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Reading about the case of Governor Leviste’s obvious privileges, a convicted killer and inmate at the Bilibid Prisons in Manila, and who made a mockery of the legal system in the Philippines, made me and many Filipinos so angry and furious.
In the first place, what kind of legal system do we have in the Philippines? I could not believe and imagine that some inmates, though how notorious their case maybe, as in the case of Mr. Leviste, are given free lunch and so much privileges. Never in my imagination have I heard an inmate who is given what they call ‘living out’ or ‘sleep out’ privileges. According to the news report, this has been a practice going back to the past administrations. My question is, has the prison system in the Philippines changed into a hotel for inmates? To my understanding, a prison is a place where you confine criminals even against their will as a punishment for committing criminal acts, and/or violating the laws of the land.
But let’s take the case of Mr. Leviste. Leviste has been found to have committed murder. For this, he was sent into Prison at the Bilibid Prisons in Manila. A few days ago, somebody was able to take a picture and video of him going in and out of the Bilibid prisons. When the Media finally caught up and interviewed Mr. Leviste and asked how he was able to go in and out of the Bilibid Prisons, he said that he did not ask anyone for permission. He made this alibi of walking out from the Bilibid Prison because he had a terrible toothache and had a Dentist appointment. Upon further investigation, however, it was not true that he had any dentist appointment that day as Mr. Leviste claimed earlier. His claim was disputed by his dentist. However, the issue here is: How did an inmate like Mr. Leviste got in and out of the Bilibid Prison? Does the Prison system in the Philippines so lax that any inmate could just walk in and out of the prison compound as they please? Or, did Mr. Leviste got in and out of the prison because he was given “special privileges” by the prison officials? Was this “special privileges” given to all the inmates, or given only to some who are rich and powerful like Mr. Leviste? Does the new bilibid prison chief Mr. Ernesto Diokno know about this practice? The truth is, in the Philippine Inquirer Today (May 25, 2011), Mr. Ernesto Diokno acknowledged of dropping the ball on the issue of “special privileges” on some inmates. During a hearing conducted by the Department of Justice on Wednesday, Diokno told investigators that he had noticed that “special privileges” were being doled out to some inmates, particularly those allowed in separate facilities (“nipa huts”) outside the minimum security compound. But Diokno denied that he had anything to do with the unauthorized trips of the convicted killer, Mr. Antonio Leviste. And then he said that “he was only concerned with policies.”
Let us scrutinize this case at issue. In the first place, who said so that there should be “special privileges” extended to any inmate at the bilibid prison? There is nothing in the constitution or any law of the land that mandates or gives orders that some inmates or prisoners be given “special privileges.” Therefore, whoever initiated this practice should be immediately investigated and sacked out from their office. Second, We would earnestly recommend that Mr. Diokno, the head of the bilibid prison be removed immediately from his office. Mr. Diokno, don’t tell us that your only concerned is about policies. You are the chief of the Bilibid prisons. Whatever happens at the Bilibid Prisons is your responsibility. Do you know the meaning of “command responsibility,”Mr. Diokno?
With the case of Mr. Leviste, I think it is time for the President to make an overhaul of the Prison system in the Philippines. We need new policies and new restructuring of the prison system. I recommend that all the current officials, from the chief of the bilibid prisons down to the lowest level, be immediately sacked from their jobs. What happened in the case of Mr. Leviste was a mockery of the legal system. Also, it brings to fore once again the recurring problem in the country – which is corruption in government. It is time for the President to show to everyone that he really means business when he says that fighting corruption is his number one priority. Likewise, the legal system should be an institution whereby we can depend and trust. Hence, everyone should be treated with fairness and justice by the law. Our laws are meant not only for the rich and powerful like Mr. Leviste, but for everyone even like Mang Pandoy. Therefore, everyone should be treated fairly and squarely. Otherwise, people will lose their faith on our legal system. If that happens, a revolt from the people may deem again possible.
Three Filipino workers convicted of drug trafficking were executed by lethal injection in China on Wednesday, March 30, 2011.The three were identified as Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, 32, Elizabeth Batain, 38, and Ramon Credo, 42, the Philippines' GMA News reported. The executions were scheduled last month but were postponed after Philippine Vice President Jeomar Binay went to China to appeal for their case on behalf of the Philippine government. Now, after two months of reprieve, the Chinese government has finally enacted its verdict – the execution of three of our compatriots.
