Fast Food Mano-A-Mano: Mang Inasal vs Chic-Boy

I have wanted to write this piece for the longest time ever since I was able to dine at both of the aforementioned establishments. However, this task was habitually forgotten, and I'm actually pretty lucky that I'm finally writing this stuff down now.. :P

vs

Filipinos are no stranger when it comes to roasted meat. Going around the metropolis, one would be hard pressed

A new season cometh..

Well now, it seems like the NBA and their players have reached an agreement about how to share the oodles of money they make each year, with a (possible) start of a new but shortened season slated on Christmas Day,

Whoop-Dee-Do! But then again, I don't really care anymore.. :|

As I had mentioned in a previous post, I have grown sick of this long labor impasse that has prevented the NBA from starting on time. All the anticipation is gone, and I've moved on to other things and realized that the NBA isn't really worth waiting for anymore.

Seeing as this wasn't the first time that the NBA went through a lockout in recent history, both sides could have taken steps much earlier to avoid this repeated incident which in the past hurt the league in so many ways: Among them, the quality of basketball suffered because of the scheduling, and casual fans were turned off and many have not returned since then.

Factor in my gripes about the league, and you have one disgruntled casual fan who will take his ball someplace else. Sure, I'll probably scan the league standings every once in a while just to see what sort of madness has been happening, but I don't think I'll even bother watching the playoffs and finals this time around.

Hay naku..

Saw this status message on a friend's Facebook wall..

"If you ask yourself why doctors charge so much for consults. It's because we don't get paid vacation, we don't get paid sick days, we don't get bonuses for outstanding performances nor for Christmas. We don't have insurance plans nor do we qualify for unemployment. We sacrifice our family on special days so that we can bring treatment to others. Illness or personal affairs are not excuses for a misdiagnosis or mismanagement. Next time you ask, remember that doctors are doctors because of the love of life, but that love doesn't pay debts. Re-post if you're in a medical field."

Fair enough, but I think it doesn't necessarily justify the high costs of consults. I guess defending the need for doctors to actually charge for consults would be more appropriate. Sadly there are many people who are jexpecting to get a free ride "just because" it's a noble profession, charity first, you're not a good doctor if you charge the ailing patient, yada yada yada.. That's bullshit! Doctors have to eat and pay bills just like everyone else too, you know!!

Bad gloves? Bad trip

I just want to gripe..

A few months back, when I began going to the gym in earnest, I bought myself a new pair of workout gloves since the older pair I had been using was already worse for wear.

I checked the sporting goods stores. The more prominent LP brand cost about 600+Php which was definitely over my budget, what more those bigger brand names like Nike.

I was able to spy a lesser-known brand called Outdoor Avenue which was selling for around 350Php. Good enough I thought, and the price was reasonable enough. It was better than nothing, and I also thought that its just a pair of gloves with velcro. What could go wrong?

 I was a little apprehensive when I saw the velcro strip. I mean, look at that thing! It wasn't as rough as the usual velcro we usually see. It stuck well, and i tried different wrist movements to see if it would give, but didn't. So I bought it, failing to take into account what sweat could do the the velcro.

The gloves sucked from workout day one. After working up a sweat (or even before sweating), the glove flaps would prove difficult to keep together. Every once in a while, I would have to refasten the the flaps so that the gloves would not flop around as I went around the gym.

Luckily, the gloves were still usable for lifting weights even in that sorry state, but sometimes you just can't help but be bothered by the fact that you're using a faulty piece of equipment designed supposedly to keep you safe and comfortable during a workout. There's also the nagging thouht that everyone at the gym is probably secretly calling you "floppy gloves man" who needs to adjust his gloves every so often like a crazed madman. :P

I still use these gloves to this day due to monetary constraints, and the fact that apart from the faulty "sticking" of the velcro, the gloves are still in workable condition. Guess I'll just have to wait until these gloves fall apart on me and I have enough extra cash to replace them.

Bespectacled

Last week, I finally decided to have my eyes checked out (well, it was the second time really, but I feel that the first consult doesn't count. More on that later)

I had actually been suffering from blurred vision in my left eye for some time now, but I guess it was only lately that it became pronounced enough to will me to finally do something about it. Come to think of it, my eyes have been getting easily fatigued lately, resulting in less productive nocturnal study sessions.

Since my first ophtha consult didn't go very well, I texted one of my former CSMC interns (who is now a 1st year Ophtha resident. Hi Maui!) for a good recommendation.

