Image was taken from greatmesotheliomaguide.com

Families are a necessity of life. Each member of a family whether they realize it or not, is dependent on all of the others for love, support, and a sense of identity. Though some health issues are inevitable, protecting your family from long term health problems is not impossible. Avoiding toxins like asbestos can prevent unnecessary health risks and keep your family solidified and in good health.

Asbestos is a natural mineral used in the manufacturing of houses and buildings and is mostly found in drywall, insulation, appliances, car parts, and tile. Asbestos is also used to build schools, churches, and other publicly used buildings. When the mineral is undamaged and intact, it is relatively harmless. However, if it is disturbed, asbestos fibers are released into the air and can be swallowed or inhaled.

Family members who live or work in asbestos contaminated areas can bring home the poisonous fibers on their clothes, shoes, and hair, spreading the toxins to the rest of the family. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of a deadly cancer called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma symptoms do not appear for 20-50 years after asbestos is inhaled. Thus, many victims do not know that they have the cancer until it has spread to other organs. Since diagnosis is often delayed and the cancer already spread, treatment is difficult and mesothelioma life expectancy is low.

Recently, countries like Canada are responsible for increasing asbestos export to Asian nations, including the Philippines. The Jeffrey mine in Quebec, Canada is reopening and intends to ship 200,000 tons of the toxic material to various countries over the next 25 years. Though asbestos is banned in Canada, they are still allowed to sell the cheap material to others with full knowledge of its detrimental health effects.

To protect your family from mesothelioma, first be sure that your home or any buildings that you frequent do not contain asbestos. If you suspect asbestos exposure or if you notice symptoms of mesothelioma, see a doctor and request a cancer screening. Nothing is worth your family’s health. Keep them safe; watch for asbestos.

For those who wish to get more information about the current situation of cancer research in our country and would like to support the cause, you may visit the official website of the Philippine Cancer Society.

February is considered as the month of love basically because Valentine's day is celebrated during this month. I just hope that we would celebrate the occasion not just by giving roses, chocolates, flowers and stuff to our loved ones.

Why not do something for a stranger who is in need like Gabrielle C. Zamora, a 9-year old kid suffering from a congenital heart disease called “Tetralogy of Fallot”. Gabrielle has already undergone” five operations”

After 2 years of open heart surgery the problem occurred on the “Trans Annular Patch”. According to the doctors of the Phil. Heart Center an operation needs to be done immediately to prevent another attack that would cause of blood infection going to his brain, heart malfunction and possible cause of his death.

His mother, Gelitie Zamora, is asking from your good heart for any help and assistance you could extend for her child's operation on Feb. 20, 2011. Gabrielle needs Php 320,000.00 for his VSD Device Closure at Philippine Heart Center.

If you are interested to send any assistance, just go to this LINK.

I don't want to be the Grinch this Valentine's day but I bet your sweetheart would appreciate you more if she finds out that the reason why you did not give her flowers or chocolates (which cost like gold during this time) this year, is that you helped a boy who is need of a lot of loving hearts. After all, the very essence of heart's day is the love that connects two people and not the gifts that we give and receive.

Many Filipinos, including yours truly, grew up and have gone used to having lunch time in front of the TV watching Eat Bulaga. That's why I see to it that every Saturday, I will block the 12 nn - 3 pm from any schedule or plan so I can savor my best lunch of the week--- steamed rice with jokes and other TVJ fun stuff and the whole of Dabarkads.

This blog post might be a little late to commend the great effort of the show in informing the public about the beauty and importance of recycling through their Plastic ni Juan project. It's a fact how unpleasant the current situation of waste management in country is. Just remember the Ondoys and Pepengs that came which left thousands homeless and hundreds dead. The damage could have been lessened or avoided if the plastic that has clogged our main sewerage for decades was cleaned up before those disaster struck us.

Enough on crying over spilled milk and let's do our own little way by learning how to segregate garbage that can be recycled from those that are biodegradable. Start by joining hands with Eat Bulaga. If you have an organization or is employed in any company, you can talk and suggest to your officers to support the worthwhile project of country's longest running noontime show. I saw a donation box like the one above in front of the STI campus in Shaw Blvd., Pasig City. (Great job, guys!)

Did you know that all the plastic containers that EB gathers are being recycled as school chairs and are later donated to schools that are in need of new classroom chairs? So that means that you don't just support recycling but you are also helping the public school sector in joining this campaign

For more information, kindly contact Maricel Carampatana though tel. nos. 426-6423 local 224 & 225 or you may also visit the official Eat Bulaga Facebook fanpage.

Indeed, sa Plastic at Basura... May dalang pag-asa!