5 minute read
Get to know Fil-Am rapper Ez Mil...
to work.” h e was born and raised in o longapo City, Philippines to filipino parents who are both singers; it runs in the blood! his father is the lead vocalist of the filipino band, rockstar.
Dr.Dre and Eminem have a reputation for discovering talents and honing them into greatness. one example is 50 Cent, who rose to stardom after signing in with their record label.
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Who is Ez Mil?
We’re here to raise our flags for this f ilipino pride who’s about to embed his name in the international music scene. here’s what e know so far about this rising fil-Am star.
During his college years, he moved to the Us and set his path to a music career. h e started recording and producing his own songs —”idk” is the first song he produced. It’s not surprising how he is now rising to fame as Americans are already reviewing his songs on Youtube even before, with one gaining 1.4m views. A major breakthrough came for him when his song “Panalo” became the NBA 2k23 soundtrack. But fame doesn’t go without any hurdles; this song was also involved in some controversies due to its lyrics. t hat night, the pure joy on odie’s face as he hugged and was hugged by others around him, was something I still remember to this day. odie came from poverty, and is still probably classified in that category by today’s standards. But, on that New Year’s eve, surrounded by his family, friends and community, he looked like the happiest and most loved person I knew. my life in America seemed so different from odie’s, I remember thinking. my parents and sister and I immigrated to the U. s when I was five and my sister was three years old. With both our parents working, we were latchkey kids after we were old enough to be on our own and not go to the babysitter’s house after school. our friends lived in other neighborhoods, so we didn’t really play outside with anyone.
In addition, he also performed the ever-patriotic “Panalo,” “reUp,” and the exceptional song “Up Down” in the NBA halftime of the LA Clippers and Utah Jazz game.
“odie,” had been one of our family helpers since he was a young teen. he and his two other brothers were taken in by my grandmother when their parents could no longer care for them financially.
After my divorce in 2005, I spent many holidays and New Year’s e ves by myself when my children were with their father. After a while, I got used to the loneliness. this was life
As I get older, I’ve been questioning more and more my perpetual state of loneliness and being alone. Are there health consequences to solitary existence? What about mental cognizance issues of being alone?
And of course, the question of “will I die alone?”
It turns out my concerns are valid: loneliness in America has now become so prevalent that the U.S. Surgeon General has called loneliness an epidemic and it is threatening the health of Americans. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek m urthy, said Americans are facing an epidemic of loneliness, an “underappreciated public health crisis” that needs to be brought to light. even before the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of adults in the country reported measurable levels of loneliness, which can affect mental, physical and societal health.
In his advisory released in may, Surgeon General’s Advisory on our Epidemic of Loneliness and isolation murthy calls attention to the mounting problem.the health risks associated with prolonged loneliness are dramatic—akin to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, per m urthy’s 81-page advisory. Loneliness can increase the risk of premature death by 26 percent and raise the likelihood of heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression and dementia.
Loneliness isn’t just affecting Americans’ emotional wellbeing, but truly affecting our health. s ocial disconnect can also carry an enormous economic cost—among older adults alone, isolation accounts for an estimated $6.7 billion in excess m edicare spending. It’s also linked to poorer academic achievement and work performance.
I know of people who went back or are thinking of going back to the Philippines to be closer to friends and family members. e specially as they grow older, like me. It’s not perfect there, as it is not perfect anywhere. But, I doubt any of my cousins and family members there will tell you they feel lonely or isolated. step outside the door, and there is always someone to talk to, to spend time with. to celebrate or cry with.
Dr. Murthy offers a simple solution to this problem: “our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in plain sight – one that can help us live healthier, more fulfilled, and more productive lives.”
Back in the Philippines, on that street on New Year’s eve, in plain sight, I think odie already knew that.
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * Corin Ramos Lujan was born in Manila and immigrated to the U.S. at five years old. A former journalist and graduate of UC Berkeley, Corin received her Philippine dual citizenship in May 2023. She currently lives in Las Vegas where she is a real estate agent, and also an accredited Marketing Partner in Nevada for Ayala Land, Inc., the largest real estate developer in the Philippines.
PhiliP s . Chua, md, FaCs , FPCs the epidemic of childhood obesity, which obviously parallels the incidence among adults, has contributed to the explosion of metabolic syndrome, the most common cause of major illnesses our society faces today. the word “metabolic” refers to the biochemical processes and physiology governing the body’s normal functions to achieve homeostasis (balanced, healthy state). metabolic syndrome is also called Insulin resistance syndrome or syndrome X. this is a cluster of medical risk factors – high blood pressure, high fasting blood sugar and cholesterol/ triglyceride levels, and excess body fat around the waist – that increase the likelihood of heart attacks, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. this syndrome, which is usually without symptoms, except for an expanding waistline, might someday overtake smoking as a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases and deaths. excess body weight, obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol excess are all risk factors for developing metabolic syndrome, besides damages in the genes. With metabolic syndrome, there is also increased insulin resistance, where the hormone called insulin
What is metabolic syndrome?
How common is metabolic syndrome? metabolic syndrome is very common in the United states.
About 35 percent of all adults and 50 percent of those aged 60 and over have this syndrome. the “seeds” for this condition are planted while the fetus is in the womb and continue during childhood, where the children’s DNA are gradually damaged by unhealthy diet, habits, and behavior of the mother and the children themselves, starting from the crib. Children drinking soft drinks, diet or regular, cola or uncola, are 40 percent more prone to develop metabolic syndrome, starting with weight gain and then childhood obesity, later, hypertension (high blood pressure), arthritis, heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer. soft drinks are also toxic to adults as well, with 40 percent risk also, according to the Us National Institute of health.
What are the metabolic risk factors?
