My Post-war Story: Joining the U.S. Coast Guard

It was 1947. I was 6 years old. We moved to Santol where my parents started a laundry business. They would pickup dirty laundry from customers near us, wash their clothes, iron them, and deliver them back. Everything was done by hand. We could not afford a washing machine. The laundry business was our only source of income. When I was about 12 years old and strong enough, I helped my parents by picking up and delivering laundry.

One of our customers that helped shape my life was Generoso Fernandez and his wife Miling. They had six children: three girls and three boys. The boys were about my age.

Mr. Fernandez was a civil engineer. When I graduated from high school, Mr. Fernandez encouraged me to take civil engineering in college, which I did.

Mr. Fernandez taught me how to play chess. When I became good enough playing the game I became his regular chess opponent. I became good friends with his sons Boy, Bert and Sonny. They would frequently invite me over to play table tennis and basketball in their yard. They became my favorite playmates in Santol. By the way, my nickname while I was growing up was “Junior” or sometimes “Jun”. When we went to visit the PI in 2003, The Fernandez’s, my relatives and other friends still addressed me as “Junior” and I was 62 years old!

While the Fernandez boys attended San Beda in high school, I went to Mapa High. Because I started first grade when I was five years old (normal starting age was seven), I was the youngest in our class in high school. My favorite subjects were math and science. I also liked art, so I took Graphic Arts as an elective in my junior and senior years.

There were about 50 sections in our graduating class in Mapa High. Each section had about 30 students. Each student was assigned to a section based on his or her grades the previous year. Students in Section 1 would have the highest grades, while those in Section 50, the lowest. I was in Section 2 in my senior year. Our class graduated from high school in March of 1957.

I attended the University of the Philippines right after high school but I only studied there for one semester for financial reasons. I transferred to the Polytechnic Colleges of the Philippines (PCP), taking evening classes. In my second year in college, I began to realize I could not complete my education to get a degree. My parents would not be able to pay for my education for very long. My parents were getting old and it was getting more and more difficult for them to run their laundry business. But if I quit school, I wouldn’t know what to do with my life with no skills. I wouldn’t be good at doing manual labor. I was a 100-pound weakling when I was in college.

I learned that a couple of young men in our neighborhood had joined the U.S. Navy as stewards. I also learned that stewards in the U.S. Navy worked in the kitchen and cleaned the officers quarters.

I became interested and wanted to know how they got in. I talked to their families to get more information and I learned that I had to get an appointment first at the U.S. Naval Base at Sangley Point to take a written test, to be interviewed, then to pass a rigid physical exam. I thought I would give it a try just to see how far I would get in the application process. Even if I passed the written test and the interview, I didn’t know how I would pass the physical exam with my 100-pound frame.

I wrote to Sangley Point several times requesting an appointment but all I got back in response to each letter was a rejection postcard saying “We will contact you when we need you” or words to that effect. Oh well, that was the end of that, I thought.

Then a classmate from PCP told me how I could get an appointment at Sangley Point. He said I should first write the President of the Philippines at the Malacanang Palace to get a letter of recommendation, then enclose that letter in my letter to Sangley Point requesting an appointment. So I wrote President Carlos P. Garcia, the sitting president , requesting for a letter of recommendation. It must have been election season because I got a quick reply with the recommendation letter. The response was from his Vice President, Diosdado Macapagal. Enclosing the recommendation from the Vice President. I asked Sangley Point for an appointment, and within a week, I was delighted when I received a reply telling me when I should report for my appointment. That was in 1958. I was only 17.

My Uncle Pelagio accompanied me to Sangley Point as I didn’t know how to get there. We took the bus. He waited outside the gate while I went in for my written exam and interview. It must have taken all day for the whole process as there were hundreds of us. I passed the exam and interview, but when the recruiter realized I was only 17, he told me to come back the next year for my physical exam. I was given an appointment for October 22, 1959. I will never forget that date as that would be my 18th birthday. I was disappointed at first that I would have to wait another year, but then I realized I could never pass the physical if I had taken it right then. Right away, I would flunk it because I was underweight. But now I had one year to get in shape.

Mr. Fernandez and I played chess a lot. We became close; he and his whole family treated me like I was part of the family. When he learned about my prospects to join the U.S. Navy and that I needed to be fit for my physical exam, he offered his help by enrolling me in a physical fitness program at the YMCA. I exercised, lifted weights and swam three times a week for a year. I weighed 115 pounds just before my scheduled physical. I heard that the weight requirement was 120 pounds. I needed to gain five more pounds before I stepped on the scale at Sangley. The trip to Sangley was two hours from Santol. My Uncle Pelagio gave me a brown paper bag full of bananas to take on the bus. His instructions were to eat as many as I could before I got to the gate at Sangley. I must have eaten five pounds of bananas. I passed my physical exam.

