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What is Health? Health is thus created when there is balance and harmony in the universe, in humankind and in the human body. Illness is a result of a state of imbalance and disharmony in the universe, in humankind and in the human body. Different Practices and Beliefs Albularyo In the Philippines, local medicine men or healers are usually called arbularyo, albularyo, or hilot. An earlier Spanish term is herbolario which is related with cuandero and mediquillo. The albularyo is knowledgeable in the application of medicinal herbs to cure various illnesses and their abilities are believed to be either spiritual or supernatural in origin. As an albularyo, it is believed that there is usually a history of a healer in the family-line and their healing is considered a "calling," a power or ability bestowed by a supernatural being, often, attributed to the Holy Spirit. Often lacking in formal education, his skills are based on and honed from hand-me-down practices and custom, with a long period of understudy or apprenticeship with a local healer. Years of patience and study bring the healer into a familiarity with the knowledge and rituals of healing, the prayers, and the use of herbal medicinal plants. Some acquire an expertise in the art of pulse taking and diagnosis. Herbal Medicine Herbal medicine is a type of alternative medicine, which makes use of plant parts or plant extracts for therapeutic purposes. Traditional herbal medicine has been popular in Philippines since long time. Herbal medicine had been used as an effective tool for treating ailments before the introduction of modern medicines. Till today, herbs and herbal medicines are used to promote the overall health as well as for treatment of various diseases. Here is some information about herbal medicines in the Philippines. Witch or Evil Spirits Herbolarios Faith Healers
Health and Illness in Filipino Traditional Healing Health and wellness is thus created when there is balance and harmony in the universe, in humankind and in the human body. Illness is a result of a state of imbalance and disharmony in the universe, in humankind and in the human body. This is the major paradigm of Filipino Traditional Healing. This is completely different from the paradigm of germs and microbes as the major causes of illnesses in European-North American medicine. Note however, of late, European-North American medicine has accepted that there are beneficial bacteria aside from just harmful bacteria; and pro-biotics as oppose to antibiotics. However in the theory of the causes of health and illnesses regarding degenerative diseases or lifestyle diseases, there are resonances between Traditional Healing and European-North American where good diet/nutrition versus bad diet/nutrition, distress versus relaxation, a life of activity and exercise versus sedentary life, good habits versus bad habits, virtues versus vices all play roles in creating cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, depression and accidents. There is a perfect fit for Spa Health and Wellness with the Filipino Traditional Health and Wellness paradigm. Spa Health and Wellness aim to restore the balance and harmony of people, as well as their human social relationships, physical, mental and emotional well-being in an conducive pleasant and beautiful environment. Modalities of Filipino Traditional Healing While Filipino Traditional Healing has a comprehensive body of knowledge, skills and practices, the following are the healing modalities that are suited for merging with Spa Health and Wellness: 1. The Paligo. Mixtures of air-dried tropical and indigenous aromatic leaves and flowers with medicinal properties are made into a warm decoction whose volume is calibrated to ensure a rinsing bath. Mixtures are classified into hot-cold (init/lamig) balancing rinsing bath; an earthwind-fire-water herbal balancing rinsing bath; and a Binat Regulator (Stress Regulator) herbal rinse. The term Binat defies a direct or literal translation in English. Binat is a state of dis-ease or severe discomfort that results when a person who has undergone a stressful (work related stress) or change of life situation (grief due to loss of a loved one) or a body-mind-spirit fatigue (childbirth) or a prolonged fever/cough/cold illness, upon the first few hours or first day of feeling well, returns to her/his normal daily routine. In Traditional Filipino Healing, the holistic body has not yet fully recovered despite the subjective feeling of the concerned person. Thus, a return to Binat or the state of dis-ease and severe discomfort. 2. The Oslob. Is a steam inhalation from infusions of air-dried aromatic medicinal herbs and plants usually given to persons with a state of imbalance and harmony especially from excess of cold energy. The patient for Oslob is placed under a one person tent made of cotton cloth where the hot infusion is administered. 3. The Hilot. This is the centerpiece of the merging of Filipino Traditional Healing and Spa Health and Wellness. To preserve the integrity of this uniquely Filipino massage technique, there will be a special brochure that will be distributed to interested parties during the ISPA International Conference. There will also be a sneak preview via live demonstration of the Hilot during the conference. The Hilot is an eclectic mix of indigenous traditional massage techniques from seven major ethno-linguistic cultural areas of the Philippines bringing forth the best in each practice ensuring a joyful yet serene total body experience. A distinct feature is the use of strips of warm banana
