Buckling up..

It's now just 6 days before the start of my pre-residency.. Time to get really focused and downright serious. :P I still can't belive its already been more than a year since I first got my license and signed up for my first pre-residency at UST NeuroPsych.. So much has hapened since then, and within such a short span of time! I've had the chance to "live life freely" for a little while, mainly due to fatigue, but also because I wanted to have no regrets before I started training again.

In line with this, I would like to thank everone who had been instrumental in making this year a very unique and memorable one..

- God, of course. He set me along this path to help me rejuvenate and rediscover what he probably wanted me to do with my life. Thank you for helping me maximize what would otherwise have been a wasted year. You truly work in mysterious ways, and I thank you forthe many woderful surprises I have stumbled across along the way. :D

- My family, for their continued support during the rough time I had during the transition from pre-res to normalcy, and beyond. :D

- My "Sweet Inspiration", it was an honor to see you make it through the boards. Thank you for your unfailing love and support especially during those times when I really needed you.. ;)

- The "Brotherhood", thank you for answering the call. It was great to see you guys again, and I hope we could all meet up sometime in the near future (and hopefully we'll be complete by then :P) But November is a little sketchy for me, so I guess you'll have to convene the "Brethren Court" without me. :P

- The staff of the "Company". :P Thank you for accepting me as one of your own, and for entrusting your health to me. Thank you for the experience I've gained as your company doc, and all the different insights I've gained while being a part of something other than a medical/hospital community. A big thank you to my loyal patients (mostly from the warehouse), whose unfailing commitment to follow up with me makes me feel like I'm doing something really worthwhile.

- "Grand uncle", thank you for the warm welcome, and for treating me as one of your own. Thank you for this unique opportunity and experience, and for all the food too! :D

- Cousin "Grumpy", you've affected my life in a way you'll never imagine, setting me along a path where I now feel I should have tread a long time ago. Thank you for showing me the way, and for believing in me (although you hardly show it :P).

- "Auntie Doktora", the mother of "Grumpy", who is probably looking down from heaven watching over us. I guess you had a hand in all of this as well. Thank you.. I won't let you down, and your legacy WILL live on in us.. I promise...

- "LittleSister", it was a pleasure to finally get to know you. I feel you deserve special mention here because meeting you was one of the things that made this year so unique. :P Thanks for all your concern for us during the flood. Good luck in your studies and playing! :D

- "Second cousins" (Rain, TwinBrother, TallTree), thanks for all the fun times we shared this year. It was great reconnecting with you and getting to meet your spouses (NineBoss and CrocWrestler), and the little baby too! :D Thanks for letting me see the world through a whole new perspective.

- Dra. "Pulmo consultant", thank you for letting me share your clinic and position for this limited period of time, and for all the experience and advice you've imparted. Thank you for your words of praise and encouragement. Sorry I chose not to train at your hospital. It's just too far po kasi eh. :P

I've been studying (relatively) more as of late, in preparation for the forthcoming month. I hope I can make a good impression and eventually get accepted, because I've already had my year off, and now I'm raring to go!..

The starting line is in sight.. The tank is full and I'm revving up the engine. Strap yourselves in, we're in for one hell of a ride! :D

Simplified

While I was in the CR, I was suddenly struck by the calm and quiet of midday (since it was brownout, the distant rumbling of air conditioners in other buildings were absent). I looked out the window and chanced upon a forklift going about it's business shifting stuff around on the vacant lot where a factory once stood (demolition was done a few months ago). I then imagined the forklift driver, having a rather simple job (although entailing much skill) doing stuff of very little serious consequence. After work, he'd go home to rest up and spend time with his faily. Sure, he wouldn't earn that much, but he could probably get by if he spent his money wisely..

I'm suddenly on a "simplicity kick" a day after I bought a pair of long-sleeved shirts (on sale! 50%!) for use during pre-residency (and hopefully residency as well). When I got home, I took stock of the clothes I was using on a regular basis. I was most struck by my footwear. Apparently, I had been getting by with using only 4 pairs:

- A pair of slippers for home use and short trips (ie. to the supermarket, etc)
- A pair of adidas trainers I had bought on sale which served as my all-around casual/gym shoes
- A pair of black leather shoes which I wear to work (incidentally, I had bought these for residency last year :P)
- A pair of aging black suede shoes which have seen better days that I now only use during select "fancy" occasions

Thankfully, none of the four were swept away or damaged by the flooding, so I need not buy new ones. (although I was alarmed when I noticed that the sole of the trainers were starting to show wear and tear..) I'm not really much of a shoe person. In fact, I don't really recall having more than 5 or 6 pairs active at any given time. Still, it was a bit of an awakening to see my shoes lined up like that and realizing that a person COULD live simply if he/she really wanted to. As my dad always reminds me, its all about adjusting your wants and living within your means. This basically entails making sure your basic needs are met while tuning down your lifestyle to something sustainable within your given income bracket.

