Typhoons increase Dengue Outbreaks

Typhoons in the Cordillera has resulted in a high rise of Dengue fever outbreaks and already reached 500 persons infected since January this year according to the Department of Health. It was learned that the number of cases doubled during typhoon "Florita" and typhoon "Glenda."









The department regional office has recorded 303 cases of dengue in Baguio City alone while 132 cases were also reported in Benguet. Ifugao had 25 dengue cases while Kalinga had one reported case.











The disease is caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito which thrives in clear and stagnant water found in flower vases, cans, rain barrels, and rubber tires.









The city government ordered an intensified clearing of creeks and rivers, and a massive information campaign was launched in the city to check the spread of the disease.
The DoH has been advocating the 4 o’clock habit of cleaning the surroundings and emptying water receptacles in the household to control the breeding of the day-biting mosquito.



DOH said that early detection of the disease is the best cure. He advised all those exhibiting flu-like symptoms to visit a doctor and avoid further complications.

http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/08/05/PROV2006080570966.html

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=regions03_july31_2006

http://www.centrodeemergencia.com/.../

http://www.suapesquisa.com/doencas

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/.../

http://mud.mm-a2.yimg.com/image/373580025

http://mud.mm-a7.yimg.com/image/2492006547

Sir Rolly: Blogs are Not Threat but Supplement

Sir Rolly talks on Blogging

With the threat of on-line journalism to the newspapers, Professor Rolando Fernandez, Editor in Chief of Philipine Daily Inquirer Northern Luzon Bureau had a lot to say to all the students of On-line Journalism under the supervision of Mr. Amer R. Amor.


For more than forty years working for publish materials, Professor Rolly, having the background of making the news using a typewriter accept the fact that using a computer was easier and faster. When introduced by a computer in their office to work on, the advancement of technology gathering news also helped them the faster way.

Using a computer also introduced him to a lot of information over the internet and one of them was blogging. Web logging, or blogging, is the new kid on the media block, complete with its own, unique lexicon. The verb is to blog and the participant in blogging is a blogger. If you are part of the blogging community, you are also part of the blogosphere - presumably with its own weather system. Blogs in a way help the journalist get a lot of information from internet users. One example is the fact that the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism used blogs for them to publish more issues, more controversies at the same time more reactions from the readers. “Even reporters have blogs. They report very little information in the television but in blogs, you can tell the 'behind the scenes of Malacañang, and even those issues that Gloria censor,” said Professor Rolly.

Prof. Fernandez cited one example of a reporter who make blogs for its advantages. Ellen Tordesillas is a columnist of Malaya, Abante and Mirror magazine who posts her columns in her blog and surprisingly she gets more comments and reactions. She feels that she gets more audience than her works in low circulation published materials.

Is a Blogger considered as Journalist?

“Probably yes. Basta ginagawa niya 'yung work ng isang journalist.” Professor Fernandez said that a lot of journalists are bloggers. The only difference is that journalists have the advantage over those who have no training at all. In blogs, anyone writes anything he wants but in a newspaper anyone can't write and publish anything he wants.

Blogging as a Threat?

Many people are easily intimidated by a lot of texts in the internet but Sir Rolly says "That's you, not me!" Journalists are not intimidated by blogs but they see it as a complement and supplement for bloggers give a lot of information and contributions to their works. By the use of links or hypertextuality, journalists find it easy to search for the information they need. But he said that he sees the on-line journalism as a threat in the future. "Maybe in the future it's a threat but I don't wanna see the future!"

After his lecture, Sir Rolly as we call him, posed for us as if he's a superstar. He also said that Sir Amer was one of his best students before.. (probably a decade ago..joke!)

BANDILA... RECYCLED?

BANDILA – RECYCLED?

Three well-known plausible news anchors for a 30-minute news coverage is Bandila’s reputable craft in terms of selling their program. Broadcasting after ABS-CBN’s primetime programs, Korina Sanchez, Henry Omaga-Diaz and Ces Orena Drilon are the anchors which viewers can attend to during late night news. The three broadcasters deliver news in different newsrooms and report with different set-ups. Isn’t it too expensive for a 30-minuter news program in a late night show broadcasting recycled news? All are credible enough but Korina Sanchez herself can handle the program with trustworthy from the viewers. And I think that even she’s the only anchor in Bandila, the program would still be watched with the same rating or even higher compared to the present program.

