"Thank you, thank you! Ambabait ninyo, thank you!"
Theses words are very familiar to us Filipinos. Whenever we hear these words, one thing comes to mind: it's Christmas time!
You can really feel the presence of Christmas here in the Philippines. Christmas lanterns hanging in our homes, people caroling and singing Christmas songs, bright lights in the streets, men eating and drinking booze, people going to church to celebrate the Misa de Gallo (a.k.a. Simbang Gabi), lots of shoppers buying last-minute gifts, yup, you can smell the spirit of Christmas in the air.
Christmas is one of the most peaceful times in the country, aside from when Manny Pacquiao steps into the ring. It's the time when our families get closer, when the community sets aside its problems and enjoy the joyous season, when almost all homes, whether small or large, glow because of al the Christmas lights covering them. It's the time when people forget their differences and get together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
One of the most well-kept Christmas traditions in the Philippines is the Noche Buena. It's a feast that's typically held when the clock strikes 12 AM, December 25. Typical food items here include ham, spaghetti, hotdogs, the typical party fare. However, it's not only eating that we do. There's also games and the famous gift-giving. All members of the family, from the toddlers to the grandparents, have fun and pleasure during this time of the year.
Christmas here in the Philippines certainly is different from that of other countries. Here, Christmas is a nationwide festive season, one that starts even before December. Yup, you heard right. In fact, some homes already have Christmas lights surrounding them in the latter weeks of November. Christmas in the Philippines is surely a unique tradition, one I hope will never change.
Want Some Rick Rolls?
Imagine yourself surfing the Internet. You're just sitting there in front of the monitor looking at your favorite sites when you see an interesting link that looks innocent and seems to lead to a legit site. You click it, and...what the heck? You were actually lead to aYouTube video of an 80's music video of Rick Astley singing Never Gonna Give You Up. You, my friend, have just been rickrolled.
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| Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down... |
What is rickrolling, anyway? Well, according to Urban Dictionary, rickrolling is "the act of posting a misleading link with a subject that promises to be exciting or interesting, e.g. "World of Starcraft in-game footage!" or "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 in development!" but actually turns out to be the video for Rick Astley's debut single, "Never Gonna Give You Up".
Rickrolling began in May 2007, when a 4chan user posted a link to Rick Astley's video disguised as a link to a trailer of Grand Theft Auto 4. It evolved from duckrolling, showing a picture of a duck on wheels instead of the desired page. It got so widespread that the video itself in YouTube got over 26 million views, mostly because of rickrolling. Also, it started appearing in the real world, such as in protests, subway stations and even in a baseball game. Heck, even Rick Astley himself performed a real-life rickroll during a 2008 Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. (information courtesy of http://www.onlineschools.org/blog/rickrolling/)
So, there you have it. Another example of the many nonsensical things the Internet has to offer. So next time, be careful when clicking links. You might just get rickrolled.
Rickrolling began in May 2007, when a 4chan user posted a link to Rick Astley's video disguised as a link to a trailer of Grand Theft Auto 4. It evolved from duckrolling, showing a picture of a duck on wheels instead of the desired page. It got so widespread that the video itself in YouTube got over 26 million views, mostly because of rickrolling. Also, it started appearing in the real world, such as in protests, subway stations and even in a baseball game. Heck, even Rick Astley himself performed a real-life rickroll during a 2008 Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. (information courtesy of http://www.onlineschools.org/blog/rickrolling/)
So, there you have it. Another example of the many nonsensical things the Internet has to offer. So next time, be careful when clicking links. You might just get rickrolled.
The Godfather Theme
The Godfather is a novel written by Mario Puzo and was given a film adaptation, which was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It became a very famous and successful movie, receiving Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay. It was praised by critics for its excellent story and good actors.
Below is a cover of the theme, performed by YouTube user gewerh44 .
(Video is originally from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUYzQMlgSEM)
Not only that, it also had a memorable soundtrack, with its main theme certainly bringing back memories of this film to those who hear it. Slash, the former lead guitarist of the rock band Guns n' Roses, adapted the theme and gave his own rocking version of it.
(Video is originally from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUYzQMlgSEM)
Want Some Cyanide and Happiness?
Imagine you're an ordinary teenager lying sick in bed doing nothing except stare at the ceiling for an indefinite amount of time. Kris Wilson was in this same situation, except he wasn't staring blankly at the ceiling. Instead, he was making simple comics to pass the time. Later, he started posting these comics on the net for people to see, first on his website Comicazi, and then on the forum Sticksuicide.com, ran by Matt Melvin, Rob DenBleyker and Dave McElfatrick. Matt, Rob and Dave saw potential in Kris' comics, and invited him to work with them in their new website Explosm.net. Thus began the start of an awesome comic series.
Explosm.net is home to the well-known webcomic Cyanide and Happiness. It contains comics (obviously) featuring almost-stickmen usually fooling around, making jokes or making total fools of themselves. However, the topics are...let's say not really for kids, topics more suited for older teens. Well, what would you expect from guys who are about 6-10 years older than me?
Below are samples of comics from Explosm.net.
