My Father's Advice About Wine

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My relationship with my father was not that great, but he left me some memories of his wisdom - one of which is on drinking alcohol. 

His simple wisdom is nothing to most learned people, but it greatly shaped me as a man. 

I always tell this to my fellow drinkers and many of them agreed; as a result, some were trying to apply it in their life. 

Seeing that it has an impact to the others, I decided to write it down and share it for those who have trouble to quit drinking alcohol, and for those who wants to control it. 

My father did not tell me the advice but I was there when he was telling it to a group of men who were talking about drinking too much, and too often, resulting in hangovers the following day. That was also the time I heard the drunkards’ saying, “To avoid hangover, stay drunk!” 

(If there are people who drink like they own the wine factory, I think the Filipinos are one of those whom you can count on the top ten.)

“In our culture, there is no way you can avoid drinking wine, or alcoholic beverages” he started to say. The men kept quiet and each one looked at my father expecting something important on what he will say. 

My father only finished 6th grade, and he got his wisdom from the streets and from living most of his youth in the company of drunkards, and vagabonds. His friends and the people in our small village knew him as a tough person, and with a loud voice, but they respect him because he was fare with them. He did not hurt anyone for the sake of showing who he was, but ready to fight if they want one.

“If the old men of our barrio meet to solve a dispute between neighbors, or a problem, a wine is always served on the table. When you attend a wedding, birthday parties, or even when you meet a friend, wine is always preferred over other drinks,” he continued.

“Therefore, the only thing you can do, to not hurt your health is to control yourself. Self-discipline is the key so that you will not end up drunk at the end of the day. Remember that when you are drunk, most of your words will lose its credibility. In addition, man’s credibility is one of its best assets. Anywhere you go, people will respect you if you can keep your composure for the whole day, notwithstanding expensive drinks are put on the table.” 

I do not know if these words affected those men who were on the table at that time, because after that scene, I went to take my college away from home. Consequently, during my college days, our group cannot resist going into a bar and spent our time there drinking liquor – until one or all of us are drunk. 

 

I saw how my friends lost their wits when they get drunk, and there were times that I did not know how I arrive home to the place where I was staying. Because of that binge drinking, I got headaches and weak the following day, and feelings I cannot imagine how to explain; all I know was I had a terrible hangover. 

During the time I suffer hangover, the words of my father kept reverberating on my ear. Thinking about it many times, I decided to follow his advised to the men whom he gave it. I thought that if I do not discipline myself on drinking alcohol, I might end up like the others who died as a result, of being addicted to alcohol.

Now, whenever I go with my peers to have a drink, it is either I will take a jigger or two, or not to touch the wine at all. 

The pressure of their words teasing me was tough to swallow but I stood up my ground. As time went on, they understood my reasons and even admired me, that some of them were doing what I was doing. It amazed me that my father’s advice had an influence with them. 

Until now, I still drink, and I admit that there are still time when I drink more than my capacity but the words I heard from my father always keep me on check. Without those words, I believe, I am one with the men who lost their sense of worth because the spirit of the wine had overwhelmed them.

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Why, What's Wrong With My Name Igorot?

Myspace Filipino Comments This article is in reply to my friend Carl Carino Taawan’s Blog published in his website http://baguiosmile.blogspot.com. He described how the Igorot’s earned their name, and how some refused to accept the name. At the end he asks, “So, what should be the perfect name to call these distinctive people of these mountain ranges or “golot”?

The question of changing our “name” Igorot has been a question no one ever gave a satisfying answer until today. And there is no need for me to relate about the history of it because those stories can be found in the internet.

Consequently, I want to go straight to the point that “I am Igorot, and will stay that way! May the ghosts shall curse anyone who shall dare to change it - even when my body no longer alive!”

I do not like Cordilleran because while it is a foreign word it would still give you the same meaning...you’re a person from the mountain name Cordillera.

In my own opinion, there's no name to change, instead it’s the attitude of the people that should be changed. If we want to make the name IGOROT sounds like gold to the people who hears it, then we should strive more to improve our behavior, attitude, and culture, which we already have made a big leap.

