Zamboanga City General Hospital

Zamboanga peninsula's premiere health care facility which was built at the time of "Americanization" of the rather strict mixture of predominantly Chavacano and Moro cultures

Touching Other People's Lives

Maaga pa lang nang tumungo ako s R.T. Lim branch ng LBC para sunduin ang package ng gamot para sa isang pasyente.
Palabas na ako ng nasabing lugar nang may dalawang mag-asawang nakasakay sa motorsiklo ang tuwang tuwang bumaba at tinawag ang aking pansin.
Pamilyar. pero d ko akalaing dito ko sila makikita..
Ang alam ko'y taga Pagadian sila nakatira bago nagkasakit si Ian..Pero simula nun, nakipagsapalaran na sa Kamaynilaan..
Bakit ko naman makakalimutan...
Sila ang mga magulang ni Ian, isang limang taong gulang na batang may ALL
"Dok, dok, dok! Tama gani ko.. Nakit-an nako ang imong ngalan didto sa ciudad...!
Di ako makaimik masyado... nalulungkot sa naibalitang wala na pala si Ian..Dalawang taon na pala ang nakakaraan...Mag tatatlong taon na ako dito.
"Pasalamat gyud me sa imo dok...sayang katong nawala ka sa PGH, nahirapan na ang mga doktor mag intathecal sa kanya...ikaw lang talaga nakakapag intrathecal doc...duha ka bulan wala sila nakahimo dayon nagrelapse"
Sayang. May kakambal si Ian. Magandang candidate sa transplant.
"May tutulong sana sa amin dok, si Dra Villarta, kaya lang nung nagrelapse, tuloy tuloy na..."
Ok na kayong mag-asawa? napatango sila.."natutuwa lang kami dok nakita ka namin..maraming salamat talaga dok.." nangingilid sa luha ang lalaki, samantalang ang babae ay di na mapigilan sa pagdaloy ang luha sa magkabilang pisngi..
Di na ko nakapagsalita pa. Hinawakan ko ang balikat ng inang nawalan at sabay inakap...
Napatingin ang mga taong dumadaan..
Sila ang inspirasyon ko sa paggiging manggagamot...
Sila rin ang dahilan kung bakit ako narito ngayon...
Nakikipagsapalaran.

Huwad na Proyekto

ang nakatiwangwang na ob-gyne ward

Sayang at hindi ko naisipang kunan ng kamera ang isang malaking billboard habang kasagsagan ng eleksiyon sa harap ng pampahalaang gamutan na nagsasaad tungkol sa itatayong bagong OB Gyne ward. Nakalagay ang presyo ng proyekto-6 million pesos, kung kelan ito matatapos at syempre nakalagay ang larawan ng isang tumatakbong congressman ng mga panahon na iyon (na ngayon ay nakaupo na)....

Anu na ang nangyari sa naturang proyekto? Sa ngayon, walang sariling OB-Gyne ward and naturang pagamutan...nakahilera lang ang mga pasyente sa mga corridors ng Ortho ward...naka expose sa mga taong dumadaan...
Ani ng mga nakakaalam...binawi ang funds ng proyekto matapos ang eleksiyon...

pinabili ng suka sa kanto....

pinabili lang ng suka sa kanto...pagbalik nurse na...

bakit kanyo? sa dami ng nagsulputang paaralan para sa nurses sa bawat sulok ng bansa, bumababa na ang kalidad ng mga nagtatapos...
ni hinde marunong umunawa sa "order" ng duktor:

mang gigising ng madaling araw para sa IVF to follow
magtatanung kung okey lang na generic na Meropenem ang ibigay
ano ang diet ng dalawang buwang edad na pasyente
magtetext at magtatanung kung ano ang gagawin dahil natanggal ang IV line ng pasyente
ang pinakamasaklap pag nagtext na may referral-ilalagay sa order sheet ng doctor kung ano ang iyong sinabi: text order-"Ok, I'll see the patient tomorrow"
Boba!!

Nakakatakot...
Mga kababayan ay nanganganib, nakakaawa...
Ganitong uri na ba ng nurses ang naiiwan sa bansa?
O mga bagong graduate na produkto ng mistulang "fly by night" school of nursing...
Samantalang ang mga may karanasan o "mas magagaling" na nurses ay umaalis upang makipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa...