After being pointed in the right direction, I set off to go back to the hospital I had at one time considered home. I had a bit of time to kill, so I met up with some former IM batchmates and a few of my former clerks (who are now interns) to catch up on the latest news. Oh yeah congratulations to the CSMC IM team who won at the recently concluded PCP quiz! I'm proud of you guys, especially since I heard you really kicked the ass of a particular team. ;)

Going back to the initial story.. I waited patiently at the clinic of DR. FRANCISCO GOMEZ (Thanks doc!), luckily I had arrived early and only had a couple of patients ahead of me.

After an exhaustive ophthalmologic examination, the good doctor told me that I really had hyperopia of the L eye and it was no wonder that previous examiners told me that my L eye was "lazy". I had once thought of wearing an eyepatch over it (as I had seen in Peanuts comics), but common sense got in the way. :P

Needless to say, the doc wrote me off a prescription for corrective lenses, and seeing how much my vision had improved as he was trying lenses on me, I was pretty excited to get myself a pair.

Normally, a person would be hassled by the need to wear glasses, but I guess my flawed eyesight was enough motivation to supersede any desire to be glasses-free.

I browsed through the frames available at his clinic and saw one I fancied. It was a "rimless" frame, and it cost 2000 Php! Bear in mind that this price was not yet inclusive of the lens itself, which ranged from 500Php for plain uncoated lenses, to about 4-5k for those fancy-ass "Transitions" lenses which darkened when exposed to bright light.

The secretary suggested that I go out and buy a frame of my own choosing then just come back to have the lenses done, which I did. I first looked around the malls to see what the optical shops had to offer. It was really annoying when all these optical shop personnel gang up on you and offer you their most expensive frames, only to apparently show a hint of disgust when you ask to see their "affordable" frames. (Ano ba naman ang gagawin ko sa 25K na eyeglass frame diba??)

With malls out of the picture, my dad suggested I accompany him downtown to check out those wholesalers to get a frame with a good price. He initially wanted me to get a frame similar to his, which cost only 100 Php! He had this great (and surprisingly feasible) idea of buying multiple identical frames so that all I have to do is move the lens when the old frame broke down.

It seemed like a good plan, until we got to the sellers. The really cheap frames were too small and thus hurt the sides of my face when I wore them. (I think those were for children). After an exhaustive search, we came upon this store which sold the one I have now. It was lightweight, and of the right fit! And it only cost 1K (A nearby optical store was selling a similar frame for 1.5K). Thus the deal was done. I hurried home and dropped off the frame at the doctor's office. The secretary told me to come back the following day (today) for pickup. I was actually quite surprised that it would be done that quickly. Nevertheless, here I am now, newly bespectacled and seeing much better than before (and without looking like a total nerd either) :D

Those old war stories..

This evening found me wandering aimlessly among my old blog posts when I was drawn to the stories from my Clerkship year, starting off with this one.

After reading all the way to the start of Internship, I was awestruck with the realization of what I had already been through in such a short span of time, and what I willingly put myself through to earn my MD..

Some of the stuff I wrote made me chuckle, especially those that said "I hope one day I'll just look back at this and laugh" when describing a particularly toxic rotation. :P

I remember the sleepless nights, staying up to monitor a critical patient closely; those days when you'd be so busy that you're only able to eat lunch at 11pm that evening; the nights when you're just going to bed when your groupmate bursts into the room shouting "Code! Code!" and you get up and rush out to try and resuscitate a patient whose heart had stopped beating...

Clerkship is really a mixed bag. You're supposed to learn and work at the same time, and it's not just simple on-the-job training for routine tasks.You monitor patients and scrub in for ORs one moment, you're attending a major lecture or conference the next.

It still boggles the mind how we were able to survive all that. Considering the workload thrust upon us with very little shut-eye during the duties (which were every other or every 3 days, depending om the rotation), it was a miracle that we were able to stay sharp and healthy enough to do the things that were expected of us..

To cope with the stress and fatigue, people come up with all sorts of creative ways to make oneself "happy" or maximize downtime. During clerkship, a lot of people were drawn to the casual games like Bejeweled and Diner Dash (casual gaming was just gaining a foothold back then).

We had to put up a brave front especially when we were seeing the patients. A lot of the things going on behind closed doors at the hospital is unknown to the public. Al the sacrifices, heartaches, and sob stories remain untold, often by choice.

But there were a lot of good things as well. Fascinating cases, incredible ORs, not to mention all the knowledge one would gain just by interacting with a patient as compared to just reading about cases in a book. 