After meeting all the requirements to enlist and now waiting to get sworn in, I asked myself if I really wanted to do this. I would be away from my parents for the first time not knowing when I would return. I wasn’t sure how I would perform working as a steward. At that time I knew I couldn’t be anything else but a steward. If I didn’t go through with this I would have a dead-end career at home. I wanted to help my parents as they got older. At least as a steward I would have a steady income and would be able to help them out financially. It was also exciting to think now I would have the chance see the United States of America. I had seen a lot of scenery in U.S. movies in technicolor and now I could see them in real life. I signed up.

Archemides' Principle

Thank you for appreciating my "postings."

Let me now relate a "session" among several body organ's self-importance for the body.

A happy and contented wife was sleeping in bed while the body organs continued to work at a relaxed pace automatically.

The Brain & spinal cord partners started the boast- "We are the most important part of mom's cuerpo. We made her intelligent- making smart descisions, controlled her emotions specially when the husband goes bonkers, make the muscles move so she can do all her work and I am the body's main computer to store all the data and info of her life," said the brain. "And, remember Christopher Reeves ?- he may be superman but was paralyzed form the neck down when he broke it!"

The Lungs almost had an apneic attack and the wife coughed and wheezed briefly. I'm better than you- I make the body breathe and without oxygen you guys will not last 3 minutes! Remember Kathleen Quinlan ? She was in coma but the docs supplied her with oxygen and I kept her alive for 8 years 'til they removed her respirator!"

"That maybe so," said the Heart..."But I pump the oxygen all over yours including all the nutrients so y'all can stay well. You also won't last 3 minutes if I stop my beat ! The Liver interjected..."Well, I'm the refinery that purify these foods and detoxify some of the junk she eats and alcohol she drinks. A liver transplant is hard to get if I become cirrhotic!"

The Kidneys then reminded the other organs what Doc Herm posted recently and continued filtering the urine from the blood while the lady sleeps- the "golden flow" continued.

Then the Ovaries and the Uterus exclaimed together..."Hey, we're important too...and necessary! Of course we need that "ding-dong" guy next to her who at 70 years old is still full of testosterone ! Without us he's just for "show" and mankind is doomed like the dinosaurs but they have already eleven kids and we're tired- mom is only 28 years old so, we can afford to close the "factory!"

After mulling the other organ's contribution they turned their attention to the lowly Colon- "What about you ? You're just full of shit and farts a lot!"

The Colon, quiet as a mouse didn't say anything. It just closed the anal sphincter real tight- like the vaults at Ft. Knox that no amount of purgative will pass thru nor an enema could get get in but continued his business smug as a rug. The next day the wife woke up and sat at the "throne" to do # 2 but was surprised that nothing is coming out.

This continued for 3-days then she started getting sick into the 5th day. The friendly and useful bacterias in the colon started to get pissed-off, their numbers were multiplying by a factor of 4 and the colonic effluent starts to get hard like the rocks of Gilbaltral so, the E.Coli metamorphosed into germs absorbed by the blood thru the mucosa and flowed into the body- first causing peritonitis and appendicitis. When they reached the heart it caused pericarditis and endocardititis to the lungs causing bilateral pneumonia into the liver causing hepatitis; then the brain causing meningitis and brain abcess. All the while the lovely lady reeked like a cesspool when the indole & skatole (gases of waste from the trapped stools emanates thru the skin and dissipated in the air.

Luckily, when rushed to the E.R. a young Pilipino medical resident-surgeon recognized all of this and performed an emergency colectomy(surgical removal of the colon). sutured a colostomy bag thru the abdomen, instituted peritoneal dialysis round-the-clock, put her on a respirator with strong I.V. antibiotics and placed her in a private sterilized and deodorized room with U.V. lights. Alleluyah- she recovered!

Moral: Respect also the "crap!"

I almost forgot about Archie- love those Greeks..."The sum of all parts is equal to the whole."

Get his drift?

Herm

One More for the Road

Suckling Pig Lechon

I decided to do something special for a small family get-together, something I had never done before. I thought I’d try doing a pig roast Philippine style on our charcoal grill in our backyard. After doing my research on line on how to cook lechon, I special-ordered a small suckling pig at a local market. I made sure the pig would be 15 pounds or less as the maximum weight my rotisserie could handle was 15 pounds. The pig we got was 14 pounds – just perfect, as the length was also a perfect fit on the grill.

It took five hours to roast the pig. We pulled it at 170 deg F. It looked delicious even before we carved it. My wife Louise made the liver sauce. I am ready to do this again!

Thanks to my son-in-law Dave for all the help. My daughter Tina took this video. The family dog Tekka kept us company throughout the roast.

Gout Comes Back: High-Fat Diet Causes Painful Arthritic Condition

Submitted by Dr. Herm Valenzuela

Why Is This Old-Time Rich Man's Disease Making a Modern Comeback?

By Hyon Choi, MD, DrPh
Boston University

Special from Bottom Line's Daily Health News

October 5, 2009

Brought on by overindulging in food and drink, gout was once considered a disease of the monied classes, but nowadays those of a lower socioeconomic status may be more likely to have the disease, due to overindulgence in fast food and sugary drinks. Research suggests that the number of cases here in the US doubled from 1977 to 1997, with an estimated six million Americans suffering this painful, debilitating form of arthritis.