Pinabili lang ng suka sa kanto... nurse na..

Ang dati kong sekretarya na may edad 48 ay tinanggap pang mag-aral ng nursing sa STI...
Pinaalis ko nung isang taon ng madiskubre kong kumukupit at nagbebenta ng gamot ng bigay ng mga med rep...

Nurse na ang profession ng taon...

Sana iba na lang...nagtinda na lang ng suka.

Another Mother and Child

You and me against the world...
The love and affection provided by a devoted mother...
If only, she can give her life for her suffering son...
At a fresh age of 6 months, already afflicted by a rare disorder...
the doctor said pre-leukemia?
she doesn't know anything about it...
The only thing she knows about it is its unpredictability...
Anytime...
only He knows the time...
She's the only one he has to protect him..
He is her only boy...
But only for a time...temporarily.
But she's still hoping..
Praying..

Mother and Child

The innocence of a three year old boy...Two happy faces, with a big smile. They were happy from two different reasons. The mother was glad that she was reunited with her mother and two uncles. Her mother is a nurse from Libya.. Her two uncles (twins) were both living separately with their respective families: one from Naga City, the other from L.A., California..
The boy was very happy because they were a complete family again-his father just arrived from Bongao...
Little did he know that her mother has few months left...or even days.. He doesn't know that deep inside, she was suffering from the pains of cancer, and from sadness at the thought of leaving her family..
The very reasons why his grandmother and grand uncles arrived to be with their love one even for this last precious time...

Zamboanga City Hall Centennial

Ciudad de Zamboanga's city hall has been a memorable landmark of the city for the past 100 years...This month, it inaugurates its centennial celebration by setting up Christmas lights also in preparation for the coming yuletide season...
Senator Manny Villar opened the celebration and considered it as "the most beautiful and most grandiose city hall edifice in the country...."

Should i believe him? i've never been to all the cities in the country to consider that...its unfair to claim such prestige if you dont have any basis (same is true in the field of medicine)

however, the senator must be speaking from experience during his campaign tour..

The structure itself is remarkable...the turn of the century architecture is evident...there is fusion of both European and old Filipino craftmanship from the bricks and wooden windows adorned with capiz shells...

After all, the structure was the center of a flourishing city which at that time was peacefully inhabited by people from different cultures..Spanish-Filipinos, Americans, Tausugs, Samals, Yakans, Subanons, Chinese, and the so-called Bisaya from neighboring provinces...

At present, this melting pot is still the center for trade and commerce in Region 9-the three Zamboanga provinces, Tawi-tawi, Sulu and Basilan

Takuksangay: ang komyunidad

Ang Daan Patungong Kabasalan 2

Nasaan nga ba ang Kabasalan?
Isang maliit na bayan na sumikat noon sa goma (rubber at hindi Richard Gomez) at pangingisda...

Ang ina ng matalik kong kaibigan na si Reyvic ay dito ipinanganak-ang kaibigan kong ito ay nasa liga nila Belo at Calayan..

Si Arvin na isang sikat na Hemato-Pathologist ( tatlo lang sila sa bansa), at si Yang, isang Manggagamot ng mga Bata na naninirahan na sa Pagadian...

Si Arvin, Reyvic at Yang...mga magkakalase sa pambansang pamantasan..pawang magkababayan...

Isang dalubhasa sa sakit sa pulmon ang isa pang naninirahan doon..

May beauty queen kaya..? Malay natin...

May mga nagtatago ng yaman...may mga hasyendero...mangingisda...atbp

Pero ang dahilan ng pagpasyal ng grupo ay upang hanapin ang nababalitang sikat na pintor...

Salamat sa napagtanungang ale mga sampung kilometro pa raw ang layo...kilala siya?

Dapithapon na ng sumapit sa kakaibang bahay sa may daan...

Ang maybahay ang sumundo..tinawag ang dakilang pintor...

Matatas magtagalog, may puntong bisaya..madaldal..Mestiso... pinaghalong Maranao, Tausog, Sharif Kabunsuran, Samal, etc..

dinala kami sa taas ng silid kung saan sya nagpipinta...

Tumambad ang Obra...makatindig balahibong pinintang hanggang sa kaliit liitang disenyo ng mga alahas ay detalyadong naisalarawan..pawang mga kultura ng mga Moslem...Makulay...intricate.. talagang pinagpaguran...

pinagmalaki ang mga librong, pahayagan at magazines na sya ang bida...

nagturo ng kaunti sa kanyang istilo...

