Maestra Journal

CALLING ALL GRADE 11 and 12 students! 📣

Is UP your dream university? Perhaps Ateneo? DLSU? UST?

You’re in luck for CBRC got you!

Join our FREE Math Session this Saturday, April 6 at 6pm with our very own LET topnotcher and UP Diliman graduate, Sir Matt.

Invite your friends and classmates! 😃



https://www.facebook.com/share/DBQ6Y7XkRSZPCzer/?mibextid=WC7FNe

CALLING ALL GRADE 11 and 12 students! 📣

Is UP your dream university? Perhaps Ateneo? DLSU? UST?

You’re in luck for CBRC got you!

Join our FREE Math Session this Saturday, April 6 at 6pm with our very own LET topnotcher and UP Diliman graduate, Sir Matt.

Invite your friends and classmates! 😃

SURVIVING THROUGH A GLIMPSE OF NEAR DEATH
by Dr Carl E. Balita
The Manila Times
March 29, 2024

SIONY, 72, suffered from Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS) post-vaccination during the Covid-19 pandemic. GBS is an ascending paralysis that could be fatal if it reaches the respiratory muscles. She was intubated and was hooked in a ventilator for days, but with the great care and management of the University of the East Medical Center, she survived. She went home in a wheelchair and could barely move her toes. Like a newborn child, it took her months to learn to walk again.

She reported having been through a timeless journey in a place so peaceful and bright. She was floating but kept on running away from a hole of brightest light that appeared to be most welcoming. She insists that she saw her dead relatives seemingly welcoming her to what she describes as the afterlife. But she survived the death that was right in front of her.

Siony is my mother. And she is now back to her active life routines — capable of running and dancing.

The one who died seven times

"I was there, and it is unexplainable — there was no pain and there was only comfort. Smell was indescribable. Music was peaceful. It was full of joy." This is how Butch describes his seven near-death experiences across his lifetime. He can attest to the life after death — and claims that it is a beautiful one. He prescribes that we should never be afraid of death for it is a beautiful one, and only love can permeate the barrier.

He was born prematurely and was in the incubator for months. He had three surgeries before he turned 1 year old and, according to the doctor, his heart stopped. He is able to retain in his memory of the infantile experience of the bright light in the long tunnel.

Growing up, he had to undergo another set of corrective surgeries of his gastrointestinal tract again — three times.

And during the pandemic quarantine, he had an attack of seizure, his first and only. Further diagnosis revealed that he had a tumor inside his skull, and he went under surgery for three hours and survived. He is the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry's national board's Butch Guerrero.

Near-death experience

A near-death experience (NDE) is a broad range of personal subjective experiences associated with death or impending death. People having NDE are unconscious, lack heartbeat or respiration, and have a flat electroencephalogram.

Accounts of NDEs have been found in many different cultures and throughout history but share some common features across cultures and religions, according to leading NDE researcher Dr. Bruce Greyson.

Individuals, like Siony and Butch, who had NDE describe the presence of light, feeling pleasant and relaxing sensations, going through a tunnel, seeing a quick overview of their whole life from birth to death, experiencing another world with indescribable beauty and having feelings of levitation, total serenity, security, warmth and the experience of absolute dissolution. Even Iranian Muslim CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) survivors, in a research, reported NDE experiences that are much similar to those reported by survivors in Western countries with different theistic religions.

Death through the Catholic lens

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that every spiritual soul "is immortal: It does not perish when it separates from the body at death, and it will be reunited with the body at the final Resurrection." Human souls never die. Could the NDE be an experience of the soul?

Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, either entrance into the blessedness of heaven — through a purification immediately — or immediate and everlasting damnation. (CCC 1022). There is scriptural evidence of these in the books of Luke, Corinthians and Philippians. Could the bright light be heaven?

Science and the skeptics

In spite of scientific interest and modern pursuit for its more empirical understanding, there is still no scientific consensus about NDE, and there is a lack of rigorous experimental data, and controlled and reproducible experiments. The subjective nature of these experiences makes them difficult to verify scientifically. Additionally, cultural beliefs and expectations can influence interpretations of such events.

