The Unknown Disease

People are enamored with inexplicable things. Mystery - that's the usual topic of some conversations, and the most interesting headline of a tabloid newspaper. This creates a big impact to human mind. It stimulates a person's imagination and ability to explain. They tend to believe in an information that's more incredible and peculiar than believing in a fact.

Maybe one best example is Pres. John F. Kennedy's death. There are many conspiracy theories in the whole incident. People love the thought that there are photos of mysterious individuals which might have a huge role on the scene. They instead believe in the theories behind the mysterious personalities than in a simple theory that the president's death was actually caused by human error.

Anyway, that's enough for an introduction of this article. There's this rumor in Pangasinan which scared the citizens of the province and even the people in the urban cities. It was said that a mysterious unknown flesh-eating disease was spreading all over the province. This story was featured in TV news and was finally concluded only as a hoax.

Story

This rumor became an instant hit in social networking sites. Some fan pages started requesting a prayer from their followers.

The main origin of the news was the Monday night report of the ABS-CBN news program "Bandila". They reported that an alleged 'unknown flesh-eating disease' was causing the two Pangasinenses' sickness which made them look like a decaying corpse. One was in Villasis, the other was in Santa Barbara. The reporter appears to be wearing a doctor's attire while interviewing. The reporter also said that the disease was slowly spreading in the said province. They theorized leprosy, skin allergy, lupus, and psoriasis. They also mentioned that one of the patients had worms coming out from the wounds. The hush tag #prayforpangasinan trended in Twitter after the news was broadcast.[1][2]

Actually, the female patient was first reported last year (2013) in GMA through their 'GMA Kapuso Foundation'. They helped the 21-year-old woman identify and treat the disease she got.[3]

Then after that, the netizens started connecting the said misleading news to a prophecy. Before I tell you the prophecy, just a reminder, I'm not suggesting that the prophet isn't genuine or should I say a false prophet. It will be your opinion if you believe he is or not.

Anyway, in April 2013, an Indian prophet named Sadhu Sundar Selvaraj, founder of Jesus Ministries, prophesized that a 'grievous disease that consumes flesh of men and will pierce through the bones will spread all over the world' and it will begin in Pangasinan, Philippines. A video of Bro. Vincent Selvakumar who translated the prophesy was circulating in the internet.[4]

The prophet also foretold the Bohol earthquake, which happened in October 2013, and the Typhoon Yolanda, which came in November of the same year.[4]

Here's what he actually said[4]:

"The Lord says there is a place called PANGASINAN. The Lord says it is in the northernmost part in your land. From there a grievous disease will spread all over the world. That will consume the flesh of men; all their upper (outer) skin will begin to decay. It will pierce through the bones. The fear of this disease will spread all over the world. The Lord said that this (disease) will begin from the Philippines.” “This will then spread to CEBU.”

They claimed that his prophesies will be fulfilled if the people of the Philippines will not repent.

The Disease

The female patient was diagnosed by a dermatologist to have Pyoderma gangrenosum. The skin disease really resembles Leprosy, however the two are different. But according to Department of Health, it was leprosy. Dr. Grace Beltran opposed because DOH didn't really made an actual biopsy.

The Pyoderma grangrenosum is a kind of condition that causes soft body tissues to become necrotic, causing deep ulcers which usually occurs on the legs.[5] According to Beltran, the one who diagnosed and treated the woman, the skin disease was very rare, and it is not contagious as what was reported. She added that the disease may be related to internal problems such as inflammatory bowel disease or cancer.[6]

The male patient was said to have a Psoriasis, according to DOH. But because he didn't allowed to undergo a biopsy, Beltran only speculated that he as well had a pyoderma.[3]

Sources:
[1] http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/529278-pangasinan-prophecy-flesh-eating-disease-outbreak-in-philippines-province-a-hoax/
[2] http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/580549/mysterious-flesh-eating-disease-in-pangasinan-a-hoax-health-exec#ixzz2uZs2NqDi
[3] http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/350191/news/nation/pangasinan-woman-s-skin-disease-very-rare-but-curable-dermatologist
[4] http://www.localpulse.net/technology/prophecy-sadhu-sundar-selvaraj-pangasinan-philippines-goes-viral-207/
[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyoderma_gangrenosum
[6] http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/350075/news/regions/skin-disease-case-in-pangasinan-not-leprosy-says-doc

Ativan Gang

Criminal gangs are known with their distinct way or technique or method (Modus Operandi) of robbing someone or a business. Some of them are fearless. They attack their victims as if they don't have any plans. While others have plans for an attack to a person or a business to ensure that none of them will be caught.

Thanks to CCTV cameras. Knowing the identities of the criminals become much easier. However, as time passes by, they become much more dangerous compared to those criminals in the previous years.

Anyway, the Ativan Gang is not only a mere urban legend which only sprouted from rumors of the people. They actually exist, and I don't know if they still until now. Like what I always say, not all urban legends are unreal. Some of them originated from real sources, or the story itself is real. However, they are altered because of the way how it circulated through the tongues of tsismosos and tsismosas.

They became an urban legend because there are e-mailed stories spreading in the cities where the Ativan Gang is the main subject. No one knows if these said stories really happen. One thing's for sure, the incident is told by a 'friend-of-a-friend', making it doubtful. These e-mails appear as a warning, but, for me, these are good warnings though. They make Filipinos aware of what's happening.

Ativan Gang

According to real sources, Ativan Gang is one of the oldest gangs in the Philippines. Their members invite or befriend unsuspecting foreigners (usually male tourists) to eat and drink (or should I say 'bond') with them. They are using the advantage of the known Filipino attitude - hospitality. As they finally got you in their hands, they will put an ativan pill in your food or drink. As you ingested it, you'll feel dizzy and drowsy, then you find yourself asleep suddenly. The time you are unconscious, they will start robbing you - get your belongings and left you alone somewhere.

One of their tricky modus operandi is by attracting the victim using a beautiful Filipina, which is one of there member. As they were engaging in sexual activity, the girl will secretly put the drug in the drink to knock the tourist out of consciousness.

Because of them, there's this expression Filipinos used to say: Na-ATIVAN - meaning 'you are victimized by the Ativan gang' and/or 'you accidentally ingested an ativan pill'.

According to some sources, the gang started to operate in the late 70's or early 80's.


By the way, we've been talking about this Ativan Gang, but some of us don't have any idea what an Ativan pill is. So, what is it?

Ativan Drug

The last time I hear the word 'ativan' was in a news about a drug syndicate, who not only produce illegal substance but also smuggle prohibited drugs from overseas to the Philippines.

As of now, the DOH (Department of Health) and BFAD (Bureau of Food and Drugs) prohibited the selling and importing of the Ativan drug in the country. According to the same news, this drug is commonly used by criminals to rob or harm people. They might be refering to the Ativan Gang.

The generic name of the Ativan drug is lorazepam.

Ativan is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. It affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety.[4] Often times, this drug is used to treat anxiety disorders.

Ativan should not be taken if you have allergies to eat. It may cause difficulty in breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. There are also serious and mild side-effects when you take this drug, namely:

confusion, depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;

hyperactivity, agitation, hostility;

hallucinations; or

feeling light-headed, fainting.

Less serious side-effects:

drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness;

blurred vision;

sleep problems (insomnia);

muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination;

amnesia or forgetfulness, trouble concentrating;

nausea, vomiting, constipation;

appetite changes; or

skin rash

That's the reason why the government forbade this drug in circulation. Aside of the reason that some people may abuse this drug, it is also dangerous.

The Rumor

[Taken from E-mail:]

Carlo waited for weeks for the showing of the latest James Bond movie. Since all of his friends were occupied that day, he decided to see the movie alone. Before he bought his ticket, he went to Burger King to get himself a burger and a coke. Like what he always does, he didn't put ice on his soda. He entered the movie house at 5:30 pm. While nibbling on his burger, he placed the cup of coke in the armrest. After taking a few sips, he suspected something very wrong with his coke. There is now ice on it. Akala nya nainom nya yung coke ng katabi nya (He thought he had sipped the coke of the someone beside him) but there was nobody seated beside him. He lifted the cup to get a closer look. Surprise, Surprise!!!! He found powdery substance floating on the soda. He also realized that the cup is now "Jollibee" and not Burger King. He immediately run for the restroom for he knew that he was 'na-ATIVAN'. He spit all fluid that he has taken in. In no more than 2 minutes, he felt dizzy. He hurriedly left the mail. He didn't know how he did it but he was able to find his way home. By the time he reached the doorstep of his house, he was already asleep. When he woke up, it was already 8pm of the following day.

