The American Dream

I really don’t know why the “American dream” still lives on despite of the fact that Uncle Sam is hard-up in putting his house in order. Maybe Uncle Sam himself has all the answers and knows quite well that America remain the destination of choice for foreigners seeking greener pastures and U.S. citizenship, the two important goals of would be immigrant.
To be honest, I also tried to seek a promising future in Uncle Sam’s land of opportunity but I wasn’t as fortunate as the others who were able to take their oath of allegiance to the Stars and Stripes and proudly sang The Star-Spangled Banner hymn.
N’yet, I did not fret when I came up short in setting my goals to reach the “depot station” (US Embassy). It was really hard facing the maze-like “obstacles” (required US Immigration documents), compounded by the financial difficulties that goes with it which ultimately derailed everything in catching up the “chugging train” (American dream) full of “passengers” (immigrants) ready to live and settle for good in the land of the greenbacks with the words “In God we trust” printed on it.
The dream
Yes Indeed, I trusted God for all the time spent in realizing the dream but unfortunately, none of it happened though. Nonetheless, I intermittently pursued the dream only to suffer losses in between tries.
The US Navy
The Philippines was once home to the biggest US military base outside of North America and its Naval facility stationed in Subic Zambales, has been a staging point for Filipino recruits willing to join the US Navy with promising rewards including that of outright US citizenship. The US Navy regularly recruits graduating high school students and I am one of those excited young fellows eager to join the once in a lifetime adventure aboard huge naval ship. But, what the heck…my two tries were not impressive; my low score in written examinations nailed my chances to say “AHOY” atop the massive deck.
The US Army

Mother Earth

When the earth was created
And so with the living things existed
That’s what the believers of the living God says
But Charles Darwin and his followers maintain
That the Big bang theory and evolution made it happen
For the universe and the planet earth to appear
Like magic in a snap of a finger

Believers and non believers present long arguments
About faith and mundane doctrine
However, understanding and debates about earth do not end between them
Various study groups demonstrate interest on mother earth
Foremost are the environmental groups
Advocating unequivocal support for mother earth
To protect the remaining rain forest from total denudation
To protect the wide blue ocean from poachers and pollution
To protect acres of pristine lands from destructive mining
To protect the environment from all harmful things to alleviate global warming
And to save the planet earth from absolute damage

Other interest groups love to do the opposite
Like big time multi mining companies
Destroying huge tracts of land to extract minerals
Encroaching on habitat of indigenous people and all living things
Fell trees for them to clear the vegetation
Level the mountains for their mining operation

Logger concessionaires and illegal loggers alike are cutting down trees
To process in sawmills built in the middle of the greeneries
Disregarding the importance of trees to the environment
That causes destruction to the villagers’ lives and settlement
And the flora and fauna that makes the lush environment

Different sectors are also to blame for nature’s continuing decline
Rich developers convert farmlands to exclusive golf courses and high end residential buildings
Industrial and household wastes are everywhere, putting at risk the health of earthlings
Substandard products laced with harmful chemicals are all over the place
Spray chemicals remain as tools in growing fruits and vegetables
Meat and poultry products injected with hazardous chemicals or additives
Plastic products are widely used, making it the most in residual waste
And other unimaginable things that hurt the earth’s natural foundation

Mother earth is really in bad shape
That is why natural calamities occur often in devastating shake
Killing people and destroying properties in an instant take
There’s no one to blame in this particular situation
But the people themselves who continue to harm mother earth’s condition
For the faithful, this is God’s reminder to give back to mother earth’s care and protection
For the non believers, maybe a word of spell or incantation will do the magic to give back life to earth again.

The making of a Millionaire

It is really not surprising if wealthy people from around the world are increasing significantly. In spite of the economic crisis affecting the world, news story of nouveau riche continue to make headlines. Prominent of them of course are the rugs to riches stories, educated biz-wizards, professional athletes and showbiz stars. In the underworld side are the schemers, scum bugs, drug syndicates, human smugglers, money launderers and small time swindlers scattered around the world. Of course the list makes longer because there are the so called “game of chance” millionaires who are lotto jackpot winners and well, maybe the casino gamblers?
Like them, to be wealthy is everybody’s goal or aspiration. In essence, the objective is to improve the status in life and to have a secure future. But for others, wealth is a statement of fame, power, influence and abuse that desecrate the real meaning of humility and pride. They give importance to want rather than need. Thus, wealth comes up with different application and possession. Either way, wealth is a prognosis of a person’s building character on how he handles it.
How to become a Millionaire
Actually, there are many ways that point us to the “paradise of great abundance,” only that we have to choose which way is more convenient to pass for us to reach that paradise of wealth. Most of the time the complex and circuitous way of life makes people to change course rather than take the usual route which eventually lead them to do their contrive plan of acquiring wealth.
Religion, sect, church
“Though shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold Him guiltless that takes His name in vain”
Unfortunately, this is not the case because there are people who invest in religion to acquire wealth. Different religious sects are using the name of God in their scheme to deceive and bleed the followers of their hard earned money. In the Philippines alone, there are four major religious sects known to be multi-millionaires or if not billionaires. The leaders of these sects are literally living in the “paradise of great abundance,” free of tax of course.
Creating a religious sect is a zero investment, only the use of God’s name will do the trick and money will flow like fresh milk taken from the domesticated poor bovine. No education required. Mastery of Bible texts, good speech presentation and perfect body language are the other tricks to accumulate wealth. .
Politics, government service
Joining politics and in government service is a rewarding career. Although, honesty, service and responsibility are the basic principles in government and appointed position, self interest comes first. Most people in these institutions are governed by selfish intention to get rich at the expense of the nation’s wealth and resources. To join in these institutions one needs real investment and usually the return is hundred times of what a person in government service had invested. So, in a very short time of self interest driven career in government, one will become wealthy, no doubt about it. It is very clear that everything is possible to be a millionaire; the path is wide open for all to try by hook or by crook.

