Hundreds died and scores injured in ethnic Uighur riots

At least 156 died and 828 people were injured in a bloody clash between Uighurs and government forces as the ethnic group, predominantly Muslim, came out of the streets on Monday, July 6, 2009 in northwestern China.

“The latest protests started in the provincial capital of Urumqi on Sunday, when demonstrators gathered to demand justice for two Uighurs killed in June during a fight with their Han co-workers at a factory in southern China.

The protests turned into the deadliest ethnic unrest to hit the region in decades.
Photos and video posted on the internet showed the city in flames, as rioters went on a rampage, clashing with police and rolling over police cars.”----AP/ CBCNesw.ca (07/06/09)

The Uighurs who are concentrated in the Xinjiang region of China have a turbulent relation with the ethnic Han Chinese who predominate in the country. As a result of the discrimination, the Uighurs complain against the Chinese government, the ethnic group has established a separatist group. Aside from job discrimination, they accuse the government of trying to eradicate their religion.

On the other hand, the Chinese government claimed that the fresh riots aimed to “destabilize the country” has been incited by exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer, the president of the Uighur American Association (UAA) who lives in exile since 2005 in Fairfax, Va. The exiled leader denied such a claim. (Photo Credit: AFP/ Peter Parks/ Yahoonews; AFP graphics) =0=

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Sen. Edward Kennedy survives longer under the world’s best medicine available

Edward Klein’s book entitled “Ted Kennedy: The dream that never died” details how the senator has weathered a deadly brain tumor (malignant glioma)--- longer than the usual expectancy. Without the current system, there is almost no way one can have this brand of excellent US medicine working in his favor. This makes us think twice on what Washington wants to do with our health.

Americans are endangered of losing healthcare today if the Obama government dismantles the current system. In the rush to implement a universal healthcare plan that is cheap and affordable, freedom of choice to get the best doctor and avail of quality treatment may altogether be lost. Here below is a glimpse of an astounding healthcare that helps Kennedy survive and the Obama government wants to change.

“The meeting on (Friday) May 30 was extraordinary in at least two ways,” wrote Lawrence K Altman, M.D., the chief medical correspondent at the New York Times. “one was the ability of a powerful patient ---in this case, a scion of a legendary political family and the chairman of the Senate’s health committee---to summon noted consultants to learn about the latest therapy and research findings.

“The second was his efficiency in quickly convening more than a dozen experts from at least six academic centers. Some flew in Boston. Others participated by telephone after receiving pertinent tests result and other medical records.”

At the May 30 meeting, opinions were divided over the benefit of surgery. According to Dr. Altman, “Some neurosurgeons strongly favored it; two did not.” Among those opposing surgery was Dr. Raymond Sawaya, chairman of neurosurgery at Baylor College of medicine and the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Dr. Sawaya believed that the cancer had spread over a large area and, therefore, that most of it could not be eradicated.

“Tumors in the brain in the brain are like real estate,” said Reid Thompson, director of neurosurgical oncology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. “It’s all location, location, location.”

“No matter what treatment you use,” said Dr. Henry Brem of the Johns Hopkins Hospital, “It tends to be an aggressive, quickly replicating, quickly growing tumor.”

Nonetheless, Dr. Vivek Deshmukh, director of cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery at George Washington University Medical center, urged the senator to take his chances with the scalpel. “The treatment that has been shown to make the most difference as far as survival is removal of the tumor,” Dr. Deshmukh said, “Surgical removal carries the greatest benefit in terms of extending his survival.”

And also, on Friday afternoon, the senator put in a call to Dr. Allan Friedman, co-director of the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University Medical Center. The 59 year-old doctor was considered by many as his colleagues to be the Mozart of brain surgeons. He was preparing to to take off for a long-planned vacation in Canada when his cell phone rang. On the other end of the line was Sen. Edward Kennedy, who told the doctor that he had searched the world for the best neurosurgeon to remove his cancerous brain tumor.

“And I want you.” ----Klein, Edward. Ted Kennedy: The dream that never died. Crown Publishing Group. 2009, pp. 209-210.

