Monday, April 19, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
CLEANING OF CREEK
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE PAINTING OF TRUE SACRIFICE
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 18:10 )
A Short Grace For Use Before Meals
and us to your service;
make us grateful for all your mercies,
and mindful of the needs of others. Amen.
(Matthew 18:12-14 )
(Mark 10:13-16 )
(Deuteronomy 6:7)
(Proverbs 24:21-22 )
I GIVE BLOOD WILL YOU?
How to donate blood |
Preparation before donating blood
Steps in donating blood
What to do after blood donation
Blood donation: Basic Requirements Blood donation helps save lives. Find out if you're eligible to donate blood and what to expect if you decide to donate. The need for blood is great. On any given day, more than two thousand of blood units are transfused to patients in our country. Some may need blood during surgery. Others depend on it after an accident or because they have a disease that requires blood components. The Philippine National Red Cross approximately supplies one-fourth of the country’s national blood requirements. If you're in good health, you can probably donate. Find out about blood donation and what to expect if you decide to give. Who can donate blood? You can donate blood if you: · Are in good health · Between 16 to 65 years old (16 and 17 years old need parents consent) · Weigh at least 110 pounds · With a blood pressure between: Systolic: 90-160 mmHg Diastolic: 60-100 mmHg · Pass the physical and health history assessments PNRC Blood Service Facilities carefully screen potential donors. The screening guidelines are necessary to ensure that blood donation is safe for you and that it's safe for the person who receives your blood. During the screening process, you fill out a blood donation questionnaire form that includes direct questions about behaviours known to carry a higher risk of blood-borne infections — infections that are transmitted through the blood. These behaviours include prostitution, intravenous drug use and others. A trained physician asks you about your medical/ health history and conducts a physical examination, which includes checking your blood pressure, pulse and temperature. All of the information from this evaluation is kept strictly confidential. During your blood donation screening procedure, a small sample of blood taken from a finger prick is used to check your hemoglobin level, the oxygen-carrying component of your blood. If your hemoglobin concentration is normal and you've met all the other screening requirements, you can donate blood. Where can I donate blood? Use the PNRC Blood Service Facility Directory (menu) to find the blood donation center nearest you, and then contact the blood center and find out what they require. |
Mother nature needs our share
The most common mistake when planting a tree is a digging hole, which is both too deep and too narrow. Too deep and the roots don’t have access to sufficient oxygen to ensure proper growth. Too narrow and the root structure can’t expand sufficiently to nourish and properly anchor the tree.
As a general rule, trees should be transplanted no deeper than the soil in which they were originally grown. The width of the hole should be at least 3 times the diameter of the root ball or container or the spread of the roots in the case of bare root trees. This will provide the tree with enough worked earth for its root structure to establish itself.
When digging in poorly drained clay soil, it is important to avoid ‘glazing’. Glazing occurs when the sides and bottom of a hole become smoothed forming a barrier, through which water has difficulty passing. To break up the glaze, use a fork to work the bottom and drag the points along the sides of the completed hole. Also, raising the centre bottom of the hole slightly higher than the surrounding area. This allows water to disperse, reducing the possibility of water pooling in the planting zone.
Planting Balled and Burlapped Trees.
Balled and burlapped (B & B) trees, although best planted as soon as possible, can be stored for some time after purchase as long as the ball is kept moist and the tree stored in a shady area. B & B trees should always be lifted by the ball, never by the trunk. The burlap surrounding the ball of earth and roots should either be cut away completely (mandatory, in the case of synthetic or plastic burlap) or at least pulled back from the top third of the ball (in the case of natural burlap). Any string or twine should also be removed. Backfill soil (combinations of peat moss, composted manure, topsoil, etc.) is then placed in the hole surrounding the tree just to the height of the ball or slightly lower to allow for some settling. Be careful not to compress the back fill soil as this may prevent water from reaching the roots and the roots from expanding beyond the ball.
Container trees (though subject to greater heat and drying conditions than B and B) can also be stored for a brief period of time after purchase as long as the soil in the container is kept moist and the tree stored in a shady spot. The procedure for planting container trees is similar to that for B & B trees. In the case of metal or plastic containers, remove the container completely. In the case of fibre containers, tear the sides away.
