Human Anatomy and Physiology Index
I’ll be teaching Human Anatomy and Physiology again at the University of Pangasinan this semester. Human Anatomy and Physiology is one of the core and fundamental subjects of the AHSE curriculum which will lead to a B.S. Nursing degree.
I’ll be using the university’s NEC LCD Projector for my lectures. I got hold of two CD-ROM based teaching materials to aid me in accomplishing the set learning objectives:
1. The expanded Essentials of InterActive Physiology CD-ROM which features activities specifically selected for short Anatomy and Physiology course, including animations, tutorials, and quizzes.
2. The enhanced Instructor Art and Lecture Presentation CD-ROM which gives me quick and convenient access to PowerPoint lecture outlines and all the figures and tables from text in both labeled and unlabelled formats.
As a learning resource, will be using the textbook Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology Eight Edition by Elaine N. Marieb.
Note: For Instructors and Students: You could access an online Companion Website for Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology. Click here.
For almost 15 years now, I have been a part of a basketball group that meets weekly on the hardcourt. The group is comprised of 20 something to 30 something years old men of different backgrounds and personalities. The group is composed of young businessmen, a politician, OFWs, a teacher (that’s me), employees, salesmen, a law graduate, physical therapists, nurses, managers, and students. The degree of familiarity and developed friendship has not diminished the level of competitiveness among us.
We learn a lot of things in life outside the classroom. I have found a significant learning place in the basketball court. Throughout the years, basketball has taught me lessons that can’t be found in books or classrooms. These lessons learned are even multi-disciplinary. Physical fitness, Physics, Leadership, Team Building, Group Dynamics, Personality Development, and Values Education.
 I am, in basketball standards, small. I stand just about 5.5 feet and am thinly built. I am not a skywalking, speedy or a sweet shooting player. But I take pride in my perimeter sniping, passing skills and defense. Definitely a late bloomer, it was in high school that I have fully appreciated playing ball and hoops. During class breaks, after classes, under the sweltering sun, and even in leather shoes. I became part of the varsity in high school only because 1. I was a senior and 2. We have a small school population. In college, I was a member of the inter-block championship team as a second stringer and a strategist. In many places, basketball pick-up games introduced me to a lot of new people and eventual friends. I played in the backyard of a neighbor, wooden gymnasiums, in classier exclusive subdivisions in Manila, premier school gyms, in Brunei, and even in a court made up of sand.
I also learned more about life more than about the game itself not only as a player but also as a coach. I have coached kids in several barangay/community basketball leagues. I also experienced being a playing coach (more of the coaching than playing) for our subdivision team. My capping glory as a head coach is steering a small college in a fourth place finish in the 1998 MCAAD (Metro Colleges Athletic Association of Dagupan). We had the smallest line-up and probably the thinnest too. Yet we managed to reach the battle for third place which we lost to the Juan Castro (former MBA player)-led Lyceum Northwestern. The champion that time was University of Pangasinan. Well, I was not as successful as my idols coach Ron Jacobs, Baby Dalupan or Phil Jackson but to my players, that experience was golden!
Basketball has instilled in me the value of discipline and responsibility. Before one can become a team player, one should take the responsibility of the particular role to be played. It also has developed my patience, resilience and sportsmanship. I have honed my decision-making skills enabling me to adjust and cope with different situations.
Basketball has kept both my mind and body sharp. It also has enabled me to practice my leadership and team building skills. It brought that winning attitude but with the values of honesty and magnanimity in defeat. Yes, we learn a lot from the losses. Stand up and learn from each fall.
These basketball lessons are valuable in the game called life.
Filed under Learning, Lessons, Personal, Sports by Simon Francis Blaise.
 The 2nd semester at University of Pangasinan just ended today. I’ve been up for more than two days reading and grading the final reports of my students in STS (Science Technology and Society). That is in between taking care of Luke- yes, even changing diapers (mom is in Manila for nursing affiliation). He uses either medium Huggies Dry Comfort or medium Mami Poko Disney Baby diapers (They are comfortable and not too expensive). They are not the cheapest in the market but they are for me, economical in the long run. Less diaper change, comfortability and the reasonable price was my gauge of over-all economy.
