One Day Added

photo credits: southdakotapolitics.blogs.com/south_dakota_politics

Isn't it wonderful if one day comes that we do not have to bother about degenerative diseases and incurable ones like cancer, diabetes or even an amputated arm? Wouldn't it be nice if one day comes that all of our pains will be lost and old age will never be a part of human's vocabulary because looking young and feeling young is very much available? But dreadful as it is amazing that the rich and famous wouldn't have to bother about death... These are some of the claimed advantages humans will experience when the intensive research about stem cell regeneration is done.

But like any other medical or technological advancements, conservatives are questioning its morality because (1) it's similar to cloning and the more controversial (2) the use of embryonic stem cell.
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Itinuturing na isa sa pinakamalaking medical breakthrough ang pagkatuklas sa stem cell na mayroong tatlong maaaring pagkunan; ang una ay ang adult stem cell na ang pinagkunan ay ang mismong gagamit nito na magpapababa ng tsansa na ireject ng katawan ang stem cell. Kadalasang natatagpuan ang adult stem cell sa iilang tissues tulad ng sa likod ng tainga, bone marrow at ilan pa na magpasahanggang ngayon ay tinutuklas pa. Ang ikalawa ay ang umbilical cord blood kung saan ineextract ang stem cell sa bagong putol na umbilical cord ng sanggol at ang huli ay ang embryonic stem cell na kung saan ay nangangailangang sa isang embryo kunin ang stem cell na sinasabing pinakamabisa sa lahat ng mapagkukunan ng stem cell ngunit pinakalabag di umano sa moralidad na pinaaandar ng mga tao dahil sa pagkuha ng stem cell sa isang embryo ay nangangailangang mawala na rin ang nasabing embryo. Bagaman sinasabi ng mga eksperto na nag-aaral ukol sa stem cell regeneration na ang mga ito ay wala pang human features ay nananatiling tutol ang mga moralista at sinasabing maihahalintulad ito sa "murder" lalo pa't ang bisa nito sa paggamot ng mga karamdaman ay hindi pa napatutunayan.

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You may be asking now, why use embryonic stem cells if there are stem cells found in an adult's body as well as in an umbilical cord's blood? Well, according to studies, the adult stem cell is the least potent and in fact, the mices which were used in the experiment to cure Parkinson's disease incurred bain tumors later on and said that it is caused by the stem cell placed on them. On the other hand, the umbilical cord blood has a limited stock and has a higher chance of rejection in the body if transferred to a person who has very little or no blood relation whereas the embryonic stem cells are very much available with the use of invitro fertilization and is claimed to have the highest rate of potency. The researchers also said that no embryos are to be made for the sake of research.

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Ano nga ba ang bottom line nito?!?

Sino ba ang mas mahalaga: yung buhay na o 'yung mabubuhay pa lang? Yung humihinga o 'yung hinihintay pa lang na ipanganak?

Paano kung ang buhay ng sampung katao ay nakasalalay sa stem cell ng isang embryo, sino'ng pipiliin mong buhayin?

Kung sa mga susunod na panahon ay makagawa na ng desisyon ukol rito at magwagi ang agham laban sa adhika ng mga taong mataas ang moralidad, malamang mayroon na tayong makikitang 70 years old na matanda pero "chick' pa rin ang tawag o di naman kaya'y nadapuan na ng halos lahat ng uri ng cancer pero staying alive pa rin at malamang rin na maraming anghel ang mapapaaga ang destinasyon sa langit...

Ang galing ng stem cell... eternally regenerating.. kung lahat ng cells eh ganito, wala na tayong pangangailangan sa mga bagong tao... wala na ring trabaho si Belo o Calayan... kung lahat ng cells eh ganito, malamang hanggang ngayon ay buhay pa si Hitler o di naman kaya'y buhay pa si Tita Cory... Kung ganito lang ang lahat ng cells, wala nang relihiyon dahil bihira na ang taong mamamatay at wala na tayong kailangan sa kanya dahil aminin man natin o hindi, pwesto sa langit o di naman kaya'y malakas na kalusugan ang hiling natin sa Kanya palagi.... Kung lahat sana ng cells ay stem cells... wag na lang sana...