This is only one of the e-mails circulating in the internet. No one knows if this really happened. I can't say this isn't true.

Others

On February 2012, a Belgian national was victimized by two women who were allegely a member of Ativan gang. The Belgian woman was a 52-year-old veterinarian. On her trip to Malate Church, two women befriended her and invited to go to Tagaytay the next day. The two also asked her if she wanted to travel to Northern Philippines, and they said they are happy to accompany her. She replied yes.

On there trip to the north, the two also brought two more women and one man. They first went to Dagupan City, then Baguio, Banawe, and after three days, to Cabanatuan City.

On a hotel in Cabanatuan, where they stayed for the night, she woke up feeling very dizzy and her companions were gone. At first, she didn't realized what actually happened to her. She was still thinking why her companions just left her alone without telling her. Upon arrival to Manila, she finally realized that here pouch is empty - her 15,000 Euros are gone. She checked the pictures on her camera, but those were deleted. Luckily, she retrieved them and printed a copy. The authorities concluded that the six criminals are members of Ativan Gang.


The reason why I said that the warning is good, and somehow helpful, because it reminds us one thing:

Don't talk to strangers.

That's a very simple reminder whenever you are in a place you are not familiar with.

Sources:
[1]http://www.drugs.com/
http://3stars-sun.blogspot.com/2008/03/philippine-gangs-and-criminal.html
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/03/06/12/belgian-loses-p1-m-ativan-gang

Image Source:
http://www.philippinen-reisen.com/aktuelle-info/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/06-ativan-gang-2.gif

The Mysterious Death of Julie Vega

After every celebrity death comes the rumors. The most peculiar and mystifying rumor becomes the most accepted of all stories. And finally, this rumor end up as an urban legend. From a factual information, this is added by opinions of other people, and the teller altered them so his/her hearers become interested. That's a simple formula of making a famous urban legend.

One of the most popular celebrity death with an urban legend is Julie Vega's. Her cause-of-death story morphed into a much more interesting gossip. Ever since I was a kid, I always hear those claims of how she really died, who took her life, and why did she die at a very young age.

Anyway, let's just try to discuss the mysterious death of Julie Vega from the utmost bottom of all reasons and/or answer.

Julie Vega

Julie Pearl Apostol Postigo (popularly known as Julie Vega) was born on May 21, 1968, and died at the age of 16 on May 6, 1985, 15 days before her birthday. She is a very good Filipino child actress, singer, and commercial model. She won Famas Best Child Actress by playing as Angelita in her 1979 movie entitled Mga Mata ni Angelita, and as Lucia in her 1980 movie Durugin si Totoy Bato.[1]

She is the only girl and the youngest in six children of Dr. Julio Postigo and Perla Postigo.

She studied at the Our Lady of Sacred Heart School from grade school till first year high school before transferring to St. Joseph's College where she finished her high school.

She was discovered by Film and stage Director Lamberto Avellana, and actress Miss Boots Anson-Roa in 1975. She was performing at a Christmas party.

She started to become famous from portraying as Angelita in the movie Mga Mata ni Angelita which made her won the award. Her other known role was her GMA Network's soap opera, Anna Liza. This soap opera caught the sympathy and affection of Filipinos which made her more popular. That time, Flor de Luna in ABS-CBN was her greatest rival, roled by Janice de Belen. That role should have been Julie's, but she declined because of her tight schedule.[1]

She is also known in her portrayals in Mga Basang Sisiw, Isang Bala Ka Lang, Durugin si Totoy Bato and Lovingly Yours, Helen: The Movie.

Lovingly Yours, Helen

Lovingly Yours, Helen is a Sunday afternoon program aired on GMA-7 from 1980 to 1996. This evolved into a television drama anthology from a daily counseling program on radio with the same title aired in DZBB.[2]

In 1984, because of its great popularity, they decided to turn it into an anthology movie.

The first episode of the movie was a horror-drama, which starred Julie Vega, Anita Linda and Coney Reyes. The second episode was drama, then the third one is a comedy-drama.[2]

Julie Vega roled as Ida in the first episode of the film. The shooting was done in an old house in Mt. Manalmon which is located in San Miguel, Bulacan.

This movie is actually the last film Julie Vega had before she died. The story is about this little girl who was a daughter of a mortal woman and a demon. This demon frequently possessed her.

The Rumor

I am not yet born at the time of her popularity and death. So I only knew her from the movies and rumors.

The first time I watch the movie Lovingly Yours, Helen, I was still a kid, and it really scared everything in me. The way she portrayed the possessed Ida made it much frightening. For me, she is the Emily Rose of the Philippines. Everytime I remember her face with bubbly mouth and her demonic voice, it really creates a nightmare.

She used to be an energetic and lively girl before they started filming the scary episode. Rumor has it, that after the shooting, few days later, she started to get sick and died eventually in a young age. Thus, people blamed the said movie. For what reason?

There are rumored reasons why she died. Some are connected to the movie, some are personal. Here's the alleged explanation of her death:

According to the rumor, she was cursed by a supernatural being called engkantada when they shoot this movie in San Miguel, Bulacan. This beings were disturb and disrespected by the movie staffs so they took her life as punishment. When she died, they said, her body is as if still alive - still soft, warm, and sweaty.

Other say, there are lamang-lupas (Land monsters) in the place of filming which fell in love to her. And still, people say that her soul was now living with them in the woods of Mt. Manalmon.
On one account, Julie saw a bearded child many times in the temporary comfort room they built. They even made a sacrifice to appease the said being, and as respect to the place.

Another rumor has it that a Spanish ghost was fond of her, that's why this ghost took her life. During the time when she was to be buried, a spirit-questor claimed he saw Julie Vega's ghost floating over her coffin. She might be still alive at that same time.

There's another much scientific rumor, that she took a secret diet which lead her to death.

Another rumor blames the house they bought in 1982 using Julie's earnings. They started to get unlucky after purchasing it. A hundred days after the acquisition, her brother Jeffrey was stabbed to death inside a car.

After Julie was buried, it was said, that her song Somewhere in My Past was playing in her room while her parents were in their room.

Conclusion

She started to get ill after her high school graduation in 1985. She was complaining of extreme weakness and lack of sensation in her lower body. Her parents brought her to a private hospital for diagnosis and treatment. After that, she was diagnosed with a demyelinating disease. It is a disease where their is a loss of fatty covering myelin of nerve fiber. As she was getting worse, her parents transferred to Quezon Institute.

As she was confined there, she also got bronchopneumonia which make her condition worse.

Then she was transferred again to the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City on May 6, 1985, and she died at around 90 minutes later after her arrival at the hospital's intensive care unit. Her death is caused by Cardiac arrest secondary to Bronchopneumonia. Her death left Anna Liza incomplete.

That's what really killed her. However, I cannot say that the rumors about the engkanto is not true, because almost all people who knew her claims she died of engkanto curse. These creatures are unexplicable beings, and no one knows when they attack people.

Before she actually died, her family consulted a clairvoyant to know who killed Jeffrey. The clairvoyant asked them if they have a daughter. After saying yes, she warned them to take care of the child because she's about to die. Thus, Julie Vega's family realized the omen was true.

Sources:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Vega
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovingly_Yours,_Helen
http://philippinetales.weebly.com/5/post/2013/02/february-22nd-2013.html
http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8509

'Death Caused by Cellphone' Incident

When I was in the hospital, watching over by sick uncle, I heard some people talking about not using the cellphone in any hospitals because it may result to a temporary shutdown of equipments there. The other asked why, and she answered a story of a little girl who died because of this.