leaves applied to the different parts of the body at various stages of the massage therapy. 4. The Dinalisay. These are decoctions of a mixture of medicinal herbs indigenous to the Philippines, grown in certified organic farm communities. The Dinalisay are classified in to hot Dinalisay, cold Dinalisay, Earth Dinalisay, Wind Dinalisay, Fire Dinalisay and Water Dinalisay all aim at restoring balance to any state of disequilibrium. 5. The Kisig Galing. This is the use of biomagnetic energy healing of naturally gifted Filipino Traditional Healers. With the use of their hands as outlets for transfer of positive biomagnetic energy (Kisig) from their own personal biomagnetic energy (Kisig) and the positive energy from the environment to the person in dis-ease, they are able to heal (Galing) parts of the body or the energy channels or the total body that may have states of imbalance and disharmony. 6. The Unang Lana. This is the Filipino Virgin Coconut Oil. Made only from the flesh of freshly picked 90 day old coconuts, which are cold pressed to extract the first coconut oil (Unang Lana), the clear colorless virgin oil with a distinct sweet aroma is used as a total body rub, a hair tonic, a massage liniment, a facial mask or even a daily jigger drink for health and wellness, restoration of body balance and harmony, rejuvenation and body thermogenesis. All these effects are due to its high content levels of monolaurines or lauric acid, vitamin E and other anti-oxidants. 7. The Tapik Kawayan. This the use of one centimeter thick, five centimeter long bamboo (Kawayan) sticks to tap (Tapik) certain body areas identified through hand palpation to have biomagnetic energy blocks or predominance of cold humours. The Tapik Kawayan releases the energy blocks to allow once more the free flow of biomagmetic energy in the affected body parts or the release of cold humours to achieve a balance of hot/cold (init/lamig) humours. Religion in the Philippines The Philippines proudly boasts to be the only Christian nation in Asia. More than 86 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, 6 percent belong to various nationalized Christian cults, and another 2 percent belong to well over 100 Protestant denominations. In addition to the Christian majority, there is a vigorous 4 percent Muslim minority, concentrated on the southern islands of Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan. Scattered in isolated mountainous regions, the remaining 2 percent follow non-Western, indigenous beliefs and practices. Catholic Christianity arrived in the Philippines with the landing of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. In the late 16th century, soldiers and missionaries firmly planted the seeds of conversion when they officially claimed the archipelago for Spain and named it after their king. Missionary activity during the country's long colonial rule by Spain and the United States transformed the Philippines into the first and then one of the two (perhaps three, considering South Korea's growing Christian population) predominantly Christian nations in East Asia, with approximately 90% of the population belonging to the Christian faith, the other Christian nation being East Timor. Muslim Islam reached the Philippines in the 14th century with the arrival of Malay and Javanese merchants and Arab merchants from Malaysia and Indonesia, although the spreading of Islam in the Philippines is due to the strength of Muslim India. India brought Islam to Southeast Asia, specifically Malaysia and Indonesia, and in turn the latter two brought Islam to the Philippines. Filipino Muslims make up about five percent of the population and are concentrated in the western portion of the island of Mindanao. The Bangsamoro or Muslim Nation, a term used to define the disparate ethnic groups that profess Islam in the Philippines as their religion, have been fighting the most protracted war of independence in world history. These include the Tausugs and the Maranaos. The Islamic separatist movement in the Philippines had been and is being waged for almost five centuries -- against the Spanish, the Americans, the Japanese and the predominantly Christian Filipinos of today's independent republic. Filipino Muslims follow the Sunni tradition. Protestant Protestantism arrived in the Philippines with the coming of the Americans at the turn of the 20th century. In 1898, Spain lost the Philippines to the United States. After a bitter fight for independence against its new occupiers, Filipinos surrendered and were again colonized. How does religion affect Health? Examples: Patients decline blood transfusion for religious reasons (Jehova s Witness) Drinking of Holy water; wiping handkerchief on saints (Roman Catholic) Healing Mass (Roman Catholic) Faith and prayer eases patient s depression and it gives them the strength to struggle for survival (Roman Catholic, Methodist, INC, Born Again) While Islam opposes homosexuality, it does not prohibit Muslim physicians from caring for homosexual patients. (Muslim) Different diseases and illnesses and their treatment Influenza, grippe or Flu (Trangkaso) an acute, highly contagious infection of the respiratory tract that results from three types of myxovirus influenzae it occurs sporadically or in epidemics(usually during the colder months). Epidemics tend to speak w/in two or three weeks after initial cases and subside within one month. influenza affects all age groups, its incidence is highest in school children. it severity is greatest in very young, elderly people, and those w/ chronic diseases. Treatment: For uncomplicated influenza: Bed rest. Adequate fluid intake. Aspirin or acetaminophen in children to relieve fever and muscle pain. Guaifenesin or another expectorant to relieve non- productive coughing.
