AIDS doesn’t matter?!

TUE, JULY 26, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

For five days, 20,000 delegates met in the South African coastal city of Durban to take stock of progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, against a background of warnings that recent gains are under threat. The delegates to the 21st Inter-national AIDS Conference in Durban came from more than 180 countries around the world. Most were from the worst-affected regions in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

Nearly 20 million people in Africa are afflicted with the AIDS virus. South Africa has the highest infection rate in the world with nearly seven million affected. One of the senior HIV/AIDS research specialists in South Africa, Professor Jerry Coovadia, presented a paper on the state of the disease in that country. Coovadia said South Africa had made enormous prog-ress in curbing the spread of AIDS and providing treatment to affected people.

But, Professor Jerry Coovadia is optimistic that the fight against AIDS can be won.

South Africa has the largest antiretroviral (ARV) program in the world with more than three million people on ARV treatment. He said there was no doubt that “we will continue to make progress. To really eradicate HIV/AIDS is going to be a long job but it’s not impossible, given the advances in medicine, given the advances in what we know about genes and how genes can affect it, given our advances in the best forms of treatment. Very important, too, is prevention – circumcision, condoms, change in sexual behavior, monogamy and so on. So I think it is possible but it is going to take a long time.”

Yes, there are plans for a new vaccine study. Delegates expressed great interest in the announce-ment made at the conference that promising results from an early safety trial with a potential HIV vaccine had paved the way for a major new study in South Africa. 5,400 volun-teers will take part in trials for the experimental vaccine called HVTN 702 due to start in November.

How about official and in-official figures and numbers for the Philippines?

The alarming situation should be addressed immediately as this may lead to an epidemic. But, the topic AIDS has been, is and seems to remain a hot potato, though only an immediate government intervention is badly needed to stop the spread of AIDS. The Philippines is among the countries who posted dramatic increase of AIDS victims closely being monitored by the United Nations.

AIDS doesn’t know any special season. Not the question “Sex first before love, or love before sex” is relevant. Besides all discussions regarding “pro-and-contra-life”, feminists’ sexual rights and freedom , using contraceptives or observing the safe periods in lovemaking, yes, what partners (married or not!) are doing is practically avoiding pregnancy.

Chasteness and chastity seem to become more and more empty words. Ask the young generation and don’t wonder if you’ll mostly hear a plucky laughter. Not ONLY “pro-and-contra-life-discussions” regarding pregnancy or non-pregnancy are important.

AIDS-tests for married willing couples? So far so good, but how about the most of new HIV/AIDS infections following the UN-study involving heterosexual men, gays, or those men who forced prostitutes to have sex without condoms? How about drug users, who spread the AIDS virus because of using “dirty” injection needles? Worldwide, several immigration authorities require AIDS-tests before entering the country and/or before a continuation of immigration permanent status documents processing.

Especially depressing is still for many fellows the condemnation and ignorance of condoms – the only 99% sure HIV-AIDS protection as several times proved. AIDS doesn’t matter, what a fatal attraction for those people, who love to play Russian roulette.

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com  or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visitwww.germanexpatinthe philippines.blogspot.com.

BI Reshuffles NAIA Personnel to Prevent Corruption

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Philippine Daily Inquirer

By: Julie M. Aurelio, 

An immigration personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport processes a foreign national who has been barred from the Philippines for violating the conditions of his stay. (AFP file photo)

MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration has revamped its immigration head supervisors at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to put an end to familiarization and corruption in its frontline units.

Most immigration officers at the BI main office in Intramuros will be reassigned to the airports as a first step in the reshuffle of immigration personnel, according to the BI.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the reassignment would be in line with implementing President Duterte’s marching orders to eradicate familiarization in the agency’s operating units.

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“The revamp is aimed at preventing fraternization among employees, which was pinpointed as a major source of corruption in government agencies,” the immigration chief said on Friday.

The revamp will affect about two-thirds of immigration personnel stationed at the NAIA’s three terminals.

Morente stressed that the reorganization of immigration agents stationed at the airports would be the first in a series of personnel reassignments upon his assumption last July 1.

“In the next days, we will be issuing new orders reassigning to the airports the immigration officers currently stationed at the main office for faster and more efficient service,” he said.

Aside from designating new immigration head supervisors, the BI chief also reassigned immigration officers to head key units at the main office and subports.

