Watchful Waiting

It rained today.. First time in quite a while.. Kinda like this blog entry, hehe.

Seeing as I often tend to start my posts with a commentary on how long it has been in between blog entries, I shall put that aside and just jump into the thick of things.

The diplomate examination has come and gone, and I now find myself nervously waiting for the results of the test (which is slated to come out tomorrow according to the information pamphlet we were provided at the venue). However, I have decided to wait it out for tonight in the hopes of getting an early lead on the news, whatever the outcome may be..

 This "watchful waiting" reminds me of my two previous licensure examinations, for Medical Technologists and Physicians. The wait for the MD boards was obviously the more nerve-wracking of the two, considering the relative difficulty of the latter and what was at stake as compared to the former.

Taking the MT boards was never really a necessity for me since I was already in Medical School at the time, studying to become a doctor. However, I felt that I couldn't just let all those years go to waste. It is true that I chose Medical Technology as my pre-med course, but I guess I wanted it to be more than that.. I spent my years in college learning the finer points of diagnostic laboratory medicine at one of the finer institutions of higher learning to offer that course. The least I could do was to see everything through full-circle to do justice to all the effort my professors exerted in teaching me, as well as my own attempts to make sense of all the information I supposedly learned in school. :)

I've been keeping busy the past few days with the very un-academic task of clearing out (yet again) my old room which strangely becomes a storage area  whenever I turn my back for a few months without sleeping in it. :P I can't believe how much junk we've accumulated in a few short years.. :l Part of the fun of clearing a room is rediscovering old forgotten stuff and the satisfaction of tossing some of them out since they were old/useless/really dirty/broken/rotting away and just taking up space anyway.

I also had to clean out my closet and am now wondering what the hell do I do with all those blazers I had made through all those years in residency (not to mention my failed attempt at Neurology which involved an entirely different set.)

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A lot of hoopla has been generated by the forthcoming fight between two of the top draws of professional boxing, namely Pacquiao and Mayweather. I admit that I used to be a fan of MP when he was just a straight-up fighter winning bout after bout against notable boxers like Dela Hoya and Marquez (who I still consider a cowardly counterpuncher to this day). All that changed when he dicided to stick his nose where it didn't belong and inserted himself into the PBA as a PLAYING COACH! The nerve of the guy! I mean, fine, he may have the strength and stamina to keep up with the rest of the guys since he is an athlete after all, but his "forced" entry into the PBA (getting drafted in the FIRST ROUND pa kamo!) made a travesty of the league I had grown up watching and admiring. The thing that sickens me is that he was only able yo enter the PBA because 1) he's so goddamn popular and 2) he's so filthy rich that he can make the league do what he wants, even to accomodate hime just because he "knows" how to play basketball (Pacman knows?)

It's such a shame.. When I was a kid growing up, I saw the PBA as a league where the best of the best played. Being the unathletic bum that I was, I knew I had absolutely no chance of getting in, since it was all about strength, speed, stamina, talent etc.., Thus, I had a ton of respect for people who played in the league, because not everyone would be good enough to get in. Fast forward it to today, and Pacquiao has set a bad precedent by showing the masses who idolize him so much that if you have enough money, fame, or influnce like he does, a little problem like lack of actual basketball talent is not an impediment to playing in the PBA, nor is a lack of any real knowledge of professional coaching a detriment to being named as a coach for a professional team.Corollary to that, shame on KIA for pulling such a publicity stunt! You have tainted the sport forever. I hope you're happy.. :( Oh, and I'm never buying any of your vehicles when the time comes that I will have the money to buy my own..

Yeah, I know, it turned into a rant again.. I'm just so pissed at what the PBA has become.. I used to enjoy the league so much.. Back when the only foreign-sounding names you would hear would be the surname of a commentator (that's you Quinito) or the coaches, and you would only get foreigners during the other Cups. The All-Filipino was my personal favorite, as I found it more exciting. Yeah sure, the imports turned stuff up a notch, but it cheapened the game since most of the offense became railroaded through them for obvious reasons..

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The UAAP Womens Volletball Finals is in full swing, with Ateneo taking the first win over an injuy-riddled Lasalle squad. This is unfortunate since the Lady Eagles, having swept the Eliminations automatically hold a one game advantage over LaSalle in what the analysts have defined as "something like a Best of Five series where Ateneo is automatically up 1-0".

In short, Ateneo only has to win two games to claim the title, while LaSalle has to win three.