Amantadine, oseltamivir phophate and zanamivir (anti-viral agents) have proved to be effective in reducing the duration of signs and symptoms. Tuberculosis (Koch s Infection) An acute or chronic infection caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis . Treatment: anti-tubercular therapy Isolation Bed rest
Guaifenesin (pronounced / wa f n s n/) (INN) or guaiphenesin (former BAN), also glyceryl guaiacolate,[1] is an expectorant drug sold over the counter and usually taken by mouth to assist the bringing up (expectoration) of phlegm from the airways in acute respiratory tract infections. Uses The principal use of guaifenesin is in the treatment of coughing, but the drug has numerous other uses, including medical, veterinary, and personal. Amantadine Amantadine is the organic compound known formally as 1-aminoadamantane. The molecule consists of adamantane backbone that is substituted at one of the four methyne positions with an amino group. This compound is sold under the name "Symmetrel" for use both as an antiviral and an antiparkinsonian drug. Rimantadine is a closely related derivative of adamantane with similar biological properties. Apart from medical uses, this compound is useful as a building block, allowing the insertion of an adamantyl group. According to the CDC, 100 percent of seasonal H3N2 and 2009 pandemic flu samples tested have shown resistance to adamantanes, and amantadine is no longer recommended for treatment of the flu. oseltamivir phophate Oseltamivir (INN) (pronounced / s l tæm v r/) is an antiviral drug that slows the spread of influenza (flu) virus between cells in the body by [1] stopping the virus from chemically cutting ties with its host cell median time to symptom alleviation is reduced by 0.5 1 day . The drug is sold under the trade name Tamiflu and is taken orally in capsules or as a suspension. It has been used to treat and prevent Influenzavirus A and Influenzavirus B infection in over 50 million people since 1999. Zanamivir Zanamivir (INN) (pronounced /z næm v r/) is a neuraminidase inhibitor used in the treatment and prophylaxis of Influenzavirus A and Influenzavirus B. Zanamivir was the first neuraminidase inhibitor commercially developed. It is currently marketed by GlaxoSmithKline under the trade name Relenza. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), no flu, seasonal or pandemic, has shown any signs of resistance to zanamivir The Philippines (Filipino: Pilipinas [p l pin s]), officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (Filipino: Republika ng Pilipinas), is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. Taiwan lies north across the Luzon Strait. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam. The Sulu Sea to the southwest separates it from the island of Borneo and to the south the Celebes Sea from other islands of Indonesia. It is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea. An archipelago comprising 7,107 islands, the Philippines is categorized broadly into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The capital city is Manila. With an estimated population of about 92 million people, the Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country. It is estimated that there are an additional 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide. Multiple ethnicities and cultures are found throughout the islands. Its tropical climate sustains one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world. In prehistoric times, Negritos became some of the archipelago's earliest inhabitants. They were followed by successive waves of Austronesian peoples who brought with them influences from Malay, Hindu, and Islamic cultures. Trade introduced Chinese cultural influences. The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 marked the beginning of an era of Spanish interest and eventually dominance. The Philippines became the Asian hub of the Manila-Acapulco galleon treasure fleet. Christianity became widespread. As the 19th century gave way to the 20th, there followed in quick succession the short-lived Philippine Revolution, the Spanish-American War, and the Philippine-American War. In the aftermath, the United States replaced Spain as the dominant power. Aside from the period of Japanese occupation, the United States retained sovereignty over the islands until the end of World War II when the Philippines gained independence. The United States bequeathed to the Philippines the English language and an affinity for Western culture. Since independence the Philippines has had an often tumultuous experience with democracy, with popular "People Power" movements overthrowing a dictatorship in one instance but also underlining the institutional weaknesses of its constitutional republic in others.
