Just 1% of Pinays are screened for cancer, per study

SCREENING for breast and cervical cancer among Filipino women could be the lowest in the world with just 1 percent of eligible women getting themselves screened, the first step to cancer prevention.

Valerie Gilbert Ulep, senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), said at a presentation of his study last month that “a big portion [of the] country’s cancer burden is preventable” if only more early screening can be conducted among women. Ulep said cancer patients in their most productive age of 40 to 69years old account for most deaths, resulting in untold social and economic costs to the country.

Data show that for breast cancer alone, 27,000 new cases are reported each year while 9,000 women die annually. Low screening has been traced to a lack of funds provided by the government, especially for the poor. This results in very few government hospitals offering this screening service.

Also, many fear finding out that one has cancer, and go for screening only when they are already suffering and it is too late.

Tondo bettor collects P7.6m from 6/42 Lotto

A BETTOR from Tondo, Manila became an instant millionaire after hitting the P7.6-million jackpot of the Lotto 6/42 draw on Saturday night.

The winning combination of 03-2812-26-08-21 carried a total jackpot prize of P7,656,441.80, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said in an advisory Sunday.

The bettor can claim the check at the PCSO main office in Mandaluyong City upon presentation of the winning ticket and two identification cards.

Lotto winnings of more than P10,000 shall be subject to a 20 percent tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

Prizes not claimed within a year will be forfeited.

Meanwhile, 91 others won P24,000 each for guessing five out of the six winning digits; 3,304 bettors will get P800 each for four correct digits; and 37,574 will settle for P20 each for three correct digits.

The 6/42 Lotto is drawn every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Speaker...

From A1 loans, unpaid amortization, and interests” of 610,054 agrarian reform beneficiaries from the time of the late President Marcos Sr. up to the present.

The unpaid obligations are estimated to amount to about P58 billion.

The Speaker said the majority of the beneficiaries of the new law and who are tilling about 1.1 million hectares of land are rice farmers.

“Now that our farmers will soon be free of debt, I hope that they willbe able to increase their produce to at least 100 50-kilo bags per hectare, from the present 60 to 70 cavans. But of course, the government will have to help along the way,” he said.

To erase the agrarian reform beneficiaries’ indebtedness is just the first step in assisting them to attain better productivity and achieve rice sufficiency for the country, Romualdez said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

‘AI...

From A1 the company's past and future, including the potential for AI -- a topic currently roiling Hollywood.

"Gosh, I would say, of course there's amazing technology being developed with AI, and it's so impressive," said Iwan.

"But I don't think anything can replace the heart of a character and more importantly, the heart of storytelling."

Artificial intelligence, and the threat it poses to professions across the entertainment industry, has been a constant source of hand-wringing in Hollywood this summer.

AFP's visit to Disney's sprawling studio near Los Angeles came during the ongoing strike by writers, in part over fears that AI could replace them.

The issue is also among demands being negotiated by Hollywood actors who are worried about AI cloning their voices and likenesses, and who could strike as soon as Thursday. AFP (See full story online at manilastandard.net)