Coronavirus: Fake news is spreading fast

Rory Cellan-JonesTechnology correspondent@BBCRoryCJon Twitter

• 26 February 2020

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• Coronavirus outbreak

Image copyrightYOUTUBE

As the coronavirus - or to be precise Covid-19 - spreads around the world, getting accurate information about the disease becomes ever more important.

And in the social media age, that puts a heavy responsibility on the likes of Facebook and YouTube.

These are the platforms that billions now rely on for news and they are already providing fertile territory for those wanting to spread misinformation. On Facebook, it is in groups opposing vaccines and those campaigning against 5G mobile phone networks that scare stories appear most likely to take hold.

I've scanned a number of the 5G groups, and found plenty of comments suggesting there is a link between the virus and the new networks. The Stop 5G UK group has more than 27,000 members, one of whom has posted this: "I've heard it's not a serious "Virus", it's about as bad as a flu or cold. So really this is a perfect plan to cover up EMF/5G related illnesses."

Scroll down, and others have shared links to websites and videos connecting the coronavirus to the rollout of 5G in the part of China where it originated. "5G launches in Wuhan weeks before Coronavirus outbreak" reads the headline on an article in a publication called the News Commenter.

A YouTube video with the title "WUHAN CORONA VIRUS IS A 5G L.E.D SMART STREET LIGHT TEST BED" is also popular in this group and others. Other YouTube videos share complex conspiracy theories including a suggestion that the Diamond Princess cruise ship whose passengers had to be quarantined was affected by the virus because it used 5G technology for its connectivity.

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES

Image captionConspiracy theories suggest a link between the cruise ship which was quarantined and 5G

Another popular theory is that the virus was engineered in a lab and deliberately released by, take your pick, the Chinese or American government. Over on the Facebook 5G and microwave radiation group, an article from Technocracy News claims: "It is becoming pretty clear that the Hunan coronovirus is an engineered bio-weapon that was either purposely or accidentally released."

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES

Image captionAds claiming face masks are guaranteed to prevent spread of the virus will be banned on Facebook

To be fair to Facebook, it appears to have upped its game when it comes to combating misinformation. Search for "coronavirus" on its platform and the top results will be reliable information from sites such as the World Health Organization (WHO). If you find an anti-vaccination group you want to join, a pop-up message appears saying: "Learn why the World Health Organization recommends vaccinations to prevent many diseases."

YouTube too appears to be trying to calm fears, with a WHO banner ad appearing above any videos about the virus. But on at least one conspiracy theory video, adverts are still appearing, meaning that the site's owner Google is still profiting from misinformation.

Facebook says that as well as promoting accurate information, it has taken steps to combat the spread of misinformation about the virus. Its third-party fact-checkers investigate dubious claims and when they rate information as false, the company limits its spread across Facebook and Instagram.

Image copyrightREUTERS

Image captionThe World Health Organization has been sharing its investigation about outbreaks of the virus

Adverts that could misinform people or suggest that something is in limited supply are banned - for instance Facebook would not allow an ad with a claim that face masks are 100% guaranteed to prevent the spread of the virus.

A YouTube spokesperson said the company was committed to providing "timely and helpful information" and reducing the spread of harmful misinformation. But while YouTube bans videos promoting medically unsubstantiated ways to prevent the virus, it seems it does not remove or flag material that promotes conspiracy theories about it.

I contacted a company whose adverts appeared before one of the videos, London-based MVH Marketing. A spokeswoman said the firm spends its advertising money with YouTube rather than the video creators, and usually the platform ensured that ads were not placed next to unsuitable content.

Media captionCoronavirus in the UK: 5 things you need to know about Covid-19

She said the firm had now ensured its ads would not be seen again on this particular video: "Obviously we wouldn't want to be associated with something that did not fit with our brand."

The social media platforms appear to be getting better at stopping misinformation from going viral, at least in public posts. But inside private groups, many with thousands of members, fake news is a commodity that still seems in great demand.

Dawn of a New Beginning

Davao de Oro Province--- After submitting to the hands of law, 58 former rebels from the Province of Davao de Oro were given the chance of a brand new start for a better life. Through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) with the partnership of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) these former rebels received Livelihood and Financial Assistance amounting to Php 65,000 each to start anew.