BI spokesperson Tonette Mangrobang said the agency would beef up its campaign against illegal aliens as part of the President’s order to law enforcers to crack down on illegal drug syndicates usually run by foreign criminals.

“The restructuring and streamlining of the BI’s intelligence and enforcement units was prioritized to serve notice to illegal aliens and foreign criminals that their days are numbered,” she added.

Earlier, retired police general Charles Calima Jr. was designated to lead the BI intelligence division.  The fugitive search unit is now headed by Jose Carlitos Lucas.

Mangrobang said the FSU reverted to its former status as a unit under the intelligence division.  SFM

Cable Car Mass Transport Eyed in Davao CIty

By Christine C. Cudis (philstar.com) |

A Cebu City-based company said it is set to introduce the aerial ropeway project to Davao City officials after finishing a feasibility study for a cable car system in Cebu which could carry about 6,000 passengers an hour. Dorinel Nedelcu/Stock, File

DAVAO CITY — A Cebu-based company is set to conduct a study on the viability of a cable car system in Davao City, which the company plans to propose to address traffic congestion.

 

Jerome Ornopia, president and CEO of Cebu City's R3 Industrial Solutions Enterprises, Inc., told reporters in an interview Monday that they are introducing the aerial ropeway project to the City Council of Davao.

 

Ornopia has already finished the project's feasibility study for Cebu and is here in Davao to undertake another, hoping to implement the project here as well.

 

Doppelmayr's Transport Firm, the company's foreign partner, had already constructed one in Singapore but it was mainly used for tourism.

 

"Ours is a public transportation and should it be implemented in the Philippines, it will be the first in Asia," Ornopia said.

 

Ornopia said the project in Cebu, which stretches from Lapu-Lapu City to Cebu City (passes through Mandaue City), could carry about 6,000 passengers an hour with each cable car carrying a maximum of 10.

 

He added that the total investment cost of the project in Cebu is estimated to be at P7 billion. If it will be approved this year, they will start the construction next year and it will take them between 16 to 18 months to finish.

 

The aerial rope way project's installation will be much less expensive than the MRT, LRT or BRT as it will be propelled by a motor that will power all gondolas.

 

Davao City Councilor Bernard Al-ag expressed interest in the project, saying it could solve the city's medium to heavy traffic flow and become a tourist attraction.

 

As for the likelihood of the project's approval, Al-ag said, "We will wait for the final outcome and recommendations for the cable car system."

Is there still time for happy moments?

TUE, JULY 19, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring 

Terror attack in Nice/France! Breaking news – just a minute ago. Coup in Turkey. Clashes in Kashmir.

From time to time I love silence. I need quietness. – Do you observe that we live in a real frightful loud world? At every corner of our daily life are innumerable chances of being covered up with sometimes unbearable din and noise. The loud outcry gives me the needle. We don’t have nerves of steel forever.

I strongly agree with Davao Acting Mayor Paolo Duterte prohibiting the conduct of street par-ties and concerts down-town during the Kadayawan festival next month. Yes, the order is consistent with the festival’s central theme this year – that is to focus on the plight of the 11 tribes of Davao City. Let’s get to know more the culture and traditions of the Lumads and Muslims.

Anyway, I am not really a fan of going out at night. If you ask me how to spend a lovely evening after a hectic and stressful and, especially, noisy day – plain and simple.

The nicest occurrence is the silence, the intimate taciturnity, which can even “weld” people or partners together. It might sound just like an idiomatic expression, but believe me; not being forced to talk is great! No, I don’t mean that we have nothing to say to each other any more – or, he or she won’t listen to a special reason…. I am talking about a deep understanding between people, who are together and are able to share time in quiet and silent happiness.

After a long and strenuous day, it is a real big comfort to sit and lean back, read all the (old!) newspapers and magazines from the last days and weeks while enjoying a glass of wine and a handful peanuts. A crossword puzzle is easier to solve while having a “silent” radio program in the back-ground, instead a “roars to hell” television show.

Try it. It’s indeed relaxing after traffic woes, the heat and dust of the day, telephones’ ringing, machine rattlings, meetings and never ending discussions. Why should we talk right now?

Feeling safe and secure, inseparable, indestructible with peace in our minds and our surroun-dings, this is what we really mean to each other, understanding without words. At home, some-where in the garden, at a beach – there are many wonderful places. And, suddenly out of the blue from the bottom of our heart and from the depth of comfort and ease, we might be able to speak about things, which couldn’t be discussed earlier. A good talk grows – but without compulsion or constraint or obligation, desperate or being forced.