Now, we will be discussing this urban legend. Is it true that cellphones can cause hospital equipments to shutdown?

Mobile Phone

Before we go to the main story, let's first talk about mobile phones.

From the year 1998, when cellphones have antenna, 15 years later, we have now a touchscreen smartphones. I was surprised to know that.

My mother bought me my first cellphone when I was still an elementary pupil. I forgot the unit but it is a Nokia mobile phone. But before that, she gave me first a cellphone with antenna so I can practice with it, but I don't consider it my first phone instead I consider it just like a toy.

Anyway, Mobile phone (more commonly called Cellular phone or simple Cellphone) is a device that can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link while moving around a wide geographic area.[1] The much later versions of mobile phone can also make and receive messages from one mobile phone to another.

John F. Mitchell and Dr. Martin Cooper of Motorola demonstrated the first hand-held cell phone in 1973. In 1983, the first cellphone was introduced and made available commercially, and it was the DynaTAC 8000x. From year 1990 to 2011, cellphone users grew from 12.4 million to over 6 billion people worldwide.[1]

At first, cellphones are just an accessory thing for people but as time runs it became a necessity and everyone should have this.

According to United Nations, mobile phones have spread faster than any other technology. Phone can also improve the livelihood of the poorest people in developing countries by providing access to information in places where landlines or internet are not available.[1]

Mobile phones, like televisions and radios, also use radio waves or electromagnetic waves.

The Story

As the story goes, the liitle girl died just because the hospital machine went dead after when someone used a cellphone outside the Operation Room. I don't know if the story actually happened. The real question here is, do really cellphones cause this incident?

[Taken from Internet:[2]]

Good doctors, here is an email forward I just received, which I highly suspect is yet another medical urban legend . Is there any veracity to this account ? ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The next time you visit someone in the hospital, do look out for signs that say, NO PHONES ALLOWED. You might not realise what unfortunate things can happen to your negligence . Be compassionate on other lives. This story was told by one Houseman in a local hospital. One day, a 4 year-old girl was admitted due to leg fracture. As it was an open fracture, she had to undergo an operation to stitch the protruding bone back in place. Though it was quite a minor operation , still she was hooked onto a life support system , as it 's somehow part of the process. The doctors had to input some data prior to the operation to suite different conditions. Thereafter, the operation proceeded. Half way through the process , the life support system suddenly went dead. The culprit : some idiot was using his/her handyphone outside the Operation Theatre. And the frequency had affected the system. They tried to track the fellow but to no avail. The little girl, young and innocent as she was, died soon after. Sad to say, she was the only child, and her mother could never be able to conceive again! **************************** * Message : Be compassionate ! * **************************** Do not use your handphone at any hospital or places where you 're told not to use it. You might not be caught in the act, but you might have killed someone without knowing! Please pass this on to as many people as possible, as many are just not aware of the seriousness it can cause!

The Truth

I heard that cellphones should be put away of you whenever you are sleeping because the radio waves it emits may cause something in your brain. I don't know if it is true, but I follow it.

According to a study conducted by Mayo Clinic (published March 2007), calls made on cellular phones have no negative impact on hospital medical devices, dispelling the notion that they aren't safe to use near hospital facilities. Three hundred tests were performed over a five-month period in 2006 using two cellular phones, which used different technologies from different carriers and 192 medical devices. They found nothing.[3]

But according to Harvey B. Simon, M.D., though cellphones have no effect to medical devices, it can still interfere pacemakers. But only if the user holds the phone directly over the pacemaker rather over the ear (preferably on the side away from the pacemaker). Hospital also ban cell phones in intensive care units (ICU) because they might interfere with sensitive electronic monitoring devices.[4]

In a new Dutch study, according to CNN.com, all cell phones transmitting datas back and forth off should be kept at a minumum distance of three feet away from any medical equipment. The real cause is the electromagnetic interference. Researchers also found out that it can interfere with a variety of machines, including one, a mechanical ventilator or breathing machine, which switches on and off.[5]

Afterword

Maybe the best thing we should do when we're in a hospital is to avoid using it as soon as possible, especially near intensive care unit. Overall, the conclusion is, we can still use our cellphones but a bit farther away any medical devices.

The No Cellphone sign might not be an urban legend, but the story is, and I can't find any other versions of it, except the one in Snopes.com.

Sources:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone
[2] http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21837 | by: brownpau | June 13, 2000 09:54 AM
[3] http://www.gizmag.com/go/6979/
[4] http://healtyliving.msm.com/health-wellness/why-cant-i-use-my-cell-phone-in-the-hospital
[5] http://edition.cnn.com/HEALTH/blogs/paging.dr.gupta/2007/09/truth-about-no-cell-zones.html | Posted: Thursday, September 06, 2007 | The truth about 'no cell zones'
Image Source:
http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/how-to-unlock-cell-phone-1.jpg

Did he really do it ... or just an accident

I don't actually want to post this one here because the story is kinda sensitive, and somewhat provocative. However, people think this is an urban legend, so I thought, maybe, I should list this story here.

I don't know the whole truth behind the story, so I should be careful with my words. One thing is certain to me, it really did happen. What makes it questionable, is his statement when he was asked about the thing.

The Story

Jobert Sucaldito hospitalized after an accident with ... a cucumber? Showbiz talk show host Jobert Sucaldito is recovering at the Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City after a successful emergency surgery to remove a large piece of cucumber that got stuck in his rectum, according to reports. Sucaldito, one of the hosts of ABS-CBN's The Buzz, reportedly met with the accident Sunday night and was rushed to the hospital after complaining of extreme pain in his bottom. X-rays subsequently revealed that a broken piece of cucumber, about five inches in length, had gotten lodged into the lower end of his large intestine. It was not immediately clear how the cucumber got there. The surgeons who operated on Sucaldito were tight-lipped and refused to discuss his case with media, citing doctor-patient confidentiality. Oddly enough, they all looked like they were trying vainly to keep from laughing and refused to look reporters in the eye. Members of Sucaldito's household who declined to be named said they recovered the other half of the cucumber, also five inches in length, in Sucaldito's bedroom. They said it had bite marks and was in a soggy state. Besides the cucumber, they said they also found a bottle of Johnson's baby oil, pictures of scantily clad men, and lots of tissue paper.” Reached by phone, Sucaldito said he is fine and will be discharged from hospital soon. He explained that it was all an accident. Gumagawa kasi ako ng salad. Napaupo ako dun sa chair e meron palang pipino dun na patayo ang pusisyon. Basta, mabilis kasi ang mga pangyayari (I was making a salad. I sat on a chair but there was a cucumber there in an upright position. Everything just happened so fast), he said. In a related development, a group of vegan Filipinos is reportedly thinking of filing an abuse complaint against Sucaldito for allegedly molesting a harmless and defenseless vegetable. Source: Good Times Manila

Now that you have read the article above, its up to you if you will believe his statement ... or you know - guffaw?