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After some years, we will be seeing the end-product of the stem cell research and may it bring more positive results than negative... Long live the Earth and the human race! I am Billie... blogging.

The New Gourmet

Before I went home, I got curious with one of the food stalls at LRT2 Katipunan Station, they are selling the sweet and oh-so yummy food I really missed called "ice crumble" or we typically call "iskrambol". It's pink, it's cold, it's sweet and topped with powdered milk and choco syrup. hmmm... delicious, isn't it.

I never thought that I would be eating this food again because my mama told that it's made in a very unsanitary way and those who are selling it has picked their booger or scratch their butts before serving me the food so I obliged and never tried to eat it again until now because I am quite certain that it was prepared in a clean place and that the sellers are taught about proper sanitation and if I may incur stomachache due to their lack of sanitation, I can always complain and have someone to run after; since I am perfectly fine, I assume that it's clean.

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Sa pagkain ko ng iskrambol eh naisip ko na napakamoderno na ng mundo ngayon na ang pagkaing nabibili lang sa harap ng eswelahan nuon o di kaya'y sa luob n palengke eh mabibili mo na rin sa mga istasyon ng tren at baka sa ilang shopping malls. Ito rin ang nangyari sa fishball, kikiam at kwek-kwek na lumawak ang market mula sa mga bata at masa na tumutuhog lang at sabay-sabay na nagsasawsaw sa garapong puno ng sauce na matamis, maanghang o di naman kaya'y mix at syempre ang napakasarap na suka na merong sili at konting panimpla hanggang abutin na nito ang mga middle class na meron ng tila platong pinaglalagyan at mas maliit na stick ang gamit para sundut-sundutin ang mga fishballs. Sa akin, mas gusto ko pa rin ang tradisyonal na pagkain ng fishball dahil ito ang nagpapatatag ng bond ng mga Pilipino pero dahil nga sa mga nakaraang paglaganap ng hepatitis at gastroenteritis ay mas pinipili na ring ganito ang gawin lalo pa't sa mall na kadalasang nakikita ang mga fishball carts.
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I can see that in the next years, we would be seeing this food in a more gourmet manner. Fishballs would be eaten as appetizers served in a platter with basil on top or some garnishes like chili flakes, main course includes isaw, barbecue or some nicely cooked betamax, sago't gulaman is served in a tall glass while ice crumble as dessert would finish the new gourmet meal... it would be a nice set for a date, don't you think?

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Bilang isang tao na lumaki sa kanto, natutuwa ako sa tuwing kumakain ako ng kwek-kwek, fishball at kikiam pero kung hindi na ito nakakatulong sa kalusugan mo o nnagbibigay banta sa lagay mo lalo na't kilalang mataas sa kolesterol ang mga pagkain sa kalsada tulad ng balut at kwek-kwek, magmenor lang ng konti dahil mas malaki ang mawawala sa iyo sa oras na nag-indulge ka rito ng sobra.

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Ice crumble brought me back to the past while I am pouring it in my throat... nice feeling...

Tomorrow, I will eat fishballs... I am hungry Billie... blogging.

photo credits: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ice-Crumble-ISKRAMBOL/78377053416?v=info

White Light

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me. Your rod, your staff, they comfort me"

- Psalm 23:4

I am afraid to die.

Who isn't?

Many clergymen might say that if you really believe in God Almighty, you will never fear death or anything which may bring it so long as you believe in him and follow His will... but the question still lies in my head... what will happen to me after death?

Death has always been an avoided topic but whether we like it or not, it's something we could never avoid... something which we are born with... deal with it.

