Why we need music at hospitals

 ‘Outreach concert hall’ goes to UERMM Medical Center

BY NICK J. LIZASO

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Scientific researchers are providing proof of how music therapy can improve the health condition of various patients, including premature infants and people suffering from depression and Parkinson’s disease.

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MUSIC HEALS String and flute quartet and The Nightingales harnessing the healing power of music

On June 2, soothing musical melodies and angelic voices in perfect harmony filled the corridors and halls of the UERM Memorial Medical Center along Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City.

For an hour or so, doctors, nurses and hospital staff members and even patients happily tapped their feet and swayed their heads to the beat and rhythm of the music. It was a delightful break from their exhausting daily routine as they were treated to a live performance by a string and flute quartet, composed of graduates of UST College of Music. This alternated with a sterling performance by a vocal duet called The Nightingales, who sang a selection of songs ranging from classical to pop to folk in perfectly blended ethereal voices echoing through the halls and corridors of the hospital.

The spirits of the audience appeared to soar with every crescendo. They hummed the more familiar melodic strains. They clapped in unrestrained delight, joy apparently filling their hearts.

During those fleeting moments, the exhaustive routine of attending to the needs of ailing patients was far from everyone’s mind. Music was all that mattered and they discovered that music could truly heal and uplift.

All this happened thanks to the enlightened mind of Wilson Young, vice-chairman of the board of trustees of UERMM Medical Center.  When Young and I broached the idea to the president, Dr. Ester Garcia, and the other members of the board, to their credit, they readily agreed to hold it.

ART AND THERAPY The author with Wilson Young, vice-chairman of the board of trustees at UERM Memorial Medical Center

What happened at UERMM Medical Center is part of my personal advocacy called Artreach Initiatives, which aims to bring the arts closer to the people and to make art work for the people.

One aspect of this advocacy is to harness the healing power of music.
Years ago, I facilitated a similar concert during Valentine month as a project of Sining Sigla, which I head, in coordination with the Philippine Cancer Society. The young cancer patients, as well as the medical staff, were so moved and so appreciative to be able to listen to the kind of music that was usually heard only at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The first concert was so successful that the organizers and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) wanted me to organize it for the next two years in a row every Valentine’s month.

Ancients intuitively used music to soothe and heal the soul, from the strumming of ancient harps and flutes to the pure voices that chanted and sang folk songs. Scientific researchers are providing proof of how music therapy can improve the health condition of various patients, including premature infants and people suffering from depression and Parkinson’s disease.

The healing effectiveness of music is now recognized even by the National Institutes of Health, which states that relaxing music has positive effects on patients, doctors, and nursing staff of hospitals. An organization called the Center for Music National Service is expanding the use of music in medical therapy.

With all these new developments, there is no denying the healing power of music, whether we can explain it or not.

Music is just one aspect of our “artreach” mission. We hope to introduce more educational and rejuvenating artistic and creative encounters for patients, their families, and healthcare professionals and workers and transform UERM Memorial Medical Center into an optimum healing environment.

I would like to see the day when every hospital will follow this the lead of UERMMMC and open their doors too to what I call “artreach concert hall” where musical artists will perform live for a gathering of patients and doctors and medical staff.  Imagine the enormous healing and uplifting force of the communal vibrations triggered by such live instrumental and vocal music.

Marcos urges Pinoys to be PH tourism's top influencers

BY BETHEENA UNITE

  

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"Be our country's top influencers."

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said this to encourage Filipinos to be the country's own advocates for tourism as the government unveiled its new tourism slogan.

"Keep introducing the Philippines to the world as a top tier tourist hub," Marcos said during the 50th anniversary of the Department of Tourism (DOT) on Tuesday, June 27, held at the Manila Hotel.

"On that note, I call on the entire Filipino nation to allow yourselves to be our country’s tourism ambassadors. I enjoin you all to be our country’s promoters, advocates, and if I may borrow a coined term in this age of social media, be our country’s top influencers," he added.