(Sorry if the text is too small, I had to shrink the images so they could fit in my blog. If you find it hard to read them, just zoom in the webpage. You can do that, right?)
Explosm.net is home to the well-known webcomic Cyanide and Happiness. It contains comics (obviously) featuring almost-stickmen usually fooling around, making jokes or making total fools of themselves. However, the topics are...let's say not really for kids, topics more suited for older teens. Well, what would you expect from guys who are about 6-10 years older than me?
Below are samples of comics from Explosm.net.
(Sorry if the text is too small, I had to shrink the images so they could fit in my blog. If you find it hard to read them, just zoom in the webpage. You can do that, right?)
Jabberwocky, by Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll (real name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) is a well-known author, famous for writing classic stories such as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (a.k.a. Alice in Wonderland) and The Hunting of the Snark. Another of his famous writings is Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There. It's the sequel to Alice in Wonderland and contains the famous poem Jabberwocky. Shown below is the poem itself (taken from this website).
JABBERWOCKY
by Lewis Carroll
(from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Nice, right? As you can see, it's somewhat nonsensical, with words like frabjous, outgrabe or galumphing, which I don't think exist in the dictionary. However, its nonsensical, weird style is what makes it famous. It shows Carroll's creativity and way with words. I like this poem and it's one of my favorites. How 'bout you? What is your favorite poem?
Another New Song to Learn
Hi there! It's me again. This time, we're gonna learn a new song entitled Wonderwall by Oasis. It's quite easy to learn, as long as you know the basics. So, time to bring out your six-string (and your capo, if you have one) and play some tunes!
Here are 2 videos, the first one the lesson and the second one the song itself.
Videos taking too long to load? Here are the links to the chords and the tabs (for those who know how to read 'em):
Wonderwall chords
Wonderwall tabs
Here are 2 videos, the first one the lesson and the second one the song itself.
Videos taking too long to load? Here are the links to the chords and the tabs (for those who know how to read 'em):
Wonderwall chords
Wonderwall tabs
Music Time!
Alright, it's time for some tunes. It's been a long time since I've posted anything, so now, time to sit back, relax, and have a good time listening to a song by the band Hinder called Without You. I really like this song. It's got a great melody, nice lyrics and an awesome guitar track. Also, it's got a nice story in it, clearly presented in the video above. By the way, here are the links for the vid and, for those who want to learn how to play this song on the guitar, the link for the tabs are here too:
Without You video
Without You tabs
SLU Through the Years
See those buildings in the picture above? You might be wondering what those buildings are for and what they're called. Collectively, this group of buildings is called Saint Louis University, the main campus to be exact. Each of those buildings have their own purpose. One for engineering, one for medicine, one for law, etc. SLU is one of the top schools in Northern Luzon, Philippines.
SLU has been around for 100 years, with it celebrating its 100th anniversary this December 2010, just one month before it really turns 100, which is 2011. So, if you do the math, SLU began in 1911.
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| The SLU Centennial Logo |
Before I share the details, let me tell how SLU began. After all, to know something better, you must know where it came from. So, let's begin.
During the 19th century, a certain priest from Belgium named Fr. Théophile Verbist founded the Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae (Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, or CICM for short), a missionary congregation located in Scheut, a suburb near Brussels.
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| Fr. Theophile Verbist |
Let's go back to the present. SLU is now a big school. Although, it is not just a school. It is an entire community of people with a common goal: to teach not only the usual topics at school such as math or science but also good morality and Christian values, since it is a Catholic school. I have to say, they're quite good at it.
Saint Louis University is known as the Light of the North. It has four core values: competence, creativity, Christian spirit, and social involvement. The school, in its teachings, have instilled these values into its 30,000+ students for the past 100 years. One of the unique "trademarks" of this school is its logo (as shown below). It's so recognizable, that just one look makes you say, "Ah, that person's a Louisian." What does the logo mean, anyway? Well, according to the official website of SLU:
"The colors of Saint Louis University are white and blue, the colors of the Blessed Virgin Mary. White symbolizes the earth and man. Blue signifies heaven and God. The big golden cross in the middle of the shield represents the Christian faith that the school aims to spread to all corners of the earth symbolized by the four small crosses.
Superimposed on the golden cross is the stylized lily that is associated with Saint Aloysius (Louis) de Gonzaga, the patron saint of the school. The big sword across the shield expresses vigilance and perseverance. The rugged mountains behind the sword signify the obstacles that SLU strives to surpass in bringing the light of truth in the darkness of ignorance.
The year 1911 shows the foundation date while the motto on the lower part of the seal, 'Sapientia Aedificat', expresses the belief of its founders that 'wisdom builds'."
