‘A good teacher has high hopes for her students’

‘A good teacher has high hopes for her students’ By ANA VALENZUELA Photography by EDMUNDO SANTIAGO Published MOD May 2011 DEALING with kids, those screaming little tykes running around and refusing to give in to their whim, can be tough. Imagine doing so with children with special needs every single day. Michelle Arriola happily experiences just that. A Filipina born in the United States, Michelle is a teacher at Cardenas School in Chicago. The school is located in the Mexican-American community known as Little Village. Michelle took up Early Child Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

“I wanted to be a teacher because I love helping children learn and fulfill their dreams,” she says. Michelle plans to take up her Master’s degree in Education and English as a Second Language (ESL). “English is the second language of most of my students. I want to learn more about how to teach English Language Learners (ELLs) so I can meet my students’ needs.” That will be in the coming school year. Meanwhile, Michelle is enjoying her summer vacation in Manila with her relatives. She shares with MOD her insights on education and the challenges of teaching. Different levels of learning. “I teach children with special needs—those with Autism, Down syndrome, developmental delays, speech delays, cognitive delays, learning disabilities, and a lot of different kinds of disabilities—in preschool and kindergarten. Teaching kids with special needs is different from teaching kids who are typically developing because they are at different levels, mentally. I might have a three-year-old, but mentally, he is nine-month-old. So I need to make a lesson plan that he would be able to understand. In my classroom there are also children who are non-verbal. They have no speech at all. These students are most likely the ones to be screaming, crying, and having a tantrum because they are frustrated that they cannot express what they want or what they need.” Help them learn. “There are kids with Autism who need to follow an exclusive schedule. A regular teacher won’t be able to do that, because she has 25 other kids to worry about. I’m lucky I have a small classroom. I only attend to 10 students in the morning and 10 students in the afternoon. I think that’s helpful in their learning, too. I’m also fortunate to have two aides in my classroom to help me.” Know what is important. “My parents raised me to believe that education is important. I want to teach kids, and teach them that learning, being educated, and going to school are really important.” Patience is a virtue. “A good teacher is someone who is patient with the children. She teaches to the best of the abilities of the kids. If a kid is a visual learner or an auditory learner, the teacher will adjust for that student. I think a good teacher tries to understand the student, where he comes from. Most of all, a good teacher has high hopes for her students.” Magic moments. “Teachers aren’t supposed to have favorites. I have a bond with all my students, and I would say that I have favorite moments with each of them. For example, one of my students just learned how to write his first and last name on his own. Another student learned to sing the ABC. Those are two different things, but they are both favorite moments.” Rewards plus. “The most rewarding thing about being a teacher is seeing the kids grow, learn, and understand the concepts that I am teaching them.” Do your best. “I hope that my students will be able to go the next grade, learning the best that they can. I try to teach the basics—colors, shapes, and letters, spell their names. I just want them to know that they can try their best.” Kids as teachers. “I have learned from the kids that every day is different, and to look at challenges as something that can be overcome. Most important, they taught me to have fun.”

Double-Check Your Daily Regimen

Double-Check Your Daily Regimen
By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA

Published MOD April 2011

Cleanse, tone, moisturize. Brush your teeth daily, three times a day. We all know these beauty and personal care daily drills. We all do them. But are you doing them right? Sometimes, you might be bothered by an irritating pimple growing, or a toothache. If you’re confident that you are taking care of yourself, check again. There might be something wrong with your daily regimen.
We asked two experts, Dr. Mia Nuqui of Dermaline Facial and Skin Care Center and Dr. Cherrie Anne Cruz of Metrodental, on the proper ways of taking care of yourself.