I have began following UAAP Volleyball ever since "little sister" came into out lives as brother's significant other. ;) We were eventually hooked and continued watching even beyond her playing years. :P

LaSalle is now looking at a 0-1 deficit and are playing without their star spiker Ara Galang who was injured in the final set of a do-or-die match against NU for a chance to play in the finals against ADMU. The injury (ACL, MCL, Meniscal tear) sidelines Galang for the remainder of the season, making this series apparently lopsided due to the obvious loss of firepower on the side of the Lady Archers.

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Wow, this was a long one. Hehe. ;) Hopefully I'll be online again in a few hours with some (hopefully positive) news

Epic Meal Time - Home

http://www.epicmealtime.com/
The most badass foodies on the face of the entire bacon planet. :P

Trese

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Comics & Graphic Novels
Author:	Budjette Tan & Kajo Baldisimo

I just HAVE to share this with someone..

While I was browsing the web, I managed to stumble upon this website (http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/) which had a few stories available online for free and began reading what appeared to be an interesting locally-made comic based on Philippine folklore..

I was hooked after just a few panels of the first story..

It chronicles the adventures of one Alexandra Trese, who is a paranormal investigator contacted by the police whenever "crime takes a turn for the weird".

The various cases shown in these books portray the protagonist tackling a wide assortment of characters from Philippine mythology like dwendes, tikbalangs, aswangs, etc. They also showcase a range of possibilities as to how these creatures of the dark could be roaming the streets of modern-day Manila hidden away in plain sight.

Tan's excellent writing paired off with appropriately stylized artwork by Baldisimo makes Trese a very interesting read, and a worthwhile series to collect.

Disconnecting

I have learned (slowly and via the hard way) that  being able to COMPLETELY disconnect yourself from your work is ABSOLUTELY necessary if you wish to save yourself from going insane or having a major breakdown..

I guess everyone has hang-ups about work, no matter what they do for a living. Unfortunately,  feel like I've drawn the shorter end of the stick, especially when I think of people with jobs that don't involve going on duty or having to stay in one place for more than 24 hours.. So to all you kids who want to take Medicine and become a doctor, REALLY think about it first. Man I'm tired already... I wsh I had more time to  myself.. 

Joey de Leon’s poem for Willie Revillame

I never knew that Joey was such an eloquent writer.. :P I now have a newfound respect for the guy.. On the other hand, this Willie should burn for his arrogance..

Article taken from Petiksmode.com


Joey de Leon’s poem for Willie Revillame
Written by Keeyo on August 11th, 2009

Joey de Leon published a poem in his Philippine Star column last Sunday criticizing Wowowee host Willie Revillame’s behavior last last August 3, 2009 where he asked to remove the inset video of former President Cory Aquino’s funeral cortege.

Here is the complete poem:

The funeral cortege of former Pres. Cory Aquino: My tears came naturally

Wala na sa piling ng mga Pilipino,
Tinig ng awiting Mga Kababayan Ko,
At lumisan na rin noong isang Sabado,
Inang nagpalipad sa awiting Bayan Ko.

Ako’y sumasaludo, paalam Pangulo,
May isa ‘kong lihim, kay tagal itinago,
Sa lahat nang inabot kong mga namuno,
Tanging ikaw lang sa luha ko’y nagpatulo.

Marami ang nalungkot sa iyong pagyao,
Magalang ang lahat at puno ng respeto,
Nagpasalamat pa nga Kapamilya sa ‘yo,
Dahil kanilang himpilan naibalik mo.

Subalit ano itong nabalitaan ko?
Nangyari noong Lunes, a-tres ng Agosto,
Habang inililipat ang mga labi mo,
Ika’y parang nabastos sa isang TV show.

At ang napakasaklap at masakit dito,
Ang nambastos pa’y kapamilya ng anak mo,
Napanood ito ng tao at publiko,
Kakaunti na nga, ngunit lahat nahilo.

Sabi ng TV host na mainit ang ulo
Pagkakita sa video na kanyang kasalo,
“Sandali, meron akong ano… sa’ting ano…
Hindi naman sa ano,” nagkaanu-ano!

Ayon sa Internet, meron pa s’yang nasambit,
“Sana pakitanggal muna ‘yan sa’ting traffic…”
At ‘di maaalis sa iyong pag-iisip,
Ang parada ng patay ang pinaliligpit!