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| The SLU Logo |
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| SLU Laboratory Elementary School |
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| SLU Laboratory High School (1st Year Building) |
Where I Got the Pics and Other Material:
http://www.sluicm.org/images/slu1.jpg
http://www.oriens.or.jp/topics/img/souritu.jpg
http://www.slu.edu.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=145
http://photos.friendster.com/photos/76/51/10361567/4780016633633m.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu9lVO5C9CKh1CteciQLYCJiTri6c0unZUNMreFCid6WMnccBs1QFf-5kExTtNoXXYLEt4zSFJch7dgC9l_ZmLG4ScV8U4dTq76ju7vt59P-7gkt5X8RXV5nfGXvzd0a6NugCaI02oumj/s730/buhay+les.JPG
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqvGkBAOiJUmEQBs2OjjQLO9ZyXD_7yT8YpZAIWg54AmJ9Qdgrxr3wl4A14j0F9BriA38a-y8gIQMx44YBlo5UouPEg-vaX6qoouc_QT_nHVZxh_nB1notnZ_4WrTxbKJE2v09kvFSnQ/s220/SLU+CENTENNIAL+LOGO.jpg
SLU-LHS: My School, My Home
When I was in elementary, I was choosing where to go in high school. I thought pretty hard about it. My first choice was UB Science High because some of my classmates said that's where the smart ones go (stupid reason, right?). I even had my application form for that school filled up. But then, after talking to one of my friends who will go to Saint Louis University Laboratory High School (SLU-LHS for short), I began to have second thoughts. Am I really gonna go to a different school from the one I grew up in? Being a Louisian at heart, that's when I decided to go to SLU-LHS instead. And boy was that one of the best decisions I made in my life so far.
One of my cousins, who was once a student of LHS, told me that this particular school was fun and exciting, and that the way of teaching is pretty similar to that of LES, so that was one of the factors that made me choose this school. When I first stepped in SLU-LHS, I felt right at home, even though it's a totally different campus from the one I once studied in. Maybe it's because of the familiar white-and-blue uniform or the lingering presence of St. Aloysius (the school's patron saint) that made me feel this way. The time I entered the gates, I saw so many faces, both old and new. I saw that most of my old friends were there, which made me more excited about entering high school.
My parents told me that high school is one of the most fun, if not THE most fun, parts of the student's time in school. Truth be told, I was a bit nervous (okay, very nervous) in entering high school, a totally brand-new, different territory. But now, entering my third year in high school, I stand to be corrected. My parents were right all along.
My stay here in SLU-LHS is a roller-coaster of emotions, experience and truly unforgettable memories. It is where I met many people, both familiar and new. It is where I met old friends, made new ones and learned a lot of lessons.
What made my stay here in LHS so fun and exciting is that, like I said, I feel right at home here. The people I have met, whether they be friends, schoolmates or teachers, have added life and color to the monotony of school. Despite my teachers in elementary saying that the teachers in high school are "terror teachers", I see the complete opposite of that. The teachers here are awesome. They're fun, easy to approach, and so easy to get along with. It's as if they're like friends to us students. At first, they may look intimidating, but once you get to know them, they're not so bad after all.
My friends here in LHS have been a very important part in my life here, so much that they have become part of what I am now. If it weren't for them, my high school life would be so boring. They help me break the monotony of studying and frequent school work. Not only that, I also learn from them, but not in an educational way. It's more like they affect the way I act, think and speak. All I could say is, they are the friends any student would love to have.
Of course, school wouldn't be school if there were no lessons and lectures. You could say SLU-LHS is a typical high school. But what makes it different from other schools is how these lessons are presented. Even boring topics such as electron configuration or trigonometry are made fun by the fun teachers and my equally fun classmates. There isn't a day when not a single laugh can be heard in school. Every day, there is always something fun happening in LHS, whether it be as simple as teasing and joking between friends or as huge and important as the Intramurals, one of the most well-kept traditions of SLU.
They say school is one's second home. It's very true. School is part of one's growing up, and it is where one learns a lot, helping them prepare for the biggest test of all: the test of life. Despite many hardships and trials I have faced in this school, the good things and experiences I've had far outweigh the bad ones. Because of this, SLU-LHS is, and will always be (until I graduate, anyway), my school and my home, one I am very proud of and one I will cherish for all of my life.
One of my cousins, who was once a student of LHS, told me that this particular school was fun and exciting, and that the way of teaching is pretty similar to that of LES, so that was one of the factors that made me choose this school. When I first stepped in SLU-LHS, I felt right at home, even though it's a totally different campus from the one I once studied in. Maybe it's because of the familiar white-and-blue uniform or the lingering presence of St. Aloysius (the school's patron saint) that made me feel this way. The time I entered the gates, I saw so many faces, both old and new. I saw that most of my old friends were there, which made me more excited about entering high school.
My parents told me that high school is one of the most fun, if not THE most fun, parts of the student's time in school. Truth be told, I was a bit nervous (okay, very nervous) in entering high school, a totally brand-new, different territory. But now, entering my third year in high school, I stand to be corrected. My parents were right all along.
My stay here in SLU-LHS is a roller-coaster of emotions, experience and truly unforgettable memories. It is where I met many people, both familiar and new. It is where I met old friends, made new ones and learned a lot of lessons.
What made my stay here in LHS so fun and exciting is that, like I said, I feel right at home here. The people I have met, whether they be friends, schoolmates or teachers, have added life and color to the monotony of school. Despite my teachers in elementary saying that the teachers in high school are "terror teachers", I see the complete opposite of that. The teachers here are awesome. They're fun, easy to approach, and so easy to get along with. It's as if they're like friends to us students. At first, they may look intimidating, but once you get to know them, they're not so bad after all.
