PANGANGABIT

Pangangabit or infidelity is one of the most prevalent problems that most couples face. It occurs in all stature and forms of couples – rich and poor; heterosexual and homosexual.

It has intertwining biological and psychological causes. According to one theory, infidelity is deeply embedded in our species; in the prehistoric part of the human brain. It is an instinctive drive, for the propagation and survival of the species. After millenniums of evolution, our brains have already changed and we can already overpower our instincts due to our reasoning abilities, but yet infidelity still exists.

The main cause of infidelity today is psychological. Infidelity is a form of coping mechanism for the things or attributes that one’s partner lacks, such as physical, financial, sexual, or emotional. The lacking attributes are usually compensated by being with another person who has those things. It may also be a form of satisfying one’s previous unsatisfied stage in life. For example, a boy that was deprived of familial love, affection, and attention may have the tendency to commit infidelity in the later stage of his life to satisfy his previous unsatisfied stage.

Reasons for infidelity also differs according to gender, but I strongly disagree that males are more predisposed compared to the opposite sex; it just so happened that we live in a double standard society that is why we are seeing this kind of trend. Sex and physique are usually the main reasons why men commit infidelity; it can be associated with the biological factor. Women on the other hand commit it due to emotional and financial reasons; it can also be associated with the biological factor, but more on the psychological aspect.

During the early stage of a relationship, it is unusual for infidelity to occur. The reason is because during this stage partners are still very passionate and can somehow reach each other’s satisfaction and expectation levels. Also, during this stage love, affection, and attention is still overflowing and surprises are yet to be uncovered. As time passes, over familiarization of one’s partner occurs leaving no room for exploration; relationships becomes a routine making it dull and killing the surprises; and worst partners forget their obligations towards each other.

Keeping the relationship alive and passionate, giving each other enough love and affection, and letting each other have some personal space are the simple solutions to infidelity. But as the saying goes, easier said than done.

FREE ANTIVIRUS AND ANTISPYWARE REVIEW

Virus and especially spywares really gets down to the nerves of any computer user. Thankfully and not thankfully there are already a lot of antivirus and antispyware programs available in the market today. With the huge number of brands and manufacturers of this programs it can really be confusing on which one will really serve the purpose.

For those on a tight budget there are available free program downloads direct from the manufacturer's sight. I'll tell you that you should be contented with this as these downloads are safer from those that offers the "high-end cracked full-version" products but have a lot of spywares, adwares, and malwares attached with it.

Let me start first with the antivirus. Lately there had been three (3) legitimate free antivirus that I have tried namely: AVG, Avast Home Edition, and Avira's Antivir. So far the worst among the three, in terms of detection, is Avast. Right now I am using Avira and so far I am satisfied with it's results considering that it is free.

Now let's move to antispywares. Take note first that antivirus and antispywares are different. I can say that spywares, malwares, and adwares are more irritating than a virus and it can slow you're computer's processes and internet speed down. The worst is that most of the spy/ad/malwares are untouchable by your virus scanners so it's really a must to have both, though there are some high-end versions that comes in a bundle.Unlike antivirus, you can install more than one antispyware in your system, provided that they are compatible. I really want to try Window's Bit Defender but since my aunt's laptop has it's registration issues so I haven't got the privilege. Anyways, the first one I tried was Lavasoft's Ad-Aware. It really sucks in terms of detection not to mention it includes an unwanted bundle. Next was PC Tool's Spyware Doctor. The detection was really greatbut the disadvantage was it can't clean your system. I mean before it cleans you have to register first, a.k.a pay or buy the program. Then there was the High Jack This (HJT) of, if I am not mistaken, Trend Micro. The detection was amazing and it was really very comprehensive. But I don't recommend it to ordinary users like me, because due to it's comprehensiveness you will really be puzzled what to clean and not to clean, worse destroying your own computer. After trying both AVG and Spybot's S&D, I am left with Spybot. AVG was okay but the scanning was too slow comparing to Spybot, and I think spybot has a wider range of definition files.

Hope this article will help you bloggers out there to keep your systems running smooth.

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TRUE LOVE

Everyone is seemed to be in the quest for the elusive true love and today we are constantly bombarded of scenes by the media that depicts "true love" and they are really effective. Yes, effective in confusing humanity about what true love is. The media often blurs true love by limiting it to criteria like having the "kilig" factor, exchanging of endless sweet nothings, and ending in happily ever after. As we know true love is more than those mentioned criteria. So what is really true love or how will you know that you found it?

It took me several relationships before I learned and felt what true love is. I can say that it is really not about the "kilig" factors, endless sweet nothings, nor it is necessary to be happily ever after. Most of us fail the love test by giving-up easily on our relationships due to some minor (or major) indifferences with our partner. We often conclude that s/he is not the right person for us; instead we should fill the deficiencies of our partner just like a jigsaw puzzle to create a clear and complete picture from the broken pieces. The "kilig" factor is another reason why true love fail to proliferate. I am not against it, infact I find it a plus if you can maintain the "kilig" in your relationship after 3 or more years, but "kilig" does not necessarily equate to true love. Also, it does not mean that you feel "kilig" to another person is that s/he is automatically the one that can let you have the true love experience. I can associate "kilig" more to infatuation or puppy love rather than on true love. Then there's the delusional happily ever after. Well I will tell you that fairy's and there tales do not exist in the real world. In a normal relationship arguments happens and some experts even consider it as healthy.There are still many reasons why most of us fail to experience true love and surely your eyes will sore if I will mention all. The bottom line is for us to experience true love we have to work for it. We have to be understanding and patient to our partners. We also need to know how to value ourselves and what we have. And lastly, we need to learn contentment. True love does not come in a package, it needs to be nourished.