What can we possibly say about this execution? Let me reflect with you today of what I think about this whole incident. First of all, we as Filipinos sympathize with the families of the victims who were executed in China. Although their families were given a chance to see their loved ones just before the three were executed, but what good is that? When they found themselves at the edge of life, hopeless, grieving and could not do nothing more? When their appeals and cries landed on deaf ears and they had nowhere else to go? When even God himself seemed to have distanced himself from them and they could nowhere find Him? Every Filipino cries out with these families who are grieving because of their lost. We cry out and mourn with the families of the victims, not because we condone what the victims allegedly perpetrated, but for many of us – we don’t see them as “drug traffickers or drug pushers”, but simply “victims” of illegal drug traffickers. Being “drug traffickers and drug pushers” per se is quite different from being “victims” of real drug traffickers. Of course, we can never know what really happened. From the legal point of view, the Chinese government would defend their action and say that they were just following their law and constitution. Anyone who violates their laws would be meted out with the same penalty. My point of discussion is not about the content of their law or constitution. If that’s their law, fine. My question,however, is: Did they really make a real, honest and truthful investigation of the case? If they were really serious about the case, and if they intended to be objective and comprehensive in their investigation, as they should have done, then they should have really investigated even the background of these persons whom they executed. As we all know now, the three ‘pinoys’ did not come from a well-to-do family. They were ordinary Filipinos who just dreamt of giving their families a better future. In spite of the known- hardship of separation from their loved ones,they sacrificed everything, went to work in another country, hoping to find a job so they could help their families back home. But this dream just crumpled into ruins.Their recruiters, according to these three Filipinos, ‘used’ them to carry heroins to China. Whether they knew they were carrying some contraband drugs –no one could really say for certain. As an outsider but prudent observer, I could never imagine that Sally Ordinario, for example, a wife with two kids,would be branded as ‘drug trafficker’ per se? Of course, I am not discounting the fact that any person, whether poor or rich, can become a drug trafficker if he or she chooses to do so. I am aware that money can buy anything, even one’s soul. But let us be realistic and practical here. Could you really imagine a simple house wife like Sally Ordinario or Elizabeth Batain become real ‘drug pushers’ as they were branded upon by the Chinese government? Either they were desperate to do anything (because of the glare of money), or they were simply dumb and crazy. I will stand by their statements that they were just used by drug traffickers to transport the contraband drugs (or heroin). I refuse to accept that they were in a state of desperation to do anything because they had their families and children to think about. It’s my honest opinion that executing these three ‘pinoys’ were a damned mistake. I refuse to accept that they were the real culprits. That is why, the Philippine Government should exhaust all its resources to go after the real drug pushers and drug traffickers in the country who continue to pry on fellow Filipinos, and use them for these illegal trades. Again, we should not stop our campaign against these illegal traders. We should continue to warn our nationals and overseas workers never to engage in such illegal activities. Otherwise, they will eventually pay a very high price like these three pinoys who were executed in China.
This brings me to another point of discussion. I would like to ask: to what extent did the Philippine government had helped and assisted, if they did at all, these three Filipinos in their ordeal? I heard on the news and read on the papers about the Philippine Government assisting the families of the accused going to China at the eleventh hour? I heard as well about some Philippine lawyers assisting the accused at their trial. My point of interest is not so much what the Philippine Government did at the last hour. But the point of discussion is– were the accused assisted from the very beginning of their trial, or just when the Media started to publicize their case? What help did the accused had gotten from the Philippine Government – at the beginning of the trial, during the trial, and at the completion of the case? As Filipino citizens, the accused individuals should have gotten all the necessary help they needed to win their case. I hate to say that in a number of instances, the Philippine Government would come to the aid of such individuals only at the eleventh hour. Take the case of the Filipinos who needed to be evacuated from Libya and other Arab countries in turmoil, the help from our government came too late. Then, about two days ago, there was a news on TFC (The Filipino Channel) about a Filipina in Dubai who was abducted, jailed and raped. But nobody had ever assisted her – not even the Philippine Government, until recently, when the case was publicized in the media. Why is that? In my observation, there seems to be a lack of concern, interest, or political will, from the part of the Philippine Government to follow up cases such as these mentioned. If this is so, then this is a real set back. First of all, this negates the very essence and role of government. That the government exists and subsists to protect its citizenry. And also, it sheds a bad light on the image of the President of the Republic. This just shows that the President lacks the ability to run the government as he should. Maybe it’s time again to evaluate whether our government is doing its job or not.
I’d like to pose some concerns I have towards the Chinese government. Yes, the Chinese Government executed three of our compatriots because they found them allegedly to have violated the Chinese laws and constitution. In their case, the three Filipinos were convicted of drug trafficking – and the penalty was death. Out of curiosity, if those convicted were not Filipinos, say they were Americans or British, would the Chinese Government have had the muscle to execute them as well? How many drug traffickers from the US, Britain, or France have China executed so far? Do their laws apply for everyone, or do they apply only to poor people from third world countries? I am just curios. Also, I know that China is one of the countries which has the worse records as far as violation of human rights is concerned. No wonder, killing its own people like what happened at Tianenmen square some few years back, or enacting capital punishment like death penalty,are just some manifestation of this. In my opinion, it’s time for governments to abolish death penalty.
I’d like to address myself to all our compatriots especially those who are working abroad. I hope that what happened to our three “kababayans” who were executed in China would serve as a lesson for everyone. I hope, by now, you are smart to know that if you are caught dealing or exporting contraband drugs, you could possibly be meted out with the same punishment – which is death. Don’t risk your life and fate by engaging in these illegal activities. There are more important things in life than money. Think about your family, your life, and your many sacrifices. Dealing such illegal trades, or letting yourself being used as a “mule” by drug traffickers is not worth it. For those who are engaged in these illegal trades,we earnestly ask you to think twice. Our law enforcements are running after you.
