Ultrasound Machines

What is an ultrasound machine? According to Wikipedia, diagnostic sonography (ultrasonography) is an ultrasound-based diagnostic imaging technique used for visualizing subcutaneous body structures including tendons, muscles, joints, vessels and internal organs for possible pathology or lesions. I am pretty sure many moms out there are familiar with the ultrasound they underwent during their pregnancies. Said machine is what they called obstetric sonography wherein we can take a look of the little angels in our tummies.


Basic question about ultrasound machines lies on its use. These machines can be used for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. With the use of ultrasound, medical practitioners will be properly guided of the proper and exact interventional procedures to treat their patients on hand. In terms of diagnostic, best example I could give is the echocardiography being used by cardiologists to treat patients with heart ailments. Heart is one of the delicate parts of our body. Proper diagnosis must be performed by cardiologist with the help of echocardiography so us not to endanger the patient’s life. When it comes to therapeutic applications, ultrasound machines bring heat or agitation into the body. Two examples of this procedure are lithotripsy wherein focused ultrasound maybe used to break up kidney stones and phacoemulsification for cataract treatment.

Needless to say, ultrasound machines are very important especially in the field of medicine. Likewise, it is equally important that we buy ultrasound machines from a professional and trust worthy company to see to it that we are buying a machine that passed the safety guidelines and standards of the regulating body for such.

KC @ Rogue Magazine

KC Concepcion was indeed very revealing in her recent magazine cover pictorial showing a piece of her gorgeous butt. Showing her sexy asset, KC posed for ROGUE magazine with a true python over her body while holding an axed male head. Was that you Piolo???

KC, nagpa-sexy sa magazine pictorial

Updates on CJ Corona's Impeachment Trial

I always try to monitor the on-going impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona in the Senate either thru DZMM or ANC. Yesterday, it was BIR Commissioner Kim Henares who authenticated the Income Tax Returns of CJ Corona and his wife from 2006 to 2010 (2002-2005 not available since BIR has no copies of SC’s alpha lists for those years).

I respect Senator Miriam Santiago’s point but I think the time given to the prosecution to question further Commissioner Henares gave expectators a much clearer picture of what the prosecution is claiming about CJ Corona. Senator Ralph Recto came to question also the witness and found out the truth about on what records did the BIR only have pertaining to CJ Corona and what they don’t have.

Will those records show betrayal of public trust and ill-gotten wealth? That will rely on the authorities who will scrutinize the documents and other supporting evidences and witnesses in the future.

Nevertheless, let us all be patient with how the impeachment is going on and give our trust and confidence to our Senate that they will make a just and wise decision over this trial. Let us all pray.

• Prosecution memo: CJ violated spirit of SALN
• Corona relatives question CJ's SALN
• INFOGRAPHIC: Missing Items in Corona's SALN
• Merely filing SALNs isn't disclosure, says Monsod
• Monsod: Filing of SALN does not constitute disclosure
• Corona's 'incomplete' SALNs violate charter?
• Corona SALN 'absolutely damning': Quimbo

Lambunao's Binanog Festival

The BINANOG FESTIVAL is a traditional Philippine celebration and courtship dance performed by the Bukidnon tribe of Lambunao. The dance involves movements in imitation of the flight of the hawk or banog, after which the dance is named. It is performed in honor of the Sto. Nino in a festival that takes place during the 2nd Sunday of January. The dance actually consists of three dance forms: the Binanugan, wherein the movements of the birds are imitated; the Inagong sayaw-sayaw, which is a form of celebration dance; and; the Dinagmay, which is a courtship dance. The rhythmic beating of drums and gongs accompanies the dance.

According to history, the Binanog dance and the Bukidnons of Lambunao and Central Panay, tackles the richness of the Bukidnons of Lambunao in terms of the culture and the tradition that make Binanog dance one of the strong pillars of its claim of wealth. It also presents the theories of the origin of these people and shows their location and distribution.

The dance can be a mode of worship, or a courtly pastime. With urbanization contributing to the decline in the art, a program for its revival was launched couple of years ago with the creation of the Binanog Festival.The gem of the exhibition is the tribe competition that highlights the mating of banog birds accompanied by the symbolic beating of the gong, synchronizing with the vibrant movement emphasizing footwork and speed. The dance reaches its climax as the female dancers catches her male partner using a handkerchief.

