HEALTH | What are the blood types? Why is it important to know about your blood type?

Accidents happen all the time. And for what it's worth, it is definitely essential to get to know about your and your loved ones' blood types. Pero, what are the blood types? And why is it important to know about your blood type?

Image Courtesy: Interactive-Biology.com

In general, there are four (4) blood type: A, B, AB, and O. There are two components to consider when talking about blood transfusion. First is antigen, and second is antibody.

Kung iisipin natin, parang ang A antigens are the keys (susi), and anti-B antibodies are the doorknobs with matching "machine gun" to kill any foreign object. Kapag ikaw ay may type A blood, nakabantay ang anti-B antibodies mo against B antigens (na matatagpuan malamang sa type B blood at pati na din sa type O blood). Ibig sabihin hindi ka pwedeng tumanggap ng type B blood kasi it contains B antigens na sisirain lang ng anti-B antibodies ng dugo mo.

What will happen if the anti-B antibodies attack the B antigens in the blood that you received? The B antigens (bilang ikaw ay type A na pasyente na tumatanggap ng type B blood) will be attacked (via "machine gun" bratatatat hehe as mentioned above) and destroyed by your B-antibodies, may clog your blood vessels, and eventually cause blood clot (o barado sa ugat). Yung condition dito ay acute hemolytic transfusion reaction.

Okay, so here are some of the basic rules:

1. A person with A antigens in their blood is said to have type A blood. Type A patients have anti-B antibodies. So, they can only receive type A and type O blood (check number 4 below).

2. A person with B antigens in their blood is said to have type A blood. Type B patients have anti-A antibodies. So, they can only receive type B and type O blood (check number 4 below).

3. A person with A and B antigens (yup, both) in their blood is said to have type AB blood. Type AB patients have no antibodies kaya pwede silang tumanggap ng type A, type B, type AB, or type O blood. This is why they are called universal recipients.

4. A person with no antigens in their blood is said to have type O blood. Type O patients have A- and B-antibodies, kaya hindi sila pwedeng tumanggap ng blood other than type O. Pero if you will notice, from 1 to 4, people with type O blood can give to any of them. This is why people with type O blood are called universal donors. Sila yung dakilang pwedeng magbigay.

These are the four (4) basic types of blood. Pero, may specific pa na classification sa kanila. And the specificity of the blood type all depends on the Rh factor, another antigen found in blood cells na ipinangalan sa Rhesus monkeys. Yung pag-assign ng whether or not merong Rh factor sa dugo mo is either (+) or (-). And it is important kasi pwedeng atakihin ang dugo mo kung ibang Rh factor ang meron ka.

Donors with Rh (-) antigens can give to either patients with Rh (-) or patients with Rh (+) antigens, while those with Rh (+) antigens can ONLY give to patients with Rh (+) as well.

So, to apply what was learned (refer to the table above), we will compile everything up. Ang pinaka-universal donor talaga ay yung mga type O (-) patients. Compatible ang dugo ni O (-) sa lahat ng blood types. Si type AB (+) naman ang pinaka-konti ang pwedeng mabigyan; in short, kahit gaano man ka-deep yung intensyon niya na magbigay, hindi talaga pwede. Luckily, may tinatawag na blood swap/exchange sa blood banks hehe. Ang mga may AB (+) ay pwede lang talagang magbigay sa kapwa AB (+).

Ang pinaka-universal recipient naman ay si AB (+) kasi kaya niya tumanggap ng dugo mula kahit na sinong walang sakit. Now, if hindi mo pa din naintindihan, do watch the video below.

Image and Video Courtesy: Youtube channel Thoughty2

In case you still don't get why you need to know what your blood type is, the real reason why you should know about your blood type is so that you'd be aware of what blood type you need. Oo, may mga high-tech gadgets na ginagamit to detect your blood type at an instant. Pero sa mga probinsya at malalayong lugar, bihira ang ganyan, kaya importante din na alam mo kung ano talaga blood type mo. Kasi kung mali ang blood type mo, mali din ang dugo na maitratransfuse sa iyo. And you wouldn't want that case. Promise.