At this time, as we mourn with the family of our three compatriots who were executed in China, we would like as well to commend Sally, Elizabeth and Ramon to your prayers. We pray for the repose of their souls. May they rest in peace.
The kidnapping incident by a disgruntled Filipino policeman at Rizal Park, Manila last August 22, 2010, Monday, where eight Hongkong tourist nationals got killed elicited so much anger and questions from the respected families of the injured and the deceased as well as from the countries of their origin.
A lot of questions had been raised from many people as well as from the various sectors of society as to why such a tragic incident was permitted to happen in the heart of the city of Manila. In the first place, a lot of anger has been directed to the Philippine government, for their inefficiency and for their lack of coordinated supervision in handling the case. But a lot of the blame and finger pointing were directed to the manila national police who displayed a lack of training especially among the swat team members who stormed the kidnapped bus, after the negotiations failed, and which resulted in the tragic death of the eight Hongkong tourist nationals.
The question is: Was there any way in which the tragic incident could have been prevented? A British expert on terrorism made some very revealing observation about this incident. The British expert pointed out some of the obvious lapses made by the manila national police who were involved in the negotiation as well as on the assaulting team operation. This British terrorism expert mentioned that such a tragic incident could have been prevented if: the government negotiators gave in to Mr. Mendoza's demand in the first place, that he be re-instated to his job and position. Recall that Mr. Mendoza, the disgruntled policeman who hijacked the tourist bus, demanded that he be re-instated into his former position and into active duty. According to the report, Mr. Mendoza had been sacked from his job and position in the police force a year before for alleged distortion, grave threat and robbery cases. Now he wanted to have his job and position back. He claimed that he had been unfairly treated and discharged. According to the British terrorism expert, granted that the government gave in to Mr. Mendoza's demand, in reality, his agreement with the government would have had no legal bearing whatsoever because it was solicited and accomplished under duress. Hence, the government could have said "yes" to Mendoza's demand, but had no binding obligation to follow the agreement afterwards. As we all know, any kind of agreement secured under duress has no legal or binding obligations whatsoever. Second, in you tube video, you can see that during the process of negotiations, there were two individuals (I assumed they were government negotiators) who were talking with Mr. Mendoza at the front step of the bus. While Mr. Mendoza was standing at the steps of the bus, in full view of everyone, his gun was pointed down, and he was apparently talking with the negotiators at a short distance. At this time, the two negotiators could have easily grabbed him, tackle down and disarm Mr. Mendoza, or otherwise, a sharpshooter could have easily taken him down in an instant. Another strategy that the manila police force could have utilized was to wear down Mr. Mendoza. In other words, the negotiators could have bought some more time, until Mr. Mendoza finally surrendered, either of tiredness, hunger, or lack of option to consider. The desire by the police to bring in a relative(Mr. Mendoza's brother, in fact) to negotiate was a tactical mistake, according to some observers. Patience and time are very important in negotiations like this. Obviously, the using of "time" as a weapon was never really considered in this case. Next, what was so frustrating to see in the live video was the fact that when the assaulting team was ordered to go in, they did not have the right equipment to use to break in the glass door and windows of the bus. They were using a mere sledge hammer. It took them quite sometime before they could finally break the glass door open and enter in. Now, what is very important in a kidnapping rescue like this is the element of surprise. But, obviously, in this rescue incident at the Rizal park, there was no element of surprise whatsoever. While the assaulting team was trying to break the glass door of the bus - which took them sometime - Mr. Mendoza, at this time, could have already killed his hostages. The question is, why did not the assaulting team used the right equipment to break the glass door open? The British terrorism expert said that given the right equipment and tools, the assaulting team could have easily break in the door or windows of the bus in an instant. But this did not happen here. Also, from the video, you could see that the assaulting team were just concentrated on one area - opening up the door of the bus. They could have used the windows or the back door of the bus for entry, aside from the door entrance. But, unfortunately, the assaulting team, as described by many reports, did not have a ladder to use so they could have entered through the windows of the bus easily, or other means of entrance. Now, if I was the commander overseeing the rescue operation, I would have utilized both "land and air" power for the rescue operation. Some of the assaulting team members could have been dropped from a helicopter and entered on both sides of the bus windows, and made a surprise attack on the hijacker from that vantage point. Or, otherwise, they could have used some tactical deception to mislead Mr. Mendoza into believing that they were entering through the windows via helicopter, while in fact some of the assaulting team could have entered the bus via different entrance routes. Yes, there were a number of options that could have been considered in the rescue operation, but unfortunately, the assaulting team leaders did not have the right training to implement a good plan at such a very critical rescue operation.
