Stem cell therapy
and mumbo jumbo

Monday, I had my first-hand interview on stem cell surgery; just a straightforward recitation of the entire thing, minus the usual jargon that seems to make it something beyond the ordinary.

Yes, not just everybody can afford it. In the first place, Joe Marie Montinola, secretary of the Confed Negros-Panay chapter, said it cost something like P200,000.

And since he had to undergo the treatment in Australia, it must be really more than just that.

Certainly, not something which the average Negrense can afford.

But Montinola explained that his stem cell treatment was just one of several which he could afford.

In short, this special treatment, was needed. A cell liposuction from his abdomen. Just 100 cc they got from him, said Montinola.

Initially, said Montinola, he was alarmed when he saw his abdomen showing bluish signs. But he was cautioned by his physician that it was just a normal reaction of his withdrawal of a big amount of fats.

“I thought that I was going to undergo a more prolonged treatment. No, they just made sure that the fats were separated from the stem cells and then injected the healthy stem cell into me.” said Montinola.

Two months after he had undergone the therapy, Montinola said he feels definitely better than what he used to feel before the treatment.

But he also told of somebody from here who had undergone another stem cell treatment. “He was suffering from a bloated abdomen, now he is back to his normal weight without the excess baggage,” was how he described it.

Anyway, the thing that struck me was the fact that, well, it seems that there are many in the Philippines who had gone abroad to seek stem cell therapy.

Lately, we heard that among those who entertain the idea is former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, she reportedly intends to seek treatment in Germany. But, as in the case of Montinola, perhaps, the same is readily available either in Singapore or Australia.

***

NO. it’s not settled. That’s what City Mayor Evelio Leonardia had called the efforts by the city council and the city officials to thresh out with the local business community with their differences over the controversial new city tax ordinance.

You know it sounds like the city had just managed to have their differences settled with the business community, especially the MBCCI and the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

While the business people said they don’t want to engage city hall in a fight, still it seems that they are not just also lowering their flag down when such a solution had been offered or settled.

In short, the city must be able to offer a more palatable solution that it had been willing to yield to the business community.

What is at stake is that already some business establishments have allegedly already closed down while others are eyeing other places nearby where they could make business without incurring such taxes as could make them lose their shirts.

That may also be the reason why Leonardia has not yet hoisted the arm of Jude Thaddeus Sayson as his mayoralty bet because there is no gainsaying that Sayson should the business community raise as one against the city’s slate for mayor, congressman and city councilors.

***

Negros Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez predicted a lead of 150,000 votes over Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. in the race for the 2013 governorship of the province.

That’s what I could call counting the chickens before the eggs are hatched. And the arithmetic is simple. The combined votes of the Sixth District and the First District.

This is thinking that the entire voters of each district will vote 100 percent for him and his ticket.

The 20 mayors of the province who had voted for Marañon as their choice for governor and Julie Ferrer as vice gubernatorial candidate, must also be counted in the possible outcome of the votes in 2013.

Perhaps, Alvarez had not truly formalized his campaign platform. He has just anchored his excuse for running against Marañon on the assurance of former Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco that the latter will support him in 2013.

In short, just simply because Danding says so, there is no more need for Alvarez to counter what Marañon has been implementing in the past few years.

Anyway, Negrense voters have become wiser now after voting for dedicated governors. They just won’t vote for someone whom anyone says is the best suited to be in the position of governor of the province.*

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