ALERT | Typhoon Nona Updates: #WalangPasok Class Suspensions, Signal Numbers

As of 10 PM, December 14, Nona was spotted 325 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar, moving westwards at 19 kph. It had maximum sustained winds of 150 kph and gusts of up to 185 kph. Estimated rainfall amount within the typhoon's 300 km diameter was from moderate to heavy.

Here are the places/areas where public storm warning signals have been raised.

Signal Number 3:

Catanduanes,

Sorsogon,

Albay,

Ticao Island, 

Northern Samar,

Eastern Samar,

Samar

Signal Number 2:

Masbate including Burias Island,

Camarines Sur,

Camarines Norte,

Marinduque,

Romblon,

southern Quezon,

Leyte,

Biliran

Signal Number 1:

Oriental Mindoro,

Batangas,

Laguna,

the rest of Quezon, 

Southern Leyte,

northern Cebu including the Bantayan and Camotes Islands,

Aklan,

Capiz,

northern Negros Occidental,

Dinagat province,

Siargao Island.

Classes have also been suspended in the following areas:

REGION IV-A (CALABARZON)

Lucena City, Quezon - preschool and elementary

REGION V (BICOL REGION)

Albay - all levels

Camarines Sur - all levels

Camarines Norte - pre-school to high school

Naga City - all levels

Masbate City, Masbate - preschool to high school

REGION VII (CENTRAL VISAYAS)

Bogo City, Cebu - elementary to high school

Medellin, Cebu - elementary to high school

REGION VIII (EASTERN VISAYAS)

Northern Samar - all levels

Biliran Island - preschool, elementary, secondary in the following towns:

Naval - pre-school, elementary and secondary

Biliran - pre-school, elementary

Kawayan - pre-school, elementary

Culaba - pre-school, elementary

Cabucgayan - pre-school, elementary

Caibiran - pre-school

Cathedral School of La Naval (CSN) - all levels

Sources: PAGASA, GMA News, CNN Philippines

LIST | 5 reasons why you should start prepping

What would it take for you to realize that anytime of the day, you might end up gasping for your last breath? There are just so many reasons to let anyone make that move – start prepping. And in this post, I will try to convince you and push you to do it now.

And what I mean by "it" here are equally significant things like confiding your feelings to a beloved one, reaching for your goals, ending the laziness, moving mountains, etc. You know what i mean. There are just lots of things going on right now that sometimes we fail to realize how important it is to give out our best in every day of our lives. Here are five (5) of the most compelling reasons to enable you to JUST DO IT. Make the most out of your day. Start prepping for anything.

Reason #1: Cyberwarfare and Terrorism

Image Courtesy: Getty Images

The spread of terrorism across the globe, add to that the fact that the presence of ISIS, other Islamic and non-Islamic radicals, and violent people, is evident nowadays. You may have seen the recent terror attacks in France (Paris), Lebanon, Mali, Nigeria, among others. Some people are now becoming more and more determined to take away innocent lives for passion and dedication.

And if it’s not the loss of lives, it is financial trouble as sophisticated fraudulent black hats can easily steal anything vital to your identity and make you bankrupt.

Reason #2: Economic Uncertainty

Image Courtesy: ShutterStock | CNN

Speaking about bankruptcy, even big business entities become attacked. But all these is because some white hats are fighting these greedy corporations owned by the top 1% to play robin hood for the 99%. Other sinister hackers just love to bring trouble to governments as well who hide their dirty laundry in their closets. Unless money is given less priority, everyone will benefit greatly without marginalizing others who then aspire for change and try to destabilize societies.

Reason #3: Severe Natural Disasters

Video Courtesy: Joseph Friedman

You’ve seen typhoon Haiyan, hurricane Katrina, and the destructive earthquakes of Nepal. You’ve heard of severe droughts in California and the killer flashfloods in south Asia. You’ve watched footages of large forest fires in Indonesia whose haze brought inconvenience to neighboring countries. You’re just about to see more in the future. Doesn’t this worry you?

Reason #4: Epidemics and Health Concerns

Image Courtesy: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The Ebola epidemic in Africa, the influenza and bird flu attacks, and revelations of growing resistance against super effective antibiotics are quite something to ponder on. You just need to think that bacteria and viruses evolve through time.

