Don’t ignore that sore throat and skin infection. They can lead to renal (kidney) disease which is the 10th leading cause of fatality in the country.
Dagupan City Health Officer Leonard Carbonell said that in the country, 7,000 persons die from chronic renal failure yearly, but the disease is not getting as much attention as heart diseases do. In the city, it is the 8th leading cause of death, he said. 
June is Department of Health’s national awareness month on kidney and the theme this year is “Okay ba Kidney mo?”
As part of the project, the city health office is conducting a training workshop among health personnel about kidney, advocacy campaigns and urine screening among high risk children, diabetics and hypertensives.
In San Fernando City , the health office is likewise conducting urine screening among 500 Grades I-III pupils, according to city health officer Godofredo Rilloraza.
Carbonell explained that many people are aware that sore throat or tonsilitis (inflamation of tonsils) can lead to rheumatic heart disease, but they do not know that it can also lead to acute kidney disease especially in children.
“You have to treat this diseases so they will cause serious diseases,” he emphasized.
Carbonell said the public health sector is concerned with prevention and early detection of renal diseases and the cheapest and simplest test for this is urinalysis.
The test, which cost only about P30 to P40, should be conducted yearly even among normal children, he said.
“The amount is very minimal as compared to the physical suffering of the victim, the mental suffering of the family and the amount needed to undergo the medical procedures,” he explained.
Kidney patients have to undergo dialysis (a medical procedure that helps the body by performing the functions of failed kidneys) twice or thrice weekly.
Each procedure costing at least P2,800 and this must be continuously done for the patient to live. Patients who fail to undergo the procedure could go into coma in about two weeks as the body accumulates waste products that should be excreted, he said.
There are 5,600 patients in the country who are undergoing dialysis at present, he said.
The patients may also opt for kidney transplant but this is very expensive at P300,000 to P500,000 is needed. Even if the amount is available, the patient is lucky if there is a compatible kidney donor, Carbonell added.
He warned against the use of herbal medicines which can induce kidney disease. “Some herbal medicines have metabolites that destroy kidneys or may interact with the medicines given by doctors. It is best to consult a medical doctor before taking any herbal medicines.”
The common causes of renal disease are diabetis melllitus and hypertension. The usual symptoms are edema around the eyes and the ankle, difficult and painful urination, fever, vomiting and nausea.
The kidneys are the excretory organs of the body. Its functions are filtering toxins from the body and regulating the body’s water balance, acid base balance and blood pressure.
Author: Yolly Sotelo Fuertes
stock exchange goes to provinces
June 7, 2007
Do you have money that you can use to earn more money?
Try investing in the stock market. This is the advise of Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. which, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry provincial office, held a stock market road show in Dagupan.
The PSE is conducting the market road show in different cities of the country to draw in people into investing in stock market. It is a part of the PSE’s intensified campaign to increase stock market awareness in the country to inform more people about the benefits of a long-term investment in securities.
Melchor Guerrero, vice president and head of the Capital Markets Development Division of the PSE, said it was "strange, almost incredible, that in this age of great leap, not even one percent of the 88 million Filipinos has had any experience in stock market investment."
"The problem, we think, is less economic-related than the nearly absolute lack of awareness about what the stock market is all about," he added.
Guerrero disclosed that the Philippines’ stock market is one of the oldest in the region, having been operating since 1927 and would be 80 years old in August.
"One would think that after several decades of existence, it would have emerged the biggest in Asia. Unfortunately, regional market statistics show differently, and neighboring exchanges, relatively younger than ours, have gone far ahead of us in more ways than one," he explained.
During the half-day seminar, the participants composed of businessmen, bankers, academe and local government units, were introduced to basics of stocks trading in the country.
Leo Quinitio, head of the PSE’s market education department lectured on the different kinds of stocks, the risks and rewards of investing in stocks as compared to other investments like deposits, treasury bills, and tangible investments like jewelry and real state, paintings, and precious metals.
Lectures were also conducted on on-line stock trading, investing in equity mutual funds, choosing stocks wisely and listing the companies in the PSE.
Guerrero explained that stocks investment is more risky than other investments, but it offers the highest returns. He gave PLDT as an example of success story as a one million peso worth of shares in the company on May 2004 jumped to P7.2 million worth on May 2006 or a return of 17 percent in two years.
He advised investors to choose companies that are profitable, its profit grows at 30 percent every year for the next 10 years, will be around in the next 20 years and a "Star" in the market.
The road show also informed Pangasinan-based companies about the benefits of going public as an efficient and cost-effective way to raise funds for expansion of business operations.
"This is the best time to invest in local market. The skies are blue. As blue as Pangasinan’s world-class (beaches). We have never before seen an environment this conducive to equities investing. And we want Pangasinenses to gain and benefit from the soaring Philippine stock market," Guerrero said.
He mentioned some advantages of going public (only at the PSE) such as having prestige and goodwill, having better trade credit, increased marketability and attention of investors and faster evaluation for tax purposes.
But there are disadvantages, too, like additional costs to the company, additional controls of management, and market indifference.
Children to lead us
Are children better leaders? Can they make a change at the Dagupan City Hall?
With all the oldies taking care of the government affairs, the city hall’s decision to hand over the affairs of the city to children is quite a novelty. Of course, the young officials cannot really do anything official. Their week-long stint at the city hall will merely be a leadership training for them.