Source:
http://es2pido.tumblr.com/post/606344574/jobert-sucaldito-hospitalized-after-accident-with

January 24, 1998 Aswang News in Caloocan City

Lung ailment, not aswang killed baby, says doc ASWANG, in the city? Not really. The Caloocan City police assured terrorized residents of Dagat-Dagatan yesterday that the area is not infested with aswang, the human flesh-eating creature of Philippine folklore. The statement came following reports that an old female aswang devoured a newborn baby boy residing in the area early Wednesday morning. Police investigators clarified that the immediate cause of the death of three-week-old Dave Nagawa is broncho-pneumonia, the inflammation of the lungs. Dave was found by her mother Leonor already stiff at around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday inside their house at Block 39, Lot 7, Sabalo Street, Kaunlaran Village, Dagat-Dagatan. Leonor, 21, said she could not explain why her baby's mouth and nose were oozing with blood. Lumps were also found in Dave's head, neck and left shoulder. "We were shocked; he [Dave] was a healthy baby. He did not even get sick from the day he was born," Leonor said. Her husband Edwin added that Leonor had even played with Dave the night before he died. "But when we woke up early [Wednesday] morning, he [Dave] was already stiff," he said. The baby's death remained a mystery because the couple has yet to receive the death certificates, inflaming the superstitious beliefs of the neighbors, most of whom hailed from the allegedly aswang-infested provinces in southern Philippines. But some' neighbors claimed having proof. A girl alleged seeing a fierce-looking old woman at the roof of the Nagawa's house during the early morning that Dave died. Reports quoted a certain Roselle Echano, nine, as describing the old woman as having very long hair, wrinkled skin and reddish, glowering eyes. These descriptions aptly fit the portrayal of the supernatural being in Philippine folklore. Moreover, when some neighbors scaled thereof, they reportedly discovered blood-stains that led to a small opening in the couple's room. "The aswang could have sucked the baby's blood," the neighbors said. Leonor herself recalled that their neighbors used to say during her pregnancy that an old woman was frequently seen on their roof every night. "But I did not buy it, I thought it was all hearsay," she said. Still, intense terror gripped the residents that barangay tanods kept watch the night after the incident occurred. So intense it failed to escape media attention. Too intense that city police chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao ordered his investigators to "verify" and present feedback on the incident. Investigators Senior Police Officer I Romeo Onte and Police Officer I Joel Aquino dug into the mystery only to find out that nothing mysterious surrounded the baby's death. The policemen discovered . that Dave di'ed.of naturals causes, particularly of broncho-pneumonia, as verified by' Caloocan City Medical Officer 4 Dr. Isidore Ayson. Ayson furthered that the lung disease caused the baby's bleeding. Aquino said the Nagawal couple also "verbally denounced" the reports, claiming that their son was not a victim of a "witch." Moreover, a certain Rodelia Echano, 14, the victim's neighbor and probably Roselle's sister, said that she saw not an old woman but a big cat on the roof of the couple at around 2 a.m. Wednesday. End of the story? Not quite. Some Dagat-Dagatan residents just refuse to bury the issue, claiming that there is indeed an aswang in the area. Not a few residents have been buying extra garlic, the alleged aswang repellent. Sharon Lansangan, 15, the victim's aunt, is sure that her nephew was killed by the aswang which lingered about on their roof. "Before Dave died, I heard noise on the roof. It could not be a cat or anything as it squeaked 'ik, ik, ik' [the "patented" sound of the aswang]," she said.

Source:
http://www.margarita-station.com/newsclippings/nc98_1a.html

Usog - Real? ... or Myth?

Is Usog real or just a myth?

We have finished discussing all about Bangungot and Pasma - their causes and effects, and the reality and fiction sides of those said folk diseases. Now, let's have another one. For me this is the second most mysterious, well after Lihi. My first impression on this, when this was introduced to me when I was still a kid, is GROSS. Puting saliva of a stranger in your stomach? No thanks. And how if you're the person causing usog to somebody else? Well, some people would insist you lick their stomach. Hahaha . . .

Introduction

I don't know if usog still exist to Filipinos. Well maybe to old-fashioned Filipinos, but to modern youngsters, they ignore and don't believe on it any more. I am not saying all of the kids today, but definitely most of them including me. My parents still talk about this, but only at this time that I have interest on it.

I asked my grandmother about it and she told me she still believe in usog. I asked her why people insist to be licked in their stomach. She answered me, Not always. You don't need to be licked, you just need their saliva. Just let them wet your stomach with it. Then I asked her again, what's about saliva? Well, the only thing she respond to me is, Ewan ko ... Sabi nila eh. (I don't know ... That's what others said.)

I'm still wondering who are those nila she was talking about. I think she was referring to those people who first told her about it.

Well, anyway, what is actually Usog?

Usog (others call it Balis and Hinsuokan) is an affliction that causes the affected person a headache, stomach pain, fever, convulsion and some more severe pains or disease. This is often discussed in Filipino Psychology. Usually, the victims of this are kids, but in some occasion adults. If an adult is still experiencing usog, it means that he or she is still a weak person (Usogin). The person who causes usog are said to be overpowering. Not all people can cause usog to somebody. Actually, there are only few people who (I think) has a power to do this, like an evil eye.

In folkloric explanation, there might be some mangkukulam (witch), who are looking badly at you, as if cursing you.

Usog may had been influenced by the Spanish mal de ojo.

Cure

When you ask somebody how to counteract usog, most of them would answer the use of saliva. Usually, they will tell you to Dilaan mo ako. (Lick me.) and/or Lawayan mo ako. (Put saliva on me.) to avoid usog to the child you greeted. While doing so, he/she should say Pwera usog ... or Pwera barang ....

If the person tells you to lick him, it doesn't mean to lick him in other parts of his body, but to his abdomen. The same place where you need to put the saliva. You just need to wet your finger with it, then rub it to him. In some cases, especially to babies, the finger is rubbed to his heel or sometimes in the forehead. In these two ways, rubbing finger wet with saliva is more used and preferrable.

Other ways on healing or preventing usog is by means of placing the clothing of the afflicted kid or adult in a hot water and then boiling it.

Scientific Explanation

One theory, explains usog in terms of child distress that leads to greater susceptibility to illness and diseases. There are observations that a stranger (or a newcomer or even a visiting relative) especially someone with a strong personality (physically big, boisterous, has strong smell, domineering, etc.) may easily distress a child. Thus, the child is said to be "overpowered" or nauusog and thus may feel afraid, develop fever, get sick, etc.[a]

In usog, the child's distress is the consequence of the child's failure to adapt to change. It is, in medical terms, the consequence of the disruption of homeostasis through physical or psychological stimuli brought about by the stranger. Technically, the condition results from the child-environment interaction that leads the child to perceive a painful discrepancy, real or imagined, between the demands of a situation on the one hand and their social, biological, or psychological resources on the other. The stressful stimuli to the child may be mental (stranger is perceived as a threat, malevolent or demanding), physiological (loud and/or high-pitched voice of the stranger that is hurting to the child's eardrum; strong smell of the stranger that irritates the child's nasal nerves), or physical (stranger has heavy hands or is taking up too much space).[a]

The stranger's act of gently placing his finger with his saliva to the child's arm, foot, or any particular part of the child's body, could make him more familiar to the child, and thus, reduce if not remove the stress. As the stranger keeps gently saying, "Pwera usog... pwera usog...," the child is made to feel and assured that he means no harm. The usog is said to be counteracted because the child is prevented from succumbing to an illness since the child is no longer in distress. Children or even adults who are shy or have weak personalities are more susceptible to usog in accordance with observations and theory. Some have observed that at times even praising a shy child by a visiting relative caused an usog.[a]

Source:
a. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usog

Pasma - Real? ... or Myth?

Is Pasma real or just a myth?

Lately, we had discussed everything about Bangungot - the causes and effects, and the reality and fiction sides of the said disease. Now, let's have Pasma in our discussion.

Introduction

My grandmother often advises me not to take a bath after doing something, especially if I'm soaked with my sweat. The only reason is, Baka pasmahin ka!. I don't know how to translate it properly in English. Maybe this, You'll get pasma!. There's no English word equivalent to that, if I'm not mistaken.

Actually, its not only my granny who diligently warns me about it, but also my aunts and uncles, and my parents. I am sure, its not only me who experienced this kind of cautionary. Perhaps, all of us Filipinos heard it.

Pasma is a Filipino word origintaing from Spanish term espasmo which means spasm. Spasm, according to my dictionary, is an involuntary sudden muscle contraction. That is very much different to Pasma. Like what I had said, there is no English word for this.

Pasma is a unique Filipino illness. It is mostly connected or brought by heat and cold. Its when a the body's muscles (kalamnan) are said to be "hot" and should not be too quickly brought into contact with "cold," in this case usually meaning cold water or air conditioner.[a]

Filipino albularyos enumerated many causes, symptoms, and effects of this disease. They also know how to avoid and treat it by their folk medicine. Medical experts don't recognize this as a disease even though there were reports of people who died of this.

Signs and Causes

People who are execising or working and get soaked with sweat are usually the one who acquires pasma.

A person is pasmado if he has a sweaty palms, and if his hands are shivering uncontrollably. Pasma can also affect eyes, they'll get blurry. That's when you take a bath after reading and/or facing a computer for a long time, or before sleeping while you're hair is still wet.