"isang Henyo ng kanyang henerasyon na di mapapantayan ng matagal", natatandaan kong sambit ni Ka Islaw, isang tanyag na gumagawa ng frames sa MOA, tungkol kay Juan Luna..

Taluksangay: makasaysayang mosque

Kakaibang pagpapalipas sa araw ng mga kaluluwa ng isang kristiyano sa banal na lugar ng mga kapatid na Moslem.
palibhasa'y nag tuturistahan pa rin sa lugar ng mga Chavakano...masigasig pa ring maglilibot kung saan mapadpad ng hangin...
kasama sina Melvin, Basti at si Dan bilang tourist guide, ginalugod namin ang lugar patungong Taluksangay, isang kumyunidad na pamoso dahil sa siya ang itinuturing na pinakalumang Mosque sa bansa.

Trenta minutos mula puweblo, umalis kami bago magtanghali upang mananghali sa isang liblib at mala pretensiyosong carinderia sa Mercedes...
Matapos mananghalian ay tinahak namin ang daan patungong Taluksangay...
Umaabot na dalawapung kilometrong sementado at malinis na daan mula sa puweblo... ay humantong kami sa isang tulay na tumatawid sa isang "lagoon" kung saan matatanaw na ang tuktok ng mosque...

secreto el ciudad de zamboanga

singing and dancing street children

palimos po

along the crossroads

Thank You: The Saddest Words, II

Peace be to you!

My Uncle Bong & Auntie Dina, My Uncle Manny and Auntie Tracy, and my Mommy are extending their "THANK YOU" to you for taking care of me while they were not here...

I and Efren would like to express our deepest gratitude for taking care of me (and still being taken cared of). For your patience, understanding and most of all of being considerate to us in terms of financial difficulties.

Personally, I am thanking you for being an instrument of Jesus. Na kahit po may katigasan po ako ng ulo, but still you gave me what you know is best for my health...

"MARAMING SALAMAT PO TALAGA NG LUBUSAN and GOD BLESS YOU"

Carl Sebastian, my son is thanking you also ( a 3 year old boy)

Truly Yours,
Bong And Dina,
Efren, Carl Sebastian and Me, Sandra

Note:
Sandra has Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, she went into remission for 8 months after completion of treatment...unfortunately she relapsed..
A very difficult patient...
Very poor follow up ( due to financial difficulties)
Makulit ( always asking about everything, even asking why she was having nausea and vomiting during treatment)
She even asked me to talk to her husband to behave because of jealousy...
The final straw- She became pregnant in the middle of the chemotherapy sessions...

Thank You: the Saddest Words 1

'Tor (short for doctor in Zamboanga) Salamat ha.. "
Two hours later, he succumbed...
Almost 2 liters of blood in the iliopsoas area...
Factor VIII concentrates and croprecipitates are ambitious products even in this area of 700,000 people...
he didnt have to say it but he already knew even before he was admitted...
back in my clinic a day before, i was arguing with him...
he was stubborn and insisting he's better off resting at home...
he was more concerned with the expenses...
he left the clinic wearing that Mae West gait due to severe pains on his left thigh...
a few minutes later he gave in...
and the rest is history...

Back to the time when i first saw him two years ago...
He was very happy that finally a specialist came over and chose to stay in town...
He brought expiring 5 vials of Factor VIII concentrates as donation...
"Give these to your indigent patients, tor... i don't need them..."

My Funny Valentine

My iPOD contains 30 plus versions of this song from different musicians... Why...
This is my favourite song in the whole wide world
Let me share one of the best and powerful vesions available
Michelle Pfeiffer had the sexiest version...
Melinda Dolittle had the most controlled version...
Ricky Lee Jones had the cutest version...
Dianne Reeves had the most soulful version...
Constantine Maroulis had the rock version...
Anita Baker had the best jazz verson...
Michael Bubble had the ballad version...
Definitely its not the chuckiest version but one of the most memorable versions from Chaka Khan...

Dr. Art Bonifacio, 37/M from Tacloban with Colon CA, Stage IV

hi guys!

(I)Just want to tell you that i'm constantly monitoring our website and it always touched me to see the overwhelming support of batch 95 particularly section A.
Thank you so much for your prayers, help and concerns. just finished my 1st course of chemo and it was an experience! an experience that brought me back to the ground.