My friends here in LHS have been a very important part in my life here, so much that they have become part of what I am now. If it weren't for them, my high school life would be so boring. They help me break the monotony of studying and frequent school work. Not only that, I also learn from them, but not in an educational way. It's more like they affect the way I act, think and speak. All I could say is, they are the friends any student would love to have.
Of course, school wouldn't be school if there were no lessons and lectures. You could say SLU-LHS is a typical high school. But what makes it different from other schools is how these lessons are presented. Even boring topics such as electron configuration or trigonometry are made fun by the fun teachers and my equally fun classmates. There isn't a day when not a single laugh can be heard in school. Every day, there is always something fun happening in LHS, whether it be as simple as teasing and joking between friends or as huge and important as the Intramurals, one of the most well-kept traditions of SLU.
They say school is one's second home. It's very true. School is part of one's growing up, and it is where one learns a lot, helping them prepare for the biggest test of all: the test of life. Despite many hardships and trials I have faced in this school, the good things and experiences I've had far outweigh the bad ones. Because of this, SLU-LHS is, and will always be (until I graduate, anyway), my school and my home, one I am very proud of and one I will cherish for all of my life.
SLU: An Unforgettable Place
Sapientia Aedificat. It is a Latin phrase which translates to "Wisdom builds" in English. And how true it is. Wisdom has helped mankind develop. Wisdom is what made Plato, Socrates and Aristotle famous. Wisdom is one of the building blocks of human progress. One school has this Latin phrase as its motto. Part of its goal is to give the youth the wisdom to help build society into a place where everyone can live harmoniously with one another. What's this school, you ask? It's none other than my school, Saint Louis University.
Saint Louis University (SLU for short) is a prestigious school, possibly one of the best, here in the Philippines, specifically in Northern Luzon. Known as the Light of the North, it has served many people and produced many excellent students for the past 100 years. This now-expansive educational institution started out with humble origins. In 1907, CICM missionaries from Belgium came to the Philippines to "Christianize" the northern part of the country. Four years later, in 1911, Rev. Fr. Seraphin Devesse, with the help of the locals, created a small school, which he named Saint Louis School, for young children. Eventually, it grew larger and accepted more students.
Fast forward to 2010. What was once a small school for 10 students is now a huge educational institution with more than 30,000 students from different parts of the country. Being one of those 30,000, I am very proud to be a Louisian at heart. Wearing the white-and-blue uniform makes me feel proud and confident, knowing that I am part of an awesome school and one of the "empowered stewards of the world". Want to know why? It's because this school has almost everything a student would expect from a great school. Awesome teachers, good facilities, staff that greet you with a smile, good food, fun activities and more. Heck, if I were to list all the good things I can see in this school, it would take up more than half of the page. I come from a family of Louisians, almost every relative of mine from my father's side graduating from SLU. It's safe to say they too feel proud of their beloved school.
The SLU Centennial is a once-in-a-lifetime event, one I am very willing to participate in. By the time I post this blog, it will be 55 days until what could be the most anticipated event in SLU history. The road to the SLU Centennial is a pretty long one, with the big day(s) on December 4 & 5. This event is called "Centennial Handog ng SLU sa Baguio". I can tell, it will be one heck of a party. After all, a birthday isn't without a party to go along with it, right?
Being in SLU has given me many memories, memories that I will treasure forever. It has formed me into what I am now. My personality is greatly influenced by the people I meet in this school. It has left an indelible mark in my mind, and in my heart. The people I've met here in SLU, my friends, teachers, classmates, schoolmates, all of them became a huge part of my growth not only as a student, but as a person. I will never forget the times I have had here, whether they be good or bad, the lessons I've learned, and the many experiences I have had during my stay here in this institution. This post is my gift to SLU on its 100th birthday. I know it's just a small gift. I know it's not enough to completely repay what SLU has done for me. I hope, someday, someone out there will be able to read this, and hopefully, the name "Saint Louis University" will be well-known throughout the land.
Saint Louis University (SLU for short) is a prestigious school, possibly one of the best, here in the Philippines, specifically in Northern Luzon. Known as the Light of the North, it has served many people and produced many excellent students for the past 100 years. This now-expansive educational institution started out with humble origins. In 1907, CICM missionaries from Belgium came to the Philippines to "Christianize" the northern part of the country. Four years later, in 1911, Rev. Fr. Seraphin Devesse, with the help of the locals, created a small school, which he named Saint Louis School, for young children. Eventually, it grew larger and accepted more students.
Fast forward to 2010. What was once a small school for 10 students is now a huge educational institution with more than 30,000 students from different parts of the country. Being one of those 30,000, I am very proud to be a Louisian at heart. Wearing the white-and-blue uniform makes me feel proud and confident, knowing that I am part of an awesome school and one of the "empowered stewards of the world". Want to know why? It's because this school has almost everything a student would expect from a great school. Awesome teachers, good facilities, staff that greet you with a smile, good food, fun activities and more. Heck, if I were to list all the good things I can see in this school, it would take up more than half of the page. I come from a family of Louisians, almost every relative of mine from my father's side graduating from SLU. It's safe to say they too feel proud of their beloved school.
