Pneumonia

            With today's weather, we are currently in the midst of cold weather and rain. In this cold weather, we can easily catch ourselves with a common cold and fever, but there are other diseases that we can also be infected into our respiratory and circulatory systems. One of these diseases is Pneumonia, which is a disease in the Respiratory System. Knowing that this disease may infect us, we need to be careful with it! Anything can happen with the weather today and we need to keep a watchful eye on it!

Discussion:

            Pneumonia is the inflammation of the lungs due to an infection, whether the infection would be bacterial or viral infection. This fills the air sacs with liquid or pus, which hardens the lungs and makes breathing difficult and transferring oxygen into the blood with Pneumonia active. This causes chest pains, confusion with their mental awareness, coughing, fatigue, and fever while Severe Pneumonia encounters high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. To prevent this disease, the person with Pneumonia must have proper hygiene and a balance diet of eating the right amount of fruits and vegetables, along with exercising and getting enough sleep. When this disease is untreated, it becomes severe and, stated in a previous line, experiences with high fever with gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhea.  As mentioned earlier, Pneumonia is caused by an infection into the lungs, whether it would be viral infection or bacterial infection, and the most common bacterial type that causes Pneumonia to become active is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumonia cases are life-threatening because around 50,000 people die each year of this disease within the U.S. Although anyone of the age can be affected since pneumonia is more common in elderly people and often occurs when the immune system becomes weakened via a prior infection or another condition. Lastly, Pneumonia generally becomes more serious when it affects the following: older adults, infants and young children, those with chronic medical conditions, or those with weakened immune function.

Link to Economics:

            With Economics, this creates the making and planning of decisions. The right choices we make are going to help in keeping our Respiratory and Circulatory System Diseases from becoming more severe, if it's left untreated. Pneumonia states itself as the single largest infectious cause of death in children worldwide. This disease carried the death 808 694 children in 2017, under the age of 5, this accounts 15% of all deaths of children under 5 years old. This disease can be prevented by immunization, adequate nutrition, and by addressing environmental factors. With this, the children with Pneumonia need the provided antibiotics but it's only a third of the children receives the antibiotics they need. Aside from that, children can be protected from this disease with simple interventions and treated with low-cost, low-tech medication and care.

            The cost of antibiotic treatment for all children with pneumonia in 66 of the countdown to 2015 countries for maternal, newborn and child survival is estimated at around US$ 109 million per year. The price includes the antibiotics and diagnostics for pneumonia management. The management for pneumonia can be a little expensive for those who can't afford the antibiotics they need. With that being said, the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PVC) had different evaluations to indicate the prize of the vaccine to be the main determinant of cost effectiveness. As the current prize is high (in the order of US 50 dollars per dose, which causes 2,619.15 Philippine Pesos per dose), the economic attractiveness of the universal PCV vaccination strategies hinges on the potential for price reductions and the willingness of decision makers to adopt a societal perspective.

References:

August 2, 2019, World Health Organization, "Pneumonia", retrieved from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/pneumonia

De Graeve D, Beutels P, November 22, 2004, NCBI, "Economic Aspects of Pneumococcal Pneumonia: A Review of the Literature", retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15250750

Melissa Conrad Stoppler, MD, August 17, 2018, Medicinenet, "Pneumonia Facts",  retrieved from: https://www.medicinenet.com/pneumonia_facts/article.htm#pneumonia_facts

CREDITS:
Hanna Joan H. Alusin - Poster & Link to Economics
Aldrine Pacheco - Discussion
Aron B. Cazar - Introduction & Discussion

How to Show Compassion

How to Show Compassion

Picture Credits: greatergood.berkeley.edu, cc-sd.edu, and jibberjobber.com

"A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal"

-Steve Maraboli

       Showing Compassion is an important moral. It means to have a sympathetic feeling. With this moral, we also show respect and care to other people. Seems simple enough, right? No, it's not that simple. People don't show respect to others that much, and that's why they don't show proper compassion. But believe it or not, most people care about themselves instead of caring for others. The point is that we need more respect and show compassion, even if we can do a little bit of progress in doing so.

Here it goes...

1.UNDERSTANDING the Situation and Open up a Conversation. Opening up a conversation will let everyone understand what they are capable of doing in the community and find ways to make a slow and steady progress. This would also help out in showing compassion by expressing who you are with your own ideas.

2. LEARNING new things about them. It helps in increasing their relationship and earning their trust around each other, so that they'll be keeping their promise and never leave their side in different situations and problems that they'll encounter.

3. HELPING in different Charity Events. This helps gain their reputation within those charity events, like hosting different party events or competitions in order to raise enough money for those said charities, and knowing that other people are still good and compassionate to others with these events happening within the community.

4. SHOW respect and responsibility to the people, especially the people with conditions, disabilities, and the elderly. That way, we can help them for their needs to take care for themselves and making a good deed in their stead of their condition or to the elderly people.

