Guardian Angels' Toy Drive Featured in Inquirer

I received a text message from Dr. Philip Cruz around 5:00 in the afternoon yesterday -- December 23. The Philippine Daily Inquirer has a front page article about the Toy Drive that GAAF (Ms. Loi Herrera - Founder & Dr. Philip Cruz - Manila Coordinator) and PeDRO (Mr. Bing Dela Vega) spearheaded last December 12 in the Inquirer Building during their "Read-Along" (see previous post: Your Guardian Angel - Part 1)

inquirer.net - December 23, 2009

12 Hours to Go!! Merry Christmas!!

Who's Your Driver?

Last night, I saw another masterpiece (in full 3D) from the "King of the World", James Cameron (director of Terminator, Aliens and Titanic) ----- Avatar

If you're a fan of Nickelodeon's Avatar, you'd think you're going to watch firebenders, airbenders et. al. .. but that's another movie for another day (The Last Airbender). For now, here's my take on James Cameron's Avatar. Note: may contain spoilers

Avatar is about Pandora (an Earth-sized moon) inhabited by mystical humanoids (Na'vi) and their conflict with humans who are after their resources --- rocks they could sell for millions per kilo back on Earth.. and of course the love story of Jake (a paraplegic marine) and the Na'vi princess Neytiri. Humans were able to discover and create a synthetic Na'vi they call Avatar and have a "driver" control it via a very complex neurologic (and genetic) process. They created Avatars so that they'd be vehicles of diplomacy with the local inhabitants of Pandora, so they can harvest the resources as.. how they put it, humane, as possible. But as the story progresses, Jake questions the motives and methods of the side he's on.

Narratively the film works perfectly on the cinematic level. The first forty minutes or so require patience as it is the weakest part of the film and offers some dreariness... at some point draggy..  but when the second act takes off, it's sky high. You might say "I've seen this story before"... human greed.. Ferngully, Pocahontas...Starcraft even.. but never in this medium. I must make a remark regarding the much-discussed technological achievements. CGI is incredible..you can't tell where the real thing ends and the CGI begins.

There was a line in this film that struck chords for me - "They killed their Mother Earth.. now they're here to kill yours." The killing of spirituality and nature is an evil I have always hated about my own race, and I really hope this film acts as a realization to others who perhaps have never properly thought about it before. There are parts of this film that shows a real destruction of a beautiful world, and I literally had to hold my hand to my mouth. In fact, a number of times I surfaced from my lethargy and found my mouth gaping.

This isn't just a film, this is an experience. Beautiful, breathtaking... See it in full 3D.
My Rating: 8/10

Your Guardian Angel (Part 2)

Medical Mission Time!

We arrived in Brgy 152 Zone 16 on time.... ok... well a little late..

People were already lined up.. there were already tables set up on the river side, chairs on their places, Brgy Health Workers began assessing patients and taking their VS and history, the van where the UP-PGH Mu Sigma Phi Interns rode have already arrived and I thought to myself... "game time"

The Brgy Chairman, "Sir Pogi" and his kagawad began controlling the crowd and they started to settle down. Dr. Cruz started giving out our assignments, kagawads as ushers and security, the brgy health workers stationed at the 1st table.. the TRIAGE area (assessment area), the 8 "brods" are assigned in the consultation area, Ms. Loi in the relief section (clothes and toys) and I along with 3 brgy health workers are assigned in the Pharmacy-Medicine Dispensing Division. Ate Flor told me "Mabuti nalang you're here, I thought I was going to get a crash-course in Pharmacology". We divided ourselves into 2 groups... "Group Tagalupa" -- 2 for the registry (names of patients and medicines dispensed --- to serve as both their documentation and our record) and the other 2 "Group Dyosa" to dispense the medicines par se. I was expecting our job to be a little less toxic since all we have to do was to hand out medicines written on their prescriptions. But I was in for a big surprise. Patients started flooding the Pharmacy, Group Tagalupa began writing down on their yellow pad papers, names and medicines then.... "Doc eto na po" --- 100% of patients were given multivitamins. A number... with antibiotics. Some with carbocisteine... phenylpropanolamine, paracetamol, metoprolol, and mefenamic acid. It felt like I was a chef... or a waiter even.. of a restaurant giving out dishes for orders our customers made. I thought I was still playing Facebook's cafe world. Prescriptions, medicines, bag in a plastic, dispense to the right person (thanks kuya Ike for the "loudspeaker" haha)

This routine continued for hours. Side story, since Doc Philip saw the need for another "consultation area" especially for the pedia patients, he started one beside the pharmacy. And a kagawad assisted him in dispensing medicines to children as per dok's order.

