Evolution of Philippine Flag

The Filipino Spirit
The Evolution of the Philippine Flag



















Flags of the Katipunan

With the Katipunan now well organized, Bonifacio turned his attention to the symbol of its authority. Upon his request, Benita Rodriquez with the help of Gregoria de Jesus, Bonifacio's wife, made a flag. It consisted of a red rectangular piece of cloth with three white K's arranged horizontally at the center. This was the first official flag of the society. But some members of the Katipunan has their flag with the three K's arranged in the form of a triangle. Bonifacio himself has a personal flag which consisted of a red rectangular piece of cloth at the center of which was a white sun with an indefinite number of rays. Below the sun were the three white K's arranged horizontally.

Owing to the lack of uniformity in the design and use of the flag, some generals of the revolution adopted their own designs. Thus General Mariano Llanera used a black banner with a skull above two cross bones and the letter K, all in white. So different was this banner that Bonifacio humorously called it "Llanera's skull." Still another flag was that of General Pio del Pilar which consisted of an equilateral triangle with a K at each angle. Inside the triangle was a mountain with the sun rising behind it.

When the revolution flared up, the Magdalo faction of the Katipunan in Cavite adopted a flag consisting of a red rectangular banner with a white K in the ancient Tagalog script in the center of a sun, represented by a white circle, with an indefinite number of rays. Later on, the rays of the sun were limited to eight to represent the eight provinces which first took up arms against the Spaniards. This flag became the first official banner of the revolutionary forces and was blessed in a mass celebrated at Imus.

In the Naik Assembly of March 17, 1897, the Katipunan military leaders decided to adopt a flag with a new design. It consisted of a red rectangular cloth with a white sun and rays in the middle. The sun was the mythological sun with eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth. This flag superseded the flag of the Magdalo faction and became the first official flag of the Filipinos. It became the symbol of the Filipino nationality until the signing of the Truce of Biyak-na-bato on December 14-15, 1897, when it was hauled down from the pole of the revolutionary headquarters at Biyak-na-bato.

History of the Filipino People. Teodoro A. Agoncillo

The Filipino Flag

The Filipino flag has an interesting story. It was made in Hongkong by Mrs. Marcela de Agoncillo, wife of Don Felipe Agoncillo.

During his exile in Hongkong, General Aguinaldo designed the flag as it looks today. Mrs. Marcela de Agoncillo sewed it with the help of her daughter Lorenza and Mrs. Josefina Herbosa de Natividad(niece of Dr. Jose Rizal). It was made of silk with a white triangle at the left containing a sunburst of eight rays at the center, a five pointed star at each angle of the triangle, an upper stripe of dark blue, and a lower stripe of red. The white triangle stands for equality; the upper blue stripe for peace, truth and justice; and the lower red stripe for patriotism and valor. The sunburst of eight rays inside the triangle represented the first eight provinces that took up arms against Spain. The three stars symbolized Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The flag which Mrs. Agoncillo made in Hongkong was taken to the Philippines by General Aguinaldo. It was hoisted officially at Kawit on June 12, 1898, in connection with the proclamation of Philippine independence. From that date, it has served as the National Flag of the Filipinos.

Life...

How to quit smoking...

How to Quit Smoking:
A Guide for Teens



If you are reading this, then you have already taken the first step. You are thinking about how you can stop smoking! The decision to stop smoking can seem overwhelming, but with help from this guide and support from your family and friends, you can do it! Half of all the people who have ever smoked have quit, and so can you. If you've tried to quit smoking before and it didn't work, you can use what you learned before so you can be successful this time. It can be very difficult to quit, but once you do, you'll look better, smell better, feel better, and be healthier!



Why should I quit smoking?

Everyone knows that smoking can cause cancer when you get older, but did you know that it also has bad effects on your body right now? A cigarette contains about 4000 chemicals, and at least 43 of those chemicals are known to cause cancer in humans. Some of the other chemicals are found in products that are known to be poisonous. Some of the worst ones are:
Nicotine: a deadly poison
Arsenic: used in rat poison
Methane: a component of rocket fuel
Ammonia: found in floor cleaner
Cadmium: used in batteries
Carbon Monoxide: part of car exhaust
Formaldehyde: used to preserve body tissue
Butane: lighter fluid
Hydrogen Cyanide: the poison used in gas chambers

Every time you inhale smoke from a cigarette, small amounts of these chemicals get into your blood through your lungs. They travel to all the parts of your body and cause harm.







Okay, I've decided to quit... What can I do so I will succeed this time?

That's great! This is a very positive step. There are some things you can do before you stop smoking to help increase your chances of success:
If you've tried to quit before, think about why it didn't work. What can you do this time to help yourself succeed?
Tell your family and friends that you are quitting. Ask them to not tease you about it, because you are serious. Ask them to support you by not smoking around you and not offering you cigarettes.
Throw out all your cigarettes, lighters, and ashtrays. If you're going to be a non-smoker, you won't need these things again.
Talk to your doctor about nicotine replacement methods. Nicotine gum, patches, spray, and some new medications can really help people to stop smoking. However, for these products to work, it is important to use them the right way. Make sure someone explains to you how to use them correctly.
Join a support group at your school or in your community.
Find someone you can call for those times when you feel like you are having a weak moment and might smoke a cigarette. This person should know that you are trying to quit and can remind you of all the reasons why you decided to give up cigarettes.

What can I do so I won't smoke again?