People have to adapt to their situations, and must learn to make the most of things. Otherwise, he/she would end up miserable because the wants are not met while at the same time the needs are neglected in favor of the former.

I guess the main questions that need to be asked here are: "What do you feel is important to YOU?" and "What do you think SHOULD be given importance?". Depending on the person, the answers to these very similar questions may vary widely..

I'm not one to give a lecture on how one should manage his/her money, but I can say that happiness is not defined by how much money one has or whatever he/she spends it on. It's about those intangibles that make up the human experience like faith, family, friends, and love, things that money truly cannot buy..

Thoughts Along a Hospital Hallway

2nd flr, CMC, 2:22pm

Bummer.

While waiting, I was struck by a sudden moment of clarity about our chosen careers and how we'll probably be living our lives for the next three or so years..

Sometimes I'm still astounded with all the sacrifices one has to make in being a doctor. You sacrifice personal time, earning capacity, and even a good part of your youth, all in the name of training, training to help sick people get better..

Sure, it may all seem so lofty, noble, and idealistic. But during those rare unguarded moments when you're tired or just sick of everything, you begin to question yourself and think: "What the hell am I doing with my life??"

Sigh.. I know that the end is in sight for people at my level.. Residency would (hopefully) go by pretty quickly, but that doesn't change the fact that it still goes uphill from here.. Another glaring question awaits when you get a little older: "Has it all been worth it?" Check back with me in a few years...

Recollections from the "Storm Week"

*sorry folks, no pictures this time. It was either the phone had no bat or my hands were too dirty. :P

It has been 9 days since Tropical Storm "Ondoy" (Intl name: Ketsana) ravaged the land and dumped tons of water on the unsuspecting Metro, resulting in massive widespread flooding, displacing thousands of families and resulting in hundreds of deaths, not to mention the billions of pesos worth of property ruined by the flood waters..

After riding out the storm at the aforementioned gas station (see previous post), I decided to make my way home at around 9:15 PM since traffic was already flowing smoothly and I was getting really bored as well. :P I had initially planned to go home by 10pm just to make sure that all the flooding along my route home would have subsided, but thought better of it since almost everyone waiting at the gas station had already left, and it WAS pretty dark there too..

Before leaving, I had been intermittently listening to the radio for news about the flooding. Apparently, it was a total disaster all over. Text messages were being sent to the radio stations with pleas for help. People were stranded upon rooftops because the water level had risen too quickly for then to get out of their homes. Hardest hit were the areas of Marikina, Pasig, certain areas of Quezon City, and most of Rizal province. The major roadways going in and out of Manila (and even the mighty EDSA itself) were at a standstill, as flooding has rendered them impassable. Ill-prepared rescue teams were being scrambled all around, and at times even the rescue teams themselves were stalled because the waters were just too deep at certain points. I never thought this would happen here as images of the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina to New Orleans came to mind. Truly, climate change had come to retaliate for Mother Nature, and we have no one to blame but ourselves..

After gassing up (just in case), I said a little prayer and drove off. The ride home was mostly uneventful, save for the slight flooding I encountered when I turned left at Scout Albano from Quezon Avenue. Good thing it was pretty shallow, and I managed to get the vehicle through that short stretch (I was advised to avoid EDSA and so I had to go the longer way home). Although the rains ahad already stopped for quite some time, I still proceeded cautiously, passing areas which had been blacked out. I finally arrived home at 10 pm, much to  the relief of my family who had been keeping vigil until I got home. Dad himself was stranded in downtown Manila and decided to set up camp at a small local hotel. When I got out of the car, the first thing I noticed was the stench in the air which smelled faintly of garbage and soil mixed together. It didn't really smell as bad as, say, crap, but it hung everywhere like a gloomy cloud. Some of the movable big stuff we had at the ground floor (like dining chairs and electric fans for example) had been moved outside the house because mom and bro had been cleaning up when they got home. The stairs going up were littered with stuff salvaged from the rising waters like shoes, books, and so on. I was unable to grasp the entirety of the destruction since it was really dark at the time. I was also astounded to find that the ceiling in the master's bedroom had leaked onto the bed a a result of the roof drains being clogged.. Good thing it was only partially soaked and was still usable. Before going to bed, I took stock of everything that happened.. At least all the members of my family were ok. We were without power and phone but at least we had running water.. sigh.. I slept like a rock that night, unsure of what the next day would bring..

I awoke to the sound of mom sweeping the laundry area downstairs. I went down and realized that things weren't really that bad, or so I thought.. When mom and bro got home at around 6pm, the waters have already receded, but they were greeted by the sight of upturned chairs, soaked papers strewn all about, and mud EVERYWHERE!! There was a visible water line delineating where the muck had risen. I realized that they had done a pretty good job on the initial cleanup. The floor was already spotless when I got home, and the walls were already scrubbed down. Even the downstairs CR which was below street level had already been cleaned up somewhat. Thankfully, we had a little help from our people who were likewise trapped by the flooding. I'm really grateful to my uncle who came in when the waters had not yet really risen and saved my precious new edition of Harrison's and my brother's laptop.