The medical world has generally ignored these "near-death experiences," dismissing them as "tricks of the brain" or wishful thinking. Skeptics argue that NDEs can be explained by brain activity during near-death states, hallucinations caused by medication or psychological defense mechanisms in response to trauma. The similarities in NDEs across cultures might be due to shared cultural expectations about death, rather than evidence of an afterlife (Blackmore). NDEs could be the brain's way of trying to make sense of a traumatic experience like cardiac arrest (Dawkins).

Beyond religion, science

Dr. Bruce Greyson, without a religious belief system, approached near-death experiences from a scientific perspective. He shares the transformative lessons he has learned over four decades of research.

Our culture has tended to view dying as the end of our consciousness, the end of our existence — a dreaded prospect that for many people evokes fear and anxiety. But Dr. Greyson shows how scientific revelations about the dying process can support an alternative theory. Dying could be the threshold between one form of consciousness and another, not an ending but a transition.

This new perspective on the nature of death can transform the fear of dying that pervades our culture into a healthy view of it as one more milestone in the course of our lives. This challenges us to open our minds to these experiences and to what they can teach us, and in so doing, expand our understanding of consciousness and of what it means to be human.

Life-changing NDEs

There is evidence that the NDEs for the majority of survivors have brought about life-changing effects. Patients who have had NDEs report more daily spiritual experiences than those who did not. Leading a more altruistic life has also been documented as one of the outcomes of NDE.

Dr. Janus de Leon had a freak vehicular accident and had NDE seeing souls wearing golden robes in a very bright place. He reports that there was no pain, no fear; just gratitude and total surrender to God. He knew that God was there and that life is everlasting. He concludes that his NDE is a life-changing second chance to pursue a life mission.

Indeed, NDEs can be interpreted as glimpses of the heavenly realm, a confirmation of our eternal existence (Kushner).

Through 30 years of investigation, experts from around the world share the history and current state of near-death experience knowledge in the "Handbook of Near-Death Experiences" (2009, Holden, et al.). They explore controversies in the field, offer stories from their research and express their hopes for the future of investigation into this fascinating human experience.

The "Handbook" makes clear that great controversy exists in the medical and psychological fields concerning NDEs. Are they caused by physiological changes in the brain, or are they biological reactions to oxygen loss or impending death? Are they a product of changing states of consciousness? Or are they caused by something else altogether?

Reflecting upon the meaning of death, regardless of how it will be experienced, will surely add more meaning to the appreciation of life itself.

Blessed Lenten reflection ...

Surviving through a glimpse of near death SIONY, 72, suffered from Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS) post-vaccination during the Covid-19 pandemic. GBS is an ascending paralysis that could be fatal if it reaches the respiratory muscles. She was intubated and was hooked in a ventilator for days, but with the great care and management of the Univ...

RAISING GENERATION ALPHA
Dr Carl E. Balita
The Manila Times
March 22, 2024

RECENTLY, a teacher went viral on social media after she broadcast her frustrations in front of her students. In the live broadcast, she used words that many deemed inappropriate for a teacher to say. She asserted that her being a licensed professional teacher was earned and she deserves the respect of her students. She complained about her students' attitude and warned that "wala kayong mararating sa buhay (you will not succeed in life)."

A live broadcast is the usual emotional catharsis of disappointed people engaging the digital space to rant. As the teacher was judged by many netizens for being unbecoming of a professional teacher that she asserted she is, many parents and teachers simply empathized and expressed the same observation of how students and children of this generation actually behave. She was a disappointment to many but hers is a wake-up call to all.

Who is the Alpha

This article comes with a disclaimer that generational stereotypes are broad generalizations and may not apply to every individual, and that the new generations are still young, and their defining characteristics may continue to evolve.

Mark McCrindle, a generational researcher and consultant, coined "Generation Alpha" to refer to those born since 2010. He didn't intend to reset the alphabet as the preceding generation is Generation Z. The Alpha is the first generation to be fully born in the 21st century. They are offspring of the digital natives called millennials. As screenagers, the Alpha had devices in their hands before they could walk.