In behalf of my family, my wife Greta and my 2 little angels (Arianne 4, Jamima 3), i want to hug you all for your support. i remember 1 person i talked to re my condition, he told me "the road will be rough, but you will meet angels along the way".

Thanks for being angel along my rough road now. It breaks my heart to see my 2 little kids full of energy not knowing exactly what is happening. but i think my 4 y.o. knows something because this morning when i sent her off to school, she hugged me tight and i saw tears in her eyes. and then she left without saying anything. God knows how i'm deeply hurt with the situation, but He did not give this to me without a purpose.

Again thank you so much, to those who texted, visited me during my OR at PGH. i dont know how to repay you guys. please keep in touch and lets pray for a successful treatment.

Reminder: stop eating isaw! i think eto na a napala ko kakakain ng isaw sa satellite number 5 sa Sapang Palay!

keep smiling and see you,

Art Bonifacio

To Ms Julie Newmar with Love .... Wong Foo

Dear Classmates.

medyo malungkot itong mga pangyayari sa buhay ng mga kaklase natin.. pinaka bago nga itong kay Art nakakagulat dahil advance stage na pala. I,m sure malaking gastusin talaga itong chemotherapy . Ano kaya pwede nating gawin para kay Art ? Sa lahat ng nagmamahal sa kanya kumkatok ako sa inyong mga puso para dingign ang mga proposal na ito.

1. Pledge an amount for him (yung maluwag sa puso at bulsa mo)
sa parteng ito d natin sure kung hangang magkano ang maipon natin. naiintindihan ko naman na may kanya kanya tayong pamilya na binubuhay. nalalapit pa naman ang isa sa pinakamagastos na panahon ang pagdating ng pasko. anyway let,s start the ball rolling
For Art Bonifacio
1. George Cabadbaran............ ......... .... P 5,000.00
2.
pakisulat na lang after me if you want to give and how much. Our next step then is to collect this pledges may be in a months time para mapagipunan pa.

2. Maybe we can do a fund raiser for Art ( concert, raffle, etc..)
Heto naman kailangan ng matinding trabaho at suporta mula sa ating lahat. tapos this will take time before natin maibigay ang money. time frame in organizing an event like this around 3 to 4 months or it may even take a year or more depende sa target income.

3. Ayoko muna isulat itong idea ko pang 1. malulungkot tayong lahat tsaka baka magalit kayo sa akin. discuss na lang natin pag nagkitakita tayo.

4. agrree ako sa proposal ni ces magpa mass tayo at doon natin pagusapan after. Sa UST ba tayo magpamass ( Pay Chapel)?

Itong sa akin ay mga suggestion lang pwede nyong kontrahin o ayunan. Basta ang importante gumawa tayo ng something para kay Allan.

George

Dear All,

Need to know how can we send our financial help to
Art? I'm in Bacolod and I can send it thru their
bank account. Thanks.

Ray



Dear All,

It is really sad to hear these types of news. I will coordinate with Marie on how we can offer further assistance since we are holding the same clinic.

Fred Uytengsu

Dear Classmates,

Any chapel/church would be a nice venue for a mass. Next Sunday will be a good time. please schedule it and expect me to attend.
Thanks Ces

Lester

Hi classmates.. .

So far only Elsa, George and Marie responded to my message. I will talk to Art about the mass... Maybe he would prefer somewhere in pasig bec he lives with his brother in pasig right now. Do you want in the chapel of Medical City maybe on a Sunday since it is located in Ortigas? Or UST pay chapel (as George suggested). Please reply or text me asap . ..

Chenelyn


hello everybody,

If you can get hold of Art's bank account, i guess a lot of our classmates are willing to give without hesitation thru his bank account.
baka away lang mag pledge ng amount for everybody to see. ( kahit magkano lang diba and it will surely help Allan)
wala pa ba date ang mass? so i could fix my schedule

Bing Chan

to everybody,
thanks for all the prayers and support ... I will just give my pledge to Art.

Johnny


deAR classmates,
I agree with bong's suggestions if we can't get Allan's account number maybe we can open an express teller account for him. Doon na lang natin i deposit lahat ng contributions tapos give the atm to him. Open muna tayo ng atm once mabigay natin yung atm card sa kanya tsaka tayo magstart magpadala. Salamat sa matyaga nyong pagbabasa.