Once carefully removed from the container, check the roots. If they are tightly compressed or ‘potbound’, use your fingers or a blunt instrument (to minimize root tearing) to carefully tease the fine roots away from the tight mass and then spread the roots prior to planting. In the case of extremely woody compacted roots, it may be necessary to use a spade to open up the bottom half of the root system. The root system is then pulled apart or ‘butterflied’ prior to planting. Loosening the root structure in this way is extremely important in the case of container plants. Failure to do so may result in the roots ‘girdling’ and killing the tree. At the very least, the roots will have difficulty expanding beyond the dimensions of the original container. To further assist this, lightly break up even the soil outside the planting zone. This allows roots that quickly move out of the planting zone to be more resilient as they anchor into existing surrounding soil conditions.
Once the tree is seated in the hole, the original soil is then back-filled into the hole to the soil level of the container. Again, remember not to overly compress the back-filled soil especially by tramping it with your feet. Compress gently using your hands instead.
Planting bare-rooted trees is a little different as there is no soil surrounding the roots. Most importantly, the time between purchase and planting is a more critical issue. Plant as soon as possible. When purchasing bare-rooted trees, inspect the roots to ensure that they are moist and have numerous lengths of fine root hairs (healthy). Care should be taken to ensure that the roots are kept moist in the period between purchase and planting. Prune broken or damaged roots but save as much of the root structure as you can.
To plant, first build a cone of earth in the centre of the hole around which to splay the roots. Make sure that when properly seated on this cone the tree is planted so that the ‘trunk flare’ is clearly visible and the ‘crown’, where the roots and top meet, is about two inches above the soil level. This is to allow for natural settling.
My share to Mother Nature
This is one way of seeing the world.
God created and planted the first seeds.
Mother Earth and Mother Nature are the Whole Mother.
Mother Nature was born and Mother Earth is Her womb. From the womb all living things are produced and reproduced.
The Earth we live on is Mother Earth's garden. We all share in tending this garden. It is a beautiful garden over all, even though it has its wild patches and untended patches.
God put man on the Earth to act as his servants, to take care of the Earth. We all have our part to play. Some of us are more creative, some are more physical and so on, but we all share in the tending of the wonderful garden.
Co-operation between angelic beings and men play an important part in doing God's bidding and to help in the task of looking after Mother Earth's garden. Practical help of angelic intelligences, and the spirits of nature, is available in all work which is designed and performed for the purpose of helping others and of serving the world.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
YOUR GUIDE TO BASIC ROTC
The basic ROTC shall be a one (1) year or two (2) semester program which consist of at least one hundred Twenty (120) training hours credited for six (6) units.
As part of the ROTC Program likewise, students shall have the option to join extra-curricular activities such as Rifle and Pistol Team, Silent Drill Platoon, Drum and Buggle Corps, etc using the thirty (30) optional training hours per semester.
Qualified AFP Reservist may be utilized as ROTC Tactical Officers and Instructor placing them on Active Duty Training (ADT). The AFP Regular Component, however, may as guest instructors.
In lieu of the regular two (2) semester program for any of the NSTP component, a one ROTC Summer (30) days program may also be conducted.
Only graduates of the Basic ROTC Program shall be qualified to enroll in the Advance ROTC Course.
Each student enrolled in Basic ROTC shall provide for their own uniform. The prescribed uniform for the basic ROTC student shall be fatigue uniform with combat boots and bull cap. The cut/model of said uniform is patterned after the Battle Dress Attire (BDA).
The ROTC Unit Commandant shall be required to submit Program of Expenditures (POE) of his unit per year broken down by semester to the school concerned for inclusion in the annual budget. Said POE shall be presented by the ROTC Commandant before a panel composed of representatives of the school concerned, if required.
Expenditures shall be subjected to periodic audit to be conducted by the school. All ROTC Units Commandants are required to submit a report of utilization of the ROTC Fee to their respective Unit Commanders at the end of every semester.
Records of enrollment and final rating of the ROTC Program shall be reflected accordingly in all scholastic records of the students.
ROTC component graduates shall be incorporated into the AFP Reserve Force. AS such, they shall be given ranks, serial numbers and assigned to their Reserve Unit Mobilization Centers.
Enrollment Procedure
Students who shall enroll in the ROTC Program shall be required to secure a certificate from a licensed physician that they are physically fit for training. They shall likewise be required to secure parental consent for students below eighteen (18) years old.
