Philippines is the World’s 3rd Richest Country in Medicinal Plants

"We Filipinos are so much beholden to North America and European pharmaceutical companies that we forget we are more bio-diverse than the US, Europe and China. We tend to rely too much on imported synthetic medicine instead of our own natural products." says Dr. Galvez. Tan a proponent of integrated medicine (traditional and modern). Out of the hundreds of thousands of plants documented since the Spanish times, 1,500 are medicinal plants but only 170 or 10% have been intensively researched. This is the reality of what the Philippine medicinal plants are today.

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Next to Brazil and Indonesia, the Philippine medicinal plants is the answer to the people who cannot afford or does not even have money to buy expensive medicine available over the counter today.  An average Filipino does not need to spend a little more for his daily vitamin supplements for him to keep working and not spending too much of his sick leave. Philippine medicinal plants have the advantage of phytochemicals which makes them the safest medicines or no issues of safety, toxicty and side effects except with some very potent plants.

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Dr. Galvez Tan  is Undersecretary when he helped Health Secretary Juan Flavier to formulate the top 10  Philippine medicinal plants based on research, accessibility, and power to address the common diseases with no side effects.

  

Top ten comprises of:

Lagundi or Five-leaved Chaste Tree (Vitex negundo) - a shrub whose leaves are used as decoction or tea for asthma, cough and fever. 

Yerba Buena/Mint or Hibas (Mentha cordifolia) - an herb and spice that can be eaten raw or drunk as a tea and serves as an analgesic for headache and body pains.

Sambong or Blumea Camphor (Blumea balsamifera) - is a hairy shrub with fragrant leaves that effectively melt kidney stones. It is also a dieuretic, which is safe for people with edema or hypertension.

Wild tea or Tsaang Gubat (Carmina retusa) - is a shrub with shiny, dark green leaves used for abdominal pain and colic. As a decoction, the leaves contain natural fluoride good for mouthwash.

Chinese honeysuckle or Niyog-niyogan (Quisqualis) -  is a vine with fruits and flowers. The seeds fight ringworms. The only side efect is a hiccup.

Bayabas or Guava (Psidium guajava) - The decoction of leaves and its powdered dried fruits and bark cleanses wounds and skin ulcers. As a mouthwash, it treats oral infections and serves as a foot and boty deodorant.
Ampalaya or Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia)  - is a vegetable with corrugated skin and leaves used to lower blood sugar.
Bawang or Garlic (Allium sativum) - is a spice known for lowering blood cholesterol.

Pansit-pansitan or Silver/Shiny bush - has heart-shaped leaves and edible stems used for salads and as a decoction. It treates gout and lowers blood uric acid.

Akapulko or Ringworm bush (Cassia alata) - is a shrub with bright yellow flowers and long, slender, flat fruits. The juice of the leaves can heal fungal skin infections.

Article source from Look magazine September Issue 2010 "What's in your backyard?"

 

Philippines has the Most Number of Facebook, Yahoo and Twitter Users inAsia

So the question is, will it contribute to the Filipinos'  positive growth or  just created an online morass from someone’s status announcing to the world his/her daily minutiae (been-to-this-mall, ate-my-favorite-lasagna, not-feeling-well, dryness-you-know-what-i-mean etc) or aptly called as pointless babbles on Twitter by Danah  Boyd… absolutely pointless.  Information technology research and advisory firm Gartner Inc. says in its latest report that that the Philippines leads among Asian countries when it comes to worldwide social media usage and adaptation. To sum it all up what is its impact to the moral, social, intellectual and economical contribution to the people and the society to a developing country like the Philippines?

Unlike China, Japan, South Korea, India and other Asian countries instead of embracing Yahoo – dubbed as the worlds’ most visited homepage, Facebook – with 500 million friends and Twitter – microblogging service most noted for its accessibility through mobile devices; they developed their own social network services.  But The Philippines, according to the report is showing same consumption habits similar to North American and European markets thru high consumer interest in services such as online gaming and matchmaking.

This Gartner report seem to match to the earlier ComScore result that said that the Philippines are ahead of its Asian neighbors in terms of social networking penetration. These sites are all spreading like a virus – very fast and it’s very early to feel its effect now. No one can tell how it will shape the world and the people, soon. Hope it won’t evolve as a one-world government or a one-world religion, who knows? To the Filipinos, what do you think is this a positive or a negative effect?

