Health & Home (May–June 2022)

ISSN 0115-0839 ISSN 0115-0839

ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENTS Mangrove Reforestation, Community Transformation

COLUMNS

5

Journey Toward Eternity

Dr. Carlito P. Quidet, Jr.

Attachments

13

Personal Answers Dr. Sheryll Ann M. Castillo

Living and Loving to the Fullest

21

Dear Doctor Dr. Linda L. Varona

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver

CONTENTS M AY– J U N E 2 0 2 2

27

Consult Your Lawyer Atty. Silvino L. Sumagaysay, Jr.

Alien’s Claim of Share in Real Property

32

Food for the Family Dr. Miriam R. Estrada

Iodine for the Brain

38

Standpoint Nathanlie M. Baldoza

Joy and Pain in Giving

40

Learner’s Lab Mary Grace L. De Guzman

Do Animals Adopt Other Babies?

Cover photo from canva.com/Studio Philippines

4

iContact Michelle Anne P. Diamante

Attachment at Work

6

Stewardship Ellen G. White

The Perils of Covetousness

8

Life Musings Health & Home Staff

Cherished Keepsakes

12

A Day in the Life of . . . a Breastfeeding Teacher Ladily B. Acebedo

A Dede-cated Ma’am

14

Grace in the Act Naomi H. Limbaga

Mamang’s Sewing Scissors

18

Home Gardening Saul L. Roylo

Ginger

20

Modern Homemaking Health & Home Staff

Organize Your Home the KonMari Way

22

About the Cover More Trees, More Benefits. The fisherfolk of Zamboanga Sibugay proved this for themselves through the leadership and persistence of Roberto "Ka Dodoy" Ballon, 2021 Ramon Magsaysay awardee.

Read their success story on page 24.

REGULARS

Education Anna Jellah O. Compuesto

Riding the Waves of the Pandemic

6 10

COMING UP . . . Missions • A Crowdfunded School in the Jungle • Losing My Inheritance for My Religion • Dissecting Migraine • A Tausug Girl’s Escape from Marriage • Modern Ways to Help the Poor • Successful Parenting

34

People & Places

SULADS

Tboli: Of Glee, Death, Guns, and Dreams

36

Children’s Corner

Dr. Arceli H. Rosario

The Test of Abraham

39

Arts & Crafts

44

Hope for Today’s Families

46

Word for the World

47

Notes From the Frontlines

Czarina V. Budayao

Corn Husk Flowers

Willie and Elaine Oliver

Becoming Intimate Allies

From Timeless Truths

Warning Signs You Can’t Deny

Janice A. Tavera

Worthy R.E.A.D.

10

39

16

FEATURES

24

Social Graces During Reunions Royce Bellaire G. de Luna

Make gatherings positively memorable

The Illusion of Connection Maryellen Hacko

Gadgets, loneliness, unworthiness

24

Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Ballon: Rooted in Attachments

Beyond propagating mangroves, food, and livelihood

Health & Home Staff

30

28

30

42

How Our Attachments Affect the Brain Dr. Rowena R. Antemano

Neurons and separation

When Letting Go Is a No Johanna G. Bacal

Reflections of a keeper

The Psychology of Hoarding Dr. Sheryll Ann M. Castillo

The real issues beneath the clutter

Stewardship

By Ellen G. White

THE PERIL OF

M

any of the people of God are stupefied by the spirit of the world, and are denying their faith by their works. They cultivate a love for money, for houses and lands, until it absorbs the powers of mind and being, and shuts out love for the Creator and for souls for whom Christ died. The god of this world has blinded their eyes; their eternal interests are made secondary; and brain, bone, and muscle are taxed to the utmost to increase their worldly possessions. And all this accumulation of cares and burdens is borne in direct violation of the injunction of Christ, who said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.”

They forget that He said also, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven;” that in so doing they are working for their own interest. The treasure laid up in heaven is safe; no thief can ap­­ proach nor moth corrupt it. But their treasure is upon the earth, and their affections are upon their treasure.