Three types of myxovirus influenza
Type A: most prevalent, strikes every year, with new serotypes causing epidemics every 3 years Type B: also strikes annually, but only causes epidemics every 4-6 years Type C: endemic and causes only sporadic cases
Health and Illness in Filipino Traditional Healing Health and wellness is thus created when there is balance and harmony in the universe, in humankind and in the human body. Illness is a result of a state of imbalance and disharmony in the universe, in humankind and in the human body. This is the major paradigm of Filipino Traditional Healing. This is completely different from the paradigm of germs and microbes as the major causes of illnesses in European-North American medicine. Note however, of late, European-North American medicine has accepted that there are beneficial bacteria aside from just harmful bacteria; and pro-biotics as oppose to antibiotics. However in the theory of the causes of health and illnesses regarding degenerative diseases or lifestyle diseases, there are resonances between Traditional Healing and European-North American where good diet/nutrition versus bad diet/nutrition, distress versus relaxation, a life of activity and exercise versus sedentary life, good habits versus bad habits, virtues versus vices all play roles in creating cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, depression and accidents. There is a perfect fit for Spa Health and Wellness with the Filipino Traditional Health and Wellness paradigm. Spa Health and Wellness aim to restore the balance and harmony of people, as well as their human social relationships, physical, mental and emotional well-being in an conducive pleasant and beautiful environment. Modalities of Filipino Traditional Healing While Filipino Traditional Healing has a comprehensive body of knowledge, skills and practices, the following are the healing modalities that are suited for merging with Spa Health and Wellness: 1. The Paligo. Mixtures of air-dried tropical and indigenous aromatic leaves and flowers with medicinal properties are made into a warm decoction whose volume is calibrated to ensure a rinsing bath. Mixtures are classified into hot-cold (init/lamig) balancing rinsing bath; an earthwind-fire-water herbal balancing rinsing bath; and a Binat Regulator (Stress Regulator) herbal rinse. The term Binat defies a direct or literal translation in English. Binat is a state of dis-ease or severe discomfort that results when a person who has undergone a stressful (work related stress) or change of life situation (grief due to loss of a loved one) or a body-mind-spirit fatigue (childbirth) or a prolonged fever/cough/cold illness, upon the first few hours or first day of feeling well, returns to her/his normal daily routine. In Traditional Filipino Healing, the holistic body has not yet fully recovered despite the subjective feeling of the concerned person. Thus, a return to Binat or the state of dis-ease and severe discomfort. 2. The Oslob. Is a steam inhalation from infusions of air-dried aromatic medicinal herbs and plants usually given to persons with a state of imbalance and harmony especially from excess of cold energy. The patient for Oslob is placed under a one person tent made of cotton cloth where the hot infusion is administered. 3. The Hilot. This is the centerpiece of the merging of Filipino Traditional Healing and Spa Health and Wellness. To preserve the integrity of this uniquely Filipino massage technique, there will be a special brochure that will be distributed to interested parties during the ISPA International Conference. There will also be a sneak preview via live demonstration of the Hilot during the conference. The Hilot is an eclectic mix of indigenous traditional massage techniques from seven major ethno-linguistic cultural areas of the Philippines bringing forth the best in each practice ensuring a joyful yet serene total body experience. A distinct feature is the use of strips of warm banana
leaves applied to the different parts of the body at various stages of the massage therapy. 4. The Dinalisay. These are decoctions of a mixture of medicinal herbs indigenous to the Philippines, grown in certified organic farm communities. The Dinalisay are classified in to hot Dinalisay, cold Dinalisay, Earth Dinalisay, Wind Dinalisay, Fire Dinalisay and Water Dinalisay all aim at restoring balance to any state of disequilibrium. 5. The Kisig Galing. This is the use of biomagnetic energy healing of naturally gifted Filipino Traditional Healers. With the use of their hands as outlets for transfer of positive biomagnetic energy (Kisig) from their own personal biomagnetic energy (Kisig) and the positive energy from the environment to the person in dis-ease, they are able to heal (Galing) parts of the body or the energy channels or the total body that may have states of imbalance and disharmony. 