Oriental Mindoro Philippines
Imagine waking up with no face masks, travel prohibitions, no meters between them and everyone's lifestyle returning to normal in reset mode in 2016. And as you turned on the television, you heard about the controversial dengue fever vaccine dengvaxia, which was discovered to enhance the severity of the disease after multiple vaccinated children died six months after the vaccination. Is it tragic or nostalgic?
ANGELO I.
DE CASTRO
Published 12:00 PM, May 31, 2021
More than millons of hopes are already infected while tens of thousand journeys forced to end as the unseen invader striked the Pearl of the Orient Sea almost a year ago. The government has recorded about 1.19 million instances of COVID based on current evidence and about 20,000 of those recorded as deaths counted, according to latest data provided by the Department of Health. With this never-changing reality, not a silver lining situation, and never flattening curves, is a vaccine your choice?
Reaction or Prevention
A prominent medical practitioner, Doc Adam, is extremely seldom affected by serious bodily responses following immunization. Studies and surveys showed that most people in the Philippines fear being vaccinated as most people think that vaccinations might produce adverse effects on their bodies. A mythological phrase the vaccines are made to cause death and not to prevent death. The fear of procuring severe body reactions seems to weigh more than initiating prevention from severe consequences.
In the meanwhile, it is not necessary a matter of being completely vaccinated. Viral transmission is still likely, but through vaccinations the symptoms are decreased and the death of the virus is scientifically prevented.
DengBACK to SinoBACK
In 2016, WHO postulated that the hot-button dengvaxia vaccine passed the two parallel Phase 3 clinical tests determining its effectiveness and safety of the said treatment. Howbeit, WHO also released a paper saying that the vaccine may increase the risk in those who are seronegative or those who have not yet had dengue. This controversy became the prior standpoint of today's situation leading for a declined numbers of those willing persons to be vaccinated.
Dr. Adam added on his interview with Anthony Taberna a popular journalist, that all vaccines have undergone multiple clinical and laboratory tests and numerous experimentations before launching to immunization programs and activities. He also reminded Filipinos that vaccines are safe.
Acknowledge the Knowledge
"Knowledge is Power." A powerful quote mentioned by Taberna tackling the authority driven by informing one another. Technology has already brought us a wide platform of sources of information that could answer all our queries and perhaps. Education is one of mankind's initial defenses to withstand this dilemma. The fact that vaccination is a wise choice was underlined by Doc Adam. Indeed, the best vaccination you can pick is the one you have.
With an added challenge, people are hardly navigating the COVID19 situation particularly the country's plan to prevention is seemed to be a vague motion of today. The stigma embarked by the past anomaly bringing a tragic effect to the community battles the old program of the world bringing nostalgic feeling for many of us. Technology has provided us with an opportunity to reset our existing life pattern. You have now the decision of taking the opportunity to change again.
SCIENCE
NoTRAGIC: Mythos of Vaccinus
SCIENCE
Five Loaves and Two [tons] Fishes
Reciprocal Altruism
Almost 2000 kilograms swarms of fishes have caused the seacoast of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro to 'boil' resulting for a warmth sympathy of the nature to mankind's suffering. An underwater community pantry that benefited more than a hundred Naujeño families new high hopes for witnessing more than enough supply of food and livelihood.
ANGELO I.
DE CASTRO
Published 12:00 PM, May 31, 2021
Four hundred and twenty days have passed and the Philippines is still under quarantine. The struggle of making a living seems to level up as the enduring burden of pandemic strikes the poorest areas of the society. Social Weather System (SWS) survey shows that poverty and hunger become prevalent in times of the seemingly incessant quarantine days. Adding the fact that there is a scarcity in the assistance of the government.
Commensurate with the report claimed by Marlene Asinas, sector coordinator of Fisheries Management Office, that the unforeseen phenomenon was due to the sustainable fishing practices of the Naujeño people resulting a myriad of tuna fish in the seacoast of Barangay San Jose, Naujan.
People carry the responsiveness behavior that the world needs today. In fact, National Geographic Society amplified the advantages of sustainable fishing methods that most of the fishing areas found locally are practicing even up this day. It is with great urgency rhat people need to employ sustainable consumption practices to secure the future resources.
Sustainable fishing guarantees there will be populations of ocean and freshwater wildlife in the future.
At last, it is indeed the miracle from the sustainable fishing cycle of the local people. Truly science without religion is lame and religion without science is blind. The faith innate to each Naujeño fired up the spark that made their seas to boil from the warmth of blessings above. The empathy for the proper cultivation of our natural resources produces sympathy from the nature. Just like the feeding of 5,000 from the five loaves and two fishes of a boy, this how our faith and nature work together.
SCIENCE
MAHALTANA: OrMin 'Four' the Win
Mina De Oro.
Long ago, from the historical evolution of time, the Spaniards named the pearl island "Mina de Oro", believing it had large deposits of gold. Legend also has it that long before, the vast wealth of the island was buried in the area, and mystic temples of gold and images of anitos bedizened the sacred grounds of that virgin island. Mangyans, the people of the island, believed that this opulence can be found with the four wonders of Mindoro. The Mangyan Tribes, the spectral and desolate Halcon mountain, the only endemic Philippine bovine, Tamaraw, and the fifth largest lake in the Philippines, Naujan Lake.
ANGELO I.
DE CASTRO
Published 12:00 PM, May 31, 2021
One. Mt. Halcon is incorporated with toughness and beauty making it the home for diverse forest species inhabiting 2,586 metres area above sea level. Its thick vegetation contains much flora and fauna, including the critically endangered Mindoro bleeding-heart which is endemic in the island, and the stick insect Conlephasma enigma, which was first described in 2012.
In line with it, through the years, Mt. Halcon's steep slopes have earned its reputation as the hardest hiking site in the country. The mountain also declared as the 18th highest peak in the Philippines and the 37th highest peak of an island on Earth.
Two. Mindoro's tamaraw also made the area distinct and unique. According to Global Wildlife Conservation, mindoro's dwarf buffalo is one of the 11 remaining wild cattle species in the world. Tamaraws can only be found in only one place of the world. One fact about them is that they can't lie their age. The horn's length and its thickness can be used to age them. They play an important role to the environment where they belong.
However, Tamaraws are classified as critically endangered spieces of today for the reason that every year, their population is declining.
Three. The Naujan Lake. Encyclopaedia Britannica described the lake as the center feature of the Naujan Lake National Park. It is believed that the said lake is a home for about 14 species of fishes occupying an area of 14 km by 7 km. Naujan Lake was known for hunting and sport-fishing activites but the fishing rights only retained it for only those who rely on the lake as their source of livelihood.
Four. The Mangyan Tribes. There are 8 existing Mangyan tribes in Mindoro. They are known for their astonishing craftmanships and designs using natural materials. They have unique languange system and serve as warriors of the forest.
Not the vast gold deposits make the Mindoro rich and wealthy. These are the heritage and the ancestral boundaries assemble the jigsaw puzzle of our own identity. Mindoro Oriental is one of the proofs of the relatively unknown thriving splendor of the Asia's Pearl of the Orient Sea. Especially the people that will give you the Mindoronian smile.