Gardasil HPV vaccine for men: Don't wait for the warts to come and get you

Don't wait for the warts to come and get you
By Walter Ang
October-November 2009 issue
Garage Magazine

Via Wikipedia

As responsible young men, you can protect yourself and your loved ones by getting the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine. This vaccine has been publicized widely in the past few years as a preventive measure against cervical cancer (of which virtually 100% or nearly half a million cases per year worldwide are associated with HPV). Then why, you ask, should men and boys get the vaccine, too?

Because, as it turns out, there is another HPV illness (aside from cervical cancer) that affects a greater number of men and women worldwide: genital and anal warts. This is according to the visiting Chief Examiner in Gynecological Oncology for the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The thing is, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and you can get it (and pass it to others) whether you are male or female. There are more than 40 HPV types that can infect the genital areas of both men and women.

For women, this includes the vulva, the lining of the vagina, and the cervix. For men, this includes the skin of the penis and scrotum. For both, the skin in the anus and lining of the rectum can also be infected.

While most people with HPV do not develop symptoms or health problems, certain types of HPV have been found to cause warts on the areas mentioned above, and worse, cancers of the vulva, vagina, cervix, anus, and penis.

HPV is passed on through genital contact, most often during vaginal and anal sex. Just like any other virus, once you've contracted it, you have it for life. You can have HPV even if years have passed after you've had sexual contact.

If the risk of getting cancer doesn't scare you into getting a vaccine, then maybe the thought of getting warts will. According to Dr. Gerard V. Wain, Director and Senior Staff Specialist of the Gynecological Oncology Unit at the Westmead Hospital in NSW Australia and Senior Lecturer for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Sydney, "[Patients] who have been affected by genital warts report recurring medical problems, sexual difficulties, psychosocial distress, financial burden, and social isolation."

Garage Magazine was invited to a presentation by Dr. Wain on the use of Gardasil HPV vaccine organized by Merk Sharp & Dohme (MSD), the vaccine's manufacturer.

For men, warts caused by HPV can appear in the penis, scrotum, anus, and even the groin area and thighs. These warts can cause itchiness and discomfort, and, in some cases, have an unsightly look (some warts are described as "cruciferous," meaning shaped like cauliflowers). Treatment of these kinds of warts can be painful and expensive, and there is always a chance that the warts will recur.

While HPV is frequently asymptomatic (meaning you could be infected but never get any symptoms), why risk the chance of the HPV developing into warts or cancer? Also, think about the next partner you have sexual contact with, you could be the one to give this person HPV.

Because of the stigma of having genital or anal warts, we don't get to hear a lot about it the same way we would for diseases like, say, cancer. But that doesn't mean it's not out there. Dr. Wain noted that while the Philippines does not yet have records of the incidence of genital and anal warts, statistics from other countries show a rise the number of people getting HPV infections and developing genital and anal warts.

Citing data from the Health Protection Agency of the United Kingdom, Dr. Wain disclosed that the incidence of genital warts in the UK has increased 18% in females and 34% in male from 1996 to 2005. In the United States, an estimated half to one million new cases of genital warts occur every year. About 1 percent of sexually active Americans have genital warts at any one time.

He also cited that, according to US data, about 50% of sexually active men and women, at some point in their lives, will be infected by HPV. Given the prevalence of genital warts that affect millions of individuals worldwide, Dr. Wain said, "The reported efficacy of the HPV vaccine is an important development in the global fight against sexually transmitted illnesses."

If you think about it, it's even more important for men to get the vaccine than women because at least women can avail of Pap smears to screen for the presence of cancerous cells in their genitals (and thus have a higher chance of survival if the cancer is caught early enough). For men, there is no test yet to detect early signs of HPV-associated cancers (meaning by the time the cancer is diagnosed, it's usually too late for treatments to be successful).

The Australian oncologist noted that Gardasil has shown to help protect against four types of HPV: types 16 and 18 which cause approximately 70% of cervical cancers; and types 6 and 11, which cause approximately 90% of genital warts. In the Philippines, Gardasil was recently approved by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) for men ages 9-26.

Lisa Macuja marks silver anniversary with dance concert

Lisa Macuja marks silver anniversary with dance concert
By Walter Ang
September 28, 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Via Ballet Manila Facebook

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde will hold a thanksgiving ballet concert on Oct. 2 at the Aliw Theater Hall to mark her 45th birthday and her silver anniversary as a dancer.

Laptop manufacturer Sony hosted a gala cocktail for her during the launch of its new Vaio collection in Peninsula Manila Hotel.