The SLU Centennial is a once-in-a-lifetime event, one I am very willing to participate in. By the time I post this blog, it will be 55 days until what could be the most anticipated event in SLU history. The road to the SLU Centennial is a pretty long one, with the big day(s) on December 4 & 5. This event is called "Centennial Handog ng SLU sa Baguio". I can tell, it will be one heck of a party. After all, a birthday isn't without a party to go along with it, right?
Being in SLU has given me many memories, memories that I will treasure forever. It has formed me into what I am now. My personality is greatly influenced by the people I meet in this school. It has left an indelible mark in my mind, and in my heart. The people I've met here in SLU, my friends, teachers, classmates, schoolmates, all of them became a huge part of my growth not only as a student, but as a person. I will never forget the times I have had here, whether they be good or bad, the lessons I've learned, and the many experiences I have had during my stay here in this institution. This post is my gift to SLU on its 100th birthday. I know it's just a small gift. I know it's not enough to completely repay what SLU has done for me. I hope, someday, someone out there will be able to read this, and hopefully, the name "Saint Louis University" will be well-known throughout the land.
A Next-gen Cure for Killer Infections?
Today, deadly bacteria and viruses like Staphylococcus aureus and HIV run rampant, and because of this, science is doing its best to suppress, if not totally stop, the spread of these highly dangerous bacteria. However, as each day passes, more and more strains are being discovered, one more resistant to medicine and treatment than the other. Even now, when medicine has gotten very far, they still haven't found a way to cure the most dreaded diseases. However, this may all change with the discovery of one man named Kary Mullis. This man isn't your ordinary, run-of-the-mill researcher. Rather, he is a chemist who received a Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1998 for finding a way to copy a strand of DNA.
The above video is a talk given by him in February 2009. It's entitled "Kary Mullis' next-gen cure for killer infections". Just looking at the title made me interested. The level of medicine today is already pretty high, right? And yet, they can't cure some of the deadliest diseases on Earth. You might think that this "next-gen" cure is some kind of wonder drug or possibly a very complicated procedure. You thought wrong. In fact, his proposed cure is a back-to-the-basics technology. It's simple yet innovative. Take a certain molecule, called alpha-gal epitope, that white blood cells love to eat, slap it onto a bacteria, and the white blood cell will eat it along witl the bacteria. Simple, right?
Now, let me delve further into the details. The way he presented it was very simple. All he had was his brain, a model of a molecule, and some slides. That's it. Yet, it was very comprehensive, so much that an ordinary high school student would easily understand it. The molecule alpha-gal epitope, he said, is something our cells “love to eat”. He had an idea. He said, ”If I could take this molecule, slap it onto a bacteria, a pathogen that was harmful to me...the immune system could immediately respond and take it out.” To simplify things further, he compared it to someone who was stopped for a traffic violation and suddenly the cop drops a bag of marijuana to your car and charged you with possession of marijuana. It was a “very, very fast way to get people of the street.” Same thing with the bacteria. Take the bacteria, clamp it onto the molecule, and it will be taken off your body quickly. However, for certain bacteria, it isn’t that simple. Our antibiotics now are getting less efficient due to the rise of tougher, more resistant bacteria. In order to solve this, he took some collaborators and started working on it. He said that if you could attach the molecule to a DNA aptamer, it will track down and “consume” the bacteria, thereby killing them. He tried this method on some rats infected with anthrax. And the result? 100% survival rate. After being given the procedure, the anthrax in the rats’ bodies was completely eliminated. And it was all thanks to a simple yet very effective procedure.
Even though his talk was short (lasting for only 5 minutes), it was full of information and ideas. I want to be a doctor someday, so this particular topic piqued my interest. Imagine all the possibilities this discovery could offer. Maybe, just maybe, even the toughest of the bacteria will be eliminated thanks to this. Millions of lives will be saved; mankind won’t have to worry anymore because of Kary Mullis’ discovery. Even the scientists at Yale have taken up his idea. Their method may not be exactly the same as his, but the concept is very similar. They are trying to see if it can be a possible cure for HIV and prostate cancer. They called it "antibody-recruiting molecule targeting HIV" (ARM-H) and "antibody-recruiting molecule targeting prostate cancer" (ARM-P). They said that since it won’t target necessary biological functions of the body, side effects could be lessened. It’s also cheap.
(The original article can be found at this link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091105165527.htm)
I think that, with the arrival of Mullis’ discovery, more lives can be saved. More deaths can be prevented. Even though it’s still young, it has lots of potential to truly be a next-gen cure for killer infections.
P.S. Before I forget, here is the link of the original website where the video came from:
http://www.ted.com/talks/kary_mullis_next_gen_cure_for_killer_infections.html
The Wonderful World of Food
Ah, food. What would I do without it? I've gotten so addicted to it my body gets rounder and rounder. We all know food is essential to man's survival. However, some people, especially big-time chefs or restaurant owners, take food to the next level. What really makes food by them so special? They claim it is because of their company secret, such as KFC's chicken recipe. Whatever the case, food is loved by everyone. Now, let me share some of my favorite foods.