Back pain treatment, could it be done naturally?

Although, there are many medical bulletin posted in the internet detailing comprehensive explanation about back pain and its causes, symptoms and medical remedies, I would like to share a piece of information regarding herbal treatment that could definitely help ease certain cause of back pain.

Usually, back pain treatment is traditionally done under the meticulous supervision of medical practitioner that applies different remedies to different kinds of back pain. In acute or severe cases, patients undergo surgery to totally ease the excruciating pain. Others, with less severe condition are treated with regular dose of medicine that serves as temporary pain reliever. And, of course the rest take the old Asian traditional medicine.

Back pain studies

There are various studies on back pain and medical experts say that it varies from age, gender and lifestyle. Some studies claim that back pain is common among males and usually affects the middle age and above. But other studies found that there’s no age or gender limit to back pain and anyone can be affected by the excruciating experience borne out by back pain. The only thing that separates back pain sufferers are the causes on how, why and what makes them suffer the bothering condition of back pain.

Causes of back pain

Actually, there are many causes listed in the medical journals or bulletins searchable in the internet like wrong sitting position, improper lifting, strenuous physical activity, obesity, big tummy or beer belly and more. The cause may be determined whether it is chronic or acute, depending on the condition of back pain which could last from weeks to months.

Common remedy to common back pain

 In some point, common problems that causes back pain can be treated at home using the common remedy of cold or hot compress like muscle spasm, muscle stress and fatigue. Body massage is also good like, Shiatsu, Swedish, acupressure and simple hand massage using eucalyptus oil or liniments.  Traditional medicine like fire cupping or glass cupping is also recommended for it gives complete relief to common back pain. This technique manipulates the chi or energy of the human body which directly eases muscle pain. I intentionally omitted acupuncture among the available remedy to common back pain because I haven’t try it and I don’t want to undergo that “needle insertion” thing.

My excruciating experience

I thought I was just having normal back pain due to my regular exercises of lifting weights, bench presses, push-ups, pull-up bar and other physical activity. But I was wrong. Although, I am experiencing frequent urination, I did not give much attention to it until I started to feel moderate to severe back pain especially during bed time. I scanned the internet for immediate understanding about my problem and it bothers me to know that abnormal kidney or bladder function can cause back pain.

Only then I realized that may be I have a problem with abdominal aneurysm, a weakening of aorta responsible for abnormal kidney function, or may be an abnormal bladder that induces frequent urination or more to that effect.

Like other people stricken with back pain, I have to be tough and to overcome the pain without getting proper and appropriate medical help from a doctor. But admittedly my back pain bothers me no end especially so that I know it is my kidney or bladder as the culprit of my on-off back pain, as explained in one of the medical journal posted in the web. It further noted that severe case can only be treated by means of blood pressure medication or surgery to implant a synthetic graft.

Herbal treatment and its positive effect

Well, of course going under the knife and the financial burden that goes with the procedure as mentioned is totally a tall order for an ordinary person like me. So, I hinged my lot on alternative medicine. My senior citizen mother told me to try cat’s whiskers (orthosiphon aristatus) or Java tea, an herbal plant endemic or found in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. I did not second guess of what really the medicinal value of the plant. And I did not buy a factory made version of cat’s whiskers because my mother have it in our backyard, teeming with green leaves and fresh for the picking.

The positive effect of drinking cat’s whiskers and guava leaves is really consistent with facts and I can attest to its healing properties. My back pain gradually stop after a drinking binge of homemade cocktail laced with cat’s whiskers and guava leaves.

The procedure

1. Normal amount of cat’s whiskers leaves

2. Guava leaves, same amount of cat’s whiskers (optional)

3. Boil the leaves with 10-20 glass of water

4. Wait until the juice appear to its full extraction

5. Drink the concoction based on your given time or during meal time.

6. Lemon (optional)

Note: I add the guava leaves because finding shows that it is good in treating urinary incontinence and so with frequent urination. It also neutralizes the bitter taste of cat’s whiskers. Although, cat’s whisker is diuretics, its specific role is to work on the kidney itself, cleaning it of unwanted properties or toxins forming in the kidney. Lemon is also good to add to balance the bitter taste of the herbal plant.

Cooking Stingray meat in coconut milk spiced with herbs

Cooking Stingray meat in coconut milk spiced with herbs

Living in the Village

Living in the Village

The ode of Sadie

The ode of Sadie