THE EVILS BEHIND PREMARITAL SEX

Most of the teens nowadays get curious in this thing called S-E-X. Everywhere we turn, we’re inundated with pictures on billboards, images on television, sounds on the radio and stories from showbiz. Our peers who are totally stuck with earthly pleasures may fill each of us with ideas from the very pit of hell that seeks to persuade us, “This is how it’s supposed to be. If you’re not doing it like this, you’re not normal. This is what will bring happiness and fulfillment in your life.”

            A recent television program on teenage sexuality reported that there is more sex, more pregnancies, more abortions, and fewer marriages today than ever before in history. More and more of today’s young people question traditional morality. They judge premarital sex not in terms of whether it is right or wrong but whether it is a genuine expression of love that they should use in their relationship.

            Realizing the power of sex, Satan has been using popular culture to lead men and women away from God and into bondage. As we look at our culture, we need not look hard to see that Satan is winning this battle over the mind of men and women.

            People today especially the youngsters are unaware of the genuine meaning of SEX. Due to curiosity, they engage in it even before marriage just to satisfy their sexual desires. Teens who can’t control their emotions may be got carried away without even thinking the consequences of their decision.

            Presented below are frank and honest facts about the EVILS behind PREMARITAL SEX:

• Premarital sex may result in light-to-severe feelings of guilt.
• Premarital sex destroys virginity.
• Premarital sex risks pregnancy and even abortion.
• Premarital sex increases the risks of cervical cancer among young women who engage in sex in multiple partners.
• Premarital sex can result in sexually transmitted diseases.
• Premarital sex can result in sexual dysfunction for the male.
• Those who have premarital sex are less happy in marriage and more prone to divorce.
• Premarital sex may hurt or destroy a reputation.
• Premarital sex may cause one of the partners to lose respect for the other.
• Premarital sex tends to be habit-forming.
• Premarital sex erodes a relationship with God.

According to the Word of God,

“Don’t be immoral in matters of sex. That is a sin against your own body in a way that no other sin is. You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.” (1Corinthians 6:18-20)

            Let’s proclaim loudly and comfortable, the truth about sex. Because God’s way is only the way to have a safe and satisfying sex!

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SOURCES:

David L. Kennedy, Love, Sex and Romance in the 21^st Century , Health and Home 2010, Sept-Oct (pp.24,27)

Nancy Van Pelt, The Compleat Courtship, “Close Encounters of a Dangerous Kind” (pp.113,116-124)

LET'S LOVE MOTHER EARTH

Planet Earth. It’s indeed a superb and a magnificent creation of the mighty hands of the Most High. Endowed with such beauty and perfection, it has become man’s paradise; a place prepared precisely by God wherein every living creature has the right to live harmoniously under the glowing rays of the shining sun.

            Enjoying Earth’s delicacies, billions of species have been living joyously; sustaining one another until man takes the lead of holding the crown in destroying the precious works of God just to satisfy and meet his material necessities.

            It was once a paradise, but now it seems like hell burning in each of our veins because of the unrestrained practices of humankind that lead to its drastic destruction. Abused and tortured by her own children, Mother Earth still didn’t mind the pain; instead she just ignored it and continued sustaining humanity. It’s not really the pain that hurts her most whenever forests are cleared, sanctuaries are destroyed, wild products are being patronized, but it’s the scars that marked her heart of all the wickedness and wrongdoings of the inhabitants.

            As a handicapped and disabled human mother longing for the care and love from her irresponsible prodigal sons and daughters, Mother Earth feels the same. She’s deeply hurt and cries for the love and care of the people to be responsible enough in restoring Earth’s beauty by simply planting trees to bald forests wherein it may serve as habitats to some animal creatures and may help minimize the possibility of having soil erosions and landslides. Another way is by practicing proper garbage disposal to avoid contamination of the natural resources. By also promoting the 3R’s program (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) can be a great help in having a healthy environment to live in.

            However, this venture cannot be done by just one superhero but a shared responsibility of all men who consider themselves to have the right to live longer under the sun. We, the crowning act of creation, should not neglect the responsibilities that God entrusted us to do. We must act out what we need to do right now for it’s not yet too late to prepare a new, restored paradise for the succeeding generations.

            We NEED, we SHOULD and we MUST love our Mother Earth!

(Eunice Templado)

K to 12: A Key to Unlock Every Filipino's Dreams

It's been a long dream for our country to have a global educational attainment and this dream will soon be realized if the proposed K to 12 Basic Education Program will be successfully implemented in the Philippines. This is one of the programs under the Aquino Administration which aims for the enhancement of the quality of the basic education in the Philippines. K+12 basically includes the Universal Kindergarten, 6 years Elementary, 4 years Junior High School and 2 years Senior High School.