No matter what these politicians tell the people about healthcare, when one is stricken ill, especially by a life-threatening disease, gut instinct tells of the need for the best treatment. It happened to Kennedy, a "royal" Massachusetts democrat and seasoned politican in Capitol Hill. He is a proponent of a government-controlled universal healthcare system that will likely bring cuts to available life-saving treatments that has extended his life. In trying to rein over expenses, the new healthcare plan will likely detach the very sick, the elderly, disabled, and those with incurable diseases from care that has made their survival possible.

Yet, Kennedy like other politicans don’t worry so much about undoing what is supposed to be the best medicine available on earth today. Part of the social experiment America is embarking, the Obama government wants to put in place an alternative socialized and rationed healthcare for Americans akin to those in Canada and Europe---extending medical coverage to as much people but endangering the quality of care and advance of US medical science. They know whatever medical care is made available in this country, the influential, educated, and well-connected will have the power to get excellent medical care which may be distant from the reach of ordinary Americans. (Photo Credit: learfieldnews) =0=

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5 killed in Cotabato blast

Part of the bombings that caused renewed fear in various parts of Southern Philippines is the explosion which occurred on Sunday, July 5, 2009 rocking the nearby Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Cotabato, Mindanao.

A bomb detonated in a store close to the church claimed the life of 5 people and wounding about 45. The explosion which prompted people to flee inside the church coincided the morning mass that was being celebrated by Archbishop Orlando Quevedo.

“The bombing occurred 14 hours after an explosion rocked Barangay Poblacion in Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province, wounding three civilians.” Inquirer (07/06/09, 2009, Uy, J.)

No one accepted any responsibility for the blasts that Vatican's pontiff Pope Benedict XVI condemned. The holy father said nothing good could be achieved by hate and acts of violence. Col. Jonathan Ponce, spokesperson of the 6th Infantry Division of the military suspected the spate of treaths and bombing are workings of the militant elements of the MILF. (Photo Credit: Carlie Saceda) =0=

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July 4, 2009: Let Freedom Ring to the Home of the Brave!

Earning liberty from Great Britain in July 1776, the United States of America was formed to become a diverse nation of people that pursue the American dream.

Today we celebrate America’s birthday with gladness and gratitude. We pray that God will continue to guide and shower its freedom-loving citizens with love and care as the country advances into the uncertainties of the 21st century. We call on all on brothers and sisters of all nations to share with us the wonder and sweetness of this great land. (Photo Credit: photobunny) =0=


The Defense of Fort McHenry
by Francis Scott Key
20 September 1814

The Star Spangled Banner

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner forever shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


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Ibalon friends in New York

Among recent visitors of New York City, Ibalon friends Mrs. Modesta Wilson and Mr. and Mrs. Lossiete and Arceli Oracion of Carson, CA and Harbor City, California respectively breezed trough the big Apple for the Independence day weekend.

Mrs. Wilson, the widow of Fred B. Wilson is from Indianola, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Oracion, originally from Fairview, Quezon City are the loving parents of Dr. Renato M. Oracion, a well-known dermatologist in Odessa, Texas. They are house guests of Dr. Marietta F. Mesia. (Photo Credit: AFM) =0=

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Behind rumors of leaking breast implants, GMA is declared “healthy” with benign mammary & groin biopsy results

Almost coincident to the somber news that former Pres. Cory Aquino has abandoned all treatment against advanced colonic malignancy, Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo who was on self-quarantine for H1N1 flu underwent biopsies of breast and groin masses at the Asian Hospital which turned out to be negative. Malacanang Palace issued a statement that the post-menopausal president is in perfect health.

“According to the Palace official, the lumps were discovered “earlier” during her medical check up at the Asian Hospital before she went to Pampanga to visit her infrastructure projects in June 15, two days before she flew for her 13-day, five-nation visits that ended on Monday night.

“There is biopsy made, the result is negative. The President is in pink of health,” ----Press. Sec. Cerge Remonde. Manila Bulletin (07/03/09, Luci, C. M.)

