Si Regine at Ako.

Si Regine na naman ang kasama ko ngayon.

Third Christmas in a row.

Well, ang unang pagkakataon ay nung Covers II na sinundan naman ng The Promise Soundrack 1 christmas later...

Mabuti naman at inilabas and Low Key this year.

Tamang tama lang.

Hindi sya pasigaw.

Mas na emphasize ang emotion at hindi ang vocal "prowess" na madalas tema ng kanyang album..

Mas sensitive, which is better.

Walong oras ka ba naman magbiyahe mag isa kungdi si Regine lang ang kasama..

Zamboanga to Pagadian, then to Iligan then CDO.

Bukas ay Bukidnon naman ang takbo hanggang marating ang Davao.

Limang oras pa kaming magsasama.

Memorize ko na ata ang kwento in Janis Ian ng 17 pa lang siya.

Bagay na theme song kay Betty La Fea.. Natabunan si JR at David Archuleta.

Malay natin bukas sila naman...

Mahabang biyahe din yun..

unforgettable journey before you die #2: Learn Oil Painting

Matagal ko ng pinangarap matutong magpinta.
Palibhasa, buo ang isip sa pag-aaral sa ibang larangan, kaya walang pagkakataon..
Nandiyan na lang ang makuntento sa paglalarawan sa pamamagitan ng lapis o ballpen pag naiinip sa mga lectures ng mga professor nung college days o pag wala lang talagang magawa (pag walang nababasang libro o napapanuod na pelikula sa TV o betamax) o minsan ay makuntento na lang sa panunood ng mga exhibit sa lobby ng Main building, galleries sa 4th floor ng Mega mall, Metropolitan museum, etc.
Mabuti na lang isang araw nagtext ang ngayo'y kaibigan ko nang si Rameer, isang sikat na pintor dito sa zamboanga. Meron daw siyang Art class.. Nag iimbita kung interesado akong matuto ng basic.
Siyempre! pinili ko ang basic drawing at oil painting..

Christine's Anguish

Ang traffic. maliit lang ang puweblo ng ciudad na ito ng mga chavacano..
kaunting mali lang ng mga nagkakagulong pagmamaneho ng mga motorsiklo sira na agad ang panahon mo..maliit at masisikip ang daan. palibhasa hindi planado.
Ay mali, planado nga pala para sa mga kalesa nung unang panahon...
Mabuti na lang tricycle at motosiklong single ang hari ng daan. walang pong taxi dito.
Tumunog na naman ang paborito kong "Beer". dalawang taon na yata hanggang ngayon di ko pa napapalitan. Witheld ang nakalagay sa LCD screen, malamang overseas.
May hikbi sa kabilang linya..pero familiar ang boses ni Christine.
"Im so sad, i'm sorry for crying but i just can't help it..." aniya. "He was so good to me. di ko man lang siya nakita uli."
'lam ko matagal na nga. Nine years na yata nung naging abay siya ng kasal ni Christine.Kasama din ako pero hindi abay.
Alam ko close sila. he was her only best friend back during UST days.
dalawa hanggang tatlong oras na telebabad. Minsan magdamagan.
Gosh i miss those days.
Di na uso ang telebabad yata ngayon. mahal na ang tawag sa celphone.
Nahawa din ako sa humahagulgol na kaibigan sa kabilang linya.
Andito sya last month at naitanung nya sa akin kung kamusta na si Art.
Wala pa akong balita sabi ko.
pero sa isip isip ko hindi na yata maganda pag ganung di ako nakakatanggap na balita sa egroups namin.
maya-maya nahimasmasan. knuwento ng magagandang ala ala ng yumao.
mabait nga si Art wala akong masabi.
For a while back then, we became close.
nag-agawan kami sa isang polo sa Kirei para isuot sa graduation..Eventually we ended up buying almost similar color of different design.
Hay! Ani ng mga kaklase namin, para kayong kambal ha...

A Breath of Fresh Air

The Yakan Village

The Yakans, being one of the 13 Moro groups, are traditional settlers of Basilan island. They are quite different from other ethnic groups in the Philippines because most of these people are taller than average with high bridged nose. In Upper Calarian where the Yakan Village is situated is famous among local and foreign tourists because of their art of weaving. Definitely a "must-see" for visitors from Manile and other islands...to appreciate the colorful and intricate designs of table mats, wall decor, bags, etc.

