Drowning, Shabu and Sakada

Nearly 2.5 million people were surveyed in Bangladesh, China, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam by UNICEF and the Alliance for Safe Children, a US-based aid group. The survey found injuries were the leading cause of death in children older than one year. Drowning was the top cause of injury-related deaths in all countries, accounting for about half of all cases.

The use of illegal drugs, particularly of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu," is becoming an emerging cause of stroke among Filipinos, according to the Stroke Society of the Philippines (SSP). Dr Jose Navarro, vice president of SSP, said “shabu" can cause stroke because it can initiate inflammation of the arteries in the brain.

Not even arthritis stopped a retired “sakada" in Hawaii from being honored by the Philippine consulate after celebrating his 103rd birthday last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Tuesday. Juan Cube, born on March 5, 1905, is the oldest surviving former sugar cane plantation worker who was among the 50 Ilokanos who hopped on a Japanese ship in 1924 and landed in the US island-state.