Gout is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness and tenderness typically affecting the big toe, but potentially other joints, such as the ankles, knees, fingers, wrists and elbows as well. Gout incidence is more common in men, although women are increasingly susceptible after menopause. I was told by Hyon Choi, MD, DrPh, professor of medicine at Boston University and an expert on the topic, however, that the reason behind the resurgence of gout is obesity and certain western lifestyle factors. Eating the kinds of foods that lead to being overweight, including red meat, particularly in combination with sugary soda, is the key factor behind this trend, Dr. Choi told me, noting that gout is also a red flag for metabolic syndrome. Sixty percent of those with gout also have metabolic syndrome, he said, adding that "it’s not just about having gout, it is also about associated serious medical conditions in the future."

ALL ABOUT GOUT

Gout develops from a buildup of uric acid, a chemical in the blood formed by the breakdown of purines, which are found in meat, seafood and in some beers. Consuming lots of these means that your body has more purines to break down -- and more purines lead to higher levels of uric acid. This can cause the formation of uric acid crystals (a solid form of uric acid), which accumulate in the joints, causing inflammation, swelling and pain.

The good news is that changing your ways usually reduces symptoms and also can prevent recurrence of gout altogether. Step one, of course, is to lose weight. "Being overweight is the most important of all the risk factors," emphasizes Dr. Choi. "Increased fat cell mass increases uric acid production, decreases uric acid excretion and increases risk for metabolic syndrome." In addition to maintaining a healthy weight, gout sufferers should limit alcohol and sugary drinks and reduce consumption of purine-rich foods, such as animal proteins.

In addition to altering your diet, natural remedies include...

If you’re a coffee drinker, keep at it. Both regular and decaffeinated coffees have been found helpful in lowering uric acid levels and reducing risk for gout. Experts believe an antioxidant in coffee decreases insulin sensitivity, and insulin resistance is strongly linked to elevated uric acid levels. Drinking coffee black is best. (See Daily Health News, December 27, 2007, for more on the health benefits of coffee.)

Take vitamin C. Supplements of 500 mg to 1,500 mg increase the excretion of uric acid. Research reported in the March 9, 2009, issue of Archives of Internal Medicine found that people who took vitamin C supplements reduced their risk of developing gout by up to 45%.

Choose low-fat dairy products. Research has suggested that choosing low-fat dairy products, such as skim milk and low-fat yogurt, over the higher-fat products increases uric acid secretion.

Eat cherries or drink cherry juice concentrate, both of which seem to help reduce symptoms for some people. Soothe sore joints with a comfrey poultice application, which has been used since 400 BC. (Grind comfrey leaves and mix with distilled water to apply as a paste, then wrap the afflicted area in gauze or an ace bandage.)

PHARMACEUTICAL TREATMENTS

Though lifestyle changes are always helpful, they may not be able to control severe cases of gout, Dr. Choi told me. So, predictably enough, drug manufacturers have seen opportunity in the rising numbers, leading to the first new drug for the condition in 40 years. Until now, the medication most commonly used to ease discomfort and prevent future gout attacks has been zyloprim (Allopurinol), taken orally, which works by reducing the uric acid level in the blood. Dr. Choi told me that it is prescribed by many doctors but only about half of patients get "satisfactory relief" from the drug.

Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration approved another oral drug treatment, called febuxostat (Uloric), which works similarly to Allopurinol but seems to be more effective in lowering uric acid levels. Uloric is also a viable alternative for the 2% of patients who are allergic to Allopurinol.

Another new drug, Krystexxa, awaiting FDA approval, also lowers the level of uric acid but is administered by intravenous infusion every few weeks. It seems to work faster than Allopurinol and Uloric, but it is much more expensive.

Finally, there is some promising new research coming out of Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions that indicates a gene variant may be a factor for about 10% of gout patients. Researchers believe the mutated gene can cause insufficient excretion of uric acid. They hope to target the gene with a drug that makes excretion faster and more efficient, though that will be years away.

Hyon Choi, MD, DrPh, professor of medicine, Boston University.

Red Neck Margarita

By Raf Rovira

The Redneck Margarita Recipe comes to us from Redding. Jason Dunn's Mom gave him the recipe (though she called it Whitetrash Margaritas... not really sure why or how the name got changed... but either name is fitting!), he was kind enough to share with me and I have been cooling countless parched throats since then.

One thing I would recommend is to resist using an expensive/high quality tequila, since the Cuervo Golds of the world provide the most "bang" for the buck. Also, the recipe calls for specific brands of "mixers", they can obviously be substituted, but (as it stands) this is a winning combination. So, alas... here's the mix:

1 Corona Beer - 12 ounces

1 Can of Limeade Concentrate (comes frozen) - 12 ounces

1 Can of 7-Up - 12 ounces

Tequila - 12 ounces. I find using the empty can of Limeade after you empty it, is most useful.

Put ice in a cup and ENJOY!!!