During the formative years of these children, Covid-19 was experienced by the world, and they carry that collective experience ingrained in their humanity. Their gadgets became their school to learn whenever they choose to, playground to socialize with friends they may have not met in person, media to be informed and entertained as they wish, as well as a backyard to create even their own virtual reality.

The digital space has become the lens through which the generation Alpha form their worldview and their philosophy — the metaphysics (what is real), ethics (what is of value), aesthetics (what is beauty), logic (how they reason), epistemology (how they know) and even political philosophy (how is their society governed).

Our anxiety

We worry about their horrible addiction to technology at such an early age. Past theories may deduce their delayed social-emotional development, as well as a huge lack of creativity, imagination and participation in personal hobbies that do not involve technology.

We fear that virtual space creates self-image issues where we become witness to the trap for insecurity issues and comparison battles.

Again, none of these developmental issues are Generation Alpha's fault. It is the environment that they are living in that is creating all these problems. And we are their environment.

Characterizing the Alpha

Globally, there are 2.7 million Alphas born weekly. Biggest contributors are India, China and Nigeria. The Alphas will constitute 11 percent of the workplace in 2030.

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The Alpha generation is described as global, digital, visual, mobile and social. They are young activists where 3 out of 4 believe it is important to speak out about the cause they believe in; 1 in 10 has taken part in a march and protest. They are creative entrepreneurs where 86 percent enjoy making things, as 20 percent already make money from hobbies and talents

Alphas are digital masters and critical consumers. Three in 4 are confident using the internet on their own while only 58 percent of their parents think their kids are capable. Fifty-eight percent are anti-sharenting but 60 percent of their parents would post without their permission. Seventy-three percent question things they see and read on the internet. Two in 3 think that YouTubers do things they don't agree with.

Mindfulness of laws

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Older generations, used to old ways of disciplining children, should be mindful of the "crime" they may commit in the process. Thanks to my daughter, Attorney Lyca, for sharing this.

State policy protects children against abuse by parents and teachers. The State shall intervene when acts of abuse, exploitation or discrimination are committed by parents, guardians or teachers (Republic Act [RA] 7610). "The State shall intervene on behalf of the child when the parent, guardian, teacher or person having care or custody of the child fails or is unable to protect the child against abuse, exploitation and discrimination or when such acts against the child are committed by the said parent, guardian, teacher or person having care and custody of the same."

"Child abuse" refers to maltreatment, including psychological and physical abuse, and any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being (Section 3, RA 7610).

Parents have the right to impose discipline on their children as may be required under the circumstances (Family Code). However, corporal punishment by teachers is not allowed.

Child abuse may also be committed by parents who inflict cruel and unusual punishment or other excessive chastisement that embarrass them. Parents are liable for child abuse if they inflict cruel and unusual punishment, or deliberately subjects him to indignation and other excessive chastisement that embarrass or humiliate him (Article 59, RA 7610 and Presidential Decree 603).

Children must be protected from abuse by parents. Children must be protected from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation while in the care of their parents (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child).

School discipline must be consistent with dignity. School discipline is administered in a manner consistent with the child's human dignity (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child). States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that school discipline is administered in a manner consistent with the child (Article 28.2).

Parenting and educating the Alphas

The challenge is how to leverage the strength of this generation of learners. Since they have access to the information that they want, the strategy is to facilitate learning as relevant for them. It is important to lean into what they value or what is important to them then to support them in that exploration as we design learning experiences. Alphas have innate curiosity, and we need to create space for the big questions they have. We should allow them more ownership over what they learn.

Their deep sense of global connection needs to use technology to effortlessly connect with people across the world. Alphas have a large capacity for empathy and a desire for change, and they are at their best when they can fight for what is right, and win. We should allow their rich digital lives to passionately solve a variety of their life challenges.

We need to honor their paths and resist the impulse to force them on the well-traveled road. After all, the path they will follow is one we have yet to traverse as well.