At dagdag pa daw ng naghahari-harian,
“I don’t think na dapat n’yong ipakita iyan…”
Nasaan naman ang paggalang, o nasaan?
Mga sinasabi natin minsa’y pag-ingatan.

At ‘di pa nangimi nang sumunod na araw,
Pinilit pa ring ginawa n’ya ay tama raw,
Mga nakarinig ‘di na nakagalaw
At ayon sa iba sila na la’y napa-wow!

“… Pero ako, totoo ‘ko eh … “, sabi kuno,
Totoo nga at totoo ring walang modo,
Pwede namang sabihin itong pa-sikreto,
Kaya’t wala na rin mga paliwanag mo.

“Kung ganyan, pakita na lang ‘yan!”, ang hamon pa,
Para bang ang prusisyon nila-“lang – lang” lang ba,
Ang pangasiwaan ay pinapili pa n’ya,
Sumunod ang himpilan, nung August 5 wala s’ya.

May mga komentong pwede nang pang-harapan,
“On camera” baga sa TV ang tawag d’yan
At kung sensitibo man ang gustong bitawan,
Pagpasok ng commercial, hintayin mo na lang.

Matutong magbaba muna ng mikropono
At saka idikta lahat ng iyong gusto,
Lagi kang mataas lahat daw takot sa ‘yo,
Ratings lang ang mababa — totoo ba ito?

The breaking news breaks your heart — at ‘yan ang bawi mo,
Nang mahalata mong sumablay ang pasok mo,
Pero sigurado ika’y maa-abswelto,
‘Di ba ikaw rin ang may-ari ng network n’yo?

Nung Hueves nag-apologize sa diario naman,
O, akala ko ba wala kang kasalanan,
Tapos ng angalan, sunod paliwanagan —
COMPLAIN before you EXPLAIN ka na naman!

O ito kaya ay isa na namang “glitch” lang,
Tulad ng “two-zero” ‘di na natin nalaman,
O ito ay maliwanag na kabobohan?
Sa tingin ng marami, mahirap lusutan.

Ang sabi ng iba — istupidong mayabang,
At giit ng iba — istupidong mayaman,
Mayaman man o mayabang ang tiyak diyan,
Napakayaman n’ya sa kaistupiduhan.

Buti pa ang apat na honor guards ni Cory —
Sina Malab, Laguindan, Rodriguez, Cadiente,
Walong oras tumayo sa ulan at viaje,
Ang lahat ay tiniis at walang sinabi.

Samantalang ikaw na may bubong sa ulo,
Komportable ka lang sa malamig na studio,
Nang kapirasong libing sa TV sumalo,
Angal at inis ang sumambulat sa iyo.

Maaari din namang pabayaan na s’ya,
Subalit ang nangyari’y mabigat talaga,
Namayapang pangulo’y huling paalam na,
‘Di mo pa pinagbigyan … hoy, nag-iisa ka!

At nais ko lang sabihin at ipagyabang
Sa mahigit na s’yam na libong tanghalian,
Sa limang pangulong sa Bulaga’y dumaan,
Kahit isa wala kaming nilapastangan.

Hay! Men! Ang blog ng mga tunay na lalake!

http://tunaynalalake.blogspot.com/
Ang tunay na lalake, 'di kelangan ng description.

Get to know yourself better

Got this from Joel's blog.

This got my attention because never had I been in a situation where answering some seemingly mundane questions results in a somewhat accurate picture of my personality...I acually found it DISTURBING... Wooooo... =P

Try it for yourself here: http://www.quizbox.com/personality/test82.aspx

Your view on yourself:

Other people find you very interesting, but you are really hiding your true self. Your friends love you because you are a good listener. They'll probably still love you if you learn to be yourself with them.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:

You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:

You prefer to get to know a person very well before deciding whether you will commit to the relationship.

The seriousness of your love:

You like to flirt and behave seductively. The opposite sex finds this very attractive, and that's why you'll always have admirers hanging off your arms. But how serious are you about choosing someone to be in a relationship with?

Your views on education

Education is very important in life. You want to study hard and learn as much as you can.

The right job for you:

You're a practical person and will choose a secure job with a steady income. Knowing what you like to do is important. Find a regular job doing just that and you'll be set for life.

How do you view success:

You are confident that you will be successful in your chosen career and nothing will stop you from trying.

What are you most afraid of:

You are afraid of having no one to rely on in times of trouble. You don't ever want to be unable to take care of yourself. Independence is important to you.

Who is your true self:

You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.