlines, National News
A predawn magnitude 5.7 quake jolted parts of Northern Luzon, some 400 km north of Manila on Tuesday.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology head Renato Solidum Jr. said the quake was recorded at 3:58 a.m., with the epicenter traced at 27 km northeast of Laoag City, the capital of Ilocos Norte.
Citing initial reports, Solidum said the quake was felt at Intensity V in Laoag City, Burgos, Pasuquin, Sarrat, and Batac towns in Ilocos Norte; Intensity IV in Sinait, Ilocos Sur; Intensity III in Tuguegarao and Peñablanca in Cagayan, and Intensity II in Santa and Vigan City in Ilocos Sur, and Baguio City.
Meanwhile, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the quake at magnitude-5.9, tracing the epicenter at 184 km northwest of Ilagan, Isabela; 228 km north of Baguio City; or 427 km north of Manila.
The National Disaster Coordinating Center said there were no immediate reports of damage.
The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where continental plates meet, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Mar 23, 2010 | Headlines, National News, World
US President Barack Obama has invited two Filipino entrepreneurs to join the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship that will be held at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., from April 26 to 27, the US Embassy in Manila said on Monday.
The Filipinos—Joey Concepcion and Bai Sandra Basar—will join participants from over 40 countries in five continents in an event hosted by Obama together with the Department of State and the Department of Commerce.
Concepcion is a businessman, entrepreneurship consultant and co-founder of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship Inc. whose “Go Negosyo” movement pushes for optimism and the business spirit among Filipinos.
Basar is a member of the Board of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Business Council and a member of the Mindanao Regional Development Council in Region 12.
The summit will identify how Washington can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and entrepreneurs in the US and Muslim communities around the world. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Mar 22, 2010 | Headlines, National News
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is too busy and pre-occupied with internal security operations and other tasks to contemplate taking over the government, a spokesman said on Monday.
AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said the military has its hands full in several operations and tasks, including going after armed groups in the country such as the Abu Sayyaf.
He noted that government troops have to meet the June 2010 deadline to render insignificant the insurgency problem in the country.
Burgos also said the military organization remains faithful to the Constitution and abides by civilian authority over the soldiers. He also added that military adventurism is a thing of the past.
He said the recent statement from Malacañang that a military junta could take over the government if failure of elections in May 10 occurs is unfair to the AFP.
Soldiers who had engaged in military adventurism were victims of lack of information and misinformation by some interest groups, Burgos added. (PIA-Bohol)