The President emphasized that the genuine warmth of the Filipino people "is indeed our greatest asset."

He added that the hospitality Filipinos extend to visitors is a unique characteristic that is innately embedded in the social fabric of being a Filipino, which, he said, "is something that we should all be very proud of."

The DOT also unveiled "Love the Philippines" as the country's new tourism slogan, which, Marcos said, will serve as a guide post for the Philippine tourism industry moving forward.

Tourism powerhouse

The President also urged public officials and tourism stakeholders to "strive to translate our golden vision into reality" using the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) for 2023 to 2028 which was approved in March.

He said the five-year plan stemmed from the administration's determination to implement programs that will transform the country towards being a tourism powerhouse in Asia in the coming years.

"You are the main drivers in the promotion of our beautiful country. I urge you to continue in your role in sustaining the momentum that we have built towards improving our tourism landscape," Marcos said.

"To everyone in the industry who offer their services, to our guests, to our travel agents, to our hotel staff, airline crews, boat operations, everyone who welcomes our tourists with a warm and bright smiles, to make certain that they have a great and memorable experience, maraming maraming salamat sa inyong lahat (thank you very much to all of you)," he added.

In May 2023, the chief executive approved the NTDP as the administration's blueprint and development framework anchored on Filipino culture, heritage and identity. It aims to be sustainable, resilient and competitive in order to transform the country into a tourism powerhouse.
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In the same month, the department’s latest report showed that the total number of international tourist arrivals in the country is at 2,029,419.

Fil-Am bodybuilder vows to help Ilocos Sur public school

BY MANILA BULLETIN SPORTS

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Fil-American bodybuilder Jaclyn Rose Garcia is not only aiming for personal glory when she competes in the 2023 Ms. Health & Fitness online tournament.

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By MARK MONTEJO

Fil-American bodybuilder Jaclyn Rose Garcia is not only aiming for personal glory when she competes in the 2023 Ms. Health & Fitness online tournament.

Ruby Rose Garcia.

Garcia, who is also a fourth degree taekwondo black belter, admitted she joined the online body contest to also give back to the community that meant a lot to her late grandparents.

The tournament offers $20,000 (around P1.1 million) to the winner, and Garcia said if she wins, part of her potential prize money would be donated for the renovation of the Pantay Tamurong Elementary School in Caoayan, Ilocos Sur, where her late grandfather Quirino Sulay taught for 16 years.

“I wanted to honor them in some kind of way and continue on their legacy of philanthropy,” said Garcia.

“When they both passed away last year, it was very hard on the family. They immigrated to a different country and raised a family. They persevered through illnesses and normal challenges in life, but their hearts remained open and they continued to give every opportunity they had,” she added.

Garcia was no stranger in competitions. She has been a martial artist for over 18 years where she was part of the Ernie Reyes Next Generation performance team for over 11 years that performed all over the world.

Among those is the Wesley Snipes’ Master of Martial Arts TV special and performance.

She was also a marathoner, having raced three marathons since 2014. Last year, she ran the Original Marathon in Athens. Greece.

In bodybuilding, she competed in her first Biking BodyBuilding competition last year where she finished second.

The Ms. Health & Fitness tournament is based on voting where the winner will also get featured on the cover of the Ms. Health & Fitness magazine.

Semifinals will be on June 29 where top bodybuilders in each group will advance to the finals.

Finals will be from June 30 to July 6 where votes will be reset.

Winner will be announced on July 13.

Link to vote for Garcia: https://mshealthandfitness.com/2023/jaclyn-rub

Protecting our soil is also protecting our future

BY MANILA BULLETIN

  

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In the national conversation, soil often goes unnoticed, overshadowed by more pressing issues concerning agriculture or land management. The significance of soil escapes our attention unless we engage in urban farming or indoor gardening. However, beneath our feet lies the source of life itself. Without soil, where would our plants and trees find their footing? Without plants and trees, where would we find the life–giving oxygen we breathe? It is unfortunate that we fail to recognize the value of soil until it’s already gone.

