SINCE I MOVED to Makati almost half a decade ago, I could count with my fingers the times I came home to visit.

When the plane lands Davao City’s International Airport, the flight attendant would then announce that Davao is a No-Smoking city. Leaving the plane, passing the tube to the terminal , I would see familiar faces smiling, not only because i worked in the airport years ago, but Davao is also a place of friendly people. Outside the terminal, you’ll see the big stone art of a Durian fruit and Bagobos inside it. As if i could smell the fruit, i would smell home.

Davao City as I always thought, is a great place to live. The city is not crowded. The traffic’s moderate. The air is good. Of course, with the no smoking city ordinance you won’t get a headache from smokers, because you won’t see one on the sidewalks.

The city is a combination of a developed urban and a peaceful get-away. It may not be as progressive like the business districts of Makati. But it has it’s own pace in keeping up with the rest of the world.

Beaches, hilltops, flowers, and other sceneries are the best . Second to food. And the lovely people of the city.

People have the misconception of Davao since it is located in the island of Mindanao. But Davao is not, and never was, a battle zone. Like what most people thought it is. Majority of the population are Christians. It is peaceful, except maybe for a very few inevitable incidents. But Davao is a community that all Christian and Muslims alike are treated equal.

And Davao City will always be home for me, and to the people who leaves, but still comes back.

Healthy babies are happy babies.

But, there are times, no matter how we took good care of the baby they get sick. What could be more painful than having to see your child suffering and ill? Common diseases seem not common at all. A little child is so helpless even to a simple cold, what more to chickenpox, mumps or typhoid fever. It could be common because it happens to every baby every now and then. But the thought of your baby suffering could be frustrating. It is difficult to accept why your baby got it. Blame it on the weather , pollution, and other things.

Here’s a list of common diseases we would not want our babies to get:

• Chickenpox
  • When it appears: 12-16 days after exposure
  • Symptoms to watch for: Fever; pink, blister-topped lesions appear for several days on body, face and scalp. Blisters break and form scales or crusta. Condult your doctor at once.
  • How long it last: 8-14 days

• Measles
  • When it appears: 10-14 days after exposure.
  • Symptoms to watch for: Fever; running nose; red watery eyes; harsh, dry cough; Koplick’s spots (small, white, milk-like spots) in the mouth; red rash around the hairline, ears on the 4th or 5th day, then spreading gradually over the body. Consult your doctor at once.
  • How long it last: 5 days

• Meningitis
  • When it appears: 1st week, variable after
  • Symptoms to watch for: Sudden fever, headache , vomiting. Occasional red exposure dish skin spots in the eyelids, body and extremities. Consult your doctor immediately.

• Mumps
  • When it appears: Third week, increased 1 week after
  • Symptoms to watch for: Pain in the cheeks when chewing, swelling; moderate exposure body weakness. Consult your doctor at once.

• Typhoid Fever
  • When it appears: 1-2 weeks after exposure
  • Symptoms to watch for: Fever, diarrhea, vomiting, stupor; delirium and low pulse rate. Consult your doctor at once.
  • How long it last: 2-4weeks

• Whooping Cough
  • When it appears: 1-2 weeks after exposure
  • Symptoms to watch for: Sever cough increasing in severity and frequency. Due to prolong coughing child may get very red in the face; often vomits. Consult your doctor immediately.