A Need for Forensic Nurses in the Philippines

In the Philippines, there is s big problem in gathering reliable evidences in an occurrence of a crime. Forensic evidences are invaluable to the resolution of a crime and the country is in need of professionals who can extract and handle such evidences.

There is an increasing need for forensic nurses in the Philippines. As technology for the extraction and safekeeping of evidence advances, the need for professional medical practitioners that are specifically trained for forensics increases. Forensic nurses will be very crucial in getting evidences for crimes, and effectively identify, collect and document them for the use of investigators.

There are no courses or certifications in the Philippines particular for forensic nurses. However, seminars are regularly held for forensic nursing. Attendees will benefit being introduced to the specialized field of forensics, and may be given updates on the current technologies on the sciences.

As of the moment there are no schools specializing in forensic nurses in the Philippines. However, it would be best to coordinate with the PNP Crime Laboratory and the AFP Military Hospital who may be willing to train clinical nurses in forensics. Taking up a Masteral Degree in Nursing may touch topics on forensic sciences but one may have to inquire from your school of choice.

There is a need for forensic nurses in the country. As crimes take longer to be resolved, it gives an impression of impunity in the country. Forensic nurses in the Philippines may be part of the solution in the fast resolution of cases and delivery of justice.

----
Visit Diane's Cluttered Desk for more posts about living in Philippines

By: Diane On March 01, 2012

Continue Reading

Get Your Geek Chic Glasses on the Cheap

 
In the past, people wear eyeglasses because it was a necessary health item. Today, the popularity of geek-chic fashion, eyeglasses elevated into a fashion accessory. 

Zenni Optical eyeglasses taps into the internet-savvy-hipster market by providing on online store of affordable glasses.  There are glasses available  for as low as $6.95!+ For such a low price, you could get as many glasses as your budget would permit. You need not worry about the quality of the glasses as Zenni assures durability, safety and comfort of their product.

For those who need affordable prescription glasses, Zenni provides for a fraction of the cost of glasses from an optometrist.All you need to do is to get your prescription from your doctor, enter the details on thr Zenni website with your order.

The online tool for choosing glasses are very helpful.You may upload a photo of your face and virtually try on different frames. How cool is that?

For more reviews of Zenni Optical, you can access their blog where satisfied customers share their experience with Zenni. If you are one of their satisfied customers, they have an activity called Share your Zenni Story at the Zenni blog. You can write your own review and upload photos of yourself wearing your very own pair of Zenni glasses. 

By: Diane On July 17, 2011

Continue Reading

Pampanga, Philippines

Our provinces continuous efforts to improve their respective regions are unmistakably living up to the tag that the Philipines is one Asian country worth visiting due to its countless and varied tourist destinations. 

Pampanga is one province in central Luzon which lives up to its name: a river bank. Generally the body of land at the side of a river, wherein it reflects the status of the water- may it be a radiant green carpet of grass means reflecting healthy river or the exact opposite. 

The province lies on the northern shore of Manila Bay; bordered by Bataan and Zambales at its west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija at the north, and Bulacan in the northeast. With farming and fishing as the main industry of Pampanga its products revolve around rice, corn, sugar cane, and tilapia. 

And may I say that because of its native’s drive to turn it into a metropolitan-like region: from transportation and tourism, water and power, telecommunication, to education systems; they have prospered evidently and now has a wide variety of goods, facilities, and tourist spots. 

Pampanga is considered the culinary capital of the Philippines, with well known dishes such as kare-kare (stewed beef and ox tail in peanut sauce usually dipped in shrimp paste), sisig (pork marinated in a sour liquid such vinegar, then seasoned with salt, pepper and other spices), and kinilaw (meat or fish, fruits and vegetables sourly cooked with vinegar or other souring agents flavored with combinations of condiments). 

Festivals are held throughout the year, as towns and cities celebrate in honor of their patron saints. Not to mention the prominent events during February and December: Hot Air balloon festival and Giant Lantern Festival respectively. 

The city of San Fernando, Pampanga’s capital is the place to be when visiting tourist spots such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, Paskuhan Village, and Benigno Aquino Hall to name a few. Additionally there are several Historical landmarks, museums and monuments, as well as parks to be visited for a truly memorable vacation. 

With this we can affirm that the river bank occupied by a rich, diverse flora and fauna reflects how it is presently doing; supporting the ever flowing waters which cater to the needs of its dependants. As well as passively making a name for itself: with its distinctiveness and coping capability. 