Lester

Classmates.. .
Art just had his 1st chemotherapy this weekend. He will go back to tacloban and will come back on november 24-25, 2007. Our mass for him will be on november 25,2007. sunday. Neri will finalize the church and the time. we will update everybody. regarding the ATM and account, I still have to coordinate with Art. will tell you the details on the 25th or we can pass a box on the 25th and those who are willing to give can give any amount you like. See you all the 25th!!!.

Chenelyn


Dear All
i have new number- ......, email-.......d@yahoo.com
id like to thank chenelyn, george and others for their initiative..
Art truly needs our help.
keep updating, and ill wait for Art's account number
i also tried to contact Art''s barkadas in college (med tech) to provide help.
congressman raffy biazon was also our classmate in college..
i dont have any contact from him for years..kung may nakakakilala well, its just a suggestion, he might help him also..


tienearazamboaguena

Ang Daan Patungong Cabasalan 1

Mahigit isang daang kilometro o mahigit tatlong oras na ginugol sa biyahe sakay sa isang kulay dilim na Ford Escape kasama sila Jet, Margot,Melvin at siyempre ako..
ang pakay... upang magbakasakaling maliwanagan ang kaisipan, maluwagan at maging malumanay ang kalooban sa pamamagitan ng isang "joyride".
Biglaang desisyon..



Pakana ng inyong lingkod na mahilig sa ganitong di pinag-isipang/pinagpaplanuhang pakikipagsapalaran...exciting! araw ng Linggo na walang masyadong pasyenteng delikado ... kung meron man.. ay handang iwanan ang lahat upang matamo ang pinagnanasahang "katahimikan". Far from the madding crowd.
well... minsan lang sa isang bughaw na buwan nangyayari ang ganitong pagkakataon..
ang nag iinarteng si Margot ay maraming restrictions sa buhay...ayaw mainitan ng araw... pagod magdrive.. ayaw gumastos...in other words-kuripot...
kami na lang gagastos...sabi namin...
mapagpigil hininga naming hinintay na mamutawi sa kanyang bibig ang "sige na nga! yung kotse ko na rin ang gagamitin at kayo ang bahala sa gasolina!"
ang daming kaek-ekan..
Naging excited na rin siya-may ostrich daw na nakadisplay sa petron gas station sa Ipil
nabuhayan ng loob si Melvin- magagamit na naman niya ang kanyang bagong DSLR Canon camera...
si Jet ay ganun din- ang kanyang touch screen Sony digital camera-may iba mang iniisip ay di na mahalaga..
ako naman ay umaasang masilayan ang isang artistang biswal ng bagong probinsya
Ang siste...kakain lang sa Jollibee na siyang pinakamalayong branch ng nasabing fastfood restaurant mula sa Zamboanga..
At ang hanapin ang tahanan ng isang pamosong pintor ng Sibugay province na si Saud Ahmad...
Sa mga hindi nakakakilala sa kanya...well humanda kayo sa mga nakakapanabik na kabanata...sa mga sumusunod na kabanata...

On rainy days on mondays

Mostly bad news on the first day of the week ...

Frazna, 9 year old child with severe aplastic anemia is on her 15th admission since May for bleeding symptoms. She's in the hospital almost every 1-2 weeks...

Sarah Jane a 23 year old female who was diagnosed almost two years ago with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, who went in remission after 10 cycles of chemotherapy, consulted again because of weakness...I broke the bad news that she is in relapse...at least 7 months after her last chemotherapy..she and her husband was devastated...Trying to bargain for further treatment options...

Hannylyn, a 14 year old teen age Tausug girl with Aplastic Anemia is for transfer to a government hospital due to financial difficulties... she needs blood badly.. the irony of life.. She's at the top of her class before being diagnosed two months ago...Anthony was her classmate when they graduated in elementary.. Anthony then was the top of their class... Anthony was my first leukemia patient... He died two years ago due to disease progression...

But some are good too...

Melania, a 56 year old female with Acute Monocytic Leukemia was overjoyed after learning the result of her flow cytometry which showed in remission status after one month of induction chemotherapy...Her daughter was tearful with happiness...

