Page 18 - Hello Philippines December 2015 'B' ISSUE

16 www.hello-philippines.com NEWS December 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition

Poe’s ‘half-sister’ ready to take DNA tests
ILOILO - Out of fear of being and was immediately adopted by one that Poe came from us)”.
judged by the people, the Rodriguez Corazon Javellana. News5 found Genaro Javellana A combination photo of Senator Grace Poe and Lorena Rodriguez, the woman who claims to be the sister of
clan chose to hide their story that they Poe’s real mother. TV5 Screenshot
are the real family of Senator Grace Poe Javellana later gave her to Rosario Jaranilla, a nephew of Corazon Javellana
but according to Lorena Rodriguez, the “Sayong” Militar, who passed her to who was the first to adopt Poe. greatly help prove that she is a Filipino agree, another daughter of Victoria,
woman who claims to be the sister of Tessie Valencia, a friend of actress Susan and it will serve as a solid answer to Malyn Rodriguez-Lumayo, is willing to
Poe’s real mother, they have surfaced to Roces. The nephew said that Poe’s mother those questioning her citizenship. take the test. She may be Poe’s sibling.
help the senator prove her citizenship. was a housemate of his mother, adding
But Lorena did not mention in her that because of hard times, Poe’s other Poe said she was ready to undergo n MeAnne Los Baños / News5 / December 11, 2015
“Eh kung hindi lang sa sitwasyon story that Poe was abandoned and siblings were left for adoption. another DNA test. If the two parties
niya na hinahanap ‘yung citizenship picked up in a church. / 11:31 pm
niya, hayaan na lang namin (If not for But Lorena said there was a different
her situation wherein her citizenship is When asked where the story reason why Poe and her other siblings
questioned, we would have cared less),” originated that Poe was abandoned and were abandoned.
said Lorena. found in a church, Lorena answered
“from Sayong Militar. They said they Lorena related that her sister Victoria
Lorena claimed that her sister, found her.” When asked why they did it, was afraid of their father harming her
Victoria Rodriguez, was Senator Poe’s Lorena said she did not know why. everytime she got pregnant. So she
mother. left and went to their father’s sister in
Lorena said they did not believe the Avila where, she said, Poe was born and
According to Lorena, Victoria was story because they knew the truth. She where Javellana took her.
impregnated by a farmer named said that many had claimed to be Poe’s
Francisco Montanez who left her. family and had even undergone DNA Poe’s supposed real parents are
tests, but she said, “alam namin na already dead but the Rodriguez family
She said Poe was born in Guimaras galing sa amin siya (our family knew are ready to undergo DNA tests.

If the tests prove positive, it will

Free maintenance medicines for hypertensive, diabetic patients starting Jan. 2016: DOH
MANILA – The Department of Health people suffering from such illnesses upon with hypertension and diabetes health and seeking preventive check-up in the With this program that will be in

said on Friday that starting January registering with the DOH Hypertension problems were registered. RHUs. place next year, more patients suffering

2016, hypertension and diabetic patients and Diabetes Club in the RHUs of Regional Diagnosis will be made by barangays However, patients seeking consultation from chronic illness conditions are

nationwide may avail of free maintenance Offices where they belong. health workers (BHWs) in the RHUs. in private health facilities who have various expected to benefit as they will not only

medicines for their illnesses from the According to Secretary Garin, the RHUs To ensure that BHWs can help in the maintenance medicines and having a lot of have regular medicines but at the same

DOH regional rural health units (RHUs). in the regional offices of the DOH will furnish monitoring and assessments, they are out-of-pocket expenditures may also join time can also be influenced to do their

In a press briefing held at the DOH the list of the patients that will be joining provided with Blood Pressure Apparatus the club and avail also of free maintenance part in maintaining healthy lifestyle or

Media Relations Unit in Tayuman St., the club to the Central Office so that a data and Glucometer sets to measure sugar level. medicines. preventing their conditions to aggravate.

