Archive for August 2012

Look for the Silver Lining

It appears that the P-Noy administration is in a way following the footsteps of his predecessor. Both used the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) as incentives in gaining the cooperation of congress.  The former president took hasty steps to gain the favor of judiciary to avoid prosecution after leaving office. P-Noy is taking serious steps to extend his influence way beyond his 6-year term.






P-Noy has committed to build and reinforce his “Daang Matuwid” during his 6-year term. But questions have been raised that after 2 years, a lot of paving and filling potholes still need to be done.

On the positive side, he has cleared the pathway of booby traps and obstructions and has started putting up road directions for the future.

There are 4 welcome recent developments:
1.    Judicial reform for the next 18 years has been established. It is up to the incumbent ombudsman and chief justice to improve, if not fix, the nation’s ailing justice system. They should not fail us!
 2.    It is sad that DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo had to die just to rally Filipinos to highlight his effective low-key practice of transparency and accountability for local governance. Had he stayed on, he may later be the victim of insidious political intrigues and his accomplishments forgotten in time. At least, now, a template for good government has been recognized and established.
 3.    The country’s long-standing problems are hinged on widespread poverty amid ignorance and unfettered population growth. The RH/ Reproductive Health bill is, as of August 28, 2012, being subjected to legislative amendments ensuring its being faithful to the Philippine constitution and moral code. It is good the open stand of the Ateneo professors on this important legislation has drawn the Catholic bishops to be more transparent in their opposition to this important bill. This is important for the laity for effective implementation.
 4.    Poverty and ignorance should be erased by the K-12 edict for school children and the CCT dole outs to keep children in school. Corruption is not only imbedded in live contracts that had to be rehashed or cancelled and would therefore need diligent review of procurement systems. The slow process of starting changes in our damaged culture will take firm sustained effort over generations.
The 2013 elections should strengthen P-Noy’s team and will test how the Filipinos are reacting to P-Noy’s “daang matuwid”, which should travel far beyond the foreseeable future. With God’s help, let’s give the Pilipino a chance.

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My 9 Sleep Aid Favorites



Do you have problem falling asleep, or toss and turn in the middle of the every night ? Awaken very early, or find yourself not feeling rejuvenated in the morning? You are not alone: many people struggle with falling and staying asleep.

What does food have to do with sleep? Our nutritional status and the food we eat always influence our sleep. Luckily, some foods actively aid falling asleep and staying asleep.
They relax tense muscles, quiet buzzing minds, and/or get calming, sleep-inducing hormones – serotonin and melatonin – flowing.

The following are very tasty and at the same time aid sleep:

1. Milk and cheese (dairy foods). Your mother was right after all to give you a cup of warm milk before sending you off to bed. Cheese like Cheddar, Gruyere and Swiss are especially rich in tryptophan.

2. Turkey. Turkey contains tryptophan. To get the most from the tryptophan in turkey, eat a slice of white turkey meat on a slice of whole-wheat bread in the middle of the evening.

3. Oatmeal and cherries both contain a substance called melatonin. Melatonin is a naturally occurring substance in the body that regulates sleep. So adding additional melatonin on top of what you naturally produce seems to help many people sleep well.

It may be a favorite for breakfast, but you might want to pair a bowl of oatmeal with some coffee to make it through the day. "Grains in oatmeal trigger insulin production much like whole-grain bread," says Cynthia Pasquella, CCN, CHLC, CWC. "They raise your blood sugar naturally and make you feel sleepy. Oats are also rich in melatonin, which relaxes the body and helps you fall asleep."

The best way to get a good night's sleep is to increase your melatonin intake, recommends Dudash. Cherries, along with nuts and oats, are a natural source of melatonin and, when eaten regularly, can help regulate your sleep cycle.

4. Bananas. They are inexpensive and readily available. They are practically a sleeping pill in a peel. In addition to a bit of soothing melatonin and serotonin, bananas contain magnesium, a muscle relaxant. Bananas will also contribute to release tryptophan and serotonin. The magnesium and potassium in bananas serve as muscle and nerve relaxants. Dudash says that the vitamin B6 found in the fruit also converts tryptophan into serotonin, increasing relaxation even more.

5. Chamomile Tea has a mild sedative effect when you consume it. This has to do with certain herbs that are present in it. To some however it may induce coughing.

6. Honey. Drizzle a little in your warm milk or herb tea. Lots of sugar is stimulating, but a little glucose tells your brain to turn off orexin, a recently discovered neurotransmitter that’s linked to alertness. "Be careful not to overdo it," warns Pasquella. "One tablespoon for a good night's sleep is plenty."

7. Almonds   Just a handful of these and you'll be dozing off in no time. Pasquella says almonds contain tryptophan and magnesium, which both help to naturally reduce muscle and nerve function while also steadying your heart rhythm.

8. Whole-Grain Bread.   A piece of toast with your tea and honey will release insulin, which helps tryptophan get to your brain, where it’s converted to serotonin and quietly murmurs “time to sleep.”

9. Dark Chocolate
Don't worry - you can eat chocolate day and night (whew!). Although milk chocolate is a stimulant, dark chocolate contains serotonin, which relaxes your body and mind. Not to mention the other health benefits dark chocolate has, too.

These 9 yummies are the basic main of what helps one (including me) sleep better.
What you should avoid is eating very heavy meals right before bedtime or fatty meals. Fatty meals from greasy or fried types of foods will create havoc with your digestive system, causing your stomach to grumble and may even cause you acid reflux problems at night. Other foods that can create a problem both with acid reflux and digestion are those foods that are spicy, and seasoned very heavily.

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