I went outside to help mom with whatever she was doing and saw the front porch/garage/front lawn.. Whoa!! Garbage all over the place, a desk on it's side, and mud covering pretty much everything at or below waist level. We borrowed a window cleaner(?) and used it as a kind of "water rake" (sorry, don't know the right term :P) to move the muck out while mom hosed stuff down. Eventually, things got cleaned up as the pile of garbage grew higher and higher. At around 9 AM, my uncle asked me to accompany him to go and fetch dad from downtown. Apparently it was a blessing that I wasn't home at the time of the flood, as the other vehicles parked at the house had been flooded in and were unusable. Before going there, we thought of grabbing breakfast for our families, so we drove to the nearby McDonald's, which turned out to be closed because of extreme flood damage (it was sitting beside a creek, and I found out later that the flooding there was around 5-6 feet!). So we then went to the nearby panaderia which made excellent pan de sal. A lot of other people seemed to have the same idea, and we were told that we had to wait 20 minutes for another batch that was still in the oven because they had already sold out the first batch. Trying at a different bakery yielded the same result. To kill time, we decided to just go ahead and try to make our way to Manila, but we turned back around 3/4 of the way since the area was still heavily flooded. My uncle and I returned home triumphantly with our freshly-baked bread and our famished families eagerly wolfed them down (since we had been working on our houses for quite some time now).

While on the road, I noted the water lines on the walls of those hard-hit areas. A lot of areas we passed through had water lines higher than the average car!! That's some deep water! I chanced upon one of those big provincial jeepneys that brings produce to the markets is Manila, and realized that it was running quite late since those jeeps usually deliver their stuff before the break of dawn.

After finding renewed strength with the help of the delicious pan de sal, we soldiered on, cleaning up and tossing stuff out. Dad was eventually fetched at around 3 in the afternoon, and we then had our dinner at the local hypermart. Man, I'll never look at chicken inasal the same way again!! :P We also went there to get some batteries for our flashlights since we still had no power, but thought better of it when we saw all the lines. Since a lot of people were hit by the storm, I'm assuming that their stores of food were ruined by the flooding as well. Our beloved refrigerator was a victim too and we had to empty her out, but since the water level wasn't so high, it was back in working order after cleanup and is now once again silently purring in the kitchen. :P

When we got home, Hallelujah! The streetlamps were on!! We had power! :D Dad switched on the breaker power for the entire 2nd floor and the ground floor lights ONLY (since the water level had risen higher than the power outlets). Phone lines were restored a little later, so everything was returning to normal.. somewhat..

When we switched on the TV, the devastation caused by the storm came to light.. Entire subdivisions with two-storey homes were totally submerged underwater. Riverside communities were totally washed away. The storm had dropped a month's worth of rain on the metro in a span of 24 hours. The dams were filled to capacity and had to be opened lest they break, thus causing more flooding and the persistence of high water levels in certain areas. This storm seems to have been a great equalizer, affecting rich and poor alike. A relatively affluent neighborhood in Marikina whose residents included movie stars was one of the hardest hit by the flooding.

The next few days found us doing more cleanups, and I was so busy helping out at home that I had almost forgotten that I had applied for residency and was supposed to be entering pre-residency soon.. In the days before, I thought that my chance of receiving the text from my hospital of choice to go be a pre-res was getting slimmer. Imagine my surprise when in the midst of cleaning up, I received a phone call on my cell from an unknown number. Lo and behold, it was the chief resident of the department I was applying for! He told me that I had been accepted as a pre-resident and was inviting me to come to their office for a meeting/orientation with the training officer! :D What a relief!! I have been dealing with feelings of uncertainty ever since I passed my application 3 months ago, since I considered this as a "gamble". The Lord is really good to me, and he has led me on to this path and guided me all the way. :D Thank you!!

I was so ecstatic that I felt I could clean the entire house all by myself. :P So I tried, and when all the adrenaline wore off, my body was really sore from all that scrubbing, lifting, etc. :P

Orientation day came and went. We drew lots to see who would be assigned to what batch. Luckily I drew 2nd since there was still a lot of cleaning up to do. To date, I'd say we are 70% done with the cleanup. The bulk of the work that remains is setting aside dad's books and other stuff from his study (which had been displaced as a result of a bookcase collapsing and a cabinet being thrown out). At least everything is almost done, right? :P

All this time, there have been numerous blessings that came our way despite the calamity:

- The fact that I was able to survive being stranded (for the first time at that!) unscathed is something to be really thankful for, especially being adjacent to important u-turns or exit points at just the right moments.. ;) There's also the food lady and the little improvised wee-bag.. hehe

- Though stranded, I knew the rest of the family was safe, with dad neatly holed up in a hotel near the office and mom and bro stuck in a well-stocked shopping center until they were picked up by an uncle

- Despite having only a half-full battery on my cellphone, I was miraculously able to conserve the power until I got home.

