Lugaw is the nation’s comfort food

 

by Cheshire Que

Manila Bulletin

Lugaw, a local porridge, is so common and simple that we take it for granted, until we fall ill. Can you recall the times you had the flu or bouts of diarrhea and all you could think of was eating lugaw? Oh, the instant comfort a humble bowl of hot rice boiled in water brings! What makes it so comforting?

Generally speaking, porridge is prepared by boiling grains in water or milk. Variations come depending on the country of origin. Porridge in western countries use oats and milk. In Asian countries, porridge is known as congee in China, okayu in Japan, jok in Thailand, juk in Korea, and lugaw in the Philippines. Arroz caldo is a more flavorful version brought by the added ginger, broth, garlic, and chicken. Porridge varies in terms of grain quality. For example, glutinous rice versus short-grain. The consistency of the broth and other ingredients used to flavor also differ. But they all boil down two things: to give nourishment and comfort.

Are there any health benefits to eating lugaw? Could it possibly possess healing properties? First, let us consider how a sick person feels. Loss of appetite is very common, next to dehydration and difficulty in digestion. This puts him or her at risk of dehydration, nutrient deficiencies, and fatigue. Lugaw can provide easy to digest source of energy through the boiled rice, which is high in carbohydrates. The high water content of lugaw can add to the individuals total fluid intake in a day, thus helping prevent dehydration. 

Second, lugaw is a versatile bland dish that can be enhanced in many ways to add more nutrients and flavor. There are no rules set in cooking lugaw. Adding ginger will give multiple health benefits. It has antimicrobial properties that ward off germs, bacteria, and viruses. It’s anti-inflammatory effects aid in pain management, as well as fever. Ginger also calms nausea and indigestion. It helps control cholesterol and lowers blood glucose too.

Another ingredient common in lugaw is garlic. This close relative of onion and scallion has been used since ancient times to treat lung diseases, fever, high blood pressure, and stomach upset, which includes flatulence, indigestion, and colic.

Salt is a staple for lugaw. Caution, however, must be taken for individuals with high blood pressure and edema. Salt is not entirely bad. For someone experiencing diarrhea, salt will help improve electrolyte imbalance and prevent dehydration. Sprinkle some on your lugaw. 

Adding some flaked chicken or fish, egg, and other seafood will give high biologic value protein for immunity and prevention of muscle loss. For a plant based lugaw, lentils, beans, and soy products can be added as good sources of protein. 

You can also choose to make the humble dish fancier by trying on a sweeter and more sophisticated flavor instead of the usual savory one. Sprinkle some cinnamon powder, add cubed apple and banana slices, and drizzle some honey. 

Cinnamon is a powerful antioxidant. It helps lower blood glucose, quell inflammation, especially for those experiencing arthritic pains. Honey is a potent natural cough suppressant. It is also a prebiotic, which promotes healthy gut microbiome or bacteria in the digestive system. Apple and banana have pectin, which is good for the stomach lining and heart health. Having some apples and bananas during bouts of diarrheal episodes will help form stool. 

Never underestimate the nutritional value of having lugaw, especially on sick days. Lugaw is essential.

cheshireque@gmail.com

DOJ: Facebook removes page behind ‘malicious tagging’

ARE you one of those tagged in comments to a malicious Facebook post of a friend or random users?

Here’s good news: the page associated with the “malicious tagging” has been removed.

The Department of Justice (DOJ)-Office of Cybercrime (OOC) confirmed this Wednesday, April 21, saying that it received a notice from Facebook’s APAC Legal Law Enforcement Outreach about the removal, adding that the administrators of the page associated with the malicious tagging were sanctioned.

The DOH-OOC reported the matter to Facebook’s APAC Legal Law Enforcement Outreach after receiving several complaints from Facebook users who were tagged in a post containing a link to adult videos.

Once the link is clicked, the users are asked to install an update to a player so they can watch the video in full. Clicking on the link, however, will result in the automatic and random tagging of other Facebook account users in the same post.

Experts said people behind “malicious tagging” could gain access to a Facebook account and they could send messages or posts with a link tagging your friends or random people on the social network, allowing them to spread the malware.

Security researchers said this can be avoided by not clicking on the malicious links, especially those tagged by strangers.

“If you happen to get a notification tagging you in a post that contains a link to an apparent adult content, do not lick any further and report the post,” said the DOJ-OOC.

It also encouraged Facebook users to report similar incidents in the future to the DOH-OOC for immediate and appropriate action.

The DOJ-OOC said introduction or transmission of viruses, such as malwares, to and interference in the functioning of computer systems are prohibited acts under Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Let's all be good netizens and practice the responsible use of social media,” it said. (Laureen Mondoñedo-Ynot, Manila Bulletin)

DOH reports more Covid-19 recoveries than new infections

FOR the second day, the Department of Health (DOH) reported thousands of recoveries from coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in addition to the record number of time-based recoveries over the weekend.