As a result of this debacle, there were eight tourist nationals who died in the rescue operation. Hongkong and China were obviously angry. They are demanding some apology and thorough investigation from the Philippine government on the tragic incident. During the past week, President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III has come out in the media and made some apologetic remarks and extended condolences on the families of all the victims. He has declared August 25th as a National Day of Mourning for the victims. The Senate just had an inquiry on the same incident, whereby they were trying to get to the bottom of this tragic incident. As of this date, the head of the manila national police had resigned, and four of the team leaders of the assaulting team were relieved from their post. In the meantime, as President Aquino was asking for a thorough investigation on the incident, he promised to relieve and punish all those responsible for this debacle. He likewise formed a new swat group which was composed by the military and the police - to be trained well for rescue operation purposes. Because of this hijacking incident in manila, a lot of tourists are apparently scared and wondering whether they could ever be safe in the Philippines. Due to this incident also, a number of tourists especially from Hongkong and China have cancelled their previous reservations in coming to the Philippines. This was kind of worrisome for the Philippine Tourism Industry as there are about 140,000 Hongkong Nationals who visit the Philippines yearly, according to a Philippine News Report.
Now, what are we going to do from here on? I have a few suggestions to make. First, the Philippine government have to do its job - finish its investigation on the case as thorough but quickly as possible, and then present the result to the media for public disclosure. Everyone is interested to know what really happened, especially for the families of the injured and the victims - for their own closure and healing. Second, we have to show to the world that we are determined to do the right thing. If in the final report some people in the government or in the military are found wanting, or were determined that they were inefficient in their given tasks, then they have to be immediately relieve from their posts and be meted out with the corresponding punishment or penalty. Nobody should be above the law especially if it pertains to national security. Third, for the newly formed swat team, and for the other tactical teams already established by the different military agencies, which were originally formed for rescue operation purposes, all should undergo a training and retraining program, be equipped with the necessary tools and ammunitions to accomplish their jobs, and they should all be coordinated by one, single agency. Fourth, the Philippine government should immediately employ a reconstructive media promotion to repair its image, extend a hand of friendship especially with Hongkong and China by an open communication and transparent reporting of the incident, and by all means, extend all the necessary help for all the victims' families. Fifth, the military and the police have to repair their image as well. The head of the Interior Local Government, who oversees the military and police force, should initiate some necessary programs and training for all the military and police force of the country. Unfortunately, whether we like it or not, what happened at Rizal park showed some kind of reflection on our military and police force in general. With the new government under President Aquino, I think it is time that we take the necessary step to modernize our military and police force, equip them with the modern tools of warfare, and retrain them to become efficient in their assigned jobs. Our people and everyone else, including tourists and guests in our country should feel safe because our military and police are called to protect them at all costs. This is their job - to protect our country and citizenry from any internal or external aggression. But the people can only feel secure if our military and police are able to function well, do their jobs as they should, and able to restore confidence among our people. All military or police undesirables should be rooted out from their respective agencies. The military and the police should as well maintain a level of professionalism at all times in their conduct and behavior. By this, the military and the police will gain due respect from the people on whom they are called to serve and protect. Sixth, in the aftermath of the tragic incident at Rizal park, the government should re-evaluate and make a study on the role of the media in any rescue or government operations. Apparently, according to some newspaper reports, the live broadcast media during the negotiations and military operations did not help facilitate to end the hostage drama. In fact, as some people observed, it made even worse the situation. The British terrorism expert said that there should have been a news blackout during the actual negotiations and operations, for the purpose of denying the hijacker a chance to promote his cause.
As we grieve and pray for the deceased, let this be a time for self-examination and renewal for us as a country. Let this be an opportunity for us to pause and reflect, to examine our weaknesses, and to determine how we can better ourselves in the future.
It is hard to fall and feel broken, but we can always look forward of getting up. At the end of a dark tunnel, we know a light will shine through. As the song says, "At the end of the storm, the light of the sun will shine again." I know that this tragic incident at Rizal park has put us all (especially the Filipinos) at a low ebb. We have been criticized, demeaned, and made fun in the media by all sorts of people, both inside and outside. But let this serve as a lesson for us to work for a positive change. Let us work harder to make this world and our country a better place to live in. Let us join hands together to create a better world free of violence and war; let us work together to promote justice for all people; let us continue to safeguard human life at all costs, and let us live the command of Christ - to love one another, even our enemies.
We are Filipinos. We don't easily give up. We can work together to make a positive change in our country. Let this be our solemn pledge.
Is there such a thing as whispers of the heart? Maybe there is. For some, it may just be a plain and nice expression of language. For others, it may mean nothing else but simple words put together to create what they call some compound words. For me, however, it is a way of expressing some inner sentiments that go beyond accidentals and externalities. More than we ever know, the heart has its own language that we can hardly grapple or understand at times. That is why, St. Exupery says in the Little Prince, "It is only with the heart that one sees rightly."
Love, as we know it, is generally labelled as the language of the heart. When you love someone, you are not really able to explain in any mathematical formula or scientific terms why you feel the way you do. You just feel the excitement of being in love beyond measure; there is the sense of joy being encompass. Talk about so called "sleepless nights" and dreaming of some fantasy world when you are in love. The truth is, you are not in any way living in the world of schizophrenia when you feel this way. Such sentiments, however, though unexplained, become your common language. It is just the way the heart is.