Our country is considered to be the only country in Asia having a 10-year basic education curriculum, so there is a must for this program to be implemented in the Philippines. The program will be such a great help for graduates to reach the global standards of the educational attainment for them to be easily employed; either inside or outside the country.

However, there are lots of things to be considered first before the implementation, for everything related to learning requires enough time. Additional years in education means additional facilities and teachers. More classrooms, textbooks and skilled teachers are widely needed for this program to be successfully implemented and the government is now working on all of these.

The additional 2 years in High School will never be such a burden for this will be a key for every Filipino Youth to make their dreams into reality, making our country uplifted from poverty and free from ignorance.

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This was the essay I made during the On-the-Spot Essay Writing Contest in our School :) Honestly, I was really unprepared so that's the result .

6 Ways to SUPER CHARGE your Health

Every new day science releases findings in the fields of food, fitness, and fat loss. But how do we know which are important, and how do we prioritize to help improve our health and quality of life?

1. Take 10,00 steps a day. A recent study has looked at what would happen to overweight, inactive people if they accumulated 10,000 steps daily for 8 weeks. The results were astounding, including lowered blood pressure and improved glucose tolerance.
2. Exercise---don't think it, just do it. The most important strategy used by people who were physically active on a regular basis was to begin exercising rather than talking to themselves about it first. According to the researchers, thinking about it undermines your resolve. An important factor was if the self-talk was either negative or positive.
3. Dark chocolate a healthier choice. Dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, which raise the level of antioxidants in the blood and help counteract free radical change. This protects the cardiovascular system by reducing the risk of blood clotting and dilating vessels, which allows a better flow of blood.
4. Weight loss for arthritis. Losing weight has been shown to reduce arthritic knee symptoms and help slow its progression. One study showed the improvement from weight loss was even more effective than some drug treatments, such as paracetamol, and without he known side effects of anti-inflammations.
5. Activity cuts Alzheimer's risk. Staying active, both mentally and physically, may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to recent research. Alzheimer's can progress slowly or quickly but always robs sufferers of their memory, eventually their ability to care for themselves.
6. Low GI diet better than low fat. When foods are digested and broken down, they are absorbed into our bloodstream at different rates. The glycemic index (GI) ranks foods on their ability to raise blood-glucose levels. It's helpful to know the speed of glucose release and absorption because of the hormone insulin. The body releases insulin to control and store glucose, helping reduce blood-glucose levels. Important for weight control, insulin triggers your body to store fat. Foods that release glucose slowly (low GI foods) trigger insulin release, while foods that release glucose quickly (high GI foods) trigger a strong insulin response more filling, providing sustained energy.

While it can be difficult to keep low-fat eating palatable and interesting over the long term, a low GI diet encourages you to eat "good" fats, such as avocado and olive oil, which add taste and flavor

STAY HEALTHY :)))




Special thanks to Andrew Cate, an author and online personal trainer. Read more of his articles at www.andrewcate.com .

Being Responsible

LAZINESS... I suffered from that condition way back in elementary. I wasn't used in doing household tasks before. I seldom clean my room. I don't even mind fixing my bed after waking up. Stuffs, crumpled papers, books --- all scattered on the floor. Cleanliness was not really on my list when I was a child. That's why Mom decided to send me to GSP Encampments thinking it would cure my serious condition.

Well, I was 11 years old when I started joining Camping. And YES, it's really hard for me at first. It's hard for me to adjust. "I can't take it anymore!" , that's what I keep on saying. I keep complaining.

But then, as I entered High School, I realized that I was just really Over-Reacting on how I deal with those things before. Change can be seen in me now! (Yeeey!)

I am always present in Jamborees even though it's more than a hundred-kilometer away from home. Yeah, it's hard to be away from home for almost a week, struggling to survive for your own without Mama&Papa. But I've trained myself to be independent. I want to prove that I AM NOW RESPONSIBLE.

And YES! It really worked! Imagine? I now clean the house almost every hour 'cause I get irritated seeing those dusts on the floor. I now wipe the windows, whistling. I now wash the dishes without murmuring. I now clean my room and fix my bed. I wanted everything in order.

Cleanliness has now become on top of my list. And Laziness ? Well, that's not present in my Vocabulary now! :))

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Special thanks to Mama&Papa who never hesitate to send me to Encampments. It was such a very great help! I am now an active Senior Girl Scout in School and the Vice-President of our Troop :))

CORRUPTiON: a Stage 4 CA

Philippines ------------- considered to be the most corrupt country in the world. Filipino people happens to be "BiGGEST Losers" when it comes to economical issues. It is, according to the World Bank, the worst among the East Asia's leading economies since it has ranked 141st out of 180 countries in the world (2008). It is said that our country has improved economically a little now, but this well-known "cancer" remained severe.