To Wong Foo With Love-Ms Julie Newmar

Hi classmates!!
One of our classmates.. .Art Bonifacio needs our help. He was recently diagnosed with colon CA (adenoCA), stage IV (liver mets). He underwent intestinal resection with end-to-end anastomosis. Now he needs several cycles of chemotherapy. However, finances not enough since a cycle needs 6 series (2x a week for 3 weeks) and each series costs around 100-180t (per cycle would cost him about a million). He is married with 2 children (4 and 3 years old). They live in Silay. Presently he is staying with his siblings in Pasig during the duration of the chemotherapy. This is not my idea. 2 of our classmates suggested this to me. It was for a good cause. Actually, when I opened this up to Alan (financial support) he was really hesitant. Nahihiya daw sya sa atin. However, we are not forcing you. You can share any amount that your heart is willing to give. Please acknowledge this message. Or, I can arrange a special mass for Art where we can all meet and get together. If you have any other suggestions please dont hesitate...send a message or text me through ......

Chenelyn

Lost in Translation

Roads were getting narrower congested with jeepneys and pedestrians
if EDSA is the most famous road in the country, well Session Road is probably the second
Room with a View:

Haunted and one of the oldest golf courses in the country, Baguio Country Club
photo art exhibit

sinfully delicious strawberry thunder. be careful with the calories sans chemicals

lost in space
thank God, exotic flowers are still plentiful everywhere

charming bed and breakfast




At least means of transportation is not a poblem..its still cheap... and well, the most important-taxi drivers were as honest as in my beloved Davao...

Story of My Quarterlife

They are all involved in the medical field in this so called Asia's Latin city...Melvin, Jett, Marlon, Margot, and Basti... What's the common denominator among these five thirtysomething unmarried (except marlon) professionals...? Sex in the City friendship...andBridget Jones' diary conversations during weekly gatherings whether at Catribu...Alejandra's...Coffee Myx...even Zalo's...or dinner at GOH, or in a Persian restaurant owned by another friend, or at Palmera's... They are five people with common goals in life...and that is to make a difference...in their own fields.
That's why they are still here! Schooled in Manila universities during their medicine life, took their respective specialties and subspecialties...but unfortunately, they have to give up the glamour of the citylife in order to pursue greener pastures...not in the US of course.. but in this peaceful, and harmonious melting pot known as Zamboanga...they are overseas contract worker in their own country...so near yet so far away from home...Margot from Marikina, Jett from Batangas, Marlon from Cavite, Basti from Tagum, then Melvin from Zamboanga (pala)...Not yet part of the circle but there was a newcomer from Paraniaque, named Twinkle...they're still actually waiting for him to come and join their circle... A lot of people were pestering them why of all places on earth-ciudad de Chavacano..? While doctors were taking nursing courses to get to the promised US visas, these City Slickers decided to come over in this godforsaken land...
well, they're proud to say that they saw several advancements since they came over... are they the reason of that development? ( Margot kept on convincing herself) but they saw a flourishing city As Time Goes By...and were glad they're part of that...

CENTRAL DO BRASIL - CARTA

This is for me, one of the most tender moments in film-making history..i just hope the subtitles was there..
I probably saw the film more than ten times, yet i still cry at the end...
Today is a gloomy monday ...
Because a dear friend just passed away...

VERSIONS: A House Is Not A Home

One of the best songs ever written... sang by three great singers-Tamyra Gray of AI season 1, The legendary Whitney Houston, and Soulful R&B genius Alicia Keys... and it is dedicated to my favourite patient- a great and dear friend...a simple housewife to a good doctor , and a loving mother to three beautiful children- who just ended her sufferings today... memories of her will always remain forever...

A chair is still a chair, even when there's no one sittin' there
But a chair is not a house and a house is not a home
When there's no one there to hold you tight
And no one there you can kiss goodnight

Whoa...oh...oh...oh...oh...oh...oh...
Girl

A room is a still a room, even when there's nothin' there but gloom
But a room is not a house and a house is not a home
When the two of us are far apart
And one of us has a broken heart

Now and then I call your name
And suddenly your face appears
But it's just a crazy game
When it ends, it ends in tears

Pretty little darling, have a heart, don't let one mistake keep us apart
I'm not meant to live alone, turn this house into a home
When I climb the stairs and turn the key
Oh, please be there, sayin' that you're still in love with me, yeah...

