Friday, March 29, 2013

Can you make a tree smile?

Dr Abe V Rotor
Tagaytay, March 24 2013

Can you really make a tree smile?
Yes, you can, not only for a while,
even when the sky's dark and gray, 
it heralds rain is on the way.

When you know that trees catch the rain
and guide flood water down the drain,
or impound it for the garden and field,
and buffer the storm like a shield. 

When you know the great miracle: 
sunlight transformed to life of all,
and the air is cleaned and cooled
for the comfort of young and old. 
  
When not to cut for Christmas tree,
firewood, toys, for sale or free;
not for the most beautiful craft, 
for the tree is the finest art.    

When it's home and place to play, 
for transients and tenants to stay,
landmark of the march of seasons 
and the passing of generations. 
   
Yes, you can, and make the world
happy too, in deed and kind word,
as custodian of trees and others,
all living things are your brothers. ~



Thursday, March 28, 2013

The Last Sentinel

Dr Abe V Rotor


   Sentinel on Tagaytay Ridge - but for how long? March 24, 2013  

I braved the wind and storm, drought and rain,
     vandals and lovers carving their pledge, 
the beetle and caterpillar, all that has to gain
     from me standing on this ridge at its edge.

I was as proud as a king, tallest among my kin,
     home of countless tenants and refugees;
by height and place I was keen at touching the sky,
     though so little I felt on Babel's knees.

The view around was lush and green, verdant 
     in the sun as mist and fog would unfold;
a woodland was my world, I was once a part,
     until humans came to replace the old.

My neighbors are gone, I lost track of my lineage, 
     I've no one to talk to, though humans can 
in queer sound far from the gentleness of breeze
     all day long and after the sun is down. 

I lost sight overlooking the famed volcano, 
     its lake within a lake shining in the sun;
my vantage is blocked by roofs and walls and smog,
     an orphan I became by progress of man. 

I no longer hear plaintive and joyful songs,
     recitation of verses under my wing; 
weary travelers no longer stop to take a nap,
     nor birds nest in my branches and sing.

I live in fear for the woodsman, the engineer,
     but I've lived with fear enough to understand
the world of man: fear akin to his existence
     hidden in want - guideless, boundless in band. 

Man's era shall reign over nature, but for how long?
     I can only tell from my ancestors' story:
once upon a time there was a Paradise 
    abandoned by man in search for glory. ~

Gem Perched on a Tree

Brightest Gem Perched on a Tree
Dr Abe V Rotor
 
 
Atop Tagaytay Ridge, March 24 2013


A gem perched on a tree is looking through,
     to watch in its shadow a wholesome three;   
to whose care but the world and humanity, 
    the greatest gift to the loving and true.


Rare Beauty in the Plant World

Rare Beauty in the Plant World
Dr Abe V Rotor 

Epiphytic liana on a tree trunk creates a fairy tale scene in Honey I Shrunk the Kids.  It offers a good subject for cartoons and abstract art. Crust of blue green is composed of lichen, an association of alga and fungus, a perfect example of survival through co-evolution.  Lichens are among the oldest living creatures on earth.

Buds emerge in summer on the highland, braving alternate heat and cold of day and night, which explains its rare color - red pigment dominating the normal green color of the plant, a biological phenomenon.   

Euphorbia displays extreme features: tender and colorful flowers in cluster perched on cruel and thorny stem - sharing somehow the romantic attribute of the rose, and the mythical imagery of "beauty and the beast."     

A pair of aster flowers emerges at the edge of a hedge, appearing "imprisoned" by striated ornamental grass. Such a scene is romantically associated with stories about "beauty behind bars."  

   
This leguminous shrub of the genus Cassia attracts attention by its unique pack of golden flowers and fine foliage even as other ornamental plants around have gone into aestivation in summer heat. A bumble bee settles down for nectar - a good subject of biology and photography.    

Bangbangsit, which means odorous, Lantana has lately invaded gardens, not because of its notorious nature as cosmopolitan weed, but gardeners have learned to like it for to reasons: its attractive multi-colored hybrid flowers, and its repellant property in protecting surrounding plants from pest. 

 
Angel's trumpets dangle in the morning sun on a Palm Sunday, as if muted by the observance of Christ passion.  They appear attractive and lovely nonetheless. The flowers are claimed to have marijuana-like properties so that the presence of this shrub in the garden creates suspicion in its purpose other than being an ornamental. 
   