Personal interests and insincerity of the government officials to combat corruption --------- the main cause why Filipinos are suffering. Corruption has almost eaten up our freedom of having a better way of living, our rights of being citizens and our dignity. This has affected greatly in the economic development of our country.

Poverty has covered the whole country due to the kind of system of the government that the officials are engaging in, boasting their personal interests rather than answering the loud cry of the need of the people.

Until when would the people enjoy their right to live with equal opportunities? The answer lies on the hand of the leading officials with the appropriate system of governance.

(This is the article [editorial] I made for the Search of the New Editor-in-Chief of our School Paper. Each of us in the Staff is required to make one.)

my OUTPUTS :) [cloniing]

This is the result when boredom strikes! Only in Adobe Photoshop I find time to enjoy myself . hehe :))

Here: this is me :)) kinda crazyy ..

hmm. this is my Cousin, Tishri . cute, right ?? haha :pp

RIPENED FRUIT of WISDOM

OLD PEOPLE….sometimes underestimated by the community for they consider them to be useless with regards to work. Some people don’t even care and listen to old people for they believe that they’re just quite silly because of their age. However, there are still those, who, until now, consider the importance of the old ones despite their indescribable behaviors. They can still be helpful in such a way some people don’t see and appreciate.

Let me share you a story taken from the tales of Japan.

Many long years ago, there lived an arrogant and cruel Lord in the Western hills of Japan who considered old people to be useless anymore in their village, for according to him, they’re neither useful nor able to work for living. The Lord, therefore made a decree that all people in their village over 71 years old must be banished from their place and left in the mountains to die. All he wanted was a village with young people living in it. If people disobey him, they will be punished. So, they tearfully followed their unreasonable and cruel Lord, until there were fewer and fewer old people in their village.

Now, there lived a man with his old mother. As years passed by, until her mother had reach the terrible age of 71. Even though it’s hard for him to obey their Lord’s decree, but he still have to do it. When they’ve reach the high mountains, the man could no longer take it anymore, he could not do that kind of thing to his mother. So, he decided to take her back to their home where he dug a deep hole in the kitchen and made a small room where he could hide his mother. He would visit his mother daily and bring her some food without letting anyone know that he’d kept his mother for almost a year underground.

Then, there came a time that Lord Higa of the town beyond the hills wanted to conquer their village and he sent them various and terrible problems: “⁽¹⁾a box containing one thousand ropes of ash”, “⁽²⁾a log with a small hole that curved and bent seven times through its length, and that a single piece of silk thread be threaded through the whole”, and lastly, “⁽³⁾a drum that sounds without being beaten.” These impossible tasks were solved immediately by the young man’s old mother. But, how? Even all the wise men could not find any solution. Well, on the first task, his mother told his son to soak ordinary rope in salt water and dry it well. When it is burned, it will hold its shape and there is the rope of ash. His son and the villagers did what the old woman said. On the second task, the wise old woman again solved the problem. She again ordered his son to put some sugar at one end of the hole. Then, tie a piece of silk thread to an ant and put it in at the other end. The ant will weave his way in and out of the curves to get to the sugar and he will take the silk thread with him. Again, the village was saved. Then, on the last task, the old woman said to make a drum with sides of paper and put a bumblebee inside. As it tries to escape, it will buzz and beat itself against the paper and you will have a drum that sound without being beaten.

Because of the wisdom the old mother of the young man, the village was saved. And from that day on, the cruel lord was impressed and he realized the worth and importance of the old people. Never again he demands that the old people of the village will be sent to the mountains to die. Rather, they will be treated with the respect and honor they deserve and share with us the wisdom of their years.

This story reminds us of the Japanese proverb “With a crown of snow cometh great wisdom.” This proverb means that “Wisdom comes with age” and that we should also learn to respect the old ones for they have the wisdom that truly will make a big difference in our lives. Even though they do not fit, or let’s say, they’re not “in” with the latest trends and craze of the world today, but they can be still helpful and useful not just in our community but in the country as well.

I made this one (kinda short summary of The Wise Old Woman by Yoshiko Uchida) because my elementary classmate requested me to write an article regarding with the usefulness of the old people nowadays.

I decided to post it here :))

HEY! Are YOU aware ?!

Through our Father’s holy word

He created this living world,

From His throne from up above

He made and showered us with love.

Mountains, birds, flowers and seas

Rivers, fishes, plants and trees,

All living creatures and natural resources

Made by God with His mighty forces.

But as time passes by

Our nature seems to cry,

The air is now polluted

And the water is contaminated.

What happened to God’s creations?

Why are there extreme pollutions?

Environment is in a drastic situation

When are we going to start an action?

YOUTH of today’s generation

We should find a solution,

It’s our task and responsibility

To restore our Mother Earth’s beauty.