If we read our history, it is unbelievable that we were once barbarians who got pleasure from HEADHUNTING. Thanks to the lives of those Priests who sacrificed everything to change us. Hence, we should not stop from who we are now, but work more to show the world and be proud how much we became. If we can do that, IGOROT will become one of the historical names in the world history books to be written.

Igorot is a general name for us...and it is unique. A name cropped up from our being an original people of this place. It is, therefore, proper that we have to continue making it more intriguing out of the ordinary name - for the world to see and learn that barbarians can become Holy ones when shown the right way to live as humans ((not as animals to be made as attraction in shows like the one at St. Louis World’s Fair, Missouri in 1904. For further reading read The Filipino ‘exhibit’ at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, Missouri, by Michelle Sit) .)

As an individual, no matter what common name or tribe you belong, everything you do reflect the attitude and behavior of the family, clan, tribe, and country you belong. And we can say, that each one of us represents the world and the ONE who made us.

Conclusion: Change ourselves by striving to become the best person we can become. I am sure, even the ugliest name, you can imagine, they will connect to us will turn into one of the most celebrated name on earth.


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Sciatica and Back Pain

Symptoms include:

·        Dull sensations of pain on the affected side, especially, when you are standing still, or when you are sitting down.  (You can easily recognized people with this problem, because they keep shifting their position especially when the problem is severe.)

·        Feeling of numbness and weakness of the affected leg

·        Urinating more often, and retention

·        Sometimes you think your bowel movement is excellent because you visit the toilet   2 Xs or more every day

·        Testicular pain for some people

·        Decreased “stamina” on bed

Because the problem starts from the lower back (Lumbar area) that is, the reason why most people call it back pain.  On the contrary, while sciatica is caused by a problem on the Sciatic nerve, the feeling of pain is different from muscle pain of the back, and the areas involved.  Sciatic problem goes down the leg, while back pain goes up or it affects the upper back muscles.

In real back pain, the person sometimes cannot move or, have a hard time moving.  The pain could truly make him immobile. The victim has to be always on the guard of his movements, afraid that the move could trigger unbearable pain. Whilst with sciatic problem you can move and walk without worrying about a sudden shoot of pain.  The trouble is the feeling of numbness on your affected leg, and it can cause weakness, which makes the patient to stop more often.

In addition, in real back pain, the pain is like sucking into the bone, while sciatica is sucking into the muscles that as if something is cutting the normal flow of energy or sensation.

Therefore, for the sake of having to describe the problem, it would be more precise to call it SCIATIC PROBLEM, or Sciatic Abnormality – that would leave back pain on its own.

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How To Quit Smoking?

My father was a “Chain-smoker” at least that is how they term it in English.  In our place Ilocos region, Philippines, where the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos came from, we call it a “Pugon” (Poo-goon) a ventilation shaft of a place where the tobacco farmers dried their tobacco harvest.  It is a small house without a window, but only a door to get in and the ventilation shaft where the smoke of the burning firewood passes through, while drying the tobacco leaves.

My father smoked three packs or more a day.  And in order for him to save, we planted tobacco every year to augment his need for cigarettes.  When the tobacco was gathered, dried, and ready for use, I helped my mother to make rolled sticks of cigarettes in a piece of torn newspapers. 

I also tried to puff some sticks of his cigarettes, I secretly took from his pocket when I was a teen-ager, but it never appealed to me.  I got dizzy after finishing a stick, so I never thought of having it as part of me.

From my father’s account, he started smoking since he was young. He learned it from his friends.

However, one day in 1980 - 1981, he decided to quit smoking and from that time on, he never tried it again.  In addition, he influenced his two cousins who were chain-smokers themselves, and some men who wanted to quit a long time, but did not find a way to do it.

HOW MY FATHER QUITS SMOKING?

When his friends, interestedly asked him how he quitted smoking, my father had a simple answer on how he did it.

He said that every time he had a cold, the smell of smoke was not pleasant at all.  When the cold is finished, the smell of cigarette becomes enticing again.   He never realized that he could use it as a prelude to quit smoking, although he wanted to stop smoking years back, he did not know how. 

One time, afterwards, when he had a cold and the smell of the cigarette was repulsive, he decided to keep the whole idea of smoking as repulsive.  From that time on, he started to say no to himself whenever he craved for a cigarette.                                                                    

His mantra was simple, “If I have done it yesterday, I can do it again today!” or, “If I have done it for an hour, I can do it again for another hour.” Sometimes, he also said these words, “The cigarette is not part of my body, so, I can live without it!”