At around 5:00, we started running out of medicines the patients need. So instead, we gave out multivitamins which were abundant with. Lola and the brgy health workers were so kind enough to offer me a slice of buko pie, coke zero and an ensaymada saying "nako doc kumain ka na muna habang wala tayong customer" (there were times na benign ang pharmacy... then paradoxic flooding afterwards). We also started making jokes, share stories and laugh about life. These things made me forget that we were standing and working for almost 5 hours. Beyond that, the smiles on the patients and their "maraming salamat... meri krismas" are priceless. These are things that can never be monetarily compensated. At around 6:00 ---- chairman yelled... CLOSE! and so it ended...

a total of 472 patients were registered... seen, treated and discharged. add a few more who came in late who instead just asked for multivitamins which to Mam Loi was "walang problema!"

The baranggay officials and workers insisted that we eat something, or at least take a snack with us. Lola and my partner in team Dyosa gave me a plate of pancit, a can of coke zero and 2 ensaymadas "ibaon mo doc". We said our goodbyes, a few hugs to new friends.."balik kayo ha, wag kayong magsawa samin"... and parted ways.

We ended the day with an appreciation dinner at the Mabuhay Manor, courtesy of GAAF founder, Ms. Loi Herrera. I was again, chosen to lead the opening prayer (oo dugong busko ako! ^^ ). Dinner! At last, and more than that, a comfy chair. Ms Loi continued the program by asking us to give a few words about us, GAAF and the experience today. As I was thinking of what I was going to say, I realized a lot of things. Of how blessed I am, of what I can and must do, of how our country needs help and how they receive help.

The Guardian Angels of America Foundation --- the name speaks for itself. Our country is very lucky to have people like Ms. Loi and Mr. Bing who, in spite of not being physically present here all the time, are still with us in spirit. In spite of every bad thing that we see, read or hear in the news about our country today, this.... this is something worth our attention. Each one of us stood and said something... "thank you for the opportunity of allowing us to become better doctors".... "she's my officemate and eversince I knew she's into humanitarian projects".... "being a doctor is about treating a person, physically mentally and emotionally... and GAAF is a catalyst to that".... each one had their own story to share. Then, they started handing out certificates of appreciation to all the volunteers and organizers. The program ended with a group picture, honestly, it felt like we were about to take our family photo. We dont know each other personally, their stature, their background, but through the med mission and GAAF, we were like ...family.

At home, I was still overwhelmed with the experience. Tiring? Definitely. But whenever I remember the smiles on their faces, the "maraming salamat"s, the hugs they gave me, the Christmas greetings with flying kisses, the buko pie, the bottomless coke zero and the ensaymada... "walang katumbas na kaligayahan".

More Pictures of the Medical Mission in My Facebook

Your Guardian Angel (Part 1)

It was a very busy Saturday (December 12, 2009) for the Guardian Angels of America Foundation. We all started early. I went to the Mabuhay Manor at around 9:30 in the morning with Dr. Philip Cruz who was kind enough to give me a ride to Ms. Herrera's place. When we arrived, Ms. Herrera was already preparing the boxes full of toys and clothes for both the Inquirer Read-Along Event and the Medical Mission in the afternoon. The Baranggay Chairman, Hon. Michael Del Rosario (Dr. Cruz's Cousin), the Medical Mission's beneficiary and his kid were also there. I also met Mr. Bing Dela Vega, founder of the PeDRO (Philippine Emergency Disaster Relief Organization) who, like the GAAF, is also based in the United States. After loading 3 boxes full of toys in Mr. Dela Vega's van, we went to the Inquirer Office in Makati to join their Read-Along event.

It was my first time to join a Read-Along. "Napakasaya Pala". I was listening as eagerly as the little kids to the storytellers. The stories were written and drawn by Filipino authors and illustrators. There was a projector showing images and texts as the storyteller reads the book in Tagalog. There were 4 storytellers and luckily, we were able to catch up with the first read-along. It was about a dad and his love for his son, great story, great story. The readers were fantastic as well. In fact they were so good that whenever they ask the kids to do something like say, clap their hands... I also clap mine; when the reader says "tweet tweet".... the kids and me reply with "meow meow". It was a fun experience . After the 3rd reader, there came an intermision nuber. The Cheetah Girls' "One World". The last readers were the CEO (with her son) and Chair of the Board of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the Prieto-Romualdez. It only shows that reading, studying and learning is a family matter.

