Vilma Santos reacts to National Artist award, working again with Nora Aunor

by Deni AfiniDAD-BernArDo Philstar.com

“THE highest, if I’m not mistaken,” Vilma Santos said of Nora Aunor’s National Artist award at a press conference for motorcycle taxis company Angkas last Monday, stressing that Aunor, who has been pitied against her during her entire 60-year showbiz career, has already reached the zenith as a Filipino performer.

“Alam mo, if it’s meant for you, it’s meant for you,” “Ate Vi” said when asked if she also wants to be hailed a National Artist like “Ate Guy.”

“’Pag hindi napunta sa’yo, it’s not meant for you. So d’un sa mga nabigyan, it’s meant for them, like ‘yung kay Ate Guy. So kung meron akong space d’yan, darating ‘yung panahon na ‘yun, para sa akin na ‘yun.”

Now that Ate Guy has announced her showbiz comeback, Ate Vi is open to work with her again, if given the right material.

"If we can offer something new and something different, why not? Lalo na sa edad namin ngayon, 'di ba?" she told Philstar.com in an exclusive interview.

“Basta one thing that I noticed, malaki ang naging problema natin nang pumasok ang pandemiya.

Talagang ang isa sa mga major na naapektuhan ay ang movie industry, entertainment,” Vilma fretted.

“But you know what, ngayon na mas medyo mas maganda ang ating environment, if you talk about COVID, palagay ko, we’re surviving,” she said when asked about the state of Philippine cinema.

“Alam mo, hindi tayo matatakot kahit merong mga K-dramas kasi alam mo, ang mga Pilipino maabilidad… Hindi magpapatalo ang Pilipino! Ang kailangang kailangan lang talaga natin is really support, support from the government, and ‘yung oportunidad na mas ma-open pa ‘yung movie industry natin at mas masuportahan sila. Pero hindi matatalo ang Pinoy. Maabilidad ang Pinoy!”

Ate Vi believes that for Filipinos to be recognized at major global award-giving bodies like the Oscars, she thinks government support should step in.

“Siguro, I’ll be straight, pinansyal, no? Like halimbawa, magcocompete tayo sa Oscars, ‘di ba? Alam mo, pupuhanan mo ‘yun, kasi may lobbying d’un. At kung gusto mo i-compete ang Pilipino movie, let’s say sa Oscars, gagastahan ‘yan. ‘Di kaya ng mga

Health @Heart

ordinaryo nating producers ‘yan. Kailangan talaga ng support ng government na madalhin d’un sa abroad ‘yung particular movie, kasi magpapa-press con ka d’un, magpapa-filming… gastos ‘yun!” she reminded.

“So I think kailangan natin ng support na ganu’n. More on financial talaga, kasi gagastahan mo talaga. I need we need that in this point in time kasi we really have to move to really compete internationally.”

When asked if she is 100% confident that Filipino movies can compete, she said without batting an eyelash: “Absolutely!”

‘I never mentioned I didn’t like Liza Soberano’: Liza responds to Ogie Diaz, critics

ACTRESS Liza Soberano responded to critics calling her "ungrateful."

In her interview with ABS-CBN News, Liza said she's grateful for everything she had and experienced in her career.

"I feel like a lot of people have mixed reactions toward my vlog, but I’m speaking for my experiences and I will reiterate that I am truly grateful for everything that I had and everything that I had experienced, everything that I have achieved in life," Liza said.

"And I acknowledge that I wouldn’t have any of that if everybody along the way wasn’t there with me,” she added.

Liza said she's no ill feelings for ABS-CBN and said that she watched her former manager Ogie Diaz's YouTube video.

“When I mentioned that in my vlog, that was more of me just stating a fact. I never mentioned that I didn’t like the name ‘Liza Soberano’ or that I wasn’t proud of it. It’s just the fact that I wasn’t the one who chose my name because that’s one thing that a lot of people don’t know about me,” she clarified.

“I want to tell him that I’m very grateful for everything that he has contributed to me, personally and to my career. And I will always be grateful for that,” she added.

Liza has been trending online after she released her video blog about her "life update."

“I guess my video was really up for other people’s interpretation, but I know my piece and I am very grateful. I’ve never got to express what I feel like before, even before I decided to sign for a new management company, I was always there for everybody who has helped me along the way and my journey," she said.

"And even before, the number one thing I would always say to everyone is thank you, truly grateful. And that has not changed until now. I’m not upset about anything, I’m just stating facts, things I’ve experienced, things I’ve been through. And how I am moving forward for that."

IN spite of the radical leftist media, especially social platforms, widely tearing down and mocking everyone who had suggested that the COVID-19 originated from a leak in the Wuhan laboratory, and all covered up by China, epidemiologists and political leaders remained convinced, and now the U.S. Department of Energy and the FBI have concluded that the origin was, in fact, a lab leak caused by human error or accident in the Wuhan lab. Since there is still no evidence of zoonotic carrier (bats, snakes, pangolin, etc.) from December 2019 to the present, it is obvious that a lab leak in Wuhan caused the COVID-19 pandemic. Plain common sense.