Moreover, whenever someone offered him a stick of cigarette, he will accept it but put it inside his shirt’s front pocket.  It’s either he will give it to someone who ask for a stick of cigarette or just leave it in his pocket for a day or two and he will throw it away. 

The idea that he was able to overcome himself from the strong compulsion to have even a puff of cigarette made him more motivated and gave him strengths to continue fighting himself.

A day became a week; a week became months, until the months became a normal day for him:  He no longer craved for a cigarette.

That was how he did it. He just repeated his mantra of saying, “If I did it yesterday, I can do it again today.” 

He said it was a struggle against him: “A battle of your will to quit against your desire to try for just only a puff!  You are fighting your own demon who keeps saying, “Just a puff, man! If you want, limit it to one stick a day!” 

One of the common problems for people who wanted to quit smoking is drooling caused by the desire to puff a cigarette.  That was one of the problem I encountered my father told one of his cousins.

To counteract the problem, he bought candies.  Hence, every time he drooled he took a candy, and played it in his mouth to neutralize the saliva. 

There was one or two advised he kept telling people who smoke and for those who wants to try:

·         In smoking, you never have a chance to win.  First, you spend money, and second you will surely destroy your health.

·         If you want to quit smoking – you can do it – if you will; the fight is all in your head.  Your will to quit, will help you to succeed.  The cigarette is not part of your body, so, you can therefore live without it.

Throat Cancer: Common Cause

Throat cancer is a strange kind of sickness in the rural areas of the Philippines. It is only in the urban area or places where refrigerator and water coolers are common that the problem is also becoming a common word.

The common cause of throat cancer according to the Mayo Clinic is due to cell mutations in the throat, (The Throat cancer occurs when cells in your throat develop genetic mutations. These mutations cause cells to grow uncontrollably and continue living after healthy cells would normally die. The accumulating cells can form a tumor in your throat.
It's not clear what causes the mutation that causes throat cancer...Mayo Clinic)

However, it is interesting that their concentration is about the mutation of cells and not the real cause before the mutation that causes cancer, and the company’s advice, “You can reduce your risk of throat cancer by not smoking, not chewing tobacco, and limiting alcohol use” is even far to satisfactory.


Well, long time ago, my mother taught me what are the basic things to avoid in taking care of my throat from sore throat, inflammations, and losing the voice.

These were her simple advice that she learned from her mother who learned it first from her mother...and so on.

In general, never drink ice cold water, and any other drinks; as much as possible take room temperature water or water put away in a clay jar
When it is hot, drink hot tea, coffee, or simply warm to hot water
When it is hot and you drink ice-cold water, it will encourage more drinking which results to bloating, unexplained feeling of queasiness, and sore throat, throat inflammation and losing your voice.

How about drinking alcohol? In my experience, the alcohol does not cause the problem, but the ice added to the alcohol drink is the reason. For the case of beer, the ice-cold ones always cause problem in my throat. However, some people may still be affected by the strong taste of the alcohol, so, it's not bad if observation is done.

And smoking? Smoking dries the throat, so, there is a big chance the skin lining of the throat will be irritated and become inflamed.

Kanser Sa Lalamunan: Simpleng Pag-iwas (Makalumang Kaalamang Pilipino sa Kalusugan)

Payong makaluma, pero hanggang ngayon ay epektibo at talagang di pa rin kumukupas ang bisa.

Sa panahon ngayon na halos lahat ng mga remedyo na ipinapayo ng mga doktor ay may halong negosyo,  di tayo nakakasigurado kung siguradong epektibo  bukod sa napakamahal ang presyo.   Tulad halimbawa ng sakit na KANSER SA LALAMUNAN na napakauso ngayon sa ibang bansa.  Maraming mga naooperahan at namamatay dahil ang mga naging biktima ay hindi naman napayuhan ng husto kung papaano ito maiwasan pagkatapos mabigyan ng mga mamahalin na gamot.  

