UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Sorry to disappoint those who think this is going to be a salacious discussion. But it does discuss sex—genetic sex, gonadal sex, and anatomic sex. The 2024 Paris Olympics is over but the issue of sex or gender lingers, as a result of which boxing, a sport in which Filipinos...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE The Philippines erupted in joyous celebration after Carlos Edriel Yulo clinched two Olympic Gold Medals in gymnastics in Paris. The government and private companies showered him with cash, houses and lots, condominium and all sorts of lifetime privileges. Business and product...
UNDER THE MICRSCOPE Though my wife and I lived in the United States of America for six years in the 80s, we never took any interest in American elections. Back then, the Republican and Democratic Parties were like Tweedledum and Tweedledee, interchangeable and not really much different from each...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Hardly had I sent my column to press two weeks ago (Hemodialysis and PhilHealth July 9, 2024) when news broke out on the transfer of a whopping ₱90 billion of “surplus funds” from PhilHealth to the National Treasury. This was purportedly to finance the additional ₱450...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE As a pathologist and laboratory science practitioner, I am often approached by friends, relatives and even recent acquaintances about their laboratory results. But even though I know laboratory science, it doesn’t mean I’m in the best position to interpret and explain...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Usually it’s the car buyers who have to be on the alert, especially with used cars, so they don’t end up with a bad buy. There is so much to watch out for: Cars that were in bad accidents and were poorly repaired, poorly maintained cars in general, bad engine condition,...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE A recent Reuters story reported that the United States military launched a secret operation to discredit China-made Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine in spring 2020 and lasting until mid-2021. It was in response to China’s perceived growing influence around the world,...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Artificial Intelligence (AI) hugged the headlines recently with Pope Francis warning: “Yet at the same time, it (AI) could bring with it greater injustice between advanced and developing nations or between dominant and oppressed social classes.” He further insists...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Senate Bill 2675 has been filed by Senator Lito Lapid which will mandate food service establishments to disclose caloric and nutritional information in their menus. According to the explanatory notes, “Nutrient content information provided at the time of food selection in...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE “Medice, curate ipsum” comes from the Bible, Luke 4:23: “Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, ‘Physician heal thyself’; whatsoever we have done in Capernaum, do also in thy country.” This column will not be very popular among my fellow doctors. But please...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Sinophobia is a fear or dislike of China, Chinese people and/or culture. It is frequently directed at ethnic Chinese living elsewhere and involves issues of immigration, nationalism, ideology, wealth disparity and even past history and racism. The recent spate of news...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE The recent Senate committee report on the legalization of cannabis as medicine was signed by 13 senators which moves the bill closer to being passed by the Senate. Alongside this significant event is the American Congress passing a bill decriminalizing marijuana possession and...