Then came our group's highlight. The toy giving. The Inquirer marshall asked for every kids' attention and told them that the toy giving was about to start. The toy giving had the same "feel" as the ones we've had in the hospitals even though it's in a comfy multi purpose hall. Why? It's because the children, were from Tripa de Galina,  a depressed community in Pasay. The children were so excited to receive the stuffed toys, you could see it in their faces. They were so happy with the toys they got that none of them forgot to say thank you with a big big smile on their faces, some of them even shout "meri krismas!". Somehow I felt like I was Santa's elf, I didnt produce the toys, I didnt pack them, neither did I shipped them. I only distributed them to the children. Seeing their smiles, I thought... "it's all worth it"

After GAAF and PeDRO had their photos done with the CEO and Chair, the Inquirer staff also invited us for lunch and led us to their staff room. Doc Philip gave me the "Go" signal that we should start eating because we have another affair after this one, a much much bigger event at that. While we were eating our lechon manok, pancit, cake and softdrinks, one of the columnists was interviewing Ms. Herrera about how GAAF started, it's vision, mission and status to date. "It started with just 3 boxes of toys, for PGH, now on our 3rd year, we have 100 boxes for around 10 hospitals, prioritizing the poor and sick children. It's about cheering the little kids especially during the Christmas Season", Ms. Herrera told the columnist. After a few more rounds of softdrinks and a slice of cake from Becky's Kitchen, we went off to the next destination. On our way out, Ate Shirley (Inq Staff) handed us small stuffed toys, Guyito the carabao, the official mascot of the Phil Daily Inquirer... wearing a vest that had "Inquirer Read-Along" written on it.

 

(to be continued)

Leave A Legacy

Another thing that Dr. Philip Cruz mentioned during the Appreciation Dinner last night at the Mabuhay Manor (again, I will post an entry later about this) during our discussion with PeDRO's Founder Mr. Dela Vega and his nephew is that his drive to pursuing medicine is "Making a Difference.... Leaving a Legacy".

In Dr. Willie Ong's book: "Survival Guide For Doctors", he mentioned in one of the articles there that everyone should have.. someone to look up to.. someone to inspire them, a mentor. And last December 11, the last hospital where our group rotated to give out free toys is the Dr. Fe Del Mundo Medical Center Foundation

I frequent Wikipedia in light of Dr. Ong's advice of looking for people to inspire me and continue giving me the drive of becoming a doctor in spite of the ordeal that I have to withstand. One of the people I usually search for is Dr. Fe Del Mundo.... --- First Woman to Enter Harvard Medical School, First Filipina who founded a Pediatric Hospital, Made an Improvised Incubator made out of Bamboo, Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service, National Scientist, Elizabeth Blackwell Awardee, Outstanding Pediatrician and Humanitarian by the International Pediatric Association, BRAT diet, DOTS program... --- who, during her 90's was still very active in the practice of medicine and pediatrics.

Then... to my suprise, my ultimate suprise... God has blessed me the privilege of meeting the person I have been reading about. Dr. Fe Del Mundo, now 98... on her bed, frail but still feisty. Honestly, I went teary eyed in awe.. the woman who has changed the face of not only Philippine Medicine, but of the entire Medical Institution is here in the same room with me. Our group handed her a blue stuffed bear and we could see her nonverbal cues of appreciation. As we were getting our photos done, she suddenly spoke: "Balik kayo sa pasko bibigyan ko kayo"... then we all laughed. At her age and stature, she still has her humor, who during her twilight years, have endured some of the greatest trials in life, and still be able to put other people especially children, her priority.

I guess this is what Doc Philip meant... being able to leave a legacy... a "pamana" for the future generation. And Dra. Del Mundo was able to accomplish that, and more. May God Bless Us All!

More About Dr. Del Mundo - from FEU

More About Dr. Del Mundo - from PCIJ

Never Underestimate The Power of a Toy

The Guardian Angels of America Foundation (founded by Ms. Loi Herrera) held it's annual Toy Drive last December 10 and 11 which gave out thousands of toys to our sick and poor little brothers and sisters. Some of whom, never had a toy in their entire lives. I learned about this foundation through Dr. Philip Cruz, a fellow Pinoy.MD and MIND member (he is actually one of the founders of these orgs). He posted the itinerary for the 2 day-Toy Drive. I immediately said yes, with a very selfish reason: I was after the free toys.

Our first stop for day 1, was UP-PGH Pedia Wards 9 and 11. As the group (of more than 10) started giving out toys, I myself got a handful to give to the sick children. As I got a bunch, I saw this huge Mickey Mouse stuffed toy which I was already planning to "not give up". My aqueduct of toys was almost saturated (except for the big Mickey Mouse) so I just had to get some more. I then, gave them back, again to the children, still keeping my "eyes on the prize" the Mickey Mouse stuffed toy. For the 3rd time I went back to the box containing our stuffed toy when I realized that our 3-4 boxes of toys... depleted..