Nothing More

I thought you were an oasis

In my vast desert of loneliness,

An oasis to quench my thirst;

My thirst for love.

But then again my senses were mistaken,

For you are just another mirage

In my vast desert of loneliness

An illusion - nothing more

OF SIN AND INNOCENCE (IGNORANCE)

I would like to emphasize that I have written this article not to question the Almighty nor be blasphemous but for the sake of seeking answers.

In the Genesis account, God created man and woman. He allowed them to live in paradise, The Garden of Eden. He entrusted all of His other creations to man. He also permitted man to eat all kinds of edible fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts that is found in the garden, including the fruit from the Tree of Life. However, He specified that they should not consume the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge for they will perish.

Then one day when Eve was walking in the garden, she encountered the devil, in a form of a serpent (not necessarily a snake). The devil convinced her to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, that there is nothing wrong with having knowledge, and that they will not die; the woman succumb to the temptation. To her surprise she did not die (well not instantaneously), and she shared her discovery to her partner, Adam, and he also ate the fruit. After it, there innocence was shattered and in less than the blink of an eye there was an influx of knowledge. Right there and then the first sin, malice (in my opinion^_^), manifested and they were conscious that they were naked.

From what I have understood, prior to the fall of humanity, sin did not exist due to the reason that Adam and Eve don't know what is right and wrong; they were in a state of innocence or should I say ignorance and because of that they can't define sin thus they were spared from it. So my question is does innocence or ignorance from the law excuses you after all? Also can the stage of "purity" be compared to the infancy to toddler stage wherein innocence is somehow manifested (does that statement makes sense)?

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF A BROKEN HEART

Lucky for you if your first partner was your last, but I know that almost everyone have already experienced the "pain" of being heart broken. Yes the pain, and this article is all about it.

I am really wondering why it hurts so much when a special person abandons you. The sensation felt is something different from the physical one. The experience crushes your heart literally. It is often precipitated on situations when we are already alone since it stimulates us to remember the moments that was shared and automatically tears will shed out.

Maybe it hurts so much because of the betrayal, but for me that is not the essence that inflicts pain the most. What really hurts us are the shattered dreams, plans, and hopes that was built together. Love is like cocaine which makes us high and gives us delusions of having a wonderful future with the special person, thus thrusting our expectations about the relationship to the next level. And on the faithful break-up day those expectations nose dives and along with it are us.

NURSE'S NOTES

Before there were only few student nurses that you can see, but now nursing is the most sought after course in the country. If you will ask the students why they enrolled in such course, most of them would say it is a ticket abroad and to a more comfortable life. But is it really worth it and how about the risks? Before you consider nursing as your course read this article first so that you will really be enlightened about what it offers.

To be a student nurse, you must not only be mentally prepared but physically as well. You are expected to stand for several hours while watching someone slicing up another's body. Lifting heavy objects like an oxygen tank or your 200++ pound patient is part of the job as well. But aside from all the physical effort, you must also be analytical and must have a great deal of common sense. You will be constantly bombarded with decision making and a wrong one will be fatal.

Accuracy is also another qualification to be successful in this course. You can't just afford to have a room for error especially in the chart and in your nurse's notes or else you'll end up paying (if you are lucky enough to have just entered your mistakes in the practice sheet) or worse you'll end up rewritting the whole thing and looking for unfamiliar persons who had done entries in the chart. Accuracy is also needed in administering medications. You must know the 10 or some say 12 rights of giving medications if you don't want to see your patient's eyeballs rolling up or your patient's mouth forming gooey froths.

If you have a night life then expect it to be cut. There is what they call noc shift a.k.a graveyard shift and you must dedicate the whole 8 hours to your duty - meaning less than an hour nap time. Then there are the endless overnights for group works wherein you will see nothing but your groupmate's annoying faces and endless piles of books as reference.

Nursing does not offer a room for the faint hearted. Expect that you will encounter brain busting questions, nerve wracking comments, and heated debates (formal term for arguments ^_^) from your classmates and clinical instructors. Add up the toxic doctors who will show off their expertise by asking you endless questions that came out from nowhere. Also don't forget to learn the "docking maneuver" so that you will not be hit by the unidentified flying instruments.

If you love to answer questions or love watching game shows then that is a plus points for you. A student nurse undergoes hell lots of examination before he/she will be recognized as a professional. To name a few of the exams there is the national board exam, national council licensure examination (if you want to work in the US), state board (again in the US), commission on foreign graduate nursing school exam (for those who wants to work in Europe), and the international english language testing system (for those who wants to work in english speaking nations).

