Life Quotation # 7

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When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.

~Unknown~

Friday Question: Is Popcorn a Junk Food?

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Corn maybe a vegetable therefore indeed good for the body. But, is a popcorn particularly, a ready made or microwaveable, healthy as well?

Related article:

• Popcorn Health Benefits and Safety

Beware: Expired Medication Cover-Ups

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Just like bottled drinks, milk, canned goods etc. all medicine has an expiration date indicated in their labels or containers. It is a requirement by the Food and Drug Authority upon its approval for the general market.

Disappointingly, some drug outlets - hospitals and private clinics in particular, ignore the expiration date's importance and dispense expired drugs, solely for business reasons. Without even knowing it, you could have been a victim.

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Modern Amazons

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The woman of today and her vulnerability as revealed.

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On Quitting A Job: Doing It Ethically

Is the salary not enough? Are you having problems with your boss or a colleague? You are fed up with the company's regulations?!

There are lots of reasons why a person would quit his job. Some can really get in one’s nerve that all he wants to do is shout resignation on his boss's face and then, stomped out of the office without looking back. This could be satisfying letting it all out. But, take a deep breath and think it over.

If you are single, your reputation is at hand. If you are married, your good name and your family are at stake. Sure you can quit. They can't stop you if you really want to. But do this calmly.

• Your First Step

Look for job opportunities in the classified ads. Make inquires and seek aid from you families and friends.

• The Wait

Opportunities do not come instantly. They do come along eventually. You just have to be patient and be aware. Sometimes, opportunities arrive without you knowing it.

• Analyzing Your Prospect

Do not grab a job offer at once. But take a small hold of it and ask for allowance to think it over. Analyze the company if it would suit you. You do not want to jump from the frying pan and into the fire.

• Grabbing It

If you are already decided, go ahead. Get on with the interview and make the necessary arrangements. Be frank about the work status- their expectations and yours.

• Notifying Your Employer

Do this at once. The sooner, the better. Whether your boss is an angel or the other one, you can find saying goodbye difficult. While the good boss will try to persuade you not to leave, the other type might try to pressure you before letting you go. But get on with it. Do it for their own benefit that they can have adjustments or even hire someone to replace you.

Be professional in explaining your side. Family, health and money matters are reasonable.

If a co-worker had been a problem; your boss's nasty ways; or the company's ill management, try not to point the following as your cause for resignation. A company has its own reason for its regulations and therefore, it won't change for you. Raising a personal issue with a boss or a colleague could result to some scandal.

 (C) Phoenix Montoya @ April 21, 2009

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Where Are The Doctors?

In the Philippines, while rich and powerful people get the most privileges, little people are deprived of almost everything- and would you believe even with their government doctors?

I work as a pharmacist in a generic drugstore designed for people who want cheaper medicines. Every day, I talk to customers explaining to them the difference between the generic and branded drugs. Most of my customers are from the lower class- still ignorant and in need of assistance regarding the concept of medicine. Sadly, these people usually undergo self medication- bad that they are not being diagnosed by a registered physician and worse that they are always buying the wrong medicine for their ailments.

No money

With the crisis going on, most drugstores in the Philippines normally let customers buy OTC medicine and even Rx drugs, providing them with proper instructions and information about the medications they are buying. But when it comes to serious conditions, customers are being advised to see a doctor first, specifically if a young child or infant is involved.

Unfortunately, eight out of ten of these people would risk their health by buying unfamiliar medicine suggested by friends rather than seek help from a real doctor. Two reasons: Private Doctors are expensive and government doctors are hard to find.

No doctors

The Philippine government provides health care units for every municipality. These health units consist of doctors, dentists, nurses and midwives. The aim of these facilities is to provide health education, free medicine and other medical services for its people, particularly for those who couldn’t afford these necessities. While some of these facilities are still unavailable in some parts of the country, in particular those beyond the reach of the government, those towns with these services still fail to support those people who needed help.

