My Stance on the RH Bill

I wholly support the RH Bill.  The Philippines needs to come to its senses and provide the necessary means for its citizens to have a solid framework in place to support Reproductive Health issues which is a massive concern with the country’s overpopulation.  Overpopulation leads to a number of problems which the Philippines are experiencing- scarcity of resources, health problems and environmental issues.

Education regarding sex and family planning should be mandatory.  There comes a point when religion and moral ethics should take a minor role.  The RH Bill will provide the fundamentals to take care of Filipino citizen’s family planning and sex education while providing the support groups for those that need them.  Just because there is a structure being proposed does not literally mean that Filipinos will go wild and have crazy sex everywhere.  Well, aren’t they already since there are so many babies that prove Filipinos do partake in the nasty- and quite often?!!

Filipinos need to realize that smaller families and longer birth intervals would eventually lead to a reduction in poverty.  Also, having a big gap between each child will allow the parents to invest more time in their education, health and nutrition.  Maternal deaths can be reduced if people had access to proper basic healthcare and good nutrition and supplements.  Also the number of abortions and STD’s would be decreased if prophylactics and other methods of birth control were readily available both in information and in access.

Look at countries such as the Netherlands for instance.  Their health and wellbeing is one aspect which the government has done a good job with.  Information is readily available both in print and online.  Out of curiosity I did a Google search on reproductive health in Holland and lo and behold I accessed Geond Amsterdam at www.gezond.amsterdam.nl  This site is very informational.  Something like this would work well here in the Philippines as everyone is pretty much so internet literate.  This also allows the people anonymity so there is no need to feel ‘shy’ because your next door neighbor cannot see that you are reading about HIV.  The following are the subheadings on the web page:

Infectious diseases & hygiene
Mental health
Drugs
Care and nuisance
Sexual violence
Environment & Health
Healthy Living
Youth
Medical examinations and injuries
Health & Policy
Scientific research
About the Public Health Service

If information such as this were readily available to the Filipino public, it would be a massive leap in sexual education.  It is responsible action as any person who accesses the site IS interested in learning about something that is discussed on the website.  If the person decides to go and have sex at a brothel, for instance, they would know how to have safe sex and where to go to get birth control.  Or on the other hand, armed with all this information about the pros and cons of sex, the person decides to wait for the right time because there are so many diseases out there and getting pregnant is a one-shot deal.

I really do believe that the Filipino government should ratify the RH Bill and get on with it.  The RH Bill is for the future of the Filipinos.  There is no better way to combat the economic crisis, health and environmental issues which is plaguing the Philippines.  People need to wake up, step outside the box, and do something for the future of this country and for its future generations.  Forget what the church teaches about “being fruitful and multiplying”!  Do you see the church feeding, clothing and putting all your children to school?  Just because you support the RH Bill does not mean that you have lost your faith.  The only hope for the RH Bill is for each and every Filipino to support it.  Filipinos need to be responsible citizens. 

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My Personal Views on the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill

            Researching the RH Bill, I found out that what it aims at is the access of individuals to different methods and information on birth control and maternal care. I also found out that the reason why this bill is being mercilessly pushed is that proponents of this Bill think that it will control overpopulation and ease poverty in the Philippines, thereby raising the standard of living per family. Consequently, it will follow that it will also raise the ranking of the Philippines in the world.

            Personally, I really do not understand and agree with why they are really pushing this bill. Is it because they really believe in their advocacy or is it because who ever got to push this Bill into law will become so famous that his face and his name will have install recall on the masses come election time? . I also do not believe that the Philippines is overly populated even if surveys and studies show otherwise. For one, I do not know how that study was conducted. How accurate are the census done?  With the rampant domestic migration in the Philippines, doing a population in an area or a region is quite a daunting task.  I believe that population count is just an estimate, nothing more.