- My mom and bro ran out of bat sometime during the day and thus lost all means of communication with me and dad. Luckily, bro thought of using the the older phone we had already retired (and I had luckily charged it to full before putting it in storage. Talk about LUCK!)

- Many thanks to my god-sister Shel who went out of her way to bring us lunch while we were in the midst of the first day of cleanup. Thanks shobs! You're the best super chef talaga! :D

- Thanks to Ate Peachy, the daughter of a family friend, who brought us packed food that we had for dinner on the second day (we haven't been cooking right away because the LPG tank connected to the stove was lying on it's side after the flood, and mom was scared of a possible leak)

- My uncle who, despite the flooding at his own house, took the time and effort to save some of the really important stuff at our place.. Thank you so much...

- The call from the chief resident.. Thank you doc, for the really good news which brightened up my day despite everything that had happened.

The relief from surviving the storm was short-lived, as there was news of a more powerful super-typhoon headed towards the country.. At one point, this storm was projected to have the strength of a category 5 hurricane (putting things in perspective, Katrina was a category 3..). People began fervently praying for intercession, as many areas were still flooded and thousands of families were just recovering from the shock and devastation this storm had wrought. People warily began to follow the weather reports more closely. I myself tuned in every hour to see the latest reports from CNN and PAGASA for the storm's current location at the time and where it was plotted to move next.

It was kind of miraculous in a way.. The storm was on a northwestward course, and was projected to hit the already-battered cities and municipalities of Metro Manila, but then, something must've happened.. The storm was altering it's course and was undertaking a more northward path! People within the Metro were nervously awaiting the arrival of the storm, ready to move stuff or move out should the need arise, but thankfully it never happened. Besides a few intermittent strong showers and a continuously cloudy day, we never experienced really strong effects of the storm. Our hearts and prayers go out to our brothers and sisters in northern Luzon who were directly affected by this second calamity. At least the government was able to to something right, with preventive evacuations saving lives and minimizing casualties from this second storm. You can buy back or make stuff that you've lost, but human life can never ever be replaced..

Now, it's back to the daily grind for most of the people in the Metro. Storefronts are being cleaned up, businesses are resuming operations, and even I'm back behind my clinic desk. ;) A semblance of normalcy is now taking shape, but that still doesn't change the fact that thousands of our brothers and sisters are still displaced or are still stuck in their homes with little to no relief..

You have to applaud the spirit of the Filipino people, finding humor in the most dire situations, but also the spirit of "Bayanihan". As soon as the calls went out, people who were barely affected began extending whatever help they can in the form of relief goods, medical missions, and what have you. I'm sure there were also many individual acts of heroism that mostly go undocumented due to the gravity of the entire situation. Sadly, we have to take the power of the human condition with a grain of salt, because although it may be true that calamities sometimes bring out the best in people, it may bring out the worst in them as well.. Reports of unscrupulous individuals selling much-needed relief goods to starving refugees who have no other choice.. or people who refuse to stand in line and instead find ways to get double rations amidst the chaos while other people who try to follow the rules get nothing.. and now I've recently heard that the stupid government is ordering a freeze on international aid coming into the country with the intent of taxing them before they can be distributed here.. it's just sickening... :( and to think I was starting to believe that the government could do something good for the people for a change when they evacuated the danger areas in the path of "Pepeng" (Intl name: Parma)..

Weather You Like It Or Not

* the following entries were written using a pencil and a sheaf of scratch papers serendipitously found in the glove compartment while stuck amidst horrendous traffic at the height of the wrath of Tropical Storm "Ondoy"

Commonwealth Avenue 9/26/09  1:00 PM

I'm permanently stuck in non-moving traffic headed towards the QC circle amidst what appears to be the worst storm to ever hit the Metro in recent memory... I actually found myself thinking "Man, where the hell did all this water come from???". I was supposed to meet up with my girlfriend today, for what would probably be our last date before pre-residency. Apparently, the heavens had other things in mind...

Before I left the house, it was already raining heavily, but having driven under similar conditions before, I had no idea that it would be this bad. After dropping off mom and bro at the hospital for checkup, I settled myself down for the long trip ahead, and what a long trip it turned out indeed! :P

When I made my way along EDSA, I began to notice that something was amiss.. The very idea that EDSA could be flooded HEAVILY was beyond my imagination (since I don't really drive around much anyway), until now..

Having narrowly escaped being trapped along Highway 54, I began to wonder how I would get home while I neared the QC circle via Quezon Avenue. Traveling along Commonwealth, it was really raining buckets already, with visibility reduced to about 4-5 car-lengths ahead. As I neared the Fairview branch of Wilcon Depot, the traffic slowed to a crawl, and as luck would have it, I found myself close to a u-turn slot. After much waiting, debate, and hesitation, I decided to turn back, aided by the advice of a local resident that the road ahead had been rendered unpassable due to waist-deep flood waters.