Lastly, you must be very competitive and the competition is really tough; just imagine the Philippines produces thousands of nurses annually and you have to compete with all of them. So if you can't top the professional examinations then another way to be competitive is to study, study, and study again. Take endless seminars to perk up your resume or if you can afford, go back to school again and take a master's degree. But in the end, it will still not assure you of having the best job or position that the nursing world can offer.

So now that you know the things that you're gonna face if you'll enter this course are you still willing to take the risks???

STRENGTHENING CURRENCY - WEAKENING ECONOMY

Okay, I may not be an economist to give a detailed analysis about the country's economy, but I am a FIlipino, a consumer, who directly feels the economic situation and I have common sense, enough to make my perspective on the real score of the Philippine Economy stand.

Lately, I have been hearing news that the Philippine Peso had increased in value and strengthened against the US Dollars (or other foreign currencies) and according to the president it is just an evidence of a strengthening economy. But is this really good news and an indication of a better economy?

Surely it is good news for the politicians, since they can foolishly brag on how great they handled the country deceiving millions of people as a result, but it is actually bad news in disguise. Also it is not an indication of a strengthening economy, rather we should be worried if this trend continues. It is worrisome the fact that the purchasing power of the Philippine Peso still remains weak and prices are soaring high despite its strengthening status in terms of exchange rate, creating an imbalance. A lot of industries and individuals will surely be affected with this like the OFWs, exporters, and other businesses that are dependent on foreign currencies like call centers. The situation is a cancer in the economy.

In order to make my point clear, let's consider this case. Let us say before the exchange rate between US$ to PhP is 1:48 and with it an individual can buy 2 kilos of rice (considering that the rate is 24 per kilo). Presently in the economy with the "strengthened peso" let us assume that the exchange rate between US$ to PhP is 1:42 but since the latter still has the same purchasing power or worse if the prices soared up, it is not enough anymore to buy the 2 kilos of rice.

If this will continue it will surely lead to currency collapse. The real strength of an economy is not measured in the currency's value against other foreign currency, rather it is measured on the amount of commodities that a currency can buy; on its purchasing power.

OF RELIGION

Religion as the topic for debate is really the most stupid. People who brags about their religion only shows how self-righteous and proud they are for they don't realize that they are not really spreading the glory of God but just promoting the religion itself; the practices and traditions.

A person somewhat limits himself to extend his hand, his help, his love towards his fellow because of religion; and in some cases it generates hate and violence. It also creates a room for prejudice and unjust stereotyping just like what is happening between Muslims and Christians. Humanity is already divided. Why don't everyone be just like Christ,a Jew, but did not allow his religion to contain and limit him. Instead he extended himself to the world and because of that it witnessed the glory and love of God.

Remember religion is not made by God, it is made by man and any system made by man is not perfect. It is so much tainted with practices and tradition.At the end of the day religion doesn't matter since it is just secular, what matters most is your spirituality and your faith to God. The Holy Scripture (e.g. Bible and Quo ran) is still the best way to learn on how one should establish and have a relationship with the Almighty.

POVERTY - A CHOICE

Poverty is not a new thing in the Philippines. From the quiet municipaties to the busiest metropolis it is present. Beggars, slum areas, loan sharks (a.k.a 5-6), and pricey junks (a.k.a ukay-ukay, car and appliance "surpluses") are just some of the evidences of poverty.

Since time in memorial, poverty has already been a problem in the country. It is really puzzling why until now, despite of the modernity of the world and the existence of fields of studies dedicated in financial management like Economics, the situation is not getting any better, instead it is worsening.

Now comes a question: who should be blamed for it? If the people will answer majority will say the government and the politicians. Yes, somehow they contribute to the problem considering the fact that the Philippine Government is one of the most corrupt in the world, but is the government and the politicians the main culprit? The answer is no.

Who then is the real culprit? The answer is nonetheless but the people themselves and that is the shocking and painful reality. It is really surprising to see that a lot are wearing the more than P500 slippers that they call as "flip-flops" despite of the bad economy. It is amusing to know that ordinary employees save their meager salaries, not for the purpose of investing it, but for buying high-end gadgets and branded clothings; it is not even purchased for it's functionality, but for the purpose of making a statement. It is interesting to find out how the people can afford to waste time, the most precious commodity, by delaying work for leisure and by practicing the "mamaya na" philosophy; it is such an unforgivable luxury. It is so ironic to hear how the squatters complain that they don't have food to serve on their table to feed themselves and their children but can afford to light up cigarettes, drink liquors, place bets for sabung and tong-its, and practice the most expensive leisure: baby making. And lastly it is funny how the masses complain on how difficult and miserable their lives are and on how cruel and greedy the government is but does not have the initiative to help themselves and improve their lives and is still waiting for the government to liberate them from poverty with just one flick.

A TV reporter once said "tila umaasa na lang po ang mga Pilipino sa milagro dahil sa hirap ng buhay," but a better statement is " dahil palagi na lang umaasa ang Pilipino sa milagro kaya tayo lalong nalulugmok sa kahirapan." There are no such things as victims of poverty, because after all it is a choice.