I'm not meant to live alone, turn this house into a home
When I climb the stairs and turn the key
Oh, please be there, still in love
I said still in love
Still in love with you...yeah...

Are you gonna be in love with me
I want you and need to be, yeah
Still in love with me
Say you're gonna be in love with me
It's drivin' me crazy to think that my baby
Couldn't be still in love with me

Are you gonna be, say you're gonna be
Are you gonna be, say you're gonna be
Are you gonna be, say you're gonna be
Well, well, well, well
Still in love, so in love, still in love with me
Are you gonna be
Say that you're gonna be

Still in love with me, yeah...
With me, oh...oh...oh...oh...oh...
Still in love with me, yeah...yeah...

Si Luna, ang batang Siocon ay nagpasyang mamatay

Siyam na taong gulang...mag aanim na buwan nang iniinda ang sakit na nagsimula sa isang ga-munggong bukol sa kanang bahagi ng leeg sa ilalim mg tenga. buto't balat dahil di na masyadong makakain... pasinghap singhap na paghinga dahil sa mag iisang linggong lagnat at ubo...

Dukha...bunso sa apat na magkakapatid... ang ama ay bumubuhay sa pamamagitan ng pagsasaka ng lupaing hindi sa kanila...

Lumuluha ang ina... wala raw kasi silang pera upang ipatingin sa mangagamot ang anak na may bukol...malayo ang kanilang lugar sa kabihasnan... walong oras daw ang biyahe patungong puweblo pag sumakay ng bus na dumadaan pa sa matatarik na bundok...

Walong oras silang nagbiyahe patungong gamutan...

Wala pang walong oras syang nagpahinga sa ospital...

Binawian na siya ng buhay...

from a distance

She's a single mother caring for her 2-week old baby who was diagnosed with neonatal sepsis...i saw her in the mid afternoon, about to take her lunch consisting of two cups of rice topped with a piece of sardines served in a grass-colored plastic plate provided by the hospital... was about to take her first spoonful when she was suddenly interrupted by a nurse handing over something while saying in a local dialect, " please bring these specimens in the laboratory..."

she's almost dizzy with hunger... but she had to oblige for this can be a much needed remedy for her sick child... or else...

she covered the plate filled with food and asked her neigboring bed (another patient's bantay) to watch the child for her... it would only take her five to ten minutes....

zamboanga's vintas: regatta 2007

The shoreline of R.T. Lim Boulevard or kawa kawa was transformed into a colourful display of vintas (a symbol of Zamboanga) while the locales enjoy this annual event of reminiscing again the olden days of grandiosity and harmony among the citizens from different classes, culture, religion, dialect and beliefs...

Loboc Children's Choir

Bilang paanyaya ng pangasiwaan ng ciudad de zamboanga, ang kilalang grupo ng mang-aawit na mga musmos galing sa isang munting pamayanan sa lalawigan ng Bohol ang nagpa unlak at nagdaos ng isang grandiosong konsiyerto sa siyudad ng mga Chavakano nung nakaraang Sabado...

Kung tutuusin, isang kalimut-limot na munting pook lang ang Loboc sa nasabing lugar, ngunit ito'y nagtataglay ng mahabang panahon ng kasaysayan magmula pa ng labing anim na siglo... saksi dito ang pinakalumang simbahan na umusbong sa gilid ng isa ring pinagmamalaking kalikasan ng Bohol, ang Loboc River, kilala dahil sa malinis na tubig na dumadaloy sa kakambal na karagatan ng lalawigan..ang mga maaamong munting unggoy na tinatawag na tarsier...at ang isang pamana ng mga mamayan ang mga munting tinig na animoy galing sa anghel ng kalangitan, ang Loboc Children's choir...umani ng maraming parangal sa ibang bansa tulad ng Tsina, Espania at Hongkong...

Halina't inaanyayahan ko kayo sa isang gabing puno ng kasiyahan ng mga alta sociedad dito sa pinagpipitagang lalawigan ng mga mestisang espaniol-bisaya-tausug.

Father and Child

in a government hospital at veterans

fort del Pilar at night
regatta 2007

along R.T Lim Blvd on a Sunday

Mother and child, whether through pastel, oil, acrylic, and watercolor, has been depicted from the gentle hands and sensitivities of artists...

for it is a timeless subject...

the very thought of one person in the world who sacrificed nine months of her life and bring new life...bequeath diverse emotions-feelings of warmth, comfort, happiness and sometimes sadness...