Aside from the traditional cause of "init" and "lamig," which is a traditional concept sufficiently intact in the contemporary Philippine psyche to be accepted, alone as a cause for pasma, some correlation has been noted with diseases already recognized by contemporary medicine. For example, symptoms of pasma are similar to those found in people with diabetes mellitus and thyroid dysfunction. It has also been suggested that the complaints are often neurological in nature and may be linked to some kind of nervous dysfunction.[a]

The Sweaty Hands, which is one of the signs that a person is pasmado, may be caused by Hyperhidrosis. It is a disorder in which a person had an excessive sweat on face, hands, feet and armpit no matter what the temperature is.

Folkloric treatments for Pasma include massages using ginger, coconut oil, alcohol, garlic, and camphor oil. Soaking in lukewarm salted water or rice water is believed to cure Pasma, as well is Pasmang-bituka, a daily salted decoctions of solasi (Holy basil).[a]

There are reports of people who died suddenly and some became mentally ill pointing the cause to pasma. Even though there more reliable explanation of these cases, Filipino still believe it was the main reason. These victims perhaps just had done something pasmatic, and encountered signs similar to pasma.

I had once a neighbor who suddenly became mentally ill. My granny told me what he did before becoming like that. She said, Masipag kasi ang taong iyon. Nagtatrabaho ng halos buong araw, tapos hindi sapat ang tulog. Isang gabi naligo raw iyon pagkauwi ng bahay. Kinabukasan, nagkaganoon na siya. (He was a hardworking man. He was working almost the whole day, and his sleep was not enough. One evening, he took a bath after arriving home. In the next day, he just became like that.)

Have you read my recent post here, about my neighbor who was suspected to be an aswang? Some people claimed he isn't, that he just died suddenly because of pasma.

Source:
a. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasma

Bangungot - Real? ... or Myth?

Dreaming is a part of our life. Every time we sleep, we often encounter peculiar images and feelings we cannot explain. Some may symbolize your personality, and physical and mental wants and needs; and some may show you your very fear. These might be situations and possible problems you don't want to occur, and things (living or non-living) you don't like most. Dreams are ambiguous. Till now, Psychologists are still solving and studying what are those things you see on it really mean and its importance in our lives.

Dreams mainly occur in the rapid-eye movement (REM) stage of sleep—when brain activity is high and resembles that of being awake. REM sleep is revealed by continuous movements of the eyes during sleep. At times, dreams may occur during other stages of sleep. However, these dreams tend to be much less vivid or memorable.

But how if these dreams are not likable? If they turned to something demonic and deathly? This kind of dream, in the Philippines, is Bangungot. The question here is -

Is Bangungot real or just a myth?

Let's have a short introduction about what is this bangungot.

Bangungot is a Filipino word for the English nightmare. It is also the word used by locals in naming the sudden death of persons while they are asleep. Whether you are healthy or not, you may be affected. Victims may have no complications or even any other signs of heart diseases. This medical condition acknowledged by experts is named as Sudden Unexpected (Unexplained/Unknown) Nocturnal Death Syndrome or SUNDS. Filipinos identify the causes of how a person undergoes in the said condition as well as ways on preventing and waking a person experiencing this. But actually until now, no one knows the causes of it which everyone should accept and believe.

The Filipino word Bangungot came from Bangon (which means to wake up or stand) and Ungol (which means to to moan).

Did you know that 43 out of 100,000 young Filipinos die because of Bangungot? Its a small ratio, but alarming.

I included it here because some Filipinos don't believe in Bangungot. Some would just accept it as an urban legend. Bangungot is true! However the causes that local Filipinos identify are a little incredible. Maybe that's the reason some don't believe on it.

Foreign Similarity

Actually, it is not endemic in the Philippines. Other Asian and European countries also know and recognize this. They even have their own names for this. There are differences comparing it from one country and another, but they have more similarities.

Thailand. They call it Lai tai. They believe that this disease may have cause in eating a food they called phi am, which means ghost of a widow. This ghost visits young men at night.

Vietnam. Tsob Tsuang is their name for bangungot.

Indonesia. Digeunton is their name for it.

Laos. Dab Tsog.

Japan. They name it as Pokkuri. There was a temple called Pokkuri-dera in Nara Prefecture. There, people do a ritual to wish for a pleasant death.

China. Bei gui ya is there name for it.

Hungary. Boszorkany-nyomas.

Netherlands. Nachtmerrie.

Nefoundland, Canada. They call the local Batibat as Old Hag.

Mythical Causes

There was this nature spirit dwelling in trees that punishes humans especially those people who cut the specific tree where she lives. It usually takes the form of an old, fat woman. This mythical creature I'm talking about is the Batibat of Ilocanos (more commonly known as the Bangungot).

She punishes people by means of sitting over them while sleeping in the wooden beds and/or benches made from the tree where she dwell. Of course the person will be suffocated, and if not prevented, the worst thing may happen, he will die. The only way to escape her is to wake the victim up. However, you cannot wake the person by just slapping their body or face. You need to press hardly the thumb toe of that person and, if necessary, shake it.

Another mythical creature blamed to cause this is the Engkantos, particularly the wicked engkantos. Reasons why they cause this sudden death while sleeping are: (1)they punish them; and (2)they fond the person. Yes! I do mean that if the engkanto fell in love with you, they will snatch your soul and never let you go any more. Thus causing your death. But this often happens to women, and bangungot usually occur to men.

Natural Causes

If a Filipino warn you not to eat to much at dinner or before you go to sleep, follow them. Acute Hemorrhagic pancreatitis is a disease caused by eating and drinking to much food and alcoholic beverage, especially beer, and this cause Bangungot. Some foods are avoided by locals like noodles and desserts. Eating Balut and drinking beer at the same time may also cause bangungot, as well as salty foods like bagoong and patis.

In Thailand and Laos, Brugada Syndrome causes Bangungot.

Famous Issues

Rico Yan died at 10:45 am of March 29, 2002. The true cause of his death was acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis, which causes Bangungot. But because he, at that time, was one of the most famous celebrity in the Philippines, his death created many rumors.

Marky Cielo, a newly discovered celeb, was also rumored that his death was caused by bangungot.



Some of these bangungot might actually caused by problems and worry (in short stress) that you still put in mind even you're about to sleep. So remember, before going to sleep, you need to set them aside and be relaxed. A warm milk may also help you.

For some ways on how to get rid of Bangungot, click here [1].

Source:
http://health.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Bangungot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudden_unexpected_death_syndrome

A Medical Center Mystery

Have you receive this message below?

About

"ICU patients always died in the same bed on Sundays at 11 a.m., regardless of their medical condition. This puzzled the doctors. No one could solve the mystery. Mr. Licauco and the Ateneo paranormal folks were called. They arrived armed with special photographic equipment, infrared devices and motion sensitive radar to detect any presence, so on Sunday, a few minutes before 11 a.m., doctors and nurses nervously waited outside the ward to know what the mystery was all about. Some were holding wooden crosses and prayer books to ward off evil spirits. "When the clock struck 11, Mang Jose, a part-time Sunday janitor, entered the room, unplugged the life support system and plugged in the vacuum cleaner."

Me? Yes. That's the reason why I searched some details that can support the text message I received. Actually I got it a long time ago, and it was only now that I read it again.

According to the message, every patient dies in ICU every 11 AM, Sunday, whatever reason death may cause.

It mentioned a doctor named Dr. Licauco, perhaps his full name is Jaime T. Licauco. He is a paranormal expert (a parapsychologist), President of Philippine Paranormal Research Society, Inc., and a columnist in Inquirer Lifestyle. Other than that, I knew nothing about him. It also mentioned together with Mr. Licauco, the Ateneo paranormal folks. I don't know about them.

I found an article in a News website in the Philippines. He also received the same message, and searched everything about it.