5. LETTING everyone hear your voice. That way, anyone can do a good role within the community, showing a sympathetic feeling, compassion, towards other people. Aside from that, this let everyone makes them feel their compassion showing to others.

6. CARING and show compassion to yourself. Knowing that you're now caring for other people in the community, you should also know to care for yourself because showing compassion doesn't deal with that moral to others, you're one of the reasons to show compassion in the first place and live up to that moral within the community.

These are only a few things to remember in showing compassion in your community.

       Our parents, friends, and teachers taught us good morals and lessons. Showing compassion means we're doing something good for the society. We can make more and more changes if we learn how to be compassionate and respectful to easily make those changes for the future. Anything is possible if we can make a sympathetic feeling show to other people.

Thank you for reading, Everyone!

My Bond with My Family

My Bond with My Family

On last January 27, 2019, was the ACT-IS Regular Program Family Day, with its theme being "Family, United in Love". All of the students from each the Preschool Department to the Junior High School Department, celebrated this program with their families together as one, and always united with love and care, as mentioned in the said theme of Family Day.

On the time we got there, I was a bit excited during the registration since I know, I will get to be with my mother and father, along with my old brother, sister and niece from Grade 1, but was a little nervous for my classmates to be seeing with my parents for once in a lifetime since they never got to see them a lot of times.

During that time after we arrived at the program, it was time for the Mass and listened well, while taking a few glances at my parents to see how they were doing during the Mass was in session, along with my classmates, the other students and parents within the area. Afterwards, it was time for the actual program with the presentations from the different levels. My parents and brother, however, had to go home after the Mass was finished to rest but said that they'll return for eating dinner. The presentations from the different levels were amazing and I was staying really confident but a little nervous when it was our turn to present in front of the other students and parents from the different levels, but my confidence didn't fade away until the end of our performance.

I was happy for our performance went, except for some of my classmates that felt uncomfortable during the performance, but I still think we did a pretty good job during the presentation. After the presentations from the different levels, the people from the VDAC, Venanzuela Dance Art Center performed an outstanding performance that left everyone on the sides awestruck, and so did I, obviously.

Afterwards, it was time for the raffle drawing. Surprisingly enough, I heard my name during the raffle draw and left a bit surprised and shocked, at the same time. My adviser, Ms. Ara, said that it was my lucky day during that time since I got called first for the raffle draw, out of the entire class.

After the raffle draws for a few prices, it was the "Hot Momma & Hot Pappa" competition for the Grade School Department and noticed my sister, representing for the Grade 1 Level and was cheering her on so much, my voice cracked a lot and almost lost it. With that being said, it was time for more raffle drawing after that and then, it was time for dinner.

My parents, however, didn't came back for dinner since my mother felt tired and they were only there to attend the Mass before the program even began. But luckily, my sister and niece were still there, which was no problem for me during that time because I didn't felt alone, aside from my friends, keeping me company.

After eating dinner and having tons of conversations with my classmates and their parents, it was time for more raffle draws and after that, was the "I Got it from my Momma, I Got it from my Pappa" Talent Show and Competition. I was slightly amazed by some of the performances from the other levels, but kept on cheering for the performance of Grade 8 a.k.a, my class.

Afterwards, there were a few more raffle draws. So, did I had fun during the program of Family Day, Family United in Love? In my opinion, I had a great time, even though my parents didn't came back for the rest of the program and for dinner, but I still had a great time with my friends and other classmates of mine for the rest of the program since, like my own family, they're also my second family.

Feeling the Void of Darkness

FEELING THE VOID OF DARKNESS

Darkness fills the room. What am I feeling? Fear, like a dark void.

"Everything's gonna be okay." But no miracle will show.

If fear is inside, how would I feel my own happiness?

Reflective Writing on The Story of Ruth

THE STORY OF RUTH

Introduction

The story of Ruth is a story that comes from the Hebrew Bible and is included in the third division or the Writings of the Bible. The story follows about a Moabitess woman named Ruth, who was married to Mahlon, who is one of the two sons of Naomi, their mother, and their deceased father or Naomi's husband, Elimelech. After both sons and Elimelech died, Naomi and her two daughters-in-law decided to go back to Bethlehem, but Naomi asked Orpah to go back to her home yet Ruth wanted to stay with her, after her husband just passed away. Ruth then met a man named Boaz, who was her husband's closest male relative, and Naomi suggests that she should marry him because it was Jewish Custom to have the widow to marry their closest male relative. After reading the story, there were a few questions that were circulating in my head. Those questions are different, but one question has really got me wondering if it still happens today: "Is the Jewish Custom to marry a childless widow to the closest male relative?" Everything in my head is circling around that question.

In this blog of mine, I will be talking about my opinion about the custom that happened in the story and how the story is being related in what today's world is now.