Reason #5: Society Breakdown and Change

Image Courtesy: NJPsychDoc Wordpress | Boundaries of the Soul

And with all these things happening, unless you’re prepared enough, you are saved from the stresses that lead people to panic and make wrong decisions which thereby lead to chaos and societal breakdown. Someone once said that change is the only permanent thing in the world. If you keep it in mind, you are always given the option to adjust or get left behind.

Despite all the necessary actions done by world governments, it’s inevitable that unexpected and unpleasant events will happen. There’s nothing wrong with preparing for something that might or might not come. Take a look at it. It’s better than ending up helpless when the worst of chances hit back on you. If there is one thing we can all learn from billions of leaflets, scratches, and pages of human history, it’s that violence continues to be a significant part of the balance in the world.

It helps to be a bit anxious sometimes or at least to consider all future possibilities. The governments are exerting a lot. Now, it’s your turn. Prep up! Or at least, be aware of what's happening around you. And always hope for the better. Be positive, yet be vigilant.

INSPIRE | This short Filipino clip will move you to tears.

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel ChiqChat

Behind every gift that you receive in life from a loved one, there is a story - of hard work, of pain, of humility, of sacrifice, of laughter, of fulfillment.

Sometimes we take for granted the people who cherish us, who give us all we want, who nurtures us to bring out the best in us. This Christmas month, siguro a short "I love you" will ease all those aches and sufferings, and a simple smile will let them know how happy you are for having them.

Whatever economic state you are in right now, be it in a wealthy, well-off background or in a sea of debt and financial  instability, take the opportunity to thank those who make you feel that you matter. Thank them for changing you.

VIDEO | Asians try Filipino food. Check out their reactions!

A lot of Youtubers from various countries have been posting clips of themselves trying out food not local to them. A sweet couple of Asians (one Filipino, one Indonesian), together with their Mexican friend, taste Filipino junk food. 

Arnold Telagaarta, his girlfriend Heart, and their Mexican friend Lupe tried Nagaraya, Boy Bawang, Regent ube cake, polvoron, Pamana chicharon, Ricoa Flat Tops, salted tamarind candy (sampalok), and Piattos.

Check out their reactions below! Watch it.

Video Courtesy: Youtube user Arnold Telagaarta

LIST | 5 awesome Filipino innovations you might not know

Did you know that aside from the creativity that we Filipinos possess, we also have that ingenuity, street-smart attitude, swag skills, and innovative thinking that bring us at par with our international counterparts? In a recent post I made, I talked about several Pinoy entrepreneurs who made it or are currently making it BIG including SALt (salt-powered lamp) innovator Engr. Aisa Mijeno. Now, let's talk about more products of Filipino minds!

Set aside all Filipino problems that brought us to the international headlines (e.g. tanim bala scam). Skip Filipino entertainment-related developments that always get some attention anywhere. Here are five awesome Filipino innovations you might not know, but will now learn about. Enjoy!

1. Plastic-to-Fuel Converter

Screenshot: Youtube channel Reuters

Bacolod native  Jayme Navarro utilized a way to turn thousands of trash into fuel such as diesel, gasoline, and kerosene. The incineration and conversion process begins when the plastics are shredded and dried, which are then placed into an air-tight chamber for decomposition. The plastic granules inside undergoes smelting and evaporates, the vapor of which becomes distilled into the different fuel variants.

The result is a cost-effective way to produce cleaner, cheap fuel from plastic.

2. Amphibious Tricycle (featured in my first blog Spotlight Philippines)

Video Source: Youtube channel Top Gear Philippines

Designed by a group of Filipino inventors and innovators led by Dominic Chung and Atoy Llave, the Salamander amphibious tricycle is the first of its kind to be created. It is a tricycle that can wade through the waters especially when heavy flooding takes place. This water-and-land traveling tricycle is definitely what the country.

3. First Windows graphics accelerator chip

Image Source: Imbenta.Net

Yep, there were a few Filipinos who had the chance to venture into and explore the world of tech when the industry was just starting to grow. The first single-chip graphical user interface accelerator which enhanced computers' performance was developed by Filipino entrepreneur, engineer, and philantropist Diosdado Banatao. The innovation has allowed computer users to use graphics for commands and not the usual typed commands in older computers.