(Note: The following are not arranged according to rank.)
1) Burgers
The burger. A complete (or not-so-complete, depending on the ingredients) meal rolled into one package. It's easy to carry, quite filling, and somewhat cheap, making it popular to students and other people who are always on-the-go. Also, it's quite delicious, although its tastiness depends on the maker. People have their own preferences of the burger. What are my preferences, you ask? Well, I like mine flame-grilled, with no veggies and lots of tomato ketchup and cheese. In any case, the burger is very popular today and will stay popular until the future.
2) Pizza
Pizza is one of my all-time favorites. The soft, warm mozzarella, the tangy tomato sauce, the yummy pepperoni, it seems that everything about the pizza is just perfect. Who would ever forget their first experience with pizza? When I was a kid, my dad brought home a box of the local pizza (I forgot the name). When I took my first bite, that was when it all began. You may think that an elegant food equals an elegant origin. Well, you thought wrong. Actually, pizza started out as food for the poor and the homeless. Eventually, its popularity among the people grew, being known by nobles and commoners alike. As time moved on and on, it has now become the legendary pizza we all know and love.
3) Pasta
Italian food never ceases to wonder, especially pasta. I absolutely love it. It’s simple to prepare, and it’s very filling. There are many varieties of pasta, from fettucini to ravioli, but my favorite is spaghetti, especially when cooked either with tomato sauce and meatballs or ala carbonara. I love it when my mom cooks spaghetti. I’m always the first to get some, so don’t expect the spaghetti bowl to remain full when I’m around. By the time you get another plate, it’ll already be half-empty.
4) Filipino food
Last but not the least, we have Filipino food. Being a Filipino myself, it would be disrespectful to my culture for me not to include this. But, I didn’t place Filipino food just for the sake of it. In fact, almost all of my favorite dishes are from the Philippines. As they say, a Filipino isn’t a Filipino if he didn’t get a taste of balut, or any other Filipino dishes, such as kare-kare (ox tail, tripe and veggies cooked in peanut sauce), sinigang (meat, either fish or pork, and vegetables cooked in sour broth) and the national dish, adobo (chicken, beef or pork cooked in soy sauce and vinegar; shown above). For those out there who don’t know what balut is or what it looks like, here is a picture.
Basically it’s a fertilized duck egg with the chick still whole inside. Sure, it looks disgusting, but, as they say, never judge a book by its cover. It actually tastes good, especially when you add some salt (but not too much, or it would ruin the flavor). Aside from the well-known dishes such as adobo, bulalo, and many others, there are also many lesser-known exotic dishes here, such as dinakdakan, adobong aso (yep, that’s right, dog meat cooked a la adobo), and soup #5 (a soup of the “family jewels” of a bull).
What’s my favorite Filipino dish, you ask? Well, it’s hard to say, considering that I like almost all Filipino dishes, although I do prefer sinigang, grilled meat and seafood, and adobo.
There you have it, some of my favourite foods. I hope you enjoyed viewing this post, and until then, see you!
Where I Got the Pics:
Human Sexuality: A Sensitive Topic
Last Saturday, September 18, 2010, we 3rd years went to a seminar-workshop in our school. The seminar was about human sexuality. I was thinking, “Why go to this event when we already discussed it in our Religion class?” I was hesitant to go to the said event. It was Saturday, for Pete’s sake! And I thought I would finally get some rest from all that school work. Even then, I had to go since it was required for us to attend. So, I went to school early and waited for a long time (around 1-2 hours) before the seminar started. I said to myself, “This is gonna be boring…” I was proven wrong. In fact, the seminar was very interesting. It was quite sensitive in nature.
Let me share the details of the seminar. When the term “sexuality” comes up, the very first thing that comes to the minds of many is intercourse, or, as one student put it, “the meeting of a man and a woman in bed.” The most common perception of sexuality, according to the speakers, is the genital sexuality, the aspect of sexuality regarding the privates of people. However, sexuality is much more than that. According to them, sexuality is the aspect of our being that affects our actions, what we do, how we act, how we think, and how we speak. It is a God-given gift that makes us what we are, it is something to be respected, not to be mocked and laughed at. Some people aren’t that comfortable when talking about sexuality directly. They tend to cite jokes or stories they have learned to make a crude reference to this. The speakers, however, were quite relaxed when they were talking about this sensitive subject matter. Well, they ARE professional guidance counselors who have handled these kinds of things, so that’s hardly surprising. Not only that, being mothers themselves, they have a pretty good grasp of the subject matter.
Going on, they discussed one topic that haunts society up to this very point in time: premarital sex. Jose Rizal, our national hero, said that the youth is the hope of the nation. Sad to say, I find that hard to believe. Everyday, more and more teenagers are having premarital sex. More and more are becoming pregnant. If he were alive today, Rizal would be very disappointed. Where’s the hope in that?