Sony Philippines lauded Macuja's "unmatched achievement of a valued and loyal customer who has touched audiences throughout the Philippines and in more than 85 cities in five continents around the world," and described her as "a cultural icon, a champion for Philippine art, and a visionary."

Macuja started taking ballet when she was nine years old at St. Theresa's College. After high school, she was accepted into the Vaganova Choreographic Institute (now the Academy of Russian Ballet) in Saint Petersburg as a scholar of the USSR Ministry of Culture. She graduated at the top of her class in 1984 and became the first non-Russian to be invited to join the Kirov Ballet. With Kirov, Lisa performed as principal ballerina in ballets like "The Nutcracker," "Giselle," and "Don Quixote" (that she performed with a ruptured thigh muscle and received a 20-minute curtain call).

Roots
She returned to Manila in 1986 and became the first artist-in-residence of the Cultural Center of the Philippines while dancing with Ballet Philippines. In 1988, she became a ballerina of Philippine Ballet Theater. In 1996, she founded her own dance company and school, Ballet Manila.

As a dancer, Macuja has performed close to 300 different roles. For BM, she juggles the roles of principal artist, artistic director, teacher, and company administrator. From an original complement of 12 dancers, BM now has more than 70 dancers.

Macuja has been a moving force in bringing ballet to the masses. BM's regular season productions are staged in the Star Theater and Aliw Theater, two venues that are conjoined to the Star City theme park. Patrons of the park get to watch her shows as part of their entrance fee.

As for the rest of the country, BM has performed outreach performance tours in more than 45 cities and towns. "Our motto is `have floor, will dance,'" Macuja says. "We've even danced on wooden softdrink crates while on tour!"

While steeped in the Vaganova method and committed to presenting the classics to Filipino audiences, BM also makes an effort to present works geared towards Pinoy audiences. It has staged "High School Musikahan," a take-off from the popular Disney musical and it recently staged "Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang," an original Filipino ballet production. Macuja choreographed "Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Maria," one of the stories featured in the production. "My first time to do so for the company," she says.

Tech savvy artist
"I have been using Vaio laptops since 2001, even before it was available in Manila, and I've had three so far. I am like a `techie-wannabe' because I am interested in learning but do not have the time," say Macuja. Nonetheless, she has incorporated her laptop (and her digicam and videocam) into almost every aspect of her life.

Aside from using it in her office to manage BM, she relies on her laptop to serve the needs of her own and her dancers' craft. She does basic music editing when needed and uses it to playback videos of rehearsals and performances for critiquing. In out-of-town venues, her laptop occasionally fills in for audio-video equipment.

For personal use, Macuja uses it to access the web to maintain her social networking accounts and website (www.lisamacuja.com). She has blogged about why "Don Quixote" is special to her and plans to add "more videos, interactive features, and links." She considers her laptop as the "study partner" that helped her complete a Management Degree (with honors) from the University of Phoenix online.

She's even nurtured the same love for technology with Missy and Mac, her children with industrialist and painter husband Fred Elizalde. Both children each have a laptop of their own and Macuja encourages their self-expression through their blogs (where they advocate for issues like the environment and endangered species).

More than dance
Macuja's dance career has resulted in numerous accolades such as a silver medal from the Asia-Pacific Ballet Competition, Tokyo; The Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World, USA; and the Order of International Friendship by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Her work in dance has always incorporated civic service. BM provides scholarships for deserving students. She also recently founded Project Ballet Futures with the Philippine Christian Foundation to provide ballet training, milk, vitamins, and stipends to indigent scholars.

She has served as Commissioner of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women and is currently Vice-Chairman of the Philippine UNESCO National Commission. She also serves as founding treasurer of the Artists Welfare Project.

Silver anniversary
The gala cocktail kicks off Macuja's series of performances for the 14th season of BM, featuring highlights from her career. "When I decided to become a professional ballerina at 14, I did not expect my career to bring me this far. I am very, very fortunate to still be dancing as a ballerina; very, very lucky that my body, my instrument, is still up to the physical stress and pounding that dancing demands from it," she says.

"Every chance I get to dance onstage in the same world-class quality that I demand from myself is a celebration for me and my art. I do not want to miss any chance to be able to celebrate my dancing with every performance. I love to dance and I hope that dancing will continue to be a part of my life at least for the next five years or so," she adds.

"Lisa@25" will be a multimedia live dance concert in three parts: a classical ballet medley, a pop medley, ending in "Prinsipe ng mga Ibon," the first story from "Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang." The Oct. 2 performance will be followed by an after-show party to celebrate Macuja's 45th birthday. "I always like dancing on my birthday. It makes the day extra special and gives me a chance to celebrate onstage," she says.

