Exciting thrills at Zoom Treetop Adventure

MANILA, Philippines - If you're looking for an interesting venue for a party, a new restaurant to dine at with your sweetheart, outdoor activities for the entire family, an exciting adventure for a group of friends, or all of the above, you might want to consider checking out the Zoom Treetop Adventure at Circulo Verde in Barangay Bagumbayan, Quezon City.

Just a block away from Eastwood City, this new eco-themed park is a spin-off of the original branch in the Jestcamp Area of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in Olongapo City which has been operating successfully for the past 2 years.

Launched last July, Zoom Treetop Adventure boasts of environmentally friendly rides that do not emit pollution. Also, none of the surrounding trees were cut down to give way to the rides. Plus, the rides provide a breathtaking view of the Ortigas skyline.

To date, there are 3 rides to choose from: the Parachute Ride, the Silver Surfer, and the Superman Ride.Parachute Ride

At the Parachute Ride, you are first strapped in face down as you ascend to 100 feet above the ground. Seconds later, you drop back to earth. It's not as scary as it sounds, though, as the drop takes you down in just "4 seconds of weightlessness".

At P200, the Parachute Ride is probably 'worth its weight' in helping you overcome your fear of heights.

Silver Surfer

From 10 feet above the ground, you will glide 200 meters to the next tower at 9 meters per second on a seesaw-looking contraption which you can ride facing a partner.

Though slightly pricier at P300, the ride allows you to go back and forth 4 times (which is much longer than the Parachute Ride).

Superman Ride

The third and highest priced attraction is the Superman Ride which is sort of a mix between the Parachute Ride and the Silver Surfer.

For P400, you'll also be strapped into a harness face down and will zip-line 200 meters across the field and back at 100 feet above the ground. Riders get a view of Antipolo City and Quezon City.

The owners said a new ride will be introduced next year, the Aeromuscial Ride, where, if you can imagine, the movement of the ride is synchronized with the rhythm of the music. Thinking of it already makes me want to sleep (in a good, mother-cradling-me kind of way).

Additionally, the park has a humongous football field for flag football and other outdoor sports, and an R.C. field for those who want to race their remote controlled toys.

Likewise, the park also has a pavilion for special events and a Spanish restaurant called Señor Paquito which is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. It serves all sorts of Spanish favorites like tapas, patatas bravas, and the house specialty, chicken wings, with a selection of wines.

Another branch of Zoom Treetop Adventure will open at the end of the month at Camp John Hay in Baguio City to give northerners a taste of these thrills as well.

OFW kids excel despite parents' absence

MANILA, Philippines - It was a sad and difficult experience for John Jefferson Besa to grow up without his father, who works as a seafarer in Japan, but he didn't see this as an excuse to not do his homework or be a delinquent child.

Instead, the third-year Human Biology major at the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas saw it as a challenge to excel in life -- from his studies to his relationships with others.

Unlike most people his age, Besa has high hopes of turning the Philippines around, from a nation riddled with corruption and inefficiency to one that embodies the spirit of solidarity and volunteerism.

He may currently be limited by what he can do, but this does not stop him from "igniting the change in our nation."

John Jefferson Besa

"Sa una, pwede nating masabi na walang magagawa sa lipunan ang pagpapabuti ng ating takdang aralin. Totoo naman 'yun sa ngayon. Pero naniniwala akong magbubunga rin ang punong matagal na hinubog," Besa said.

("At first, we can say that doing our homework will not change our society. That's true for now. But I believe that this will bear fruit in the future.")

Besa is one of the 10 individuals cited in this year's Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children Awards by the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).

He was given the Ibang Klaseng Talino (A Different Kind of Wisdom) award for "striving his way to excellence despite the distance from his parents."

Besa with the rest of the winners in this year's Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children Awards and officials from BPI.

"Let's not see these things (awards) as an excuse to be boastful...We should shed light to those burdened by hopelessness," Besa said.

He continued, "Most young people do not bother to be an inspiration to others...We must empower the youth so a change in the country will soon be realized."

BPI's program, now on its 4th year, aims to promote the value of education, culture of excellence and nationalistic pride among overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and their families.

This year's winners were each given a trophy and P50,000 in cash credited to a BPInoy savings account.

"We are inviting the entire nation to join us in recognizing the commendable achievements of these overseas Filipino families," said Teresita Tan, BPI executive vice president and group head of overseas banking and channel services.

Here are the rest of the winners in this year's Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children awards:

Ibang Klaseng Talino

1. Lynn Migel Estoque (Ateneo de Davao University)
2. Maria Angela Mariano (University of the Philippines-Diliman)
3. Kirsten Therese Lestor (University of Santo Tomas)
4. Lord Leomer Pomperada (De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde)
5. Reynold Orsua (Saint Louis University)
6. Richmond Calunsag (Philippine Normal University)

Ibang Klaseng Entrepreneur

- Erilyn Marie Dagan (University of Asia and the Pacific)

Ibang Klaseng Community Leader

- Florence Marie Bayer (Assumption College-San Lorenzo)

Ibang Klaseng Athlete

- Jose Renato Unso (De La Salle University)

Pregnancy: Study links painkillers to male reproductive flaw

PARIS - Could mild painkillers, taken by women during pregnancy, be linked to male fertility problems?

