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Gian Karlo Dapul bested 57 other contestants to clinch the top plum in the English Speaking Union International Public Speaking Competition held in London. You may remember that Patricia Evangelista won the same competition not so long ago. With his speeched titled Fish Mucus and Foot Fungus, Gian reportedly wowed the judges and audience about his knowledge about research and his humorous delivery. He delivered the same speech during the Philippine qualifiers where I judged and from the get go I knew that that type of geekiness and nerdiness would sell. LOL.

Congratulations Gian. I knew you could do it.

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Two days ago, I visited my third year Filipino teacher. Word quickly spread that she was confined somewhere in Manila due to her long-standing heart condition. The pathology was first diagnosed back in 2000 after consulting her physician due to easy fatiguability and slight dyspnea (difficulty in breathing). Apparently, it wasn’t an acute disease process. My teacher had rheumatic heart disease and her mitral valve (the bicuspid valve) was already damaged (stenosis AND regurgitation). She probably got it as a young girl and the symptoms only revealed themselves shortly after she turned 40.

The other members of the faculty tried to help her by organizing a raffle to raise funds for her mitral valve replacement. Though the effort was largely successful, she had her qualms about going under the knife.

Early this week, she had a hard time breathing. Her family brought her to the Emergnecy Room of PGH. Fortunately, she’s doing much better now thanks to the superb management of eminent cardiologist, Dr. Antonio Dans. The doctors are now currently figuring out their next step. Surgery’s definitely on the table, but it hasn’t been determined yet whether the best option is to go for a valve replacement or an interventional cardiology/radiology procedure.

Regardless of the choice, both operations will cost a lot – think six figures. That is why those who can give (especially us UP Rural High School alumni) should chip in a little something if we can. Our donations can go a long way. Bank accounts are currently being made to accommodate donations from all over the world, but since the account numbers are not yet certain, I am also willing to serve as a point man for the people who would like to get in touch with the people who are behind the fund-raising activities. I will post the pertinent details of this UPRHS-wide effort as soon as they are available.

Ma’am Advincula is currently confined at room 647 Bed 1 at the Philippine General Hospital. She is good spirits and is doing well. She is awaiting her doctors’ decision regarding the definitive management for her ailment. If you’re just in the area, I’m sure she will appreciate your visit.

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While hopping around the Pinoy Blogosphere, I couldn’t help but feel very disappointed, mortified and utterly alarmed by one post made by a certain high school student [who I later found out goes to a science high school]. To protect the identity of the person and the dignity of other students and alumni of this science high school, I choose to keep the name of the person confidential.

 

Christians believe in God, that there is a God and that God is good and that Satan is evil. Have they ever saw, touched, or smelled their God? No. Have they ever heard their God say their names? No. So therefore, according to the empirical, testable, stable, and demonstrable Science, there is no God.

Science said that people evolved from monkeys. Has anyone of you observed the process of evolution? No one has ever did that, even Charles Darwin who coined that process. So since no one has ever observed the process of evolution and cannot even prove that it did happened, therefore, science teachers are not teaching their students science but an opinion.

Have you ever seen, touched, tasted, or smelled your own brain? I think no one has ever did that and therefore, according to science, you have no brain.

Isn’t that the saddest thing ever?

An incoming junior in high school should already know that the brain is the seat of mentation, memory, motor and cognitive skills in all animals with an advanced nervous system (Biology – Second Year in most schools). Sorry for being too condescending, but do you really need to see your brain to know you have one? Do you need to smell it to know that it’s there?

Ironically, you can smell, feel, hear and touch because you have a brain.

Is this sort of repulsive analysis a product of 1) a weak high school science curriculum (in an urban science high school no less!), 2) a misdirected sense of faith that overrides reason and logic or b) an isolated case of mental retardation seen in a high school student?

Seriously, I’m baffled. I’m hoping that it’s more of number three. If this sort of idiocy is due to bad teaching techniques, I can’t imagine how public school kids are taught.

Disclaimer: I didn’t put the name of the student and school involved in this post. In a effort to defend himself though, he exposed himself in this site resulting to further incrimination due to shoddy grammar and logic that left a lot to be desired.

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