The granting of the assistance were attended by Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy, DILG Provincial Director Noel Duarte, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Josephine Frasco, together with the Battalion Commanders of the 71st, 66th, 60th, 25th and 1001st Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The Provincial Government of Davao de Oro with the DILG and Philippine Army were grateful for having the fourth batch of former rebels given with assistance who voluntarily submitted themselves without any form of coercion from the government, choosing a new path for themselves and their families.

The E-CLIP doesn’t solely focus on granting financial assistance to former rebels, various government agencies were collaborating to cater the needs of our brothers and sisters.

Among agencies who will take part for a brand new beginning is the Department of Education (DepEd) who will cater individuals who wanted to go back on track and finish schooling, TESDA will also offer skills training  for both men and women and grant them certificates to be used for work and will be facilitated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will  also assist them in reviving their lands in the high fields helping them to cultivate high value crops for a better income.

"Dako among pasalamat sa inyuhang commitment ug kay inyuha napod na recognize ang atung gobyerno ubos sa lidirato ni President Rodrigo Duterte, nga kitang tanan mag-usa na. Kining assistance tabang kini gikan sa gobyerno alang sa inyuha ug sa inyuhang mga pamilya kay among gihatagan ug dakong kabug-aton ang inyung pamilya isip maka-benepisyo," said Governor Uy.

The granting of Livelihood and Financial Assistance is just the first step of the over-all plan of the government towards helping our brothers and sisters with the new chapter they're making. With this continuing success, peace is ensured and Davao de Oro will move further towards progress and soon become an insurgence free province.

 (Jasteen Abella, ID DAVAO DE ORO)

Coronavirus: Outbreak spreads in Europe from Italy

By BBC

Cases have emerged for the first time in countries such as Austria following the Italian outbreak
Several European countries have announced their first coronavirus cases, with all appearing to be linked to the growing outbreak in Italy.

Austria, Croatia and Switzerland said the cases involved people who had been to Italy, as did Algeria in Africa.

The first positive virus test has been recorded in Latin America - a Brazilian resident just returned from Italy.

Italy has in recent days become Europe's worst-affected country, with more than 300 cases and 11 deaths.

But its neighbours have decided closing borders would be "disproportionate".

Health ministers from France, Germany, Italy and the EU Commission committed to keeping frontiers open at a meeting on Tuesday as new cases of the virus emerged throughout Europe and in central and southern Italy.

"We're talking about a virus that doesn't respect borders," said Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza.

His German counterpart Jens Spahn said the neighbours were taking the situation "very, very seriously" but acknowledged "it could get worse before it gets better".

Media captionMark Lowen was on the ground at the edge of Italy's coronavirus lockdown area
In the UK, schoolchildren returning from holidays in northern Italy have been sent home, with the government issuing new guidance to travellers.

But Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there were no plans to stop flights from Italy, which attracts about three million British visitors each year.

"If you look at Italy, they stopped all flights from China and they're now the worst-affected country in Europe," he said.

What's the latest around Europe?

In Austria, a young Italian couple who live in Innsbruck in the Tyrol were confirmed to have the virus. One of the pair worked at a hotel, which has been put in lockdown. The couple's home is also sealed off.

Switzerland said a man in his seventies living in Ticino, bordering Italy, had been infected in the city of Milan on 15 February and was now in isolation.

A man in Croatia who recently returned from Italy became the first confirmed patient in the Balkans
In Spain's Tenerife, up to 1,000 guests were locked down in a hotel after an Italian doctor and his wife tested positive for the virus.

Spain reported its first case on the mainland, involving a woman in Barcelona who had been to northern Italy.

France and Germany also reported new cases involving people who had recently been to northern Italy.

What's the global picture?
Italy is one of three global hot-spots outside China. In Iran, fewer than 100 people have officially been infected but it's assumed the numbers are far higher. The infection of the country's deputy health minister has deepened fears that the virus has already spread widely.

More than 1,000 people have been infected in South Korea, where 10 people have died. The country has the most infections outside China.

Many of the cases are linked to a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the city of Daegu. All the church's more than 215,000 members are now being tested by health authorities, according to reports.

Media captionIran's deputy health minister appeared unwell at a news conference before testing positive for the coronavirus.

In Brazil, local media reported on Tuesday that an initial test on a 61-year-old man who had recently been to northern Italy had come out positive.