            For me, population is never and should never be a problem of mankind. The reason why a child is born is because God wants it to be born. The reason why a woman does not conceive or why a child is not born alive is because God allowed it to happen.           

The government is concerned about a woman giving birth which adds to the number of inhabitants in a country. How many women can give birth at the same in a minute? On the other hand, how many victims can even one calamity take? It can destroy hundred and even thousands of lives in just a second.    

I, for one, did not conceive a child. I have undergone  so many medical interventions, I met and was treated by five specialists, I took fertility pills and underwent  so many fertility programs but all to no avail. It is because what I was seeking for is life. And life can only come from God.

            Proponents said that controlling population will alleviate poverty and raise the standard of living. Again, for me, population has nothing to do with it. If ever it has an effect, it is only marginal. For me, the correct values instilled by the parents to their children will raise the family’s standard of living.  The children must be taught the value of hard work, living a virtuous life, and valuing the benefits of education.  As I have observed, even the parents do not know how to live decently anymore. The “bahala na” attitude is still very strong to us Filipinos. We leave our life to fate. We expect to eat and to experience material joy but we do not want to work hard for it. Just look at the bums in every street, doing nothing all day but complaining of life’s hardships every minute. If other people can do two or three jobs in a day, then why can’t they do even one job? 

            We can still do something about this way of living. Instead of blaming overpopulation,  the government should have  programs to reconstruct our society. They should allot time, budget, manpower and resources to re-educate and re-train every citizen in our country towards the right way of living.

            I also do not agree with educating children about the means of birth control to prevent early or teenage pregnancies. If our children are equipped with proper values, if they know what is right and what is wrong, if we communicate well with our children, if we are always there for our children, then there will be no fear of unwanted pregnancies.  There is no reason for them to know at an early age about birth control methods. 

.           The only benefit I agree with the proponents of this Bill is the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases to infect other people.

            I hope that this RH Bill will not be implemented. But in case it is, then it is up to the parents and guardians, and the spiritual advisers, to inform their children or their flock about what is right and wrong.    

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A Glimpse on Reproductive Health 5043

            So what is RH bill or Reproductive Health? Does it really help in the economy? What is so important about it, and why is it so hot items today? These are just a simple question coming from people who never really care about the issue.  But as I weigh down the differences coming from the arguments of many people who are concern about it, I began to think that this bill also includes all of us and the future of our children. (Though I still don’t have one) and that’s just another advantage of being single. Anyway let’s focus on the issue. Before I am going to give my own perception let us take a look at the proponent of these highly acclaimed “teleserye like” controversial bills. According to Riza Hontiveros this bill is simply for responsible parenthood. And according to her this are the following guidelines:

1.    freedom of choice with no bias for either modern or natural method of family planning;

2.    it is about health and rights, not demographics;

3.    individuals are provided free, full access to relevant, adequate and correct information on reproductive health and human sexuality by the State and professional private practitioners;

4.    gender equality and women empowerment and their protection, promotion and guarantee are central elements;

5.    aims to ensure birth and care of healthy children;

6.    promotes responsible parenting;

7.    Promotes breastfeeding through joint effort between local government and national government.

8.    Abortion remains a crime and is punishable by law *but* post abortion complications shall be treated, counselled in a humane, non-judgemental and compassionate manner.

9.    respect for, protection and fulfilment of reproductive health rights of children to adults are guaranteed

10. aims to uplift the quality of life of people, especially the poor, the needy and marginalized;

11. aims to seek active participation of government and non government organization;

12. The RH Bill does not legalize Abortion.

13. aims active participation between government, non government and people's organizations and communities

Now let us compare it to the opposing parties and what they perceive about this bill. This time the Catholic Bishop Conference stands: On this matter of proposed RH bills, these are our firm convictions:

1.    We are deeply concerned about the plight of the many poor, especially of suffering women, who are struggling for a better life and who must seek it outside of our country, or have recourse to a livelihood less than decent.