While it may not have garnered widespread attention or virality online, the country held its first National Soil Health Summit on June 21, 2023, with the President leading the call to address the growing problems of “degradation, acidification, and pollution of Philippine soil.”

“Our soil is under threat. To continue to neglect this vital agricultural component will lead to an even worse crisis in the future,” said Marcos during the summit’s opening. “While the Philippines is blessed with rich and fertile lands, our country is facing grave and urgent issues in providing quality and sufficient food.”

Citing data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the President highlighted that “around 75 percent of the country’s total cropland is vulnerable to erosion in various degrees, with agriculture losing about 457 million tons of soil annually.” He added that the conversion of lands for settlements and the loss of about 47 hectares of forest cover every year contribute to soil degradation.

“Making matters worse is the improper use of fertilizers and pesticides that pollute and acidify our soil,” Marcos said, noting that on top of the 2.2 million hectares that suffer from “insufficient levels of soil fertility,” around 11 to 13 million hectares are considered “degraded.”

The Chief Executive took the opportunity to unveil the government’s five-point priority agenda for soul and water management, which includes sustainable land management and empowering the Bureau of Soil and Water Management.

“We are conducting a soil and land resources mapping and evaluation process that includes soil-based and land-based level assessments, soil sample analyses and digital map preparations under the Philippine Soil Land Resources Information program,” he said.

Furthermore, he reported that the government is also exploring water security measures through climate-resilient rainwater technologies, and conducting cloud seeding operations for agriculture.

“All these (are being done) to improve water conditions in production areas, in critical watersheds, and in our reservoirs. These are all part of the collective efforts to mitigate the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.”

Over the years, the government has faced criticisms for policies that may appear detrimental or short-sighted. Academics and private sector experts have been critical and vocal in their assessments. This time, however, is not the time for blame or criticism. Recognizing that the government alone cannot address all the challenges when it comes to soil management, the President called upon the private sector and the academe to work and collaborate with the government in tackling the issue of soil health.

By joining forces, pooling expertise, and starting at the grassroots level, we can find the optimal solutions to challenges that have plagued our country for generations. The present moment is an opportune time for such collaboration, and if we seek to start at the very foundation, then there is no need to search beyond the soil beneath our feet.

Alex Eala advances to second round in W40 Palma del Rio

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Jun 27, 2023 12:52 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Alex Eala crushed her first-round rival to make her title campaign known in the W40 Palma del Rio International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament on Monday, June 27 (Tuesday in Manila) in Spain.

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Alex Eala crushed her first-round rival to make her title campaign known in the W40 Palma del Rio International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament on Monday, June 27 (Tuesday in Manila) in Spain.

Alex Eala aims for her fourth title in the pro scene. (File Photo/Palma Del Rio Tennis)

The sixth-seeded Eala overpowered wildcard bet Lorena Solar Donoso of Spain, 6-3, 6-2, to advance to the second round of the $40,000 event.

“Good start!” Eala posted on social media shortly after the victory.

The win arranged Eala a meeting with the winner between Hong Kong’s Adithya Karunaratne and Australia’s Talia Gibson.

The 18-year-old Eala aims to follow up her title victory in the W25 Yecla also in Spain early this month.

Another title for Eala in this tournament would give her a fourth pro title.

Our prophetic duty

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

IN the gospel, there is a part where Christ warns us about false prophets. (cfr. Mt 7,15-20) “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves,” he said. “By their fruits you will know them.”

We cannot deny that the world today is awash with false prophets and demagogues. It even looks like there is an infestation. Whether we look at the fields of politics, business, the sciences, sports and entertainment, and, worst of all, religion, we can readily find dishonest and corrupt leaders, false prophets and lying teachers.

It actually should be no surprise. Since time immemorial, and even during the time of Christ, these people proliferated. Our human condition, if not grounded on God, is vulnerable to it. We can't help it. Our world can easily produce the causative elements and factors. And we can never run out of potential materials. 