Good Friday at Lakewood, Zamboanga Del Sur

Almost six hours of intestinal loops, and sometimes treacherous rough roads along the mountainous region of Zamboanga del Sur on a Good friday. Together with the "OFW" friends. T'was my birthday. And it was worth the effort when we reached the tranquil waters of this almost hidden wonder. Again we passed by Cabasalan to visit Ahmad of Sibugay province..

the flyer

It was March 1, 2008 when the flyer serviced the public. It was 7 days later when i got to expeience a spectacular view of Singapore skyline as i stepped inside its encapsulated interiors. which can actually accomodate at least 28 people. The experience was great; one can't help but get envious of the magnificence and opulence of this first rate tiny Asian country.

A Force to be reckoned with-Paula

One of the reasons why we should watch AI VII

About David

mourning

The medical community of zamboanga city is mourning over the loss of a great colleague.
I don't know him personally. I just know him because i see him a lot in many social functions of the medical society (my last memory of him was attending a birthday party of a multivitamins mascot 2 nights ago), and every now and then i see him along the corridors or nurses stations of every hospital every time i go on rounds. I even remembered him last year when he was very anxious about a particular dengue patient whom he referred to me for co-management.
Only in his late thirties, he is a person who works hard and well dedicated to his profession as a pediatrician. He is one of the top pediatricians in the city. As a family man, i learned that he is a bread winner to his nephews and nieces.
At around 3 pm this afternoon, i was about to see a patient with leukemia at the emergency room of one of the private hospitals. Another case of DOA probably arrived because one distraught lady came out wailing. But another set of nurses came out also crying loudly. Another familiar doctor came out of the ER misty eyed..This is not the normal drama from an ER with a case of DOA, i thought to myself. Then one of the nurses who was crying told me.."Tor wala na si Dr..."
I proceeded inside the complex immediately, and what i confronted was the ashen lifeless body of a familiar person. Jung was beside him, a cardiologist friend together with the other pediatricians who are great friends of the departed. All of them are crying. I surveyed the entire room which is now crowded with other nurses from all the nurses station, orderlies, cleaners and other resident physicians. All of them crying. I tried to compose myself, but the whole scene is quite unexpected. The only sounds you can hear are the loud sobs his sister and eldest son.
This man touched alot of lives and his departure has left a mark. Something unexpected happened. A reality check? WE are only human, and anytime, we are going to die. Doctors are not spared.
He was already in rigor mortis, they tried to revive him but attempts were futile, they can't even open his jaw for intubation.
Another case of Rico Yan and Miguel Rodriguez? I thought they were just myths. But what has happened in front of me proved its possible to anyone.
One of his friends told me,"he even made his rounds at around 12 midnight earlier went home around 2 am." He went to sleep and death took over.
From the bottom of my heart, may you rest in peace.

Children of Heaven

I just saw its trailer at CinemaOne this morning, and its very good to know that they have dubbed it in Filipino. I love this film when i saw it more than a decade ago. Thru my peripheral vision, i saw my father cried at the end. He never do, but that film was an exception. It does that to the warm-hearted.

I guess a Filipino digital film tried to imitate the plot a few years back-"Daan patungong kalimugton," Haven't seen it though.

Its the usual award-winning formula of a foreign language film-a child actor, a country showcasing its exotic culture, excellent cinematography and poverty plot.
Watch out for it on February 18...

Haunting

piano

(guitar)
guitar

Haunting..
Beautiful..
One of the best songs ever written for a movie..