News

I RECENTLY got a text message titled ?Mystery at a Medical Center? from a well known ophthalmologist. The message read: ICU patients always died in the same bed on Sundays at 11 a.m., regardless of their medical condition. This puzzled the doctors. No one could solve the mystery. Mr. Licauco and the Ateneo paranormal folks were called. They arrived armed with special photographic equipment, infrared devices and motion sensitive radar to detect any presence, so on Sunday, a few minutes before 11 a.m., doctors and nurses nervously waited outside the ward to know what the mystery was all about. Some were holding wooden crosses and prayer books to ward off evil spirits. When the clock struck 11, Mang Jose, a part-time Sunday janitor, entered the room, unplugged the life support system and plugged in the vacuum cleaner. I replied to the female ophthalmologist who had sent me the text, ?I didn?t know that story is still being circulated around.? I explained to her that the joke first appeared on the Internet maybe five years ago in the US. It carried names of well-known American parapsychologists. Somebody had forwarded to me a copy of that Internet joke. Soon it was used by compilers of a bestselling series of pamphlets on ?True Philippine Ghost Stories.? But they changed the name of the American hospital to Makati Medical Center and the names of the parapsychologists to sometimes Jaime Bulatao or Tony Perez and the spirit questors and myself. I thought the story had died a natural death. But many years later, I found out it is still very much alive, this time in text jokes. I am simply amused by such stories and hope people see the obvious jest. Strangers But urban legends apparently die hard. And some have been going on about me without my knowledge. I am usually the last to know. For example, I bumped into a group of strangers coming out of a Greenbelt restaurant years ago. One of them recognized me and greeted. ?Do you remember me?? he asked. I apologized and said, ?No I?m sorry, but I don?t.? He then told me he could not forget meeting me in a restaurant three months before former Sen. Ninoy Aquino came back to the Philippines. He said that I told him and six other people that if Ninoy came back to the Philippines, he would be assassinated. I said that? I asked incredulously. Yes, he emphatically replied. There were six of us who heard you say that. ?I?m sorry.? I told him. ?I don?t remember having said that.? And then I walked away from them. I learned from my son Jolan Alexander, now a businessman, that he had been told the story on two separate occasions that I once hit a baseball so hard it flew high up in the sky and was never recovered. When Jolan told me about that, I merely laughed because I have never played baseball, not even in my dreams! Relieved Here?s another recent example which took place only months ago. I went to a medical doctor who was a practitioner of holistic medicine and Chinese acupuncture. There was a female patient in the treatment room. When we were introduced, she said she knew me; we were neighbors in same office building in Makati. She said she was then scheduled for operation for cancer and I supposedly told her not to undergo the operation because she didn?t need it. Because of my advice. she said she didn?t undergo the operation. ?And what happened?? I nervously asked. ?You were right!? she replied. ?It turned out I didn?t need the operation after all.? I was relieved but at the same time puzzled because I would never tell anyone, specially someone I hardly know, not to undergo a medical surgery. I don?t remember that incident at all. But she was very sure that conversation took place in that building. Maybe that was another urban legend that has developed around my persona or character. I?ve been told that some people say I can read minds, tell the future, heal the sick and talk to the dead. If I could do all those things, I probably would have a long line of people waiting outside my door. I don?t know how many others are being circulated that I am not aware of.

Source:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/wellness/wellness/view/20101123-304720/Urban-legends-die-hard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaime_Licauco

Adrian Caballes

I don't know who this 15-year-old boy student of a school abbreviated as BHNS. And I don't know if he's real or not. However, the two messages below show sign of incredibility.

Story

[Taken from a Social Networking Site:]

... paki copy nlang sa mga cp nyo lalo na sa mga tga pinas, kah8 sa ganit0ng paraan lng maka2l0ng tau kah8 k0nte Fr0m.09077537362 SAVIORS HOSPITAL OF PAKIL LAGUNA. please help by sending this message to as many as u can. A 15 years old boy ADRIAN CABALLES former student of BNHS is in crititacal stage suffering frm MEGACOLON TOXIC. His family needs 4M For the Bowel resecti0n. all networks agreed to give P1.00 for each msg. pls 4ward at least 15 people i hope that u are a kind hearted pers0n Tenkyu this msg is m0nit0red pls help!KUNG UNLI NAMAN KAU D0NT BE SELFIS GOD BLESS ... Will you copy this on your cp (cellphone) especially to those people living in the Philippines? Just for this way, we can help other people, even a little. From: 09077537362 SAVIORS HOSPITAL OF PAKIL LAGUNA. Please help by sending this message to as many as you can. A 15 years old boy ADRIAN CABALLES former student of BNHS is in crititacal stage suffering from MEGACOLON TOXIC. His family needs four million for the Bowel Resection. All networks agreed to give P1.00 for each message. Pls. forward (to) at least 15 people. I hope that you are a kind-hearted person. Thank you! This message is monitored. Please help! If you're (text) unlimited, don't be selfish.

[Taken from a Text Message:]

GENERAL HOSPITAL OF BATAAN - Please help by sending this message to as many as you can. 15-year-old BOY, ADRIAN CABALLES, former Student of BNHS, is in a critical stage, suffering from MEGACOLON TOXIC . His family needs 4M (4 Million) for the BOWEL RESECTION. All networks agreed to give P1.00 for each message. PLS. forward to atleast 15 people. I hope that you are a kind-hearted person. TNX! This message is monitored. PLS. Help! If you're (text) unlimited, don't be selfish. God Bless you!

The first message, actually from Facebook.com, tells that the boy was confined in SAVIORS HOSPITAL OF PAKIL LAGUNA, while the second one is GENERAL HOSPITAL OF BATAAN. If this is true, then what was really the hospital where he could be found? Other than that, the two tells about similar individual with the same disease, with alike school and age. However, there are too many BNHS school in the Philippines.

Balayan National High School - Balayan, Batangas

Balibago National High School - Barangay Balibago, Santa Rosa City, Laguna

Bacoor National High School - Bacoor City, Cavite

Bataan National High School - Bataan

And many more....

Sources:
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=297936936936882&story_fbid=318317231565519

Dirt in McDonald's Foods

Urban Legends are not only based on false stories with full of exaggeration, but some of them came from real ones, though added with almost incredible information. Legends like this can be true, in the other hand, it was not absolutely real. However, it was normal for fast-food restaurants to cook incorrectly or accidentally serve a reject dish.

I remember the rumored stories about the Bulate Burger (Earthworm Burger). It was absolutely unreal. What I mean to say is, every restaurants may experience similar faults. How hard they try to avoid flaws, they may still done the same.

Stories

[Taken from Internet:]

CASE: RAT POOP IN McCHICKEN PLACE: McDONALDS GLORIETTA Date: Fri Sep 29, 2000 1:47am Subject: BEWARE OF McDONALD'S - GLORIETTA BRANCH! Friends, I send you this message to warn you of the danger of eating in fastfood restaurants especially in McDonald's Glorietta Branch. My wife was food poisoned last Sunday, September 10, 2000 after eating a piece of McDo chicken with feces ("TAE") of rodents on it. It was a good thing that my 6-year old daughter was not poisoned after taking one little bite of the McDo chicken. On the said date, my wife, my daughter and an in-law visited the McDonald's outlet of Glorietta and ordered McDo chicken among other things. After taking a few bites of the McDo chicken, my wife noticed a foul and disgusting taste. She spat out the morsel of McDo chicken from her mouth and checked the food and noticed black objects, which she thought was "tae ng ipis" but we later discovered as "tae ng daga". Since she already has ingested a few bits of the chicken, she felt dizzy and started to vomit. A service crew approached my wife only after repeated calls and only after my wife's sister-in-law raised her voice. The McDo chicken was quickly whisked away from their table and thereafter, a certain Ms. Edna Resurreccion, who introduced herself as the Assistant Branch Manager, came and unbelievably offered to replace the food my wife ordered without even asking about her condition. Worse, the service crew formed a "human barricade" by surrounding their table, perhaps to prevent other customers from hearing my wife's complaint. Since my wife's vomiting seemed to be uncontrollable, she rushed to Makati Medical Center (MMC) through her own initiative. No one from the McDonald's store bothered to accompany my wife to the hospital. Ms. Resurreccion was kind enough to follow only after I informed her that my wife is in MMC. Worst, my wife made the payments for all the medical tests, medicines and check-up through her health card. A few days after the incident, Mr. Christopher "Chic-Chic" Perez, McDonald' s Operations Consultant asked to meet my wife. Though Mr. Perez is a cousin of my wife, he did not make a dent on my wife's disgust and disappointment with the way McDonald's handled the incident. However, a positive aspect we got during the meeting with Mr. Perez was the admission of a leak in McDonald's ? Glorietta Branch's food storage area that may have been the source of the intrusion of elements. Mr. Perez has repeatedly assured my wife that they are doing something to close up the leak. How unfortunate though that my wife has been diagnosed to have contracted TYPHOID FEVER and is now suspected to have LEPTOSPIROSIS (a sickness that may lead to death if left untreated). Results of the current medical tests will be known in a few days. It is my hope that she won't come out positive of leptospirosis. My wife has not reported for work for the past 14 days due to high fever, severe headache, weakness, intermittent chills and diarrhea. We have demanded a written apology from the Management of McDonald's Restaurant but we have not received any up to this time. It pains me and my wife to realize what had happened. We have a hard time explaining the incident to my daughter, who is, by the way, "used" to be a Ronald McDonald fan. PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS THING HAPPEN TO YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES. SEND THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS SO THEY MAY THINK TWICE BEFORE ENTERING A McDONALD'S RESTAURANT.