They said the man from São Paulo would be tested again for final confirmation.

The individual, whose name was not given, arrived back in Brazil at the height of the carnival festivities, when millions of people travel around the country. Officials fear the timing of his return makes it more likely the coronavirus could have spread.

Most of the cases of the new coronavirus remain in China, where the virus originated last year.

According to the latest figures published on Wednesday, 78,064 people have been infected since the outbreak began.

Health officials also reported 52 more deaths on Tuesday, the lowest daily total in more than three weeks. The overall death toll in mainland China is now 2,715.

Numbers of new infections there have been declining in China, and attention has now turned to clusters of cases abroad and transmission between countries.

The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) has said the sudden increase in cases in countries outside China is "deeply concerning".

On Tuesday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that the virus could bring "severe" disruption to the US, with one official saying it was not a question of if but when the virus would become a global pandemic.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged all nations to "tell the truth about the coronavirus", saying that Washington was concerned that Iran may have concealed "vital details" about its outbreak.

Of the current hot-spots outside China, Iran is the most concerning because of the lack of an accurate picture of how widespread the outbreak really is, said Dr Nathalie MacDermott, an expert in infectious diseases at King's College London.

Most of the reported cases have been people who are elderly and dying, she said. "It seems like we're hearing about the tip of the iceberg and missing that chunk underneath who may be younger and may not be particularly unwell."

There are fears that the many Muslim Shia pilgrims and migrant workers who will have travelled between Iran and other parts of the region in recent weeks could have already spread the virus.

Iran is believed to have been the source of the first cases reported by neighbouring Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait and Oman, which have now imposed restrictions on travel to and from the Islamic Republic.

ABS-CBN says sorry to Duterte

ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak apologizes to President Rodrigo Duterte for airing a political advertisement in the 2016 elections which offended the former mayor.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24) — A TV network at the middle of a franchise controversy apologized to President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday for airing a political advertisement of the opposition in 2016 which offended the former mayor.

"We are sorry if we offended the President. That was not the intention of the network. We felt that we were just abiding by regulations that surround the airing of political ads,” said ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak during the Senate inquiry on the network’s franchise renewal.

Duterte's former personal aide, now Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, questioned during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Services why ABS-CBN agreed to air an opposition-funded video which he said was meant to tarnish the reputation of the former mayor of Davao City. The commercial questioned if a tough-talking, cursing politician would be a good fit for president.

A Quezon City court banned the airing of the ad upon the request of Duterte's running mate, now House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

"Hindi mababaw ang rason ng Pangulo sa kanyang grievances against the network. Nasaktan ang Presidente, nababoy ang Presidente. Hindi vindictive ang Pangulo but it is clear that someone went overboard to malign him," Go said. "For me, this is very troublesome. Media networks are supposed to be neutral. Fair reporting, that's all the President wants... Kung masama ka kay Pangulo, mas magiging masama siya sa iyo at kung mabait ka kay Pangulo, mas mabait siya sa iyo."

[Translation: The President's grievances against the network are not superficial. The President was hurt, his image has been tarnished... If you are mean to the President, he will be meaner to you and if you are kind to the President, he will be even kinder to you.]

Katigbak said the network initially rejected the first version of that ad, but it was eventually cleared for airing after changes were made on what the two kids were doing in the video. "Any politician who comes to our station with an ad that is legal and legitimate must be accommodated," he added. "We continue to improve on our shortcomings. We hope we do a better job in the succeeding elections."

"ABS-CBN does not and will not have its own political agenda," Katigbak added.

Duterte has been publicly ranting against ABS-CBN since assuming office, saying that the network refused to carry his campaign commercials even if they have been already paid for.

Katigbak clarified why the network could not air some of Duterte's ads. He said the President's camp bought a total of ₱182 million in commercial spots, split into ₱117 million for national ads — which were all aired — and ₱65 million in local ads, which would target audience in a specific province.

"Our policy on all our ads is first-come, first-served. Many of these spots were ordered on May 3, and May 7 was the last day of the campaign period. There had been many previous telecast orders that came in ahead," the company's chief executive said.

He went on to explain that slots for local ads were limited to just two minutes per hour, so the network could not find airtime for Duterte's content by then. Katigbak said ABS-CBN refunded about ₱4 million to the President, but got delayed in returning some ₱2.6 million to his camp. He said the President's camp refused to accept the delayed refund.