National Geographic's Thirty Rare Images of the Philippines (1898-1966))

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Currently displayed in Trinoma are thirty (30) rare images of the Philippines captured by the National Geographic camera lenses from 1898-1966. Images are mostly about the everyday life of different tribes and their culture, untouched by a Facebook-driven world of today and what the Philippines is, as the second richest country in Asia around 1950’s.

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National Geographic Society or the National  Geographic  is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. It started as a club for an elite group of academics and wealthy patrons interested in travel, 122 years ago. Gardiner Greene Hubbard became its first president and his son-in-law, Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone succeeded him in 1897 following his death.

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National Geographic, has given grants for scientific researches and has recently awarded its 9,000th grant for scientific research conducted worldwide. Two of its most popular aided researches are Robert Ballad’s Titanic wreck findings and Jane Goodal’s Chimpanzee studies. Its trademark logo is a yellow portrait frame which is usually seen around the edge of the flagship National Geographic Magazine cover. This magazine is translated to 32 languages and has 50 million readers worldwide. National Geographic is located in Washington, D.C. where they maintain a museum free for the public.

National Geographic has ventured many endeavors such as book publishing, television, film, music, radio, museum exhibits, digital media and an annual International Geography contest for middle-school students.  Known as supporter of scientific projects, National Geographic is one of the international partners and consultants of the well-anticipated and first ever world class museum in the Philippines, The Mind Museum in Taguig which is scheduled to open last quarter of next year. This museum is also launching campaigns in search of volunteers, assistance particularly financial, hope we have inspired someone to be.

Here are a few photos taken from the exhibit:

Bogobo Man

Caption will be added soon

Dead Ifugao girl

Sultan of Sulu has Many Wives

Bayanihan

Caption be added soon

This exhibition is presented to you by The Mind Museum, a science museum project of the Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. and its institutional partner, The National Geographic Channel.

Exhibition dates and venues (2010):

October 3-4 Greenbelt 5
October 7-10 Glorietta
October 21-24 TriNoma
November 12-14 Bonifacio High Street

One of Nokia's Most Powerful Women is a Pinay

Carol Soriano is the only Pinay and Asian in the powerhouse sales and marketing team of phone giant Nokia, based in Helsinki, Finland. She said "Most Finns don’t know much about the Philippines, except the fact that the first Miss Universe [Armi Kuusela] married a Filipino". She is the head of consumer communications, who oversees the worldwide marketing activities of Nokia, a company dominated mostly by men and and of Finnish nationality.

Pinay beauty Soriano, used to teached Medieval History to her Alma Mater, Ateneo  far from what she graduated - Legal Management while doing advertising work at the same time. Then she started working in Nokia last 20003 as marketing communications manager in its Singapore office. In 2004-2005, Soriano took charge of rolling out Nokia’s blockbuster N series in the region. It did extremely well, and led to the offer to move to Finland in 2006. In 2008, she became VP for creative excellence, where she had approving power for all the advertising campaigns of Nokia worldwide.

Soriano .stays in Finland with her Filipino husband who works works with a Finnish advertising firm and their seven-year old son. She said living in Finland is way, way different living in the Philippines. Her son's education she said "Their school days are short; the emphasis is on discovery,” says Soriano. “When kids go to school, they take off their shoes! The idea is to make them relax.” and “In a Manila mall, truthfully, I’d never be able to let go of my son. But there, I feel safe about letting him walk to a neighbor’s house to play, and be gone for three hours.”

Story and picture taken from Philippine Daily Inquirer

Manila Galleons: the Largest Class of Ships built in 1565-1815 were Made in the Philippines

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Manila-Acapulco Galleons or Manila Galleons are ships made of renowned Philippine hardwood, as long as 160-feet long, up to 2,000 tons and can carry a thousand passengers. Cavite in Manila Bay, was the largest shipyard building Manila Galleons; others were built in Sorsogon, Marinduque, Masbate, and Camarines. Only eight out of a hundred plus of these galleons were made in Acapulco, now Mexico. For 250 years, Manila Galleons sailed once or twice a year across Pacific Ocean between Manila to Mexico carrying spices, porcelain, silk clothing etc. These goods are then traded to American, European and East Asian markets. Manila used to be one of the world’s greatest ports during the Manila Galleon days and aboard these ships are people from Manila who became the first Filipinos in America.

