Last night two of my colleagues and I covered an event in Katipunan called “One Smoke-Free Night,” a benefit concert for project Brave Kids. It was also an avenue to raise public awareness on the health hazards of cigarette smoking. One of the event’s organizer was FCAP or Framework Convention on tobacco control Alliance Philippines. Currently, the organization is pursuing the passing of House Bill (HB) 3364 or the Picture-Based Health Warning Bill, which, when approved, graphic photos of the effects of smoking to ones health will replace the usual text warning in cigarette packs. The picture-based warning will be placed on the back panel of the cigarette package, the picture will occupy at least fifty percent of the back panel and the text warning must be in Filipino. In addition, no misleading descriptions should be placed in cigarette packs like “light or low tar,” because no matter how “light” or “low” the tar content is, it will still have the same effect in a person’s health.
a sample of how the picture-based warning will look like in cigarette packs
Picture-based health warning is already being implemented in countries like Singapore, Thailand, Venezuela, Uruguay, UK, Australia, Switzerland, Panama, Hong Kong, Romania, New Zealand, and India. FCAP believes it is high time the same rule should be applied in the Philippines. Right now, the average Filipino does not really have a clear image of the dangers of smoking or being exposed to cigarette smoke. The picture-based warning will achieve that, thus, reducing the number of smokers if not totally eradicating the habit.
FCAP is trying to collect signatures to support HB 3364 and has an online petition in their website. If you believe in this cause, get involved and sign the petition here or here. Also, FCAP has another event coming, “Run 4 Ur Life,” again to promote the Picture-based Health Warning. It will be held at UP Diliman Campus on August 17. Additional information can be viewed here.
July 27th, 2008 at 12:01 am
Salamat po sa pagdaan sa aking pitak. Nagimbal ako sa post mong ito sapagkat ako ay naninigarilyo. huhuhu! Ayaw kong magka-kanser sa leeg! waaa!
mixgloriosos last blog post…انتظر حتى ارى انك (Wait until I see you)athttp://mixglorioso.wordpress.com
Salve: kaya mag-quit ka na.
ibig sabihin, magiging effective nga ang graphic health warning sa pakete ng sigarilyo.
July 27th, 2008 at 4:40 am
(anong gagawin ko ngayon sa natitirang cigars na bigay ni pareng Fidel? sayang, Havana pa naman hehehe)
Uh-ow, sana hindi makita ng kaibigan natin ito!
I can only imagine her eyes [like an ostrich 
] saying: see! see! see!
Ah, “in my next life, I want to be a pig.” At least, pigs don’t have prohibitions hehehe!
Virtual Friends last blog post…Hearse of Deathathttp://www.taengniayat.blogspot.com
Salve: Pasensya na VF, pero “nakapagsumbong” na ako kay ate simang.
Hey, it’s your birthday tomorrow, I heard. May party ba.
Wait, how “OLD” are you na nga?
Peace, VF!
Padadalhan kita ng maraming stork at juicy fruit.
July 27th, 2008 at 4:47 am
Wahahahaahahha!
Comment chika na naman ito!
Bakit parang may special treatment? YUng iba dyan, approve agad ang comment? Hmmmp!
Salve: Ate, it’s still a puzzle to me. Di ko alam anong setting pa ang dapat ayusin para approved agad ang comments. Have to discover it still.
Teka, “nasermonan” na ba si VF?
July 27th, 2008 at 4:55 am
I support this. They should add more text like, “NAKAMAMATAY” lol.
btw, SETTINGS > DISCUSSIONS
Laarnis last blog post…70% Off Liz Claiborneathttp://www.laarnaay.com
Salve: Oo nga!
July 27th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I do think that smoking is more than just a filthy habit - it’s a very slow suicide which affects not only the smoker but the passive smokers, too. I hate smoking with a vengeance. I wrote an article about it in August 2003, which came out in the F&B World magazine.