"The interesting and challenging thing about this moment is that we know the old forms aren't working. But we can't yet see what the new forms will be (Krista Tippett). What if children of Generation Alpha have insights into these new forms?

https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/22/opinion/columns/raising-the-alpha-generation/1937881

WHY WOMEN ARE STRONG
By Dr Carl E. Balita
The Manila Times
March 1, 2024

(First of 2 parts)

IT is Women's Month celebration again. Some men jokingly ask why the celebration is necessary when, in fact, every day is Women's Day.

Men are not weak, but women are indeed strong. In the spirit of the monthlong Women's Month celebration, here are some pieces of evidence on why women are strong. The point of comparison is to celebrate women power so humanity can capitalize on it, or perhaps deduce some lessons from it.

The comparison is not for supremacy. It provides empirical data (references available) to appreciate and celebrate individuality toward productivity and unity in diversity. The coexistence of the sexes, and all the genders, embraces the uniqueness of humans in a transformative society that co-creates dynamically a shared sense of humanity.

Women live longer

Women are longevity champions with life expectancy of 74.9 years — that is five years longer than men. Women outlive men everywhere in the world. Out of the 43 people in the world who've made it past 110 years, 42 are women. The World Health Organization (WHO) in its 2019 statistics displayed women as tending to seek health care more than men.

Anthropologists of hunter-gatherer societies have shown that the males and females in a tribe were equal in terms of physical work, but that women had the added burden of bearing children. They had to be physically stronger than men.

To gain new insights into the gender mortality gap, data from seven historic cases were analyzed when populations were exposed to extreme hardship and under extreme conditions such as famines, epidemics and enslavement. The studies concluded that women were able to survive for longer than men. These situations saw dramatic decreases in life expectancy but in all the populations, women had lower mortality across almost all ages and women lived longer on the average than men.

The biology of longevity

The survival advantage of women has fundamental biological underpinnings supported by the fact that under very harsh conditions females survive better than males even at infant ages when behavioral and social differences may be minimal or favor males. Newborn males have a 10 percent greater risk of death than newborn females, given the same amount of care.

Women were found to respond faster to infection because of higher levels of estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen, found in larger quantities in women, have anti-inflammatory effects, whereas testosterone, found in larger amounts in men, may actually suppress the immune system.

The pain of childbirth has fatal intensity if experienced outside labor and delivery situations. A human body can bear only up to 45 del (unit) of pain. Yet at the time of giving birth, a mother in labor feels up to 57 del of pain. This is similar to 20 bones getting fractured at a time.

Even during the Covid pandemic, there was a lower incidence and lower death among women. Chinese researchers noted that more than 70 percent of those who died of Covid-19 were men. The WHO has reported that 63 percent of deaths related to Covid-19 in Europe have been among men, and the NYC health department said that men have been dying of coronavirus at almost twice the rate of women. The same goes for the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Men are generally at greater risk for cardiovascular and renal disease than are age-matched pre-menopausal women. In general, men had higher blood pressure than women through middle age. Furthermore, the incidence of uncontrolled hypertension is also greater in men than in women.

Scientifically speaking, women tend to live longer than men due to a complex interaction of biological, environmental and social factors, according to the National Academy of the United States of America. Kohli (2020) presented scientific facts to put to rest the debate that women are stronger than men.

Women's psyche

Women suffer stress to a higher degree at 28 percent (men at 20 percent). But cortisol, the stress hormone, tends to increase more rapidly in men than in women. Women tend to cope with pressure better than men, according to the research. In case of a breakup, women may feel the hurt deeper as compared to men, but they tend to heal faster.

Though they report similar average stress levels, women are more likely than men to report that their stress levels are on the rise. Women are also much more likely to report physical and emotional symptoms of stress than men.

Women attempt more but die less in these su***de attempts. Su***de attempts are three to four times more likely in women than in men, but the global su***de rate in 2020 was 12.6 per 100,000 in men (5.4 deaths per 100,000 in women), according to WHO. This could be because of the indecisiveness of women to die in the ambivalent nature of su***de, or the more lethal means that men use in the "cry-for-help" psycho-dynamics of su***de.