We only hope that they the oldies’ bad habits won’t rub on them. Follow only the good habits, children, and you won’t go wrong.
Below is my story which I also submitted to the Pangasinan Star.
High school students comprising the Ogagaw ya Malingkor 2007 (Children Who Serve), took over the city hall today as elective officials and heads of the different departments.
The 34 high school students led by “Mayor” Frances Riel Elinzano, 14, a third year high school student of the Mother Goodse Special School Systems, Inc., took their oath before Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez today (Tuesday) during the 109th Independence Day celebration at the city plaza.
They will hold office starting in the afternoon until June 20 when the city celebrates its 60th founding anniversary.
Elinzano, regal in a terno in her “inaugural address,” outlined the program of government that her “administration” will implement. First is the purchase of a housing unit at the Bahay Kalinga project in Bonuan village for an “indigent family living in the street or under the bridge.”
She also said her co-officials will launch the Operation Old Books, or will ask the private schools to donate at least 100 old books to the public schools. Another is sports development and anti-illegal drug program among the students.
“I’m excited, but a little bit nervous. But since I am happy about what I will be doing, I think it will be easy to do it,” she told the Inquirer. “I’m sure I will learn many valuable lessons.”
The young officials are students from both the private and public schools in the city who elected from among themselves, through secret balloting, who will be mayor, vice mayor and members of the Sanguniang Panglunsod.
The children-leaders will hold office either in the morning or in the afternoon only as they will also be attending their classes.
Before their elections, they underwent a crash course on the city operations from Mayor Benjamin Lim, who advised them that in implementing laws, “we should be strict, but let us not forget to put some human touch on it. It is a way of obtaining the respect and loyalty of the constituents.”
Metro Dagupan culture and arts council president Honorata Siapno said the Ogogaw a Malingkor aims to hone the Dagupeño youth to be good leaders in the future.
“This program also enables Filipino youth to gain inspirations from their experiences in developing their skills and capabilties which they can later share with their peers,” she said.
The child city vice mayor is Noel Lamsen of the Dagupan City National High School while the city councilors are Michelle Angelica Soriano, Care de Guzman, Louise Mae Bangsal, Rochmond Batulan, Charleen Myre Mejia, Katrina Joyce Alarte, Bounteous Servito, Jeriel Ruth Lim, Rustan Maynard Tandoc, Keshma Shennedy Gascon, Donn Aficial and Danmar Kevin Brao.
A place to get hot
I know a place…where there’s peace and quiet, beauty and repose
It’s hidden in the valley, beside the mountain spring
And beside the spring, I know that I can dream…
–excerpts from a Girl Scouts’ ditty
Somewhere along the slopes of Mt. Balungao , hidden among towering forest trees and an all-natural and wonderful panorama, is the Balungao Hot and Cold Spring Resort.
It’s not a so-hidden place as it lures tourists both from the province and other places the best of what Mother Nature can offer. Still, it’s a perfect hideaway from the daily rigors of life and the spring waters, with its sulfur content, is said to be medicinal which can cure some physical ailments.
Mt. Balungao is an extinct volcano (we hope) in Balungao town, visible from the Rosales town highway towards Manila . From afar, it makes for a mystical view as one wonders what secrets it veils with thick canopy of trees. Up close, a secret is revealed—a natural health spa of hot and cold springs.
The local government of Balungao (about 50 kms from Dagupan City ) has developed the place into a resort, constructing several pools according to the water temperature. One has hot water (about 40 degrees centigrade), one has warm water and the other is filled with cool water. The hot and warm pools are ideal for soaking in, as one would in a spa. Think Roman bath where Romans of yore soak and chat away the hours. But this one’s an open spa enclosed only by the forest trees.
Through modern plumping, water flows continuously into the pools and continuously flows out into a ravine. The water is salty (a niece said its tastes bitter) because of its high sulfuric content. So step into the pool, close your eyes, dream beautiful dreams, and let nature do its work.
There were two big pools, too, which, by their sizes and depths, are for swimming purposes. But they were empty during the visit of the Inquirer on a lazy Tuesday morning
A historical trivia has it that Apolinario Mabini, the sublime paralytic (whatever that means), was brought here in an effort to treat his paralysis. The hot springs may not have worked wonders on his physical ailment, but surely he must have enjoyed the beautiful surroundings which must have refreshed his mind and emotions.
The place is accessible from the Balungao town proper through a four-km barangay road. It is not a concrete road (except for short stretches), but paved enough for cars to traverse.
The resort has a gate which was closed, but not locked, during our visit. A signboard said there was an entrance fee of P20 for adults and P10 for children. But there was no one manning the gate so we opened it and went inside. There were shower and comfort but they were closed that day.
Concrete cooking stoves are available for those who want to cook food. Picnic tables and chairs are available, too. But a reminder for those who wants to visit the place: Bring lots of drinking water as we saw no source of potable water there.
The more adventurous may want to explore the mountain. Some of us followed the source of water, trying to locate the lake up the mountain. But after an hour of trekking, they gave up. There were no mountain guides to show them the way.
The wonders of this mountain where cold and hot water endlessly flows from its depths move us to sing that Girl Scout song which ends with the line “Now I know that God made this world for us.”