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Maaagnas lang naman tayo at kakainin ng mga uod at magiging pataba sa lupa tulad ng lahat ng uri ng bagay na nabubuhay sa ibabaw ng lupa. Sumusunod tayo sa chain... sa isang siklo ng buhay. -Agham

Ang kamatayan ay ang siyang nagdidikta ng kapanganakan natin sa kabilang mundo kung saan ang mga tapat na sumampalataya sa Panginoon ay mabubuhay kapiling Siya sa habang panahon. - Simbahang Katoliko

Bukod sa dalawang nabanggit, may paniniwalang Hindu na nagsasabing hanggang hindi nagagawa ng isang ispirito ang kanyang misyon o tungkulin, patuloy siyang babalik at babalik sa mundo. Ang mga ispiritista naman ay naniniwala sa vortex na kailangang tawirin ng mga kaluluwang handa ng pumunta sa kabilang mundo at ang mga kaluluwang di pa panatag ay kailangang uminom ng Lactum para maging 100% panatag kung hindi ay mananatili siyang nagliliwaliw dito sa mundo bilang isang multo na tulad ng katabi mo kagabi sa pagtulog mo.

Pero ano nga lang ba ang sigurado sa kamatayan.

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Death is the retirement of our physical body.. whether our spirits will take their own journey or not, we don't know or will never know until we're alive.

It is bidding farewell to our loved ones. The last chance to tell them how much we love and value them, and also how much we are thankful for having them around. The only moment when we are not hated but so much missed. The time when our achievements outweighed the shortcomings. The only time when we're ridiculed less and understood most.

No consoling word can ever amount to the pain of a death... No one can calm the most troubled hearts of those who were left behind and no guilt can ever compare to those who have not expressed the love which was there all along waiting for the perfect moment which never came.

Death is a dreadful event which may happen to anyone.... painful as it is to anyone...

I don't want to die yet for I am afraid...

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Gusto kong makita kung saan ang destinasyon ko bago ko mamatay, mga dalawang araw bago ako mamatay... para mawala ang takot at pangamba... para hindi ko maramdaman na wala palang dapat ipag-alala...

Hanggang sa aking makita ang puting ilaw... ako si Billie... blogging...

Aye Aye Captain!

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.


Ang mga linyang iyon ay ang huling stanza ng pamosong tulang Invictus ni William Ernest Henley. Isang tula na tumatalakay sa pagiging isang mas matapang at determinadong tao na kayang humarap sa kung anumang hamon ng buhay... isang katangian na tinuro sa atin ng ating mga magulang.

2nd semester ng aking ikalawang taon sa college. Isang essay mula sa isa sa aking kaklase ang pumukaw sa aking interes... ang topic: Taking care of our parents in their old age... Lahat yata kami eh sinabing isa itong tungkulin ng mga anak na bagaman hindi hiningi ng mga magulang natin eh kailangan nating tuparin at least para na lang sa social approval na kadalasan nating pinahahalagahan ng sobra. Pero obligasyon nga ba talaga natin na alagaan sila?

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I really find it unfair that we, children of our parents, feel obliged to look after them during their golden years... that no matter how bad they were towards us or how bad our childhood was because of them, we are still forced by the society to look after them and treat them the nicest way we can... This is not a personal sentiment for my parents are considerable and fair enough but I know a lot of people who were not properly raised and was not given enough love and affection by their parents but when their parents grew old, they were expected to treat them with utmost love and affection. And if we don't.. we are the worst person alive...
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Bilang isang anak, pakiramdam ko eh hindi na natatapos ang tungkulin natin bilang anak... 'pag bata ka eh kailangan mong magpakabait, sundin ang gusto nila, wag gawin ang bawal at kahit hindi bawal eh kailangan mo pa ring ipagpaalam... If you turned out to be a big disappointment, sasabihin na wala kang kwentang anak kahit na sinubukan mo ang lahat ng makakaya mo samantalang ang mga magulang pag napakain nila ang anak nila nang tatlong beses kada araw at nasabihan ng konti dahil nagkamali eh tapos na ang araw nila bilang magulang...

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I think and believe that however we treat our parents in their prime age should depend on how they treated us when we were kids... we should give them what they deserve... Society should never meddle on these things, after all, it's a personal matter...

I believe that taking care of our parents is more of an act of gratitude rather than an obligation... so if you're a parent then be a good one.... Good parents are not born.. they're made... and they also bear good offsprings as well...

I said a lot... but only the last part made sense... Sorry... I have so many thoughts running in my head... 'till next time... I am Billie.. blogging.