Women record less prevalence of alcohol abuse (0.8 percent versus 2 percent) and drug abuse (0.6 percent versus 1.3 percent) than men. More women suffer depression (4.1 percent versus 2.7 percent) and anxiety (4.7 percent versus 2.7 percent) than men. But the most debilitating schizophrenia has a 1 to 1.4 ratio between women and men.

Women and intelligence

Men have higher brain volume; however, women still manage to beat them in IQ tests. Women have thicker cortices, the area of the brain that is linked to improved performance on intelligence tests. Women can maintain cognitive skills and have better memory as men's brains tend to diminish faster with age as compared to that of women.

More women have college degrees, at 56.1 percent (men at 43.9 percent), according to the Philippine Statistics Authority, while more women have advanced degrees at 53 percent (men at 47 percent), according to the Education Data Initiative in 2021.

However, digital literacy is four times higher in men, according to Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Financial literacy is also higher in men, at 35 percent (women at 30 percent). There are only 12.9 percent women on the billionaires list of Statista (2021).

There are only 58 women on the list of Nobel Prize winners against 876 men. Out of the current 74 national artists of the Philippines, only 16 (about 21percent) are women, including the latest addition, Nora Aunor.

Women and leadership

Women are rated better than men in leadership capability, according to the study of Zener and Folkman in 2019. Women scored higher in 17 out of 19 leadership traits like initiative, resilience, self-development, results, integrity and honesty. Men only ranked slightly higher in the areas of technical and professional expertise, and of developing strategic perspectives.

But such leadership seems underutilized at the government levels. Based on United Nations data (2023), there are only 31 countries where 34 women serve as heads of state and/or government. Just 17 countries had a woman head of state, and 19 countries had a woman head of government. First-time compiled data by UN Women (2023) show that women represent only 22.8 percent of Cabinet members heading ministries leading a policy area. There are only 13 countries in which women hold 50 percent or more of the positions of Cabinet ministers leading policy areas.

(To be continued next Friday, March 8, 2024)

Why women are strong First of 2 parts

We are now talking about BEDBUGS in airport seats.
There are worst realities we need to address since time immemorial….

I wrote this article past year…

Read.

10 airport 'injustices' we are getting used to
Dr Carl E. Balita
The Manila Times
August 11, 2023

AIR passengers are getting used to just tolerating, and forgiving the air travel experiences that are causing unnecessary inconvenience and in some degree is equivalent to injustice. The irregularities are becoming normal and airline passengers have become passive and quiet victims through learned helplessness. As customers of these airlines, that are generating good business, and airports, that we are paying good money for, we deserve better. Besides, air passengers have rights!

Good billion airline business

Global airline industry revenues are expected to reach $803 billion in 2023. An inventory of 34.4 million flights is expected to be available in 2023. Passenger revenues are expected to reach $546 billion (IATA).

The domestic market is dominated by the Cebu Pacific group (61 percent market share), followed by the Philippine Airlines group (29 percent), followed by AirAsia (9 percent). Cebu Pacific did not compete with PAL. It used a blue ocean strategy that made "Every Juan Fly" instead of taking ferries.

Philippine Airlines ended 2022 on a high note, reporting an operating income of $297.2 million and a total comprehensive income of $196.9 million for the year ending Dec. 31, 2022. PAL flights achieved an average passenger load factor of 72 percent and flew a total of 9.3 million passengers in 2022.

For this, PAL president and COO Capt. Stanley K. Ng commits to "make good use of our resources to improve our services for the benefit of our valued customers and even more determined to upgrade our fleet, build more connections to key markets and offer improved products and services." PAL is certified as a 4-star airline for the quality of its airport and onboard product and staff service.

Cebu Pacific Air Inc., (CebPac), while still recovering from pandemic losses, generated gross revenue of approximately P57 billion during the 2022 fiscal year. CebPac returned to profitability and booked a net income of P1.08 billion in the first quarter of 2023. During the period, Cebu Air Inc. tripled its revenue to P20.88 billion.