Thanks for visiting Norwich Daily Photo and leaving your comments. Have a great week ahead!
joy
joys last blog post…Summer Hues: Dainty Lavenderathttp://www.norwichdailyphoto.com
Salve: I agree with you 100%, doc. smokers should start thinking about themselves, not just the enjoyment they get from smoking (which only lasts for a while). I don’t like the smell of cigarette smoke and never even dared try it.
July 27th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Weird idea lang….
What if… biglang may nalagay na cig ad sa site mo… what are you gonna do?
Hahahah
Gotta figure out ways to filter out ads we don’t like…
Salve: we’ll see.
July 27th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
It’s really good there are organization out there who are seriously doing something to eradicate the world of cigarettes. Mahirap na talaga huminga dahil sa hindi kanais-nais na usok ng sigarilyo. Nga pala mare, I like the earthy look of your blog. Very nice, bagay sa crumb trails:)
Antonettes last blog post…Zavanna’s international flareathttp://sonnetshaven.wordpress.com
Salve: that is why, we should support this cause. I’m really irritated at people who smoke in PUVs and public places. Nandadamay pa ng ibang tao!
July 28th, 2008 at 4:26 am
Yay, nasermonan at nasabon pa ng VCO!
Re: Tobacco smoking. Here @ BE, all pro-cig advertisements are banned including sponsorship in the world famous F1 Spa Francorchamp. VAT is enormous and eco tax is imposed making cigarettes as luxury items. Those horror pictures in cig boxes were introduced since the start of the milleneum and smokers were practically chased away from public places, including office buildings. Sad to say but sales never went down.
What can we do to stop people smoking cigarettes?
Yay, I know one: “Smoker, no lover”? Hmmm…
Salve: kaya tumigil ka na, VF.
Maybe, the Philippine government should increase taxes in tobacco products. If the ordinary Pinoy can’t afford a stick of cigar, maybe they’d start thinking of quiting.
July 28th, 2008 at 4:26 am
naku sana naman magtigil na ang mga sugapa na yan dahil sa katawakan nila sa sigarilyo tiyak may paglalagyan sila! sagrado ang ating katawan dapat ito ay ingatan. congrats sa nag create ng blog na ito more power sa’yo ATE! aru ang rayuma ko teka makaalis na nga d2 marupok narin ang mga buto ko sa usok!
Salve: kung naninigarilyo ka, master, malamang mas matindi pa rayuma mo! aru!
July 28th, 2008 at 4:54 am
I support this bill one hundred percent. Another bill that should also be passed is the increasing of tax in tobacco products.
Salamat sa article na ito, Avi, you’ve made my work easier. hahaha
Salve: Did you sign the petition?
July 28th, 2008 at 5:22 am
Approved ako jan sa mga graphic photos na yan! makakatulong yan para matigil na ang mga “yosi kadiri” sa mundo! Bukod sa magkakasakit sila, mas malaki pa epekto sa mga nakakalanghap ng usok ng binubuga nila! If im just in the philippines maybe sasali din ako sa “run 4 ur life”. Anyway, meron pa naman siguro nyan in the future! Gandang alon!
Salve: Oo nga, pEpPeR, mas maraming nagkakasakit sa second hand smoke. sana, yung mga naninigarilyo, maisip din nila yun. Haay…
Gandang alon din! (Teka, `asan nga pala si dyesebel?
)
July 28th, 2008 at 6:12 am
tama sila lahat! mabuti pa si champ guapo na di pa nanigarilyo…
Salve: nagka-picture lang sila ni Champ dun sa benefit concert, pinuri na nang bonggang-bongga! (sour grapes ba?
)
July 28th, 2008 at 6:20 am
masama smoking…kahit ano pa yan… sana yung mga naninigarilyo lang ang magsa-suffer pati katabi nila, pamilya, at kapaligiran damay.
Salve: ba’t nga kaya di na lang exclusive sa smokers yung mga sakit na nakukuha sa paninigarilyo, ano?
July 28th, 2008 at 6:53 am
I am a second hand smoker. =s Unfortunately I can’t stop my friends from smoking and I can’t stop being with them as well. Hehe. So I will support this cause! I already know I can’t stop them, so I am hoping something bigger can!