Ano nga ba naman ang ipapayo ng mga doktor ngayon eh, masyado naman silang tiwala sa siyensya at binale wala na ang mga makalumang payo ng ating mga ninuno na talaga namang batay din sa kanilang mga karanasan, na kung tutuusin ay isang klase din ng agham dahil maraming eksperimento din ang ginawa (sa pamamagitan ng obserbasyon sa mga resulta ng kanilang mga ginagawa gaya sa kalusugan) bagaman walang tala o rekord na ginawa.

Isa dito ay ang kung papaano maiwasan ang sorethroat o sakit sa lalamunan na kadalasan, pag hindi maagapan o hindi mag-iingat ang tao ay nagreresulta sa “THROAT CANCER” o KANSER SA LALAMUNAN.

Malamig na inumin:  Sanhi ng KANSER SA LALAMUNAN

Ano ba ang mangyayari kung uminom ng malamig kapag galing sa mainit?

Kapag galing ka sa mainit at uminom ka agad ng malamig na tubig, ang resulta ay mas lalo kang mauuhaw at gusto mong uminom ulit at ito ay paulit-ulit dahil hindi napapawi ang pagkauhaw. Ang kadalasang resulta nito ay ang pagkabusog o Bloating sa englis na dimo maipaliwanag kung ano ang nararamdaman.  Ang tawag dito sa ating mga pinoy ay SINISIKMURA o nalamigan.

Pangalawang hindi magandang resulta ng pag-inom ng mga malamig na malamig na inumin kapag galing sa mainit o kaya’y pagod, ay ang pagkasira ng LALAMUNAN. Kapag di natin ikontrol ang sarili natin na uminom ng mga malalamig ay palagi rin matatamaan ang ating lalamunan at sa kalaunan ay nagreresulta sa pamamaga at pananakit na pwedeng maging sanhi ng sakit na KANSER SA LALAMUNAN(THROAT CANCER)

Mga Payo sa pag-alaga ng lalamunan

Kadalasan, kapag ang isang tao ay nauuhaw ay gusto niyang uminom ng malamig na malamig na tubig o sa ngayon ay ang pag-inom ng mga kola.

Ang ugaling ito ang mahigpit na ipinagbawal sa akin ng aking nanay noong bata pa ako dahil ayon sa kanya ay hindi maganda sa lalamunan at sa katawan. (Eto ay natutunan din nya sa kanyang ina noong sila ay bata pa na nagtatrabaho sa bukid sa kasagsagan ng mainit na araw)

Ang payo nya ay kapag galing kami sa init at nauuhaw, mas mainam na uminom kami ng mainit na tsa’a o TEA, o mainit na tubig para maiwasan ang pagkapasma (Biglang pagkakasakit at kung minsan daliang pagkamatay ng tao), o kaya ay ang pamamaga ng lalamunan o sorethroat.  Kadalasan ay namamaus o nawawala ang boses, at pag namaga ay nagreresulta sa pagkainpeksyon ng lalamunan na bumabagsak sa KANSER kung hindi maalagaan.

Paano nila ito alam?

Ang tao ay binigyan ng MAYKAPAL ng sariling talino na sa pamamagitan lamang ng paulit-ulit at mataimtim na obserbasyon sa isang pangyayari ay nalalaman nya ang dahilan at mga bunga.  Sa modernong panahon ay binigyan lang ng moderno din na pangalan kaya binabalewala ang ang mga kaalaman ng mga naunang tao noong unang panahon.

Eto ay mga simpleng bagay lamang pero hindi alam ng mga sobrang talino “kuno” na mga tao. 

PAALALA

Sa ngayon ay maraming nagkakasakit ng kanser sa lalamunan kasabay ng pagiging madalian na lamang kasing buksan ang ref na palamigan ng inumin.  Maliban sa kanser na mapapala ng tao ay malaking pinansyal ang gagastusin para magamot lamang.

Pero, kapag sundin ang simpleng payo na eto, ay magiging malusog ka na makakatipid ka pa sa gastusin.

Mahirap paniwalaan pero payo yan na sa ngayon ay namamatay na dahil mga matatanda ngayon ay di na iginagalang ang kanilang mga kaalaman.

At kung gustong patunayan, madali lamang... obserbahan ang reaksyon ng katawan sa sunodsunod na pag-inom ng malamig.