Duterte went on to win the 2016 elections.

Senators Migz Zubiri and Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan also said that they have their own ads which did not air during previous elections. "May hinanakit din kami, pero hindi natin dadalhin sa usapin na mawawalan ng trabaho ang 11,000 na kababayan natin," said Pangilinan, the husband of ABS-CBN star Sharon Cuneta.

[Translation: We also have our gripes, but we would not bring that to the point that 11,000 Filipinos would lose their jobs.]


'Nothing illegal'
Meanwhile, Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV believes that there is "nothing illegal" with the "offensive" advertisement he ran in 2016.

"Duterte/Bong Go’s assertion that the airing of my advertisement is the reason why the ABS-CBN franchise should not be renewed is a lie. First, there’s nothing illegal about the ad itself and the airing of the ad," he said in a statement.

He also argued that the said advertisement was also aired in the rival network.

"Second, the same political ad was aired in GMA7 and yet Duterte never complained about it when its franchise was renewed. So, definitely there is another ulterior motive in the blocking of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal," Trillanes added.

Apology accepted
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo welcomed the apology, saying that the President will "consider" Katigbak's statement.

"It's personal to him," Panelo said. "I'm glad finally ABS-CBN admitted its shortcomings to the President. Dapat noon pa nila ginawa [They should have done it a long time ago]."

Duterte has vowed since late 2018 to block the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise. Last year, he told the Lopezes to just sell the network to a new owner as he would make sure that the TV station is out by 2020.

CNN Philippines' Multi-Platform News Writers Melissa Lopez and Vince Ferreras contributed to this report

Assistance sought for pork dealers affected with ASF outbreak

By:  KEN E. CAGULA

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Pork dealers here appealed for government assistance as sales “hugely” dropped in the wake of African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak.

Earlier this month, authorities declared the entry of ASF in Davao City, initially affecting two villages in Calinan District–Brgy. Dominga and Brgy. Lamanan. Last week, Brgy Inayangan, still in Calinan District, was confirmed to also have ASF cases.

Since then, sales of fresh and processed meat dropped to as low as 50 percent, said pork dealer Eden Guira, during a press conference on Monday (Feb. 24). That is, from P100,000 income/day to only P35,000-P40,000/day.

“That amount is not yet enough for me to pay my laborers,” Guira added.

Teodora Guira, who distributes processed pork products to other areas in Mindanao, said that sales from other provinces also went down after local governments prohibited the sales of processed pork products from Davao City.

“Our buyers from Malungon, Gensan, Mati, Surigao, Butuan, said they were given a memorandum prohibiting the sales of products such as chorizo, embutido, tocino and lumpia shanghai from Davao,” she lamented.

Davao City slaughterhouse Operations Manager Chalemagne Aldevera Jr. noted that from about 500 pigs in a day on previous months, only around 200 pigs were processed at the time of this writing.

“What we are processing are only for the consumption in Davao City because our pork cannot go outside of the city as a result of the lockdown,” Aldevera said.

Allaying fears from other consumers, pork dealers stressed that the meat being sold in public markets in the city came only from registered farms, are provided with certifications, and are not from backyard farms susceptible to ASF. (davaotoday.com)

Coronavirus: Gesammelte Informationen

Die Lungenkrankheit 2019-nCoV breitet sich weiter aus, vor allem in China. Hier finden Sie unsere Meldungen zu der Epidemie und weiterführende Links zu wichtigen Fragen und Antworten von öffentlichen Stellen

VON APOTHEKEN UMSCHAU, AKTUALISIERT AM 18.02.2020

Coronavirus Allgemein Anatomie
Tückischer Erreger: Der Coronavirus befällt die Lunge und kann zu trockenem Husten, Fieber und Atemnot führen

Das neue Coronavirus, inzwischen von der WHO auf den Namen "2019-nCoV" getauft, hat eine Inkubationszeit von bis zu zwei Wochen – also können von der Infektion mit dem Virus bis zum Auftreten von Beschwerden bis zu 14 Tage vergehen. Der Erreger kann die unteren Atemwege befallen und verursacht bei einem Teil der Infizierten Lungenentzündungen. Typische Symptome sind trockener Husten, Fieber und Atemnot. Todesfälle traten bisher vor allem bei Patienten mit Vorerkrankungen auf.