She will then give her farewell performance as Kitri in "Don Quixote." "I suppose being able to dance Kitri, with all those prerequisite high jumps and speedy turns, during a silver anniversary is a feat in itself," she says. "Knowing that it is my last shot at my dream role, a signature role that I have been fortunate enough to dance many, many times after that winter morning in Saint Petersburg will make these final three performances like no other."

Lisa@25 runs Oct. 2-4. Don Quixote runs Oct 9-11. Call 400-0292 or 525-5967.

Also published online:
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090928-227259/Lisa-Macuja-marks-silver-anniversary-with-dance-concert

Shamaine Buencamino in 'Mother Courage'

Shamaine Buencamino in 'Mother Courage'
By Walter Ang
September 21, 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Audiences may be familiar with Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino as the ubiquitous "mother" in TV shows like "Precious Hearts," and "SRO features Iza Calzado," or in films such as "One Last Chance" with Bea Alonzo, "Ang Lihim ni Antonio," and "Agaton and Mindy."

Theater audiences will now get a chance to see her as one of the most iconic mothers on stage as she plays Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage in Tanghalang Pilipino's Filipino translation/adaptation "Madonna Brava ng Mindanao" at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute, CCP.

A graduate of the Philippine High School of the Arts and a theater arts major from the University of the Philippines, Shamaine had been absent from the theater scene until recently. Ironically, many non-theater audiences are familiar with her because of a commercial she acted in years ago for a multivitamin with real-life husband Nonie Buencamino (and a more recent commercial for an electricity distributor). In fact, she's actually been working in the advertising industry behind-the-scenes as an assistant director for commercials.

"Years ago, Nonie and I decided that he would pursue his acting career while I did advertising. I felt that I couldn't juggle both production and acting work," she says. A request from Tanghalang Pilipino artistic director Nanding Josef in 2004 to act in "Hudhud" reactivated her theater career. "I realized that it was possible to do both after all."

She did a string of plays for Tanghalang Pilipino such as "Troyanas" (Trojan Women) and "Orfeo sa Impyerno" (Orpheus Descending). Last year, she made waves in a major way via the titular roles in Dulaang UP's "Atang" and the Virgin Labfest's "Ang Kalungkutan ng mga Reyna." "Reyna" cinched for her the Aliw Award and Philstage Gawad Buhay Award for Best Actress.

This year, she continues to ride her wave of success with leading roles in TP's "Madonna Brava" and immediately after its run, in DUP's "Mary Stuart/Maria Stuarda." She reprised her role in "Atang" in a restaging a few months ago and will be reprising her role in "Reyna" for "Tanyag," a trilogy of award-winning plays that is set to tour the country.

Though based on Brecht's "Mother Courage and Her Children," Shamaine notes that "Madonna" is actually a reworking of the play. "Major characters have been cut out and new scenes have been written in so we can better tell the story and share the views of the Moros," she says.

"Our intent is to explain to audiences what happened in Mindanao from the late 60s to the 80s. While it's impossible to understand or explain everything in just one play, it's important that we create awareness about and for what is happening to our countrymen in Mindanao," she says.

Together with members of the TP Actors Company and actors of the Mindulani Group from Mindanao, Shamaine went to Mindanao for an immersion trip. "We all hear such terrible things, but when we went there, we really enjoyed our stay. People there are so frustrated at how the news is always sensationalized. They just want business and life to go on," she says.

Her character is described as a woman who "needs to survive with her family in a milieu of uncertainty, terror and death" as she "takes her tri-ethnic brood?a Moro, a Christian and Lumad (each from a different father)?to long distances and unseemly spaces of war-torn Mindanao." Instead of a cart, she has a multicab, "a veritable mobile mini-bazaar loaded with an assortment of wares that cater to soldiers."

Shamaine says, "My character is actually Visayan who is based in Mindanao. There was actually a wave of migration of Visayans to Mindanao in the 60s and 70s. We are using real-life political background facts to stage this play." To this end, she has been working closely with her co-actors to work on their accents. "We keep laughing during rehearsals because all of our accents sound different and funny! But our co-actors from the south are helping us out."

"The situation in Mindanao is a really complex issue. It's important is that we actually care that there is a war there, that we do whatever we can in our capacities to do something about it. In my case, I am doing theater work to create awareness," she says.

"Madonna" is written by Don Pagusara and directed by Nestor Horfilla, founding artistic director of Kaliwat Theater Collective of Davao. The production also features music composed and arranged by Davao City-based, all-female music group Mebuyan. Mebuyan's members recently won at the Tunog Mindanao Annual World Music Competition held in Davao City.

"Madonna Brava ng Mindanao" is the second offering of Tanghalang Pilipino for its 23rd season, which has the theme "Women of Substance." The show runs until Oct. 11. Call CCP Box Office (832-3704) or Ticketworld (891-9999).

