There’s another contest

The President has proclaimed October 21 as a special day in honor of the second Filipino saint, Pedro Calungsod, whose canonization will take place in Rome on that day. Meanwhile, many are asking where those drawing pictures or creating statues of Calungsod are basing his appearance as there are no pictures of him available, nor are there any relatives or friends of his still around to describe him. Recently, I saw an article where someone pointed out that Calungsod could have come from Iloilo because there are Calungsods there. The research on him by the assigned Devil’s Advocates must have been thorough, hadn’t they noted anything to connect him to Iloilo?

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Among the top stories in the national media yesterday was the transfer of former president Gloria Arroyo to the intensive care unit of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center. Her doctor, speaking to reporters, said she had been diagnosed with ischemia, which means she could have a heart attack. Who wouldn’t have such troubles when the Sandiganbayan has set her arraignment on Monday? Aside from that, her doctor also said her blood pressure was also high. Same cause, one would suppose.

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Meanwhile, the world is agog over the announcements of the winners of the highly prestigious Nobel Prizes this year, especially those named in the Medicine category. This is shared by two men – once a British researcher, John Gordon, and the other a Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka – and their accomplishment involves the discovery of the reprogramming of one’s stem cells to, virtually, reinvigorate one’s tissues and renew one’s physical make-up. The best thing about their discovery, however, is not its cosmetic significance, but how it can treat diseases long-considered progressive and incurable.

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Of course Filipinos are already familiar with the terminology, as many well-known personalities, from movie stars to politicians, are believed to have reformatted, not only their appearance, but also their performance. This was after they reportedly underwent the treatment abroad, mostly in Europe. Think Joseph Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile, because the first rumors about stem cell beneficiaries are said to be these two. I hope it is not libelous to mention this.

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But the so-called stem cell therapy is no longer inaccessible to the ordinary Pinoy or Pinay who can afford it, but does not want to go to foreign lands for it. A few months ago, it was available only in Manila, but recently a clinic has opened in Bacolod. I haven’t fielded any spies in the area, so we cannot do a little chismis as to who are the local beneficiaries, but maybe can guess by scrutinizing our suspects’ faces.

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By the way, stem cell therapy is also said to have provided hope for those suffering from Parkinsons Disease as well as schizophrenia, and, who knows, may soon be discovered to also prolong life! Which could be tampering with the laws of nature, wouldn’t it? So far, however, those I know – or suspect – to have undergone the procedure, had done so just for cosmetic reasons, which means to erase wrinkles and retain both their hair and youthful looks – if done on time, that is. I also hear that the treatment costs half a million pesos, at least.

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However, there are other stories coming out about the Nobel Prize that are just as interesting. One of them is about the alleged connection between fondness for chocolates and the awards. An item released by the Agence France Presse says that countries where people eat a lot of chocolates have more NOBEL Prize winners. Examples pointed out were the United States, France and Germany. Is that why there are less from China, Japan and Brazil? The item did not mention the Philippines. Maybe we should eat more chocolates? I’m sorry now that I gave away most of the bars I brought home from the U.S. Could they have helped me edge closer to a Nobel?

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Just as interesting as the possibilities of stem cells, are the competitions being staged by all kinds of characters all over the world nowadays. I am not talking about the art contests being promoted in connection with our ongoing MassKara Festival, but other cocky ones for which contestants are being recruited through the internet. One such competition has been announced by an international news syndicate, and if the reader is interested, he (it’s for men only, girls) can turn to page 3 of this issue, and see if he wants to compete. Go ahead, turn back the page…*

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