Prophylaxe und Behandlung
Der Virus wird vermutlich ähnlich wie die Grippe per Tröpfcheninfektion übertragen. Um sich vor einer Ansteckung zu wappnen, raten die Behörden, auf Händeschütteln zu verzichten, auf eine gute Handhygiene zu achten und sich oft die Hände zu waschen. In möglicherweise betroffenen Gebieten ist es ratsam, größere Menschenansammlungen zu meiden und Abstand zu Infizierten zu halten. Um selbst andere zu schützen, sollte man beim Husten oder Niesen stets ein Taschentuch verwenden, zur Not die Ellenbeuge. Auch ein Mundschutz bewirkt am ehesten, dass man als Infizierter seine Umgebung nicht so leicht ansteckt.

Bisher sind noch keine Medikamente oder Impfungen bekannt, die 2019-nCoV direkt stoppen können. Deshalb werden Erkrankte vor allem in Bezug auf ihre Beschwerden unterstützt. Sie erhalten wenn nötig Antibiotika, um bakterielle Zweitinfektionen abzuwehren, Sauerstoff, um das Atmen zu erleichtern, oder auch eine unterstützende Beatmung.

Ähnliche bisher bekannte Erreger
2019-nCoV gehört zur selben Virusart wie der Erreger bei der Sars-Pandemie von 2002/2003. Sars steht für schweres akutes Atemwegsyndrom. Damals fielen rund 800 Menschen der Seuche zum Opfer.

Coronaviren können sowohl Menschen als auch Tiere infizieren. Viele Arten verursachen eher harmlose Erkrankungen wie Erkältungen. Allerdings gehören auch Erreger gefährlicher Atemwegskrankheiten dazu.

Ein weiteres Beispiel ist Mers, das "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus". Dieser Virentyp wurde 2012 erstmals identifiziert. Infektionen mit Mers haben ihren Ursprung auf der Arabischen Halbinsel und verursachen eine schwere Infektion der Atemwege, Lungenentzündung und Nierenversagen.

e Ende der Krise ist weiter nicht in Sicht: Die Epidemie der neuen Lungenkrankheit wird sich nach Einschätzung eines Experten in China möglicherweise erst Ende April stabilisieren. «Das ist eine sehr grobe Schätzung», sagte Zhong Nanshan, Chef der Expertengruppe der chinesischen Regierung. Die Zahl der in der offiziellen Statistik erfassten Fälle lag am Dienstag bei gut 72 000, die der Todesfälle in Festland-China bei 1868. Experten gehen allerdings von einer um ein Vielfaches höheren Dunkelziffer bei den Fallzahlen aus.

Höhere Sterblichkeit bei alten Menschen
Nach einer von Chinas Gesundheitsbehörde vorgestellten Analyse sterben im Land 2,3 Prozent der mit dem Virus Infizierten. Betroffen seien weiterhin vor allem alte Menschen und solche mit schweren Vorerkrankungen wie Herzkreislauf-Erkrankungen oder Diabetes. Bei Menschen über 80 Jahren liege die aus den bisher vorliegenden Daten errechnete Todesrate bei knapp 15 Prozent, berichtete die Behörde am Dienstag, es sterben also in dieser Altersgruppe in China im Mittel etwa 15 von 100 Infizierten. In der Gruppe der 10 bis 39 Jahre alten Menschen sterben 0,2 Prozent der Infizierten, also etwa 2 von 1000 Betroffenen.

In der weit überwiegenden Zahl der Fälle - der Gesundheitsbehörde zufolge mehr als 80 Prozent - zeigen Menschen, die sich mit dem Covid-19-Erreger angesteckt haben, nur milde Symptome. Knapp 14 Prozent der Betroffenen entwickeln demnach schwere Symptome wie Atemnot, knapp 5 Prozent lebensbedrohliche Auswirkungen wie Atemstillstand, septischen Schock oder Multiorganversagen.

Bei 4 von 5 Infizierten nur milde Symptome
Auch der Generaldirektor der Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) hatte am Montag unter Bezug auf die Datenanalyse aus China von gut 80 Prozent milden Infektionsverläufen gesprochen. Es gebe zudem relativ wenige Fälle bei Kindern, sagte Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Noch sei aber unklar, warum das so sei.