Aside from the graphical UI accelerator, he was also behind the 16-bit microprocessor-based calculator, the first 10-Mbit Ethernet CMOS with silicon coupler data-link control and transreceiver chip, and the first system logic chip set.

4. Improvised Medical Incubator, Weighing Scale and Warmer

Image Source: Imbenta.net

Credited for her contributions to the field of medicine, National Scientist Dr. Fe del Mundo is truly a woman, although not known to many Filipinos, who deserves all the love and respect of her countrymen. She became the first Filipino woman and the only woman to have enrolled at the Harvard University School of Medicine during her time. Among her priceless accomplishments, a makeshift incubator that can be used in rural areas without electricity was one of the game-changers at that time. It was composed of two native differently-sized laundry baskets placed one inside another. She also made a cloth-suspended weighing scale for infants and a bamboo warmer for newborns with special care needs.

5. Furniture from Forest Waste

Image Courtesy: Naturecast.com

Let's talk green! Featured on Rappler, Naturescast is a wood-like material actually composed of forest waste (twigs, branches, leaves) which are then ground and bound to form stylish and sturdy furniture from chairs and lamps to walls and ceilings. Some of the products of Nature's Legacy, the company behind Naturescast, are being used by outlets like The Body Shop.

There's just a lot of development nowadays that Filipinos do. Just think about the numbers of start-ups that have flourished in the country. Don't forget the inventions and researches that are being conducted inside top universities.

Other innovative products that Filipinos can usually think of, because they're just seen and heard on the news, are the e-jeepney, yo-yo, patis (fish sauce), body heat-powered flashlight created by Ann Makosinsk, low-cost landslide sensor, Project NOAH and its Philippine-made MOSES tablet, and of course, the Aurelio supercar. But did you also know that Filipinos also innovated an electric firecracker (Elektro firecracker), a 3-in-1 ANOS Patriot fire truck, and an improvised community guard baton? 

Feed your curiosity. Search them up! :)

MONEY | PSE Index (PSEi) Stock Performance (January - November 2015 Returns)

There are less than 25 tradings days left before this tough investment year ends and a little less than 20 days before Christmas bonuses start raining to keep the Holiday festivity up. Some investors might just be curious about how the companies/stocks included in PSE (Composite) Index or PSEi fare since 2015's first trading day.

Well, let's take a look at the table of PSEi stock performances or stock returns from January 5 to November 27, 2015.

It's no shocker that only 12 of the blue chip companies (stocks) in the Philippines have experienced gains in the stocks' prices. The market has seen turbulence and waves of volatility most evident in August when a steep decline and mega sale of stocks took place. Most of the blue-chip stocks listed in the PSEi have taken huge losses, that's considering when one bought the specific loser stocks at the end of January 5 and still held on to it until November 27, 2015. 

PSEi ended 2014 at 7,230.57, topped 7276.62 on the first trading day of 2015, and reached an all-time peak of 8,136.97 in April 2015, before it dropped down to 6927.07 in November 27. That's around 4.68% loss for the PSEi.

Some notable performers, however, include SM Prime Holdings (SMPH), LT Group (LTG), Manila Electric Company (MER), Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), GT Capital Holdings (GTCAP), and Globe Telecom (GLO). Meanwhile, the biggest losers are Alliance Global Group (AGI), Petron Corp. (PCOR), Energy Development Corp. (EDC), Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), International Container Terminal Services (ICTS), San Miguel Corp (SMC), and Bloombery Resorts Corp. (BLOOM).

Will there be reversals in the current stock prices? Will there be significant gains as the Holiday season approaches? Will some stock prices continue going down the drain? Are investors confident that these companies will do better in 2016? Will you still hold on or let go? We'll see.

P.S. If you want to know a little bit more about the blue chip stocks of the Philippines, visit this link. If you want to check out the first half performance of the blue chip stocks, try this link out.

P.P.S. Check out MLB's Facebook page via  Mania LifeBox for more updates. :)