I was still holding the Mickey Mouse, tighly if I may add, when I came across Little Becky (not her real name) who is suffering from Acute Myeloid Leukemia and her mother, they were staring at the prized toy I was holding. Suddenly, there was this lightning that struck me, of sorts, and voices telling me, "The Toy is For Her". I didnt hesitate, I went straight to Little Becky and gave her the Mickey Mouse. Even with a flu mask on, I heard her "maaaraaamiingg salaaamaaat pooo" and squinting eyes as if she was smiling. Her mother also greeted me a joyous Christmas, I smiled and replied, and went on my way to follow the rest of the group who are about to leave the hospital. Suddenly, Little Becky's mother went running towards me and said "kuya ano po pangalan niyo?". "Macky po" ---- then the mother said with a smile on her face "Macky ang ipapangalan ng anak ko sa laruan niya". Then I realized, Christmas isn't about me getting free stuff... it's about them, about children and making other people happy.

Like what Dr. Philip Cruz said during the Appreciation Dinner at The Mabuhay Manor last night (will post an entry about this later)... "Never underestimate the power of a toy. Simple joys that brighten up people, not just children, their fathers and mothers who could have never had received a single toy in their entire life. This is what medicine and being a doctor is about. Treating a person physically, mentally and spiritually"

More Pictures: My Facebook - Toy Drive Album

Do Ut Des

Nanonood ako ng 2012 mula sa isang pekeng DVD (OMB spare me) ng tumawag ang tita ko kaninang mga 1PM.. mahina ang boses niya... at talagang kelangan ko i pause ang palabas para lang marinig siya... di ko na susulat dito ang napag usapan namin.. basta isa itong "emergency call" .... sabihin na nating.. pabor... nung una... akala ko tungkol ito sa lolo ko (na kelangan ng dialysis tuwing Tuesday at Saturday)... pero

para pala sa lola ko.. na..sa totoo lang e..mas mahina pa kesa sa lolo ko.. may cirrhosis at ngayon eh candidate for the lung's big C at PTB (just imagine how complicated her status is and how slim the treatment options are)

So ganito na nga --- nung matapos ang usapan, binaba ang telepono at nagsuot kagad ako ng jeans.. kinuha ang susi ng kotse at umalis kagad papunta sa bahay nila sa paranaque.. teka wag kalimutan ang nurses kit na naglalaman ng steth, bp app, cotton balls, alcohol, at iba pang essentials.. as usual nagpakabibo na naman ako at feeling ko e ambulansya ako.. pagdating ko dun.. syempre.. hindi ko nakalimutan ang ADPIE ng nursing... inassess ko ang kalagayan ng lola ko.. andaming nursing diagnosis.. planned my actions and implemented them... (charing!!)---- pero isa sa mga ginawa ko eh ang pag inject ng 1g Streptomycin IM as per doctors order.. imbis na ilabas ang lola ko (usually kasi dinadala siya sa ospital malapit sa kanila para dun) pero dahil nanghihina siya at parang ayaw gumalaw --- dun nalang mismo maginiksyon.. at ako ang maglalagay (tutal RN naman ako~~ at aware ang mga attending ni lola tungkol dito... pinayagan ako na maglagay)

ang order eh 1g streptomycin in 1.5ml sterile water deep IM... so prinepare ko na yun (following strict aseptic techniques syempre... lagot ako kay Ma'am Subido pag nalaman niyang hinde) --- grabe ang hirap tunawin... siguro mag 4 na minutong pagshake and roll onto palms ang ginawa.. tinulungan narin ako ni tita mag prepare ng mga gagamitin... so eto na... assume comfortable position.. warn about possible discomfort.. alcoholize injection area... inject... aspirate -- no blood... proceed.. withdraw needle and place pressure over site with cotton ball... then assess for reactions..

nakaraan ang ilang minuto eh nagpaalam na ko... pero bago yun eh.. sabi ni lola "macky kunin mo yun (habang nakaturo sa perang nakapatong sa may cupboard)" ---- ako naman eh tumanggi (oo marunong naman ako tumanggi... kahit may temptation haha) --- sabay sabi "bakit pag specialist at attending physicians ang nag quote ng PF sa inyo eh sumasama loob niyo... " sa loob loob ko kamaganak ko kayo , mahal ko kayo at gusto ko tong ginagawa ko.. isa pa "yun lang" naman ginawa ko.. kung ikukumpara sa mga attending niyo na life saving procedures ang ginagawa (refer to previous post: Bargaining for Your Health) ... walang wala ang aking ginawa at di karapat dapat ng compensation.. isa pa eh wala pa akong experience na kumita ng pera dahil sa serbisyong nirender ko... (maliban kung kasama sa listahan ang pagiging pasaway na studyante at tumanggap ng allowance)

In cases like these, especially in our country, it's automatic for us to say "no PF" for friends, neighbors and family counting on our culture of "utang na loob" and belief in karma.. i also believe that rendering (high quality) service especially to my relatives is my own way of giving back the blessings i've received from the Lord.