New Covid-19 cases also fell below 10,000 for the second day as the DOH listed 7,379 new infections in its case bulletin Tuesday, April 20, 2021.

These were lower than the 9,628 reported on Monday and the third below-10,000 case count in the last seven days from April 14 to 20.

Deaths from Covid-19 were also below 100 for the second day on Tuesday, with the DOH confirming 93 mortalities which raised the death toll to 16,141.

The 93 deaths were higher than the 88 deaths on Monday and the third below-100 mortality count in the last seven days. The case fatality rate decreased to 1.69 percent.

The new cases brought the cumulative case count to 953,106.

There were 21,664 recoveries, nearly three times the number of new cases and more than double the 9,266 recoveries reported on Monday .

The DOH has been reporting record numbers of recoveries based on its time-based methodology, which declares as clinically recovered those coronavirus-positive individuals who have not experienced any Covid-19 symptoms for at least 14 consecutive days. However, this used to be done only on Sundays.

On Sunday, April 18, DOH reported a record high of 72,607 recoveries.

The additional recoveries on Tuesday brought down the number of active cases to 127,006, which account for 13.3 percent of the cumulative case count.

These also raised the total recoveries to 809,959, increasing its proportion to 85 percent.

Testing output was still low at 27,040 as of noon of April 19, while the daily positivity rate increased to 17.9 percent.

The daily positivity rate has been lower than 20 percent for nine days from April 12 to 20. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)

Did you click that malicious video link on Facebook?

 

by Art Samaniego, Manila Bulletin

If your answer is yes, then you’re in big trouble. A 2015 malware has recently re-emerged, and this time it is more dangerous. It’s called Facebook “malicious tagging”.

Malicious tagging could gain control of your Facebook account and then send private messages and publish posts with a link tagging your friends on Facebook, people in your Facebook groups, and users who you engaged with on Facebook in the past. The posts and messages could help spread the malware as your friends are more likely to click the link if it’s coming from you. If you see your name being tagged by people you do not know, this means that your friends are safe (for now). The people who tagged you are the people you might have engaged with in the past thru comments or thru Facebook pages.

While this malware is doing its rounds on Facebook, scammers could also use other platforms. So be careful.

How does it work?

First, you would get a notification that you have been tagged in a post. Most of the time, the post would just be a video with a thumbnail that’s not fit for kids to see. Of course, a sexy video would be very tempting to watch especially if it comes from your friend and you would see that many of your friends were also tagged.

Once you click the link, you would be redirected to a page asking you to update your Flash player so that you could watch the video. DO NOT download or update anything. If you do, the malware will then be installed on your device. It would then scan your system for sensitive information that could be used to access your financial accounts. It will also take over your Facebook account by posting a video with a link tagging people in your friend’s list.

What to do?

If you see a Facebook post where you, your friends, and many other users are tagged, do not click the link. Believe me, the only interesting content of that link is the malware that could make your life miserable. Immediately notify the friend who tagged you and tell him to run the latest antivirus software on his device, it is also wise to change the password and activate 2FA immediately. While this malware is doing its rounds on Facebook, other platforms could also share the same malware. I have received an email containing the same link. So be careful.

You can also secure your privacy settings by changing to “only me” who can see posts that you are tagged. If you set it to everyone, other people could see if you’re tagged by the scammers. Also, make sure that you “review tags to your posts before the tags appear on Facebook”. Activate the “Review posts you are tagged in before the posts appear on your profile”, if this is OFF, tags would automatically appear on your wall. If you are annoyed with the notifications informing you that you have been tagged by users you don’t even know, change it to “Friends Only.” All these could be accessed by going to Settings and Privacy then click Settings. Go then to Privacy options and Notifications and change the settings to your preference.

Lastly, always think before you click. Scammers know what’s your weakness and they would use it to trick you.

THE WAY TO HEAVEN

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Driving in big cities is not a joke for beginners. It's an ordeal, especially driving during heavy traffic hours. One must know where to go and which way to take. Otherwise, one'll end up bumping somewhere somehow... .

But, driving a car in a small village, where roads are simple, is for neophytes an enjoyable one. No traffic, or less traffic, no traffic lights, no complicated ways... .

In the same way, railroads can make train drivers ill at ease when they are also in big cities. I remember Munich in my home country Germany, where railways appear like spider's cobwebs. They go in several directions. No wonder, accidents on the roads happened many times.

In life we, too, have roads which lead us to several directions. To go to heaven, man's eternal destiny, one can either choose the shortest road, or one can make detours. Not so many perhaps fall by the way and end up in eternal damnation.

