ISSUE NO. 18, MAY 4, 2006

First adult leukemia foundation in the Phils kicks off with free clinic in Dgte
The first adult leukemia foundation in the Philippines is kicking off in Dumaguete City with a free clinic on May 14 at the Silliman University Medical Center.

The clinic, which aims to accommodate around 500 patients, will start from 8:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon.

According to Dr. Walden Ursos, internal medicine consultant at the SUMC, the clinic is in line with the foundation's aim to raise awareness in the community about leukemia and its symptoms.

Although we will entertain people who manifest symptoms of high blood, diabetes and other diseases, our focus is primarily on those suspected to have leukemia, says Ursos.

Some of the symptoms of leukemia, according to Dr. Milagros Uy, a hematologist at the Holy Child Hospital, include pallor (paleness), repeated fever for no reason and easy bruising on the skin (violet in color that turns greenish) that may appear either large or pinpoint in size.

Ursos and Uy were the guest speakers in the recent Kapihan forum conducted by the Philippine Information Agency to publicize the birth of the first adult leukemia foundation in the country that will be established in Dumaguete City.

The free clinic will be an annual activity held every May to commemorate the death of Erwin P. Cabanag, a former City Prosecutor in Dumaguete who died on May 12, 2005, just three days before he was scheduled to leave for treatment in USA.

The foundation, dubbed as Erwin P. Cabanag Adult Leukemia Memorial (EPCALM), is spearheaded by Cabanag's sister, Dr. Erlyn Cabanag-Demerre, a cardiologist at St. Luke's Hospital in Manila.

Demerre said that after her brother's death, she felt the need for an adult leukemia foundation. There is currently no organized foundation in the Philippines dedicated solely for adult leukemia victims and their families, says Demerre.

She relates that her brother's death has paved the way for the formation of the foundation that will guide leukemia victims in the country to the proper care as well as "seek God in the midst of suffering and find Him as the hope, healer and the provider."

The foundation will also help patients explore treatment options in the country and abroad.
Eligible patients will be recommended to the National Institute of Health in Manila or National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, says Demerre.

Bone marrow transplant is the recommended modality of treatment for cure of leukemia but the cost of treatment and case fatality rate is high, laments Demerre.

She said that in the Philippines, a bone marrow transplant costs as much as P5 million for uncomplicated cases and P8 million for complicated cases

However, Demerre laments that the success rate of a bone marrow transplant in the Philippines is only 40% while in America, success rate have already reached 90% to 95%.

Although there are no available data on the number of leukemia cases in Dgte, Uy said that it is now a common disease in the city.

Although the cause is unknown, Uy said that the number one factor for leukemia is genetic as there are some families who are susceptible to the disease.

There are also people who have chromosomal abnormalities, making them predisposed to certain types of leukemia. "Like children with Down's syndrome, they may possibly develop leukemia later," she said.

Exposure to chemicals may also lead to leukemia, for example workers in rubber factories.

It is hard to prevent leukemia because we cannot pinpoint the exact cause, that's why early detection is important to treat the disease, says Uy.

Leukemia or cancer of the blood ranks fifth in the overall killer disease in the country, fourth among males and sixth among females, according to the DOH 2005 Health Advisory.

In the same forum, Uy explained that leukemia is a malignancy involving the bone marrow wherein there is an uncontrolled proliferation of white blood cells.

"The bone marrow serves as the "factory" of the blood, producing red and white blood platelets. A healthy bone marrow produces just enough white blood cells needed by the human body each day but if there is a leukemic transformation, a cell grows at an uncontrollable rate, producing too much white blood cells," she said.

The normal white blood cell count ranges between 4,000 to 10,000 but for people with leukemia, the white blood cell count may either be lower or higher the normal range.

Dgte youth reporters to attend nat'l trg on human rights advocacy
Three TV youth reporters of the Kabatan News Network-Dumaguete Bureau will be sent to Manila for a national training on human rights advocacy on May 8 to 13, 2006.