Koronadal's Hinugyaw Festival

The HINUGYAW FESTIVAL is a one-week celebration in the first week of January in Koronadal. There are many activities planned to make the occasion meaningful and colorful. Some of the activities include Celebrity Night, Band Explosion, a food fest, Search for Mr. and Ms. Koronadal, Marbeleño Mardi Gras. Hinugyaw Festival ends with a major event, which is the Hinugyaw sa Dalan. This Hinugyaw sa Dalan is a street dancing competition wherein there are many contenders from all over the city and its neighboring town who go dancing around the city and compete with each other.

KORONADAL HINUGYAW FESTIVAL

Kili-Kili on Twitter

Other Filipinos like me may not be aware of some places in our beloved country that have unique names. A story about a drug bust wherein one person was killed exposed the place named “kili-kili” (Filipino word for armpit). This Tagalog word for armpit was trending on Twitter and not much on the drug bust operation. However, a 2009 study by Kab-ot Gahum: Resource Center for Empowerment & Development of the Balay Mindanaw Group said that the term “kili-kili” comes from the Higaunon word that primarily refers to people who have the ability to quickly make decisions in meetings or dialogues. This was according to Dikno Mansumagan, who is also called Datu Kili-kili.

There are other strangely-named places (at least for Tagalog-speakers) in the Philippines include:

• Panti Point in Cagayan
• Apapaya City in Abra
• Bubong in Lanao del Sur
• Pata in Sulu
• Mankayan in Benguet (switch a few letters around and you ought to get the point)
• Pinukpuk in Kalinga
• Pugo in La Union
• Iba in Zambales
• Lobo in Batangas
• Mauban in Quezon
• Bula in Camarines Sur
• Bato in Catanduanes and Leyte
• Sulat in Eastern Samar
• Manukan in Zamboanga del Norte
• Pikit in North Cotabato
• Mainit in Surigao del Norte
• Tago in Surigao del Sur

Some places’ names have been changed because of their unfortunate resemblance to embarrassing phrases – one example is Sasmuan. Its original name was Sexmoan.

Kris Aquino on 2011 MMFF controversy

I don’t understand why people criticized Kris Aquino for being very vocal with her wishes about her movie to be No. 2 in the ranking and Dingdong Dantes to win the Best Actor award. Apart from being a sister of President Noynoy Aquino, she’s a showbiz personality entitled to express her ideas, views, opinions and even wishes to the public without us giving any malice on it. Let us not mix politics with showbiz, if we can (that’s what we call maturity).

If other personalities questioned that Kris’s wish for Dingdong came true, it is tantamount to saying that they don’t trust and respect the decision of the institution handling the MMFF. Are they also questioning why they won the awards for their movie? Artists involved in the recent festival did have their own wishes. Even Ms. Ai-Ai delas Alas vocally said that she wished for the Best Actress award. If she won the award, will others still question that? 

Let us not deprive Kris of what she’s entitled to as a showbiz personality, as sister of President Aquino and as an individual. I did like how Dingdong handled the issue by saying he respect the institution who gave him the award. End of story.

Kris defends self, Dingdong on 'best actor' controversy

ABS-CBN 2012 upcoming programs

For all certified Kapamilya out there, here is the list of ABS-CBN upcoming program for 2012:

DRAMA

• E-Boy
• DOHA: Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo
• Nang Dahil sa Pag-ibig
• Alta
• You're Always in my Heart
• Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw
• Kapag Puso'y Sinugatan
• Wako Wako

Adaptation: FILM / KOMIKS / POCKETBOOK

• Walang Hanggan
• Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin
• Mundo man ay Magunaw
• Agimat: Ang mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla Presents: Boy Putik
• Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Hiyas
• Agimat: Ang mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla Presents: Pepeng Kuryente

REMAKE

• Oka2Kat
• Maria Mercedes

SITCOM

• Luv U

Foreign: KOREAN

• City Hunter
• Dream High
• A Thousand Days Promise
• Beautiful You
• Can't Lose
• Protect the Boss
• Sungkyunkwan Scandal
• Love Rain

Foreign: TAIWANESE

• Absolute Boyfriend
• Hayate the Combat Butler
• Skip Beat
• Sunny Girl

Franchise: GAME/REALITY/MUSICAL/VARIETY

• Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal
• The X Factor Philippines
• Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition (Season 4)
• The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition: Doubles
• MasterChef Pinoy Edition

Animation: NICKELODEON

• Yo Gabba Gabba!
• Hi-5
• Ni Hao, Kai-Lan
• T.U.F.F. Puppy

Animation: JAPANESE

• Naruto Shippuden
• Sailor Moon
• Gash Bell
• Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's
• Blue Dragon 2
• The Slayers
• Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan
• Heroman
• Dinosaur King
• Absolutely Lovely Children
• Wolverine