Generell geben die Daten aus China eher einen Trend wieder als die tatsächlichen Werte - unter anderem, weil in die Analyse auch Fälle ohne Bestätigung der Infektion durch einen Labortest einflossen. Zudem sei die Dunkelziffer der Covid-19-Infizierten (wie das Virus offiziell genannt wird) in der Provinz Hubei vermutlich sehr hoch, sagte Clemens Wendtner, Chefarzt der Infektiologie und Tropenmedizin an der München Klinik Schwabing. «Wer geht denn jetzt noch ins Krankenhaus zum Arzt, wenn er Angst hat, unter Quarantäne steht und die Wohnung ohnehin nur schwer verlassen kann?»

WHO: Weltweite Entwicklung ungewiss
Die WHO betonte erneut, dass Sars-CoV-2 außerhalb von China nur einen sehr kleinen Anteil der Menschen betreffe. Allerdings lasse sich die weitere Entwicklung nach wie vor nicht sicher voraussagen - auch für die Epidemie in China nicht. «Alle Szenarien sind weiterhin möglich», so Tedros.

In China läuft derzeit eine gewaltige Rückreisewelle von Wanderarbeitern nach den wegen des Virus verlängerten Ferien zum chinesischen Neujahrsfest. Zwar wurden strenge Maßnahmen zur Kontrolle der Reiseströme ergriffen, wie gut sie wirken, wird sich aber erst noch zeigen. Die Zahl der in der offiziellen Statistik erfassten Fälle lag am Dienstag bei gut 72 000, die der Todesfälle in Festland-China bei 1868. Experten gehen allerdings von einer um ein Vielfaches höheren Dunkelziffer bei den Fallzahlen aus.

Klinikchef unter den Todesopfern
Die meisten Infektionen und Todesfälle werden weiterhin in Zentralchina in der schwer betroffenen Provinz Hubei gezählt. Zum ersten Mal fiel ein Krankenhauschef Covid-19 zum Opfer. Liu Zhiming, Direktor des Wuchang Hospitals in Hubeis Provinzhauptstadt Wuhan, sei am Montag gestorben, berichtete die Nachrichtenagentur China News. Im Kampf gegen das Virus haben sich offiziellen Angaben zufolge bisher gut 3000 Ärzte und Pflegekräfte angesteckt.

Before, behind, between, above, below love

My column in Mindanao Daily, BusinessWeek Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro Times

OUR whole life consists of innumerable fabulous and non-existing parts. We all carry myths into our life and bring our share of unrealistic expectations taught and shaped by education, media, church, and culture and our friends or parents. And? We all experienced it in different situations: suddenly these dreams give way to unhappy nights and terrible realistic mornings. Marriage life, i.e., loses it glow and ardor. Which sets in? Sure: foil, frustration, disillusionment, misanthropy, and many times cynicism become main parts of life.

Spouses  start thinking they may have made a big mistake and married the wrong partner. Some become fidgety and uncertain and - look for another, maybe "very special one", who might fulfill their faded hopes and uncertain dreams. Others rather than risk the temptation to look outside of he relationship for "fulfillment" , moving forward gradually deaden their hearts and deny the desire of something more. Bearing with patience becomes the goal of life. The dream of enjoyment fades into a faint glimmer of the past.

"Finally I got someone at my side who will meet my needs!". How many times we have these outspoken thoughts in mind? Sorry to say, many Filipinas got these thoughts after having met a foreigner... . This myth comes out of a self-centered preoccupation with a terrible egoistic touch.

But listen, didn't we forget, that marriage and every kind of dual partnership should be viewed as a "we-relation' and not as a "me-relation"? This myth explodes with the realization that a health partnership needs two understanding people, who are committed to be there for each other. There should NOT be two individuals seeking for self-fulfillment!

This and that... . It's not easy to write a weekly column in a daily, while many people and important events pass my path. The "Common Myths About Marriage" has to be continued, although they are are heavenly belong to my daily life thoughts.

Romantic feelings rely on a complicated concoction of chemicals and psychology. But as part of our series on Life’s Big Questions with The Conversation, we ask, can they wear off?

Author Parashkev Nachev wrote this on Valentines' Day 2020:  I have recently fallen head over heels in love, but my cynical friends keep telling me that love is nothing but a cocktail of pheromones, dopamine and oxytocin, and that these wear off after a couple of years. The thought scares me, it makes the whole thing seem meaningless. Is love really just brain chemistry? 