The reporters include Lou Joseph Mapue of Silliman University High School; Alvin Roy Gaudan of Foundation University; and Weim Marie Bonganciso, Science High School, both are in 15 years of age.

KNN is a 30-minute tele-magazine show that brings to the forefront the issues that young people feel strongly about. It is the only television show in the country that is entirely shot and written by young people from all over the Philippines. It is a television show and a training ground for young aspiring journalists.

The national training will bring together all twelve bureaus of KNN to one venue where they can interact and exchange ideas. The theme for the national training is human rights advocacy. It will take place in Astoria Plaza Hotel, Ortigas Center, Manila

The training will be conducted by the Probe Media Foundation Inc. (PMFI) and UNICEF Philippines as partners in the implementation of the Kabataan News Network (KNN) Project.

PMFI is a non-stock and non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of media in the Philippines and Asia-Pacific. As part of its mission, is to train media practitioners and young people on responsible and ethical journalism.

KNN program is on the air weekly on both commercial network ABC5 every Saturday at 3:00PM; and on the government television station National Broadcasting Network (NBN4) every Sunday at 9:00AM; and everyday on cable channel Nickelodeon.

The Probe has lined up KNN Dumaguete Bureau's stories on Twin Lakes and Fried Ice Cream to be aired on May 13; Centrop and Hibbard Overpass on May 27.

KNN also airs short segments every Monday at 6PM on Sentro Ng Balita over ABC5.

Government and labor sectors jointly celebrated Labor Day
The Labor Day celebration in the province was marked by the gathering of employees from the government and labor sector, proof that the government and labor leaders could come together and work together, says Board Member Melimor Saycon who sits as Executive National Vice President of ALU-TUCP for Visayas and Mindanao.

Employees of the Philippine National Oil Corporation (PNOC), ALU-TUCP members and officials from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and other government-line agencies in the province attended the events lined up by DOLE to celebrate Labor Day here.

To further strengthen this budding tie the provincial government will also hold a symposium this month that will be the venue for employees to air their concerns and complains and in the same manner employers can voice out their side.

Government officials, labor sector leaders, and businessmen from the province are expected to attend the said symposium.

Also in line with the month-long Labor Day celebration, the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) is conducting seminars for fresh graduates who are hunting for jobs.

Saycon recognized that the government through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) is doing its best to provide jobs to the Negrenses.

PESO has been making programs, giving livelihood projects and financial grants to impoverished mountain folks in the province. (PIA/CMamigo)

Learning to fight drug traffickers: A US-Philippine Training Partnership
With the goal of more successful investigations and arrests of drug traffickers, more than 40 Filipino police officers, counter-drug agents and military personnel are set to attend a four-week intensive law enforcement training course sponsored by the US Government in Davao City beginning May 8.

Philippine agencies represented in the exercise are the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Bureau of Investigation.

The training course, called "Baker Piston," is an Asia-wide program that helps improve the effectiveness of counter-drug agencies by training their law enforcement agents in ground operations - such as investigation and raids - that will lead to successful prosecutions of drug traffickers. It also gives participants a rare opportunity to participate in multi-agency exercises and develop contacts in other agencies.

The Baker Piston course in Davao City will include sessions on human rights awareness, cordon and search techniques, special reconnaissance, land navigation, medical procedures, advanced marksmanship, small unit tactics in urban terrain, mission planning, trail interdiction and movement techniques.

There will also be small group sessions for managers and leaders on instructor training and training management, and international drug situation briefings for all attendees.

The program is sponsored by the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the US Joint Inter-Agency Task Force (JIATF) West. The sessions are being taught by the US counter-drug experts and military trainers and will all be held at the classroom and shooting range of Public Safety College Regional Training Center 11.