2.    We are pro-life. We must defend human life from the moment of conception or fertilization up to its natural end.

3.    We believe in the responsible and natural regulation of births through Natural Family Planning for which character building is necessary which involves sacrifice, discipline and respect for the dignity of the spouse.

4.    We believe that we are only stewards of our own bodies. Responsibility over our own bodies must follow the will of God who speaks to us through conscience.

5.    We hold that on the choices related to the RH bill, conscience must not only be informed but most of all rightly guided through the teachings of one’s faith.

6.    We believe in the freedom of religion and the right of conscientious objection in matters that are contrary to one’s faith. The sanctions and penalties embodied in the proposed RH bill are one more reason for us to denounce it.

CEBU CITY – President Benigno Aquino III’s pronouncement that he will fight for the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill was music to the ears of pro-choice advocates, but it angered pro-life groups who now rate the President’s credibility “below zero. So I hope the following proponents of both parties may have given an idea if you are going to oppose the bill or allow it to happen.     

       As I weigh down both sides of the coin and understand how and why this bill has an undying urge to the public this health bill is brought about the needs of the people and what it can do the possibility and changes may be present, I believe it is the same with the death penalty.  So I have made my own conclusion. What we need is neither the RH bill nor the oppositions of anyone but to resurrect the ever declining value, righteousness and morality that come from God written in Matthew 6:31 seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. 

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My Views on the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill in the Philippines in 2011

The pending RH bill in Congress has generated heated debates among those in favor and those not in favor of the measure. Basically, the bill addresses the management of the very rapid rate of population increase in the country by mandating the government to provide information and informed choices to those who want to plan the size of their families but do not know their options or do not have the means to do so. The poorest and semi-educated segment of the population would be given assistance, whether they will choose the natural or the artificial means of family planning.  If artificial birth control is their choice, they would be provided condoms,contraceptives and medical procedures to make this happen. Most of these people really want to limit the number of their children in order to manage their lives better. Many of them have produced unplanned offspring due to ignorance,the absence of self-discipline and financial means for birth control, and plain apathy to their situation.

I am in favor of the RH bill because its intention is laudable, its mechanics are logical and its vision anticipates the problems of the future. The Catholic Church in the country and its adherents disfavor the bill mainly because of its provision on the sanctioning and practical support of artificial means of birth control, which is without exception contrary to Catholic doctrine.

In my view, those in favor and not in favor of the RH bill have overstated their cases and overstepped their bounds due to the sharp difference in their perception of what is moral and what is needed by the country and its people at this point.

The Catholic Church insists that the bill’s promotion of the use of contraceptives is equivalent to tolerating abortion, which cannot be because abortion is illegal. According to church supporters, the bill’s advocacy for condom use will lead to a rise in premarital sex, which is not accurate because condoms are readily available and engaging in whatever means of birth control depends on a person’s core values.

On the other hand, RH bill advocates have stated that the Church’s teachings are outdated and unworkable in real life, but the Church only preaches what is dictated by Catholic dogma. Some of these advocates’ indiscriminate distribution of free condoms, while emphasizing their cause, are overdoing it to the point of appearing offensive.

The Church is a monarchical type of organization with a leader who makes the laws and followers who are expected to obey them. It has lasted for many centuries precisely because of the immutability of its laws, and when its leaders speak on matters of the faith, they are infallible. The rule of the majority does not prevail here.

Members of the church who disagree with its doctrine should simply leave the entity altogether because criticizing it from within is futile. Being a Catholic entails obedience to Christian doctrine and certain sacrifices for its members and is basically a take it or leave it proposition. One cannot have the privileges of receiving the sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony or of having a place to turn to in times of distress from the Church and at the same antagonize it on its basic teaching on the immorality of artificial birth control.