6. The Unang Lana. This is the Filipino Virgin Coconut Oil. Made only from the flesh of freshly picked 90 day old coconuts, which are cold pressed to extract the first coconut oil (Unang Lana), the clear colorless virgin oil with a distinct sweet aroma is used as a total body rub, a hair tonic, a massage liniment, a facial mask or even a daily jigger drink for health and wellness, restoration of body balance and harmony, rejuvenation and body thermogenesis. All these effects are due to its high content levels of monolaurines or lauric acid, vitamin E and other anti-oxidants. 7. The Tapik Kawayan. This the use of one centimeter thick, five centimeter long bamboo (Kawayan) sticks to tap (Tapik) certain body areas identified through hand palpation to have biomagnetic energy blocks or predominance of cold humours. The Tapik Kawayan releases the energy blocks to allow once more the free flow of biomagmetic energy in the affected body parts or the release of cold humours to achieve a balance of hot/cold (init/lamig) humours. Religion in the Philippines The Philippines proudly boasts to be the only Christian nation in Asia. More than 86 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, 6 percent belong to various nationalized Christian cults, and another 2 percent belong to well over 100 Protestant denominations. In addition to the Christian majority, there is a vigorous 4 percent Muslim minority, concentrated on the southern islands of Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan. Scattered in isolated mountainous regions, the remaining 2 percent follow non-Western, indigenous beliefs and practices. Catholic Christianity arrived in the Philippines with the landing of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. In the late 16th century, soldiers and missionaries firmly planted the seeds of conversion when they officially claimed the archipelago for Spain and named it after their king. Missionary activity during the country's long colonial rule by Spain and the United States transformed the Philippines into the first and then one of the two (perhaps three, considering South Korea's growing Christian population) predominantly Christian nations in East Asia, with approximately 90% of the population belonging to the Christian faith, the other Christian nation being East Timor. Muslim Islam reached the Philippines in the 14th century with the arrival of Malay and Javanese merchants and Arab merchants from Malaysia and Indonesia, although the spreading of Islam in the Philippines is due to the strength of Muslim India. India brought Islam to Southeast Asia, specifically Malaysia and Indonesia, and in turn the latter two brought Islam to the Philippines. Filipino Muslims make up about five percent of the population and are concentrated in the western portion of the island of Mindanao. The Bangsamoro or Muslim Nation, a term used to define the disparate ethnic groups that profess Islam in the Philippines as their religion, have been fighting the most protracted war of independence in world history. These include the Tausugs and the Maranaos. The Islamic separatist movement in the Philippines had been and is being waged for almost five centuries -- against the Spanish, the Americans, the Japanese and the predominantly Christian Filipinos of today's independent republic. Filipino Muslims follow the Sunni tradition. Protestant Protestantism arrived in the Philippines with the coming of the Americans at the turn of the 20th century. In 1898, Spain lost the Philippines to the United States. After a bitter fight for independence against its new occupiers, Filipinos surrendered and were again colonized. How does religion affect Health? Examples: Patients decline blood transfusion for religious reasons (Jehova s Witness) Drinking of Holy water; wiping handkerchief on saints (Roman Catholic) Healing Mass (Roman Catholic) Faith and prayer eases patient s depression and it gives them the strength to struggle for survival (Roman Catholic, Methodist, INC, Born Again) While Islam opposes homosexuality, it does not prohibit Muslim physicians from caring for homosexual patients. (Muslim) Different diseases and illnesses and their treatment Influenza, grippe or Flu (Trangkaso) an acute, highly contagious infection of the respiratory tract that results from three types of myxovirus influenzae it occurs sporadically or in epidemics(usually during the colder months). Epidemics tend to speak w/in two or three weeks after initial cases and subside within one month. influenza affects all age groups, its incidence is highest in school children. it severity is greatest in very young, elderly people, and those w/ chronic diseases. Treatment: For uncomplicated influenza: Bed rest. Adequate fluid intake. Aspirin or acetaminophen in children to relieve fever and muscle pain. Guaifenesin or another expectorant to relieve non- productive coughing.
