We Filipinos are known for being hospitable. But what makes me really proud of is of us being very polite. We have the highest respect in our elders. We use “po”, “opo”, and “hindi po” in talking to people older than us. We also show our respect by kissing the hands of our elders and parents or what we call “pagmamano” before leaving the house and when the time that we got home.

In other countries, they don’t have such kind of respect. They just call older people by there names. I guess it is the Filipino manners that made us really unique among other races. So let us not let this culture die, but what we should do is to share and instill it to the next generations to come.

Oral contraceptives are the most common contraceptives because they are convenient and very effective. But for some instances, some women are scared of using oral contraceptives because of what they call side effects. But what they don’t know, these what they called side effects were just myths about taking pills. Here are the facts and myths to guide you.

Myth 1: Oral Contraceptive Pills cause weight gain.

Fact:      Recent studies show that the pills do not cause weight gain; it reveals that weight gain was attributed to increasing age, not to pill use.

Myth 2: Oral Contraceptive Pills cause cancer.

Fact:      The pill does not accumulate in the body nor cause cancer. On the contrary, the pill helps protect against ovarian and endometrial cancer, ovarian cyst, and some forms of pelvic inflammatory diseases. The pill is immediately dissolved, absorbed, and eliminated out of the body.

Myth 3: Oral Contraceptive Pills cause headaches.

Fact:      Most headaches are caused primarily by muscle tension, and are unlikely related to oral pills. In rare cases, new pill users may experience headaches but these usually disappear after taking the first three pill cycles.

Summer is about to end, the rainy is soon to come. New season, new diseases. But the common disease that we can get whether its’ summer or rainy season is the common colds. Colds are caused by certain virus that can enter our body in a very short period of time. If we have strong immune system, we can prevent it from worsening.

Here are some tips on how to avoid catching colds.

1. Wash your hands. Some people with a cold can contaminate a surface by touching a doorknob, holding your cell phone or even shaking your hand. If this happens, wash your hands thoroughly to eliminate the cold virus that is already in your hand. Do this before touching any part of your face or risk having a cold yourself.
2. Avoid direct contact. This is the most common way of getting infected. When a person infected sneezes or blows his nose, the particles become airborne and can be inhaled by the people close to him, thus spreading the cold virus.
3. Use disposable tissue and not your handkerchief. If you already have a cold, help by stopping the spread of virus and germs. Using disposable tissues limits the virus to the tissue and the trash can.
4. Get enough rest and drink plenty of water. Water helps loosen congestion and prevent dehydration while resting helps fortify your body’s resistance.
5. Take the proper cold medication. Before you treat your cold, you must know what kind of cold you have. Consult your doctor immediately because knowing the right medication is the first and most important step to full recovery.