Before, behind, between, above, below love! It is no accident that arguably the most erotic line of English poetry is all prepositions. The essence of love, at least of passionately romantic love, is revealed in its very grammar. We “fall” in love, not “wander” into it. And, as you say, we fall “head over heels”, not dragging our feet – often at “first sight” rather than on careful inspection. We fall in love “madly, blind” to the other's vices, not in rational appraisal of their virtues.

Romantic love is overwhelming, irresistible, ballistic. It is in control of us more than we are ever in control of it. In one sense a mystery, it is in another pure simplicity – its course, once engaged, predictable and inevitable, and its cultural expression more or less uniform across time and space. The impulse to think of it in terms of simple causes precedes science. Consider the arrow of Cupid, the potion of a sorcerer – love seems elemental.

Yet love is not easily conquered by science. Let us look at why. Sex pheromones, chemicals designed to broadcast reproductive availability to others, are often quoted as key instruments of attraction. It is an appealing idea. But while pheromones play an important role in insect communication, there is very little evidence that they even exist in humans.

Of course, even if we could identify such a substance, any message – chemical or otherwise – needs a recipient. So where is the letterbox of love in the brain? And how is the identity of the “chosen one” conveyed, given that no single molecule could possibly encode it?

When romantic love is examined with imaging of the brain, the areas that “light up” overlap with those supporting reward-seeking and goal-oriented behavior. But that parts of our brains are set ablaze by one thing does not tell us much if they are just as excited by a very different, other thing. And the observed patterns of romantic love are not that different from those of maternal bonding, or even from the love of one's favorite football team. So we can only conclude that neuroscience is yet to explain this "head over heels" emotion in neural terms.

Do we simply need more experiments? Yes, is usually the scientist's answer, but this assumes love is simple enough to be captured by a mechanistic description. Each reproductive decision can be neither simple nor uniform, for we cannot be allowed to be guided by any single characteristic, let alone the same one. Universally attractive though tallness might be, if biology allowed us to select on height alone we would all have gigantism by now. And if the decisions have to be complex, so must the neural apparatus that makes them possible.

While this explains why romantic attraction must be complex, it doesn't explain why it can feel so instinctual and spontaneous – unlike the deliberative mode we reserve for our most important decisions. Wouldn't a cool, detached rationality be better? To see why it would not, consider what explicit reasoning is there in the first place. Evolving later than our instincts, we need rationality only to detach ourselves from the grounds for a decision so that others can record, understand and apply it independently of us.

But there is no need for anyone else to understand the grounds for our love, indeed the last thing we want to do is provide others with a recipe to steal our object of desire. Equally, in ceding control to recorded cultural practice, evolution would place too much "trust" in a capacity – collective rationality – that is, in evolutionary terms, far too young.

It is also a mistake to think of instinct as simple, and inferior to careful deliberation. That it is tacit makes it potentially more sophisticated than rational analysis, for it brings into play a wider array of factors than we could ever hold simultaneously in our conscious minds. The truth of this stares us in the face: think how much better we are at recognizing a face compared with describing it. Why should the recognition of love be any different?

Ultimately, if the neural mechanisms of love were simple, you should be able to induce it with an injection, to extinguish it with a scalpel while leaving everything else intact. The cold, hard logic of evolutionary biology makes this impossible. Were love not complicated, we would never have evolved in the first place.

That said, love – like all our thoughts, emotions and behaviors – rests on physical processes in the brain, a very complex interplay of them. But to say that love is "just" brain chemistry is like saying Romeo and Juliet is “just” words – it misses the point. Like art, love is more than the sum of its parts.

If the honeymoon is over, and the dark clouds if our daily life erase the pink-tinted illusions, must one faces such as: Where is the scratch on the side of my car? Why must we discuss topics like money, sex, in-laws, friends and such things...?

Wearing masks

My column in Mindanao Daiy News, BusinessWeek Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro Times

THE present Virus illness keeps each one of us in a  panic mood. Very understandable while following innumerable news at the moment 24/7. But nowadays, wearing masks has another reason ... .

Before Ash Wednesday, one can experience in my home country Germany people wearing masks of faces like animals, horrible human faces or the devil. Why all these masquerades?