 
Inflorescence of Cyperus, a relative of the papyrus, adds unique ambiance in flower arrangement. Although devoid of fragrance and attractive color, its unique flower design and long vase life brought this common weed to the artist's eye and dining table. 

This sapling has two kinds of foliage, an example of dimorphism in biology - white to cream and tender when newly open to deep green and bold when mature. It grows up into a medium tree that has attractive orange inflorescence, which local folks fondly call the plant "queen of flowering plants." 


These specimens were photographed by the author in Tagaytay, March 24, 2013 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Sister Macarius Lacuesta, SPC - religious, scholar and poetess.


Dr Abe V Rotor

If imagery is more vivid than vision, take it from Sr. Macarius – religious, scholar and poetess.

“Fly on my little kite
Ride on the wings of the wind…
Over plains and dales,
Reach on to the heights,
Hear the whispers of the treetops,
And the secrets of the clouds.”


- Fly on My Little Kite

She samples us with the timelessness, and the vastness of imagery that transcends to all ages – the young and the old, the past and present – and beyond. It unleashes the searching mind to freedom, liberating the soul with the confidence of a hand that holds the string of that kite.

For who would not like to fly on that kite in order to see the world, or at least to be taller from where he stands, or to turn the hands of time and be a child again even only for a while? That child in all of us, it must live forever. It lives in a dragonfly many years ago we captured for fun.

“Ah, you bring me back to my yesteryears
When I would run to catch you…
The sound your wings did make was music to me…
And then the childish whim satisfied, I set you free.”
- You Naughty Dragonfly

Adventure, simple as it may, carries us to the open field, and its pleasant memories make us feel reborn. Sister Macarius’ unique imagery comes at the heels of virtual reality as one reflects on her poems. Yet, on the other side of the poetess’ nature, she is real, she is here and now, “through open fields she walked… tired and weary, she slumped on the stump of an acacia tree.” From here she journeyed to the deep recesses of the roots of the sturdy tree. How forceful, how keen are her thoughts, true to being a devout religious.

“For their roots journey to the deep earth
Was a determined search for water,
Unmindful of the encounter with darkness,
Where cold and heat would not reach.”


- Journey to the Deep.

Faith is as deep as the roots of a sturdy tree. Such analogy refines the moral of the poem. It is a parable in itself. The poetess paused. In prayer she said in the last part of the poem, poignant yet firm and believing in the fullness of thrust and confidence of a Supreme Being.

“Lord, sink my roots into the depths of unwavering faith in You;
Help me believe that in my encounter
With darkness, hope may be borne
And my life will manifest all
The goodness, the beauty that is You.”

- Journey to the Deep

Dedicated to the memory of Sr Macarius Lacuesta, SPC

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Meditation with Nature

Meditation with Nature

"I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles." 
– Anne Frank 

 Dr Abe V Rotor 

Green World in acrylic, AV Rotor

1. When reality dies it may become a dream.
And dream is reality again foreseen.

2. The past leaves but little in the future,
A test how long man can endure.

3. Beauty seen once breaks the heart,
Wait for the image to depart

4. We don't have the time, indeed an alibi,
To indolence and loafing, letting time pass by.

5. Evil is evil indeed - so with its mirror,
While goodness builds on goodness in store.

6. To endure pain of hatred,
A leader's wisdom is dared.

7. Kindness, however small,
Is never, never wasted at all.

8. Unless cut and polished, a stone is stone;
Like a gene lying deep, unknown, alone.

9. Make believe prosperity,
Sound of vessel when empty.

10. Beauty builds upon beauty,
Ad infinitum to eternity.

Humor and wit brighten your life in gloomy weather

Dr Abe V Rotor
Living with Nature - School on Blog


"Jump high and fly, like the hopper, from ground to sky."  

On waking up and find yourself a millionaire
Five Filipinos were discussing what they would do if they awoke one morning to discover that they were millionaires 
  • The Cebuano said he would build a big cockpit arena.
  • The Manileño said he would go to Las Vegas and have a good time.
  • The Palaweño said he would build an island resort. 
  • The Ilocano said he would deposit the money in the bank and live on its interest.  
  • The Boholano said he would go to sleep again to see if he could make another million.
Why does a captain go down with his ship?
A soldier who lost his rifle was lectured by his captain and told he would have to pay for it. 
"Sir," gulped the soldier, "Suppose I lose a tank, will I have to pay it, too." 
" Yes, you will, even if it takes your whole life in the army." 
"Now I know why a captain goes down with his ship." 