A Catholic who sincerely thinks that  the RH bill is right should have the courage to leave his/her faith because disagreement with Catholic doctrine does not translate to being immoral or having no moral standard. The person should nevertheless respect the Church on its position. On the other hand, the Church should also welcome such a development because it will give them the opportunity to know those who embrace the faith fully and those who only accept it partially. In the same token however, the Church should also respect the position of the person who leaves.

The opposing groups on the RH bill issue should observe mutual tolerance and respect and live in peaceful and productive co-existence.

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How you are coping with the increase in the prices of gasoline and other basic commodities?

I came from a middle class family.  We are not poor, we have enough to survive

and meet our day to day needs.  It is good though that my family has stable jobs or

business where we can help each other or when someone in the family is in need. 

Although we have resources to provide for our physical needs like food, shelter,

transportation or sometimes leisure, we cannot ignore the fact that we are affected by

the increase in prices of gasoline and other basic commodities.  All families, rich or

poor,  even businesses or big companies are affected by this current situation.

Rise in cost of electricity caused us to cut down our utilization of appliances like minimal

use of air con, TV, light, etc.  We recycle the water and reuse it for cleaning the

bathroom, sink, etc.  Aside from this, we also lessen our household help.  We used to

have two before, but we only have one now.  We are trying to be practical by

purchasing cheaper brands like in medicine since many generic pharmacies has now

evolved.  The food that we eat is becoming simpler where lesser ingredients are being

put into the food.  I am also thinking to use wood or coal for cooking but may be our

worst case scenario.  We limit our grocery expenses by buying only the things that we

need.  We don’t indulge in food anymore like eating in fine dining restaurants or eating

expensive foods.   Reduction in our transportation also cause us to go out less which

means we don’t go to far places nowadays so we can avoid extra expenses in

gasoline or as much as possible, we only go to nearby places if we are to do leisure

activity.  Family bonding consists of watching movies in DVD unlike before that we

make it a point to go to the movie house once every two months at the least.  Frequent

purchase of clothes has been avoided or as much as possible we buy something of less

value.  This is a normal family situation.  Really, everyone has to tighten their belt

because financial crisis is experienced by most families or individual.

 I cannot say that life became difficult for us.  It is not hard to cope with the simplicity of

life but rather a humbling experience I can look back when I get old.  During this time

that one can prove if his or her family can stand the test of time.  It is in this situation

that we are bonded and becomes closer.  This is true for some families.  While others

look at it negatively, we as family becomes more intact and we inspire each other.  In

my childhood years, my father used to work in a bank as a courier and my mother is a

housewife.  We don’t have enough before.  As a matter of fact, the only time that we

have new clothes is every Christmas or if there is a relative who is kind enough to give

us presents.  My parents ensure that they provided us with education.   With lots of

prayers and hard work, we were able to finish our studies. Life became favorable to us

since then.  One cannot explain the complexity and simplicity of life.  In any situation

where one is into, there is a purpose.  Purpose that it may either benefit you or

someone close to you. 

    

Happiness does not depend on the material things we have.  Contentment in life cannot

be found on what we can afford.  Real joy comes from one’s disposition in life.  Positive

outlook in life is a way to overcome trials.  It is hard being happy when you are faced

with problems but one must not look at it as a hardship or a punishment given by God. 

It is a challenge where we can learn an important lesson and teaches us to be a mature

person.  Faith is what we need to cope up with the rising prices of commodities.  Belief

that later in life, things will get better and our way of living will improve.  So how can one

have a better life if prices of our basic needs are continuously going up?  God,

he is the solution.  We have a God we can turn to when things gets tough.  Faith mixed

with hardwork and prayer are good combinations to achieve success in life.  Our

existence has a good reason.  Life does not meant to be tough for someone.  It just

gives a learning experience that we probably can share to others because life is about

sharing.     

How I'm Coping With the Price Increase of Basic Commodities

 how you are coping with the increase in the prices of gasoline and other basic commodities.