CASE: MOLDS IN A HAMBURGER BUN PLACE: McDONALDS INTRAMUROS I am Bill Householder, an American living in the Philippines for more than a year now, married to a Filipina wife, the former Doddie Pacion. Last July 19,2000, my wife and I ate lunch at McDonald's-Intramuros near Colegio de San Letran. Doddie was five and half months pregnant at that time and was very hungry. She noticed a funny taste in her Big Mac burger and by the time she found out why it was so, it was too late. Imagine my wife's horror and dismay when she found out the remaining one-fourth of her Big Mac burger had black and blue-green molds on the underside of the hamburger bun. We complained to the management of the store and they refunded only her meal. They only were only going to go that far had I not insisted of getting the store manager's name in case my wife got sick. She did. Later that night, Doddie was throwing up severely and had to go to her OB doctor the next day. It was severe food poisoning due to black & blue molds. She was hospitalized for 3 days, the food poisoning triggered preterm labor and she nearly lost the baby and could have lost her life as well. My wife had to stop working because of the 2 months bed rest ordered by her OB-Gyne. McDonald's paid for the hospital bill and related medical expenses of my wife. For compensation of her loss of income, pain, suffering and the chance of having a baby with gastrointestinal disorders, McDonald's refuses to compensate what is due to my wife and baby. They even refused to admit fault, in their letters and conversations to us, with regards to the moldy bun causing her food poisoning. I can't believe McDonald's corporate doctors even went as far as to flatly deny my wife having preterm labor ignoring the medical certificate issued by her doctor and the hospital. Doddie is still taking Duvadilan to control her preterm labor. What my wife went through was atrocious. The emotional turmoil alone was so grievous I find it hard to write of it even now. The heartache of almost losing our FIRST baby drove the both of us to tears many times. Not even mentioning the severe physical pain she has had to endure due to the preterm labor. Their Mktg. & PR Manager, Mr. Jojo Samson, offered only about P20,000.00 as compensation to my wife and the baby. His reason for such a measly amount? "It comes from our PR & Mktg. budget which does not amount to much", he said. Mr. Samson even casually mentioned that if we go to court, he can easily "bury" our story from the Philippine media. We filed a criminal case against McDonald's with the Manila Trial Court and legal proceedings begin this October 12, 2000. We didn't want to go to this but we are forced to these measures. We expected more honesty and honor from a company who claim to uphold quality, service and customer satisfaction as stated in their People Promise principles. We recently received a lot of emails regarding the McDonald's Glorietta incident and found out there was another case involving that same store in that mall where a guy has DIED of food poisoning last November 1999. We are outrage by this lack of sympathy, callousness and disregard of human life by McDonald's. Please pray for my wife, our baby, the wife of Mr. Jonathan Herbolario and the soul of the poor guy who left a wife and two young daughters. Pray that justice is served to all of us. Sincerely, Bill Householder

Source:
http://timothy2170.multiply.com/journal/item/93

The Woman with a Lump in her Tongue

Story

[Taken from [1]:]

A woman was working in a post office. She was supposed to use a sponge to seal the envelopes but one day she didn't. She used her tongue instead. Days after , she noticed that her tongue had a strange lump in it. It got so big that she was having a hard time eating or talking. That was when she decided to see a doctor. He cut open the lump and a live roach crawled out! Turns out, there were roach eggs on the envelope flap and they hatched in her tongue!

Foreign Counterpart

Actually, this urban legend originated from U.S.A.

[Taken from [2]:]

A California woman who worked in a post office decided one day that she would lick some envelopes instead of using a moist sponge for that purpose. In the process, she accidentally cut her tongue. Later, she noticed a swelling in her tongue, but a doctor could not find anything wrong. It finally got so bad that she was having trouble eating, so she want back to the doctor. He did some tests, found a lump on her tongue, and did surgery. During the surgery, he cut open the lump and a live cockroach crawled out. It was determined that she got cockroach eggs in her tongue from the envelope that caused the cut and they incubated there. A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet: If you lick your envelopes...You won't anymore!!!! A woman was working in a post office in California, one day she licked the envelopes and postage stamps instead of using a sponge. That very day the lady cut her tongue on the envelope. A week later, she noticed an abnormal swelling of her tongue. She went to the doctor, and they found nothing wrong. Her tongue was not sore or anything. A couple of days later, her tongue started to swell more, and it began to get really sore, so sore, that she could not eat. She went back to the hospital, and demanded something be done. The doctor, took an x-ray of her tongue, and noticed a lump. He prepared her for minor surgery. When the doctor cut her tongue open, a live roach crawled out. There were roach eggs on the seal of the envelope. The egg was able to hatch inside of her tongue, because of her saliva. It was warm and moist. This is a true story reported on CNN. Andy Hume wrote: "Hey, I used to work in an envelope factory. You wouldn't believe the..... things that float around in those gum applicator trays. I haven't licked an envelope for years."

That's the whole story of this legend.

Sources:
[1]http://spoonlagoon.blogspot.com/2008/09/pinoy-urban-legends-10.html
[2]http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/e/enveloperoaches.htm

Sigbins are the cure for AIDS

About

The Sigbin is a mythical creature that's more popular in Visayas and Mindanao. Old folks say that the sigbin walks backwards with its head tucked between its hind legs and that it "resembles a hornless goat, emits a very nauseating smell and possess a pair of very large ears which are capable of clapping like a pair of hands." They also say that it ventures out of its lair during Holy Week in order to "look for children that it will kill for the heart, which is made into an amulet." For some reason, the story about it being the cure for AIDS spread like wildfire in the late 1990s even if nobody really knew what a sigbin looked like. Some drawings actually make it look like a kangaroo.

Story

Rich government officials in Mindanao who lived in mansions or large estates were believed to be raising sigbins. They were accused of being too greedy to share the wealth with the people. The blood of the sigbin, its meat, or its oil was supposed to cure AIDS within seconds.

Fact

There are no words to explain just how ridiculous this story sounds and the fact that many people actually went sigbin hunting. Many hapless people who wanted to make a fortune by catching the animal that would cure AIDS were said to have been shown pictures of albino animals that the con men passed off as genuine sigbins. Many of those who wanted to try their luck at sigbin hunting were asked to pay a fee for the privilege of being part of the sigbin hunting group.

Sources:

http://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/41192/urban-legends-that-drove-pinoys-crazy

AIDS patient injects Movie-goers & Shoppers with his blood

Claim:

Movie-goers and mall shoppers were injected with syringes containing infected blood of AIDS/HIV.

Legend:

There was a story about a guy carrying a syringe full of AIDS/HIV positive blood, roaming around and injecting moviegoers at SM Megamall. The story broke out sometime in the 1990s. There were those who claimed to have heard stories from people who knew one of the guy's victims.