:)) I made this poem about Environmental awareness. Actually, it's our Assignment in MAPEH . hehe .

i LOVE my MOM :)

This was the letter (or what?) that I gave to my Mother last July 5, 2011, expressing my BiG love for her :

THE BEST THING THAT MATTERS MOST TO ME …

MOTHER …. a very common word in this world; heard daily by the

mouths of many. It’s just a simple word yet, having so many hidden explanations. If we’ll just look closely to its true and genuine essence, we’ll be able to unlock a world full of inspirations and we’ll discover a beauty that shines from within.

A quotation by Washington Irving that will always remain in my heart and has helped me understand how important Mothers are is this:

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts”.

All my life, I couldn’t find anyone who could be as loving as YOU, Ma! No one could ever be like PROSPER GABUYA TEMPLADO; a woman with an optimistic mind, having a strong and brave heart. You are a very special gift sent from God above; wrapped with love, sweetness and patience. You are the light that guides me in the darkest paths of my journey. You are always by my side to comfort me when I’m in the darkest moments of my life. You are always here, willing to help me carry my burdens when it seems I can’t take it anymore. You are one of my inspirations why I keep on going despite the challenges that sometimes block my way. Finally, YOU are one of the people who really matters a lot in my imperfect world.

Words can’t still explain how I m thankful that I have you in my life. The things I’ve made are not yet enough to give thanks for the sacrifices and the love you’ve given to all of us. But, this I assure you Ma that we, the EBK Kids will do the best that we can to give in return and to express our heartfelt thanks for your undying love for us.

THANKS for being the Superhero in our world, MAMA! We will always love you ♥ ♥ ♥ .

* EUNICE *

And this was her sweet and cute response :

Hello Inday Ace,

How grateful I am to read about what you’ve felt and responded on how I treated you, your brother and sister.

Thank you that you’ve taken the things I’ve done for you positively. Even, sometimes I over acted in some things. Maybe because as a mother, I expected everything and everyone in order.

According to Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Always bear in your heart that I LOVE YOU. Set your right priorities and make choices in accordance to God’s will. Always wear your SMILES everyday and stay CUTE, hehehe! “Ayaw sa uyab-uyab, pa-cute lang usa.” Wait for the right time to commit again with a relationship.

God bless! :)

The 113th Commemoration of Independece Day in the Philippines

One of the most significant dates in the Philippine’s history is Independence Day because it marks the nation’s independence from the Spanish rule on June 12, 1898. Filipinos celebrate it annually on June 12.

What do People do?

Independence Day is a day when many people, including government officials, employees, and students, participate in nationwide parades. However, the main highlight is the police and military parade in Manila headed by the country’s incumbent president, followed by a speech and a 21-gun salute. Many Filipinos spend the day in parks and malls. Many Filipino communities in other countries also observe the nation’s Independence Day celebrations.

Public life

The Philippine’s Independence Day is a national holiday so government offices are closed. There are absolutely no classes in all schools. Many business establishments are closed except shopping centers. Public transport such as buses, passenger jeeps, and tricycles still operate but their routes may be limited due to the closure of streets used for parades.

Background

The annual June 12 observance of Philippine’s Independence Day came into effect after past President Diosdado Macapagal signed the Republic Act No. 4166 regarding this matter on August 4, 1964. This Act legalized the holiday, which is based on the Declaration of Independence on June 12, 1898 by General Emilio Aguinaldo and Filipino revolutionary forces from the Spanish colonization. The Philippines’ flag was raised and its national anthem was played for the first time in 1898. However, liberty was short-lived because Spain and the United States did not recognize the declaration.

The 1898 Treaty of Paris ended the war between Spain and the United States. Spain surrendered the entire archipelago comprising the Philippines to the United States. The Philippines started a revolt against the United States in 1899 and achieved national sovereignty on July 4, 1946, through the Treaty of Manila. Independence Day was officially observed on July 4 until the Republic Act No. 4166, which set out to move the holiday to June 12, was approved on August 4, 1964.

Symbols

The Flag of the Republic of the Philippines, representing the country is symbolized by the following:

• Royal blue field – peace, truth, and justice.
• Scarlet red field – patriotism and valor.
• White triangle – equality and brotherhood.
• Three stars on the corners of the triangle – the three main geographical regions of the country namely Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
• The sun at the center of the triangle – has eight rays representing the eight Philippine provinces that started the revolt against Spain.

The flag is seen in various places across towns and cities in the Philippines during the country’s Independence Day. Many cars also sport miniature flags on this day.

SOURCE:

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/philippines/independence-day

CULTURE DIFFERENCES

Each cultures sets its own norms and taboos. Gestures matter because they could portray different meanings for each country. Some practices are a must all because tradition dictates so. Take a peek at how other nationalities make sense of their actions.

