Royal Institute of Traditional Arts implements Saudi-Chinese cultural exchange program    Localization in Saudi military industries rises to 19.35%    Logistics park for vehicles worth SR300 million to be set up at Dammam port    Commerce Ministry recalls 6,500 Genesis cars due to risk of fire    HONOR KSA expands its presence with new flagship Experience Store in Riyadh HONOR's first flagship store in KSA provides visitors with a premium experience, exciting offers and free services    Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers discuss Oman-mediated talks with US    Prince Sultan University launches first bachelor's program in language and media    Al-Falih: Eastern Province hosts 700 investment opportunities worth SR330 billion    Putin announces three-day Russian ceasefire in Ukraine from 8 May    Crown Prince donates SR1 billion to support housing for eligible families    Pakistani military says it killed 54 militants attempting to cross border from Afghanistan    Suspect charged after Vancouver car ramming leaves 11 dead    Eight hundred Houthi targets hit after weeks of strikes, says US    Rock & Roll Hall of Fame picks Outkast but not Oasis    Duran leads Al Nassr past Yokohama Marinos into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Al Ahli cruise past Buriram into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi orchestra to perform at Sydney Opera House in May    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Prelate to Noynoy: Quitting smoking a test of political will
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 03 - 06 - 2010

Instead of seeing it as just another burden, presidential front-runner Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III should treat quitting smoking as a test of political will and a necessary sacrifice.
This was how a retired senior Catholic archbishop advised Aquino Wednesday to kick his smoking habit soonest, preferably before assuming office on June 30.
“Kung gusto niyang huminto, kaya niyang hintuin yan, parang political will, kasama na rin yan (If he really wants to, he can kick the habit. It is like a test for his political will),” retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Cruz, a self-confessed former five-pack-a-day smoker, also contested Aquino's claims that quitting the habit now may result in pressure that will affect his decisions once he assumes the presidency.
Aquino had been edgy about persistent questions about his smoking habit, saying he is not inclined to kick the habit at this time. He said quitting the habit now may put more pressure on him and affect his decisions as president.
But Cruz stressed that quitting the smoking habit now is also a necessary sacrifice for the dignity of the Office of the President. “Pasensya na siya, presidente na siya. Hindi pwedeng gawin niya ang bagay na di ikagaganda ng kanyang pagkapangulo at kanyang ginagampanan bilang presidente ng bansa (I am sorry to tell him he is now president.
He cannot do things that will demean the office of the president). The dignity of the office requires that some people will have to sacrifice something,” he said.
Further, Cruz contested Aquino's claim that quitting smoking will affect his decisions, saying nicotine from cigarettes will have a worse effect.
“The more you should stop smoking! You will not be able to think well because nicotine nakaka-cloud ng intellectual functions (because nicotine can cloud your intellectual functions),” he said.
“Ang iyong kaisipan parang lumilipad...at alam ko [ang] sinasabi ko. Kaya mag-quit ka cold turkey, tapos, tapos, tapos (When you indulge in the habit, your mind flies, and I know what I am talking about. So quit cold turkey, end it, end it, end it),” he added.
Cruz also suggested that Aquino draw up on a piece paper a list of his achievements and goals, then place the list beside a cigarette.
“In my case, I wrote my achievements on a piece of paper and placed a cigarette opposite that list. I asked myself, will all of my achievements be gone because of one cigarette? That is shameful! In his case, he can list all his achievements, including winning the presidential race.
Then he should ask himself if it is worth sacrificing all his achievements for a cigarette,” he said in Filipino.
Cruz said he used to smoke five packs a day, and that he would have as many as 100 cigarette lighters at a time. But he said the list test caused him to stop. Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral had been advising Aquino to drop the habit.


Clic here to read the story from its source.