Salve: Let us all hope for the best! Sign ka dun sa petition ng FCAP.
July 28th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Just something to ponder about; No smoking means no tobacco production in the Philippines means:
less taxes and less income for the government and an assured unemployment for pre and post (cigarette) production workers including advertisers to doctors and hospitals to take care of the sick smokers.
(sorry, this is me. i always look at the other side of the coin.)
how can we alter this cycle of life and remove smoking as a part of a normal society?
Salve: I don’t have a sure answer, VF, but aren’t we (or the government) supposed to be thinking of an alternative livelihood for tobacco farmers? Like, there are other crops to plant and produce aside from tobacco, right? I know it’s not going to be easy. Nothing is easy especially if we’re talking about altering lifestyles.
The Philippines is blessed with very rich soil. But what do we (or the government) do with our agricultural lands? Convert them into industrial parks, commercial areas, etc. Oh, well, this is another issue. Haay, Pilipinas…
July 29th, 2008 at 4:08 am
Victim ako ng second hand smoke, result tuloy nagka-asthma ako.
Better siguro kung lahat ng usok pati yun binubuga pakihabol na lang. Para hindi feeling guilty at makasakit ng iba.
100% support ako dito kaya pati offer work sa isang well known tobacco company turned down ko na.
Salve: wow, tinurn down mo talaga, ate?! galing.
dapat talaga tumigil na sa paninigarilyo ang mga tao.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:16 am
Hello girl!
I completely support moves like this. Dapat mawala na talaga ang smoking! Kahoooo…
Eh, VF. Smoker… no Lover? Hahahahha.
It works, di ba? Tamo, down to one stick ka na lang, from 15 a day… A little more effort, Buddy! 
July 30th, 2008 at 3:40 am
Mangulit nga ako dito. Naka-close pa yung pinangungulitan ko e.
How about smoking a pipe instead of a cigarette? Sossi na, maganda pa sa peace and order.
Let’s smoke a peace pipe!
Virtual Friend’s last blog post…Hearse of Death at http://www.taengniayat.blogspot.com
July 30th, 2008 at 3:43 am
Dito nga ako mangulit. Naka-close pa yung pinangungulitan ko.
How about smoking a pipe instead of cigarttes? Sossi na, maganda pa sa peace and order.
Let’s smoke a peace pipe!
Virtual Friend’s last blog post…Hearse of Death at http://www.taengniayat.blogspot.com
July 30th, 2008 at 3:44 am
Dito nga ako mangulit. Naka-close pa yung pinangungulitan ko.
How about smoking a pipe instead of cigarttes? Sossi na, maganda pa sa peace and order.
Let’s smoke a peace pipe!
August 1st, 2008 at 7:51 pm
ang mga adik sa yosi mahirap ng patigilin
no amount of anti-smoking campaign could stop them
ewan ko nga ba
good thing i quit
hehe
sa maryland, bawal mag yosi sa lahat ng public places
kawawa ng mahilig sa yosi dito
happy weekend!
raft3r’s last blog post…Bend It Like Beckham at http://malibay.blogspot.com
Salve: bawal naman talaga magyosi sa public places. marami lang talaga dito ang matitigas ang ulo at walang konsiderasyon!
August 8th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
dito walang pictures pero may mga malalaking warning signs sa mga pakete ng sigarilyo. at matagal ng banned ang ads both print and media ng sigarilyo dito
kengkay’s last blog post…inggitin ko lang kayo at http://kengkay.wordpress.com
Salve: buti pa dyan banned ang smoking. sana dito rin.
August 11th, 2008 at 4:33 am
Hi ,
Hello ,
Nice blog
It is good subject
Eng. Hasan Al-Bahkali
Salve: Thank you, Hasan
August 14th, 2008 at 12:06 am
Salamat po sa info na to. I used to smoke since college and I know it makes my life span shorter pero I didn’t know that it could cause cancer sa leeg.. Maybe, I’ll quit smoking(pero pa unti unti)..
dess’s last blog post…What I learned today
Salve: Walang anuman, Dess. Welcome sa crumb trails