Honesty really pays
Two friends were riding a bus and had just reached their destination.  At the station one of them realized she hadn't paid her fare. Confessing to her friend she asked, "Did you pay for me?"  To which her friend wryly answered, "No."
"Well, I'll go right up and pay."
"Why bother? That's just a small matter, and you were able to get away with it."  
"I believe that honesty always pays." And virtuously she went to see and pay the conductor. 
She returned holding a fifty-peso bill.  "See, I told you honesty always pays!"  "I handed a twenty-peso bill and he gave me this change." ~ 


Time and space 
"The distance between Manila and New York is the same as from New York to Manila." Explained one of three friends.  
"Well, not when you come back on the other side of the globe." 
"What do you think, Jon-Jon?"
 "I dunno; its just a week from Christmas to New Year, but is it a week from New Year to Christmas?" 

Just the same
"If you have your life to live over," the prominent octogenarian was asked, "do you think you'd make the same mistakes again?"
"Certainly," said the old man, "But I'd start sooner." 

Memory lapse 
"Have you forgotten that 500 pesos I lent you a month ago?"
"Not yet, give me time." ~ 

Disparity
In his Sunday mass homily, the priest told the faithful, "As I look around, I ask myself, 'Where are the poor?' "
"But when I look at the collection, I say to myself, 'Where are the rich?' " 

A five-letter word is the real problem
A five-letter word,
not enemy, not study,
not bored, not birth,
neither dying nor death;
wanting around the world 
in springtime or autumn,
in dark days or sunny -
this five-letter word;
craved by everybody 
none other but money. 

All about Money
  • A well-known comedian was being seen frequently with a certain beautiful blonde.  Finally someone asked where they had met. "I dunno," said the comic.  "I just opened my wallet and there she was." 
  • When it is a question of money, everybody is of the same religion. (Voltaire)
  • I don't like money, actually, but it quiets my nerves. (Joe Louis)
  • Money talks as much as ever, but what it says nowadays makes less cents. 
  • Everything is subject to gravity except tax rate, salary, inflation, tuition, cost of living...
 Acknowledgment: Braude JM, Speaker's Encyclopedia of Humor; Procknow H & H Jr Procknow (Jokes, Quotes and One-Liners)

Odd-man-out test


Abe V Rotor

1. Which of these is not a make of car?
ROFD TAIF OVVOL GINEBO SLAIT CHOREPS

2. Which of these is a Filipino poet/poetess?
MADIANTAL STEAK YORNB RANIBAS THROWDOWRS KEBAL

3. Which of these cities/towns is not in Europe?
SHANTE WOOCSM LINAM DENYSY LOBINS SPAIR

4. Which of these is not an island?
LANAWPA THIAIT AGUM BUCA YESNID NOROC

5. Which of these singers is an Italian?
GALANSO TATASUBI LIATIP SOCURA ROHANS NARUO


Pilita Corrales is a famous singer, actress
and a songwriter. She is half Spanish and
half Cebuana and widely known as 
the
Asia's Queen of Songs.

Answers:
1. Ford Fiat Volvo Boeing Altis Porsche
2. Dimalanta Keats Byron Chaucer Wordsworth Blake
3. Athens Moscow Milan Sydney Lisbon Paris
4. Palawan Tahiti Guam Cuba Disney Coron
5. Salonga Bautista Pilita Caruso Sharon Aunor

ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Reference - How clever are you? A Reader's guide to Intelligence Tests

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Mother Teresa Nobel Peace Prize Lecture on LOVE



Selected parts of Mother Teresa's lecture on peace

Living with Nature School on Blog
Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School on Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio
738 DZRB AM Band, Evening Class, Monday to Friday

Nobel Lecture by Mother Teresa
Oslo, Norway - December 11th 1979


xxx "We have been created in his (Christ) image. We have been created to love and be loved, and then he has become man to make it possible for us to love as he loved us. He makes himself the hungry one- the naked one - the homeless one- the sick one- the one in prison- the lonely one - the unwanted one- and he says: You did it to me. Hungry for our love, and this is the hunger of our poor people. This is the hunger that you and I must find, it may be in our own home.