 A father taking care of an infant is not just poster-cute but I regard it as an important fatherhood task. It builds bonding between the baby, which is usually more evident between the mother and child. Luke, who weighs almost 8 kilograms, is just 5 months old. He rolls from prone to supine and back on his own, is very talkative though his words are still incoherent baby talk, smiles and chuckles a lot, has good grip- both hands and feet (he could pinch with the use of his toes), he loves sitting down (still assisted though) and is attentive while he reads the newspaper, watch TV or blog with me.
At this exact moment, he is doing his monologue, probably doing a recap and game summary of the Miami Heat – Indiana Pacers game, which the Heat came from behind and won. Had not the gods prevailed, he could have been named Dwayne Anfernee. Dwayne from the Heat shooting and slashing guard Dwayne Wade and Anfernee from the Orlando Magic injured guard-forward Penny Hardaway Instead he was named from the saint and gospel writer, St. Luke. Thank God.
 Luke is a Similac Advance guzzling machine. He consumes more than 6 Avent bottles of 6 ounces of the DHA, AA and Taurine-rich milk daily. He has tried Gerber and Marie biscuits and loves eating them. His pediatrician did not advise it so I do not feed him that often. He is getting bigger and bigger that he is about to outgrow his Lebron James II Nike shoes (9 cm). He wears sleeveless shirts and jerseys that fit one year old and above children.
For the lessons on fatherhood, Luke has become my teacher.
Buy for your Baby here:
 
Filed under Lessons, Personal by Simon Francis Blaise.
I made an earlier post regarding an ad sponsorship offer. I wanted to know if it was legit. But up to now, I have not received any advice. In my research about affiliate marketing, I read an article about phishing in the Affiliate Classroom e-zine. Could this be the answer?
Here is the article:
Does Phishing smell fishy?
I'm pretty sure I know spam when I smell it, but what is 'phishing'? Does it have a similar odor? Need to know – Suz Well, both those terms do have to do with 'spoiled' email in one way or another.
Spam, though definitions differ, is a form of unwanted email — usually an attempt by someone unknown to get you to buy something you're very unlikely to want, at least from them.
Phishing, by contrast, is an attempt to get something from you that you wouldn't want to give a stranger — your personal or financial information.
An email from a 'phisher' usually arrives disguised as being sent by a legitimate company — PayPal or your bank, for example. The return address, the subject line, and the message body have all been craftily crafted to make it look like it's from someone you trust.
The goal is to get you to provide your credit card number, online banking password, Social Security number, or other sensitive information. Once they have that, they can charge items, transfer cash, etc. In other words steal your money, by stealing your identity.
Read more
Filed under Business, Lessons, Personal, Reactions by Simon Francis Blaise.
This is disheartening. I thought this was just mediocre phase. I didn’t know we are failing.
We know that the only the proficiency in English, Science and Math of Filipino students are mediocre. Or so I thought.
To compound the educational problem, Filipino students now even suck at Pilipino, our mother tongue. How ironic.
The DepEd revealed these following facts:
THE 2005 National Assessment Test (NAT) in the secondary level showed the declining proficiency and knowledge of Filipino students in the Pilipino subject.
“The NAT 2005 test result showed a 42.48 percentage proficiency level compared to 61.26 NAT exams conducted in 2001. At the secondary level, we can see a sharp decline of the students’ knowledge in Pilipino subject,” said DepEd officer-in-charge Fe Hidalgo.
Meanwhile, in the recent NAT for school year 2004-2005, public elementary pupils obtained low averages of 59.10 percent in math, 54.12 percent in science and 59.1 percent in English. The passing average is 75 percent. The mean-percentage of public high school students was also below the passing mark.
The DepEd have been conducting seminars and measures aimed specifically at increasing the competency and proficiency of teachers in the core subjects like Science, English and Math. Now they will have to include Pilipino.
I believe this is not just a result of teacher deficiencies. Remember that learning goes beyond the classroom. The Filipino society as “teachers” to the Filipino youth have failed because we have developed a culture of mediocrity and ineptitude. Instead of giving importance to science and the arts we give importance to Politics and Showbiz (although I can no longer see the distinction between the two). Sad to say there is no “art” in kind of the show business we have today. There is no honor in the present political system. Both have bastardized the Filipino language, culture and values. Look at our movies and TV shows. Look at the news.
