Angeles News: Angeles government pays tribute to Rizal

Posted by Vic on 2011-06-21 00:04:03 MDT

ANGELES CITY - On the occasion of his 150th birth anniversary, Dr. Jose P. Rizal was given a tribute by the Angeles City Local Government, in partnership with the Knights of Rizal.

The tribute was made during the flag raising ceremony, which was attended by the city government officers and employees and the delegates from Knights of Rizal.During his brief message, Atty. Dennis Albert Pamintuan, Angeles City Administrator, said that “the youth, whom Dr. Rizal believes to be the ‘hope of the fatherland’, should not be satisfied with merely knowing the works of the National Hero, but more importantly, should lead lives inspired by these works.”Meanwhile, famed builder Reghis Romero, who is currently the Acting Supreme Commander of Knights of Rizal, lamented how the youth seem to have little knowledge about the works of Dr. Rizal. He emphasized the need for everyone to look into and appreciate the important role that Rizal has played in the country’s history.Pamintuan and Romero took the lead in the wreath laying ceremony, which was participated in by representatives from a total of 11 chapters of Knights of Rizal. Among the Knights of Rizal officers who took part in the brief program include Tropang Crime Watch czar Reynaldo Malig, Poet Laureate Jaspe Dula, PNP officer July Caligagan and mediamen Rizal Policarpio and Rodgie Pangilinan.A meaningful dance rendition was done by Peter A. De Vera’s Sinukwan Performing Arts, prior to the singing of the national anthem.

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Angeles News: AC officials inaugurate dialysis center, hospital façade

Posted by Vic on 2011-06-21 00:02:45 MDT

ANGELES CITY – City officials have formally inaugurated on Saturday the newly-constructed Angeles City Dialysis Center at the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC).

Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, along with Vice Mayor Maria Vicenta Vega Cabigting and First District Representative Carmelo ‘Tarzan’ Lazatin led the launching and blessing of the new Renal Care Unit and the façade of RLMMC.Other local officials who graced the inauguration rites were city councilors Edu Pamintuan, Jericho Aguas, Alfie Bonifacio, Jay Sangil,, Alex Indiongco, Maricel Morales, Dan Lacson, ABC President Jojo Dimapilis and SK Federation President Joey Charles Pamintuan.Aside from the dialysis center, the façade and lobby of RLMMC underwent major facelifts. The renovated lobby now includes a waiting room for patients and a lounge room for hospital visitors and guests.The mayor said the city dialysis center aims to provide quality and cost effective hemodialysis treatment to advance, or end stage renal disease patients through a caring and healing environment that utilizes state-of-the-art equipment."We are proud to become the first ever local government unit (LGU) to have a dialysis center," Pamintuan said.During his speech, Pamintuan added that it was his longtime desire to upgrade the level of medical services being offered by the city hospital and transform its image into a dependable health institution which has a heart that cares for Angeleños.“Alongside these developments, I always remind hospital staff to provide patients with better health and medical services,” Pamintuan said.For her part, Vega-Cabigting said with the newly-improved façade, patients and even visitors in the hospital will feel an ambiance comparable to a hotel lobby.“It feels as though the healing begins as soon as you enter the hospital doors,” the vice mayor said.During the inauguration, Lazatin pledged an amount of P1 million to be utilized in purchasing medicines intended for indigent patients.Pamintuan expressed appreciation to Lazatin and personal friends for contributing funds that led to the realization of the dialysis center project. He specifically mentioned the contributions extended by the Angeles City Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Angeles City.The renal care unit inside the facility will be equipped with 15 dialysis machines donated to the city by the US-based World Medical Relief Inc. It will be operated by three nephrologists, a head nurse, eight staff nurses and four technicians."We're studying how we can help our patients better by cutting on the prices of dialysis treatment. We will soon come out with guidelines as to how the renal care unit will operate," Pamintuan said.The dialysis center, which is expected to accommodate patients here who suffer from kidney diseases, will become fully operational in July. However, it already started screening patients for dialysis treatment.

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Angeles News: ‘Galumbang’ downs 27 kids in Pulungbulu

Posted by Vic on 2011-06-17 02:35:49 MDT

ANGELES CITY – Local health officials has reported food poisoning case victimizing some 27 children in barangay Pulungbulu in this city Wednesday night. Hospital records at the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC) disclosed that the victims suffered from stomachaches after ingesting fruits of ‘galumbang’ tree, widely known in the Visayas regions as ‘tuba-tuba’.The said fruits somewhat look similar to an apple, the reason why kids are compelled to chomp them.In line with this, local police authorities promptly arrested a certain Edwin Balbuena, a person accused of triggering these kids to eat fruits from ‘galumbang’ tree.Upon receiving the said report, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan has instructed hospital staff of the RLMMC to extend the necessary medical attention to the victims.Dr. Antonio Dizon, hospital director of RLMMC said majority of the children were already discharged after being treated and given proper medication.One of the food poisoning victims, nine year-old Dexter Garcia said "Pumunta po kami sa mga kasama ko. Sabi niya, kumain kayo ng ganito, kumuha siya ng isa, tinikim niya yung isa. Sabi niya masarap ito. Tapos tinikman na namin." The Department of Health (DOH) is once again reminding all parents to tell their children not to eat any unusual fruit, especially if they don’t know what exactly it is and where it came from. This should be done to help the kids evade from food poisoning.The city health office will issue a circular and advisory to the public to refrain from eating the said fruit.Barangay Pulungbulu residents, however, said the plant was used as a wound healer and a massage liniment and was not meant to be eaten."Gamot po ito, hindi kinakain ito. Kasi po pag tuyo ang ganito, yung mga bata siguro nakitang bago binuksan ganito lumitaw, siguro naengganyong tikman. Siguro akala lasang mani, baka akala ng mga bata, mani," said barangay tanod Noli Manalo.Barangay officials said they plan to place signages to warn people that the plant is not edible. Garcia, who was one of the victims, said he believes it would be better if the plant were cut down.‘Galumbang’ tree is scientifically referred to as Jatropha Curcas or Physic Nut in English. It is the newest craze to hit the Philippine agri-business, as the tree is known to produce oil for biodiesel.It becomes poisonous due to its rotenone content in the root parts.Right now, a lot of agri-farms in the country are starting to cultivate ‘galumbang’ trees for a primary purpose of biodiesel production, especially with the ever increasing petroleum prices, nowadays.

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