"Our Philippine counter-drug professionals appreciate intensive training such as this in order to strengthen the effectiveness of our anti-drug operations and enhance our ability to work jointly with other law enforcement and security agencies," says Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Director Wilkins Villanueva. "We hope it will lead to increased arrests and prosecutions of the drug dealers who threaten our children, families and barangays throughout the country."

According to Tim Teal, Country Attaché of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, this program has proven extremely successful over the past few years. "This is the second Baker program we have sponsored in Davao, and the fourth that has been conducted in the Philippines."

PNOC concludes third Energy Camp
The Philippine National Oil Corporation (PNOC) recently wrapped its third Energy Camp with graduation rites held at the PNOC geothermal plant in Puhagan, Valencia.

Around 48 PNOC scholars that mostly came from Kidapawan, Cotabato and Valencia joined the camp. Most of the scholars came from depressed areas in the country located within the corporation's post community.

The PNOC EDC Energy Camp, now on its third year, is part of PNOC's corporate responsibility and aims to make the kids aware of their social and environmental responsibility and at the same time give them ultimate summer fun.

The graduation ceremony was graced by PNOC President Paul Aquino together with four Board of Trustees.
During the ceremony, Aquino asked the campers to apply responsibly the lessons they learned during the 9-day camping activity. He was pleased to note that 15 of the campers had a grade of 90 and above.

Meanwhile, PNOC will hold its first Teachers Camp on May 11at their geothermal plant in Kidapawan. This camp aims to bridge the gap between student and teachers.

PNOC has also committed to pour in millions of pesos to put up physical facilities in two public schools in far-flung barrios of Leyte, namely Brgy. Tongonan Ormoc Elementary School and Brgy. Tongonan Kanang-ga Elementary School.

"We want to make an ideal public elementary school...that will compete with La Salle and Ateneo in Math, English and Science," Aquino said. (PIA/CMamigo)

Finisher's Marathon to highlight World Red Cross Red Crescent Day in Dgte
A five-kilometer Finisher's Marathon for a Cause will be held in the city to mark World Red Cross Red Crescent Day on May 8, 2006.

According to Philippine National Red Cross-Negros Oriental Chapter Administrator Louella Bael, the marathon will start at 6:00 in the morning in front of Bethel Guest House and finishing at the Rizal Boulevard.

"The marathon is a fund-raising activity to help generate funds for the PNRC to cover all the operational expenses for the rescue, relief and rehabilitation, health care, first-aid and safety-works, disaster preparedness, prevention and management, blood service and other welfare assistance," says Bael.

The marathon is jointly conducted by the PNRC and the Metro Dumaguete Roadrunners Club, Inc (MDRCI).

The finisher's fun run is also part of the training of the trainees of the 9-month Free Marathon Clinic launched on April 9, 2006 by the MDRCI which is set to culminate in an International Half- Marathon Clinic on November in line with the city's fiesta celebration.

Bael said interested participants are required to register with the PNRC local chapter office starting May 4.

The registration fee will be the annual Red Cross membership with Accident Assistance Benefits Program at P35.00.

This membership fee will cover the participant's accident insurance 24 hours a day for one year including hospitalization benefits, says Bael.

Boholanos think GMA should finish her term
Even with the way things are astir at the national scene, 65% of Boholanos still think it is appropriate for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) to continue her term of office as President of the Philippines until 2010.

The revealing data floated during the recent survey conducted by the Holy Name University Research Center.

This is also in support of the fact that the GMA leadership still enjoys a relatively soaring awareness rating at 98% in Bohol province.

While GMA's performance rating has dipped from +26 last year to +12 this year, only about 13% of Boholanos agree that GMA should be made to vacate her post. Net performance rating is taken after subtracting the number of people dissatisfied from those satisfied of the President's performance.

From the districts, Bohol District III gave the President a -12 performance rating while district II gave her a +27 and District I, +24.

In Bohol, Government Erico Aumentado improved his performance ration from +62 to +71 this year with his home district giving him a +81, District I at +68 and II at +66.

Meanwhile, Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera also upped his performance ratings from +41 in 2005 to +54.