The question is raised by a new study which suggests that these over-the-counter analgesics may be a greater risk than hormone-disrupting chemicals and plastics that are most blamed for causing reproductive problems in later life.

Researchers pored over data from 834 women in Denmark and 1,463 in Finland who were questioned during their pregnancy about their health and use of medication.

They found nothing that was statistically interesting in the Finnish group, but in the Danish group, two startling phenomena emerged.

Women who took a combination of one or more painkiller -- such as aspirin and paracetamol together -- during pregnancy had a seven-fold increased risk of giving birth to sons with undescended testicles.

This condition, known as cryptorchidism, is a risk factor in poor semen quality and a form of testicular cancer in later life.

In addition, those who took any analgesic during the second trimester of pregnancy more than doubled the risk of cryptorchidism for their child.

"We do not quite understand why the Finnish cohort (group) does not show the same associations as the Danish cohort," said Henrik Leffers, senior scientist at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, who led the research.

"However, the use of mild analgesics in the Finnish cohort was only examined by questionnaires, not by telephone interviews, and the telephone interviews gave the most reliable information in the Danish cohort, which may explain some of the differences."

Incidence of cryptorchidism in Denmark is nearly four times higher than in Finland, having surged almost fivefold between 1960 and 2001.

"The magnitude of this difference is too large to be accounted for by random fluctuations and differences in ascertainment," according to the paper, published in the European journal Human Reproduction late Monday.

"Moreover, this finding is in accordance with the reported decline in reproductive health in the adult male population over the past five decades."

Furthering the research, investigators in France carried out tests on lab rats.

They found that exposure to paracetamol reduced levels of testosterone in the uterus and reduced the distance between the offspring's anus and genitals -- a key marker of reproductive flaws in the adult.

Leffers cautioned that further investigation was needed.

But, he said, the evidence was that a painkiller exposed the foetus to a bigger one-shot of endocrine disruptors than phthalates and other environmental sources of these hormone-interfering compounds.

"A single, 500mg paracetamol tablet contains more endocrine disruptor potency than the combined exposure to the 10 most prevalent of the currently known environmental endocrine disruptors during the whole pregnancy," Leffers said.

"In fact, a single tablet will, for most women, be at least a doubling of the exposure to the known endocrine disruptors during the pregnancy and that dose comes on a single day, not spread out over nine months as with the environmental endocrine disruptors."

He urged women to restrict their use of painkillers as far as possible during pregnancy and seek advice from their doctor.

Jericho Rosales denies pursuing radio jock Andi Manzano

MANILA, Philippines - Jericho “Echo” Rosales cleared up issues romantically linking him to radio jock and television host Andi Manzano.

He confirmed that while they did go out, they were with a group of friends.

“Marami kami noon. Kami ng mga kaibigan ko kasi si Andi kamag-anak ng mga Valencianos so it’s not impossible na magkasama kami. Nagkikita kami sa mga events,” he said.

Aside from being a close friend of the Valencianos, Echo is also being managed by Gary Valenciano’s wife, Angeli Pangilinan.

Echo extended his apologies to Manzano for being dragged into the issue.

“We were talking the other day sabi ko [kay Andi], ‘Gusto mo mag-phone patch pa ako?’ Because I think meron siyang interview sa [kabilang istasyon] because we’re friends. Kumbaga walang tablahan. Parang ganon. Pinsan niya ang best friend ko, si Gab (Valenciano),” he said.

When prodded if he is courting Manzano, Echo answered, “No, no, no. I don’t think that’s for me at the moment. I don’t think I’m ready for a relationship.”

Although he did not directly say that he is no longer with “Entertainment Live” host Cesca Litton, Echo said that he is not ready to commit right now.

Coincidentally, Echo was previously linked to another Andi— “Agua Bendita” star Andi Eigenmann—but the actor just downplayed the issue.

The young mestiza actress said in her interviews that she has a crush on Echo, but they don’t really know each other. Litton also clarified that there is no truth to claims that Eigenmann was the third party in her relationship with the actor.

Echo added that he and Litton have not yet talked lately. “At the moment ito lang masasabi ko, hindi pa kami nagkakausap pa ulit.”

In the meantime, he would rather keep to himself as to when he plans to discuss matters with Litton.

Venus Raj enjoying showbiz limelight

MANILA, Philippines – Miss Universe 4th runner up Maria Venus Raj is enjoying the limelight as another dream of hers is already within her reach.

Last Sunday, Raj made a surprise production number on variety show ASAP XV. “First time ko po sa ASAP pero okay naman. Wonderful experience,” she said.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Raj said she is glad that she got the chance to work with other ABS-CBN stars.

“Sila Toni parang first time ko sila makita pero parang ang babait na nila sa akin,” said Raj.

Asked if she is going to be an official Kapamilya now that she has stepped into the limelight of show business, the beauty queen said that the last word is still up to Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc..

“Well sabi ko nga po hindi naman po ako ang nagde-decide sa mga ganoong bagay. Ang Binibining Pilipinas Incorporated pa rin po and, of course, ‘yong network...so we’ll see. Sana. Hopefully. Let’s just pray,” she explained.

It would be recalled that when she won in Miss Universe last August, she bared that she is open to the possibility of joining the entertainment world.

She also revealed that she wants Coco Martin to be her leading man if she will be given the opportunity to choose