As of Tuesday, February 28, 2023, there were 679,912,028 COVID cases, with 6,799,783 deaths worldwide; 105,266,332 cases, with 1,145,415 deaths in the United States; and 4,076,307, with 66,111 deaths in the Philippines.

Had Communist China locked down the entire Wuhan City, after its discovery of the first case of the novel corona virus infection on December 19, 2019, the infection could have been limited to Wuhan and not even spread to the rest of China, much less around the world, saving at least 668 million lives globally.

Why the Biden administration is not willing to accept this strong consensus in the scientific community and among political leaders, and not blaming and holding China responsible for this preventable global catastrophe, is, indeed, very puzzling.

COVID and diabetes

New studies reveal that among the unvaccinated, the incidence of developing a new-onset diabetes mellitus was significantly higher following COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 vaccines appear to offer some protection for those who received the vaccines from developing new-onset diabetes.

“In a cohort of nearly 24,000 adults at a large California health system, adjusted models showed that having a history of a treated COVID infection was tied with a 58% higher likelihood of developing new-onset diabetes compared with a new diagnosis of a benchmark condition,” reported Alan Kwan, MD, MSc, of Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles and colleagues in JAMA Network. He added, “This risk appeared to be mostly driven by unvaccinated individuals; unvaccinated individuals saw a 78% increased chance of developing diabetes within 90 days of infection, while no significant association was observed in vaccinated individuals.” The COVID-19 vaccines obviously protected them.

Allergic and Non-Allergic

Contrary to the common belief that only allergies can cause runny nose, and sneezing, nasal congestion (not due to a cold), especially during the spring season, there is a non-allergy condition that can cause the same rhinitis (nasal inflammatory) symptoms.

As a reaction to an environmental irritant (cat/dog dander, mold, grass, ragweed, pollen), histamine is released in the body, which is the usual form of allergic rhinitis. This condition responds to antihistamine treatment. If the rhinitis does not respond to antihistamine, it may not be allergies at all; it is the non-allergy form of rhinitis, which is caused by polluted air, tobacco smoke, perfume, cologne, cleaning agents, or flu or cold. Antihistamine does not work for any of these since they do not result in histamine release in the body.

About 65 percent of people misdiagnose their rhinitis and buy over-the-counter antihistamine, only to find out it does not work for their (non-allergic) runny nose, sneezing, etc. Even physicians could be confused, so they resort to specific IgE blood testing to be sure in questionable cases.

Nasal rinse

One of the most practical and useful DIY home remedy for rhinitis (allergic or non-allergic) is nasal rinse with one part baking soda and 3 parts non-iodized salt (one teaspoon) in 8 ounces of lukewarm distilled or boiled water that is cooled down to lukewarm in squeezable bottle with a nozzle (like in the NeilMed Sinus Rinse kit). The solution is flushed into each nostril once or twice a day. This rinses out the sinuses of any irritants, viruses, bacteria, etc., that cause runny nose and sneezing. Do not do nasal rinses if you do not have any rhinitis.

Mediterranean diet

There are more than a dozen of diets around but the one that has a proven record of greater benefit to our body and our microbiome is the Mediterranean diet, the top diet the past five years. This way of eating is inspired by the centuries-old traditional cuisines of Italy, France, Greece, Israel, Spain, among others around the same region. It is rich in produce, greenest greens, olive oil, whole grains, legumes, healthy fats (fatty fish, avocados), nuts, seeds, some fruits, various spices, and aromatic herbs. There is a moderate amount of eggs, dairy products, and poultry. Red meat is included by a minimal amount, like beef and lamb, goat. Alcohol (specifically red wine) is included in moderation (1-2 glasses). This diet focuses on food quality and more so on a way of life and a way of eating. As always, moderation is the key.

Avoiding self-abuse with illicit drugs, tobacco, and undisciplined alcohol intake, together with physical exercise and stress management are essential supplements to this diet. All this provide a profound impact on mental health and mood of the partakers and foster a deep appreciation for the pleasures of healthy eating – nutritional food, the enjoyable company of family and friends, and achieving maximal longevity possible. Some of the excellent food items include mushrooms (Shiitake, portabella, cremini, not the large white mushrooms), the greenest vegetables, arugula, bitten melons, Bok choy, etc., which are all excellent antioxidants that also maintain a healthy gut microbiome.

Food we consume is metabolized into various chemical ingredients, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, hormones, etc., the effects of which on our brain, other vital organs and important glands, are like the effects of medications we take. This diet also lessens depression, boosts our immunity, and maintains a healthy balance of our body’s “yin and yang,” achieving wellness.

[WARNING: Eat food as medicine today to avoid having to eat medicine as food tomorrow.]

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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

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The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.

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Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday. com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.