Gone are the days when the exchange rate of the US dollar to the Philippine Peso was 65!  Nowadays, the Peso holds strong at 43 to the US dollar and it does not seem like it will be moving much.   My family, like many others in this country, had to make some lifestyle changes to cope with the economic crisis affecting everyone, not only here in the Philippines but all over the world.

I arrived here in the Philippines in 2007 after having lived in Europe for a few years.  One thing about living and working abroad is that you bring back foreign currency when you come back here to the Philippines.  You think, oh no problem the exchange rate is high; I can stretch out my Euro to the maximum.  So you live quite lavishly.  Everything here in the Philippines is “cheap” in comparison to Europe.  There is a huge discrepancy to the standard of living between both areas of the world.  Where a loaf of bread would cost 3 Euros (at today’s exchange rate of 64€ to 1 Php that would be 192 Pesos per loaf), here it cost 65 Pesos.  Buying an 8oz coffee at Starbucks in Europe is about 5 Euros (320 Php), here in the Philippines it is 95 Php.  So can you imagine how cheap everything is in comparison when you come back here to the Philippines?!  Do the math.

My family is considered small by Filipino standards.  We are only four.  Since I got married and my sibling got married, our family’s size has increased to 11 members.  However, my sibling and family are not here in the Philippines.  My family and I have moved in to my parent’s home when we came back here.  So the total number of people in our home is 8, including our 2 domestic helpers.   When we first arrived back in 2007, I remember when 500 Php spent in the supermarket would yield almost a cart full of groceries which is good enough for one week for a family our size.  Now, 500 pesos barely fills up 2 shopping bags. 

Our typical monthly expenditures for groceries alone run at 30,000 Php.  For holidays like the Christmas season it goes up to 50,000 Php.  Our utilities, monthly, run at 10,000Php for Meralco, 2,500 Php for Maynilad, and 2,000Php for PLDT.  Our total monthly bills (for non-holidays) are 44,500Php.  This excludes car gas consumption and miscellaneous expenditures such as eating out at restaurants and shopping. 

We have two cars.  One is a 5 series BMW which we brought back from Europe and runs on gasoline and the other is an Isuzu Alterra which has a diesel engine.  The BMW has a fuel tank capacity of 2 Liters and costs 3,500Php to fill to full with Petron’s XCS.  The Isuzu’s fuel tank capacity is 3 Liters and costs 3,000Php to fill to full with Shell’s Vpower.  Monthly we spend approximately 8,000Php on fuel consumption for both cars.  This is also traveling just within Manila.  If we have out-of-town trips to Laguna or Subic Bay, the cost would rise to about 10,000Php monthly.

Our family enjoys eating out.  After all, that is usually what we end up doing when we go out to the malls.  We spend on an average about 10,000Php to eat out at fast food restaurants.  On special occasions we do splurge on fine dining and that runs us at around 6,000Php for a full sit-down meal at one of the hotel’s restaurants or one of the better quality restaurants in town.

Other expenditures, which includes books, clothes,  etc. shopping would run us at an additional 6,000Php.  Plus, our 2 children go to a local, private school which costs us (for the 2011-2012 school year) 61,200Php for grade 3 and 67,100Php for first year high school respectively.

Hence the grand total of our average monthly bills is as follows:

44,500 (utilities & groceries)  +  8,000 (fuel) + 10,000 (eating out) + 6,000 (misc) + = 68,500 Php/month. 

This excludes the total of 128,300Php for the children’s school fees for the entire school year and the misc fees of school books and supplies that would be added to this!

Below is the current salary statistics from http://www.averagesalarysurvey.com/article/average-salary-in-philippines/14175948/income.aspx, retrieved 28 April, 2011.

What Is Average Salary In Philippines?

Average income in Philippines in year 2011 is around 250,000 PHP (5,800 USD) per year.

Employees in IT receive in average from around 350,000 PHP to around 600,000 PHP if they are more experienced Software developers.

