Smoking and Mortality

I don’t want to be preachy because in the first place I am not a priest or a pastor. In the past week, without intending to, I’ve read in the paper and watched in the TV the topic that I always dreaded, SMOKING. I was once a chain smoker. I started smoking when I was 16 but I had to quit at 24. It was the most difficult struggle that I’ve gone through and I don’t want to go through that again. My late father was a certified chain smoker. He could puff several cigars in one day. He died in other illness not related to smoking.

According to experts, smoking poses serious health threats. It is widely accepted to be the cause of deaths worldwide. I have no factual statistics in my hands but millions around the world and thousand in the Philippines die due to smoking related illnesses. Smoking is the major cause of diseases like acute bronchitis, emphysema, cancer of the nose, pharynx, larynx, lungs, other types of heart diseases and stroke.

Aside from the direct inhalation effect of the smoke there are research that confirmed that second and third hand smoke are equally harmful to people. So if the head of the family is smoking, he is not only risking his own health but the health of his whole family (his wife and children).

It is no wonder why a lot of major cities in the EU and US ban smoking in public places. In the Philippines, smoking is ban in Davao. When you are boarding any flights to Davao, PAL and other carriers will warn you that Davao is a smoke free City.

The Doctors show (aired over MBC4) last night showcased the electronic cigar that doesn’t harm men’s health. It’s the latest technology that helps people to quit smoking. I don’t know if it will work. As an ex-smoker the only thing that could help smokers quit: PATIENCE, PERSEVERANCE and STRONG WILL.

Single Senior-hood

A well thought out article of Alya Honasan was forwarded to me by a friend hit home. The article talks about how one prepare for single senior-hood. Though I got married before, my wife and I separated after 3 months of being together. We never had a kid and the marriage was a mistake even before it even started. We were too young then and underage. The only thing that made it right was that the mayor who officiated the wedding failed to register it. Since that failed I vowed not to be tied into a relationship again. Who doesn’t dream of raising their own family? I am however happy where I am right now, young, free and single.

Alya gives out the following advice for Singles who are at the prime of their lives:

Don’t ever, ever assume you will be somebody else’s problem.
You must manage your resources exceptionally well.
You must have medical insurance.
Nurture relationships with friends in the same boat.
Get your personal network in place.

For me, there’s only one thing that a person who plan to spend his lifetime as a single should prepare, MONEY. If you have money, you don’t need the mercy of your nephew and nieces for them to take care of you. You can hire a nurse who will willingly wipe your ass for money. Don’t get married if your reason is you wanted someone to take care of you. That’s self serving and selfish.

Expatriates Abandoning Cars at DXB Airport

There’s a disturbing report in Dubai that I read in the Arabian Business. It says that thousands of Dubai expatriates who are living luxurious lifestyles that they couldn’t afford had to abandon their cars at Dubai Airport and fleeing home rather than risk of being jailed for defaulting loans. This is the result of Dubai’s fading promise of a better life. Police says that it found more than 3,000 abandoned luxury branded cars in recent months.

This is the downside of market driven economy that is fueled mostly by greed. Market capitalist had for the past decades advertised to entice people to buy products that they could not really afford. If you keep up the lifestyle that you can’t afford, there’s no other way but down to the quagmire. It’s not bad to dream and live a luxurious lifestyle as long as you have the money to spend.

I also dreamt of driving my own car but the disadvantages of owning a car outweighs the advantages. First, I can’t afford it. Second, I can’t afford the maintenance cost. Third, I don’t need it since our driver gives me a ride everyday. I have nothing against people who want to buy things / cars as long as they can afford it. However, I’ve seen fellow kabayans here in Saudi who owned cars but could hardly afford to buy their meal. It’s a case of vanity and stupidity.

The present global economic downturn was fueled by greed. Bail outs from governments all over the world may help ease the strains but would not solve the problem. People all over the world should manage their resources well. Government bail outs alone could not solve the current crisis. People should start saving money, only buy things that they really needed in CASH and should refrain from buying things that they could not afford. This is the time for the CASH economy to flourish.

Buying Pinoy Made Products

Buying Filipino products made the businesses of Al Ramah, Kadiwa and Saudi Groceries (Dammam) thrive. I don’t know the exact number of Filipino workers in the Eastern Province but what I do know is that most of them would at least purchase once a month from these specialty groceries.

My friend Darwin could hardly find ‘Lady’s Choice’ tuna / chicken spread in the shelves Kadiwa and Al Ramah. He has to go to Western Butchery (Another Filipino specialty store) to get one. Filipino products are so popular amongst Filipinos that it’s sold out as soon as it is displayed into the shelves of these specialized stores. There were months when Century Tuna were out of stock, and since I love Tuna, I had no other choice but to buy solid pack canned tuna imported from other parts of the world. These specialized stores sell different kind of items that ranges to food, beauty products and anything you could ever imagine. The most popular are the dried fish, salted anchovies and canned Spanish sardines in tomato sauce.

There are clever Saudi businessmen whose food businesses cater to Filipino taste. The most successful fast food restaurant in Al Khobar is the Al Bahar. In Al Bahar you can taste the authentic Filipino home cook meals. Their viands are freshly cooked, friendly staff and they’re CLEAN! I don’t mind queuing on Wednesdays since I get to eat my favorite ‘Ginataang Mongo’ and fish fillet.

Some of us may not realize it but buying Filipino made products on these specialized stores means we’re indirectly helping the Philippine economy on a micro level. I don’t want to detail the micro effects of buying Filipino made products. Some other time maybe LOL!

The Filipino community is a big economic force in the Kingdom of the Sands. Although other nationalities send money to their country of origin, Filipinos are the remittance centers biggest senders (Indians might disagree with me LOL). If in case the Filipinos leave the Kingdom, several businesses would for sure, close down.