BODY

The Judge Shamgar slaughters 600
men with an ox goad.
From a medieval German manuscript

In the story, it mentions that Israel is being ruled by judges before. According to Wikipedia.com, there were judges called the Biblical Judges, which were described in the Hebrew Bible, and mostly in the Book of Judges. They're people who served roles as military leaders in times of crisis, in the period before an Israelite monarchy was established. A cyclical pattern is regularly recounted in the Book of Judges to show the need for the various judges: apostasy of the, hardship brought on as punishment from God, crying out the Lord for rescue.

About the thing that Ruth said to her mother-in-law - "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me" - actually came from the actual bible and is known as Ruth 1:16-17.

Judah and Tamar, by Rembrandt (1650s).
An early example of aYibbum-like practice
is the biblical story of Judah and Tamar.

The part when Naomi told her daughter-in-law about Boaz being their closest male relative in the family, he should marry her since it was a Jewish custom for a widow to marry her husband’s closest male relative after he passed away. Now, this was a true custom in Judaism and it is called Yibbum or Levirate Marriage. It is also said to be one of the most complex types of marriages mandated by Torah law by which, according to the law, the brother of a man who died without children has an obligation to marry the widow. However, if either of the parties refuses to go through with the marriage, both are required to go through a ceremony known as halizah, involving a symbolic act of renunciation of their right to perform this marriage. Jewish law has seen a gradual decline of yibbum in favor of halizah, to the point where in most contemporary Jewish communities, and in Israel by mandate of the Chief Rabbinate, the former is prohibited.

Though, the concept of yibbum is not unique to Judaism. Known as levirate marriage (when the marriage is to the deceased’s brother) or widow inheritance (when it is to any surviving male relative), has been practiced by other societies with a strong clan structure. It is or was known in societies including Punjabis, Jats, Huns, Mongols, and Tibetans. In my honest opinion, I don't agree with this kind of custom to people, because if you marry the closest male relative, you won't get to marry the person you really have the most time. You enjoy the company of that person your whole entire life, and if you were to marry your family's closest male relative, then that relationship with that special someone your whole entire life will change. In short, I disagree with this being a custom to some people, but there are people that still do this custom.

But is levirate marriage still practicing today? Well, it is still being practiced today in Orthodoxy, but the policy is not to have the couple marry. The custom came from the Bronze age custom of supporting a childless widow who had no claim on her husband’s estate, and no means of supporting herself. A woman who might be infertile (they had no idea in that time whose ‘fault’ it was that no kids happened) was unlikely to marry again. Therefore, kindness allowed the woman a second shot at a married life. Today, childless widows have claim on their husband’s estate and can support themselves. So the custom is no longer carried out, outside a ceremony of release.

CONCLUSION

After what happened in the story, I have to come a realization that the childless widows who follow along with levirate marriage don't have a choice. The childless widows need to find someone else, instead of their closest male relative, so they can express their love and support for each other and for the family as well. And the fact that Ruth didn't want to go back to her home and decided to stay with her mother-in-law is because she cares deeply for her and wanted to be with her forever until they die, as stated in what she said to her and what is says in the bible. Love always require a second chance and I know it for some other people, especially if your loved one passed away into the afterlife, but just know that they'll always be there.

REFERENCES

-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Ruth

-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yibbum

-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_judges

-https://www.quora.com/Is-the-levirate-marriage-system-still-practiced-in-Judaism-Ive-seen-an-interesting-film-about-this-called-Loving-Leah

Autobiographical Incident

Internet Changes Everyone's Lives

An Autobiographical Incident

By Hanna Joan H. Alusin

"The internet changed my attitude."

Ever since the year 2013. I had no idea what to do with my life. I don't know what to become and how much I want to entertain myself with. That was the time I didn't know too much about technology, aside from owning a computer yet not using it.

"Hanna, wanna play a game on my phone?" My Ate said.

She eventually showed me a game on her phone and I didn't know what to expect, so I decided to start playing the game. A few days later, I was becoming addicted to the game and that is where I was introduced into the world of the Internet. There, I started watching videos from content creators on YouTube and watching anime, as well. But as the years go by, I started to change my attitude towards other people. I became anti-social. Some people were asking me;

"What happened to you?"

And I said, "The internet changed me."

These days, people are being more into the internet and that, every person has became anti-social and not connecting more with one another in real life. That has become who I am, because of the internet, and everything is never as it seems.

An Open Letter to Parents

Open Letter to Parents

Whatever you must do, you must do the things like working and caring for the needs of your child. Things like money are important, so that your child can have their education in a school and needing the valuable things for them to continue on with their studies. Even if the kids today are focusing on the new technology and the internet, you, the parents, tell them to lessen their time on technology, and prioritizing their studies and education. Sure, there are ups and downs, arguments here and there, but know this, you are raising and helping your child to make them who they want to be.

But what will you be doing? Of course, you have to support your child, in any manner of guidance, chase down the dreams and wishes that they are trying to seek for the future. There would be problems about one another, but they'll always know that they have learned more than three things from you. Anything they do, they will certainly make a path towards it.

From: Sons and Daughters