Now I am one restriction less to travel and visit the US.
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Obama Lifts HIV Travel, Immigration Ban
By Kerry Eleveld and Michelle Garcia
During a signing ceremony for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act, President Barack Obama announced Friday that the federal government would end its ban on travel and immigration to the U.S. by people who are HIV-positive, as first reported by The Advocate.
Obama made the announcement in the Diplomatic Room of the White House, where he told attendees that that policy was instituted 22 years ago "in a decision rooted in fear rather than fact."
AIDS in the Philippines, the first book that provides important information and a comprehensive account of Philippine experiences on HIV and AIDS, was launched last October 29, 2009 at Annabelle's, Tomas Morato during the Annual Membership Meeting of the AIDS Society of the Philippines at 1:00 in the afternoon.
For the first time in the 25-year history of HIV and AIDS in the Philippines, an extensive documentation on the changing trends and patterns of HIV infection and the country’s response is now in a book written by contributors who studied the beginnings of HIV infection until its increasingly rapid transmission among wider sectors of the population today. From 1984 to August 2009, the registry recorded a cumulative total of 4,082 cases. Unprotected sexual activities remain the most common mode of transmission.
Edited by Dr. Ofelia T. Monzon, who pioneered HIV investigative research studies that paved the way for early efforts to prevent further infection, AIDS in the Philippines contains 18 chapters authored by experts who have been at the core of scientific studies, clinical management, psychosocial responses, prevention, and policy making on HIV and AIDS.Read more…
Click here to see what the experts and other readers say… (Check out the bottom most part of the page :-) )
I woke up around quarter to five in the morning giving out a loud “ugh!”
I had a dream.I don’t know if it will qualify as a nightmare, because I didn’t find it scary, but it’s no where near the story of the Little Mermaid, except for the presence of water.
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It was a raining.It was dark.I can’t figure out if it was night time or the rain cloud was too grey that it made the day looked bleak.But I didn’t feel scared
I was standing, drench in the rain.Behind me was a gate.I didn’t see it but I knew it was there.In front of me was a dirt path.
I looked left and right and all I can see it water.The surrounding seemed like rice field of some sort.I just couldn’t see its definition because of the volume of water.I wondered if the presence of water was because of the rain or if it’s naturally there.
I feel that there is nowhere for me to go but straight, and forward I went.I have not gone far and I noticed, to my left, a small old cottage.
I walked further and thought I saw a shadow amidst the darkness.I started to walk faster.Then I saw a man.I am not sure who he was but I felt we knew each other.He was standing and looking straight into the darkness.
I noticed that that side of the field was darker than the areas near the gate and the cottage.It was pitch black.
I asked him where we were but he didn’t respond to my query.He looked pale and cold.He must be standing in the rain for a while, I thought.I asked the same question and I received the same blank response.
Then he took my hand.He was holding me too tight that it began to hurt.I started struggling to free my hand (I can feel my sleeping body wriggling), but he was too strong.
He started to walk towards the darkness.I kept squirming to loosen my hand.Thanks to the rain water that wet his hand, I was able to break away from his grip.
He turns to look at me and his blank expression turn into an angry face.
My instinct screamed and ordered me to run, and that’s exactly what I did.I turned the opposite direction and ran as fast as I could.
I couldn’t feel the ground.I turned down to look… the dirt path was no longer there.I was running on water.After realizing this, I fell in the water.
I think I sank about three feet under water. I thought it was a good hiding place so I held my breath and stayed there as long as I could.
While I was submerged, I thought I was floating, but when I looked around, I saw that I was lying on a bed of water spinach (Kangkong in Filipino).
I don’t know how long I was sunken but I running out of air (I think I was holding my breath for real while I was dreaming).
Then I felt a hand grabbed me by the chest.It was him.I pushed him away and started running again.I ran past the cottage, past the open field, that’s filled with water and then reached the gate.
While I was standing there, it didn’t felt right to open the gate and go further beyond it.My curiosity got the best, I turned around and walk towards the cottage.
When I reached the cottage, I notice that it was lit from the inside.I peaked through the window and saw the man.He was violently throwing the furniture.He looked mad.
Then I heard something like a wail.I turned to look to my right and saw a wounded dog.It looked like a cross breed of a German Shepherd and a Rottweiler and it looked very week.I felt sad for the thing and decided to carry it back to the gate.
The dog was heavy.I had to make several stops from the cottage to the gate.I was on my third stop and I felt tired.So I decided to rest longer than I did on my last two stops.
I was very tired from all that transpired.I closed my eyes to rest.After a few minutes, I thought I need to continue. I opened my eyes and saw the man sitting in a squat position in front of me with a sheepish looking grin on his face.
He was holding a wide blade kitchen knife. Before I could even give out a reaction, he stabbed be in the belly…I literally heard my self gave out a loud “ugh!”
Then I was awakened.
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I find it strange that in the past two weeks… almost of my dreams have water and cottages in them.
Most of the time, I can control my dream, but not this one.However, I still knew that it was just a dream.But I allowed my self to be a passive part of the dream.
I want to understand because I believe acquiring the ability to interpret your dreams is a powerful tool.
Below are the dream interpretations I found online @ http://www.dreammoods.com/dreamdictionary/.I arranged the symbols according to the manner of appearance in my dream.
Coincidentally, the meanings are somewhat accurate to what my life circumstances are going through.
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Darkness Darkness is synonymous with ignorance, the unconscious, evil, death, and fear of the unknown.If you feel safe in the dark, then it suggests that you like not knowing about certain things.As some might say, ignorance is bliss.