Such a sad phenomenon should remind us of our duty to take more seriously our prophetic duty. This duty is incumbent on everyone, obviously in varying ways. This is what the Catechism teaches regarding this duty:

“The holy People of God shares also in Christ's prophetic office," above all in the supernatural sense of faith that belongs to the whole People, lay and clergy, when it "unfailingly adheres to this faith . . . once for all delivered to the saints," and when it deepens its understanding and becomes Christ's witness in the midst of this world.” (785)

We therefore need to study seriously the doctrine of our Christian faith, making such doctrine flesh of our flesh in such a way that we can truly personify Christ himself. Let’s remember what Christ told his disciples which can be applied to us who believe in him: “He who hears you hears me, he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Lk 10,16)

This is, of course, a test of faith for us, since we are always given the choice of either believing in what God through Christ in the Spirit and now in the Church teaches us, or sticking to our own views and personal beliefs.

Of course, that faith has to be translated into deeds and life itself. For this, we have to avail of some effective means and practices to keep that faith alive, that faith that should lead us to hope and charity. As much as possible, we have to be consistent in this way of life everyday.

These means and practices can be the frequent recourse to the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, availing of some program of ongoing formation which should last till death, waging some ascetical struggle to continually develop virtues and fight off temptations and sin, coming up with a plan of life where we spend time for personal prayer and some devotions, especially that to our Lady.

It’s important that we put ourselves always in the presence of God, and see to it that our thoughts, desires and intentions, our feelings, words and actions, begin with God and end with him also. We have to be wary to give witness to Christ in our daily activities.

Let us always remember that everyday we should see to it that we are progressing in our lifelong journey to become more and more the image and likeness of God as God wants us to be. 

This is what our prophetic duty entails.

THE THEORY THAT MATTERS

We love to complain! Many times we don't have reasons at all to do so - but, we love to complain. Especially nowadays. Our world is full of mess- isn't it? 

We bring many assertions to bear: first, in the past we have been thriftier and economical, more religious and devout, more patriotic, industrious, more hard-working, keen and obedient. And, second, above everything and all: in the past we had more idealists. Third, nowadays we have (mostly?) material things in mind - what a disgrace. 

Materialists or idealists? What do you love?

I just quoted Vox Populi... .

A "materialist" has indeed become a swear word. I don't mean with "material" the accumulated data out of which a writer creates a work of literary, historical, or scientific value. A materialist is being easily described as someone with an attitude, who ignores spiritual values, compared with an idealist, who has the tendency to seek the highest spiritual perfection.

Idealism means the doctrine that appearance is purely the perception, the idea of subjects, and that the world is to be regarded as consisting of mind. The coquetry of higher philosophy makes it difficult to bear the ups and downs in our daily life.

Sure, we all know that "our last earthly dress has no pockets  any more". Striving for earthly and terrestrial possession, property and estate might be the hit-man of idealism. That's how we have been taught. "Wine, women and song", having the unpleasant feeling of fullness, egoism and bragging as well as showing-off - are these the materialist's real attitudes?

Is the idealist, many times not being able to stand on earth with both feet, the only one who occupies himself with religion and virtuousness - so to speak, with celestial and heavenly things? Is that really so? Can we make such a distinction? Sure, it's easy to do so: it's manageable and comfortable. But well, why is the enjoyment of having a tasty meal BAD, and listening to a recital composed by Johann Sebastian Bach BETTER? Why should art be better than roasted pork and a bottle of wine? Value judgements and moral concepts... .

Owning a house and lot and care are - of course - earthly properties, as well as bank saving accounts, profitable insurances, and invest advantageously in stocks. Is a terrible underpaid nurse or a book author an idealist, because he or she doesn't work for the filthy lure but for higher values? Has Jesus been an idealist, because He renunciated and died without terrestrial possession? Has Jesus been a materialist, because He fed thousands of people on the breadline? Are we idealists, if we bequeath nothing to our families and might die without a single centavo, because earthly things are bad?