After making the U-turn to head back, I proceeded cautiously, knowing fully that I wouldn't be able to go home anyway since it's reportedly flooded there already. What surprised me was a text I got from my uncle saying that it was already flooding INSIDE the house and that it was already knee-high!! 😨

Oh well, the important thing is that everyone close to me is safe and sound. As of this writing, I'm in front of the UP-Ayala Technopark nearing the QC circle and I've been on the road for about 4 hours... Luckily there was a lady vendor going around selling baked goods (I though she sold buchi because she handed me a soft yellow rounded goodie covered in sesame seeds which turned out to be some kind of bread) so bought a pair and I didn't have any food problems.

Good thing I was able to bring along the plastic cylindrical case of my shades, so I had an improvised wee-bag as well.. hehehehe! 😜

I'm trying my best to make light of the situation since being a worry wart never did anybody any good, and besides, it looks like I'm gonna be here for quite a while... Will rest first, and I'll try to make another entry while there's still daylight.. (1:49 PM)

Entry #2 3:30 PM - still haven't moved an Inch..

Whew! That was fun! A short while ago, I decided to leave the car for a while to buy provisions to last me the night, because although I still have another piece of bread to serve as dinner, the fact remained that I had absolutely nothing to drink (wee-wee is out of the question! 😅). Not wanting to compromise my very healthy urine output, I knew I had to do something..

After informing dad of my little plan, I said a little prayer and left the car to head to the nearby Petron station for my supplies. I had luckily brought along both an umbrella and a jacket before I left the house so getting wet was never really an issue.

While braving the downpour, I was suddenly concerned whether they still had anything in stock, since we motorists have been stuck here for quite some time now. On arrival, I noted only a handful of C2 bottles on the shelves. Luckily they still had considerable stocks of purified drinking water, so I hurriedly grabbed a pair of 500ml bottles for my own. They didn't have much food left, so I had to content myself with a pair of small Goya chocolate bars.

Just as I was finishing the above paragraph, the cars in front began to move, but about 50 meters later, things are at a standstill once again.. 😅

Anyway, as I made my way back to the car with my precious cargo on hand, I had the misfortune of half-stepping into a shallow puddle and I got my feet wet. 😐

So, prior to the aforementioned disturbance, I had already been preparing to hunker down for a most memorable night since I felt that I had all the provisions I needed for an overnight stay...

Safe Haven 4:50 PM - Petron Commonwealth near Philcoa

Woohoo!! I'm finally off the road and am now sitting pretty here at the Petron station just after the Technopark. I was really lucky to be able to have squeezed in here as I had already missed the entrance but was able to back up because the cars to my rear refused to move forward, leaving a clear path for me to enter this oasis.. (Thank you Lord! 😇)

Now I can kick off my shoes indefinitely and hang up my poor little socks up to dry. 😛 I guess the main reason why I managed to remain this cheerful in spite of everything is because I have already resigned myself to spending the night in the car. 😅

Mmm... the Goya chocolate bar is really delicious, or maybe it's just because I'm really hungry.. 😅 I'll save the other one, along with the "buchi-bread", for later. It's getting dark, and I better set up camp before nightfall.. 😐 (I wonder when I'll be able to blog all of this?...)

Waiting, Hoping, Praying..

I took the qualifying examinations for pre-residency at my hospital of choce last Saturday, and the guy from the Medical Education department told me that they would be turning over the applicants' paper to the respective departments and I would just be texted next week or the first week of October if I was scheduled for interview (which meant that I passed the exam)..

It's amazing how time flies. It seems only yesterday when I was in a similar situation while I was applying for NeuroPsych pre-residency, although I don't recall ever being worried during the entire application process. I guess this was probably due to the fact that I was scrambling for requirements and didn't have time to be worried or to think about the possibility of my application not being accepted..

Hmmm, now that I've thought about it, last year I was driven by a sense of destiny, that it was something I was really meant to do. My idealism was running at an all-time high during those days, and I felt that I could take whatever they throw at me. Well, that really wasn't far from the truth, as the workload was bearable and I was fully prepared to go the distance and finsh the entire month of every-other-day duties. However, fate had other things in mind, and when the idealism fizzled away, I found myself searching for something very different.

Well, I've had my year off, and what a wonderful year it has been. :D Maybe it's just me, but I feel like I've had a unique opportunity to see the "other side of the fence" that people don't normally get to experience when they immediately proceeed with residency. In the lingo of Psychiatry, I was able to "satisfy certain needs and desires" which I may have been repressing due to the demands of my training. Finally, I was able to let loose and live life the way wanted to (which basically consists of lazing around and going places on my own , a luxury that used to be hard to come by, while using my miniscule amount of hard-earned cash) :P I know I've already mentioned the stuff I was able to do this year in a previous post, so I won't delve into that any more.

