Collateral in the race to survive: The high cost of sacrificing sleep

 

By Manila Bulletin

In today’s fast-paced world, especially as the end of the year approaches, it seems as if people believe they can work 24 hours a day if only the body allowed it. Many Filipinos willingly trade hours of sleep to finish deadlines, pursue degrees, juggle multiple jobs, or expand a small business. The mindset is familiar: when time runs short, sleep becomes negotiable.

This thinking is not only misguided—it is dangerous.

Sleep is not a luxury. It is a biological requirement, as vital as food and exercise. Yet it is the first thing many of us give up when life demands more of us. In the Philippines, where commutes stretch for hours, where workers often hold side gigs, and where students battle heavy academic loads on top of household responsibilities, sleep is routinely stolen both by necessity and habit.

But science is clear: the body pays the price every time we cut sleep short.

According to the National Sleep Foundation based in Virginia, USA, most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep, while teenagers and young adults require even more. As explained in medical reports, deep sleep early in the night allows the body to repair muscles, tissues, and the immune system, while later REM sleep strengthens learning, memory, and emotional regulation. Skipping sleep means skipping these vital processes.

The consequences are serious. Medical experts warn that chronic sleep deprivation increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and depression. It weakens immunity. And in a country where non-communicable diseases are rising and healthcare remains costly for many families, skipping sleep quietly fuels an even larger public health burden.

And still, Filipinos continue to give away their sleep. Why?

First, economic pressure. Many workers in Metro Manila and other urban centers work late-night shifts, especially in the BPO sector, to match foreign time zones. Gig workers—delivery riders, freelancers, content creators—extend their waking hours to earn enough to withstand rising prices. Sleep becomes collateral in the race to survive.

Second, academic overload. Filipino students deal with early call times, heavy homework, and long commutes. College and graduate students often push through the night to meet demanding requirements.

Third, technology and lifestyle habits. Late-night scrolling, binge-watching, and constant notifications keep the brain stimulated long after the body wants to shut down. Health and sleep experts recommend turning off electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bed, but for many, phones and tablets have become inseparable from daily life.

Finally, the culture of hustle. We often glorify “puyat” (sleepless nights) as a badge of hard work, even when productivity and performance suffer. The belief that success requires sleeplessness persists, though research consistently shows the opposite: chronic lack of rest leads to burnout, poor judgment, and declining creativity.

The good news is that improving sleep is possible. Experts cite several strategies: keep a regular sleep schedule, avoid large meals and alcohol before bedtime, limit caffeine after the afternoon, keep bedrooms cool and quiet, and exercise regularly. These practices—known as sleep hygiene—are proven to improve rest and overall health.

Better sleep is not merely a personal win. It is a societal advantage. A well-rested workforce is more productive and less prone to errors and accidents. A well-rested student learns better and stays mentally resilient. A well-rested parent is more patient, present, and emotionally stable. A well-rested citizenry is a stronger nation.

It is time to reject the myth that sleeping less is the price of ambition. True success requires clarity, endurance, and sound judgment—and none of these flourish in exhaustion.

What is leberkase, and why might someone be hesitant to try it despite its popularity in Germany?

 

What is leberkase, and why might someone be hesitant to try it despite its popularity in Germany?

Volker Eichener

Professor at Hochschule Düsseldorf

Leberkäse is a sausage which is not filled into a casing and cooked but which is baked in a loaf pan. You can also call it a kind of meat loaf.

It is made of finely ground pork, bacon and a few spices. Sometimes, there is also beef in it.

The name “Leberkäse” is confusing, because Leber means liver and Käse means cheese.

There is, however, neither liver nor cheese in Leberkäse. The word comes from a dialect and means a compact mass, like a loaf in English. (The only exception is Stuttgarter Leberkäse which contains 5% liver, so neglectable.)

To make clear that it does not contain liver, Leberkäse is now often called “Fleischkäse”.

So, why are some tourists hesitant to try it?

Maybe they do not like liver (or other offal) and think there is liver in it. A classic misunderstanding.

I would strongly recommend it. The flavour is neither strong nor unusual, very similar to a Frankfurter or Wiener (actually, it is made of the same ingredients). The crust adds some extra flavour. It is really good.

EDIT:

This one is my favourite:

You buy it raw and you bake it at home in your oven. The crust turns out perfectly, as you like it best.

And it’s super-fresh and sizzling.

We like to eat it with a fried egg, homemade radish salad (just radish, yoghurt, mustard, parsley) and south-German potato salad.