It is said too that the heart has its reasons that the mind often don't understand. It is quite strange and ironic, just to think about it. At times there is a dialogical opposition between the mind and the heart. The heart says one thing, while the mind says another. They don't often coalesce peacefully together. They seem to have their own separate and independent minds. The mind cannot dictate on the heart, but sometimes the heart can dictate on the mind. How strange.
Love is indeed a very strangest thing. When you love someone it occupies everything about you. It involves the core of your being. It is like a magnet that draws the sand to you uninterruptedly. Sometimes, even if you want to get out from such a situation, but the attraction is so forceful that you cannot easily retract. Love often defies logic and reason. That is why people often wonder why two people who maybe at opposite ends in terms of external, physical appearance can be so in love with one another. So the expression says, "beauty lies on the eye of the beholder." Everyone of us see things differently. Our folks used to tell us that if you are in love, "everything is beautiful." I guess, there is some truth to this statement.
When you love someone, you have a binding obligation for that someone. The Little Prince speaks of being responsible forever for what you have tamed. This binding obligation entails respect, care, emotional support, responsibility, and nurturing space. Love, however, is not something suffocating. It should not be. Because love, if it is truly love, is something freely given, and it is also something freely accepted. True love involves a dialogical interpenetration of beings. It is not just an exchange of emotional sentiments. It is an interchange and acceptance of persons, of beings, of values, of characters, of the whole personhood of one another. That is why, true love goes beyond the sentiment of feelings and emotional exchange.
When you love someone, it entails no limit. When one says, "I love you," it means "I love you all the way without any reservation." There is no such thing as "I love you only half way." That is why I hate the expression "I love you until further notice." Such an expression defies any true sense of love. For true love cannot be measured by time and space. As the song says, "Love is forever." When you put a limit on love, then it is not love anymore.
Love is something that goes beyond the language of man. When you try to describe it, it defies you and loses its meaning. It is something indescribable, and yet it is something real. It is something you dream, and yet you already feel it in your guts. Love is such an irony. It is mysterious and defiant as well. It is what it is when you think it is not, and it is not when you think it is. In a true sense, you don't need to speak the words of love when you love someone. Love speaks for itself.
That is why, when love beckons you - you cannot defy it, or run away from it. Let love flow into your heart and into your soul. Live love and you will find the beauty and wonders of life.
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I just posted a video in www.dailygospelreflection.com from youtube entitled "Good Samaritan Left for Dead." This story was in almost all the news network the other day (4/26/2010). It's about a story of a guy who tried to help a woman who was mugged, and got himself stabbed and left for dead. A number of people passed him by in the sidewalk and never dared to help him. In fact, one guy even took a picture of the dying man. People just passed him by unconcerned, offered no help, and just continued on their way. It just reminded me about the story of the Samaritan in the scripture. This time, it is real. It just made me feel sick watching the video. I cannot imagine that people nowadays just don't care anymore. What has happened to us human beings? What has happened to our sense of humanity and connectedness? Where is our sense of values? I thought we are sons and daughters of One God. But no - many people have simply negated their affinity (relationship) with their fellow human beings. Is it really true that man is a social being? I just wonder. Such an attitude displayed in this news story negate this fact. Why do human beings don't care anymore? Does it have something to do with the feeling and senses being disensitize? I don't know. I was listening to one of the explanations being forwarded by a psychologist who was being interviewed in this video on why this prevalent attitude among many people these days. The bottom line is, if you believe in God (or even if you don't), we cannot deny the fact that we have a responsibility for our fellow human being. Not only by reason of decency, but by the fact that we belong to the same human race, that God has given us knowledge to know what is right or wrong, that we are human beings imbued with conscience and intelligence– we have an obligation for one another. If you are a believer in God, we know for a fact that we were all made in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, we are all brothers and sisters because we have the same God and Father. Our obligation and responsibility for one another is a given. This video on this news story, and similar other videos, really put us all to shame. I wonder if this is not just a tip of an iceberg, an unforeseen “evil” seeping into our society, a killer cancer embedded and is gradually metastasizing in the very fabric of our souls. If this is the case, then we should all be alarmed and scared. There would come a time when everything we hold dear – such as absolute truth, love, feelings of compassion, service, sacrifice, dying for a greater good, families, country – would just become mere language devoid of meaning and substance. If ever humanity reaches that point, I am almost certain that it would be the beginning and end of humanity. God help us!
As some of you may know, I have been diagnosed as diabetic about two years ago today. Since then, life has not been easy. Well, the truth is, in the beginning, I was so worried and upset. When I was just diagnosed with this disease, I took all the precautions that were necessary to take care of myself. I was religiously following a diet; I was constantly in communication with my primary doctor and diabetes specialist; I was exercising regularly; I was taking my medications religiously. The bottom line is, I was taking care of myself, and doing the things that were necessary to take care of this disease. Believe it or not, by taking care of myself, I was able to regulate my blood sugar. My A1C has gone down dramatically to normal level. I was very happy with myself.