Fast-forward one year, and here I am, hoping to be a pre-resident once again, and this time it's for keeps! But until that fateful text arrives, there's nothing left to do but wait, hope, and pray... :(

Kape't Burrito

Had dinner with the Brotherhood a while ago at Mexicali in Promenade. Although we weren't complete, it was still loads of fun. :P It' has been approximately 5 years since we last convened the brethren court, and Joel was still absent 'coz he had to fly to Europe (Rich!). Wes was just caught up in a new project he's working on, so its all good.

Although a total of 4 of us attended the meet, there were only 3 present at any given time, since Ced had to leave before the legal eagle arrived (a couple of hours late due to heavy EDSA traffic). :D

It was a blast hanging out with these guys again. Every time we get together, it's as if nothing's changed and we were all back in Grade School again, laughing like there's no tomorrow. :D

As the evening wore on, a question emerged over cups of Figaro coffee which remained unanswered at the conclusion of the session:

"What is a Kolat, and why the hell would you want to assassinate it?"

Hopefully, this mystery would be resolved at the next convention.. :P

BrainiaxMD's Onion Soup

Tried something classier this time around. :P No picture though, 'coz I forgot to buy batteries for the camera.

Ever since I tasted French Onion Soup at some Italian (huh?) resto in Rob Galleria, it got me thinking that, "hey, I could do that!". I forgot this impulse after a while, but it came back to me recently and I looked up recipes online for my little experiement.

It tasted great, but lacked the mozerrella cheese and the croutons since I was on a budget and we didn't have the luxury of an oven. Still, I guess it was ok. Not bad for an amateur chef wannabe.  :P Here is the humble recipe which I have devised after drawing from the different ideas available on the web:

4 medium-sized onions, sliced thinly
approx 2 tbsp butter
4 cups water
2 pcs Knorr beef cubes (wala akong mahanap na beef stock eh :P)
1/2 cup white wine
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Let onions fry in butter for around 5 minutes until they become soft and translucent. In a separate pot, dissolve the broth cubes in water and put in the flour while the water is not yet hot so that the flour dissolves evenly. When the onions are done, transfer them to the pot and place all the other ingredients as well. Let boil for around 15 mins under low to medium heat and voila! Fancy-ass resto-quality soup! :D

Missing my friends...

All my life, I've basically regarded myself as a loner, which was brought about by numerous circumstances that happened along the way, most of them beyond my control..

I recall being very shy and withdrawn. I had trouble socializing and shunned new acquaintances. I just kept a small circle of very close friends that I grew up with, some of whom I consider my closest friends to this very day. I never really expected to go beyond that, until I graduated from high school..

Things started to change during college. I don't know if it was the new environment, or the new bunch of people that I interacted with, but for some reason, I finally felt that I was generally welcome. The friends I made in college helped my strip away the protective wall I had surrounded myself with. I realized that not everyone was out to get me, and that the world was a fun place after all. :D

In fact, I would say that the best year of my life so far would be my MedTech Internship year, which was the year that (in my opinion) was the year I finally broke out of my shell and started learning how to "live", but that's a story for another time.. :P

Medical school was a little different, what with all the seriousness and the competitive atmosphere typical of any respectable academic institution. Despite this, I managed to forge friendships there as well, which were tempered by the fires of Clerkship and Internship.

It just dawned on me yesterday that our paths are now truly diverged, given the varied career decisions we have made. I mean, last year was a different story, when we were all planning for taking residency immediately after the boards, and most of us expected to be training alongside one another at UST. However, things don't always work out the way you planned it, and now as I stand at the beginning of a freshly-hewn path, I look back and remember with a slight tinge of sadness the friends I've left behind..

I'm sure that I will make new acquaintances and friends should I get accepted to my current hospital of choice, but nothing would be able to replace all that we have been through.

Mr. Donutting...

*txtd and saved via cellphone, then transcribed at home 

9:30am

Sitting here now at the Mr.Donut branch in Greenhills, sipping coffee while waiting for the barber shop to open, I reflected on the madness that transpired last night
.
It was the first time I witnessed such drama unfold online. It was clear that people were anxiously waiting. Status messages were flying all over on Facebook, ranging from nervous oubursts of examinees to encouraging words from upperclasmen (myself included) who've been there and done that. Then the news started trickling out.. The results will be out that night!

At that moment I knew the full list of successful examines would be out around 30 minutes later, but I was still unable to contain my excitement. This 2nd part of the wait was agonizingly slow, since it was like prolonging the inevitable..

True enough, the word was soon out that the list was already being posted bit by bit, which led to even more anxiety because the name I was looking for was near the end of the alphabet.  =P

The outpouring of love and congratulations online was really a sight to behold. Thanks to Facebook's Flash-based system, I was able to see the greetings pile up in real time. I knew the people sitting in front of their computers at home were either speechless, crying, praising God, calling family and friends, or maybe all of the above. :D

It was definitely a unique experience for such a momentous occasion for our new colleagues, and I'm glad to have been part of it. ;)

What a rush!! (Med boards Aug '09)

Whew! It was like taking the boards all over again..