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) receives average income of around 300,000 PHP per year. Much lower salaries are for employee in Customer Services Jobs where Customer Service Representative (CSR) receives around 200,000 PHP per year.

Average Salaries In Philippines For IT

As ZdNet Asia statistics shows average IT salaries in Philippines are a little bit above 500,000 PHP (11,600 USD) per year.

This makes me wonder how others here in the Philippines can afford their lifestyles.  I am sure what my family spends per month is probably the same for people who have approximately 11 household members, own their own house and cars, and have children in schools. 

As the costs of fuel and good rise, my family and I have made many changes.  Our bills have gone down by at least 10,000Php/month.  Groceries still top the most expensive item on our spending record per month.  We walk when possible and try to buy our vegetables and meats at our neighborhood stores.  Our “European” cravings for cheese and cold cuts have been limited to a once-a-month indulgence.  Out-of-town trips have been cut-down to maybe once every 3 months.  Usage of air-conditioning has been limited to 1 hour at night before going to sleep.  We pump Maynilad water into our tank so we do not have to run our pump every time someone uses the bathroom.  We turn anything that is run by electricity off when not being used.  Generally, everything we have done in the past we are literally doing only half of.  Being smart about things which are cost-effective is the only way to survive the economic brouhahas’ of today.  Tighten your belts, as the saying goes!

How I'm Coping with the Increase in Prices of Basic Commodities

The impact of surging prices in the Philippine market and transportation industry cannot be overstressed. Increases in the commodity base prices, accompanied by casual increases in transportation fare matrices in both public and private vehicles, are really devastating, especially to a fresh graduate like me who struggles his way in finding a good-paying and stable job and, who incurs a lot of expenditures in the production and reproduction of his curriculum vitae, in producing clearances and work requirements, and in riding jeepneys, buses or taxis going to prospect company offices.

Naturally, these economic conditions produce depression to the Filipino people, especially to the social class near the poverty line. Generally, it defines a much more emphasized linear gap between the rich (since the rich can still cope with the demand of the increases) and the poor (because they would have to consider stiff budgetary approaches in order to cope up with the demands of living standards). Being in the middle class I have difficulty coping up with the increases. Way back in high school, I could recall having a weekly allowance of P50 pesos, paying only two pesos and fifty cents (P2.50) in jeepneys (minimum fare) and still have ten pesos savings (P10). My mom and I would also visit the grocery store with two thousand pesos (P2000) which was enough to provide our two-week basic needs.  Although skyrocketing increases on the prices of goods and gasoline in the past years had been very troubling to me and to my family, I believe that this is imperative in a developing economy that does not have any alternative source of fuel energy and that is deeply monopolized by foreign investors. In short, Philippines represents a weak economy that has no power to move the cycle of economic parameters of supply and demand in the international market.  Given this condition, its citizens have to bear the scorching effects of inflation, peso devaluation or market monopoly of fuel companies. Although the deregulation law in fuel prices has already been an active legislation, the control of fuel prices remains dependent on cartel in lieu of the board of directors of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Hence, it is important that citizens become more creative and more prudent in meeting up the high demand of living standards. In my case, I accept as many part-time works as possible and do not commit to an eight-hour office job which offers a ‘just-above average pay’ but with tax differential cuts. As of now I teach Korean students during my free hours, write book manuals for students (since it generates personal income along with the publisher), and accept writing jobs. These are excellent sources of income since they are not taxable. With this resourcefulness, not only do I meet my basic needs but also give out some of my earnings to my mother.

I believe that with inventiveness comes the insight to propel an individual response to the challenge of this country’s economic turmoil. When one becomes explicitly comprehensive of the nature of the problem of needs, he or she also becomes simultaneously responsive in providing resolutions. A biased difficulty in meeting up the standards of living becomes significant because people put too much focus on issues and controversies regarding the existence of these economic problems but fail to respond with equivalence in combating them. Leftists and extremists roam everywhere and plague the seats of legislators and public offices. They assume for leverages instead of hard work. They promote the already clichéd vox populi instead of becoming distinctly involved in promoting livelihood and resourcefulness schemes as part of austerity measures.