I never forget an opportunity I had in visiting a home where they had all these old parents of sons and daughters who had just put them in an institution and forgotten maybe. And I went there, and I saw in that home they had everything, beautiful things, but everybody was looking towards the door. And I did not see a single one with their smile on their face. And I turned to the Sister and I asked: How is that? How is it that the people they have everything here, why are they all looking towards the door, why are they not smiling? I am so used to see the smile on our people, even the dying one smile, and she said: This is nearly every day, they are expecting, they are hoping that a son or daughter will come to visit them. They are hurt because they are forgotten, and see- this is where love comes. That poverty comes right there in our own home, even neglect of love. Maybe in our own family we have somebody who is feeling lonely, who is feeling sick, who is feeling worried, and these are difficult days for everybody. Are we there, are we there to receive them, is the mother there to receive the child?

I was surprised in the West to see so many young boys and girls given into drugs, and I tried to find out why- why it is like that, and the answer was: Because there is no one in the family to receive them. Father and mother are so busy they have no time. Young parents are in some institution and the child takes back to the street and gets involved in something. We are talking of peace. These are things that break peace, but I feel the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a direct war, a direct killing- direct murder by the mother herself. And we read in the Scripture, for God says very clearly: Even if a mother could forget her child- I will not forget you - I have carved you in the palm of my hand. We are carved in the palm of His hand, so close to Him that unborn child has been carved in the hand of God. And that is what strikes me most, the beginning of that sentence, that even if a mother could forget something impossible - but even if she could forget - I will not forget you. 


And today the greatest means - the greatest destroyer of peace is abortion. And we who are standing here - our parents wanted us. We would not be here if our parents would do that to us. Our children, we want them, we love them, but what of the millions. Many people are very, very concerned with the children in India, with the children in Africa where quite a number die, maybe of malnutrition, of hunger and so on, but millions are dying deliberately by the will of the mother. And this is what is the greatest destroyer of peace today. Because if a mother can kill her own child- what is left for me to kill you and you kill me- there is nothing between. 

And this I appeal in India, I appeal everywhere: Let us bring the child back, and this year being the child's year: What have we done for the child? At the beginning of the year I told, I spoke everywhere and I said: Let us make this year that we make every single child born, and unborn, wanted. And today is the end of the year, have we really made the children wanted? I will give you something terrifying. We are fighting abortion by adoption, we have saved thousands of lives, we have sent words to all the clinics, to the hospitals, police stations - please don't destroy the child, we will take the child. So every hour of the day and night it is always somebody, we have quite a number of unwedded mothers- tell them come, we will take care of you, we will take the child from you, and we will get a home for the child. And we have a tremendous demand from families who have no children, that is the blessing of God for us. And also, we are doing another thing which is very beautiful- we are teaching our beggars, our leprosy patients, our slum dwellers, our people of the street, natural family planning.

And in Calcutta alone in six years- it is all in Calcutta- we have had 61,273 babies less from the families who would have had, but because they practise this natural way of abstaining, of self-control, out of love for each other. We teach them the temperature meter which is very beautiful, very simple, and our poor people understand. And you know what they have told me? Our family is healthy, our family is united, and we can have a baby whenever we want. So clear- those people in the street, those beggars- and I think that if our people can do like that how much more you and all the others who can know the ways and means without destroying the life that God has created in us.

The poor people are very great people. They can teach us so many beautiful things. The other day one of them came to thank and said: You people who have vowed chastity you are the best people to teach us family planning. Because it is nothing more than self-control out of love for each other. And I think they said a beautiful sentence. And these are people who maybe have nothing to eat, maybe they have not a home where to live, but they are great people. The poor are very wonderful people. One evening we went out and we picked up four people from the street. And one of them was in a most terrible condition- and I told the Sisters: You take care of the other three, I take of this one that looked worse. So I did for her all that my love can do. I put her in bed, and there was such a beautiful smile on her face. She took hold of my hand, as she said one word only: Thank you - and she died.