Just a short while ago, the Professional Regulation Commission (finally) released the list of the names of those who passed the recently concluded Physician Licensure Examinations. While online, I see my friends who are teetering on the edge of madness, desperate for any little bit of news while at the same time dreading the unthinkable.. and since I had a vested interest in this particular examination, I was keeping vigil myself.. :P

The adrenaline rush is just something else! I felt all the anxiety and tension in the air. I was having sleepless nights again as though I was the one upon whom the verdict would be placed. I guess it's a little harder when it's someone you care about, because you feel so helpless.. As I came home from work a while ago, I couldn't focus. I had this queasy feeling in my stomach. My fingers and toes were tingling.. My heart rate shot up when I saw the initial report on the news websites. The results were out. They were ACTUALLY going to come out TONIGHT!! Since it was just an initial report, the list of the board passers was still "to follow".

The results put UST graduates in 6 places among the top 10, including nos 1-3. Overall, there was about a 71% passing rate (1680/2357), which was noticeably higher compared to the last 2 examinations: Feb 09 - 64%; Aug 08 - 60%

So, without further ado, I would like to extend my congratulations to the newly licensed physicians!!  :D

And since this is my blog, I would like to give a special shoutout to the following...

Dr. Stephanie Mae Ang

Dr. Ian Ethelbert Dy

Dr. Jillian Gonzales

Dr. Paul Michael Lee

Dr. Michelle Bernadette Lim

Dr James Rommet Luz

Dr. Liza Marie Maclang

Dr. Julie Czaryne Magbiro

Dr. Shiela Bianca Mallillin

Dr. Katrina Manibog

Dr. Audrey Martinez

Dr. Anne Mayoralgo

Dr. Jemely Metra

Dr. Pamela Mondejar

Dr. Audhild Nogaliza

Dr. Grae Omes

Dr. Marc Ostrea

Dr. Aldwin Paguila

Dr. Tanya Joy Quicho

Dr. Emmanuel Simaurio

Dr. Jamil Laurence So-Reyes

Dr. Deanna Jean Sope

Dr. Patrick Jayson Talusan

Dr. Ryan Uy (XS '00)

Dr. Vincent Patrick Uy (XS '00)

Congratulations everyone!! Good job!!

Priorities

I had another moment of clarity a while ago...

LIving life is akin to this long list of stuff that you have to arrange in order of importance. How you prioritize things directly affects the way you live your life.

People, places, opportunities, etc, all influence the way we think and decide, and the way we go about our daily lives. Though it may seem s bit grade school-ish. I've lumped together all these things under 5 very broad categories, namely:

God/Personal belief
Love
Family
Career
Self

Bear in mind that with our society today, prioritizing things isn't as simple as putting one category atop the other, since each category is an entire meshwork of choices, actions, people, etc, in itself, the priority of each individual item greatly varying from person to person.

The trick is making your "list" work for you by taking stock of what you already have and striving to make the most of it. For example, the simple working class guy may dream of living in a big mansion and driving a really fancy car someday, but if he's smart, he'll accept that those things aren't really feasible at the moment and instead should work towards simpler, more reasonable and attainable goals (like his kids' education for example), which when accomplished, may eventually pave the way to bigger things. The proper order of things in the list is crucial. Choosing to prioritize something that supposedly belongs lower on the list (like the fancy car in our example) may seriously jeopardize the simpler goals that NEED to be attained, or as some people would put is, one needs to balance his/her NEEDS and WANTS.

I've applied the same principle to my own choices (some of which I've already committed to [read Alea Jacta Est]. It makes it so much easier when you put things in perspective and be realistic about stuff, because the fires of idealism can only get you so far, and you run the risk of ignoring a lot after being blinded by your "ultimate" goal..

We'll just see what develops.. ;)

Puzzling

After lunch, I hung out for a bit in my cousin's office. She had a box of 100-piece jigsaw puzzles on the table and asked me and her bro to put one of them together. Since I wasn't really doing anything later on, I gladly obliged. The picture was of a lighthouse at dusk, with nearby trees and cottages seen in the background.

I attacked the puzzle with such gusto that it made me wonder why I was like that. I mean, I was really on a roll, fitting piece after piece effortlessly, flipping ill-fitting pieces around to find the perfect fit, while taking short breaks to regard the overall picture that was developing and comparing it to the original. In short, the puzzle didn't seem to puzzle me much. :P

I told my cousin that in soving these puzzles, one must be systematic, tackling the edges first then building the inside from there. He mentioned something about a different approach by doing things spontaneously (I can't recall what he really said), which obviously results in finishing at a slower rate.