Paradoxically, although you didnt quote an amount... they'd give you something "in kind" that most of the time eh sobra pa sa inaasahan mo.. Putting the shoe on the other foot, if i was on the recieving end of such a situation, lumalabas na mas mahal pa to buy a token for them than the actual PF

So bakit do ut des --- i give what you may give... reciprocity kumbaga --- pero sa ganitong pagkakataon... hindi bat sapat na ang rason na "mahal ko kayo... gusto ko tong ginagawa ko" para sa isang serbisyo o pabor... at di na kailanganin ng monetary or "in kind" compensation? whatever ... basta... In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success

Immaculate Concepcion

Today, December 8, we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Concepcion. It is a Roman Catholic Dogma (and is also included in the Islamic Quran 3.47) that states that the Virgin Mary, was concieved by Saint Anne without the stain of the original sin (Adam and Eve's) on December 8, exactly 9 months before celebrating her birthday. This is frequently confused with the Virgin Birth / Conception of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Immaculate Concepcion is 1 of the 4 Marian Dogmas. Marian Roman Catholic dogmas have two functions: they present infallible Church teachings about Mary and her relation to Jesus Christ, and they praise Mary and, through Mary, God's deed on Mary. All Marian dogmas teach about her divine son and highlight the divine nature of Jesus Christ.

1. Perpetual Virginity
2. Mother of God

3. Immaculate Concepcion

4. Assumption to Heaven with Body and Soul

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Immaculata Prayer

composed by: Saint Maximillian Kolbe

O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, (name), a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet, humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you.


If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: "She will crush your head," and "You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world." Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Allow me to praise you, O Sacred Virgin

Give me strength against your enemies

Amen

References: Wikipedia
Islam on Immaculate Concepcion
Prayer

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17 DAYS TO GO BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!!!

Kagat Lang Ng Langgam Yan

Yan ang madalas niyong maririnig sa tuwing may mga bata (o matatandang isip bata) na kelangan iniksyunan... "kagat lang ng langgam yan" pero gano nga ba talaga kasakit... o kalala ang kagat ng langgam.. isipin niyong na liit nilang yun eh nagagawa nila tayong mapaaray.. kasama na ang pamumula ng balat at pangangati nito.. habang pinapanood ko tong video na to naalala ko ung "A Bug's Life" --- kung san napatunayan na there is strenght in numbers.. langgam laban sa grasshoppers..

Pero dito sa video na to --- gecko / butiki -- ang pinagpyestahan~ Fascinating how ants can strip clean the butiki (o tandaan ang conyommandments) in more or less a day's time. At di lang sa langgam applicable yan... tao rin... tayo rin... sa huli... pagkain lang din tayo ng mga langgam.. Death is the great equalizer. No matter how powerful you are, how good-looking, how rich you think you are, when we all die, we nourish the same nightcrawlers, maggots, and whatever other belly-crawling scavengers there are that care to feed on our rotting carcasses. Let’s see how cool and hip you’ll feel once the denizens of the underworld start feeding on your innards from the inside out. Will your fancy, signature clothes stop them from sinking their teeth into your decomposing flesh?

I am dedicating this video to all the victims of the Maguindanao Massacre and their families... na pinatay ng parang kandila lang na kelangan upusin dahil may kuryente na... at malala.. ng dahil sa pera... at pulitika.. "pera- pera lang yan"??? --- hanggang san ka dadalin ng posisyon mo sa gobyerno.. san ka dadalin ng AK-47 mo? sa huli lahat tayo ay nasa ilalim ng batas ng Diyos.. at ng... mga langgam.. Can you stop them from marching, numbering in the thousands, into your gaping mouth, the same mouth you used to cut people with to size? Can you manipulate the creatures of the night the same way you’d order your minions around to do your dirty deeds for you? Can you dig yourself with nail-less fingers out of your grave the way you used to nimbly climb up social ladders? In the end, stripped of your mounds of bullsh*t, you’re no better than the rest of us. Death will come for you soon enough ... bahala na ang mga Oecophylla smaragdina ni Kuya Kim sa inyo..

The 10 Conyommandments

1. Thou shall make gamit "make+pandiwa".
ex. "Let's make pasok na to our class!"
"Wait lang! I'm making kain pa!"
"Come on na, we can't make hintay anymore! It's in Andrew pa, you know?"


2. Thou shall make kalat "noh", "diba" and "eh" in your pangungusap.
ex. "I don't like to make lakad in the baha nga, no? Eh diba it's like, so eew, diba?"
"What ba: stop nga being maarte noh?"
"Eh as if you want naman also, diba?"


3. When making describe a whatever, always say "It's SO pang-uri!"
ex. "It's so malaki, you know, and so mainit!"
"I know right? So sarap nga, eh!"
"You're making me so inggit naman.. I'll make bili nga my own burger."


4. When you are lalaki, make parang punctuation "dude", 'tsong" or "pare"
ex. "Dude, ENGANAL is so hirap, pare."
"I know, tsong, I got bagsak nga in quiz one, eh"


5. Thou shall know you know? I know right!
ex. "My bag is so bigat today, you know"
"I know, right! We have to make dala pa kasi the jumbo Physics book eh!"