I could not help but examine my conscience before her, and I asked what would I say if I was in her place. And my answer was very simple. I would have tried to draw a little attention to myself, I would have said I am hungry, that I am dying, I am cold, I am in pain, or something, but she gave me much more - she gave me her grateful love. And she died with a smile on her face. As that man whom we picked up from the drain, half eaten with worms, and we brought him to the home. I have lived like an animal in the street, but I am going to die like an angel, loved and cared for. And it was so wonderful to see the greatness of that man who could speak like that, who could die like that without blaming anybody, without cursing anybody, without comparing anything. Like an angel- this is the greatness of our people. And that is why we believe what Jesus had said: I was hungry- I was naked - I was homeless - I was unwanted, unloved, uncared for - and you did it to me.

I believe that we are not real social workers. We may be doing social work in the eyes of the people, but we are really contemplatives in the heart of the world. For we are touching the Body Of Christ 24 hours. We have 24 hours in this presence, and so you and I. You too try to bring that presence of God in your family, for the family that prays together stays together. And I think that we in our family don't need bombs and guns, to destroy to bring peace - just get together, love one another, bring that peace, that joy, that strength of presence of each other in the home. And we will be able to overcome all the evil that is in the world.

There is so much suffering, so much hatred, so much misery, and we with our prayer, with our sacrifice are beginning at home. Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do. It is to God Almighty- how much we do it does not matter, because He is infinite, but how much love we put in that action. How much we do to Him in the person that we are serving.

Some time ago in Calcutta we had great difficulty in getting sugar, and I don't know how the word got around to the children, and a little boy of four years old, Hindu boy, went home and told his parents: I will not eat sugar for three days, I will give my sugar to Mother Teresa for her children. After three days his father and mother brought him to our home. I had never met them before, and this little one could scarcely pronounce my name, but he knew exactly what he had come to do. He knew that he wanted to share his love. xxx

And so here I am talking with you- I want you to find the poor here, right in your own home first. And begin love there. Be that good news to your own people. And find out about your next-door-neighbor - do you know who they are? I had the most extraordinary experience with a Hindu family who had eight children. A gentleman came to our house and said: Mother Teresa, there is a family with eight children, they had not eaten for so long - do something. So I took some rice and I went there immediately. And I saw the children - their eyes shining with hunger - I don't know if you have ever seen hunger. But I have seen it very often. And she took the rice, she divided the rice, and she went out. When she came back I asked her - where did you go, what did you do? And she gave me a very simple answer: They are hungry also. What struck me most was that she knew - and who are they, a Muslim family - and she knew. I didn't bring more rice that evening because I wanted them to enjoy the joy of sharing. But there were those children, radiating joy, sharing the joy with their mother because she had the love to give. And you see this is where love begins - at home. And I want you- and I am very grateful for what I have received. It has been a tremendous experience and I go back to India- I will be back by next week, the 15th I hope - and I will be able to bring your love.

And I know well that you have not given from your abundance, but you have given until it has hurt you. Today the little children they have- I was so surprised - there is so much joy for the children that are hungry. That the children like themselves will need love and care and tenderness, like they get so much from their parents. So let us thank God that we have had this opportunity to come to know each other, and this knowledge of each other has brought us very close. And we will be able to help not only the children of India and Africa, but will be able to help the children of the whole world, because as you know our Sisters are all over the world. And with this prize that I have received as a prize of peace, I am going to try to make the home for many people that have no home. Because I believe that love begins at home, and if we can create a home for the poor- I think that more and more love will spread. And we will be able through this understanding love to bring peace, be good news to the poor. The poor in our own family first, in our country and in the world. 

xxx Around the world, not only in the poor countries, but I found the poverty of the West so much more difficult to remove. When I pick up a person from the street, hungry, I give him a plate of rice, a piece of bread, I have satisfied. I have removed that hunger. But a person that is shut out, that feels unwanted, unloved, terrified, the person that has been thrown out from society - that poverty is so hurtable and so much, and I find that very difficult. Our Sisters are working amongst that kind of people in the West. So you must pray for us that we may be able to be that good news, but we cannot do that without you, you have to do that here in your country. You must come to know the poor, maybe our people here have material things, everything, but I think that if we all look into our own homes, how difficult we find it sometimes to smile at each other, and that the smile is the beginning of love.

And so let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love, and once we begin to love each other naturally we want to do something. So you pray for our Sisters and for me and for our Brothers, and for our Co-Workers that are around the world. That we may remain faithful to the gift of God, to love Him and serve Him in the poor together with you. What we have done we should not have been able to do if you did not share with your prayers, with your gifts, this continual giving. But I don't want you to give me from your abundance, I want that you give me until it hurts.