Skin Care Wash machine. According to Dr. Nuqui, your daily facial skin care regimen should depend on your skin type. There are four skin types—oily, normal, dry, and combination—which means you have an oily T-zone, while the other parts of your face are dry. She says, “For normal skin, washing with soap and water is usually enough. For oily skin, a toner or astringent might help minimize the oil. If you have dry skin, use a moisturizer.” Product adjustments. Says Dr. Nuqui, “It is just basic soap and water or facial cleanser adjusting to your skin type. Cleanse, tone, and moisturize is the usual regimen. Most Filipinos have combination skin.There are areas that you need to moisturize and tone down. You may adjust the product you use depending on your skin type. The usual is the cream-based moisturizer and gel-based and water-based moisturizers. If you are on the oily side, opt for the water-based moisturizer which is not as heavy.” Show off your back. A common skin problem is also the acne on the back and the chest. Doctor Nuqui says not to worry as it’s most commonly seen in teenagers and those in their early 20s. “Some say it’s because of the shampoo that has not been properly washed off, but it is all hormonal,” she adds. “You can’t really prevent it, but it can be managed through back cleaning and applications to dry up the pimples.” She said it is best to avoid stress and to get more sleep to beat acne. Real peel. Our skin has natural exfoliation every two weeks. There may be times, though, that dead skin cells would not peel off. On the use of exfoliating products, Doctor Nuqui says, “Basically, if you have normal skin, you may use exfoliation two to three times a week. If you have oily skin, you may have more than that. If you have dry skin, it would strip off more oil, which would make it more prone to skin problems.” Ban the sun. Doctor Nuqui stresses the importance of sunblock, not only when swimming or going to the beach, but in your daily skin care. She says, “You really need sunblock. When you have it, it prevents a lot of skin problems, and helps diminish skin aging and photo aging. Your skin will really age—it has natural aging. But when it is constantly exposed to the sun, mas bumibilis because of photo aging.” Hair care Wet look. For clean, smooth hair, cleansing and moisturization are of utmost importance. Doctor Nuqui advises the use of mild shampoo, and conditioner if you have dry hair. She adds, “It’s not advisable to repeat shampoo because after a while, there would be build-up. So from time to time, return to baby shampoo and scalp-cleansing shampoo.” Bye bye, dandruff. Dandruff has no known cause. Some say it’s because of growth of yeast or irritation on scalp, while some say it’s because of stress. To prevent dandruff, Doctor Nuqui says, “Avoid getting too sweaty and using the wrong shampoo. The wrong shampoo is breeding ground for yeast, as some say, although this is really not the main cause of dandruff.” Dental Care Smile like you mean it. How do you get those pearly whites? There’s neither a preferred toothbrush nor toothpaste, but there’s a proper way of brushing. Says Dr. Cruz, “It is not the number of times you brush. If you brush your teeth for fives times, but it’s not the proper way—quick brushing, and not up and down motion and not reaching the gums—then it is useless. You always brush up and down or in circular motion, sa labas, then you go sideways sa loob, normally for three to five minutes. Then you have to have your toothbrush changed every three to five months.” There will be blood. Dr. Cruz says there’s an adverse effect of overbrushing. If you brush sideways or too vigorously, your gums tend to shrink. There would be a recession, which leads to sensitivity. Don’t be scared at the sight of blood. Bleeding is an indication that you have healthy gums. But profuse bleeding because of improper brushing is a different story. Floss and rinse. Apart fom brushing, there are other ways to clean your teeth. Dr. Cruz says mouthwashes and rinses are okay, but they are more of mouth flavoring and they have an antibacterial effect, although it’s not that potent. “Flossing helps because it removes all the plaque and debris in between teeth or what we call interproximal spaces or those areas that cannot be reached by toothbrush,” she adds. “Floss at least once a day, even at night.” The dental chair. Go for dental checkups twice a year or every six months. Dr. Cruz recommends a visit to your dentist not just for cleaning but for checkup. “There are some patients who neglect to see the dentist every six months. You may not know it—especially when you don’t feel pain—but there could be a cyst growing inside your mouth. Have your dentist check whether you have cavities, gum diseases, and infections,” she says. Dermaline Facial and Skin Care Center is located at EDSA Greenfield Pavillon, Guadalupe, Magallanes, Tutuban, and Araneta Cubao. Metrodental is located at Robinsons Manila.