But, for whatever reason, things changed. For about two years, I became complacent. I was not taking care of myself. I was eating all kinds of food that I was not supposed to eat. I was not taking my medications regularly. I didn’t go for any physical exercise. I stopped literally going to my doctors. I didn’t go for any blood works for a long time. I simply stopped checking my blood sugar. I was simply living a lifestyle as if I was never been sick.
About two weeks ago today, I started feeling some tinge of discomfort and pain in my lower abdomen. This went on for some days. I felt a little weak and dizzy at times too. I also felt some burning sensations on my feet. At times, I would occasionally have some cramps on my leg. These were exactly some of the symptoms I had before I was diagnosed with this dreaded disease two years ago. So I knew exactly that this has something to do with my diabetes. I suspected immediately that my sugar level must be very high. When I checked my blood sugar, it was 580. This was too high from the normal level of 100-160. That day, I made an appointment immediately with my primary doctor. When I saw him, I told him that I have not been very conscientious in taking care of myself and my sickness. So he prescribed me some medications that I needed to take immediately. And he asked me to go for blood test as soon as possible. After two days, I went for my blood works. The next day, I got the result of my blood works. My A1C was very high. I think it was 11.4. The normal A1C average is 6.5 and below. My cholesterol was very high too. With these results, I know I can have complications in my kidney, heart, eyes, etc. So this started me to reflect and think of what I have to do and need to do from here on. If I want to live longer, I need to change my lifestyle now. I need to follow my regimen: take my medications regularly, consult my doctor as often as possible, have a regular check-up, exercise, diet, and do the things necessary to take care of myself. For a week now, I have been taking my oral medications regularly. I also started dieting again. This afternoon, I started doing physical exercise. I am determined to go for a walk at least 3 times a week (for at least 30 minutes). The most difficult part is dieting. I know it would not be easy, but I have to do it. I tried cutting down on carbohydrates like rice and pasta, and eating more vegetables. I will try to avoid eating any fatty foods.
It’s like I am beginning anew in my journey. I feel a little sad but I am determined to make the necessary changes in my life. Well, life is after all making choices. This time I am determined to make the right choice.
This is not a cure but rather tips for improving and preserving the health of a diabetic. According to health experts, type 1 diabetes cannot be cured, because it is a form of pancreatic dysfunction, which results when insulin producing cells cannot make enough insulin to process glucose in the body. Type 2 diabetes, however, can usually be prevented or controlled by diet and exercise, because Type 2 diabetes is typically the result of insulin resistance, which is caused by physical inactivity and poor diet.
Steps
1. Drink an ampalaya (bitter gourd/bitter melon) tea. It is well known for helping diabetic patients to maintain their blood sugar at healthy levels. Banaba tea is one of the best sources of plantisul (plant insulin). Consult your endocrinologist, diabetes educator, or dietitian before beginning this or any alternative treatment.
2.Maintain a healthy diet. Follow the advice of your doctor or diabetes educator.
3.Exercise. If it is medically safe, start exercising 30 minutes a day. A 30-minute walk at a good pace for the diabetic individual will help to reduce blood sugar, and possibly the amount of medication needed. Have a plan for exercise when taking insulin or using blood sugar lowering drugs, because exercise lowers blood glucose, and can possibly result in hypoglycemia.
4.Take doctor prescribed insulin regularly, and on time!
5.Attend all laboratory tests and doctors' appointments.
6.Have your hemoglobin A1c test done every 3 months or as directed by your physician. Aim for a value of 6.5% or less as recommended by the American Diabetes Association. This test measures your average blood sugar levels over a period of 2-3 months and is a strong indicator of overall glycemic control.
7.Stop smoking! Smoking raises blood sugar levels, damages blood vessels which can lead to heart disease and stroke, and adversely affects circulation due to constriction of blood vessels. Heart disease, stroke, and circulation problems are frequent complications of diabetes, even in non-smokers; a diabetic smoker is "adding fuel to the fire", greatly increasing his or her risk of developing these complications.
8.Be prepared for hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. These conditions are more common in patients taking insulin, but can occur in other situations.
*Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, occurs when the blood sugar level is above 126mg/dL (7mmol/L). It can occur as a result of stress, insufficient insulin, too much food, or an issue with oral diabetes medication. Symptoms include frequent thirst, frequent urination, unusual hunger, fatigue, and irritability. Untreated hyperglycemia is a leading cause of complications from diabetes, thus it is important to recognize and treat hyperglycemia as directed by your physician. Treatment includes adjusting insulin treatment (frequently, patients using insulin will simply take a correction shot based on the level of their blood sugar), or adjusting oral medications. While patients taking insulin will typically adjust their insulin dosages to lower blood sugar, patients taking oral medication or patients using diet or exercise will typically have to adjust their carbohydrate intake to control blood sugar. Untreated hyperglycemia can rapidly progress into diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is life-threating and frequently requires hospitalization. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, unquenchable thirst, diarrhea, and muscle cramps. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms of DKA, SEEK URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION.
*Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, occurs when the blood sugar level is below 70mg/dL (3.9mmol/L). It can occur as a result of stress, too much insulin, too little food, or an issue with oral diabetes medication. Symptoms include shakiness, tremor, rapid heart beat, sweating, and clamminess. Untreated hypoglycemia can rapidly progress into seizures, coma, or death; thus, it is very important that hypoglycemia is quickly recognized and treated as directed by your physician. In any situation where the patient believes that he or she is suffering from hypoglycemia, the patient should confirm with a blood sugar test; however, the patient should treat immediately if they feel that the hypoglycemia is severe and it would take too long to test. Treating the low blood sugar is paramount. Mild hypoglycemia can be treated by the patient and usually involves consuming 15 grams of carbohydrates, in the form of sugary (not diet) soda, juice, glucose tablets/gel, or occasionally a small snack in the form of crackers, pretzels, hard candy, etc. It is important to note that candy bars such as Snickers, Twix, Milky Way, etc. contain a high amount of fat and can slow the absorption of sugar from the candy bar; therefore, it is not advised that patients use high-fat candy bars to treat hypoglycemia as the blood sugars may not rise fast enough to prevent any further and possibly severe drops in blood sugar. Once the patient has treated, they should wait 10-15 minutes and test his or her blood sugar to confirm that blood sugar levels have risen above 70mg/dL (3.9mmol/L). If the blood sugar levels are still below 70mg/dL (3.9mmol/L), the patient should repeat the treatment process, and if upon testing again after 10-15 minutes blood sugar levels are still below 70mg/dL (3.9mmol/L), the patient should treat once again and consult his/her physician immediately. If the patient has a meal planned within the next 30 minutes, the patient should continue as normal and continue to monitor his or her blood glucose to check for any additional episodes of hypoglycemia. If his/her next meal is beyond 30 minutes, the patient should consume a small snack (1/2 of a sandwich and an 8oz glass of milk, or a pack of peanut butter crackers). Severe hypoglycemia is an urgent medical condition that requires immediate intervention, and can frequently require intervention from a third-party. It can occur when blood sugars fall very rapidly, or when the patient suffers from hypoglycemia unawareness. Severe hypoglycemia can result in fainting, seizures, or death. Treatment may or may not be possible by the patient themselves due to significant impairment, however, the main idea is still the same: raise blood sugar levels as rapidly as possible. This can be achieved using oral carbohydrates, but in a situation where a patient is unconscious, unable to swallow, or having a seizure, outside intervention is necessary. Two types of injections are used to treat severe hypoglycemia: glucagon and intravenous dextrose solution (D50). Glucagon is a hormone produced in the body that acts an opposite to insulin; it blocks the blood sugar lowering ability of insulin and stimulates the liver to release glucose into the blood from energy reserves. When used as treatment for severe hypoglycemia, the solution is injected intramuscularly and produces results in 1-2 minutes. The patient will typically feel nauseated and may vomit shortly after injection. However, this treatment is ineffective if the liver is depleted of glucose stores and in such cases, intravenous dextrose (sugar) solution is necessary. IV dextrose will awaken an unconscious person whom is suffering from severe hypoglycemia in seconds. IV dextrose is commonly referred to as "D50" by emergency medical technicians and paramedics.
Tips
* Always follow your doctor's prescriptions and guidelines, including, but not limited to: checking blood sugar as directed, taking insulin/medication as directed, following a meal schedule if necessary, and attending all doctors' appointments and laboratory tests.
* Regular eye, kidney, and foot checkups are advisable.
* Communication with one's health care professional is essential in developing an effective treatment plan for diabetes; by working together with one's health team, a diabetic is much better prepared to handle the illness.
* Have and know how to use a glucagon emergency kit, and instruct family members and roommates on how to use it. It may save your life if you have severe low blood sugar and are unconscious. The paramedics may not arrive in time.
Warnings
* This is not a substitute for professional medical care.
* If you have "cotton-mouth" and are urinating frequently, you may be in ketoacidosis: seek urgent medical attention!
* If you feel faint/lightheaded, have a quickened heart rate, and are clammy, you may be having an insulin reaction - immediately treat for hypoglycemia as directed by your physician.
(Source: http://surimounthealth.blogspot.com/search/label/Diabetes)
Another year is almost over, and we are anticipating for the arrival of another year. Time just flew by so suddenly. We hardly had time to sit and relax, enjoy the events and memories of the past. Now a new dawn is here, before we even realized it. Yes, whether we like it or not, Christmas is here. Its joyful spirit is felt everywhere; from the songs being played in the air waves, to the grandiose Christmas decors that are visibly displayed in the malls and stores. At almost every house yard in the neighborhood you will find the display of Sta. Claus riding on his sleigh, or the child’s wonder, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, or else, you will see the glittering multicolored lights that are sneakily interwoven on top of the garden plants and/or among the trees’ branches, which keep on radiating light almost forever. Such an elaborate display of Christmas ornamentation speaks of our inner sense and great emotions as we await the arrival of our Messiah, Jesus – the Savior of mankind.