6. Make gawa the plural of pangngalans like in English or Spanish.
ex. "I have so many tigyawats, oh!"


7. Like, when you can make kaya, always use like. Like, I know right?
ex. "Like, it's so init naman!"


8. Make yourself feel so galing by translating the last word of your sentence, you
know, your pangungusap?
ex. "Kakainis naman in the LRT! How plenty tao, you know, people?"
"It's so tight nga there, eh, you know, masikip?"


9. Make gamit of plenty abbreviations, you know, daglat?"
ex. "Like, OMG! It's like traffic sa LRT"
"I know right? It's so kaka!"
"Kaka?"
"Kakaasar!"


10. Make gamit the pinakamaarte voice and pronunciation you have para full effect!
ex. "I'm, like, making aral at the Arrhneo!"
"Me naman, I'm from Lazzahl!"

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The bagay that you make kita in Facebook. This is, like, a re-post lang...

Pulsus Paradoxus

teka~~

ginawa ko tong blog na to para may malagyan ako ng mga sentimyento at personal kong opinyon sa bagay bagay (pwede narin ang paglabas ng sama ng loob) pero bakit parang seryosong seryoso ang mga nauna kong posts? ---- parang eulogy ba --- wala namang patay

pwede namang may "humor"-- .. at bakit kelangan talagang purong ingles --- ako'y nag eepistaxis dahil sa sarili kong ginagawa..

anyway balik tayo sa kwento ko.. talagang gusto kong maging doktor ... bata pa kami naglalaro kami ng mga kapitbahay ko at pinsan ko ng "doktor doktor" at "doktor quak quak" at paborito kong role eh syempre ang maging pasyente, este doktor.. mas lalo din ako naenganyo sa medesina nung ma uso ang House, Scrubs at kung ano ano pang medical telanobela diyan.. nung 2nd year nursing ako sinabi ko na sa step mother ko... "mama gusto ko maging doktor" ... at natural dahil isa siyang nurse na lalabas na ng bansa para sa "greener pastures"... imbis na iencourage ako na magpatuloy sa pagaaral eh.. sinabihan pa ko na "wala kang kikitain diyan, lalo na kung dito ka sa Pinas".. ganun din naman ang opinyon ng mga lolo at lola ko, tito at tita (mga doktor ang iba sa kanila)... pero ang sa kanila, kaya ayaw nila ko mag doctor eh.. dahil di daw kakayanin ng katawan ko... ewan ko kung kasama na sa gusto nila iparating na di ako matalino...mahirap daw pagdadaanan ko, wag na pahirpan ang sarili.. palagi nila sinasabi ang aking asthma, scoliosis at kung ano anong maladies na patuloy nilang binabanggit para magbago ang isip ko..

pero talagang disidido ako, di man ako ganun katalino, alam ko na kayang dalin ng passion at motivation ko ang sarili ko sa sinusubukan kong tahaking landas~~ pero di nawala ang pag consider ko sa mga sinasabi nila sa akin nung college... minsan napapaisip ako kaya ko ba talaga? o hanggang ganito lang ang para sakin? --- sa totoo lang tuwing nakakakita ako ng doktor sa ward o sa kung san man kami duty nung student nurse pa ko.. eh na iinspire ako.. sinasabi ko sa sarili ko "isang araw... isang araw..." di ko alam pano ko pagpapatuloy ung gusto ko sabihin, isang araw magiging ganun din ako? isang araw magsosoot din ako ng white blazer? isang araw eh susulat din ako sa chart ng order? ano ba?

Pinagbutihan ko nung college, pharma, promotive preventive, med-surg.. at talaga namang nagpakabibo ako sa mga RLE (duty) --- gusto ko talaga yung patient interaction.. yung tipong... makikita mo sila papasok sa floor/ward na nakangiwi at parang in pain.. sisimulan mo ang assessment.. usually kung ano ang haba ng sinabi mo eh yun din ang ikli ng isasagot sayo ng pasyente: "good evening sir ako si mark ang iyong magiging nurse mula ngayong 10PM hanggang bukas ng umaga... ano po nararamdaman niyo?" ----- "di mabuti" o kayay "mamatay na sa sakit"... pero habang tumatagal, para bang gumagaan ang loob niyo sa isat isa ... tinatawag itong transference, alam kong di dapat ito mangyari sa hospital setting pero tulad ng sabi ni Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams... ---" it is inevitable, one person has an impact on another" .. sa totoo lang mas ginaganahan akong alagaan yung pasyente pag napapalapit siya sakin.. dahil nakikita ko sa kanila ang mga hirap na pinagdaanan ng mga mahal ko sa buhay.. at sinasabi ko sa sarili ko, "di na dapat maulit to"... kaya bibo kung bibo.. matatapos ang duty mo... papaalam sa pasyente... nakasmile sa iyo at may inaabot pang mansanas, o kadalasan eh... Goldilocks mamon