Animation: AMERICAN

• Spider-Man
• The Incredible Hulk
• Jackie Chan Adventures
• The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes

List of January Philippine Festivals

JANUARY FESTIVALS

• Feast of the Black Nazarene * January 9 * Quiapo, Manila
• Ati-Atihan Festival * January 3 -16 * Kalibo, Aklan
• Sinulog Festival * Third Sunday of January * Cebu City
• Dinagyang Festival * January 22-23 * Iloilo City
• Hinugyaw Festival * January 3-10 * Koronadal City
• Binanog Festival * January 10-16 * Lambunao, Iloilo City
• Makato Sto. Niño Festival * January 15 * Makato, Aklan
• Kahimunan Festival * January 16 * Libertad, Butuan city
• Batan Ati-ati Malakara Festival * January 16 * Poblacion Batan, Aklan
• Bansudani Festival * January 17-19 * Bansud, Mindoro Oriental
• Altavas Sto.Nino Festival * Jan 21-22 * Poblacion Altavas, Aklan
• Ibajay Ati-Atihan Municipal & Devotional Fiesta * Jan 24-25 * Ibajay, Aklan
• Dinagsa Ati-Atihan Festival * Jan 24-30 * Cadiz City, Negros Occidental
• Hinirugyaw Festival * Jan 30- Feb 6 * Calinog, Iloilo
• Malolos Sto. Nino Festival * Last Sunday of January * Malolos Bulacan
• Sto. Niño Festival * 3rd Sunday January * Tondo, Manila
• Bulaklakan Festival * January 1 * Muntinlupa City, MM
• Bailes de Luces * January 5 * La Castellana, Negros Occidental
• Lingayen Gulf Landing Anniversary * January 9 * Lingayen, Pangasinan
• Araw ng Koronadal * January 10 * Koronadal City
• Sinulog (Kabankalan) Festival * January 10-16 * Kabankalan, Negros Occidental
• Pasungay Festival * January 15 * San Joaquin, Iloilo City
• Pangisdaan Festival * January 16 * Brgy. Tangos, Navotas
• Kinaradto Festival * January 16 * Buenavista, Guimaras
• Fireworks Display & Contest * January 16 * Arevalo, Iloilo City
• Caracol Festival * Jan. 16 * Glorietta 4 Park Makati City, MM
• Sadsad sa Kalye * Jan. 19 * Janiuay, Iloilo City
• Pandot sa Bacolod * Jan. 20 * Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
• Binuligay Festival * Jan. 20 * Jamindan, Capiz
• Feast of Our Lady of Peace & Good Voyage * Jan. 24 * La Carlota City
• Sana-aw Festival * Jan. 28 * Jordan, Guimaras
• Balot sa Puti Festival * Jan. 31 * Pateros
• Boracay Int'l. Fun Board Cup * Jan. 31 - Feb. 5 * Bulabog Beach, Boracay, Malay, Aklan
• San Pablo Coco Festival * Jan. 3-16 * San Pablo City, Laguna
• Feast of the Three Kings * Jan. 3 * Poblacion, Gasan, Marinduque
• Fluvial Procession * Jan. 7 * Batangas City
• Biniray Festival * Jan. 9 * Romblon, Romblon
• Kawayan Festival * Jan.16-18 * Magdalena, Laguna
• Sikyahan Festival * Jan. 18 * Sta. Rosa City, Laguna
• Salibanda * Jan. 17, 18, 24, 25 * Paete, Laguna
• Dugoy Festival * Jan. 18 * Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro
• Feast of San Sebastian the Martyr (Paligong Poon) * Jan. 19 & 26 * Lumban, Laguna
• Feast of Sto. Niño * Jan. 19 * Buenavista, Marinduque
• Haring Kalabaw * 3rd week Jan. * Brgy. Hupi, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque
• Feast of San Ildefonso Toledo * Jan. 23-24 * Tanay, Rizal
• Candle Festival * Jan. 31 - Feb. 2 * Candelaria, Quezon

Have a blessed & prosperous 2012...

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“Another fresh new year is here . . .

Another year to live!

To banish worry, doubt, and fear,

To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me

To live each day with zest . . .

To daily grow and try to be

My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity

Once more to right some wrongs,

To pray for peace, to plant a tree,

And sing more joyful songs!”

~~ William Arthur Ward