Why are teenagers engaging in premarital sex, anyway? They know it’s not right, but yet, they still do it. Why is that? Well, according to the speakers, it is because of 5 reasons. One is the need for intimacy. Is it really necessary to have sex just to have intimacy? They don’t need to do it in bed just so they could get closer (figuratively) to each other. There’s something called friendship. Try it. Another is the need for belongingness. There is no need to do “it” just so you could belong. You can do it in other, more appropriate ways. Another is curiosity. Well, if they’re so curious, why can’t they wait until they’re married? Yet another is rebellion. Truthfully, I don’t really get this one. Kids have sex just so they can get back at their parents? They’re off their rockers, I tell you. The last reason is to cope with stress. Seriously? There are millions of fun activities that can relieve stress. Music, reading, playing sports, etc. The list goes on and on. To cope with stress, eh? They’re just increasing it.
Teens are pretty good at making excuses when it comes to stuff, and premarital sex is one of them. Seriously, “afraid to lose the relationship”? “Wants to prove he/she is a real man/woman”? “Seeks to gain affection and warmth”? They’re nuts. Cracked, broken nuts.
Obviously, as with all bad things, there are corresponding consequences. And with premarital sex, those consequences can change one’s life in a bad way, or worse, totally ruin it. Once you’ve done it, there’s no turning back, especially when the girl gets pregnant. Trying to hide your pregnancy to your parents is like hiding a large boulder in a small closet. They WILL find it out sooner or later. The presenters showed three video clips regarding the effects of teenage pregnancy. The first one was about a girl from high school saying to her parents that her friend was pregnant. The second one was about a guy and his second girlfriend doing “it”, and with bad results. The girls finds out she’s pregnant, and the guy doesn’t want to take responsibility for it. So sad, considering that a baby is supposed to be a blessing, not a curse. The third one, well…let’s say that it was a bit disturbing. What has been seen cannot be unseen, after all.
On the other hand, the speakers showed the brighter side of the seminar. Saying no to premarital sex, according to them, is a choice that will make you feel better about yourself. You won’t have to worry about unwanted pregnancies, STDs, fear, stress, worry, and most of all, guilt. You’ll be able be in control of your future, spend your time in trying to reach you goals, and enjoy teenage life. And with that, they ended the seminar. And my once again lengthy blog post. Thank you.
Noynoy's 10-point Education Agenda
President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" C. Aquino III, our country's current president, introduced a 10-point basic education agenda which I think will revolutionize and change our country's education system for the better (I hope). I was impressed at Noynoy's inaugural speech. He spoke the words with passion and emotion. And with the start a new era in the Philippine government, P-Noy (as he is affectionately called by the people) has set the ball rolling.
The 10-point basic education agenda has 10 reforms (obviously). As a student, I will be of course greatly affected by this. Let me share my thoughts on these reforms.
The first reform is the 12-year basic education cycle. This reform will add another 2 years to the current education system, meaning there will be Grade 7 for the elementary and 5th Year for the high-schoolers. Personally, I find this good, since we will be finally on par with other nations in terms of education. Although, I'm worried that some students will not find this easy to accept. Imagine, if this reform were to be implemented next school year, there will be a drastic change in the curriculum. If this was to be implemented immediately, then what will the teachers teach the 5th years? Therefore, there should be a period of time in which DepEd will adapt to this new system and be ready with a new educational curriculum to adapt to this change.
The second reform is universal pre-schooling for all. This states, "All public school children will have preschool as their introduction to formal schooling by 2016, and we will make this available to all children regardless of income." This reform is very advantageous. This will give incoming students, regardless of status in life, an opportunity to learn the basics of school so that when they enter elementary, they are more prepared and therefore more inspired and motivated to learn. Although, 2016 will be a long time. It will already be very near the end of Noynoy's term. I hope they implement it sooner so that more will benefit.
The third reform is Madaris education as a sub-system within the education system. This reform incorporates Islam education and Arabic lessons to the full basic education system offered to our Muslim brothers. This shows that education has no boundaries, and I'm glad Noynoy sees that in this reform.
The fourth reform is technical vocational education as an alternative stream in senior high school. This means that this reform will better prepared senior high-schoolers for the real world and the local industries that await them. This is good, considering that we have not that many technical workers in the Philippines. With this, I hope that our local industries will benefit better
The fifth reform is “Every child a reader” by Grade 1. This means that by the end of the next administration, all first graders should know how to read properly by Grade 1. I noticed that some students, even though they're already in the latter grades, don't know how to read properly. This reform will hopefully increase the level of education of our nation, and will improve the reading and comprehension skills of our young students, skills which they will need for the rest of their lives.
The sixth reform is science and math proficiency, which is pretty self-explanatory. The Philippines is falling behind the levels of science and math education of other countries. With this, I hope that our level will rise so that we will be close, if not totally on par, with the levels of other countries.'
The seventh reform is assistance to private schools as essential partners in basic education. Finally, private schools will be getting the sorely-needed attention they have been longing for. With this, private schools will become better institutions and will form a greater bond with the public schools. Also, the population of overcrowded public schools will be lessened, thanks to this.
The eighth reform is medium of instruction rationalized. This means that our educational system will be trilingual: English, Filipino, and the local dialect. This will definitely help students know more about their roots using their own dialect, which, for me, is very beneficial.