The other day I received 15 dollars from a man who has been on his back for twenty years, and the only part that he can move is his right hand. And the only companion that he enjoys is smoking. And he said to me: I do not smoke for one week, and I send you this money. It must have been a terrible sacrifice for him, but see how beautiful, how he shared, and with that money I bought bread and I gave to those who are hungry with a joy on both sides, he was giving and the poor were receiving. This is something that you and I - it is a gift of God to us to be able to share our love with others.


 And let it be as it was for Jesus. Let us love one another as he loved us. Let us love Him with undivided love. And the joy of loving Him and each other- let us give now - that Christmas is coming so close. Let us keep that joy of loving Jesus in our hearts. And share that joy with all that we come in touch with. And that radiating joy is real, for we have no reason not to be happy because we have no Christ with us. Christ in our hearts, Christ in the poor that we meet, Christ in the smile that we give and the smile that we receive. Let us make that one point: That no child will be unwanted, and also that we meet each other always with a smile, especially when it is difficult to smile.

I never forget some time ago about fourteen professors came from the United States from different universities. And they came to Calcutta to our house. Then we were talking about that they had been to the home for the dying. We have a home for the dying in Calcutta, where we have picked up more than 36,000 people only from the streets of Calcutta, and out of that big number more than 18,000 have died a beautiful death. They have just gone home to God; and they came to our house and we talked of love, of compassion, and then one of them asked me: Say, Mother, please tell us something that we will remember, and I said to them: Smile at each other, make time for each other in your family. Smile at each other. 


And then another one asked me: Are you married, and I said: Yes, and I find it sometimes very difficult to smile at Jesus because he can be very demanding sometimes. This is really something true, and there is where love comes - when it is demanding, and yet we can give it to Him with joy. Just as I have said today, I have said that if I don't go to Heaven for anything else I will be going to Heaven for all the publicity because it has purified me and sacrificed me and made me really ready to go to Heaven. I think that this is something, that we must live life beautifully, we have Jesus with us and He loves us. If we could only remember that God loves me, and I have an opportunity to love others as he loves me, not in big things, but in small things with great love, then Norway becomes a nest of love. xxx


Mother Teresa Speech (Nobel Lecture Speech, Internet)

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Indigenous Food - Seaweed and Sweet Potato Paste

Dr Abe V Rotor

Seaweed Gelidiella acerosa (Order Geliadales, Division Rhodophyta) is served as salad (blanched and spiced with fresh ripe tomato and a dash of salt), above; or cooked with bulanglang or diningding, as topping. The seaweed is plentiful on coral reefs in many parts of the country and other tropical countries. It is rich in agar. Note: A favorite of Ilocanos, this vegetable dish consists of young pods of kumpitis (Clitorea purpurea), eggplant (Solanum melongena), okra (Abelmoschus eculentus), tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum), sitao (Vigna sinensis) and kamote (Ipomea batatas).    


Kamoteng halaya (sweet potato paste with coconut milk, sugar and cheese) is nutritious and easy to prepare. Best for snacks it is packed with calories and it is a complete meal itself. Convenient as baon - snack and meal supplement,  Shelf life may be prolonged for a week or two in the refrigerator.  

Conquering the World of Anxiety


Dr Abe V Rotor 
Living with Nature - School on Blog
Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid with Ms Melly C Tenorio
738 DZRB AM, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday

The Scream by Edvard Munch, 1893, became one of the most popular paintings because it depicts the era of anxiety and fear brought about by industrialization at that time which became the precursor of modern living. Since then millions all over the world have been living in a world of anxiety, and their number is increasing every day.  It is a world on the fast lane, where life is a never ending race into the unknown.  And yet people move on bandwagon, in a kind of syndrome reminiscent of the legend in the Dark Ages – the Pied Piper of Hamlyn.  
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   
There is no exception: anxiety is a biological and psychological response to a situation, real or imaginary. While anxiety is a human response, certain animals experience "anxiety" dictated by instinct. 

In our civilized world, psychological anxiety dominates the biological factors. This is a consequence of progress.  Today we are faced with complex anxiety, a parallel world of an otherwise simple world of comfort and happiness. Yet we cannot stop pursuing  knowledge, aiming at ambitions, in fact dreams, amassing wealth and wresting power virtually without limit. Many find life difficult - insurmountable to many -  to adjust and adapt, and to survive. To them this world of anxiety is a labyrinth and abyss.