The hardest part about quitting is breaking the habits that go along with it. For example, if you are used to smoking with your friends when you are hanging out together, it will be hard to hang around with them and not smoke. The best way to keep from smoking is to not put yourself in situations with people who smoke and to stay away from places where you are used to smoking.
Avoid places and situations where you normally smoke.
Spend a few days or a week away from your friends who smoke.
Go to non-smoking places with your friends, like the mall or the movies.
Don't drink alcohol. Alcohol will likely lower your willpower and increase your chances of having a cigarette.
If your family smokes, ask them to not smoke in your room.
Exercise. It will take your mind off smoking, make you feel better, and keep you healthy.
Plan activities during the first couple of weeks to take your mind off smoking. It will be easier to quit if you keep yourself busy.
Buy lots of carrots, celery, and other healthy foods so you can munch instead of smoke.

How will I feel when I'm quitting?

If you are a regular smoker, your body has gotten used to having nicotine and other chemicals around all the time. You will probably feel some symptoms of withdrawal when you stop smoking. This means that you may crave cigarettes, or you might just feel uncomfortable or nervous. Many people mistake nicotine craving for hunger. You need to listen to your body, so you won't eat when you're not actually hungry. Do something to keep yourself busy. If you must eat, snack on something healthy like carrots or celery.



When will the nicotine craving go away?

Within a week or two, the nicotine craving will go away and you will feel more like yourself. In the beginning you also might feel frustrated, moody, or depressed. It may seem like you are all alone in your suffering and that no one understands what you are going through. Although this will be hard, these feelings will go away with time. After a couple weeks, you will be over the hardest part of quitting - the physical addiction, when your body feels like it needs nicotine. However, it may still be hard to resist having a cigarette. The habit of having a cigarette in your hand and smoking while you do certain activities, like talking on the phone or hanging out with friends, can be difficult to break.



After I quit can I have a cigarette once in awhile?

Many people get through the toughest part of quitting and mistakenly think that they can start smoking a cigarette once in a while again. Very soon, their old habits come back and they find themselves addicted once again. Quitting is difficult for most people so once you quit, make a commitment to yourself that you won't light up again!



Oops! I had a cigarette. I guess quitting is too hard for me.

If you give in and have a cigarette while you are trying to quit, don't worry! This doesn't mean you can't quit. Quitting is a very hard thing to do, and it is not surprising that you might break down and have a cigarette at some point. The important thing is not to use this as a reason to become a regular smoker again. Think of it as a mistake and tell yourself that you won't let it happen again. You can do it!



What happens if I really start smoking again?

If you try to quit and it doesn't work, don't give up. Quitting is very hard. Think about why quitting didn't work for you. Only YOU know why you like to smoke, and only YOU can figure out what it will take for you to quit. Start thinking about what you can do to help yourself quit for good. Try quitting again in a few weeks and use what you learned from your first experience to make it work the second time.

Remember, millions of people have quit smoking, and you can too! You just have to believe you can quit. Quitting will help you to look and feel your best, and keep you healthy! Good luck!






Written by the Center for Young Women's Health Staff

Heart Problem

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/health/2000/heart_disease/default.stm

South Davao Fourwheelers

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Offroad Challenge

Offroad Challenge

Bansaulog

Lights in the sky...

Toys for the "BIG" buys

Offroad Challenge

Night on the opening day.....

Bansalan'08

New Year Related Injuries

New Year revelry-related injuries reach 346 - DOH
01-01-2009

With the peak of celebrations to bid good-bye to 2008, revelry-
related injuries more than doubled during the New Year's eve and the
early hours of 2009 with reported cases reaching 346 as of Thursday
morning.

In a telephone interview with GMANews.TV, Dr. Yolanda Oliveros, head
of the Department of Health's (DOH) National Center for Disease
Prevention and Control, said out of the 346 recorded cases, 335 were
victims of firecracker- related injuries.

Oliveros added that nine of the casualties were victims of stray
bullets, while two were downed after ingesting dancing firecrackers
more commonly known as watusi.

In a separate interview over radio dzBB, Oliveros said there was no
reported death stemming directly from the holiday revelry.

The official said the eight-year-old boy who died on Tuesday due to
a gunshot wound was excluded from the list after authorities
confirmed that the shot that killed the boy was triggered by a
dispute and not in celebration of the holidays.

"We have not recorded any death directly due to firework-related
injuries...about the news that one died from a stray bullet,
investigation shows that the death appears to be a result of family
feud," Oliveros said.

Oliveros said in the phone interview with GMANews.TV that the 346
cases was collated from data gathered from the department's 50
sentinel sites nationwide, 29 of which are located in Metro Manila.
This number covers the number of New Year-related injuries from
December 21 to 8 a.m. Thursday.

On Wednesday afternoon, the DOH pegged the number of revelry-related
at 165.

Despite reaching 346, the number of reported revelry-related
injuries this year is still lower compared to previous years.

In a press conference at the East Avenue Medical Center, Health
Secretary Francisco Duque III attributed the decline in injuries to
the rains that started Wednesday and extended until early Thursday
morning.

Duque also said the department's "scare tactics campaign" was also a
factor in the decrease in the number of firework related injuries.

Radio dzBB's Mao dela Cruz quoted Duque as saying the Health
department remains on code white alert until January 5 for
additional injuries over the weekend.

The official also urged local government units to clean up debris
left from the New Year revelry to avoid incidences of children
picking up firecrackers on the streets.

Duque was accompanied by Philippine National Police chief Director
General Jesus Verzosa in the press conference.

A GMA Flash Report had earlier said Verzosa, who visited the EAMC
along with Metro Manila police chief Director Leopoldo Bataoil and
PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, was pleased at
the decreased number of revelry-related injuries in 2008.

Apart from the EAMC, the police officials likewise visited the
Philippine Orthopedic Center and the Qurino Medical Center.

Abnormal Laboratory Results

Mostly and usually laboratory results are abnormal after Christmas and New Year...