Filipina Soul

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). As the name implies, the urine has the characteristic smell of maple syrup. Unfortunately, that’s about the good thing about this disorder.
Maple Syrup Urine Disease is a disorder in the body’s ability to use three of the essential amino acids in protein.
The disorder presents itself upon birth diagnosis can be made immediately to find out if a newborn has the disease. In infants with intermediate (a type of) MSUD, symptoms are milder and may not be apparent as soon. Symptoms include fussiness, lethargy, decreased nursing/feeding, poor weight gain, hypotonia (poor muscle tone) or …read more

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Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). It’s a disease that causes severe elevation in total cholesterol among several or most members of a family. Persons with FH have cholesterol levels reaching as high as 700 to 1200 mg/dl, compared to the optimum level of 200 mg/dl in a normal person. So, a person with FH has a very high chance of getting a heart attack and other heart-related diseases at an early age.
Typically in men who have this disease, heart attacks occur in their 40s to 50s, and 85% of men with this disorder have experienced a heart attack by age 60. The …read more

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This is a (blogging) challenge I can’t refuse. Dr. Lei of B5Media’s Health and Genetics is inviting bloggers to participate in a blog carnival on how genetics affects their lives, and what better way for Filipina Soul to participate in this carnival than by writing about genetics and Filipinos.
So we’ll feature two very interesting posts today on such studies by prominent Filipino scientists who focus on genetic diseases among Filipinos. The featured papers are a tad bit technical so we’ll do our best to lay it out in a language we can all relate to, although I know for a fact …read more

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We have adobo almost every week in our house. It’s great for dinner and even better the day after, for breakfast, when the flavors have been absorbed by the meat. But two appearances on the family table are enough for me, no matter how much I love adobo. Sometimes, there are still leftovers after that. So what to do with them?
My mom taught me a dish that uses leftover adobo. I share it here with you:

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In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the demand for Filipino nurses in first-world countries. In the U.S. alone, it is reported that there is a need for at least 2 million full-time registered nurses.
Two articles highlight some positive developments for Filipino nurses seeking to take advantage of these opportunities.
Alfredo G. Rosario of ABS-CBN News mentions the possibility of the Philippines becoming a testing site for the U.S. National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which is required of licensed registered nurses (in the U.S.).

On the 26th anniversary of the Commission on Filipino Overseas, Secretary Dante A. Ang, CFO chairman, …read more

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July 2, 2006 is going to be an intense day for the Filipino people. That’s the day Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao squares it off with Mexican Oscar Cholo Larios for the mano-a-mano super-featherweight championship in Araneta Coliseum.
Aknowledged by boxing buffs as one of the best boxers in the world, pound for pound, the Pacman is heavily favored to win the bout. According to FoxSports, Pacquiao is reportedly going for an early knock-out because Larios “”gets better as the fight goes on so we are going to start early and jump right on him.” Larios on the otherhand has vowed to KO …read more

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The Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is one of the biggest and most powerful forest-dwelling birds in the world. The beauty of this bird is just beyond description. Unfortunately, it is also among the rarest and most critically endangered vertebrate species. It is found only in the Philippines, in the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao.
There are now only a few hundred of these birds living in the wild. The Philippine Eagle Foundation, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of the species, has been working both on propagating the birds and preserving their habitat. It is a reflection …read more

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Now this is a television show worth watching.
Hosted by the beautiful tandem of Paolo Bediones and Miriam Quiambao, GMA launches a new show called PINOY MEETS WORLD where the duo goes on a worldwide adventure to explore the different countries where Pinoys work, live and travel to. And knowing how widespread Filipinos have migrated, this ultimately means around the world!
Starting this Sunday July 2, Paolo and Miriam, who are both competitive and skilled in extreme sports and adventures, will themselves “explore architectural prides, world heritage sites, world heritage sites, breath-taking sceneries, personally learning how to cook mouth-watering food specialties endemic …read more

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Here at Filipina Soul, we try to let people know how wonderful and full of color the Filipino culture is. It’s full of life, full of laughter, just waiting to be discovered and enjoyed. This joie de vivre that characterizes the people may be glimpsed in the numerous festivals that occur throughout the islands.
WOW Philippines has a calendar of the festivals that are happening this week:
SUBIRAN REGATTA
June 28 | Tacloban City, Leyte
Annual race of native sailboats with outriggers displaying seamanship.
PINTADOS KASADYAAN FESTIVAL
June 28- June 29 | Tacloban City, Leyte
A body-painting festival in honor of the courageous “pintados” (warriour ancestors).
KALILANG SA …read more

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Held for four excrutiating days, two Filipino oil workers were released Sunday by their Nigerian captors after the workers’ employer Petroleum Geo-Services negotiated for their release. Joseph Doctolero and Pacifico Gajo are expected to come home within the week.
We wish them a safe return and warm reunion with their families.
[Source: Manila Standard Today]
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In the meantime, President Gloria signed a law that abolishes the death penalty, citing the possibility of wrongful execution as one reason for the new law. The Supreme Court has overturned seven out of 10 lower-court death sentences since 1993. Congress, too, approved a bill abolishing capital punishment …read more

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