Obesity

“Baboy” or “elepante” are just two cruel words hurled at fat or obese people.  Obesity has become a problem for Filipino children.  The deadly combination of eating calorie-rich foods and sedentary lifestyle due to advancement in technology are plaguing the young.  I no longer see children playing hide and seek or catch-me-if you can games along the streets and parks.  Children tend to be less physical as they spend more time  sometimes the wholeday) in front of the television, laptops, watching movies or playing video games Would you believe my three-year old grand daughter can operate the gadgets like tabs and cellphones?  Obesity not only increases health risks but reduces life expectancy as well.  For instance people who are obese could get type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, cancers and gall bladder.  So what can we do about these problems?  The effective solution is a healthy lifestyle.  Pre- school children must have 200 minutes of physical activity for 10 days while highschool students should have 30 minutes of fitness program daily.  Brisk walking for 20 minutes will do.  You don’t have to look elsewhere.  Physical education program that increase cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and sports and games.  Schools should appoint sports directors to oversee the implementation of the activities.  Some 10 years ago, I wrote that we are losing our battle with the computers.  True enough, just look around and you will see a lot of obese people or “fatsos” before it’s too late.  Better move that ass.

Eking Baisac

Bumped into my friend  Boy Rivera   the other day and he informed me that Exequiel Baisac, 1977 Milo Marathon  champion has died at 77. Well this is indeed sad news for the running community who knew Eking.  Baisac was one of the early Filipino marathoners who ran in the Boston Marathon and Portland Marathon.  Hasta La Vista, Eking.

Did you know?

Mah-jongg

The Asian game of mah-jongg was actually named and copyrighted by an American Joe Babcock, who lived in Shanghai in the early 1990s.   It takes its name from the mythical bird that appears on one of the tiles.  Bobcock introduced the game to California in the 1920s.  The craze reached a peak in 1923.  I did’nt know Mah-jongg is a sport.  In the Philippines some people play “madjong” for two straight days”.  Pong!”

Nude olympics

Have taken place each year in 1965 in California.  Both sexes compete naked in all events apart from the high jump.  In 1991 a series nude relay races were held in Gainesville, Florida.  To avoid  athletes getting sunburned, they took place at night.  (Imagine grabbing the baton, then finding out it wasn’t actually the baton after all) “Anovayan?, Lahi iyang nagunitan” wailed my gay hairstylist.

Dr. Renee Richards

Is a unique person, she competed in the US Open Tennis Championships as both woman and a man then known as Richard Ruskine.