The press release was also a repudiation of a rumor that the president had leaking silicone breast implants done in the 1980's. President Arroyo’s attending physician and gynecologist Dr. Maria Theresa Tangkeko-Lopez certified Pres. Arroyo’s clean bill of health, but didn't comment on the implants. Photo Credit: lasvegaskodak) =0=

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Gov. Sarah Palin withdraws from governorship of Alaska

Sarah Palin, the lightning rod of political intrigues since she run for vice-presidency in the last election announced that she was stepping down as Alaska governor to avoid being a “lameduck’ public official. In a press conference in her hometown in Wasilla, Alaska, Palin said she will not seek re-election. Instead, she will devote time in private life---a decision she planned way before because she wanted to work and support a variety of unspecified political causes. In July 26, 2009, she will turn over her duties to Lt.-Gov. Sean Parnell.

The upbeat and articulate governor spoke of the culture of hate and personal destruction which she experienced on the hands of her political opponents and the bias media. Soon after she ran for vice-presidency a team of political manipulators came down to Alaska to dig dirt about her---too rapacious and unfair to even drag her innocent children to the political discussions in order to discredit her. Many of the innuendoes about her family had been unworthy of serious consideration.

A total of 15 frivolous ethics accusations against Palin by her political opponents were lodged at the expense of taxpayers’ money which all turned out to be in her favor. According to her, to defend herself on those baseless accusations, she had to uselessly spend half a million dollars which could have paid for meaningful espenses.

Money expended to discredit Palin could have helped pay for salaries of government workers. The nonsensical and wasteful effort which defamed individuals like her exposed a new breed of Americans who harbor self-deluding "moral rectitude" that frustrate the public.

With Palin's popularity and potential to be a presidential candidate in the next election, the good-looking former beauty queen which makes the Democratic Party uneasy do not lack criticisms from her harsh detractors. In spite of being a strong woman and conservative mother, she had been unjustly reviled as an "empty shell" in spite of her remarkable public record as governor of Alaska which didn't pale with the track record of Pres. Barack Obama.

A Republican bet against the questionable Obama administration, many speculate her decision to withdraw from governorship is a step towards her plan to run in the next presidential election. (Photo Credit: Infacinatorin) =0=

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Ibalonian Dr. Vines N. Reis in the Big Apple

Ibalonian Dr. Vines Nolasco-Reis, from Goshen, Indiana and a toxicologist of Michigan State Environmental Quality Department visits her pals Dr. Franz (Punch) Evangelista-Daquilag and affable hubby Ed of Bloomfield, New Jersey and Dr. Augusto F. Mesia, of Astoria New York.

With Dr. Reis is youngest son Vergel who travels with her to Pittsburg, PA for a quiet family reunion in the July 4th weekend. =0=

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RP needs improvement in governance

Despite claims that Pres. Gloria Arroyo has performed well in governing the country, The World Bank brings in another slow performance report that belies such claims. The Worldwide Governance Indicators for 1996-2008 (World Bank) show that Philippines made some progress in corruption, law enforcement and maintenance of political stability, but tails behind other countries in certain performance indicators of the region.

The fight against corruption had Philippines score 26.5% in 2008 and 22.2% in 2007 which is way below the regional average of 45.1%. Graft and corruption is a huge drag in the advancement of the nation and obviously the report tells that this is a serious challenge for Filipinos. As a consolation, the country fared well in regulatory policies: 51.7 percent last year versus the regional average of 42.1 percent.

Some indicators in which country lags behind are as follows:
-----------------------------------------2008-----------2007----------Regional Ave.
Up-holding the law-------------------39.7%---------33.8%---------52.9%
Maintaining Political Stability------10.5%---------10.1%---------59.9%
government effectiveness”------------55%-----------56.4%
“voice accountability”- -------------41.3%---------43.3%
Source: Philstar.com (07/02/09, Gonzales, I.)

The discordance in what the Pres. Gloria Arroyo believes to be good governance in her administration and the reports of watch groups tells Filipinos of a need for improvement. Otherwise, among competing nations, Philippines is in danger of falling behind and be at the tail end of sovereign nations. (Photo Credit: BeyondSFO) =0=

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