In the end, it would still be all about the patients. People who came in hoping for relief from whatever malady they are afflicted with. I guess we took on that great responsibility as well, sometimes unknowingly, since we were just medical clerks at the time after all. I guess we could say that we gave it our best(in our own limited way) to make sure that our patients got the care that they deserved.

We were lucky to have our seniors (interns, residents) who have been there and done that, to help us in our goal of learning to treat the sick and give comfort to the afflicted.

We also learned a lot from each other, especially when different people would be lucky enough to handle different cases. Those little informal learning sessions with your groupmates/classmates served not only to increase our collective knowledge, but to tighten the bonds of camaraderie that only a common experience of hardship could forge.

After a year's worth of learning and hard work, it was time to move on. Groups split up as people went their separate ways after graduation. Most proceeded to their post-graduate internships at the different hospitals. Others, particularly those who came from the states, opted to forgo internship (and thus the local boards) and went straight home to take the US boards and eventually train there. 

Clerkship is a very memorable and life-changing experience, but certainly not one which I would ever want to go through again.. :P

Twit Twit!

I've been fooling around with Twitter lately. I initially signed up for an account a year ago just to make sure no one got my username. :P That being said, my Twitter lay dormant for the longest time, with me hardly adding anything nor tweeting a single character of text.

Then I met a friend who's totally into it. Having added him up (for lack of anything better to do), I began replying to some of his Tweets. Then I began looking at other people's Tweets. Then I started adding other people/personalites/organizations. Then I started reading the news via Twitter.

And just like that, I found myself hooked, though not to the point where I just sit around and sift through tweets all day. :P

My skepticism gave way to curiosity and genuine interest. This is actually a great social tool. Not as revealing as, say Facebook, yet it allows you to place your current thoughts out there in real time for all the world to see. The premise is so simple that it worked great!

Just when I thought I was going to get a whole lot more studying done.. :P

Hitting a Wall

Sorry for the rather graphic (but surprisingly neurological) image :P

 

After that previous article I had written the night before, I was supposed to be writing a whole bunch of articles now, given the plethora of material that I have to work with.

However, as luck would have it, I'm stuck again. I find myself in a situation that I'm rendered unable to put a good topic-specific post together. Hence I felt the need to write htis little piece down to get started again.

..or I could try using these. I hear they work great for cars.. :P

Oh the weather outside is frightful..

Well, not really at the moment, but we've been having a spate of strange weather patterns lately. 

It's finally November in Manila! We're already waist-deep into the "-ber" months and Christmas is supposedly in the air already. :P The days are getting shorter and the nights longer. There's also the cooler breeze in the air, best appreciated at night to early morning.. :P

(Image source here)

Going back to my opening statements, it puzzles me as to why we have scorching summer-type heat in the afternoons to early evening (with it being November and all), which is usually punctuated by a sudden downpour, and man, it would rain really HARD for a few minutes before ceasing as suddenly as it had began. A quick peek at the weather satellite image from my favorite weather site yields absolutely nothing.

In other news...

A couple of days back, I went to see the new "Puss in Boots" movie with a couple of friends. I watched it, and it was AWESOME! Ok maybe it wasn't as good as, say, Shrek, but the entertainment value was definitely there. Having Antonio Banderas play the feisty little cat with the spanish accent was just pure genius! :P I'm really glad they decided to do this spinoff movie!

Based on the articles I've read at NBA.com, the NBA lockout is at its 4th month already. As talks and negotiations between the NBA and the Players' Union continue to drag on, the NBA calendar has already suffered with the cancellation of all the November games. Now the basketball world awaits with bated breath whether or not the players will accept the (last best) proposal put on the table by the owners.

With all the drama surrounding the lockout, and the basic premise of "Millionaires vs Billionaires" battling each other for a larger share of the pie, with owners claming unprofitability and the players not wanting to give up all the money they have for their bling, it's enough to make a casual fan like me lose interest in the league altogether. Sure, I'm a basketball nut, but with the way things are playing out, its just so "nakakawalang-gana" and as such, I seem to have lost my taste for the supposedly best league in the world. I couldn't help myself, so here are a few points about this entire mess that sets me off: (these may or may not be about the lockout, but would concern the NBA in general)

• Players stubbornly clinging on to their disproportionately larger share of the profit pie. I'm sorry, but with the state of the world economy as it is now, forgive me for not sympathizing with your concerns of how to pay for your next sportscar/mansion/wild house party. It may be true that a player's carrer is definitely shorter than the average guy, but these guys make more money in a year than most people could ever dream of earning in a lifetime. Why don't they just use their money wisely so that they'll be set for life once they retire? Oh wait, that's right..