By: Diane On June 30, 2011

Continue Reading

Scrubs Separates

I've recently taken up the bad habit of just using scrub pants separately from the top. I wear the pants as lounge pants and pajamas at home. They are so comfortable to wear that I wear them almost everyday.My brother, who works as a care giver, acquired this habit of mine. Alas! The other day, we noticed that the top and the pants are not the same color anymore. The pants looked incredibly faded against the top. As a set, it looked sloppy, which is unacceptable for helth care providers.

My solution, buy new scrub pants to match a relatively new looking top. Bottoms can be bought separately anyway. They would not exactly match but it would look neater than what he has now.

As scrub bottoms are being sold separately, I advised my brother to buy extra bottoms to wear at home as lounge pants. And I also asked him  to buy extra pairs for me to use at http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women/  where my aunts and cousins buy their scrubs. I like how their scrubs are specifically designed for women; they produce suits that complement my curves and I look slimmer in them than my normal clothes.

Good thing we learned our lesson with scrub suits. Imagine the cost if my brother wore his pants and coat of his formal suit as separates. The lesson here kids, is to NEVER wear sets of clothes separately.

By: Diane On June 09, 2011

Continue Reading

Gawad Kalinga Will Not Solve Poverty

Gawad Kalinga is one of the mainstream movements providing housing and livelihood for the poverty stricken communities in our country. That which started from a project of Couples for Christ, it is now a multi-sectoral partnership which now boasts of hundreds of thousands of volunteers, 900 communities housing 60 to 100 families each community. The GK projects are examples of the synergistic effect of governance. That is, the government, the business sector and the civil society working together.

The success of GK relies on the scientific management of resources. Materials are duly computed and maximized even to the last can of paint. Most of all, the participation and the cooperation of volunteers, the human resource, made the delivery of the service successful. To subordinate personal interest to the interest of others and to serve the people is at the core of the success of each project. Now, together with the National Housing Authority under Vice-President Jejomar Binay, the Gawad Kalinga Model will be applied under the helm of the government.

No contest that the theory of governance as a partnership of government, business sector and the civil society is exemplified by the Gawad Kalinga communities and projects.

Gawad Kalinga boasts of “eradicating” poverty and claims it as a “solution” to poverty. As much as I would want to think that it does indeed eradicate poverty, I do not agree and I think VP Binay is more clear on that. Poverty is a result of a systemic problem of society. It is not a problem separate from the mode of production of the country. It is actually the picture of the failure of our present mode of production in providing for the needs of the majority. The Vice-President stated that he does not necessarily believe that this will solve the poverty problem but will lessen the burden presented by poverty. Gawad Kalinga (more of the volunteers than the recipients) tend to have an insulated mode of thinking that GK recipients will not be affected by the problems of the system as a whole. There must be recognition that livelihood training does not automatically translate to jobs nor income.

A criticism of the Gawad Kalinga Model is that the government has the tendency to use this type of projects to beg off from its actual responsibility. One must recognize that the Gawad Kalinga projects are limited and it cannot actually replace the resources of the government to deliver its services. (In one debate with a classmate, he uses GK to justify the government’s minimal involvement. “Nandiyan naman ang GK kung wala talaga maitulong ang gobyerno”) Stated above, theoretically, GK is a multisectoral partnership. It must be a social commentary that everyone must be an actor and likewise a stakeholder in each project. Unfortunately, some believe that it actually replaces the role and responsibility of the government to its people. However, expecting the partnership of the NHA and GK, it will hopefully increase the role of the government in the model.

The bourgeois thinking propagates within and outside its ranks especially among the middle class is that if the recipients of the houses continue to be poor after the project, then it is the fault of the recipient because they are indolent. I would like to take off from the belief of Gawad Kalinga that to change the individual, you must change the community; to change the community, we must change the society. The well off are critical of how the urban poor live in poverty, but are we critical of why these people are poor and why there is poverty in the first place? Housing is just one of the problems of the urban poor and is not the root cause of why they are poor.

xxx

This is a short reaction I wrote for a class last semester. It was after a dialogue with Vice President Jejomar Binay and Gawad Kalinga Founder Tony Meloto at the National College of Public Administration and Governance, University of the Philippines Diliman on August 10, 2010.

By: Diane On February 25, 2011

Continue Reading