CHRIST'S VICTORY In the wilderness, Christ met the great leading temptations that would assail man. There, single­ handed, He encountered the wily, subtle foe, and overcame him. The first great temptation was upon appetite; the second, presumption; the third, love of the world. The thrones and kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, were offered to Christ. Satan came with worldly honor, wealth, and the pleasures Health & Home ︱ 6 ︱May–June 2022

of life, and presented them in the most attractive light to allure and deceive. “All these things,” said he to Christ, “will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Yet Christ repelled the wily foe, and came off victor.

Man will never be tried by temptations as powerful as those which assailed Christ; yet Satan has better success in approaching him. “All this money, this gain, this land, this power, these honors and riches, will I give thee”—for what?

The condition is seldom as plainly stated as it was to Christ,—“If Thou wilt fall down and worship me.” He is content to require that integrity shall be yielded, conscience blun­ ted. Through devotion to worldly interests he receives all the homage he asks. The door is left open for him to enter as he pleases, with his evil train of impatience,

photo/Harold Bryan L. Namoca

COVETOUSNESS

A Day in the Life of . . . a Breastfeeding Teacher

By Ladily B. Acebedo

A

Dede-cated Ma'am

Health & Home ︱ 12 ︱May–June 2022

p. 33

photos courtesy of the author

B

ack when I was staying in the province and was still single, I experienced feeling like there were grains of sand rolling in my eyes. Grandmother prescribed drops of breastmilk to relieve my condition. We soon found a kind mother and, to my surprise, grandma’s prescription worked!* My milk donor’s children, a baby and three toddlers, all looked healthy. I asked if she was giving them formula, but she bragged that all were exclusively breastfed.

Then and there, I made the commitment that, should I become a mother, I will nourish my chil­ dren with my own “liquid gold.”

I have been breastfeeding since 2016. In the case of my now 5- and 3-year-old children, I breastfed them every time I was home and stored milk when I would be out for work. Pumping milk was my way of caring for my babies even when I was away. It made me feel that I was not less of a mom just because I worked.

When our third baby was born during the pan­ demic, I rejoiced in the thought that I could stay home and savor unlimited latching/feeding. The happy thought immediately disappeared, however, as soon as classes resumed.

With a 28-unit teaching load and an online lear­ ning modality setup, I struggled a lot. Here’s a glimpse of what my typical day looks like: I prepare my slides and research possible acti­ vities at 3:00–4:00 a.m. Online educational games

ROBERTO “KA DODOY” BALLON

Rooted in Attachments

BY HEALTH & HOME STAFF

W

hen he was in his teens, his family moved from Capiz to Zamboanga Sibugay to seek better opportunities.1 Aquaculture in this part of Mindanao was booming in the 1980s. Raising shrimp was so successful that vast tracts of mangrove forests were cleared to give way to fishponds. Boatloads of mangrove trees were hauled for firewood.

When business declined and the shrimp disappeared, the fisherfolk of the village of Concepcion in Kabasalan were left with abandoned fishponds, small patches of what used to be mangrove forests, and a dismal catch.

The fishermen sought help from the government and the church, but the response was: “Organize yourselves first.”

So in 1986, 36 members formed the Kapunungan sa Gagmay’ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion (KGMC) for the purpose of reforestation. Being the youngest in the group and the most able to handle the paperwork, he was elected secretary.2 Around 1998, however, most of KGMC’s members had given up. Lack of funds and pressure from influential fishpond owners made their mission an additional burden to feeding their families. He was then the chairperson of KGMC, which had all but five members.

Finally, after over two decades and with hundreds of hectares of restored mangrove forests, Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Ballon became the only Filipino recipient of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2021.3 Health & Home ︱ 24 ︱May–June 2022

People & Places

A Tboli datu holds his kampilan, a sword.

By SULADS

Children of missionaries wear Tboli attire in Datalkadi Village in South Cotabato.

Tboli: Of Glee, death, guns, and dreams

L

People of the highlands The Tboli (also spelled T'boli, Tiboli) is an indigenous people group inha­biting the highlands of South Cotabato and other areas in southwestern Mindanao. They are mostly animists, who believe that spirits reside in all things, animate or inanimate. They worship the gods of the lake, rocks, trees, and other elements of nature.

Most of them reside near Lake Sebu, renowned for its majestic seven falls, fresh tilapia, and colorful

A “dreamweaver” spontaneously works on her t’nalak. lotus flowers. There are those who reside in mountain ridges, too. The group is ruled by a datu or tribal chieftain whose function is both political and religious.