The opening billboard displays the anchors with the mixed colors of the Philippine flag with the music bed sang by Bamboo, one of the famous singers who sings pure Filipino inspired songs. Good enough, the news featured in the program have no foreign news and well documented. The news shown on the primetime are being recycled and also shown on Bandila but the only important issues are exhibited to fit the 30 minutes allotted time with advertisements. Hard and light news, sports, weather and even entertainment news are being featured in the program but still only important ones are being demonstrated. The only difference is that after every news featured, the anchor says ‘Para sa Bandila, followed by her name.’

The logo, background and even the character generators are Philippine flag inspired but very distracting. An example is whenever the camera focuses a new anchor from knee shot to medium shot. Viewers can be easily distracted by Korina Sanchez’ legs or Ces Drilon’s well-decorated suits. When the camera is already focused on the reporter, the background with moving pictures are also very eye-catching to the viewers. Instead of concentrating to what the reporter is saying, one will just look to the colorful logo behind the reporter and watch how the animation moves.

Bandila, with the very high cost of production, new format and big news anchors is still coping on how their program will be bought by their viewers. New strategies are being applied and fresh set-ups are being catered to the audience. Only time will tell if these techniques are effective and will add credibility to the program. After all, it is not the anchors on how they deliver their news, not the different studios, but how reliable their program is in terms of their news.

Superman as Son of God


Superman was created after the time of great depression. Even people was in crisis, still they would buy DC Comics thinking that the world has still hopes, Superman as one of their hopes.

If you’re going to watch the first film, their names were not the names they used to be. Clark Kent’s original name was Kal-el, when translated in English means “star boy,” and in Hebrew, “all that is God.” His mother’s name Martha used to be Mary and Jor-el, the father, in Hebrew means Joseph. Also one would notice how biblical the first movie was especially the main characters lines as the father Jor-el sends his son to Earth. It is as if the personalities are reading the verses in the bible. But Superman Returns still contains positive values and reflects the character of Jesus. For instance, when Superman took out the green Kryptonite and threw it in the universe, it is like Jesus who took the sin away from the world. After doing it, he dropped into Earth in a crucifix-like position. Weak and unconcious, he became alive again and the next scene he was already above the ground flying.

Lois Lane wrote “The world doesn’t need Superman” and she even told Superman, “the world doesn’t need a savior and neither do I.” But in the film she was the first and last person whom Superman saved. He replied, “you said you don’t need a savior but everyday I hear many people crying for one.” Lois Lane even got unconscious but with just a look from Superman, the dead was alive again. While everyone thinks about himself, Superman thinks about the world but still finds time for his love interest Lois Lane. He never forgets his world, Lois.

Superman will always be Superman. Exceptional, powerful and savior. He hears everything and knows everything and so as Jesus. Whoever he would be, he’s still the hero of all heroes, whenever, wherever.

Soro...Frat... R u In?

It’s the beginning of the semester wherein every sorority and fraternity starts choosing who are their new recruits that would join their organization and be part of their annual activities such as outreach, fund-raising projects and even the much awaited homecoming.

How to spot the best soro/frat?
According to some soro members, it must be famous (nationwide), high profile members, good-looking brods and sisses, very enthusiastic orientation (with free food), short time span of service, considerate ladies and lords, and lastly there’s no fatality during final rites.

What about the worst?
Well they are simply the organizations that exist but you don’t feel its existence. They are never been heard but you see it in the list of recognized organizations. You’ll just be surprised when you read unfamiliar name that you would think as another new organization. Nobody knows about it except its members and the member’s boardmates.

Service
Fratmen say that the service of the neophytes is for them to love the fraternity and to have a good relationship with them after the final rites. To better know the masters before taking the physical pains the paddle would cause you. That’s the good reasons.

Service in the part of a neophyte would be the time they’re pressured, busy, afraid, threatened and being humiliated. Also a time to hide from masters and if there’s a possibility to disguise, you would do it.

Aside from the benefits of sisterhood and brotherhood, what do these sororities and fraternities really do?

They enjoy the neophyte’s service. Admit it or not, it is the time to bully, to make your homework done by someone, to buy something, to clean master’s shoes, anything! Masters want to see afraid faces in which they’ve already experienced. Masters just want to get even and do the worse to their neophytes.

Curious Neophytes
The neophytes are just curious. They want to know and experience what a fratman do. During service, one quits, one does not. Being a member, one bores, the other enjoys.
Like an ordinary organization, without the pain a member should experience, the member does something what he does in a fraternity/sorority. Sometimes he loves the company, sometimes otherwise.

It is not about being a fratman, it’s loving your chosen brothers and sisters and the promise and conviction one made and have to live.