The Roseto Mystery: Life extended

©darrengarcia

"These people were dying of old age. That's it."

 

In 1961, Dr. Stewart Wolf from the University of Oklahoma noticed a unique medical phenomenon. In the midst of rampant heart attack cases in the US, he observed one area where there are significantly low occurrence of heart-related diseases. It is a place called Roseto in Pennsylvania where he started his inquiry to solve the mystery.


Was it because of their diet?
NO. They loved pizza (w/ sausage, salami, pepperoni, ham, and eggs) and sweets.

Their exercise and habits?
NO. Rosetans struggled with obesity and they also smoked heavily.

Their genetic make-up?
NO. Scientists deemed the results negative

Their topography?
NO. Scientists compared and examined this too.

Then what?

Surprisingly it was the community itself. It was the social structures they have formed themselves. Health has never been associated with relationships, especially on a community-level.

This shows that the values we expose ourselves to and the people we surround ourselves with have a profound effect on who we are and what we become.

Ideas Excerpted from:
OUTLIERS
BY MALCOLM GLADWELL

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This reminds me of the first commandment in the bible with a promise:

"Honor your mother and your father, so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy  long life on earth" Ephesian 6:2-3

A good community relationship had to start somewhere. 
This of course was sown on the most basic institution— families. 

Rosetans were observed to be very family-oriented, having three 
generations living under one roof. Fathers led the family while mothers were given utmost respect. In order to sustain this kind of culture, there has to be a form of obedience and strong respect for the elderly. The values by which they live are propagated in the succeeding generations, resulting to peaceful and prosperous society.

The Roseto Effect is a phenomenon which man has recently discovered. But this was something God has promised from the start. God's promises are timeless and they hold true everywhere.

There's a sad ending to the Roseto Mystery though... The following generations were exposed and lured to modern American culture, where lines of morality are being questioned and blurred. A new culture was adapted; a culture by which parents have little say on the lives of their children. This has brought tragedy on the lives of Rosetans. They no longer live the long life that their predecessors have enjoyed.

Now, there is no more mystery in Roseto.

Sad Truth About Philippine Agriculture

Retrieved from Tisha Ambal's photos of APEX trip

Having been toured by the COO of the farm, I gained numerous insights on technologies and business models for farm management. I also had a glimpse of what the landscape of Philippine agriculture would be for the next 5 years. Most opportunities are promising but there is something that caught my attention:

By the time the ASEAN integration is implemented, local farmers will be displaced from the market. They will not be able to compete with their traditional practices and lack of technical knowledge. Standardization will cripple them. 

It seems that the scene of agriculture will be dominated by the same business tycoons that occupies the lights of the metro. It will no longer be a living for the poor farmers, but rather a game field of the rich. This is anything but saddening for an agribusiness student. The "ka-ching" sounds so heavenly upon hearing market prospects. Yet one part of me felt so deeply appalled...

How can one be so happy, living in a country where most people are impoverished. 60% of the labor force are directly involved in agriculture. All people need food. If agriculture falls, everyone else falls.  

By God's grace, I know that Philippines will be a prosperous nation someday. But it will need leaders who will drive the progress. By leaders I don't necessarily mean government. Leaders can come from anyone. 

To all the Filipino youth out there, I challenge you to take a bolder step. Invest in yourself. Better your understanding in your chosen field. This is the only way that we can be equipped in the economic battleground ahead.