• NBA players are getting drafted without finishing college. I mean, what the hell? True, some guys want to be able to earn money as soon as possible, and that a career in the NBA would yield a lot more money than a degree, but I can't help but feel that its such a great waste. Besides the potential of graduating with a degree, a college senior gains a lot more experience which should make him a better all-around player in the pros with better basketball IQ and a firmer grasp of fundamentals (well, ideally that should be the case). My cousin who lives in the States says that a degree does not necessarily mean that it's going to be your job for life. It just shows xompanies that you are capable of learning (coz lets admit it, a lot of stuff people do at work are not taught in school, but are instead learned on the fly at work.

• All these flashy players running and gunning. Though it may look great on highlight reels and posters, I often yearn for the 80s basketball when Bird and Magic were at it. They may not have been overly fancy, but they got the job done. I think teamwork was a lot better back then as well, as you would see fantastic ball movement in almost every play.

• Players making their own superteams. Its one thing to be assembled together by a good management office with excellent foresight, but it becomes absurd when players start taking stuff into their own hands and recruit each other to play together. What about competitive balance? :P

I know I'm rambling, but these are things that have been bothering me about the league for quite some time now. With all the hubbub the lockout has created, I don't think I'll be following the NBA anymore, unless there was some compelling reason to do so otherwise.

Was supposed to talk about other stuff, but its getting late. Maybe tomorrow then.

Dawn Riser

I awoke this morning to the unmistakable feeling of wanting to go to the loo. I know it seems like a pretty unceremonious way to start the day, but what the heck, at least it got me up early in the morning.

Some people tend to distinguish themselves as Dawn or Dusk persons. I think I could be both. I enjoy the comforting hue of the early morning AND early evening sky. The light is not too bright nor too dark, and (usually) the ambient temperature is pretty cool. Sometimes its really tempting to just sleep in under these conditions (especially in the AM), but I find that these are the times of day which I am most productive and when my mind is at its sharpest (although being in bed for about 6-8 hours doesn't hurt either).

Hmm.. now that I think about it, I guess dawn works better for me than dusk. :P

Selective Resetting

Il bet everyone wished at one time or another whether it would be possible for life to have a reset button. Different folks would have different needs ranging from an "entire-life reboot" to something as simple as making a different choice somewhere down the road. This entry deals with the latter.

I admit that I have made my fair share of decisions in my life that I wish I never made, but none to the extent that I would want to go back and change something.. Well, that is, until recently..

Being a little bit older and being able to take stock of my life from a more mature viewpoint has its ups and downs. It's good because of the wisdom you gain from certain experiences in your life that you were not able to understand at the time. On the flipside, it is that same increased level of intellectual maturity that may lead you to be disgusted at some of the things you've been through. It's like saying "What the hell was I thinking??".

It is the unfortunate fact that regrets come only after the event has transpired or an error has been made. Even more unfortunate are those regrets that come and hit you much later, years after something which cannot be undone. This seems to hurt more because of the helplessness you feel. With a more proximate event, it would definitely easier (for the most part) to make up for what had happened since if you go by the temporal profile, it's not really too far off. But when the regrets hit you a decade later, BAM! Its like being hit by a ton of bricks. You're suddenly reminded of the decision itself, but moreso of the multitude of possibilities and other pathways you could have taken during the great span of time between now and the past decision. In some cases, your imagination may go into overdrive as you envision totally different scenarios, the other roads not taken, and feel a deep sense of regret from within.. sigh.. 

There are some things I wish I could have changed, but on a positive note, a different kind of change is coming, and may possibly impact my life for the better, permanently.. :)

Construction Yard Blues

I'm stuck at home as we have renovations ongoing. Being the one who isn't really gainfully employed at the moment, it was only natural that I remain behind to "watch the house". Since there is some stonework going on, the place is often bathed in a thin layer of white dust. Besides the obvious dustiness kicked up, you also have to deal with the noise pollution, what with all the grinding, hammering, and drilling going on.

Funny, as a kid I used to love the smell of a new house, or more specifically the smell of freshly-laid cement. :P I guess I liked the smell because it was the scent that greeted me everytime I dropped by our house when it was still under construction. Its probably the thought of being able to move into my own room soon that was attached to the particular "scent memory".

By the way, it's my lawyer's birthday today!! Happy Birthday bro!! :P

Trese Quatro

I surprised myself the other day. 

I attended my first-ever book launching event, and for a Pinoy graphic novel at that!

