Addicted to love?  A new study made by Stanford University has found that
passionate and all-consuming love provides the same pain relief effect
similar to cocaine.  According to Science Daily, Dr. Sean Mackay, chief of the Division of Pain Management, studied 15 people who showed that both love and distraction did equally reduce pain.
Dr Arthur Aron, New York’s State University professor of psychology agrees
on the study saying that “Areas of the brain activated by intense love are the
same areas that drugs use to reduce pain.”

“When thinking about your beloved,there is intense activation in the
reward area of the brain — the same area that lights up when you take cocaine, the same area that lights up when you win a lot of money,” says Aron
“This tells us that you don’t have to just rely on drugs for pain relief,” Aron said. “People are feeling intense rewards without the side effects of drugs.”

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Named after a flower  that blooms all at once during spring time, Azalea Restaurant of One Tagaytay Place Hotel Suites is blossoming lots of good food this Christmas.

Taking advantage of fresh ingredients in and around Tagaytay, Executive Chef Ron Manalo is mixing up new dishes along with classic favourites.  These includes his signature dishes: Kesong Puti and Tawilis Pizza,  O.T.B. (One Tagaytay Bulalo), and Kare-kare.

“I like my dishes straight and simple.” Says Chef Ron.  “I make sure that what I make is something that I would eat myself.”

He points out that he learned cooking at a young age from watching his Lola and mom in the kitchen.

“[Being based in] Tagaytay is different because fresh produce is nearby.  It made me more in tune with my Filipino culinary heritage.”  Chef Ron shares.

Finally, Chef Ron reveals that Azalea blooms with magic through delicious food, beautiful location and more importantly, kind hospitality by the staff.

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Plagiarism is the major, major word of the year- from Manny Pangilinan’s  plagiarized Ateneo graduation speech that has put the  business tycoon into shame to Supreme Court Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo, accused of plagiarizing law journals, to  Department of Tourism’s Pilipinas kay ganda ‘Polska-inspired’ logo.  Has Juan dela Cruz  lost his creative edge?

In the digital age, it’s really a race on the most creative and  innovative product – from technology to the arts. Filipinos, however, just like the  US is suffering from the lack of creativity.

According to the book, Innovation Nation by John Kao, talent is now everywhere.  There is a now a global shift, a return to the greatness of antiquity. Israel, Korea, Denmark, Brazil, China, and even third world nation such as India are  now pushing for innovation as part of their government policy.  Many Chinese and Indian  scientists and engineers who migrated to the US have returned to their country to pursue work and teaching.

While these nations have realize that creativity is the power of the future, Juan  however, still has to learn the meaning of originality.  But maybe because from the Spanish, Japanese to the American occupants, we have lost our originality along the way.  While other Asian nations package their Thai, Balinese, Indian culture in Tourism, we still have to learn how to define who we are.  Or maybe Juan is just too tamad to exert any efforts on creativity.

* read about Graphic pictures in cigarettes, cellphones to detect STDs, Green goblin and princess diary stars to host the oscars…read more Here

According to Science Daily, harsh parenting can impair the emotional development of a child, possibly leading to anxiety disorders such as social phobia, separation anxiety and panic attacks.

In the US, however, parents have a hard time disciplining their children
since there is a law against corporal punishment which is perceived to be child abuse. But there are also consequences that parents have to deal with:  kids shout back or  even curse their parents publicly.  And due to lack of corporal punishment, it has been perceived that American children have become spoiled and even abusive, thinking that they can get away with anything.

Seems like the ways of the young generation in the US will trickle down here soon once the bill has been approved.

New ish now online!  Lady Gaga- a course in college?….Call, chat, email from Mt. Everest….Want to go to planet Mars? Read more

It’s the time of year again when people celebrate Halloween. People would gather around at night and even tell ghost stories based from their experiences. But are ghosts real or not? Based from the bible Hebrews 9:27 declares, “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” Therefore, there are only two places a soul goes after life: Heaven or hell. The bible does not say that there is an in-between where a soul can become a ghost until they are able to finish all their earthly duties. There are, however, angels and demons.

Angels are righteous, good, and holy. Demons are fallen angels, who rebelled against God. According to 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, demons pose as “angels of light” They do not pose as scary-looking ghosts. Sadly, people would rather partake in paranormal
activities instead of seeking the truth about the spirit world by communing with God and  studying His Word, Many people  allow themselves to be led astray by urban legends and folklores.And because of this, the demons
surely enjoy seeing spiritual mass-deception that exists in the world
today.

read MORE…

Is your baby a picky eater?  Maybe he’s just adjusting to the new taste of food.   Or maybe it’s just your toddler’s way of  showing independence.  Whatever the reason, a parent faces a daily challenge especially when feeding picky eater.  Below are some tips to help you  feed your baby.