This is not just simply a loss of competency and proficiency. This is deeply rooted. This is a cultural and moral problem. It will take time to reverse the effects. But it can be done. Together.
Filed under Education, Lessons, Personal, Reactions, Society by Simon Francis Blaise.
Not another tragedy!
This was the first reaction I had at the very moment I learnt of the news. Last Friday, Guinsaugon, a village in the town of St. Bernard, Southern Leyte was said to be literally erased from the face of the earth (like the demolition of the “shabu flea market” in Pasig?).
Estimates of about 1,500 people were buried by an enormous landslide which is said to be caused by continuous rainfall.
This is another horrendous landslide-caused (read as wanton denudation of the forest due to logging activities) tragedy that has besieged Leyte for at least the 3rd time in the last two decades. Remember Ormoc in 1991, where at least 6,000 people were buried alive? Or flashback just three years ago, when the town of San Francisco, was also perished by a landslide killing 133 people?
Read more
Filed under Lessons, Personal, Reactions, Society by Simon Francis Blaise.
Author's Note: This is an unsolicited advise from a friend to the thousands of nursing graduates aspiring to become registered nurses. He self-reviewed and passed (take one and with way above the passing exam rating) the local board exam last December 2005. He was relatively an underachiever and a carefree student in college. He would like to give inspiration to average students like himself who want to pass the nursing licensure exam. "You don't have to be a Cum Laude to pass the exam. Being academically exceptional in college is not a guarantee."
DURING THE REVIEW
Know When to Relax
Do not punish yourself i.e. reading or reviewing all day and all night. You are human, not a machine… or even if you could be a machine, just imagine a machine which is overused. It will overheat and eventually bog down.
Avoid reviewing when you are not in the mood- its useless! Do not force yourself. Willingness is the key (and determination). It would also be very helpful to know the time of the day when you function well or when you are at the highest performance. That would be the best time to study.
Unwind and exercise. Engage in games that stimulate the mind and improve critical thinking- like doing crosswords, bookworm, text twist (the author’s favorite pastimes). Exercise your body. Try swimming, basketball or any sport you like. It keeps the body alert and the mind sharp.
Don’t Just Read, Read and Read
Try to understand what you are reading. Train yourself to analyze and not to memorize. Make your own example, code and pneumonic- this will help you recall lessons easily.
Example: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs- P.S. Lea
Physiologic Needs
Safety/ Security
Love/ Belonging
Self-Esteem
Self-Actualization
Read more
Filed under Health, Learning, Lessons by Simon Francis Blaise.
Let us give dignity to the 74 people who died. Let us not blame poverty. Let us not trivialize their death. This is not a pathetic game show. This is real life.
It was pure exploitation. Real people- poor, destitute and desperate- used as pawns in a numbers game. It was not about helping people. It was a ratings game.
Enticing a small piece of bread to hundreds of famished people is not charity. It is a disaster in the making. Feeding people false hopes, eroding the Filipino psyche, and insulting their intelligence is unforgivable.
Charity is inherently good. The goodness or badness of an act however depends on the intention.
Charity and true concern is educating the Filipino to be self-reliant. Charity is airing shows that are worth watching- value oriented, relevant and spiritually and morally uplifting. Charity is helping without anything in return. It is not about producing game shows that insult or make fun of people. It is not about encouraging Filipinos to gamble or rely on luck. It is not about unjustly raising electric rates.
Entertainment is also a responsibility. The incident was an invitation to tragedy. And what a tragedy it was. At this point, finger-pointing won’t help. Prayers, support and learning our lesson will.
We have no one else to blame but our indifference and our loss of moral vigilance.
Fact- 74 people are dead. Let us not reduce their death to naught. Let us work for national renewal- spiritually and morally.
Author’s Note:
Let us put the issue to rest. Let us put the dead to rest. Let us stop giving ABS-CBN or Wowowee free publicity. I hope it ends here. IT IS NOT ABOUT POVERTY. IT IS THE EXPLOITATION OF ONE’S POVERTY. And there lies one’s culpability and responsibility.
See other related articles:
Wowowee Tragedy
Thoughts of a 15-year old
Scores Dead in Deadly Stampede
Lapses in Security
The Good Side
Filed under Ethics, Lessons, Reactions, Society by Simon Francis Blaise.
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