There are some of us, Christians, who take the shourt-cut road to heaven. This is the road of suffering, of the actual practice of Christian virtues, of serving God and our neighbour. Others take the circuitos road of easy life, thinking that at the end they still have time to amend themselves and lead a good life. This is risky, since no one can guarantee that an opportunity will be given at the eleventh hour. Unfortunately, there are still others, who prefer to take that opposite road, which leads to eternal damnation. So they live, so they die! In John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress", we read, "Then I saw that there was a way to hell, even from the gates of heaven!"

Homo sapiens, quo vadis?

Typical Filipino (IX) - Typisch Philippinisch (IX) : Anting-anting: Amulette und Talismänner

 IX: Amulette und Talismänner

Der Glaube an "anting-anting" reicht in die Vorgeschichte zurück und wurde schon von frühen spanischen Chronisten beschrieben. Er ist auch heute noch weit verbreitet. Christliche Filipinos haben ihr "anting-anting" mit abgewandelten christlichen Symbolen und lateinischen Namen versehen. Anting-antings können ihren Besitzer unbesiegbar oder unsichtbar machen und auch Glück und Wohlstand bringen. Gewöhnlich sind sie geheime Waffen von Kriegern. Von vielen namhaften Banditen hieß es, sie hätten besonders wirksame anting-antings besessen. Und der Biograph von Ex-Präsident Marcos, Hartzell Spence, behauptet, Bischof Aglipay hätte Marcos ein anting-anting in den Rücken operieren lassen.

The belief in "anting-anting" goes back to the prehistory and was already described by early Spanish chroniclers. The belief is still widespread today. Christian Filipinos have given their anting-anting modified Christian symbols and Latin  names. Anting-antings can make their owner invincible or invisible and also bring luck and prosperity. Usually they are the secret weapons of warriors. Many well-known bandits are said to have had particularly effective ones. And the biographer of ex-President Marcos, Hartzell Spence claims, Bishop Aglipay had operated an anting-anting in the back of Marcos. [Believe it or not!]

CALL DDOC MARKS 1ST ANNIVERSARY; SERVES 17,000 PATIENTS IN DAVAO DE ORO AND OTHER PROVINCES

DAVAO DE ORO —Call DdOC, the provincial government of Davao de Oro’s healthcare-made-easy online and tele-consultation program which was implemented by its four Provincial Hospitals recently celebrated its first full year of operation last April 13, 2021. Being one of the first free, PLGU-led online consultation programs in Davao Region,Call DdOCin its first year of operation has served over 17,848 patients both within and outside the region. 

Call DdOC was created to provide the public with accessible, contactless, and costless healthcare services amidst the pandemic. This is done by mobilizing the Outpatient Departments (OPD) of each of the province’s four hospitals in Montevista, Laak, Maragusan and Pantukan,to conduct medical consultations through the Call DdOChelplines and Facebook pages.

During the implemented Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) last year, IATF protocols strictly prohibited people from leaving their homes—be it to get check-ups or restock home supplies unless deemed to be an emergency—due to various health risks brought by the pandemic.But as the people remained unable to visit hospitals for face-to-face check-ups,hospital Outpatient Departments also became handicapped.This is what urged Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy and provincial doctors Ferdinand Anthony Soberano, Jose Martin Briones, Eunice Manansala, Neil Estoya, and Ecargam Lim of the four provincial hospitals to create the provincial government’s own online consultation program.

This healthcare initiative operates under the 1DdO Helpline System which is one of the province’s latest digital innovations that integrates government offices into one portal, making government services available within arm’s reach of the public especially during the pandemic.Both programs were recognized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in 2020 and were awarded national Digital Governance Awards (DGA). Ranked first is the 1DdO Helpline which was awarded best in the Government-to-Government category, while Call DdOC placed third in the Government’s COVID-19 Response category.These due recognitions however only empower the provincial government to continue strengthening its efforts to improve healthcare interventions and intensify e-governance in the province of Davao de Oro. // Monique Rosario-Provincial Governor’s Office of Davao de Oro

Typical Filipino (VIII) - Typisch Philippinisch (VIII): "Bayanihan"

 

So heißt die traditionelle Methode der Zusammenarbeit in ländlichen Gebieten bei Tätigkeiten, die die Hilfe vieler Hände verlangen, wie etwa beim Pflanzen und Ernten.

Auch ein Umzug bedeutet, daß das ganze Haus zu einem anderen Standort getragen wird. Alle Verwandten, Freunde und Nachbarn helfen dabei. Bayanihan nennt man diesen Geist gegenseitiger Hilfe und das Symbol für die Fähigkeit der Filipinos, für ein gemeinsames Ziel zusammenzuarbeiten. Ich habe dies in den mehr als 22 Jahren permanentem Lebens mit meiner philippinischen Familie oftmals kennenlernen dürfen.