The Mayonnaise jar and two cups of coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle; when 24 hours in a day are not enough; remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee...
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began,
he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.
He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full.
The students responded with an unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and
poured the entire contents into the jar,
effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided,
"I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things
--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---
and if everything else was lost and only they remained;
your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter;
like your job, your house and your car.
The sand is everything else---the small stuff.
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued,
"there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the smallstuff
you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your spouse out to dinner.
Play another 18.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first
--the things that really matter--
Set your priorities.
"The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled.
"I'm glad you asked."
"It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem;
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
Note: a forwarded message from Chitoism

Malaybalay-the next best thing

It was a nerve wracking and backbreaking experience of our lives to go on a roadtrip from our 6th floor pueblo apartment as baseline going to the slightly dangerous, mountainous and zigzag roads of Tutuk Kalaw overlooking the serene and picturesque coast of Zamboanga Del Sur down to the sloping streets of Pagadian city with its odd tricycle models infesting the city, then towards the MILF-infested,treacherous but well cemented roads of Lanao Del Sur, up north to the only remaining Kalesa city in Mindanao-Iligan City. This is only halfway of the roadtrip. If only this Honda City could cry.. she would! This is my second year in a row to spend a 4-day holiday in my hometown.
Going on a roadtrip in this southern stretch of Mindanao, we were treated with the majestic view of the coastline while the calming sound of the waves and tangy scent of the sea breeze dominates our senses. The sound of the music prevents us from twilight sleep taking over while driving. The music of Blue Ketchup, Sinusikat, Hilera, UP Dharma Down and Zelle were perfect! And this i realized is an unremarkable roadtrip experience-you're in the company of your best friend to enjoy the scenery, laid back culture-rich country life of Southern Mindanao, plus the music you love listening to.
We reached Cagayan de Oro, a city bustling with traffic noise. Its main attraction is their clean unpolluted river perfect for their famous white water rafting, which lures local tourists during summer. We didnt stay long, my friend bought his airline tickets for Manila at the Cagayan De Oro Domestic Airport...then off we went straight to our favourite province-Bukidnon.

ang supot ng alimango

Late na naman ng dumating ako sa clinic. Magdadalawang oras na yatang naghihintay ang nanay ni Shakour, isang batang kakatanggal lang ng spleen dahil sa sakit na thalassemia. May tinatapos na naman kasing research sa Ateneo. as usual, sikat na naman si cramming. sanay na sanay tayong mga tamad. kaya ngang tapusin ng isang oras sa pagmamadali ang isang research proposal.
Pinapunta ko muna ang bata sa laboratoryo para sa CBC nang mapansin ko ang isang matandang babae ang nakaupo sa may dulong upuan ng reception area ang may hawak na puting supot na may marringgan ng pagkislot. Ang ina ni Adam.
"Pinabibigay ni Adam dok", habang inaabot ang puting supot. Inaya ko sa loob ng consultation room. "Pinagbilin talaga ni Adam na ibigay ito sa yo dok kahit anung mangyari..kaya pinagsikapan ko talagang bilhin at dalhin dito."
Amoy ko ang singaw ng preskong simoy ng dagat na nagmumula sa supot. Malikot ang nasa loob.
"Alam ni Adam na paborito mo ito, at saka di ba dok pinangako nya sa iyo ito...." garalgal na ang tinig ng ina..namumula ang dalawang mata habang may nakita akong namumuong kislap..
Nagsimula na syang magkwento..naramdaman kong nanuyo ang aking labi at lalamunan, mahirap magsalita..nahihiyang baka bumigay ang tinig at malaman ng inang mahina rin pala ako .. kailangang matibay ang loob ng mga manggagamot. di dapat nagpapakita ng emosyon..
"May pinapagawa pa sya sa tawi-tawi na banig para sa yo malapit na matapos"
Di ko mapigilan ang pagluha... di na alintana ang hiya... nagpakita rin ng kahinaan...
"alam mo ba dok pumunta kami sa clinic isang araw pagkatapos mong umalis papuntang Davao..dun ka raw magpaPasko sabi ni Ann...umiyak si Adam..'wala na ang doctor ko sinu na ang titingin sa akin..."
"tiniis niya ang nararamdamang sakit at hirap sa paghinga..ayaw nyang pumunta ng ospital ng hindi ikaw ang titingin.."
Ang sakit. ang lungkot mawalan ng isang tao na mataas ang tiwala sa yong kakayahan...
Sayang wala akong magawa nuong naghihirap siya..
Marami pa syang ikinuwento...mag0iisang oras yata. Di ko na alintana ang mga naghihintay na pasyente sa labas..
Nakinig lang sa inang nagdadalamhati...
Maraming salamat sa alimango 'nay, ang naalala kong huling nasambit.. habang may ngiti na sa labi ang ina..

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...