This would strike people who know me as being highly unusual because 1) I don't go to book launchings, and 2) I don't really buy graphic novels.

But Trese was different..

I made a review about a year ago which featured this locally-made comic book which I never heard of before. It was about this female "supernatural detective" who dealt with mythological beings and creatures from Philippine folklore.

Curious as I was then, I sought it out. I found the website, , read the first story (which was available online for free), and I was instantly hooked.

Three graphic novel purchases later, I was just browsing the web casually when I found out that the fourth installment was finally being launched!! And in a nearby mall at that!! I thanked my lucky stars that I was free on that day and summoned my inner geek as I set out to go where I had never gone before!

I had been waiting for book 4 to come out ever since I had wolfed down the first 3 books in a very short sitting. Hungry for more, I waited and waited. Speculations had the release pegged earlier during May this year. When that rolled by, I have to admit that I was a bit let down, and eventually forgot about my fervent waiting, but I digress

KaJO Baldisimo and Budjette Tan, the creative geniuses behind Trese

(pics from the event itself are from the NBS Facebook page)

The event was held at the mezzanine level of the NBS Bestsellers bookstore in Robinsons Galeria, and I must admit that I was a bit surprised at the impressive turnout..

Ok, so maybe that was an understatement.. the place was PACKED!

Comic enthusiasts from all over the Metro seemed to have gathered for the unveiling of this newest installment in the chronicles of Alexandra Trese. From what I could see and hear, there were people from all walks of life, but probably a great majority were the comic book geeks, the artsy types, and members of the Pinoy Komiks community.

I actually felt a little bit out of place since it seemed as though almost everyone there knew everybody else (what with seeing each other during comic conventions and whatnot), but my inner fanboy prevailed and I patiently waited for the signing sessions. After the usual interview, open forum, and publicity shots for the media, it was announced that people can begin lining up for the autograph signing.

Before I forget, with every purchase of book 4, you receive a raffle coupon which gave you a chance to be the lucky winner of a Trese-themed iPad! Whoa!!

*drool*

Man, you really have to have a lot of patience when you line up for things like this. I haven't stood in line for this long since the first time I enrolled for college! :P But everything was cool when my turn came to face the creators of Trese.

..and as an added treat, out of all the people who came to have their books autographed, I (standing in the grey shirt) was the one lucky enough to be photographed by the NBS staff having my books signed!

I wasn't exactly bursting like a little fanboy when I met the guys. I composed myself and told them they made excellent work and that I was looking forward to the fifth installment. :D

My first ever autographed comics.. Man, I'm such a geek.. but at least I'm a happy geek! :P

Well, that was a pleasant experience. You could really feel that the guys were grateful that you bought and support their comic, and I intend to keep on doing just that.

 And then there were Four..

After getting my stuff signed (I just realized that it must be really boring as an author to sit there for hours and sign book after book), I headed straight home since my task was complete. I felt like a total fanboy but I guess it was worth it.

Trese 4 came with a glossy dust jacket with exclusive art.

Whe I got home to study (and later read) my swag, most noticable was the considerable cover art on the book jacket shown above. I guess this is one way of giving back to all Trese's fans that have been following her since she first came out on print.

*you can follow @AlexandraTrese on Twitter, and also @Budjette Tan

Celebrating a Great Loss

Yesterday, the local version of the hit reality show series The Biggest Loser wrapped up its first season after the final weigh-in of the 5 finalists. Cash prizes and gym memberships abounded . But more importantly, there was a general outpouring of admiration and goodwill from the audience who have followed these contestants as they fought to take steps to improve their fitness, self-image, and ultimately their very lives.

The 5 finalists (image source here)

Just because there were only 5 finalists did not mean that the rest of the other 11 contestants disappeared into obscurity after their appearance on the show. These 11 were called back to have a weigh-in of their own and whoever had the highest percentage weight loss (relative to their initial weigh-in at the camp) was also awarded a cash prize for being the Biggest Loser Home Winner.

How everyone looked at the start (image source here)

I think this program is one of the finer examples of reality TV that is of benefit not just for the contestants themselves, but for the viewership at large (pun not intended). As opposed to the usual bickering about as reality contestants jockeyed for position and did stupid/embarrassing things just so they could win a prize, the "bigating Pinoy" were doing it for their health and well-being. The competition was just secondary (at least thats what I think). The people who joined the show but didn't win are not leaving empty-handed. They have been shown the tools to better themselves and hopefully improve their lives in the process.

