| Health, wellness industry holds great promise for coco sugar farmers
Cagayan de Oro City (13 April) -- Natives of the town of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental hope that pretty soon they can boast of another moniker as the "Coco Sugar Capital" of Misamis Oriental, if not the Philippines. Joy Aster Gamolo, product consultant of Sphyte Global Enterprises, is at the forefront of that aspiration. She heads the group of coconut farmers whose product the Department of Trade and Industry has chosen as the One Town, One Product (OTOP) for Balingasag. It is this group that was identified by the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce to be its winning product for its CORE-PROPEL project. Coconut sugar is produced from the sweet, watery sap that drips from cut flower buds or infloresence of the coconut tree, better known as the source of tuba. The sap is collected each morning and afternoon by tappers (known locally as mananggete who were tuba gatherers in their previous incarnation) and boiled in huge woks known locally as calja until only the coco sugar remains.
State 'must fulfill health demands'
INTERIM Health Minister Doctor Jona Senilagakali says the State must fulfill the expectations of people even though those expectations are influenced by services provided overseas. Dr Senilagakali made the comment at the opening of a two-day conference on human resources for health at the Southern Cross Hotel, in Suva, yesterday. "It is important to note that although the Ministry of Health is expected to play a major role in the development of health work force policy, health planning, the involvement of government agencies will determine the final outcome of these strategies and activities," he said. He said the high expectations on the performance and delivery of health services, coupled with the health work force perception on their work and career opportunities were a challenge to the system.
Who Is The Greatest Of Them All?
Ian Macdonald has delved into his own personal archive and dug out some gems from previous occasions when the Ball of Fire returned to his true footballing home. Here he recalls those glorious moments, in the company of Greatness. Whos the greatest of them all?" Little curly Alan Ball! That was the claim of many; every time I ask an elder Evertonian, their eyes light up like a kid at Christmas. Ah Bally, what a player, what a player. I still cant believe they sold him. I remember him turning his back with the ball to the opponent and then sitting on it, everybody laughed and applauded. Ah that goal he scored against them in front of a hundred thousand fans, Ill never forget that. The Reds at Anfield said it never happened, it was only in the films (the game at Goodison was beamed back to Anfield in front of another forty thousand fans), he was a flame-haired winner who drove his team mates to the point of mutiny.
MEDICAL MONDAY: Soy Milk a Healthy Alternative
Findings from a study appearing in a recent issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology (AJE), suggest there's a link between consumption of large (I repeat, large) amounts of dairy products and Parkinson's Disease in men -- but men only.
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that can impair motor skills and speech.
Researchers say there is no reason to avoid dairy products completely, given the health benefits of dairy foods. The key, however, is to enjoy dairy foods - but in moderate amounts. The study appearing in AJE is not the only one reporting the Dairy-Parkinson's link. The connection has now consistently been found in other studies, but researchers still don't completely understand why. But until they do, and for those who want to avoid dairy products, soy milk is a nutitrious alternative.
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