A person will sit beside someone who is alone, then prick a needle on him/her, then leaves a morbid note like, "Welcome to my world!" or "Congratulations, you're one of us."

In the case of the shoppers (not moviegoers), they will simply stand or sit beside you, then they'll inject you with their infected syringe or needle. After that, they will just run away living the words, "Happy living".

Variations:

- In some stories, the guy was said to be wearing a baseball cap or a hooded jacket.
- Some people also said that the guy would let out a maniacal laugh each time he injected a victim. The guy seemed to "melt into the shadows" since nobody reported seeing him running or headed anywhere.
- Instead of a syringe, they said, he's using a needle.
- Another version said, this guy injects HIV positive blood on Ketchup dispensers in fast-food chains.
- Yet, there's another story from which this legend originated:

---

A woman (an employee of SM) who was infected by an HIV. After being fired by Mr. Henry Sy, she took revenge. She sit/stand beside SM shopper, then injects a needle from her body. Sometimes, she left some of the needles in the seats in SM cinemas for whoever will sit on it will also be infected. Other story claims it was a disgruntled man, not a woman.

Facts:

Anti-Megamall groups probably got together and decided to infect it with this story, which, by the way, isn't original. It turns out that this story has an international scope.

Sources:

http://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/41192/urban-legends-that-drove-pinoys-crazy
MC DUANE's PAGE PRESENTS: Philippine Urban Legends by: Michael Caleda a.k.a. MIKERAPPHONE of Mikerapphone Chronicles.[1]

Cortal plus Coke is equal to Abortion

To start the article, let's first define what an abortion is. Abortion is a term used to refer to an operation or other intervention to end a pregnancy by removing an embryo or fetus from the womb at too early a stage in its development for it to survive. It is the technical name for miscarriage or involuntary expulsion of fetus from the womb.

When women got pregnant in the wrong time, usually they attempt doing things which they thought could prevent or remove the embryo developing in their womb. Teenagers, girls who were molested, some prostitutes, and ordinary woman who just got pregnant - they are the common people who do abortion. Well, they have their own reason of losing a sprouting life. We all know (or some of us know) that abortion can be dangerous and may cause death sometimes.

Here in the Philippines, law-makers are still in debate of passing the Reproductive Health Bill. One aim of the said law is to protect women from the danger side of pregnancy. In addition, for me, the law may also help couples in managing themselves for planning and preventing the occurrence of pregnancy. Thus, misleading informations such as the subject of this article, can be wiped out because some of them may cause hazard in the part of the woman.

Cortal and Coke

Cortal is a brand of aspirin. So to elaborate the medical use of cortal, let's have the aspirin.

An Aspirin is a salicylate drug, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains, as an antipyretic to reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory medication. It has an antiplatelet effect by inhibiting the production of thromboxane, which under normal circumstances binds platelet molecules together to create a patch over damaged walls of blood vessels. Because the platelet patch can become too large and also block blood flow, locally and downstream, aspirin is also used long-term, at low doses, to help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and blood clot formation in people at high risk of developing blood clots.[1] In other words, aspirin can make the blood diluted, and prevents blood from clotting.

Coca-cola (simply Coke) is a product of Coca-Cola Company, invented by Colonel John Pemberton. It is a soft drink containing carbonated water, sugar (particularly sucrose or fructose), caffeine, phosphoric acid, caramel color, cocaine-free coca leaf extract and natural flavorings.[2]

Story

Note: The pronoun words referring to the speaker (such as I, me and my) are not the author of this article himself. The story was summarized and some words were changed to generic words to protect some specific places or individuals.

A friend of a friend of mine told me a story of a girl who was troubled of learning that she was pregnant. She was studying in a popular school in the capital-city. She was living by her own self in a dormitory. She told her boyfriend about her state, but like some other boys, he didn't accept the responsibility. Instead, he advised her to get rid of the child. She was pissed off, but her boyfriend is right. Her parents will get angry if they will learn she was pregnant. So she tried to get some self-medication. Her friends told her to take three tablets of cortal and wash it with coke. Later, she felt dizzy and blood oozed to her legs. Her dormmates rushed her to the emergency room of a hospital. The doctor pronounced miscarriage.

Variations:

The story is kinda consistent in details, but the end of it varies. Some story suggest that the girl was pronounced dead on arrival while the others tell a happily ever after.

There are other stories that even tells how many tablets are taken. Some took 20 tablets of cortal, others 3, 6 and 8 tablets. Others just mention of an aspirin, not the brand Cortal itself.

About the drink, some tells coke, others 7-up, and even the other carbonated drinks. Other story didn't even mention coke, instead just a water with 20 cortal tablets.

Effects to Pregnancy

CAFFEINE

Caffeine can ordinarily be found in coffee, tea, soda, and some energy drink. It can also be used as an ingredient of some medicines and painkillers. Caffeine is a stimulant, and it may decrease blood flow and constrict vessels, which theoretically could harm a baby. However, there's no evidence that this can happen.[3]

You can take caffeine, but moderately. The recommended limit of caffeine during pregnancy is 200 milligrams (mg) a day. So with a typical soda (like coke) containing 35 to 55 mg of caffeine, it's wise to limit yourself. But take note, it's not only the soda which can contribute caffeine intake, but also some other medicines and drinks.[3]

COCAINE

Cocaine can be found in coca plants. It is a crystalline tropane alkaloid. It is used for some medicine.

Women using cocaine while pregnant can affect her and her unborn baby in many ways. During the early months of pregnancy, it may increase the risk of miscarriage. When the drug is used late in pregnancy, it may trigger premature labor. It also may cause an unborn baby to die or to have a stroke, which can result in irreversible brain damage.[4]

Sodas like coke contains cocaine too, but the Coca-cola Company uses cocaine-free coca leaf, which means coke is safe for pregnant woman.

ASPIRIN and IBUPROFEN

Aspirin and Ibuprofen is not recommended as a pain killer during pregnancy. Like what I said before, aspirin may prevent blood from clotting.

Intaking aspirin and ibuprofen during pregnancy, especially after 32 weeks, can contribute to maternal and fetal bleeding. They can also cause the premature closure of a vessel in a baby's heart, which can lead to high blood pressure in the baby's lungs (pulmonary hypertension), and prolong labor.[5]

But in some cases, like treating a medical condition of a pregnant woman, low-dose aspirin therapy is sometimes prescribed. In an anti-phospholipid syndrome in a pregnant woman, low-dose aspirin is taken in addition with heparin.[6]

To make everything short, aspirin, as well as ibuprofen, is not safe if you are pregnant unless your health provider prescribed you to intake a low-dosed of it.

Afterword

Actually, there are other people who claimed that their friend really did the combination, making them credible sources of real-life story. Their stories even create a possibility of effectiveness. But I don't want to gamble my reputation just by saying that these things can induce miscarriage or not.

I'm telling you, BE CAREFUL, and much more useful advice DON'T PUT YOUR LIFE AT RISK. I know it's hard to be pregnant in the wrong time, but what's harder is if you die, if your baby don't want to get loose, and you gave birth to him/her with incomplete body parts and development. Conscience will definitely plague you very much.

Don't be afraid of being pregnant. You have sex with somebody and you mean it. Well, except if you were raped. Remember GOD . . .

If your parents can't accept you because you're pregnant, as well as your boyfriend, it's not the end of the world. You still have your friends, and non-government organizations who took care of pregnant girls without husbands or anything or anyone else with them.

As Filipinos say:

NASA HULI ANG PAGSISISI.
Remorse is in the end.

Last updated: November 25, 2013

Sources:
[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspirin
[2]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Cola
[3]http://www.babycenter.com/406_is-it-safe-to-drink-caffeinated-sodas-when-im-pregnant_1246871.bc
[4]http://www.tgorski.com/Prevention/cocaine_use_during_pregnancy.htm
[5]http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aspirin-during-pregnancy/AN01897
[6]http://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-safe-to-take-aspirin-during-pregnancy_1357403.bc
http://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/41192/urban-legends-that-drove-pinoys-crazy