Night
To have a dream that takes place at night represents some major setbacks and obstacles in achieving your goals.There are some issues in your life that you are facing, but are not too clear.You should put the issues aside so you can clear your head and come back to it later. Alternatively, night may be synonymous with death, rebirth, reflection, and new beginnings.
Rain
To dream that you get wet from the rain, indicates cleansing from your troubles and problems. Rain also symbolizes fertility and renewal.
Gate
To see or pass through a gate in your dream, suggests that you are walking through a new phase of life.It also represents new opportunities and possibilities, especially if the gate is opened or swinging.
To see a closed gate in your dream signifies your inability to overcome current difficulties.If you are unable to open the gate, then it indicates that your hard work will be seen as unsatisfactory.It may also mean that you are not ready or not prepared to move on to the next step.
Dirt
To see freshly stirred dirt in your dream, symbolizes thriftiness and frugalness. Dirt is also representative of situations where you have been less than honourable and may have acted in a devious manner.
Path
To walk through a quiet, open path, signifies clarity of thought and peace of mind. It may also symbolize your progress.
To see a blocked or windy path, denotes that you need to give serious attention to the direction you are heading in your personal and/or business life. You also need to take time out to consider and rethink the consequences before acting on your choices.
Water
To see water in your dream, symbolizes your unconscious and your emotional state of mind. Water is the living essence of the psyche and the flow of life energy. It is also symbolic of spirituality, knowledge, healing and refreshment.
To see muddy or dirty water in your dream, indicates that you are wallowing in your negative emotions. You may need to devote some time to clarify your mind and find internal peace. Alternatively, it suggests that your thinking/judgment is unclear and clouded. If you are immersed in muddy water, then it indicates that you are in over your head in a situation and are overwhelmed by your emotions.
To dream that you are walking on water, suggests that you have supreme and ultimate control over your emotions. It may also suggest that you need to "stay on top" of your emotions and not let them explode out of hand. Alternatively, it is symbolic of faith in your self.
To see a cottage in your dream, represents comfort, peace and serenity. You prefer a quiet life of simplicity. The cottage may also represent an altered sense of reality and thus may be a means of escaping the responsibilities and problems that may be associated with your home. You need to approach life's difficulties one at a time.
Acquaintance
To see an acquaintance in your dream, signifies positive affairs in business and harmony in your home life. It also foretells that you will see or hear from them shortly after this dream.
To dream that you are in a dispute with an acquaintance denotes that you will soon find yourself in a humiliating situation.
Underwater
To dream that you are underwater, suggests that you are feeling overcome with emotions and are in need of greater control in your life. You may be in over your head regarding some situation.
To dream that you are breathing underwater represents a retreat back into the womb.You want to return to a state where you were dependent and free from responsibilities.Perhaps you are feeling helpless, unable to fulfil your own needs and caring for your self.Alternatively, you may be submerged in your emotions.
Plants
To see plants in your dream, indicate fertility, spiritual development, growth or the potential for growth. Alternatively, the appearance of plants in your dreams reflects your caring and loving nature.
Leaves
To see leaves in your dream, signifies new found happiness and improvements in various aspects of your life. It is symbolic of fertility, growth and openness. Alternatively, leaves represent a passage of time.
Dog
To see a dog in your dream, symbolizes intuition, loyalty, generosity, protection, and fidelity. The dream suggests that your strong values and good intentions will enable you to go forward in the world and bring you success. Alternatively, it indicates a skill that you have ignored or forgotten.
If the dog is dead or dying, then it indicates a loss of a good friend. Alternatively, it represents a deterioration of your instincts.
Knife
The knife may be symbolic of something divisive in your life. You may be attempting to cut ties or sever some relationship.
Stab
To dream that you have been stabbed, signifies your struggle with power.You may be experiencing feelings of inadequacy and defensiveness.Alternatively, you may be feeling betrayed as the popular phrase goes, "being stabbed in the back".
I was feeling emotional tonight.I feel like things are a little hazy than I am supposed to see them.In spite of the good people around me and the activities that keep me preoccupied, I still feel poignant and lonesome.
Wanting to find enlightenment, I decided to send my Li’l bro (one of the people I receive so much comfort from… even though I can only come so close to him) a text message and share my “Emo-ment”.
I didn’t need to be comforted, I needed to be told the truth, the reality, that I am not able to see from where I am standing. And the truth was bestowed upon me.
I shall forever remember his insights:
“Each of us has a calling.Baka hindi pa pwede ngayun kasi (it could be it’s not yet time) you have greater things to do.”
“You can’t rush things, focus muna.Love what you do, love yourself for being able to do things.You’re starting to do things you’ve dreamed of doing.If you’re preoccupied with someone, you will be limited on the things you can do… just set it aside until you reach your goal,then you can share it all.For now, you need to focus.”
I know these words came from the heart. Unadorned and sincere.
I am typical Sagittarian.
Has a lot of ideas,
Difficult to fathom,
Thinks forward,
Unique and brilliant,
Extraordinary ideas,
Sharp thinking,
Fine and strong clairvoyance,
Can become good doctors,
Careful and cautious,
Dynamic in personality,
Secretive,
Inquisitive,
Knows how to dig secrets,
Always thinking,
Less talkative but amiable,
Brave and generous,
Patient,
Stubborn and hard-hearted,
If there is a will, there is a way,
Determined,
Never give up,
Hardly become angry unless provoked,
Motivates oneself,
Does not appreciates praises,
High-spirited,
Well-built and tough,
Deep love.
