Top Ten Health Issues in the Philippines

The Philippines, like other developing countries, has its challenges with morbidity and mortality.
Addressing the different health problems each year and the continuous provision for the health
care needs has been a goal of the Philippines government. Here are the ten common health
issues the Philippines struggled with in 2009:
Pneumonia
Increase of cold months in the country caused increase of incidences of pneumonia. Pneumonia
involves inflammation of the lungs and leads to hospitalization. Foreigners, especially those from
non-tropical regions, are most susceptible to this in the Philippines because they have to adjust to
the weather patterns.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea outbreaks have been consistently on the rise in Philippine soil, especially with the
recent aftermath of Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy in local name).
Leptospirosis
A more recent DOH problem involved the hyper increase of cases of leptopspirosis in the
Philippines, particularly in La Union and other flood-stricken areas. The onset of consecutive
floods from the string of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng caused contaminated water to fill the
urban and rural areas.
Malnutrition
Physical, emotional and social factors contribute to this prevalent problem of Filipinos. More
underweight than overweight, Filipinos often have to consider societal gaps as a primary factor.
The ill distribution of wealth in the country attributes to most Filipinos having less food to eat on
their plates.

(AH1N1) Flu Virus Scare

The AH1N1 flu virus scare really took the wind out of boat sails as it reduced the number of
passengers on ships and other transportation modes that involve a lot of people. Notable security
measures were heightened in airports and other areas to prevent the outbreak, although the
outbreak still happened in Jaen Nueva Ecija, shortly after the first case of AH1N1 has been
reported May 2009.

Illegal Drug Addiction

Many Filipinos continue to fall victim to drug addiction. There are over 3.5 million habitual drug
users in the country, and some of the national scandals in the past have been linked to illegal
drug use. The ongoing struggle against illegal drug addiction is an uphill battle.
Malaria M
Villages in Filipino remote areas are most susceptible to outbreaks of Malaria, and the focus of
improvement efforts are all there, locally and internationally. The lack of accessibility and
financial resource to get the best medical care is the chief cause of malaria infiltration in the
country.
Tuberculosis
The Philippine coalition against tuberculosis is just one of the many institutions that help
alleviate this major Philippine health hazard. For decades, this has been established as one of the
countrys leading cause of deaths.

Heart Disease/Hypertension
A scary health problem, there has been steadily enormous increase in trends of hypertension
among Filipinos.

Cancer
A primary prominent person who recently died of this illness in the Philippines is Corazon
Aquino, among many other famous and non-famous individuals. Cancer is often found to be
prevalent in urban areas, with better treatment options. But cancer is quite difficult to treat for
some cases.

Ryan Cayabyab

Background information
Birth name
Raymundo Cipriano Pujante Cayabyab
Also known as

Mr. C

Born

May 04, 1954 (age 53)

Origin

Quezon City, Philippines

Genre(s)

classical, pop, jazz, religious

Occupation(s)

conductor, composer, arranger, pianist, singer

Instrument(s)

piano, multitrack recording (for his "One" series of albums)

Associated
acts

Philippine Madrigal Singers

Ryan, Ryan Musikahan (TV show)
Smokey Mountain
San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra
San Miguel Master Chorale
Philippine Idol

Raymundo Cipriano Pujante Cayabyab, popularly known as Ryan Cayabyab (born 4 May
1954) is a Filipino musician, composer and arranger. His works include theater musicals, choral
pieces, pop music and commercial recordings and musical scorings. He used to be the Director
of the San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts and a resident judge of Philippine Idol in
2006.
He is married to Emmy Punsalan. They were blessed with two children, Cristina Maria and
Antonio Maria. He and his wife run the Music School of Ryan Cayabyab.

Early life and education

Her mother did not approve anyone in the family to pursue a profession in the music industry as
she herself was an opera singer and she knew how meager the income is. Her mother passed
away and his father was left to take care of him and his three siblings.
He took up a course in Business Administration in the University of the Philippines,
Diliman (UPD). He supported his studies by working while studying. He worked under Salvador
Laurel as an accompanist in the Development of the Philippines Chorale Ensemble. His skills in
playing the piano was noticed and Laurel eventually gave him a scholarship. He then shifted and
pursued a course in Music.

Career
After earning a degree in Bachelor of Music, Major in Theory and worked as a professor for two
decades at UP in the Department of Composition and Music Theory. He planned to migrate to
the US with his family but Danding Cojuangco offered him a post in the San Miguel Foundation
for the Performing Arts. He served as its Executive and Artistic Director for seven consecutive
years.
Among Cayabyab's projects was the Ryan Cayabyab Singers, a group of seven young adult
singers who are similar to the former Smokey Mountain in the 1990's. He is also the executive
director of the Philpop Music Fest Foundation Inc., which is behind the Philippine Popular
Music Festival. The Philippine Popular Music Festival is a competition for songwriting which is
exclusive for amateurs and professionals to encourage Filipinos to safeguard their own musical
personality.