‘Half of My Body Was Paralyzed’

‘Half of My Body Was Paralyzed’
By Dina Bonnee
As told to ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA
Published March 2011

LATE 2009, I woke up one evening with my right side paralyzed I could not move. I tried to use my left hand, picked up my cell phone, and called my son-in-law Marc. I said, “Marc, you just rush here. You take me to the hospital, I don’t know what is happening. I can’t move.”

Marc brought me to the emergency room. I was diagnosed of suffering a mild stroke. Half of my body was paralyzed. Doctors recommended that I stay in the hospital.
I told them, “Ayoko ng ospital.”

Once you’re in the hospital, they will say you’re sick. I can’t be sick. Come on, I am a health nut and have been endorsing wellness products.

Then I realized, I was loaded not only with work but with other things. I didn’t have any sleep, I overworked myself, I was going through the worst time of my life—coming from a breakup, my business suddenly failing, filming more than 24 hours a day. That was it. I thought, this has to stop. I asked myself, do I want to be the richest person in the cemetery?

I had no choice. I had to go back. The doctors did Magnetic Resonance Imaging and everything. They told me that I had a stroke, while another doctor said it was whiplash. One thing was sure—there was something wrong.

I am so glad to have met Dr. Rolando Balburias, who heads the Medical City’s Center for Wellness and Aesthetics. That began my journey toward adapting a good diet. He also cured my acid reflux, as I was taking a lot of steroids, for my allergies. Then I found out that the steroids were bad for me as they were making me bloated, fat, and ugly. Doctors prescribed a medicine that got rid of my blotches, dark spots, and allergies.

My neck was stiff, so my doctors prescribed some exercises which I followed. At first I thought this was silly, but the exercises helped me. As we moved forward, they had to remove a lump from my back.

I’m still recovering right now. Recovery is not easy. There are times when I ask myself, babalik pa ba ako? Recovery is about committing to whether you want to get well or not, committing yourself to the right diet, the right routine, everything. What made me continue was the assurance of the doctors around me that I was getting healthier, from week to week. I am getting well. There are changes in my body, the way I feel. I feel lighter, healthier. Now, there is a balance not only in my diet and lifestyle but also with my time schedule, among other things.

ARE YOU HOT?

ARE YOU HOT?

Your Body Heat Tells Something about Breast Cancer

By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA

THE NUMBER of breast cancer incidence in the Philippines has rapidly increased. The country reportedly has the highest number of incidence rate in Asia and ninth in the world.

In observation of Cancer Awareness Month, women should be more conscious of this deadly disease by detecting it with new technologies being offered, such as the Medical Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging (MDITI).

“The main important issue in the MDITI is it can detect much earlier, it can detect the disease while it’s not yet a cancer, and it can detect it without pain,” says Dr. Roderick Tan, head of Health Quest Research which has MDITI. “It’s the client’s body heat that MDITI emits and that is the only thing that we get.”

Understanding How Breast Cancer Grows

Neo-angiogenesis. “Breast cancer grows like nerves or blood vessels,” says Dr. Tan. Women with malignant breast tumors showed abnormal and high-energy blood vessels near the tumors. These abnormal blood vessels formalized the theory of neo-angiogenesis.

Growing to provide nutrients to cancer. Neo-angiogenesis came from the word neo which means new, angio which means blood vessels, and genesis which is growth. “It is the new growth of blood vessels. It means that these blood vessels are growing, providing nutrients to the cancer cells,” he says.

Increasing the body heat. “From these blood vessels, blood is flowing through cancer cells. Blood in our body is hot,” he says. These blood vessels that give nutrients and extra blood flow increase the heat level of the affected area.

Progression. Dr. Tan pointed out that breast cancer may start while you are still young, and the cancer cells progress more rapidly.

Avoiding Breast cancer

Detection. “What we are offering here is a screening method for early detection of the cancer cells. Whatever the result of the test, the client then has the prerogative on how to proceed,” says Dr. Tan.