• Some Greeks and Italians say NO by tossing their head back and clucking their tongue.

• Puerto Ricans wiggle their nose to roughly mean What's going on?

• Swedish regard it as a branch of etiquette to toast your host, or anyone your senior in rank of age only after they toast you.

• Middle East people consider it an insult to show the soles of your feet while seated facing your host. It's a no-no to place the feet on a desk, table, or chair.

• Germans make a screwing gesture on their head as a strong expression for "You're crazy." Tourists need to be aware because this head movement can get one arrested. Such is often used by drivers to comment on the driving skills of the other motorists.

• The Turkish village Kushoy natives communicate through whistling. This enables them to exchange messages over distances of up to one mile.

• A Hindu father should touch his newborn child with gold. Tradition dictates so because they consider gold as the noblest of metals.

• Englishmen of the sixteenth and seventeenth century believed that no one who lay upon feathers could die in peace. So, when death approached, the removed the pillow from the dying person's head to ease the passing.

• Many Hong Kong people designated blue and white as the color of death, rather than black.

• Russians buy carnation and roses on their first date. This is a prerequisite! They are to be given in odd numbers because flowers given in even numbers are for funerals.

SOURCE:

www.absolutetrivia.com

ERRORS ABOUT TIME MANAGEMENT

Enslaved by our own time or by your own self? Pointers about time management have passed our eras many times, yet how well do we really know it?

Aleck Mackenzie, organizer of time management seminar in 40 countries, lists some familiar mistaken notions about time management.

• Time management is nothing but common sense. Almost all the solutions to time management problems are as simple as the dos and don'ts. What's not simple, however, is the self-discipline that goes with them.

• I work better under pressure. Untrue. Nobody works better under pressure, especially that of time. What really happens is that we do our best out of the remaining time we have. Procrastination deprives us chance for planning that could otherwise yields superior results.

• Learning time management is simply managing one's time. This is the biggest misconception of all. Time cannot be managed. We can only manage ourselves in relation to time. Time is a finite resource. We can't add hours to what is only available. We can only control how to spend some that are at hand. What is gained from time management is not more time, but a better life--productive, stress-free, balanced, and more successful.

Thanks a lot to:

* World Executive's Digest

CAFFEINE : Friend or Foe ?

Caffeine can be an addictive drug. Regular use over time often produces physical and mental effects when withdrawn. While an occasional small dose of caffeine may not make a difference, heavier use has been linked to health problems.

Are You an Addict?

You could be a caffeine addict without even knowing it.

One way to find out if you are addicted is to stop all caffeine intake a week. If you’re hooked, chances are good that you will notice physical symptoms like headache, lack of appetite, and nausea, which can last from one to five days. Psychologically, you may feel down and listless, and of course, there will be a strong urge for your favorite beverage.

Breaking the Habit

If you find you’re a caffeine fiend, here are a few things you can do to ease through withdrawal.

• Gradually reduce the amount of caffeine.
• Replace it by drinking more water.
• Exercise in the fresh air.
• Get the support of others around you.
• Reward yourself for taking such a positive step.

Caffeine can produce:

• Elevated blood sugar
• Increased blood pressure
• Elevated blood fats (triglycerides)
• Heightened symptoms of Pre-menstrual Syndrome
• Tremors, irritability, and nervousness
• Aggravation of anxiety disorders and panic attacks
• Increased stomach acid secretions
• Urinary calcium and magnesium losses
• Insomnia
• Irregular heartbeat
• Increased stimulation of the central nervous system (it overrules the need for rest)

Your Challenge

Cut down on caffeinated drinks like tea, coffee, and colas and eventually skip them altogether. See how you fare. At the end of a week, review this material and give serious consideration to making your body a caffeine-free zone.

Source:

Aileen Ludington and Hans Diehl, HEALTH&HOME 2005 (Sept-Oct pp.6-7)

Body Odor No More

Body odor can be solved or minimized. The objective is to reduce the bacteria in the skin despite the hot and humid weather.

Here are some tips to prevent body odor:

• Take a bath in the morning.
• Rinse body with water mixed with powdered tawas. A tablespoon or two of powdered tawas are good enough for a regular-size pail.
• Put on a fresh set of clothing and underwear.
• Take a good body scrub with soap and water, concentrating on the underarms, neck, and groins before going to bed in the evening.
• Watch your diet. Go far the bland ones-not hot, spicy flavoring or rich, fatty foods. Eat more leafy vegetables and fruits. Drink plenty of water. Avoid soft drinks and coffee. A balanced diet will empty the bowels and urinary bladder daily.
• Wear clothes made from light materials like pure cotton during hot weather. Silk and synthetic materials cannot absorb sweat. For women, shave off excess underarm hair. Hairs in the armpit collect secretions, debris, and bacteria. It is unbecoming for a lady to have unshaved underarms.
• Apply powdered tawas directly to the underarms and other parts of the body after a bath. It kills odor-causing bacteria and absorb moisture. If powdered tawas is too irritating to the skin, baking soda-talcum powder mixture is a good substitute.
• Wash liberally with water after using the toilet. Ladies should especially do so during the menstrual period, and change pad as often as needed.