pero di lahat eh may Goldilocks mamon este, smile.. meron ding pagkakataon na.. napalapit ka sa pasyente, inalagaan mo ng ilang araw... (3 days duty per week kami... 8hours per duty) pagbalik mo sa susunod na duty.. mababalitaan mo... "si miss minchin (di tunay na pangalan)... wala na siya" ... syempre nasaktan ako na para bang nawalan din ng kamag anak.. (yan ang pangit sa tinatawag na transference.. in this case countertransference) ... pero ganun ang buhay.. ulit.. si "Patch" Adams, sabi "you treat a disease, you win or lose; you treat a person, you win no matter what the outcome is" ...

Ngayon tatapusin ko ang post na ito sa pag define sa title na "Pulsus Paradoxus" dahil di ko na alam pano tatapusin sa iba pang paraan--- it is an exaggeration of the normal variation in the pulse during the inspiratory phase of respiration, in which the pulse becomes weaker as one inhales and stronger as one exhales

(salamat Wikipedia!! tulad ng sabi ni steph --- aaaalllll ttthheeerreee~ )

Bargaining For Your Health

"Doc, magkano po ba yun operasyon? Ang mahal naman po! Pwede po ba discount? Baka pwede pa po bawasan? Pwede po ba kalahati muna? Doc, mag-iwan na lang muna ako promisory note.”


Filipinos are so fond of asking for discounts. In Divisoria, you’ll often hear bargaining for items…

Buyer: Magkano yun blouse?
Seller: 200 pesos. Tapat na.
Buyer: Bawasan mo naman, 120 na lang.
Seller: Di kaya sa puhunan. Lugi. Hanggang 170 lang.
Buyer: Bawasan mo pa konti. 140 na lang.
Seller: Hay naku, sige 150 na lang, Ilan ba kukunin mo?
Buyer: Ok 150! Paki balot yan isa.

In the medical field, you’ll also hear patients asking for “tawad” from doctor’s professional fees. I read an article a few years back written by an anesthesiologist. She and her partner surgeon did an operation on a patient for about 6 hours. It was a life-saving operation the patient couldn’t have lived without. When the patient was about to go home and was billed Php 60,000 PACKAGE price for the surgeon, anesthesiologist, cardiologist and endocrinologist, the patient said, “ang mahal naman doc. Baka pwede 30 thou na lang?” The surgeon, being a dutiful and charitable physician, said ok and agreed to the amount. However, the patient only paid half, 15 thousand, in cash, and the remaining 15 thousand as promisory note.

Why is it when doctors charge big, it is always taken against them? Do you know the cost of being a doctor nowadays? A medical student (i mean their parents) would have to shell out 160-180 thousand pesos PER YEAR for tuition fees alone. Medical books would set you back around 20-30 thousand PER YEAR. If the medical student would live in an apartment or dorm, that’s another 10 thousand per month. Before a medical student would have finished the 4 years in med school, he would’ve spent almost a whopping 1 million pesos. And at this point, the med grad isn’t even licensed yet.

So after 4 years of pre-med, and 4 years of med school, the new med grad has to under go 1 year of post-grad internship in a hospital WITHOUT ANY COMPENSATION. This is a requirement before the med grad can take the medical board exams given by the PRC. After internship, board exams follow, and if passed, one is considered a fully fledged GENERAL PRACTITIONER. If he wants to specialize, say, internal medicine, that’ll take another 3 years of training, then the “specialty” board exams. Then subspecialize into cardiology, that’s another 3 years of training, and another “sub-specialty” board exams. That’s a good 15 years (and 3 major board exams) from college to finally being a cardiologist. Then, now, he gets paid 20-50 pesos for every ECG tracing he reads.

So when a doctor charges a patient, say, 50 thousand pesos, for a life-saving medical intervention, it really isn’t “expensive.” But filipinos will always ask for “discounts,” not because they can’t afford, but it’s just filipino nature. So it will really drive the doctor crazy if the patient asks for 50% discount but the doctor sees the patient and his wife and children all with cellphones all worth more than 15 thousand. And this, the doctor charges for a LIFE SAVING PROCEDURE.

Why is it when a mid-ranged actor or model, doing just a 1-hour photoshoot, charges 100 thousand, it’s acceptable. But when a team of doctors operate on a patient for 6 hours and charges 60 thousand PACKAGE, it’s considered “inhumane” to put a hefty price on medical services. Do you know for every patient a doctor charges, the doctor also sees a patient he doesn’t charge? There may be more patients a doctor won’t charge in his/her entire career.