The more a society is confront of economic issues, the more it should become more resilient, and that resiliency must come firsthand from the citizens who are the direct bearers of discomforts, and crucial increases in the prices of basic commodities and transportation fares. As Adam Smith says, there is an Invisible Hand in all economies which moves in order to provide the common good to all people. Such hidden hand, although automatic like a machine, is still dependent on the atmosphere of the economy. When the economy is influenced by the motivational rectitude of people who want to secure a prosperous economy, then I believe that the hidden hand will work best; otherwise, it struggles on its own virtue to achieve the results of the interests of people in a certain society. Thus, it is essential that we underscore this point in order to help ourselves in dealing with harsh economic realities.

                                                                                                                                                                                               

How I am Coping with the Price Increases of Gasoline and Basic Commodities

The average Filipino consumer is affected by the continuing increase in the price of oil and the resulting rise in the prices of basic commodities, services and utilities.  The oil price increases have caused business and industry to adjust their operations and production to remain profitable and in the process have had to pass on to consumers part of the increases in costs.

I am basically a frugal person and live below my means. Outside of the hike in the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), I am not directly affected by gasoline price increases because I do not own a motor vehicle and do not travel often. What I feel is the increase in the costs for food, electricity and water.

The following are some of my personal practices with regards to food. Although I have basically observed these in the past, the oil price increases have made me consciously follow them regularly.

When I cook rice and Filipino viands like pork sinigang, chicken adobo and sautéed mongo, I prepare the volume that is enough for  the days’s consumption for lunch and dinner, and for the next day’s lunch, to save on effort and power/LPG usage.

I only prepare rice with one viand for a meal, which is vegetable dishes most of the time, but if its plain meat or fish, I prepare tomatoes with camote tops or Indian mango to go with the dish.

I also eat quickly- prepared dishes like fried dried anchovies or small shrimps and occasionally eat canned goods or salted eggs with tomatoes to save on time.

Once a week, I only eat either boiled corn-on-the-cob, bananas, camote, or cassava  with cold fruit juices or cold coconut fruit and juice for lunch and dinner together with fruits like bananas and pineapples to give the body a break from oil-cooked foods.

 Occasionally, I am contented to have just plain bread or sandwiches with a glass of cold milk and bananas for the day’s meal.

With regards to reducing power consumption, I practice the following:

Except for the refrigerator, I turn off electrical appliances and pull their plugs off when not in use.

I ask the househelp to iron clothes in bulk.

I turn on the 20-watt fluorescent lights only in those parts of the house where they are actually needed. I seldom use the 40-watt fluorescent lights.

I do not listen to the radio and only watch television for the news and special shows.

With regards to reducing water consumption, I practice the following:

Since I stay and work from home most of the time, I do my laundry in bulk only once a week, after an overnight soaking.  I avoid constant flushing of the toilet unless absolutely needed.  I collect drained water from the washing machine and use it to water the plants, clean the driveway, and soak doormats before washing.

I soak used plates, bowls, utensils, pots and pans in water for some time to make washing them later easier.

The following are adjustments I have made to save more money for the basic necessities:

Where before I had a newspaper delivered every day, now I have halted deliveries from Tuesday to Thursday because I have noticed that these editions are somewhat thinner than usual, and the news is also available online and on television.

I have ceased watching movies in theaters long ago and I am contented to watch the interesting ones on cable TV much later and on borrowed DVDs.

To reduce the occasional buying of audio CDs abroad, I have also began downloading music that I like from safe sites in the Internet and then burning them into compact disc recordables (CDRs) later for playing in a stereo system.

I do not buy brand-new books and have a price limit on the used books that I buy.