These performance ratings however fails to translate to a level of ease in the daily lives of 60% Boholanos who still think they are poor as against 54% in 2005.

The survey also revealed that life in the next 12 months is dipping as 33% are going pessimistic to easily cover the 17% pessimists.

Biggest of the Boholano concerns are economic in nature with 67% thinking so. Lack of livelihood opportunities still rate at 28% and unemployment at 16% topping Boholano concerns.

This, even with the provincial government scoring high at +9 last year to +19 this year in its program for provision of livelihood opportunities and employment.

Investment promotion however curved down this year compared to +8 from +13 during the previous year.

3 major Statistical projects set in April - NSO
The National Statistics Office (NSO) will simultaneously undertake three important statistical surveys this month, April 2006.

This was bared following the completion of the field operations training in Cebu City this month of NSO field personnel and hired Statistical Researchers who will conduct the actual interview and collection of data from sample households and business establishments in the province, says NSO Information Officer Rizalyn Teodora Gaviola.

These statistical surveys were the 2006 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industries (ASPBI), THE April 2006 Labor Force Survey (LFS) and the 2006 Family Planning Survey (FPS).

The 2006 Family Planning Survey which is the tenth of the series of annual family planning survey conducted nationwide starting 1995 together with the April round of Labor Force Survey (LFS) involves interviewing women 15-49 years of age and was aimed at collecting information on contraceptive use, source of family planning methods, unmet need for family planning and high-risk fertility behavior. It will also gather data on some maternal and child health concerns like assistance and place of delivery of birth, immunizations, breastfeeding and vitamin A supplementation of children and other health related concerns in the country.

Meanwhile, the 2006 ASPBI aims to provide data on the structure and level of economic activity in the country. Information being gathered from the same statistical inquiry will be used in the construction the national and regional accounts of the Philippine economy and in formulating and monitoring of the plans and policies relative to the attainment of national and regional economic goals. The data is also used in determining and comparing economic structures and performances of each region in the country as well as in market research and feasibility studies.

Training for field operations of said surveys were conducted separately last March 21-24, 2006 for ASPBI and last April 3-8, 2006 for LFS/FPS in Cebu City. NSO Siquijor Provincial Office is enjoining every selected samples units of the survey to cooperate and answer honestly all questions to be asked by NSO field personnel.

For more details and information about the said survey, the public is advised to visit or call the provincial or regional offices of National Statistics Office (NSO). NSO Siquijor Provincial Office is located at National Highway, Poblacion, Siquijor and can be reached thru telephone nos. 344-2002 and 480-9003 or at its e-mail address: nsosiq@globelines.com.ph.

PNRC Siquijor holds 1st youth congress
The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Siquijor Sub-Chapter held its First Youth Congress in Siquijor province recently. Along with this was an election for new junior officers among the nine participating high schools here this year.

Provincial Administrator Rowena Lapinig said the activity aimed to inculcate young students moral values and character building; protection of life and promotion of community health; service and solidarity as these youngsters can spread to other uninformed youth the spirit of RED CROSS.

"This is designed for the enhancement of characters of the youth whom we believe to be not just leaders in the future, but also of the present times", she said.

At present, there are 342 full-fledged Red Cross youth in Siquijor.

Meanwhile, the PNRC office in Siquijor was able to serve 61 units (bags) of blood or 30, 500 cc. last year.

However, Lapinig said half of the blood processing fees of it were not paid causing some deficits in the operation.

The blood processing fee is imposed in order to sustain the program since the reagent is used in determining the following blood-borne diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, malaria, HIV, and syphilis which are very much expensive aside from the operational costs, she said.

Other activities done by the Office last year were free blood typing, mass blood and voluntary donations, Pledge 25, voluntary blood donation dissemination, disaster relief operations, Standard First Aid Training in one of the municipal disaster response teams of Siquijor, First Aid Stationing and dengue dissemination/infodrive.