Actors and actresses on stage or in movies wear also masks. They pretend to be what they are not. They play a role. Hence, in Greek they are called "hypocrites".

In our life, we always wear masks. Please think about.  You  and me will understand, that we do not want to show to people our real  selves because of the fear of rejection or displeasure of other people.

In society, they call it public relation. Men and women would go out smiling and greeting politely other people with a set of purpose: to win them to their business or organization.

But the more important point is: should we always wear masks in our daily life? Can we not put these masks aside and be our true selves? Should we be always afraid to show to people in our surroundings what we are before God, who sees everything? Maybe we could look back on what William Congreve (1670-1729) wrote in his "Preface to Dryden": 'No mask like open truth to cover lies as to go naked is the best disguise'.

But let's remember, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, wore the mask of being human. "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us!" Later, people thought he was a lawbreaker, an impostor, claiming to be God, a seducer of the people. "I have hidden my face from them and they did not recognize me!"

Let's try to put our masks aside from time to time, especially, if we are together people we can trust. On the other side, today's global illnesses shows us different ways of how to move on.

Love is in the Air!

Love is in the Air! Officials and employees of the Provincial Capitol of Davao de Oro celebrate the Valentine’s Day spearheaded by Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy and Vice-Governor Maria Carmen Zamora held at the provincial capitol.

In line with the Memorandum Order No. 0088.2020 and to add color and fun, the employees were encouraged to wear dress code in accordance to their relationship status.

For more colorful celebration, they gave long-stemmed roses available for free on a first-come-first-served basis at the Love Booth located at the lobby. Valentine’s Requested Songs and Dedication Cards were also available in the said event.

The special celebration is not just associated with romantic love. But is also a time to reconcile, appreciate and be grateful for each other. Spread the “Gift of Love and Dedication (GOLD)” in the province. (Rheafe Hortizano, PAO ID)

Progressives back VFA termination

By:  KEN E. CAGULA

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Progressive groups are supported the government’s move to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States (US).

These groups have long opposed to the presence of American troops in the country.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. announced on Tuesday, that the US Embassy’s deputy chief of mission have already received the termination notice, which will take effect after 180 days or about six months.

As Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) started its 180-day countdown to VFA termination, it said that the public should be vigilant and oppose possible reversal and renegotiation by the Philippine government, as well as “pressure and maneuvers” coming from the US.

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr., in a statement on Wednesday, said the termination of the VFA is “an opportunity for the Philippines to move away from its military dependence on the US.”

Following the country’s termination of the VFA, Bayan urged the government to also cancel the upcoming Balikatan military exercises in April.

Last January, President Duterte threatened to terminate the VFA, expressing his anger over the US government’s decision to cancel the visa of Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who previously led the bloody anti-drug campaign when he was the police chief.

Such “trivial” reason for terminating the two-decade-old military accord, however, is frustrating on the part of Moro group Suara Bangsamoro, saying that the government should recognize that human rights violations against Filipinos have been committed by US soldiers under the VFA.

She explained that human rights defenders have been submitting reports to the Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement (LOVFA) in previous administrations on several documented cases of human rights violations.

These included violations committed in Moro communities in Mindanao during Balikatan exercises.

“We submitted several cases of the presence of US troops during combat operations where they were seen leading AFP troops from 2002 to 2009, and were identified by victims of shooting, maiming, and killing,” Lidasan said.

“Our communities and people were used [for their] target practice. We have reports of individuals being shot during target practice and residential areas bombed due to ‘misfiring’,” she added.

Lidasan also deplored the inability of the Philippine government to hold the US troops accountable for their “atrocities” against Filipinos under such agreement.

“That’s why it is insulting, especially to the victims, (to know) that President Duterte is giving more emphasis on the trivial reason of cancelling the US visa of Sen. Bato as a ground for abrogating the VFA,” Lidasan said.

Meanwhile, progressive groups also called for the termination of other military agreements with the US, such as the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Bayan also underscored that terminating the VFA should not mean rushing into a new military agreement with another foreign power such as China.

“The defense of the Philippines, including the West Philippine Sea, falls on the Philippine Government and the Filipino people, not on any foreign power with its own agenda. We cannot enter into a military agreement with China since we have a conflict in the West Philippine Sea,” Reyes added. (davaotoday.com)