If the problem still stinks despite the daily hygiene, a steam bath once a week may help. This sweating treatment cleans the skin pores and removes impurities. If you can have the luxury of a mint or eucalyptus flavored steam bath, the better. It will not only clean your skin but make it smell good as well.

-- Herminia G. Landion

Be CAR CARE Aware

Your car is one of your big investments, so in order to maintain its reliability, preserve its drivability, and protect its resale value, you need to be car care aware. Take the following dos and don'ts from the senior service adviser of Honda Cars-Shaw, Abelardo "Dong" Vicente.

Dos

1. Bring car to service center or talyer at least every six months, for periodic maintenance to avoid engine breakdown.
2. Keep tires properly inflated to provide you the best combination of handling, treading life, and riding comfort. Visually check all tires every day. If a tire seems under inflated, verify it with a tire gauge. Even tires in good condition may lose air due to leakage. Make sure your spare tire is in good condition, too.
3. Check battery condition every month, including proper electrolyte level and corrosion on battery terminals. Start the engine for at least 10 minutes to warm it up before the drive.

Don'ts

1. Don't open hood to strangers especially if your car has a breakdown on the road.
2. Don't use hard water like salt water on tap water to top up radiator coolant or to wash car with. It corrodes inside engines and car body.
3. Don't use activities on engine oil, fuel, power steering fluid, and automatic transmission fluid unless approved by the car's manufacturer.

How to determine your car's condition through smoke emission

If the color of exhaust gas is:

Bluish - the engine oil mixing within the combustion chamber

White - the water or coolant is mixing within the combustion camber; the engine will overheat

Black - excessive fuel is not burned properly inside the combustion chamber; will make engine fuel consumption high

Colorless - the engine is performing the best optimum combustion

-- Melinda H. Tormes (coordinator for market research and advertising)

How To Eat Well Without Gaining Weight

What to eat

• Eat at least five servings of fresh fruit a day. Fresh fruit does not lead to obesity, as some people erroneously believe. To the contrary, in addition to having very low energy density (few calories in a lot of weight), it provides vitamins and fiber the\at inhibit obesity.
• Eat a plate of fresh vegetable salad each day.
• Reduce or eliminate the typical fast foods: hamburgers, hot dogs and other sausages, snacks, sauces, pastries, and sweets.
• Drink enough water each day so that your urine is clear, colorless, and odorless. It's been shown that a high intake of water and a low intake of salt is a simple way to avoid gaining weight.

Where to eat

• As much as possible, practice the traditional custom of the entire family sitting down for a meal together.
• Do not eat in the bus, the car, as you walk, or as you talk on the telephone. These activities will distract your mind, causing you to eat more without feeling satisfied.

How to eat

• Eat slowly, savoring and chewing each mouthful well. This will improve your digestion and help you to eat less than if you ate rapidly.

When to eat

• Eat at regular times, and avoid snacking between meals.
• Set aside enough time for your meals, especially breakfast, which should be your most important meal of the day.

STAY HEALTHY!!

--George Pamplona-Roger (Fast Food, Fast Disease)

TIME-SAVING TIPS

Are you a procrastinator? Try these time-saving tips for efficiency and more productivity in everything you do.

• Write out a daily "To Do List" making sure you include your top priorities.
• On Mondays, plan your week's activities.
• Delegate routine chores.
• Set deadlines for yourself and your subordinates.
• Use waiting time to catch up on routine reading or to plan projects.
• Jot down spontaneous notes and ideas.
• Break down unpleasant tasks into small, non-threatening jobs.
• Cut off nonproductive activities --- e.g. phone calls, rambling conversations.
• Try and handle every piece of paper only once.
• Keep your work space cleared and ready for action. Don't let clutter accumulate. Clean as you go.
• Have a place for everything, so you know exactly where to find it.
• Schedule a meeting only if you can describe its purpose.
• Skim for important words and headlines when you read.
• Listen carefully. Ask direct questions to obtain needed information quickly.
• Learn to say "no". There is a limit to your energy and ability to accomplish an endless list of tasks.
• Do your thinking on paper or on your computer. This motivates you to continue, while you see your progress.
• Eliminate unnecessary interruptions. Close your office door. Let your staff take messages, and then return calls all at once.
• Set aside your most productive time period every day to do your creative work.
• Save all trivial matters for a three-hour session once a month.
• Avoid people who drain you and e-mail people who regularly talk too much on the phone.

