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!