Having followed the show and being a budding health nut myself, I feel genuinely happy for everyone who participated in the show. Even though there was a prize in store, you couldn't help but feel like rooting for everyne, given the trials they underwent and the determination they showed in order to reach their goals at the camp.

The "Fab FIve". Holy Weight Loss, Batman!!

(Image source here)

The results were nothing short of amazing. You have these enormous 300+ pound guys and 200+ pound girls losing about a fourth to a third of their weight to emerge fitter, stronger, and definitely looking better!

On the filpside, I find it a little sad that obesity is now a growing problem here in the country. What used to be a lifestyle disease of the more developed western nations has began to show its ugly head in the islands.. Its great that people a becoming more health conscious already, with shows like this and fitness lifestyle magazines like Men's (and Women's) Health flying off the shelves. As a physician., I honestly hope that the prevalence of Pinoy obesity can be kept at a minimum, if not eradicated completely.

A radio anchor doing commentary about the show's ending commented this morning that in the US version of the show, the contestants there reported being unable to keep the pounds off after they left the program. I think that won't be the case with the winners here. Having watched both versions, the Pinoy has the advantage of great familial support to keep them focused, and the lower prevalence of obesity here (which would make the former contestants stop and look at themselves more often than their US counterparts who live in a country where obesity is sadly becoming more of a norm). Pair that off with the enormous portions served in the US and the more sendentary lifestyles they have there, and it becomes pretty clear why I'm not so worried about our former "Bigating Pinoys".

Congratulations to the contestants of The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition! And props to Abs-CBN for producing a reality show that is actuially more than just crap on a stick. :P

Foodtripping: Mango Tree Bistro

This blog entry was a long time coming. I never got around to really writing it because I'm not really good at posting resto reviews, hence this is not included in the "Nitpicking" section of the site. That being said, I really enjoyed the food at the place I'm about to describe, and its a shame this article would not be able to do justice to the overall experience I had when I ate there. Well, the disclaimer is out, so here goes..

*all pics here come from Mango Tree Bistro Philippines' Facebook page

Found at the 3rd level of the Trinoma Mall (adjacent to Power Books), The Mango Tree Bistro struck me as a classy, elegant place where you'd want to hang out with friends after a hard week's work, or maybe treat your date to a romantic evening for two.

As you can see by the picture, the place is pretty dim, even at lunchtime when we ate, so it gives you that private and cozy feeling which says you can just relax and let it all hang out. Definitely a 5-star ambiance!

The food was a bit pricey for my relatively simple tastes (turo-turo, et al), but really worth every peso. I'm sorry I don't recall exactly what we ate as it's been a while since we went there. Basically the place deals with Thai cuisine. The owner (who happens to be an old friend from high school) happily obliged us with great dining suggestions which more than satisfied our appetites. :D As I recall, we ordered a curry dish, and something they labelled as a salad (but wasn't really a salad and was only named as such because they couldn't find the equivalent English term), and a bit of rice. The portions were generous to say the least, and the taste was just EXQUISITE! I don't think I have ever tasted anything that GOOD! It was a totally new dining experience, and would probably go down as one of our more memorable dates (food-wise).

Overall, the food was really excellent, the ambiance was unique and inviting, and there are no gripes about the service. I think the only downside of this place are the prices, but then again, I think it's geared towards the higher-end market and not streetfood consumers like me. :P Watch out for their other projected branches at Greenbelt and the Fort!

The very late Post-storm update

Pardon my lack of interest for updating after the storm (Typhoon Pedring; International name: Nesat)  . It just didn't seem that all interesting to follow up since (thankfully) nothing serious happened in this part of the Metro. But still, a good writer should always exercise his skills, whether he really feels like it or not. (Kinda like working out :P)

As I previously mentioned, we were fortunate that our little corner of the metropolis was relatively unaffected by the storm, though I can't say the same for the coastal areas, particularly Roxas Boulevard and the coastal restos of the Mall of Asia.. As I have heard (and seen on TV), things got really crazy around those parts, with storm surges and unhindered winds wreaked havoc alla long the area. Streetlamps fell, roads were flooded, and the contents of the aforementioned restos were technically swept away.

Even more worse off were our countrymen in the provinces like Nueva Ecija, where flooding got batshit crazy and covered entire houses! :( The death toll is still rising as rescue and aid workers are still trying their vest to sort things out and provide services where it is needed the most.