Yet it is a world of our making, a world full of warning signs before we get lost in the maze, or fall into the abyss.       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Happy childhood builds a less-anxiety adulthood.
1. Welcome to the world of anxiety. (Signs on the road in increasing intensity).
1. Uneasiness, lightheadedness, clumsiness
2. Shaky nerves, sweaty and cold palms and feet
3. Palpitation, racing heartbeat
4. Profuse perspiration, shortness of breath or choking
5. Dizziness, blurred vision, chest pain
6. Nausea, panic, fear of losing control or dying

2. Candidates (victims of anxiety)
All of us are invariably victims of anxiety. What do we worry or anxious about? Our aging parents, retirement benefits, sex life, health – name it, real or imaginary – and you have it, irrespective of sex, age, domicile, profession, work, race, creed, etc. While we worry about certain things and situations, other people simply don’t mind; they simply don’t care.

Animals have built-in responses equivalent to our own, especially the small, scurrying kind – an instinctive response necessary for survival. Rats and chicken freeze in place momentarily when subjected to sudden fear stimulus. The opossum feigns dead which is actually an involuntary fear response.

3. Is anxiety necessary then as a survival mechanism?
Yes, anxiety helped in human evolution. Records of anxiety show how humans shared the planet with saber-toothed tigers and mammoths . Without it few of us would have survive, if at all. But now we live in a particular anxious age brought about by modern civilization, so that anxiety has developed into a more complex kind. For example, we are worried for 1001 reasons as individuals, but we are also affected collectively. Take the case of the effects of the two world wars on mankind. Then came the Cold War which lasted for nearly half a century, creating an uneasy kind of world order imposed by fear of Armageddon, should the US and USSR and their allies engage in final confrontation. Such mass anxiety was revived by terrorism with its baptism in the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers of New York.

4. When do we say anxiety is good and when it is not?
There is something mysterious about anxiety, its dualism. It is a normal response to physical danger so that it can be a useful tool for focusing the mind where there’s a deadline looming. But anxiety can become a problem when it persists too long beyond the immediate threat, which  leads to anxiety disorder. It affects 19 million Americans, 25% not having any medical treatment. It is steadily rising in all countries where Western influence is getting stronger.

5.What are the two major forms of anxiety?
According to Sigmund Freud, One is more biological in nature and the other is more dependent on psychological factors.

6. What are the stages in the development of anxiety – and depression?
1. Stress – any external stimulus from threatening words to a gunshot, that the brain interprets as dangerous.

2. Fear – The short-term physiological response produced by both the brain and the body in response to stress.

3. Anxiety – A sense of apprehension that shares many of the same symptoms as fear but builds more slowly and lingers longer.

4. Depression – Prolonged sadness that results in a blunting of emotions and sense of futility; often more serious when accompanied by an anxiety disorder.
 Ways to relieve anxiety
"While away time once in a while."
Family bonding is the best guard against emotional
and psychological problems.
Attending to social function, such as ninong in a wedding
Spending a weekend with relatives
Visiting a museum or fair
Studying nature with co-researchers
Conducting feeding project for kids.
Visiting the aged and infirmed

7. Of the 12 anxiety conditions listed in the psychological diagnostic, these are the five most common ones.

1. Panic disorder – This is recurrent, unexpected attacks of acute anxiety, peaking within 10 minutes. One finds himself in a situation such as in a crowded elevator. If extreme anxiety symptoms appear, the person may be suffering of anxiety disorder that needs medical consultation, even if this is occasionally experienced.

2. Specific Phobia – This is characterized by consuming fear of a specific object or situation, often accompanied by mild to extreme anxiety symptoms. It may just be plain hate, or fear, say heights. Behavioral therapy – gradual introduction of the cause, until enough courage is built; and cognitive therapy – re-orientation of perception or behavior, may be needed independently or jointly.

3. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - a preoccupation with specific thoughts, images or impulses, accompanied by elaborate and sometimes bizarre rituals. Even if they are irrational thoughts, repetitive ritual (e.g. hand washing, prayer), time consuming – researchers are certain whether of not OCD is genuine anxiety. Whatever it is, it does respond to treatment.

4. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – repeated, anxious reliving of a horrifying event over an extended period of time. It is not anxiety if the experience fades away steadily, but if it may persist, and sometimes PTSD will not appear until six months after the event. This is caused by recurrent recollection or dream of the event, feeling the even to be still occurring, experience reminding you of the event, and difficulty in avoiding thought associated with it.

5. Generalized Anxiety Disorder – Excessive anxiety or worry for days or months, but does not affect quality of life. Characterized by restlessness, difficulty concentrating or sleeping, irritability, fatigue, muscle tension. Have three or more of these symptoms confirm a person is suffering of GAD.

8. Is anxiety inherited?
Yes, some people seem to be born worriers. Some anxiety disorders are known to run in the family. If the genes involved are reinforced by environment, the expression become more distinct. (Nature-nurture) But there is a good note to this: heritability is only between 30 to 40 percent, according to researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University. Identical twins more likely show stronger tendency to suffer from generalized anxiety disorder. However, even one with low genetic vulnerability could develop a fear of something that may even be greater than one with high genetic vulnerability.                                          
Be inspired always - profession or vocation.
Homecoming: meeting your former boss,
reliving good old days in the organization
Culinary art is enjoyable and fulfilling
9. Is it true that children suffering of anxiety are most likely candidates of depression?
Yes. But it is also true that many kids outgrow their anxiety disorder to become well-adjusted adults. Anxiety and depression have similar underlying biology. Anxiety may surface early in life and depression later. But researchers are divided in this observation.

10. How do we explain anxiety to the ordinary citizen?
First, let’s start with the senses picking up a threat – a scary sight, a loud noise, a creepy feeling – the information takes two different routes through the brain.

A. The shortcut – the brains automatically engages an emergency hot line to the fear center – the amygdale, which sends an all out bulletin that alerts the brain structures resulting to classic fear response as cited in symptoms, notably increased blood pressure and burst of adrenaline. All these happen before the brain is conscious of the event – before you know you are afraid. Now the second paths takes place.

B. The high road - After the fear response is activated does the conscious mind act; the information takes a circuitous route, stops first at the thalamus (processing center) to the cortex (outer brain layer which serves as data analyzer) to the senses, deciding whether there’s need of fear response. If yes, cortex signals amygdala and the body stays alert.
Therapy from pets and wildlife.
Group dynamics - also "sharing of woes and throes."
Reaching out for the kids through art.
11. How does the body respond to anxiety stimuli? 
The amygdala triggers a series of changes in brain chemicals and hormones and puts the body in anxiety mode, characterized by the following:

 Stress-hormone boost – the hypothalamus and pituitary glands pump out cortisol, the stress hormone (Too much cortisol short circuits the cells in the hippocampus making it difficult to organize the memory of a trauma or stressful experience.

• Racing heartbeat – The sympathetic nervous system responsible for heartbeat and breathing shifts into overdrive.

• FFF (Fight, Flight, Fright) - Adrenaline shoots into the muscles preparing the body to do the appropriate action.

• Digestion Shutdown – Brains stops thinking about things that bring pleasure, conserve energy otherwise wasted on digestion, hence vomiting, defecation, urination may occur.

12. What are the ways to relieve anxiety?
 Behavioral therapy – Best for phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder. Panic disorder is to expose patients to a tiny bit of the very thing that causes them anxiety.

 Cognitive therapy – rethinking, behavior modification through proper advice.

• Antidepressants – Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft are best known among the antidepressant drugs.
The newest group is norepinephrine which control emotion and stabilize mood.

• Minor tranquilizers – examples are Xanax, Valium, Klonopin serve temporary relief and therapy under doctor’s supervision.

• Exercise – talk therapy, simple exercise (at least 30 minutes), brisk walk Exercise releases natural opiates called endorphins,

• Lifestyle Changes – cut back or eliminate the use of sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and recreational drugs

• Alternative treatments – yoga, meditation, guided imagery, aromatherapy, massage
Welcoming Balikbayan, former neighbors
Conducting art workshop
Assignment and Discussion
• Cite an anxiety episode you actually experience.
• How did not overcome your anxiety.

Lesson on Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid, DZRB 738 AM
Reference: The Science of Anxiety Time 39 to 47 pp July 8, 2002
Lost Lives Time November 10, 2003
What Scares you? Phobias Time April 2, 2001