For all the Filipinos worldwide, we started celebrating the so called “Simbang Gabi” mass in our parish churches. The “Simbang Gabi” is a unique tradition that Filipinos have that has been preserved and remains an essential part of the Filipino Christmas celebration. It is popularly called “Misa de Gallo.” The “Simbang Gabi” is observed by the Filipinos to spiritually prepare for Christmas. It is a novena of advent masses for nine days starting December 16th and ends on December 24th. It dates back to the 1700s when the Spanish missionaries brought the custom from Mexico to the Philippines.
In the Philippines, these masses start at 4:00 a.m. In some towns and in the cities, they usually start at 5:00 a,m. Churches are always full to capacity. In some areas, an hour or so before the mass, a band plays traditional Christmas carols all over town and the whole village remains vigilant for the observance of “Simbang Gabi.”
These novena masses are culminated by the midnight mass on Christmas eve. After the mass, everyone goes home to spend “Noche Buena,” or Christmas dinner with their families and loved ones. This is a time of family reunion as well. Members of the family who have left “the nest” come home once again to enjoy and share the spirit of Christmas with one another.
Last night I also celebrated the “Simbang Gabi” mass in my parish church where there were about five hundred or more people in attendance. There were six priests who concelebrated with me at the mass. Our Filipino Apostolate choir sung beautifully. We sang Christmas carols to relive our most tender memories of the joyful Christmas celebration. After the mass, we had dinner and “salo-salo”, and non-stop dancing afterwards. This was our way to celebrate Christmas together as a parish family.
In a few more days we will celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Lord. Because of this, it forced me to reflect of what Christmas really is. One thing that is associated with Christmas everywhere is giving. Christmas is the feast of giving. Christmas is the one time in the year when everyone is sure to give and receive a present, even if only a Christmas card. People spent a lot of time and money shopping for the perfect Christmas gift. We put up Christmas trees to surprise family members with our gifts and to be surprised with theirs. Santa Claus is the perfect symbol of Christmas because Santa is the one who gives and gives and never gets tired of giving. Christmas is a feast of giving even from God’s point of view. At Christmas we celebrate the king of kings leaving his divine glory and coming to our dreary world to share with us our poverty, misery and pain. It is not a question of Jesus giving us any particular gifts or blessings, it is a question of him giving us himself. This is the big difference between Jesus and Santa Claus. Santa Claus rides in an open sleigh giving gifts to children who have been good. But Santa leaves the gifts on the Christmas tree and disappears. Christ, on the other hand, does not leave a gift and disappear. He comes to live with us. He comes to share our human condition. His very presence is the gift. At Christmas we celebrate the mystery that “God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16). God gives, and the people of God give, and that is Christmas.
If Christmas is the feast of giving, then the question of what to give and how to give becomes very important. After all what is worth doing is worth doing well. So the question is, how can we improve on the quality of our giving? How can we improve on the quality of our Christmas celebration?
The gospel last Sunday helps us to answer some of these questions. In the gospel we read the story of Mary Visiting Elizabeth. We are not told that Mary brought foodstuff, or anything. We are told she brought just one thing: herself. She gave Elizabeth the gift of her very presence. And, dear friends, this is the best and the hardest gift of all. It is easy to send flowers, it is easy to send a parcel, but to give the gift of ourselves, to make out the time to be with somebody, that is the gift that many people long for but do not receive at Christmas.
I wonder how many families out there who are so busy with the everyday affairs of life (work, school, social activities, etc.), that they don’t have time to be with their families or be with their children anymore. For many people, work and material things have replaced human longing and need. In fact, for some people, they have become the most important venture. And what are the common results? We hear of families being fractured and couples separated because they didn’t have time for themselves anymore. We hear horror stories of young people who ran away from home, and who are engaged into drugs and all kinds of immoral activities, because no one loves or cares for them. Machine or toys cannot replace human love and care. Te gift of ourselves are more important than material gifts.
Following Mary’s example, we must, in addition to flowers and parcels, give of ourselves, our presence, our time. We must find the time to visit and be with people. This is the greatest gift because its value cannot be calculated in terms of money.
Do you know one thing everybody needs today? Everybody needs love and encouragement. Everybody needs the interior peace and joy that come from the Holy Spirit. This is what Mary’s visit did to Elizabeth. Mary’s visit was an inspiration to Elizabeth. When we visit people this Christmas, let us try to bring some inspiration into their lives, let us seek to bring them closer to God, and let us try to share with them the Spirit of God in us, the Spirit of consolation, of courage, of peace and joy.
Before I forget, may I ask you to include in your intentions this Christmas- to pray for peace in our native land. In a special way, we remember all the victims of the gruesome massacre in Maguindanao. We pray that justice be served upon them. We also pray for all the victims of the recent floods in the Philippines which affected so many people. We pray that in this Christmas season they may find some comfort and joy in this difficult time.
To one and all, I wish you and your families a wonderful Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
God bless you all.
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