I was able to get this satellite photo when we got the power and internet back. It was really a whopper of a storm, which I believe was a lot bigger as it was just about to hit the country as it came from the east.. but what's this? Another storm was seen brewing! Here's the current weather picture below:

HOLY COW!! Its another big one!! After enjoying a few days of warmth and sunshine, its no wonder that things have gotten pretty gloomy around here since I woke up this morning.. According to the news, the dams have started releasing waterso as to avoid any sudden surges when the storm hits. Though it may be unfortunate that some areas would remain to have a bit of flooding brought about by this act, I guess this inconveniece would be preferred to the more dire consequences should the dams break or that the release of water would concide with the storm.

I just hope that this new typhoon (Quiel; International Name: Nalgae) would soon come to pass and that No further lives would be lost..

*To anyone who happens to be interested as to where I got these cool weather pics, you can go to THIS SITE, where the satellite images are animated and regularly updated.

Riding Out The Storm

*Delay in posting is due to power outages and fluctuating DSL service.

Typhoon PEDRING

9/27/2001 9:41 AM

Ealier today, I was awakened by the unmistakable sensation of minute water droplets hitting my face. We've been bracing for this storm for a couple of days now and the news said it would hit us at around 2am. I staggered to my feet, tried to close the offending window (the handle of which would not budge a centimeter) and went to the other rooms to close other windows facing the general direction where the wind was coming from. After a bit of effort wrestling with unvielding hinges and a few spritzes of WD-40 for good measure, I went for breakfast to prepare for the day.

I didn't really mind getting up early, but this day was a bit more imporntant. It was another "interview day", and as I prepared myself to go out and face the elements, I wondered whether it would be called off. Lo and behold, around 15 minutes bedore I was scheduled to leave the house, the call came, and I was granted a reprieve. Now I'm presently at home with no power while the strongest strom so far this year rages all around.

When I first saw the satellite images of the storm yeaterday on my favorite weather site, I was a bit concerned since the people on the news were saying this was a storm that wound probably be like ONDOY, which wreaked havoc upon the Philppines a couple of years back. Our house was not spared its wrath, as we experienced the worst-ever flooding to hit our area which left our house filled knee-deep in filthy water.

Last night, I noticed that it was really quiet outside, with very little traffic heard on the streets despite it being realtively early (9pm, as I recall). I guess people were not taking chances and wisely just stayed indoors. It was such an eerie calm, surreal in fact. I don't think I have ever experienced such a quiet night, even on excursions to the provinces.

Then the storm hit. Fortunately, this is turning out to be what I would call a "wind storm" wherein the predominant feature is strong gale-force wind. Don't get me wrong. Winds may also wreak a lot of havoc and cause it's fair share of property damage, but I think torrential rains causing massive floods would me more of a concern here from where I stand.

Hmm, the rains and wind seem to have a "waxing and waning pattern", with episodes of strong winds pelting you with almost horizontal rain that alternate with complete breaks in the action. I just hope that the rainfall dosen't get any worse, as a sustained downpour may cause overflowing of the waterways resulting in widespread flooding. In fact, mom says there are already reports of flooded areas around the metro.

The good news is that this storm is predicted to leave the RP at around 3pm local time. Lets keep our fingers crossed, our heads down, and our toes dry.

*aftermath story in next post

Yet another RP team frustration..

I have to admit that I was a bit ecstatic over the news I saw the other day.

The Philippine Team made it to the Semifinal round of the FIBA Asia Championships!!!

To my dear readers who do not follow Philippine basketball, this particular tournament would serve as a passport to an outright berth in the 12-team field which will be competing at the 2012 London Olympics. As a consolation, the silver and bronze medal winners would have another crack at an Olympic slot as they will compete in an Olympic qualifying tournament pitting them against the runners-up from the different continents, with the top three from THAT tourney going on to fill the final 3 slots in the Olympics. For a graphical representation of what I'm talking about, click here.

Imagine my dismay when all my hopes were dashed when the team was totally overpowered by an upstart Jordanian team (which beat perennial powerhouse Iran in the quarterfinals). It was painful because the RP team was more favored to win, having previously vanquished the Jordanians during group play earlier in the tournament.

Despite the loss, the Philippine team still has a chance to advance to the International qualifiers, provided it beats the loser of the KOR/CHN semifinal game to get the bronze medal.

Dammit. First the Azkals lost to Kuwait, and now Smart Gilas loses to Jordan.. I'm starting to get a bit annoyed at these Arabs.. :P

Sleepless in San Juan

I can't sleep..

Its a little unusual for me since it's a really pleasant night, with cool air wafting in from the windows, which would normally find me out like a light in a few minutes. I guess it has a lot to do with my exam tomorrow *looks at time*, well, later anyway.