Try it, and might feel like walking hand-in-hand on a lonely sand beach, such as “once upon a time” with our first partner. And, unexpectedly: we become silent again AND thankful for it.

We really seldom take a break. We spend too much time in this terrible and frightful loud world…

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdorings classicalmusic.blogspot.com.

Taza Joins List of Top Dining Destinations in Tagaytay

By: Margaux Salcedo, Philippie Daily Inquirer

OLIVE oil ice cream and French toast with bacon are popular items on Taza’s menu

How do you make a restaurant stand out when you are in a high density, much sought-after location like Tagaytay?

For Chef Jayme Natividad of Taza Fresh Table, it’s simple. You just have to keep improving the menu.

Natividad drew raves last year when Taza opened with his alugbati salad with the signature dalandan and lemon vinaigrette and salted egg dressing; a papardelle inspired by a 100-year-old recipe shared by one of his mentors; and his medley of sourdough pizzas.

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For the longest time, though, Taza was open only for dinner, serving breakfast only on weekends.

Finally, Taza now serves breakfast starting at 7 a.m. every day.

I’m actually surprised they did not do this earlier, knowing the success of breakfast places in Tagaytay such as Antonio’s Breakfast and Bag of Beans. I surmise it is because the hotel has a breakfast buffet, making breakfast at Taza redundant.

But the standalone gourmet restaurant in the sprawling Taal Vista Hotel has its own charm. I’m just glad it now has its own breakfast menu, too.

Breakfast at Taza

Natividad, who lived in New York for 13 years, is serving his favorite New York brunch dishes: The usual suspects—eggs benedict and salmon —but with the rustic touch that New York brasseries offer.

He did work at Balthazar, after all.

Start your breakfast with four thick slices of French toast served with a pile of perfectly crisp bacon.

The kind of toast you need after a sleepless night due to partying or buddy bonding. Call it the Hangover Special.

Then have a piece of Southern fried chicken.

Just a piece because Taza literally just serves one piece per order, hehe! But it is quite a hefty chunk that is flavorful on the crisp outside and juicy on the inside.

They also have homemade corned beef—slices of lovingly cured Batangas beef. But the best item on the menu is the homemade smoked bacon.

A thick slab of probiotic pork belly marinated for at least 12 days before being smoked for 4 to 6 hours.

When I visited six months ago, this was already one of the best items on the menu. Today, it remains as delicious as I remember it to be.

French toast with bacon

Organic

Health-conscious eaters will be pleased to know that Taza is committed to sourcing locally-produced organic produce. The chicken, for instance, is organic chicken from a farm in Laguna. They also have sole from Quezon, beef from both Batangas and Bukidnon, prawns from Iloilo, and greens from their own garden.

“The biggest challenge is consistency,” Natividad admits, “Whether it be beef, tomatoes, or herbs, it is still difficult to find consistency from suppliers and farmers. That is why I’ve made it a point to develop relationships with our local farmers. With constant communication and feedback on the products we get, we are able to maintain our desired quality consistently.”

In fact, 95 percent of Taza’s menu is sourced from local farmers or suppliers and the vegetables are sourced from within a 15 to 20 kilometer radius.

Like Tagaytay institutions Antonio’s and Sonya’s Garden, Taza at Taal Vista Hotel also has its own garden for a steady supply of greens, herbs and organic vegetables.

This is in fact one of the reasons behind the success of restaurants in Tagaytay: Not only is the weather great, the salads are also superb because of the freshness of the greens on the menu and every dish is given an extra oomph with the fresh herbs from their gardens.

The view

Of course, Taza has the advantage of the unbeatable view of the volcano that only Taal Vista can offer. So make sure to get a window seat facing the volcano when you visit.

Then take a stroll on the grand terrace of the hotel after your meal to get the obligatory “day off” shot, with or without the fog. It is, after all, Tagaytay.

Taza Fresh Table. Taal Vista Hotel, Kilometer 60, Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City. Call +6329178225 for reservations. Wheelchair accessible. Now open daily for breakfast starting at 7 a.m. Major credit cards accepted. Visit taalvistahotel.com or Facebook.com/TaalVistaHotel.

Follow the author @margauxsalcedo on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Visit margauxsalcedo.com.