Weaving dreams The Tboli culture is very rich, colorful, and interesting.

The people are very musical and have various songs and instrumental renditions through their hagalong, a two-stringed guitar.

Another interesting heritage among them is t’nalak making. T'nalak is a cloth made from abaca strands. It is designed by “dreamweavers,” who are called so because they believe that the patterns in every cloth are a gift given through a dream from Fu Dalu, the spirit of the abaca.

A skilled t'nalak weaver does not use even a single printed design but only relies on a mental image of the pattern through their dreams!

According to ancient Tboli culture, there are two types of weavers: those who dream and make the pattern and those that weave only.

This intricately designed cloth is made purely from abaca strands and dyed naturally with any

Health & Home ︱ 34 ︱May–June 2022

photos courtesy of the author

aughter, chasing, play, and much glee. The two male SULADS missionaries were so surprised with what went on in the Tboli village of Slong.

“Is there a feast?” they both wondered aloud.

Curious about the ongoing merrymaking, they went out of their cottage so they could join the fun.

“Mloy, sil! Mloy! (Run, sir! Run!) The elderly women will chase you!” the children warned.

Then they saw all males running and grandmothers trying to chase them.

What is going on? the missionaries thought.

Clarity came when the people explained that someone had just died.

The Tboli comfort themselves during bereavement through playing, laughing, and chasing. Fascinating resilience!

Learner’s Lab

By Mary Grace L. De Guzman

Do Animals Adopt Other Babies?

I

Mammals and birds commonly adopt the babies of other species.6 Mother mammals offer milk to other animals,7 while birds cannot distinguish between their own egg and that of other birds.8 The story of “The Ugly Duckling” is a perfect example of this.

So why do these animals adopt?

A circle of care The first reason is these animals long for family and friends, just like you and I do, especially when the adopter is separated from or has lost her children after birth. These creatures’ motherly nature allows them to adopt other animal kinds.

Second, mothering other babies helps mothers prepare to care for their own children in the future.

The third reason is for survival. Some of the added members can protect the family and help with finding food.9 The result of cross-species adoption is peace and friendship within the family. The adopted cats did not harm the hen’s chicks and other chickens in the farm.

Health & Home ︱ 40 ︱May–June 2022

illustrations from vecteezy.com

n 2013, Ronan and Emma Lally of Ireland thought their newly hatched ducklings had gone missing in their farm. To their surprise, they found the ducklings with their pet cat, Della, who had just given birth to three kittens. They were afraid the cat would eat the ducklings, but she didn’t. The couple was more surprised when they saw the three ducklings nursing from the mother cat, along with the kittens.1 Yes, animals adopt other babies. There have been many cases of animals treating the babies of other animals, whether of the same species or not, as their own. This is called cross-species adoption.2 It is common on farms and zoos, but it also happens in the wild.3 A farmer and soldier in Iraq discovered last year that his hen adopted three little kittens that lost their mother.4 While in 2002, a Kenyan lioness whom the locals named Kamuniak (“The Blessed One”) adopted a young oryx. When a lion caught it as prey, the lioness just adopted another oryx.5

Or was it because people bought much more than what they needed?

What is hoarding?

THE

Psychology OF HOARDING

By DR. SHERYLL ANN M. CASTILLO

L

et us give away the clothes that no longer fit you,” said one mother to her 12-year-old daughter.

“But they’re precious!” she protested.

“Why not bring all these broken electrical appliances to the junkshop?” suggested one wife.

“But their tiny parts can still be repurposed,” said her husband, declining the suggestion.

“What’s with that pile of old, torn magazines and books occupying the whole shelf? Shouldn’t we discard them?” asked one husband to his wife.

“Oh no, dear!” the wife replied. “We can still find valuable information in them.”

The above scenarios depict hoarding behavior, and the pandemic only starkly illustrated the nature and impact of this particular behavior.

When our family was hit with a mild case of COVID-19, I asked my mother to buy paracetamol for us. She went from one drugstore to the next only to be greeted with notices saying that the medicine was already out of stock.

How can drugstores run out of such a common medicine? Was it because too many people got sick?