“San Pablo”, the first Manila Galleon, was under Fr. Andres de Urdaneta, who used only a compass and his wind & tide navigation knowledge for sailing. It was him who discovered the shortest route back to Mexico through north of Cebu. Because of the 129-day duration and immature guidance of the 15-year old Captain Felipe de Salcedo, most of the crew died before reaching to Mexico. Having said that the Manila Galleons were a hundred plus more and very indispensable part of maritime history, why not much of their accounts were told? Aside from the “Concepcion” and “Santissima Trinidad” galleons, where are the rest? It is believed that a number of Manila galleons were wrecked because of the strong winds, inadequate knowledge in early seafaring days or encounters with foreign pirates.

October 2009, UNESCO recognized Manila Galleons’ part in the globalization of trade and cultural exchange and declared 8th day of the same month as the International Dia Del Galeon (Day of the Galeon) to promote understanding of the impact Philippines contributed to the world trade history. It was the Mexican War of Independence in 1815 that ended galleons from sailing permanently. Histories of Manila Galleons are seldom talked about in our local TV shows, nada in movies! A challenge is thrown to the historians, media, directors and private individuals to share what they knew and share to the young ones maybe through a documentary film or so. Few wrecks have been found so far of these within the Philippine archipelago because of two reasons: either it sank in the deep, hard to explore waters or the Philippine law discourages active exploration of these historic wrecks.

Below are the pictures from a replica of Galleon Andalucia from Spain which docked for 5 days in Pier 13, South Harbor Manila.

Click below for more pictures.

The Mind Museum's The Philippines Through National Geographic Lenses (1898-1966) Photo Exhibit

Thirty (30) rare images of the Philippines from the archives of the National Geographic Magazine from 1898 to 1966 are  formally opened to the public last Oct. 3 - 4 at Greenbelt 5, Makati. These images reflect the Philippines rich culture especially featured are tribes' traditions and practices. Known personalities like filmmaker/writer Jose Javier Reyes nd Urban Zone show host Daphne Oseña-Paez joined the event and the young-looking people behind The Mind Museum - the first class museum to open in the Philippines next year 2011.

This photo exhibit sponsored by the National Geographic Channel will be displayed to Ayala Malls from Oct. 7 - 10 at Glorietta, Oct. 21 - 24 at Trinoma and Nov. 12 - 14 at Bonifacio High Street. Individuals who cannot afford to help financially can devote their time and skills by signing up as volunteers. For as little as P1,000 anyone can donate and help build The Mind Museum by sponsoring their virtual exhibits. Names of the donors are mentioned in their website and will receive an electronic "Donor's Certificate" via email and when The Mind Museum opens, it will be included in the Donors' Marker in their galleries.

The Mind Museum's vision is to give the next generation the wings to fly against the challenge of a future shaped by service  and technology. The Mind Museum’s state of the art design will feature Five Galleries: 1. The Story of the Universe, 2. The Story of the Earth, 3. The Story of Life, 4. The Story of the Atom and 5. The Story of Technology. The Mind Museum will  feature over 250 interactive exhibits and will include a park where people can continue their science fascination outdoors. Only ninety percent of this P1 billion project has been raised and The Mind Museum is looking for individuals, groups or companies that can help them in many ways. To visit their website, this is the link: http://www.themindmuseum.org/

A Few Snapshots of the Event

Six-year-old Fil-Am golf prodigy touted as next Tiger Woods

Only 6 years old, Amari Avery is called as 'Tigress' and being touted as the next Tiger Woods. Like Tiger, she’s also half Asian her mom is Pinay. She and Tiger Woods have the same birthday, December 30th. Comparing the two when it comes to achievements, she won the Callaway Junior World Championships at age 6, Woods did it at age 8. In 2010, she’s placed first at the US Kids Golf Tour Championships and the Futures Golf World Championships. She’s taken first place at nearly a dozen local tournaments this year.

This young, petite and half-Pinay in some ways may have already surpassed Tiger Woods.  She won the Callaway Junior World Championships at age 6, Woods did it at age 8. In 2010 alone, she’s placed first at the US Kids Golf Tour Championships and the Futures Golf World Championships. She’s taken first place at nearly a dozen local tournaments this year. When asked about Tiger, she said Avery told ABC7.com, "I don't like him because I could beat him."

Avery practices everyday after school with the help of a local pro coach. Avery started golfing since she was three and a half years old. It was her dad who discovered her talent.  She's hoping to win another 2 tournaments this year and her younger sister Allana, age 3,  is also showing interest in the same sport.

Story and picture taken from: Spot.ph and Balitang America