The ninth reform is quality textbooks. Some schools, especially the poorer ones, have to use dilapidated, outdated books for their students, which can be very detrimental to them. Thankfully, P-Noy is working on this. I hope that by the next school year, students will have better, newer textbooks so that their learning experience will be enriched further.
Finally, the tenth and last reform is covenant with the local governments to build more schools. This means that the national government will cooperate with the local governments to not only build more schools to accommodate the ever-increasing number of students but also address the teacher and classroom shortages. I have seen kids on TV literally squeezing in a tiny classroom and few teachers to teach all of them. Hopefully, this reform will help the deteriorating educational system of our country and help kids have a better learning experience.
So there you have it, my personal views on Noynoy's 10-point education agenda. I must say, it's a bit long (okay, it's VERY long), but that's what's in my mind, and that's what I will say. Thank you for the time you have spent listening to my ideas, and until next time, see you!
Ad astra per aspera.
Hello? Testing, testing. Is this thing on? OK, let's start! Hi there! I'm Marc Pulmano, a citizen of this earth for 14 years and counting. I like to listen to music, especially rock, alternative, and classical music. I also play the guitar and the piano, although the latter I'm not that good at. I'm also a bookworm (I have lots of books in my room). For me, any book would do, as long as it interests me and catches my eye. I am also an avid gamer. Among my favorite genres are FPS, RPG, and platformers. I am also quite fond of eating, so much that my physique has gotten a bit...large. I'm interested in Medicine, and I want to be a successful surgeon when I grow up. I also like Math and Science, both of which are my favorite subjects at school. My motto is "When life gives you lemons, make orange juice and let everyone wonder how you did it." In other words, be unique. Be yourself. The lemonade is clichéd. Everyone is making lemonade. Don't just follow the trend. Be the trend. That's my plan, to do my own thing.
This is my first time blogging, and frankly, I'm not that comfortable with it. I'm used to keeping things to myself, so these kinds of things, namely sharing your thoughts, are...not that familiar to me. As you can see, my blog is fairly empty (for now). My blog isn't really focused on a single, particular topic, although expect to see stuff related to music (as made obvious by the template).You may have noticed the title of this post, which is in Latin. It means "to the stars through difficulties", and that is what I plan to do in life. To be what I want to be, to overcome any obstacle that comes in my way. Sounds nice, eh? How come things always sound good in Latin, anyway?
Music is my life. Well, not entirely, only a part of it. Before I sleep, after I wake up, while eating at home, doing homework or projects, there is always music blaring. Whether it's Bon Jovi, Guns and Roses, Stephen Speaks, The Beatles, Parokya ni Edgar, or Rivermaya, I cannot live without music. Everything I do, there is music in it. I have been greatly influenced by music. Not only do I listen to music, I play music. My dad used to play classic songs from the '70s and '80s on the guitar. He inspired me to learn how to play the guitar, and now, my guitar is and always will be one of my most treasured possessions of all time. Recently, I am learning how to play the piano by myself. Final Fantasy is one of my favorite game series, and the soundtrack is just heavenly, especially the piano versions of those songs. Nobuo Uematsu is a musical genius, and the song "Aerith's Theme", composed by him, was the spark that ignited my interest in the piano.
Technology is also a big part of my life, so much that I can't seem to imagine life without it. Each and every day science keeps on going forward. I hope I will be able to live long enough to at least experience flying cars and public space travel.
I could keep going on and on and on, but I would probably fill the whole page. That's it. I hope you got to know much about yours truly. See you next time!
This is my first time blogging, and frankly, I'm not that comfortable with it. I'm used to keeping things to myself, so these kinds of things, namely sharing your thoughts, are...not that familiar to me. As you can see, my blog is fairly empty (for now). My blog isn't really focused on a single, particular topic, although expect to see stuff related to music (as made obvious by the template).You may have noticed the title of this post, which is in Latin. It means "to the stars through difficulties", and that is what I plan to do in life. To be what I want to be, to overcome any obstacle that comes in my way. Sounds nice, eh? How come things always sound good in Latin, anyway?
Music is my life. Well, not entirely, only a part of it. Before I sleep, after I wake up, while eating at home, doing homework or projects, there is always music blaring. Whether it's Bon Jovi, Guns and Roses, Stephen Speaks, The Beatles, Parokya ni Edgar, or Rivermaya, I cannot live without music. Everything I do, there is music in it. I have been greatly influenced by music. Not only do I listen to music, I play music. My dad used to play classic songs from the '70s and '80s on the guitar. He inspired me to learn how to play the guitar, and now, my guitar is and always will be one of my most treasured possessions of all time. Recently, I am learning how to play the piano by myself. Final Fantasy is one of my favorite game series, and the soundtrack is just heavenly, especially the piano versions of those songs. Nobuo Uematsu is a musical genius, and the song "Aerith's Theme", composed by him, was the spark that ignited my interest in the piano.
Technology is also a big part of my life, so much that I can't seem to imagine life without it. Each and every day science keeps on going forward. I hope I will be able to live long enough to at least experience flying cars and public space travel.
I could keep going on and on and on, but I would probably fill the whole page. That's it. I hope you got to know much about yours truly. See you next time!