-- Thanks to ROBERT HARLAND .

Are YOU an INTERNET ADDICT?

When a person's major focus in on one behavior only, he may be suffering from a behavioral addiction. This addiction includes, among other things, gambling, shopping, watching pornography, work, and using computer and the Internet.

Let's talk about computers and the Internet. They are a necessity for today's generation. Computers and the Internet are needed in the workplace, in school, and at home. But the Internet has it's own downside too. When you become so attached to the computer that you start to live in an artificial world, your physical, emotional and spiritual health is in danger.

Knowing the early signs of computer and Internet addiction in a spouse, a brother or a sister, a friend, a colleague, or even yourself is of extreme importance.

But HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TOO MUCH OF COMPUTER OR THE INTERNET? If you answer YES to at least 7 of the questions below, it is enough for you to be diagnosed as having a pathological Internet addiction.

1. Do I lose interest in the other activities I used to engage in?
2. Would I rather miss my regular meals than miss the Internet?
3. Am I craving for more time online and feel restless when not engaged?
4. Do I feel irritable and aggressive when interrupted or when the connection is low?
5. Do I stay in the computer longer than intended?
6. Am I neglecting family and friends and/or responsibilities in order to be online?
7. Is my Internet use interfering with my job or school activities?
8. Do I use the Internet as an outlet when lonely, upset or sad?
9. Do I lie about the amount of time I spend on the Internet and what I am browsing?
10. Am I sleeping late because of Internet browsing?

So, how do you avoid computer and Internet addiction? Here are some suggestions:

1. Parents should be role models for their children.
2. Put the computer in a common place in the house like the living room so that parents can easily keep an eye on their children's use, thus helping them to avoid visiting undesirable websites.
3. Have family meals at the table at regular times.
4. Get involved in sports. Develop a healthy relationship with your team.
5. Go to bed on time to get a good night's rest.
6. Develop a strong network of friends. This provides mental and emotional support.
7. Plan for family activities.
8. Limit computer use. List the things you need in the web, set an alarm clock to be sure you get off when it sounds. Stick to your set time.
9. Be aware of the warning signs of addiction.
10. Seek professional help.
11. Most of all, submit yourself to God. Ask Him to help you detach yourself from the excitement of computer and the Internet.

Computer and the Internet are no doubt necessities. But they can also ruin lives and relationships if not handled responsibly.

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

Thanks to : HEALTH&HOME (Jul-Aug 2010)

Evelyn Villaflor-Almocera

THE TOBACCO TRAP

The decision to smoke is almost always made during the teen years when teen believe nothing bad could ever happen to them. Many keep using tobacco products throughout adulthood, not always because they want to, but because they are addicted to a product that is powerfully habit-forming. Whether they start because they are addicted to a product that is powerfully habit-forming. Whether they start because of peer pressure, to rebel against their parents, or because they think it's cool -- millions of teens get hooked on a habit that will kill hundreds of thousands of them a year when they're adults.

Since the first Surgeon General's report on health and smoking in 1964, an endless amount of research has shown how smoking hurts your health. Tobacco is currently known to cause heart disease, chronic lung disease, and stroke, not to mention cancer of the lungs, esophagus, larynx, mouth and bladder. Tobacco is filled with dozens and dozens of chemicals that are deadly all by themselves. So, when packed together with each puff of smoke, it's no wonder they kill people.

If you use tobacco, there are compelling reasons for you to quit. The rewards of quitting are tremendous, and they begin immediately. You’ll experience the benefits of not using tobacco within 20 minutes of quitting, and as your tobacco-free days accumulate, the benefits will accumulate, too. Quitting tobacco will improve your health, your finances, your self-esteem and your everyday life – immediately and over the long term – in ways you may never have imagined.

What Happens When You Quit

• Immediately after quitting smoking, heart rate and blood pressure, which is abnormally high while smoking, begin to return to normal.
• Within a few hours, the level of carbon monoxide, which reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, begins to decline.
• Within a few weeks, circulation improves, you don’t produce as much phlegm, and you don’t cough or wheeze as often.
• The workload on the heart is decreased and cardiac function is improved.
• Food tastes better, and your sense of smell returns to normal.
• Everyday activities no longer leave you out of breath.
• Within several months of quitting, you experience significant improvements in lung function.
• In one year, your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke is halved.
• In five years, many kinds of cancer, including lung, larynx, mouth, stomach, cervix, bladder, show decline in risk, and that decline approaches the risk of someone who has never smoked.
• Within 10 to 15 years, risk of lung disease, including bronchitis and emphysema, are decreased.
• Conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration, thyroid conditions, hearing loss, dementia, and osteoporosis are positively affected.
• Nerve endings in the mouth and nose begin to regenerate, improving taste and smell.
• Medications may work better, enabling some to be taken in decreased doses.
• If you’re taking birth control pills, quitting smoking will decrease your chance of heart attack and stroke due to clotting.
• You’ll have decreased risk for impotence and infertility.
• If you’re pregnant, you’ll protect your unborn child from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and low birth weight.
• Years will be added to your life: people who quit smoking, regardless of their age, are less likely than those who continue to smoke to die from smoking-related illness.