1.    Be patient when introducing new food to your child.  You can only attempt in feeding him up to 15 times before giving up.
2.    DO NOT force feed, coerce, bribe, or threaten your baby into eating
3.    Turn-off the television during meal times, give  your full attention to your
child
4.    Even if it turns to be a mess, let him hold his own spoon – you are actually nurturing his independence
5.Imagination is important:  serve hard boiled egg like a boat floating on a mashed potato, then create a story while feeding.

Read more here

Dengue cases are rising! According to Department of health, since January, dengue cases have increased to 48% higher as compared to last year’s data. Health Secretary Enrique Ona reports that 40,648 dengue cases have been currently registered with a total of 328 deaths. Dengue is caused by the Aedes Aegypti – a dengue virus carrying mosquito that bites during daytime and thrives in dirty water.

Dengue is fatal. Common symptoms are high fever, muscle pains, rashes, and nose-bleed. Some of these symptoms, however, does not manifest on a person and may just think of it as a common flu. But take note: After three days of high-fever that does not subside, your blood platelets would drastically drop which would then put your life at risk. The mosquito can attack anyone, anywhere. It does not choose age, race or social status. Celebrities like Derek Ramsey and young actor Enchong Dee have been rushed to the hospital for dengue. Public hospitals from San Lazaro to even to private ones like Medical City are full of dengue cases. Endemic in the Philippines, no one is bullet-proof from dengue. The only solution to fight the dengue war is by being vigilant of your surroundings and oneself.

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*colored page needs 3d glasses (red lens left, blue lens right)

A Hollywood feel-good movie filmed  abroad can boost tourism.  Mama Mia shown in 2008 drew tourists in hordes in the Greek Island.  Suddenly, sleepy town Forks, Washington – home of the Cullens – became a must-see destination in the US after the movie Twilight, even if it was mainly filmed in Oregon. And the upcoming movie Eat, Pray, Love, based from Elizabeth Gilbert’s 2006 memoir, has helped the battered Bali bring back its former glory.

In 2006, around 4 million tourists dropped Bali in their must-see list after the tsunami disaster, bird flu scare, and government security issues. But the memoir book, which sold seven million copies worldwide, has made Bali a popular destination again. Time reports that new packages by luxury resorts and spas promise to recreate Gilbert’s experience and even help bring enlightenment.

But have you ever read a best-selling feel-good book that has a Philippine setting?   Or have you watched a movie filmed in our country that is not  a killing field, a prostitution hub, or a garbage dump?  Movies about these issues may give the director a Cannes award, but on the contrary, is it a good reward for the country’s tourism?

Beat the stigma. Pray for a miracle. Love Philippines.

read more  here

dnews 1-11 issue

A leader sets the right example.  He is a role model who strongly stands up for what he believes in. By uttering the words “Sisikapin kong maging isang mabuting ehemplo…” in his inaugural speech, President Noynoy Aquino has to be ruthlessly accountable for his words.

Being against the abuse of a “wangwang”, P-Noy has chosen to travel like a commoner.

Although the decision has put him at constant risk, and his Presidential Security Guards  in a difficult position, exercising his stand works.  The next day, travelling sirens (except  those for emergencies) were confiscated nationwide. Some powerful people had tried to reason  to authorities, and the only answer they got was “Utos po ng president yan.”

Sans the siren, critics mocked  P-Noy’s  late arrival at the Armed Forces turnover ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo  on Friday.

But why does he continue on traveling without the wangwang?  A leader sets the right example.  Compromise destroys accountability.

*Read issue by clicking photo

Parents are losing their kids to computer games.  Everyday, these gamers would rather go to cyber cafes to play the latest online games than go to school.

In a report from Malaya, child psychiatrist Dr. Vanessa Cainghug,  says that in a  study done in 2000, out  of 18,000 internet users under age 18 showed that 15 percent were “in the process of becoming psychologically addicted.”

With the advent of technology, more specifically of online games, parents are in constant battle with the “online gamers world.”

Computer addiction is an International issue.  Even South Korea  faces the problem of losing these youngsters to virtual land.  A survey of over 1,500 public school students conducted by the Korea Youth Counseling Institute found that nearly a third (29.3 percent) showed signs of game addiction, while nearly 40 percent of male students were determined to be addicted.

Korea Herald reports that the  Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has started imposing a gaming ban.  The ministry hopes the new measures they have implemented will help eradicate video game addiction among teenagers. The curfew automatically shuts down any online access as soon as the clock strikes midnight.

The policy in South Korea has been strictly implemented when several cases of death because of online games have been reported.  These report ranged of gamers dying  after having spent days and even weeks at PC rooms without a break, and the death of a newborn through starvation from a couple’s neglect and addiction to online gaming rocked the nation.

read more here