Enrollment fee per semester shall be collected from each student exclusively for the maintenance for office and training expenses and to be managed by the school. One (1) semester of ROTC training shall be equivalent to three (3) units.
Clustering and cross enrollment shall be allowed for the convenience of the students taking into account logistics, branch of service and geographical considerations. It will be managed by the school that has the preponderance of the students.
The minimum number of enrollees in ROTC program is 350 male and female students. Schools with lower than 350 enrollees may coordinate with the nearest ROTC activated units for the accommodation of the cross enrollees.
Conduct of Course
ROTC training shall be conducted once a week, four (4) hours per week for 15 consecutive weekends for two (2) semesters.
The first semester ROTC shall be called Military Science (MS) 1, while the second semester shall be Military Science (MS) 2 wherein the former is a prerequisite of the latter.
The POI for the ROTC component includes lectures, field works and practical exercises focusing on the organization of the AFP, basic military principles and theories, customs and traditions in the military service, human rights, disaster relief operations, basic survival, anti-/counter terrorism, defensive techniques, team building, weapons familiarization, drills and ceremonies, among others.
The ammunition requirements for weapons training of ROTC Units in the government schools shall be supported by the AFP while private schools shall include the ammunition requirements in the program of expenditures.
Declination of Function
The ROTC Commandants is a Department Head or member of the faculty of the school. As such, the school may extend to him the normal privileges and sanctions due to a faculty member of the Department Head. He shall be subjected to evaluation of his performance by the school authority in the same frequency as other Department Heads. Upon relief, his performance shall also be evaluated.
ROTC Commandants shall submit final grades to the school Registrar in the form prescribed by the school not later that fifteen (15) days after the end of the semester. Further, the school Registrar and the Commandant shall be the designated signatories to the ROTC Completion Certificates.
Major ROTC related cases shall be investigated by Major Service Command Provost Marshall or Inspector General.
Responsibility
The Secretary of National Defense through the Chief of Staff, AFP shall create monitoring/inspection teams which shall conduct inspections and/or monitoring the ROTC program of implementation.
Major Service Commanders are responsible to the Chief of Staff, AFP for the strict implementation of the ROTC Program.
Major Service tens shall submit initial reports on the progress of the implementation to this Hqs (Attn: DCSRRA, J10) NLT 15 days after the Opening of the Course, subsequent reports will be on-the-need basis.
The ROTC Commandant and ROTCU personnel are in the front line in the development of the AFP Reserve Force, hence their actions reflect in whole on the AFP. Therefore, they should conduct themselves professionally in order to maintain the goodwill, credibility and honor that have been painstakingly gained in other fields of endeavor including the battle front.
Course Description
ROTC is a two (2) semester program. A module common for all the branches of service shall be offered during the first semester while the peculiar module shall be given during the second semester.
Students shall be given education on the basic knowledge of the military profession through lectures and practical exercises.
Course Objectives
To indoctrinate, train and provide the ROTC Cadets/Cadettes with the basic knowledge on military subjects and practical exercises that will enable them to acquire skills in order to Survive, Shoot and Signal.
Desired Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, the ROTC Cadet/Cadettes should be able to:
Explain the legal basis of the NSTP, duties and responsibilities as a reservist, his/her expected role as citizen of the Republic of the Philippines, the threats to national security and the provision of human rights as embodied in the constitution.
Discuss the organizational set-up and Chain of Command in the AFP.
Enumerate the general description of the basic individual weapons and perform the field stripping to include care and maintenance and its operation.
Learn the fundamentals of basic soldiery, explain and perform the various formations and immediate actions during movement techniques in combat.
Learn the fundamentals of firing, types of firing positions and triangulation.
Identify the different military radio communications and familiarize himself with prowords and counter signs.
Learn the military customs and traditions, code of conduct of the profession and values of public servants as citizens of the Republic of the Philippines.
Learn the different pillars of CMO, its roles and significance including its roles in disaster and response and basic evacuation procedures. Learn the fundamentals and techniques on basic self-defense and basic life support.
Be able to identify the measures to protect and improve on health.
Learn the basic survival techniques in jungles and at sea.
Be able to relate history with the present by the visit to military camps/bases. Museums and other historical sites.