Amantadine, oseltamivir phophate and zanamivir (anti-viral agents) have proved to be effective in reducing the duration of signs and symptoms. Tuberculosis (Koch s Infection) An acute or chronic infection caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis . Treatment: anti-tubercular therapy Isolation Bed rest
Guaifenesin (pronounced / wa f n s n/) (INN) or guaiphenesin (former BAN), also glyceryl guaiacolate,[1] is an expectorant drug sold over the counter and usually taken by mouth to assist the bringing up (expectoration) of phlegm from the airways in acute respiratory tract infections. Uses The principal use of guaifenesin is in the treatment of coughing, but the drug has numerous other uses, including medical, veterinary, and personal. Amantadine Amantadine is the organic compound known formally as 1-aminoadamantane. The molecule consists of adamantane backbone that is substituted at one of the four methyne positions with an amino group. This compound is sold under the name "Symmetrel" for use both as an antiviral and an antiparkinsonian drug. Rimantadine is a closely related derivative of adamantane with similar biological properties. Apart from medical uses, this compound is useful as a building block, allowing the insertion of an adamantyl group. According to the CDC, 100 percent of seasonal H3N2 and 2009 pandemic flu samples tested have shown resistance to adamantanes, and amantadine is no longer recommended for treatment of the flu. oseltamivir phophate Oseltamivir (INN) (pronounced / s l tæm v r/) is an antiviral drug that slows the spread of influenza (flu) virus between cells in the body by [1] stopping the virus from chemically cutting ties with its host cell median time to symptom alleviation is reduced by 0.5 1 day . The drug is sold under the trade name Tamiflu and is taken orally in capsules or as a suspension. It has been used to treat and prevent Influenzavirus A and Influenzavirus B infection in over 50 million people since 1999. Zanamivir Zanamivir (INN) (pronounced /z næm v r/) is a neuraminidase inhibitor used in the treatment and prophylaxis of Influenzavirus A and Influenzavirus B. Zanamivir was the first neuraminidase inhibitor commercially developed. It is currently marketed by GlaxoSmithKline under the trade name Relenza. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), no flu, seasonal or pandemic, has shown any signs of resistance to zanamivir The Philippines (Filipino: Pilipinas [p l pin s]), officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (Filipino: Republika ng Pilipinas), is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. Taiwan lies north across the Luzon Strait. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam. The Sulu Sea to the southwest separates it from the island of Borneo and to the south the Celebes Sea from other islands of Indonesia. It is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea. An archipelago comprising 7,107 islands, the Philippines is categorized broadly into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The capital city is Manila. With an estimated population of about 92 million people, the Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country. It is estimated that there are an additional 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide. Multiple ethnicities and cultures are found throughout the islands. Its tropical climate sustains one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world. In prehistoric times, Negritos became some of the archipelago's earliest inhabitants. They were followed by successive waves of Austronesian peoples who brought with them influences from Malay, Hindu, and Islamic cultures. Trade introduced Chinese cultural influences. The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 marked the beginning of an era of Spanish interest and eventually dominance. The Philippines became the Asian hub of the Manila-Acapulco galleon treasure fleet. Christianity became widespread. As the 19th century gave way to the 20th, there followed in quick succession the short-lived Philippine Revolution, the Spanish-American War, and the Philippine-American War. In the aftermath, the United States replaced Spain as the dominant power. Aside from the period of Japanese occupation, the United States retained sovereignty over the islands until the end of World War II when the Philippines gained independence. The United States bequeathed to the Philippines the English language and an affinity for Western culture. Since independence the Philippines has had an often tumultuous experience with democracy, with popular "People Power" movements overthrowing a dictatorship in one instance but also underlining the institutional weaknesses of its constitutional republic in others.
Three types of myxovirus influenza
Type A: most prevalent, strikes every year, with new serotypes causing epidemics every 3 years Type B: also strikes annually, but only causes epidemics every 4-6 years Type C: endemic and causes only sporadic cases