Bayanihan, this is the name of the traditional method of working together in rural areas for activities that require the help of many hands, such as planting and harvesting.

Moving also means moving the whole house to another location. All relatives, friends, and neighbors help out. Bayanihan is the name given to this spirit of mutual help and the symbol of the Filipinos' ability to work together towards a common goal. I have been able to get to know this many times in the more than 22 years permanently living in the Philippines with my Filipino family.

New commanding officer of 28th IB formally assumes position

Davao de Oro --- The Army’s 28th Infantry KAMAGONG Battalion based in the province of Davao de Oro welcomed LTC Danny D Bustamante INF (GSC) PA as he formally assumes as the newly-installed Commanding Officer on April 12, 2021, at 28th Headquarters situated in Barangay Nueva Visayas, Mawab, Davao de Oro.

In a change of command ceremony MGen Ernesto C Torres Jr PA, Commander of 10th Infantry AGILA Division, lead the handling of the command symbol from outgoing LTC Alexander D Banatao INF (GSC) PA who took post on 12 April 2019 to incoming LTC Danny D Bustamante INF (GSC) PA.

 

Prior to his assumption, LTC Bustamante served as the Battalion Commander of the 10th Civil Military Operation (CMO) and held different vital designations that contributed to the success of the Philippine Army throughout.

 

MGen Torres congratulated LTC Banatao for his accomplishments and commendable service rendered in the past years of successful combat operations, strong multilateral relations, and various efforts in ending local communists armed conflict in the province of Davao Oriental and Davao de Oro.

 

“I want to personally thank the KAMAGONG troopers for their selfless efforts to attain the accomplishments of the unit’s mission and to our partners, the local and national government agencies, civil society organizations, and private stakeholders who have been part of this success,” LTC Banatao said.

 

In his assumption speech, LTC Bustamante expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to lead the unit and vowed commitment to continue the legacy of the outgoing commander. “I commit myself by all means and ensure to work consistently in harmony with the troops and in collaboration with our stakeholders and other agencies to cultivate the value of peace and attain inclusive and sustainable development in the province,” he said.

 

The said ceremony was also witnessed and attended by Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy, Brigade General Luis Rex D Bergante PA, Col Jake Thaddeus Obligado (INF) PA, Municipal Mayor of Mawab, Mabini, Maco, and Pantukan, and other officials.

 (Rheafe Hortizano –Provincial Information Office of DdO, Photo Courtesy of Jonie Cadiz)

Typical Filipino (VII) - Typisch Philippinisch (VII): Essen

 Essen ist ungemein wichtig für die Gemütsverfassung eines Filipinos. Es scheint, als sitze ihm die Angst im Nacken, Hunger leiden zu müssen. Wohin es auch geht, wird für ausreichenden Wegproviant gesorgt. Die Unmenge von Freßpäckchen, die unweigerlich jeden Strandausflug begleiten, vermag das unruhige Gefühl in der Magengegend nicht zu besänftigen. Auf dem Weg zum neuen Ziel muß an einigen Obstständen noch für Nachschub gesorgt werden. 

Es gibt kein Treffen von Filipinos, an dem nicht Essen aufgetragen wird. Es gehört zur üblichen Gastfreundschaft, Besuchern nicht nur Getränke, sondern auch Speisen anzubieten. Die übliche philippinische Begrüßung lautet fast immer: "Haben Sie schon gegessen?" ("Kumain ka na ba?") Es gehört sich nicht, vor den Augen eines anderen zu essen, ohne ihm davon anzubieten. Dazu gehört auch die Kaffeepause, die "Merienda". Eßlokale aller Art schiessen wie Pilze aus dem Boden: vornehme Restaurants , philippinische Spezialitätenlokale, Imbißbuden, Straßengrills und Garküchen. Sie, liebe Leser und Leserinnen  haben die Wahl.

Food is extremely important to the state of mind of a Filipino/Filipina. It seems as if the fear always sits in his/her neck that he/she has to go hungry. Wherever you go, enough provisions will be provided. The huge number of parcels that inevitably accompany every trip to the beach is unable to soothe the uneasy feeling in the stomach area. On the way to a new destination, a few fruit stalls have to be replenished.

There is no meeting of Filipinos where food is not served. It is part of the usual hospitality to visitors not only drinks but also offer foods. The usual Filipino greeting is almost always: "Have you eaten already?" It is not proper to eat in front of another without offering it to him/her. This also includes the coffee break, the "merienda".  Eateries of all kinds are springing up as upscale restaurants, Filipino specialities restaurants,  and local street food stalls. You, my dear readers have the choice.