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Just recently, we have been receiving prescriptions made by midwives. In the absence of the physician, these can be acceptable. The funny thing about it was that, ‘the prescriber’ seemed no to know the drug he was recommending. The capsule was abbreviated cup instead of cap; The teaspoon was abbreviated TBSP for tablespoon, when a four year old child should be taking it; No strength indicated, the pharmacy personnel would have to ask how old the person taking it and one must understand that the dosage of the drug also depends on the weight of the patient and severity of the disease; And more disturbingly, the generic name of the medicine didn’t make sense with the brand.

Now, we may ask? Where was the doctor? Took a stroll somewhere while the midwives performed the job for him?

Can’t afford people waste their time and wait in line just to be diagnosed by midwives? It is no wonder; these people would definitely turn to self medication.

Then again, being thoughtful, government doctors could have been on a seminar or they could have some emergencies elsewhere, every week. It is really unfair for them not to have time for themselves with the exemption of Saturday and Sunday offs. And whatever happened to the Hippocrates oath?

Considering the problem closely, we may ask the government, is the salary of our government doctors not enough for them to do their job well? And is this also the reason, why most of them fly to other countries to become nurses instead of serving their own people?

No hope?

I am not a political person. My only concern is the well being of my customers- their right for a proper health care. But it seems like, any problems involving people are always linked to its government.

Political leaders are not perfect. Most of them make bad impressions by enjoying some privileges they deserve. How can they resist depriving themselves of a luxurious dinner in a foreign country while hundreds of Filipino people young and old die of hunger? And did I mention that they ate with the country’s money?

They say that people make their government. It is not the fault of the leaders of whatever ill fate befalls to its country. It is always the decision of the people. But how can a sick, illiterate or a jobless person make a wise decision? As it would turn out, he will only be bought by some influential shark.

(c) Phoenix Montoya 2010

Life Quotation # 6

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Life is full of surprises and and serendipity. Being open to unexpected turns in the road is an important part of success. If you try to plan every step, you may miss those wonderful twists and turns. Just find your next adventure-do it well, enjoy it-and then, not now, think about what comes next.

~Condoleeza Rice~

Simply Photo: Mount Banahaw De Lucban

Image by the author

Image by the author

Image by the author

Friday Question: Psychogenic Alopecia in Cats

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What is psychogenic alopecia? Is it something to worry about for our cats?

Related article: 

• Psychogenic Alopecia: Stress Related Condition in Cats

Drug Facts: Sodium Ascorbate VS Ascorbic Acid

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One of the best advantages of a Sodium Ascorbate – generic name of Fern-C (FERN), Vit-cee (CNN Generics) and Alka-C (Interchemex Lab), is this vitamin does not cause stomach upset unlike Ascorbic acid. Similar to ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate is an important source of antioxidants beneficial for the body. But, is Sodium Ascorbate really better than Ascorbic Acid?

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What if?

One word: Possibilities.

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Read my poem here

I Was Really Bluffing

I would condemn someone I love. Make him look good by making myself ugly. Then, in the end, when everyone has understood him, I will step out and kiss him. The world will know that everything was just a big show to get attention.

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Do not let this article fool you. So, what if  I was an Atheist?

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Lovable Songs You Would Hate to Sing

Bed of Roses maybe an English expression, which means an easy and peaceful life, but with the Bed of Roses by John Francis Bongiovi Jr, it’s a different thing. 

It’s not about the Bon Jovi band being a hard rock band, it’s in the lyrics. Bed of Roses is an over-radio played song in the 90’s when metal and hip hop groups would clash. Then again, Bed of Roses is neither the song for the metal groups nor the hip hops.

Try singing it yourself and find out.

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Bed of Roses is one of the  seven songs with catchy tunes and lovely melodies, but queer ideas that will make you think twice.

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Friday Question: Calamine Lotion For Acyclovir Cream

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Can calamine lotion replace acyclovir as a substitute?

Related article:

• Calamine Lotion For Chickenpox

Simply Photo: Noah's Ark at Kamay ni Hesus de Lucban

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• Via Dolorosa: The Grotto of Healing and Purification