By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Universal Health Coverage can be accelerated through sustained action on oral health care. This sentiment was expressed by the World Dental Federation (FDI or Fédération Dentaire Internationale) during the 154th Session of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Executive Board on January 22 to 27 in Geneva, Switzerland. WHO member states were …
OPINION
The worst NBA All-Star showoff
By Herman M. Lagon Last Monday morning (Philippine time), the NBA All-Star Game took center stage in Salt Lake City, and fans were primed for a showcase of the league’s top players. What really happened, though, was a shameful game without any fierce rivalry, a far cry from the illustrious past of basketball greats like …
Revisiting economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution
By Sonny Angara Over three decades have passed since the 1987 Constitution was ratified. It was crafted immediately after a regime change that emerged after a peaceful revolution. A lot has changed over the years. Globally, countries have opened up their economies as a necessary step towards growth. Our ASEAN neighbors, who were once behind …
The sacred Monday oath
By Herman M. Lagon Every early Monday morning, as the Philippine flag is raised and the national anthem is sung, government workers and public officials gather to recite a solemn oath with their right hands raised. This “Panunumpa ng Kawani ng Gobyerno,” a commitment to serve with honesty and excellence, says: “Ako’y kawani ng …
Unlikely defender of the Cory Constitution
By Ade Fajardo Rodrigo Duterte backed changes to the 1987 Constitution even before he became President. In 2015, he toured the country talking to people about his desire to shift to a federal system of government — part of a campaign strategy built on the promise of a new Philippines, and anchored on Davao’s vaunted success …
Insistent faith for miracles to happen
By Fr. Roy Cimagala That beautiful gospel story of a centurion who approached Christ on behalf of his dying servant, importuning Christ for a miracle to happen, that is, for his servant to survive, (cfr. Matthew 8:5-11) tells us precious lessons about how our faith in Christ should be. It should be a faith …
A scientific way to brush your teeth
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Teeth should be brushed last thing at night or before bedtime. There is evidence to indicate that brushing at night and not eating thereafter will enable fluoride protection during the night and avoid the retention of carbohydrates in the mouth during sleep time when the salivary flow is low. It’s …
‘Orion and the Dark,’ a must-see Netflix film
By Herman M. Lagon Both young and old have been drawn to the endearing animated film “Orion and the Dark,” which debuted on Netflix this early February 2024. It is based on a children’s novel by Emma Yarlett and narrates the tale of a youngster named Orion who, with the assistance of an odd …
A very essential tool
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim It’s simple, effective — and very essential. “Toothbrushing stands as one of most straightforward yet highly effective preventive measure to reduce the burden of oral diseases, affecting nearly 3.5 billion individuals,” declares the World Dental Federation (FDI or Fédération Dentaire Internationale). With more than one million members worldwide, the FDI is …
Love unboxed
By Herman M. Lagon Ah, Valentine’s Day, that annual celebration of love that descends upon the world like a sweet tsunami, shredding hearts, visiting florists, and opening chocolate boxes in its wake. From hazy tales of crucified saints and secret Christian marriages, this day has evolved into an unrivaled celebration of everything heart-shaped. However, …