People who really know me can usually tell if I'm dealing with the jitters, and the inability to sleep on demand is the number one manifestation. Its not like I haven't done this before. I've taken a ton of exams in my life, and am no stranger to "application examinations". I think its an odd mic of anxiety and excitement. Anxious because, well, who dosen't get anxious before an exam? Excited would probably be due to the fact that I'm finally getting myself back on track after a long, convoluted road which found me chasing after things that I found out were not actually for me to begin with. No going into details here, as telling that story over and over has proven too tedious and a bit sad as well..

Its all about looking at the positives now. Thanks to the love and support of the people around me, and of course, The Big Guy Upstairs, I find myself once again in position to try and make something good come out of all of this.

I just hope I don't screw it up this time.. I'm getting sick of having to do stuff all over again..

Wish me luck!

weather.com - Asia: Satellite Map

http://www.weather.com/maps/geography/asia/asiasatellite_large_animated.html
My favorite weather map. Perfect for those times when you really just have to know..

*Note to Jovi. I believe you may find this useful when planning to go on outdoor shoots. :P

We Are Basketball | FIBA.COM

http://www.fiba.com/
The homepage of International Basketball. I can't believe I just discovered it recently. :P

Gymrat upgraded

(pic source here)

Since I started my gym membership earlier this year, I have been going to the gym for a total of about 4 months (3 straight months then a lull period of about 1 1/2 before I got back on track). I (think) I have gotten leaner, more energetic, and a little stronger. ;) As such, my gym routine has likewise evolved, not just with heavier weights, but with some new exercises as well. So, here is my revamped workout (still sans the warmup and cooldown):

• Incline Dumbell Bench Press

• Rotary Lat Pulldown

• Machine Lateral Raises

• Back Extension

• Pullover

• Leg Press

• Alt. Bicep Curl

• Leg Extension

• Arnold Dumbell Press

• Sumo Squats

• Dumbell Bench Press

• Side Bend

• Calf Press (On Leg Press machine)

• Bent-Over Row

• Incline Sit-up

• Bridge

• Hover

*All exercises are done in circuit except for the last three. I do 3 straight sets of sit-ups then alternate the Bridge with the Hover

Awww Yeaaaahh! :P

I really love going to the gym. It makes you feel so alive (but really tired afterwards :P). I'll really miss it when I return to the hospital.. But then again, who says you have to give up keeping fit while doing residency? ;)

Losing my religion

I know I should be studying, but I decided to take a little time off the books since there's a ton of backBLOG I have to make up for. :P

(pic source here)

Up until very recently, I was in a quandary of sorts, wherein I found myself slowly slipping away from my beliefs.. I don't really know what brought this about, but I guess it was a combination of frustration, disillusionment in the church, and the effects of media.

And how was I able to figure that this what happening to me?

I discovered I no longer knew how to pray.

As shocking as I may supposed to seem to me, I was strangely unaffected, and instead had this feeling that it had been coming all along. Let me explain.

I have to admit I was a little angry at myself over what has transpired a few months ago which lead to my current state of, well, doing nothing really important. All the while the people I love where always telling me to "keep on praying and everything would be ok". The problem is, everything did not turn out ok, in fact everything turned out much worse than expected. :( Thus began my frustration.

The disillusionment came from the local church's apparently endless meddling in affairs of the state especially concerning reproductive health, which is a very touchy topic in our country. With my responsibilities as a physician, I had very strong feelings on the matter and felt that something should be done. I will not state what views in particular are the ones I support or am against, but the way the church handled the entire thing was, in my opinion, pretty messed up. Being reminded of the fallibility of man who is trying to run an institution established by God, those higher ups seem to have bungled the job (IMO only).

The effects of media are a little more silly.. and as such I will not go and shame myself for al the world to see just to get a small point across. To make a long story short, I began to seriously question certain fundamental tenets of my faith.

Fortunately, despite my despicable thoughts, I still had the people I loved whom God had placed by my side. A combination of serious "faith talk" with sweet inspiration and my regular "wisdom talks" with dad may have just saved my soul from eternal damnation..

I was made to realize that the thing fundamentally wrong with me is that I was no longer grateful. No matter what your circumstance in life, there will always be something to be thankful for. Its inexplicable, but I guess in faith there are some things that just aren't meant to be explained. Once I began accepting and started seeing the things I had once taken for granted, it's as if a fog had lifted before my eyes and everything seemed just a teeny bit better than before.. Truly, God works in mysterious ways... 

Thank you..