The Freudian Slip Of A Bacolodnon

I am currently in Falmouth, Jamaica having late breakfast in Club Nazz and since this is going to be my last Caribbean port, I wanted to look back and reminisce the wonderful journey I made in the Caribbean. Truly we had the most amazing ports of call and for the past 5 months, I have been mesmerized by the beauty of the Caribbean: its nature, people and even culture. Of course, my favorite is Cozumel, Mexico. Not only the food and souvenir items are cheap, the beaches and other tourist sights are so very accessible. There are a lot of things to do in Cozumel but my most favorite trip was my encounter with the Dolphins in Chakanaab Natural Park. Another amazing port is Grand Cayman. Seven Mile Beach is beautiful and the clear blue-green waters of the Caribbean is very amazing. Shops are plenty as well not only in the port but along the 7-mile beach strip. Belize is another beautiful port. Cheap and accessible, shops in Belize are right inside the port and you don't even have t...

I always make it a point that whenever I visit a new place or country I always buy souvenir items to bring home. I either give them to friends or set them as decorations for the house. One of the places I have visited is Roatan, Honduras. Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands, which are a part of Honduras, lying just over 30 miles from the northern coast of the Honduran mainland. Most common thing to do while in Roatan is Scuba Dive. Should you wish to shop in the port of Roatan for example, here are some of the price range for common souvenir items: 1. keychains - 2 - 4 US dollars each 2. shirts, white - range from 5 to 10 US$ each. Good quality shirts can be from 15US$ to 25US$. 3. shirts, colored - range from 7$ to 30$. 4. set of shirt and caps - range from 20$ to 25$ 5. caps - 5 - 10$ 6. football jerseys - 10$ to 15$ 7. bags, native - 10$ - 15$ 8. ladies bags - 15$ - 20$ 9. shot glass - 2$ to 4$ 10. postcards - 2 for 1$ The port of Roatan would also sell branded watches (range ...

I was reading the news from home regarding this Catholic priest who, during his sermon, told his parishioners to leave the Mass if they are supporting the current RH bill. The RH bill legalizes the use of artificial contraceptives in the Philippines and requires government to spend taxpayer's money to ensure availability of these contraceptives (e.g. pill, condom, etc). While many reacted to the seemingly harsh words of this priest, a few may actually acknowledge the reason behind why a Catholic priest would say such words. After all, the use of artificial contraception, according to Catholic Teaching, is a sin. Thus, it is not just a political statement, it is actually within the bounds of religious discussion especially if you are a Catholic. It can be likened to Iglesia Ni Cristo (an endemic Philippine church) and their Kapatiran's call to vote en bloc the politicians they chose. Nobody can openly go against such "teaching" of the INC because it is incorporated in ...

This is an offshoot from the topic on The Condom. With the subject of artificial contraception on the hotseat nowadays especially for the Philippines, the following are some facts and details regarding the trend of contraceptive use in the US. a) The Pill is still the most popular contraception being used among women (ages 15-44 years old) in the U.S. (28%) followed by Tubal sterilization (27.1%). The use of male condoms comes third (16.1%). Natural Modern Family Planning is only 0.2% (excluding the so-called Calendar Method). b) The proportion of women aging 15-44 years old using contraception declined slightly from 64% in 1995 to 62% in 2002, and 2008. The proportion of women using contraceptives who rely on condoms decreased between 1995 and 2006-2008 from 20% to 16%. c) The Contraception with the highest failure rate as of 2007 is the Cervical Cap with a failure rate of 26% if the woman using it has had a child already (9% if the woman has never had a child). The second highest fai...

An affluent barangay in the Philippines recently passed a local ordinance requiring a prescription to be issued by a medical doctor for a person to purchase a male condom. This has been vigorously opposed by many locals saying no one has the right to tell them what to use as a method of family planning. The barangay (Ayala Alabang) is actually not the first to issue such a "restriction" when it comes to condom use. In Ireland for example, the country issued a similar law regulating the use of condoms to married couples only. I don't see anything wrong actually with the issuance of a prescription before purchasing a condom. I think it is even better that way so that by doing so the user is required to visit his doctor where he will get proper instructions on how to use the condom. After all, a condom, if not properly used, has also a 15% failure rate. And I think it is also fair since women go to their doctors to get a prescription to buy their oral contraceptive pills, th...

Having read the very hotly-debated Reproductive Health Bill pending in the Philippine Congress, I am inclined to make my own reaction regarding the provisions as written in the bill. Sec. 16: "Age-appropriate reproductive health and sexuality education shall be integrated in all relevant subjects and shall include, but not limited to, the following topics:“(a) Values formation ;" Comment: "If the proponents of the bill are strongly clamoring for Separation of Church and State as their strong defense and justification for the passing of this bill, why then include in the proposed Sex Education the teaching of Values Formation? Is it the responsibility of the State to teach its citizens values or is it in the proper domain of the Church? If indeed the State can teach Values formation, which values are we referring to here? Christian values as dictated by the Bible? Muslim values as dictated by the Koran? Or other denominational values as dictated by their own religious aut...

Since I started running the Medi-Spa onboard the Voyager of the Seas, I have been trying to track down the trend when it comes to Cosmetic Enhancements using the latest Facial Relaxers and Dermal Fillers. Currently, the Medi-Spa aboard the Voyager of the Seas is using Botox Cosmetic, Dysport, Restylane, Restylane-L and Perlane. As of March 31, there have been a total of 170 procedures done onboard, 55% of which were Upper Face Treatments. The following are the trends in Medi-Spa treatments for the Voyager of the Seas: Of the Upper Face treatments, 83.9% were treated with Dysport, 16.1% were treated with Botox Cosmetic. 39.8% were treatments of the Glabellar area, 25.8% were treatments of the Forehead area and 34.4% were treatments of the Crow's Feet area (including puffiness). Of the Lower Face treatments, 74% were treated with Restylane or Restylane-L, 36% were treated with Perlane. 44% were treatments of the Nasolabial Folds, 20% were treatments of the Marionette Lines, 31% were ...