Also published online:
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090920-226143/Shamaine-Buencamino-in-Mother-Courage

Atlantis Productions stages Duncan Sheik's 'Spring Awakening' musical in Manila

Spring awakening in Manila
By Walter Ang
September 17, 2009
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Atlantis Productions is staging Tony Award winning musical "Spring Awakening" this September. This rock musical, featuring the music of Duncan Sheik, is an adaptation of the controversial 1891 German play of the same title by Frank Wedekind. It went through seven years of development, finally debuting Off-Broadway, and eventually winning four Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Musical, and eight Tony awards, including Best Musical.

Set in late-nineteenth century Germany, it chronicles the challenges faced by star-crossed young lovers Melchior Gabor and Wendla Bergman against a backdrop of sexual awakening. The original play was banned in Germany due to its portrayal of masturbation, abortion, rape, child abuse, and suicide.

"If your children watch TV shows like 'Gossip Girl' or 'One Tree Hill,' this musical is nothing. Those TV shows are actually worse!" says Cheska Inigo, who plays Female Adult Figure. Cheska started as a child actor with Repertory Philippines and moved on to film and television.

She plays five different roles in the musical. "I play a slew of mothers from supportive ones to ones that are negligent or in denial, but as a mother to three children myself, I want parents to give this musical a chance. The teenagers in this musical are not going through anything that we don't also have in our real lives. At least with a musical, audiences will see real people, and hopefully, that will bring the message home closer," she says.

With Cheska is The Dawn lead vocalist Jett Pangan who plays Male Adult Figure. Also portraying five different roles, Jett says, "I play roles that range from a loving and supporting father to a forbidding and abusive schoolmaster. Just like in the musical, there still exists a communication gap between the young and old in certain homes and communities. This musical is not just about adolescents yearning to learn about their sexuality, but also about themselves in general."

Both Cheska and Jett have experienced working in milieus that are iconic of youth culture. Cheska was immortalized in the movie "Bagets 2" along with Eula Valdez and Yayo Aguila while Jett's music with The Dawn has spoken to an entire generation of young people. That both are now parents and portraying roles that represent the "institution" is an ironic and funny situation that is not lost on them.

"It's surreal," says Jett with a laugh. "But while I was reading the script in preparation for our rehearsals, I realized I had to play a principal who is a real jerk and it made me remember my own days as a student. I became more conscious of how strict I am to my own kids."

Cheska adds, "I think parents in the audience will, just like me, have some sort of rude awakening. But it's an awakening in a good sense. When I was reading the role of a mother who was just so detached from what was going on in her daughter's life, I thought to myself, `This could possibly happen to me as a parent.' So it gave me a reminder to be constantly involved in my children's lives."

Concerns with the musical's subject matter aside, both actors enthuse about the music. "Duncan Sheik's music is great," says Jett. "I used to cover his songs with The Dawn and now I'm in a musical the he made."

"The music is beautiful!" says Cheska. "There is a range from hard core rock to bubble gum pop. The music is so emotional, it really carries you. In fact, one of the songs in the show, `My junk' is now my ringtone."

Both Cheska and Jett will be working with a young cast led by Joaquin Valdes as Melchior and Kelly Frances Lati as Wendla. Joaquin has been on the performing since he was just eleven years old and was recently seen in the musical "Into the Woods," while New York City native Kelly makes her professional Philippine theater debut. Kelly has been in musicals like "Pippin" and "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."

"Spring Awakening" is part of Atlantis Productions' 10th Anniversary and is directed by Chari Arespacochaga. Chari has directed musicals like "Honk!," "Altar Boyz," and "Avenue Q." She's also served as Assistant Director for Bong Quintana at Pagcor's "Wanders" and "Flow."

An actress, choreographer and educator, Chari actually had a chance to watch the show Off-Broadway in New York City even before it won any awards. An usher did show up for work and Chari was offered to take the job in exchange for a free seat. "I left the theatre in a daze," she says. "I knew I wanted to direct this musical!"

She is collaborating with Rajo Laurel for costume design, Tuxqs Rutaquio for set design, Dexter Santos for choreography (both Tuxqs and Dexter were recently involved in another Wedekind play, "Lulu," as actor and director, respectively), Voltaire de Jesus for lights design, and Jojo Malferari for musical direction.

Spring Awakening runs from Sept. 25-Oct. 18, 2009 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. Call 892-7078 or 840-1187. Due to explicit content and some nudity, Parental Discretion is advised.

Also published online:
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090906-223874/Spring-Awakening-in-Manila-Sept-25