Creation needs protection, love, justice and peace

 

By Fr. Shay Cullen, Founder since 1974

The Philippines has been battered by devastating storms in recent weeks. We endure around 20 powerful typhoons a year, and occasionally experience earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Recently, in Liloan, Cebu, several families were caught in floods rising as high as their rooftops. They had to climb mango trees to escape. Entire homes were flattened, and all properties were lost. They have nothing, not even extra clothes. That is how destructive typhoons can be. Filipinos remain resilient as climate change tightens its grip on the weather, affecting their lives. They have the determination and strength to recover and continue surviving day by day. Inexplicably, many take these all with grim humor, even joking about their plight. But it is no joke for the poor when their humble houses are obliterated and survive, despite having nothing left for their families. Those involved in the massive corruption in flood control projects that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. first exposed in July have a lot to answer for. Meanwhile, world leaders who have gathered at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil have to continue serious efforts in bringing global warming under control. Yet, we know that the climate is changing for the worse, and stronger, more intense weather is affecting many people all over the world. Like in previous editions, COP30 reminds us of the historic Paris Agreement signed 10 years ago. This pact binds countries to limit global temperatures to “well below” 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. However, in parts of the globe, temperatures have exceeded 1.5 C, and scientists say it is likely to rise higher. This could lead to catastrophic consequences, and our climate could reach a tipping point of no return. The good news is that in the European Union, renewable energy (RE) produced by wind turbines and solar plants, as well as geothermal, hydropower and biomass facilities, has just overtaken fossil fuel as the main source of electricity. This is the ongoing struggle at COP30: the efforts to mitigate the negative effects of climate change are being thwarted by the fossil fuel industry, and some powerful nations, like the United States under President Donald Trump — who is not at the conference — want fossil fuel as their power source. However, many US states are going with renewables and working to hold global temperatures under 1.5 C. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said the “sun is rising on a clean energy age,” as 90 percent of RE projects are cheaper than fossil fuels. He has called on every major tech company to switch all of their data centers to run on 100-percent renewables by 2030. Guterres has also said fossil fuels threaten the planet. Renewable sources of energy are the only way to go, and they’re much cheaper and safer. “The greatest threat to energy security today is fossil fuels. They leave economies and people at the mercy of price shocks, supply disruptions and geopolitical turmoil,” he said. “There are no price spikes for sunlight. No embargoes on wind. Renewable energy sources are cost-effective, too,” he said. Solar power is about 41 percent cheaper than the cheapest fossil fuel alternative, and onshore wind generation is less than half the price of fossil fuels, according to a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency. The late pope Francis was outspoken about the dangers of climate change, as well as solutions to it. He said it was a matter of deep faith to do good and protect Creation and oppose the evil forces destroying it, as these are rooted in our “deepest convictions about love, justice and peace.” When he was still alive, he called for a global “ecological conversion” and a radical change in lifestyles, production and consumption to “save the planet.” His core message, detailed primarily in his 2015 encyclical “Laudato si’” and 2023 apostolic exhortation “Laudate Deum,” is that the environmental crisis is a moral and ethical issue inextricably linked to social injustice and “throwaway culture.” He urged the “progressive replacement without delay” of highly polluting fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) with RE sources, of which the Philippines and the developing world have great capacity. This is the heart of the Christian commitment: to care for Creation and challenge the powerful economic and political forces blocking renewables and increasing global warming. What we can do is challenge the multinational power and mining corporations involved in extracting coal, oil and gas and persuade them, for the sake of humanity and Creation, to desist. This is what Francis seemed to have called for. The massive amount of carbon and methane gases in the atmosphere are causing the planet to overheat. Stopping the burning of fossil fuels is the only way to halt global warming. In the Philippines, power corporations have to phase out coal and oil-powered generation plants sooner to meet our international obligations and save the country from more natural and manmade disasters. The government must cancel all new applications for coal plants and improve tax benefits for solar and wind farms. More home-based solar panels are essential, but they are very expensive, despite low import taxes. Corporations supplying and installing panels are out to maximize profit. It seems Francis’ words and actions have had some impact on COP30. Greater attention will be given to the so-called Global Ethical Stocktake. It will focus on the moral, ethical and cultural impacts of climate change. This will be focused especially on the poor, the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups to help women, children and Indigenous people. A large group of Indigenous people broke into the conference center to present their demands. Brazil is starting an international fund to pay developing nations to preserve their rainforests. Sadly, in the Philippines, there is only 3 percent, or 861,000 hectares, of primary rainforest left and an estimated 5 million ha of secondary growth forest. The overall remaining forest is about 24 percent of its total land area, government statistics show. However, Global Forest Watch estimates a higher total of natural forest area of around 13 million ha, or 45 percent of the land area. Denuded forests can recover and regenerate, if given the chance. In the Philippines, many brave environmentalists are being persecuted for protecting them. They need our support and protection.