New disease trigger discovered in the Philippines

Caveat: The information presented in the following article are not scientific facts.   

After more than a decade of observation, it has become apparent that several diseases can be triggered by something other than old age, microorganisms, and toxic substances. This trigger particularly affects high profile individuals, most especially government officials.

The trigger is intangible and is referred to as "justice" which usually involves the filing of cases, arraignment, court orders, injunctions, and incarceration or imprisonment.

Since the time of deposed President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, it has been observed that public officials tend to become gravely ill as they face cases in court. The diseases or illnesses encountered are usually claimed as classified as severe that the patients' paid actors doctors opine that their patients need to go abroad for medical treatment. Likewise, the diseases usually appear to be of a degree that, allegedly, cannot be properly addressed by Filipino doctors and local medical equipment. In the case of Estrada, it's a knee surgery that needed to be performed abroad.

The two-termer Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, on the other hand, suddenly needed to go to several countries for medical treatment. Her spokesperson revealed that she has a rare condition affecting her spine that requires surgery and treatment to be performed by experts abroad. Unfortunately for her, her vindictive successor has a stern underling in the Justice Department who controversially defied the Supreme Court to stall the former president's attempt to leave the country. Nevertheless, there have been no signs of aggravation in Arroyo's condition despite her failure to go abroad for the "necessary" treatment.

In the case of the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed Chief Justice, Renato Corona, the trigger caused the exacerbation of the magistrate's diabetes. He allegedly suffered hypoglycemia during his testimony in his impeachment trial that caused him to do a walk out. He received a guilty verdict from the senators who were accordingly incensed by his "disease-induced" arrogant demeanor in the trial. He was hospitalized for a few days and is expected to experience other graver health issues as soon as cases are filed against him. He had had two heart bypass procedures before and may suffer a heart-related ailment of greater risk and treatment difficulty to be considered for treatment abroad.

On the other hand, in what can be considered a rare case, the principal suspect of the Legacy scam, Celso de los Angeles, suffered cancer and eventually died.  He was known as the main man behind the financial scam that involved a network of rural banks. The scam reportedly bilked billions of pesos from depositors. Prior to de los Angeles's death, he also experienced the trigger as the House of Representatives and the Senate got involved in the well-publicized effort to make him accountable for the scam.

Of late, the said trigger has been found spreading in other parts of the world. It has been observed making its presence in Egypt. Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is currently facing a "health crisis" after receiving a conviction verdict for his well-known crimes against the Egyptian people. Many refuse to attribute such health crisis to divine punishment since the conditions observed are very much similar to what have happened or are happening to many high profile individuals in the Philippines.

Fans of chain-smoking President BS Aquino, however, should be somewhat assured that their favorite Filipino leader shall not be experiencing the trigger anytime soon. If his health declines, it could most probably be due to other reasons such as smoking or a heartbreak. The latter may not be as much of a concern as the former considering that the 50+-year old still unmarried President may have already developed immunity or resistance based on the number of romantic insinuations relationships he has had.

Top Japanese government spokesman believes in UFO

Agence France-Presse

Japan's top government spokesman said Tuesday that he believes in UFOs.

"Personally, I absolutely believe they exist," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura.

He said there was no other explanation for how the Nazca Lines were drawn in the Peruvian desert. The vast, ancient drawings can really only be properly appreciated from the air, which has led some to claim they are the work of extraterrestrials.

Machimura's surprise comments came after the government said it had no official knowledge of UFOs from outer space.

"The government has not confirmed the existence of 'unidentified flying objects believed to have flown from outside the Earth'," it said in response to a question from an opposition lawmaker.

In the absence of such confirmation, "the government is not collecting information on them, exchanging information with other countries or conducting a particular study," the government said in its first official comment on UFOs.

"We are not considering what measures to take in case 'unidentified flying objects' fly over our country," it said.

The government issued the comment in response to a question from lawmaker Ryuji Yamane of the opposition Democratic Party, who argued Tokyo should try to confirm what UFOs are as many people have said they have witnessed them.

The statement was formally endorsed at Tuesday's cabinet meeting.

Skeptics say UFO sightings are merely aircraft or meteors re-entering the Earth's atmosphere, rather than visitors from another planet.

Of note:

"The government has not confirmed the existence of 'unidentified flying objects believed to have flown from outside the Earth',"

Now that sounds more like a line in an animé/OVA script. They're really serious about a scenario of identifying and confirming? I wouldn't be surprised if one day a Japanese official reveals that their flag is actually inspired by a UFO sighting.

Understand the specs...and the PRICE

Just when you thought a $10,000 mobile phone bill was shocking.

Meet Piotr Staniaszek, a 22-year-old oil-field worker from Calgary -- also the man with the bedazing $85,000 mobile phone bill. Staniaszek thought he could use his new phone as a modem for his computer under his $10 unlimited mobile browser plan from Bell Mobility. He was right and wrong -- right about the technical specs (the phone could be used as a modem indeed), wrong about the corresponding rates and charges.

Uninformed

Thinking an earlier bill of $65,000 was just a mistake, Staniaszek spoke to Bell Mobility only to realize that the bill had already upped by almost $20,000.

He said he normally paid about $150 a month for his phone and used to be notified of high charges.

"The thing is, they've cut my phone off for being like $100 over."

"Here, I'm $85,000 over and nobody bothered to give me a call and tell me what was going on."

"I told them I wasn't aware I would be charged for hooking up my phone to the computer. I'm going to try and fight it, because I didn't know about the extra charges."

Bell Mobility said they would lower the bill to $3,243 in a "goodwill gesture" to match the best data plan available for using mobile phones as a modem, the Globe and Mail reported.

How's that for the real need to be not only tech-savvy -- to be a vigilant consumer as well.