But as doctors, we do understand our patients plight. And we do give “discounts” and even free medical services. And as a christian i know God has blessed us a special position to help. But i posted this just to show that there is much more than just money a doctor gives when he gives a discount or totally free services. He gives a part of himself. So is it ok to bargain for your health? Yes, to a certain extent. Huwag lang sobrang “barat.” Or your doctors might end up looking like this…

Reposted Entry From: AvAnAr's Vision

Persistence

A short Monday thought from a "mamaya na!" advocate…
Procrastination is about not being persistent. Yet installing any habit requires persistence at start. That’s why procrastination is one of the hardest mental problems to fight.
If someone happens to have low self esteem, yet they manage to find a good working method, they will find improvement relatively possible.If someone procrastinates, and finds a promising technique to improve productivity, they still will procrastinate to implement it.
The first step in overcoming procrastination: choose whichever most promising method that seems good to you, and stick to it. Persist. No matter what happens. Don’t pile up stuff of "how-to" books on your desk, don’t try this thing one day and another one the day after. Choose one, and persist following it, for at least a month. Perhaps you will miss a day, perhaps even a week, don’t worry. It is OK. (Herewith you are officially allowed to skip a day or two. Maybe even force yourself to skip a day, just to test how it feels to being forced to skip your favorite productivity method, right?) Just continue. After a month or two, you will be much better off than when you started.

Why Medicine?

"I want to become a doctor so I could help people"

This statement is probably the most overused and over abused anyone applying to a medical school to use. So I wondered, what could I tell the admissions committee that will make my application stand out. It is true that I want to be a doctor to be of service to others, but as I was making my admissions essay a few weeks ago, I found myself dumbfounded. There must be other (or at least one other) reasons for me to choose this path.

I'm not a genius, I'm no "scientific achievement" awardee, but here I am on the verge of making a decision that will change my (and other people's) lives.

I was consulting a very good doctor-friend, Dra. J.E.B. (our college physician) as I was writing my essay, and sent her this paragraph:

Hippocrates once said and I quote: “Medicine, of all the arts, is the most noble”. Ever since I was a child, I knew what I want to become in the future, a doctor. To connect with people when they're most vulnerable. I loved the idea of being a doctor more during college where we have had actual encounters with life itself and diseases that affect it. I was even blessed enough to have rotated in a depressed community during one of our public health exposures and have seen how our country badly needs doctors. The recent brain drain has severely devastated the health status of our countrymen, and I know I can do something

I was expecting she'd say, "Ganda (beautiful)"... but instead... she said.. "I know you can do better" She questioned my motives, my background... was it really college (nursing) experiences that made me decide on becoming a doctor? Was it really the brain drain? She told me to take my time and reflect on the reason why I really want to become a physician.

Time has never been on my side. I lost my mother when I was a year old after a fatal hemorrhage due to an aneurysm. Since then, I have been taken cared of by my grandparents and have seen how they too suffered from numerous illnesses. I also recall my childhood friend who’s blind. My sympathy intensified when I realized that had his disease been diagnosed earlier, he would have retained his vision. Being such an intimate witness to the struggle of life and death left me with a deep sense of human fragility and the desire to learn more about life. I am mentally prepared, persistent and have developed the compassion and commitment to medicine that will drive me through the years to come. I look forward to my future with great anticipation to studying this noble art

I never expected that this casual paragraph, this certain exchange of thoughts with Dra. B. was able to dig deep into my subconscious, the reason behind my choice of medicine as a career. I was and still am..a witness to life's struggle. I may haven't seen how my mother suffered from her disease, but have surely seen how my grandparents fell ill, and as their condition got worse over time. How my father, who is our only pillar in our family, too, was diagnosed with diabetes. On a personal note, I myself have been a patient several times to date. Low birth weight, asthmatic, hypospadic, typhoid, scoliotic... and I say these with a hint of humor.

Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams said: "Always live in awe of the glorius mechanism of the human body, let that be the focus of your studies and not a quest for grades which will give you no idea what kind of doctor you will become"

Like I alluded to before, it does not take a vascular surgeon to help someone, so why am I still pursuing medicine? What am I seeking to accomplish? It’s easy for me to say that I want to help people or serve my fellow man, but then never specify how I’m going to do it. It’s hard to reflect objectively when you are in the midst of the trials of the work. But in this moment of clarity, I’m able to remember some important things. I remember that I still feel like a hero when I fix simple problems. I remember I enjoy the awe that children show to the hospital staff. I can still remember how a simple chat with a patient in severe pain could ease his/her suffering without medications, I remember how much I love being part of a team of committed health team members working for the same goal.

This is a pretty long entry for an initial post. Hopefully, its readers (if there are any) will still accompany me on my journey of becoming a doctor.

cast my burden on the Lord and He will sustain me -- Psalm 55:22

Mackyroni