How is collecting different from hoarding?

Collecting is a normal human activity, more like a hobby, where the collector preserves and displays a set of items, in an organized designated space, usually for personal gratification.1 The habit becomes a cause of concern, though, when collecting items is accompanied by negative feelings and consequences.

According to the American Psychological Association, a hoarding disorder involves a persistent, uncontrollable urge to collect useless and trivial items and an inability to discard these. The accumulation of these items leads to clutter in living spaces, which in turn causes distress and dysfunction in daily activities.2 With this definition, we can find five indications of a possible hoarding disorder:3 1. There is an excessive acquisition or the act of taking anything beyond what is needed. In the case of animal hoarding, some people get pets beyond what they can take care of.

2. There is difficulty discarding, recycling, selling, or giving away things that most people would just dispose.

3. There is clutter in the living spaces such that things occupy more space than do people. In extreme cases, people can hardly wade their way around the house.

4. These people experience distress, sadness, worry, anxiety, or even anger when they are forced to discard the things they keep.

5. There is interference in their daily activities because of taking in too much stuff. For example, people get into trouble or run into debts for excessively acquiring things. Others compromise their safety or get into arguments with those they live with due to clutter.

Why do people hoard?

There are no exact reasons for hoarding, but several studies have considered the following factors: 1. Genetics. According to a study,4 many hoarders reported at least a first-degree relative with hoarding problems.

Health & Home ︱ 42 ︱May–June 2022

MISSION

“Sharing Christ’s gospel message through synergy in the healing ministry” VISION

“AIHSPI as the leading network of hospitals that provides wholistic health and healing in the country”

ADVENTIST HOSPITALS IN THE PHILIPPINES Adventist Hospital Santiago City (AHSC) Purok 5, Mabini, Santiago City, 3316 Isabela marketing@adventisthealth-stg.com (078) 324 7259 | (078) 305 2585 - HMO | (078) 305 9916 - B.O (0927) 883 7942 | (0933) 851 1885 - EMERGENCY Adventist Medical Center Manila (AMCM) 1975 Corner Donada & San Juan Streets, Pasay City, 1300 Metro Manila info@adventisthealth-mnl.com (02) 8525 9192 to 98

AHSC Adventist Hospital Calbayog (AHC) Kilometer 730 Daang Maharlika, Barangay San Policarpio, Calbayog City, 6710 Samar adventisthospitalcyp@gmail.com (055) 209 1323

AMCM

Adventist Hospital Palawan (AHP) Junction III, San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City, 5300 Palawan patientexperience@adventisthealth-pwn.com (048) 433 1247 El Nido National Highway, Brgy. Corong-Corong, El Nido, 5313 Palawan elnidoclinic@adventisthealth-pwn.com (0961) 431 2829 | (048) 550 8006 AHP

AHC AMCB

Adventist Hospital Cebu (AHC) 1400 Tres de Abril St., Brgy. San Nicholas Proper, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu adventisthospitalcebu@gmail.com (032) 261 2100

AHC GSH AMCI

Adventist Medical Center Bacolod (AMCB) C.V. Ramos Avenue, Taculing Bacolod City, 6100 Negros Occidental info@adventisthealth-bcd.com (034) 488 7777

Adventist Medical Center Iligan (AMCI) Andres Bonifacio Highway, Barangay San Miguel, Iligan City, 9200 Lanao del Norte amciligan@adventisthealth-ign.com (063) 221 3029 TUPI BRANCH P-10 Poblacion, Tupi, 9505 South Cotabato (083) 822 0010

AMCV AHD

Gingoog Sanitarium and Hospital (GSH) C. Bagaipo Street, Brgy. 22, Gingoog City, 9014 Misamis Oriental information@adventisthealth-gng.com (088) 861-2006, (088)328-0792 (0917) 812 1684

Adventist Medical Center Valencia (AMCV) Adventist Hospital Davao (AHD) A. Aguilar Street Poblacion, Valencia City, 8709 Bukidnon Kilometer 7 McArthur Highway, info.amcv@adventisthealth-vnc.com Bangkal, Talomo, Davao City, 8000 Davao del Sur (088) 828 7777 admin@adventisthealth-dvo.com (082) 297 2597, (082) 297 2761