In 2022, CebPac flew 14.84 million passengers. To amass its 57 percent market share, the airline carried nearly 13.5 million domestic passengers, while international passengers totaled 1.3 million. From January to March this year, the budget airline flew more than 4.8 million passengers.

From bad to worse

If airlines are making billions, why are the air passengers suffering?

This writer is a frequent traveler whose voice, whenever he expresses a complaint, is lost in the wilderness. Here are just some of the unnecessary inconveniences, arranged based on the commuters' journey, which authorities must address:

– Overcrowded check-in counters operated by outsourced personnel who are not enough in numbers to serve booking volume and lack systematic efficiency and are incapable of quality customer service. Digitalization is not friendly enough to contribute to efficiency and customer engagement.

– Noisy power-tripping "barkers" in terminals who instruct commuters by shouting as if commuters are illiterate morons. It is plain noise pollution and cheap.

– The habitual change of departure gates, which is disturbing to an already overcrowded pre-departure areas. The poor sound system is drowned by the ambient public noise in a poor acoustic setting. This is contributory to delayed departure of a "warm cabin whose temperature will be adjusted when aircraft gain altitude," as usually announced. This system flaw victimizes senior citizens and physically weak passengers, including parents with children.

– Delayed flights which have become a new normal without explanation is better than "delay of the turnaround aircraft." Where is justice when a minute of delay in check-in will inconsiderately cancel your reservation in favor of wait-listed passengers in their overbooked flights? But they can make you wait for hours for their delayed flights!

– Poor and delayed meal provisions for delayed flights. The passengers are like beggars queueing for the "ayuda" meal pack, which is not commensurate with the wasted time.

– The single-baggage hand-carried and check-in policy of an airline is sickening. An airline will argue that this is to minimize handling, but when you are willing to pay for another baggage, they are most willing.

– The frequent announcements about the call for checked-in passengers who would be willing to barter their seats for some perks is proof of inefficient overbooking mechanism motivated by greed.

– Non-use of tube access to and from aircraft which makes airline passengers ride an overcrowded bus. Reliable source claims that this is due to cost considerations.

– Mishandling of checked-in luggage, which destroys bags and packages due to obvious irresponsible handlers. And even for travelers of priority class, baggage will come late or slow, and frequently in mixed-up carousels.

– Sanitation issues in security trays, trolleys and poorly maintained comfort rooms.

Passengers have rights

The Philippines has an "Air Passenger Bill of Rights." This bill of rights is mandated by the Civil Aeronautics Board. Here is an overview of the Air Passenger Bill of Rights in the Philippines based on the Joint DoTC-DTI Admin Order 1:

Air passengers have three major rights, namely, right to be provided with accurate information before purchase; right to receive the full value of the service purchased; and right to compensation.

Air passengers shall not be denied check-in if within the carrier's cordoned area at least one hour before published estimated time of departure. Check-in counters must be open two hours (international), one hour (domestic), and one counter for passengers needing special assistance. A passenger cannot be denied the right to board aircraft without his consent.

Cancellation at least 24 hours shall notify the passenger and be rebooked or reimbursed at passenger's option. If less than 24 hours, passengers are entitled to amenities (which may include food and drinks, and hotel accommodation), reimbursements, endorsement to another airline or rebooking without additional cost on the passenger. Reimbursement of the full value of the fare is guaranteed.

Delay of at least three hours entitles the passenger to refreshment or meal, free phone calls and option to rebook or be endorsed to another carrier. Terminal delay of at least six hours attributed to the carrier entitles the passenger to avail rights and amenities for the actual cancellation, additional compensation equivalent to at least the value of the sector delayed.

There are also provisions for offloading, damage and loss of baggage, or in case of death or bodily injury to passengers.

The airway is the gateway to our archipelago. Air travel experience should give Filipinos and tourists more reasons to love the Philippines. As airlines make billions in profits, may they provide convenience that their customers rightfully deserve. And may our government have the willpower to propel change.