Body heat. “What MDITI does is it detects the body heat of the client. The camera is so sensitive that it can pick up the blood vessel’s growth in the breast,” he says. The interpreter will look for patterns suggesting blood vessel growth, which will indicate that the client is already at certain risk of breast cancer. "We will then recommend to the client to go for further evsluation immediately."

Breast print. Dr. Tan, however, adds that every woman has her own thermal imaging hand or breast print, her own breast impression. “Not because there is heat, it does not mean than the client already has cancer. There could be other problems,” he says.

Comparison to mammography. MDITI can detect cancer cells before mammography does. Dr.Tan shares that he had a client whose cancer was detected earlier on by MDITI, but only later by mammography when the cancer cell was already about one millimeter. “Mammo only detected it after 12 months, but the MDITI was able to detect it one year before. This is a case where the cancer is considered as fast-growing. There are some cancers that are slow-growing, “ he says.

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Rainy Day Diseases

Rainy Day Diseases
By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA
published MOD July 2010

SEE nimbus clouds darkening what used to be the bright summer sky? Hear the rain falling hard on your roof? See your streets being swamped by rainy water? Well, with the return of the rain season comes a storm of infections.

According to Dr. Dennis J. Garcia of the Makati Medical Center, flu, dengue, and leptospirosis, among others, are diseases that have a high occurrence during the rainy season. These diseases can strike children and adults alike and could even be deadly all because of the unclean flood.

MOD COLLECTION

What To Look Out For

Influenza

Symptoms: Fever for one to three days, headache, runny nose, cough, achy muscles and bones, weakness

Recommended treatment: Dr. Garcia suggests that the patient take enough rest, as well as medicines like paracetamol for fever and pain, decongestants, and phlegm-liquifiers

How it can be prevented: “Avoid public-enclosed areas at height of flu season, keep sick kids away from each other, get vaccine treatment, especially now that we have one that is against AH1N1,” he says.

Lower respiratory tract infection (like Pneumonia and Bronchitis)

Symptoms: Follows a bad cold or flu after three to five days, continued fever after three to four days, from start of cold or cough rapid uncomfortable breathing, much decreased appetite because of child’s effort to breathe, deepening of skin in between the ribs with each breath, flaring of the nostrils

Treatment: If you display those symptoms above, Dr. Garcia recommends rest and that you take paracetamol or antibiotics if you are not sick enough to be admitted into a hospital. He also recommends chest and back physiotherapy or chest clapping so as to help you expectorate phlegm.

Prevention: Dr. Garcia advises on avoiding public-enclosed areas at the height of flu season and getting vaccine treatment.

Dengue

Symptoms: Three to seven days of fever, flushed or reddening skin, headache, weakness, decreased appetite, positive tourniquet test

Treatment: Dr. Garcia suggests confinement in hospital for bleeding (nose, mouth, intestine or stomach, urine, brain). In the hospital, IV fluid is given to maintain a good blood pressure. Plasma and other blood products should be given if the clotting test and platelet count become abnormal.

Prevention: Dr. Garcia advises the use of mosquito repellants and mosquito nets. He discourages storing water in uncovered pots or bins as mosquitoes may lay their eggs there. Avoid outdoor play when you know that there are dengue cases in your neighborhood.

Leptospirosis

Symptoms: Fever, calf pain, congenital redness, jaundiced or yellow skin, stiffness, dark urine

Treatment: Penicillin is the drug of choice

Prevention: Dr. Garcia highly suggests not walking in flooded streets especially if you have a bruise with exposed skin.

Typhoid fever

Symptoms: Prolonged fever for more than five days, headache, weakness, decreased appetite, nauseas, diarrhea, and stomach pain.

Treatment: If ever you feel any of these warning signs, Dr. Garcia recommends prescribed medicine from your physician.

Prevention: According to Dr. Garcia typhoid fever can be acquired through bacteria called salmonella. Other common sources are dirty water, poorly cooked chicken, and ambulant street vendors.