Sta. Cruz, Manila, DOH Secretary Janette base can be formed. Once diagnosed, the patient will be Poorest patients needing insulin Diabetes and hypertension are also

L. Garin said that essential medicines “This intervention will help facilitate enrolled in the club. medicine for their diabetic condition will classified as chronic diseases.

needed for control of hypertension risk assessment of community members As a benefit, the patients can have access also be given access. According to Garin, unhealthy habits

and diabetes can be received by and ensure regular follow-up of diagnosed to DOH drugs for hypertension (Losartan, The program is part of the DOH such as smoking, physical inactivity,

hypertensive and diabetic patients… Amlodipine, Metroprolol) and diabetes effort in upgrading facilities and services alcohol abuse, and unhealthy diet lead to

Patients needing them that will be in our (Metformin). nationwide in line with the goal of bringing hypertension and diabetes.

data base will be receiving the medicines As members, the patients will be the Universal Health Care Program or “In order to fight it, it is important to

starting January 2016,” she said. included in the activities that promote “Kalusugang Pangkalahatan” Health practice healthy lifestyle choices early,”

To be part of the DOH Hypertension and healthy lifestyle so that their blood pressure Agenda of the Aquino Administration to the she said.

Diabetes Club, a patient needs to consult and sugar level can be controlled. Filipino people. She stressed that early detection and

the nearest health center or primary The DOH wants to ensure that members At present, the Philippine Health care using cost-effective and sustainable

health care facility to undergo assessment, of the club will be pro-active in ensuring Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) health care interventions that are

screening and management. prevention of complication of their illnesses does not cover the provision of free integrated in primary health care

Initially, the program was launched in The program will be initially available maintenance medicines among patients facilities are essential. n PNA / December 12,

Pampanga last Dec. 9, wherein participants among the poor sectors of the community with hypertension and diabetes. 2015 / 12:15 pm

Party-list group: Probe NCCA’s P1.789-billion time deposit
MANILA – Party-list group Pwersa Nograles said the NCCA needs for the creation of Department of boarding, surfing, trekking, running, Endowment Fund for Culture and the

ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) over the to explain why it decided to place its Sports, Culture, and Recreation. and other activities that promote the Arts (NEFCA), has decided to keep

weekend said Congress should look P1.789-billion funds in time deposit Sambar said the proposed culture health and well-being of Filipinos. its P1.789 billion funds in a bank to

into the Commission on Audit (COA) instead of utilizing the money to help and sports super body would have “We just don’t need to support our generate interest instead of utilizing

report claiming that the National young and struggling artists “so that the primary mandate of developing professional and amateur athletes, we it for Philippine art and cultural

Commission for Culture and the Arts they can improve their crafts while and promoting young Filipino artists, should also support our recreational programs, projects, and activities.

(NCCA) has placed some P1.789-billion ensuring that they can still put food on athletes, and sportsmen. sportsmen and enthusiasts,” Sambar COA said keeping the fund in a

funds in time deposit as this could be the table for their families and loved The proposed government body said. time deposit is contrary to the rules on

diversion of public funds. ones.” will also be mandated to administer PBA’s call for the investigation of the administration of public funds and

PBA spokesman Jericho Nograles “We have tens of thousands various recreational activities such the NCCA came after COA revealed has resulted in “the immobilization

said the huge amount of money could of young Filipinos who should be as biking, mountain climbing, skate that the NCCA, through the National or idleness of such huge amount

have gone a long way to support young benefiting from this fund and yet instead of helping the government

and aspiring artists in honing their the NCCA is just making money of it in maximizing the use of its scarce

crafts and encouraging them to pursue through time deposit. The big question resources.”

their passion. is who are getting all the interests?” According to the COA report, as

He said many young but poor said Nograles, youngest son of former of Dec. 31, 2014, the NEFCA had a

artistically inclined Filipinos were Speaker Prospero Nograles. balance of P1,789,877,477.02 placed

forced to abandon their passion and “Congressional oversight is needed in a time deposit called the High Yield

pursue other careers because of lack of to get this agency to invest in our arts Savings Account (HYSA) under the

support from the government. instead of keeping our artists starving. agency’s Cash in Bank Local Currency,

“Filipinos are perhaps one of the They should help the starving artists Time Deposits (LCTD) account.

most artistic people on this planet but and not keep the artists starving,” he COA said that NCAA could have

it’s really sad that there’s barely any said. violated Executive Order 338 issued on

support for them. We need to help our On the other hand, PBA’s first May 17, 1996, which requires that cash

young and budding artists so they can nominee former Rep. Mark Sambar balances of all government agencies

truly reach the full potential of their said Congress should investigate this and offices be remitted to the National

talents,” he said. issue in the light of the PBA’s proposal National Commission for Culture and the Arts. File photo by Bernard Testa Treasury. n PNA / December 13, 2015 / 2:55 pm