When you quit smoking:

• your breath will smell better
• stained teeth will get whiter
• your clothes and hair will smell better
• your fingers and fingernails will no longer look yellow
• you’ll have better oral health
• you’ll have a better chance for fewer skin wrinkles

If you're a tobacco user, it's never too late for a change! YOU can and YOU must start it within your inmost self. It just take a little time and a lot of suffering, that's all.

Thanks to:

* Zachary Goldstein (author of LiSTEN magazine)

* http://www.tobaccofreemaine.org/quit_tobacco/index.php

Why TEENS Love Text Messaging

It's no secret that today's teenagers are prolific texters, but did you ever stop to think about just how many text messages they're actually sending? A lot. A whole lot, actually, according to a new study.

Half of teens send 50 or more text messages a day, according to a new study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, which found that teens are texting much more frequently now than they were in the past.

"Text messaging has become the primary way that teens reach their friends, surpassing face-to-face contact, email, instant messaging and voice calling as the go-to daily communication tool for this age group. However, voice calling is still the preferred mode for reaching parents for most teens," Pew says.

Teenagers have embraced text messaging as their main form of communication, but mobile phones are often a source of tension with parents and schools, a new survey found.

The frequency with which teens text has overtaken every other form of interaction, including instant messaging and talking face-to-face, according to a study scheduled for released Tuesday by researchers at Pew Research Center and the University of Michigan.

Three-quarters of teens now own cell phones, up from 45 percent in 2004. Of those who own cell phones, 88 percent text, up from just over half in 2006.

At the same time, cell phones and teens' attachment to them are a source of conflict with parents and schools. Many parents limit cell phone use and 48 percent said they use it to monitor their kids' whereabouts - either by using GPS technology or calling the child to check in. Not surprisingly, the parents of girls aged 12 and 13 were more likely to say they monitor cell phone use.

The limits did seem to have tangible benefits. Teens were less likely to report regretting a text they sent, or having sent sexual content by text message, if their parents placed limits on text messaging. They were also less likely to us their cell phones dangerously while driving.

Schools, the survey found, often ban cell phones from classrooms, and some from school grounds entirely, seeing them as a "disruptive force." Still, more than half of teens who own mobile phones said they have sent a text message during class, even though their school bans mobile phones.

Despite all the media attention to "sexting," only 4 percent of teens said they have sent sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images of themselves to someone else via a text message. Teens who pay their own cell phone bills were more likely to send "sexts" than those whose parents pay for all or part of their bill.

The survey of 800 teenagers aged 12 to 17 and their parents was conducted on landlines and cell phones from June to September 2009. It was conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life Project and the University of Michigan's Department of Communication Studies.

Among other findings in the study:

• Parents of 12- and 13-year-old girls are more likely to report the "most monitoring behavior," and "limiting a child's text messaging does relate to lower levels of various texting behaviors among teens," Pew said. "These teens are less likely to report regretting a text they sent, or to report sending sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images by text," also known as "sexting."
• 54 percent of text-message using teens "have received spam or other unwanted texts," and 26 percent say they have been "bullied or harassed through text messages and phone calls."
• 24 percent of teens attend schools that ban cell phones from school grounds, but 65 percent of teens with cell phones still bring them to school, and 58 percent say they have sent a text message during class.
• 43 percent of all teens who take their phones to school say they "text in class at least once a day or more."
• 48 percent of parents use their child's phone to monitor their location.
• 69 percent of cell-owning teens "say their phone helps them entertain themselves when they are bored."
• 83 percent use their phones to take photos; 64 percent share photos with others using their phones; 60 percent play music, 46 percent play games and 32 percent exchange videos with their mobiles.
• 27 percent go online using their phones, 23 percent access social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace on their mobiles; 21 percent use e-mail and 11 percent makes purchases using their cells.

The study is based on a parent-teen cell phone survey of 800 teens age 12-to-17 years-old and their parents and on nine focus groups conducted in four U.S. cities in June and October 2009 with teens between the ages of 12 and 18.

The survey was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International.

SOURCES:

http://cellphones.about.com/b/2010/04/20/study-teens-really-really-love-texting.htm

http://www.physorg.com/news190959790.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36650790/ns/technology_and_science-wireless/