RYAN CAYABYAB

KAILAN

Bakit Kaya Nangangamba

Sa Tuwing Ika'y Nakikita?
Sana Nama'y Magpakilala.
Ilang Ulit Nang Nagkabangga,
Aklat Kong Dala'y Pinulot Mo Pa.
'Di Ka Pa Rin Nagpakilala.
Bawat Araw Sinusundan,
'Di Ka Naman Tumitingin.
Ano'ng Aking Dapat Gawin?
Bakit Kaya Umiiwas,
Binti Ko Ba'y Mayr'ong Gasgas?
Nais Ko Nang Magpakilala.
Dito'y Mayr'on Sa Puso Ko
Munting Puwang Laan Sa 'yo
Ma'ri Na Bang Magpakilala
Bawat Araw Sinusundan,
'Di Ka Naman Tumitingin.
Ano'ng Aking Dapat Gawin?
Kailan, Kailan Mo Ba Mapapansin Ang Aking Lihim?
Kahit Ano'ng Aking Gawin, Di Mo Pinapansin.

Kailan, Kailan Hahaplusin Ang Pusong

Bitin Na Bitin? Kahit Ano'ng Gawing Lambing
'Di Mo Pa Rin Pansin.

Dr. Francisco Santiago

Dr. Francisco Santiago was born on the 29th of January, 1889 in Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines.
He was a composer, pianist, teacher and film director. His parents were Felipe and Maria Santiago.
He married Concepcion de Leon in 1923 and they had four children.
The young Francisco had his elementary education at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He finished
high school at the Liceo de Manila. When he was seven years old, he took piano lessons from a
private tutor. After three years, he studied pianoforte under Blas Echegoyen, and then Faustino
Villacorta and Primo Calzada. Because his family was poor, he had to support himself throughout
school.
When the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music was founded in 1916, he was taken in
as a piano instructor. He studied advanced harmony and counterpoint under Robert Schofield. Dr.
Santiago obtained his teacher's certificate in science and composition from the University of the
Philippines in 1922. He obtained his masters in music at the Conservatory of Chicago, USA in 1924
and his doctorate at the Chicago Music School in the same year. It was there that he presented his
Concerto in B flat minor for pianoforte and orchestra, which is considered his masterpiece. He
returned to the Philippines in 1925 and resumed teaching at the University of the Philippines. 1 He
became the director at the UP Conservatory of Music from 1930 to 1946. He was appointed
Professor Emeritus at the University of the Philippines.
Among Dr. Santiago's popular kundimans are "Sakali Man" and "Hibik ng Pilipinas" (1917);
"Pakiusap" (1921); "Ang Pag-ibig" (1922); "Ano Kaya Ang Kapalaran?" (1938). Among his
undated kundimans are "Hatol Hari Kaya?"; "Aking Bituin" and "Pagsikat ng Araw".

The kundiman entitled "Kundiman, Anak Dalita", which he wrote in 1917, was sung before the
Royal court of Spain under the request of King Alfonso II.2
Among his works in the classical genre are the "Philippine Overture" and the "Sonata Filipina in D
flat Major" written in 1922. The latter is the "first sonata written in the Philippines introducing
Philippine musical themes" according to the films, among which are "Kundiman", "Leron-leron
Sinta", "Madaling Araw", "Manilena", and "Pakiusap" (the movie which was inspired by his own
composition). Dr. santiago also composed a version of "Ave Maria" for high voice with violin
obligato in 1919. He did musical transcriptions of "Ay, Kalisud!" (1928); "Ang Kumintang", "Kurakura" (a Jolo folk song) and "Hawi-hawi" (an Aeta folk song). These last three pieces are undated.
He also composed "Sumilang na Ang Manunubos" in 1932, a Philippine Christmas carol, which
according to composer, Antonio Molina, is the "first Philippine Christmas carol ever written for
mixed chorus and symphony orchestra."3 Dr. Francisco Santiago wrote the music of the sarswela, "Si
Margaritang Mananahi" in 1913, with libretto by Severino Reyes.
Dr. Francisco Santiago died on the 28th of September, 1947. He was posthumously given the
Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award by the City of Manila in 1968.

Pakiusap
Dr. Francisco Santiago

Natutulog ka man
Irog kong matimtiman
Tunghayan mo man lamang ang nagpapaalam

Dahan dahan mutya Buksan mo ang bintana,

Tanawin mo't kahabagan
Ang sa iyo'y nagmamahal

Kung sakali ma't salat Sa yama't pangarap

May isang sumpang wagas

Ang aking paglingap

Pakiusap ko sa iyo Kaawaan mo ako

Kahit mamatay Pag-ibig ko'y minsan lamang

Iniibig kita, magpakailan pa man