From birth she took care of her child, left her job to provide everything a mother can give ...breastfed... sang sweet lullabies to bring him to sleep....led him to his first few steps and taught him his first words-mama...dada...

Where is father...daddy...papa...papang...tatay...tatang...ama...?

He looked for means to provide shelter, and serve some delectable food on the table... He may not always feel his constant presence at home...but he was always there to protect him...took care of him when he was ill...He showed him the beauty of the world...

unforgetable journey to take before you die

The whole nation celebrated its medicine week last september 24-30. Which society would be daring enough to think of something unique for its celebration and none other than the ciudad de zamboanga medical society!

Rampa! a fund raising activity for a worthy cause...the ramp models are the doctors themselves and their children...

trying hard sometimes...but it was fun!

how to heal zamboanga?

Last weekend, we went to a medical mission in the remotest and most mountainous part of Pasonanca known as Muroc. The Pasonanca that i know (im sure this was also the content of public elementary school reference books) is all about the famous Tree house, the Jamboree site lined up with pyramidal camps reminiscent of shelters of the American-Indians known as teepee, the Climaco park, Maria Clara Lobregat park, the mini Aviary, the swimming pool, and the water source.
But Muroc elementary school is different...
Its like discovering about the civilization of cave people
in China...in a little exagerated sort of way.

The place is about ten kilometers of rough road from the main Pasonanca, only reached by "habal habal", which is a common form of transportation in the mountainous areas in Mindanao.
Along the way, you get one of the best scenic views in the peninsula...below is the downtown pueblo, against the vastness of the Sulu seas, the two santa Cruz islands, and the clear blue unpolluted skies.

The school is situated on a hilltop. We were greeted by some of the teachers and barangay health workers who facilitated this activity. There were very few patients when we arrived because some still attending the Sunday mass, while the others are still on their way (at least a mountain or two away)..

While waiting for the others to arrive, i tried to entertain myself by clicking on a few interesting sights and people...
The school children were amused once their faces registered from the LCD of my digital camera...
Then the patients started to come..

There arrived one by one, the usual cases of respiratory tract infection, diarhea, malnutrition.. some children were brought only for the usual vitamins and anti-helminthic tratment...what can we expect from a medical mission.. ? Do we really expect people to get ill just to be benefited when a specific medical mission is conducted?...so the people's main purpose is to ask for medicines that they do not need yet... but in preparation for future use...some sort of self-medications...

The medical mission was sponsored by the foundation of WMMC. We were joined by dentists, nurses, midwives and some volunteers from the same hospital... At least the dentists were very useful.. several teeth were extracted...

Wanted: ciudad de zamboanga's foundation for children with cancer

its really ironic that a certain group of patients - children with cancer- were not as lucky as children with hydrocephalus (of whatever cause), patients needing rehabilitation therapy and recently, older patients with cataract of what ever cause. What do these later patients have in common?


They are being supported by a foundation originally based in Taiwan.. Of course the group have been here in the city for quite sometime...and they have provided great support for the community...they founded the first referral rehabilitation center in the region...


this year, they opened the first eye center in the region to hopefully help people with eye disorder which can be cured by eye surgery-cataract surgery- basically an illness of the elderly, and people with diabetes....well this is lucrative for the hospital (philhealth is offering quite a sum for every operation)...



why not offer some support for the curable cancers of the innocent children...anyway they are the hope of this city ...who knows these cancer surivors would be better leaders than the present crops that are plagueing this society... acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most curable of all malignancies ( whether pediatric or adult), wilms tumor, retinoblastoma if caught early, and lymphomas are generally cured with currently available chemotherapeutic regimens...



complete treatment for favourable stage 3 wilms' tumor in a 2 year old child can cost up to 50 thousand pesos. the same goes for 6 cycles of retinoblastoma chemotherapy...



compare that to operating in a child with hydrocephalus...the cost of VP shunt is about 20 thousand... the operation expenses is about 10-20 thousand..? of course the professional fee is probably free... but what if the shunt got infected? (which happens 100% of the time)... the cost of antibiotic can reach between 50-100 thousand..then what happened next? VP sunt failure, removal of the shunt...and eventually probable demise of the patient...



can we give these cancer patients a chance? please...