After completing the puzzle (victory!), I reflected on the relative ease I had doing it (as compared to my cousin who seemed to be going about it a bit slower) and recalled an aptitude test I took in high school which revealed that I was good in spatial relations.. Does that mean I should've been better off as an engineer instead of a doctor? :P

Whatever the case, I (re)discovered that I had a knack for solving puzzles, and for putting stuff together to form a cohesive whole (what? :P). I may be reading too much into this, but I felt that there was a very good reason for that chance puzzle encounter.. It was as if God was trying to tell me something, but I have no idea what it is.. Could it be related to life's great choices that I have to make? Hmm... ;)

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.

Tita Cory's honor guards

I saw the sacrifice they endured, unflinching in their duty as they escorted the country's most beloved president to her final resting place. I just have to tip my hat to these guys. Their impressive performance of their duties brings honor to the nation's armed forces. They deserve some kind of recognition, so here are their names and the branches they represent:
ARMY (Green) - Pfc. Antonio Cadiente
AIR FORCE (Dark Blue w/ white pants) - Airman Second Class Gener Laguindan
NAVY (all white) -  Petty Officer 3 Edgardo Rodriguez
POLICE (Dark blue w/ blue pants) - Police Officer 1 Danilo Maalab

Although they will be receiving commendations from their mother units, I wanted to thank them for doing a good job of watching over Tita Cory. What they accomplished was no small feat. Imagine standing umoving atop a flatbed truck, totally exposed to the elements, for more than 8 hours, while the truck made its way SLOWLY through a massive throng of people.. and oh yeah, NO C.R .BREAKS!!

Gentlemen, I'm really impressed. Good job! :D

Goodbye, Tita Cory...

August 1, 2009 at 3:18am, Mrs. Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, the much-beloved former President of the Republic of the Philippines, quietly passed away after a 17 month struggle against colon cancer..

I saw the news when I flipped on the TV this morning, and although I had already been expecting it these past few days, the fact that she was actually gone moved me to tears..

I was still a little kid in kindergarden when the 1986 EDSA revolution broke out. As I gained awareness of my environment through the years, I recall often seeing this kind-looking lady clad in yellow on the newspapers or on TV. I was told that she was the "President" of the country, and people called her "Tita Cory". I also learned that she had done something really good for the country, although I had absolutely no idea what that was. Despite my ignorance, I had decided that l liked this lady since she seemed nice. :D

I guess you could say that I grew up under her motherly care, and I'm proud of this fact. Although people would argue that she didn't exactly have a good presidency, since she had a lot of crap to deal with like the endless coup attempts, the power outages, the devastating natural calamities during her term to name a few, at least I can say that I had lived under a morally upright president even just once in my lifetime. ;)

She was just a simple housewife, thrust into the limelight because of the assassination of her late husband, who was heralded as the one who would replace the ruling dictator at the time. Despite her simplicity and lack of political experience, she bravely faced the challenge and became the rallying point for a movement that changed the course of history forever..

In a way, she "reset" the Philippine government, bringing back the democratic system and it's institutions, which had been undone during the dictator's stint in power.

After her term as president, she still made her mark as a private citizen, serving as a kind of "moral standard" that Filipinos could emulate. Her soft-spoken demeanor, piety, and genuine love for the country endeared her to the populace until the very end...

Around March of last year, she was diagnosed with colon cancer. I'm assuming it was already stage 4 as she was given only 3 months to live. Chemotherapy was started, and thanks to the fervent prayers of the Filipino people, she defied the odds and survived for 17 months before losing the battle to the metastatic disease..

To many, she was not just a former president. She was an icon of morality, bravery, and simplicity. A mother who provided comfort and protection.  A kind-looking lady clad in yellow..

Power on!

Just finished watching the entire 1st season (22 episodes) of Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future, which left me badly wanting for more. Sadly, I learned that that was all there is to it, as the second season never made it to production. As such, the storyline is left pretty much hanging and unresolved to this day.. :(

Pity... This had the makings of a blockbuster sci-fi series, although I think it was a case of being too advanced for it's time. Set in a post-apocalyptic Earth where a machine empire ruled with an iron fist, Captain Power and his team fight a seemingly endless battle against the machines, all the while recruiting splintered factions of resistance fighters to their cause.

Since this was a show from my childhood, I half-expected it to be simple and straightforward, they protagonists would just keep on blasting the baddies until they get to the "foozle" (90's gaming speak for "big boss"), but apparently there's more to all the shiny armor, animated robots, and toy merchadising. What I found was a comprehensive storyline which unravelled itself bit by painful bit as the series went along. I won't discuss the story here, so as not to spoil anything for those who want to watch the series. ;)

It's such a shame that the subsequent season never materialized. Story-wise, it was going pretty well. The effects were probably the best that you could hope for in 1987, and the costumes were kinda cool. The characters themselves were surrisingly deep, and the show went on to expound on their individual histories (although a lot was still lacking).

Critics say that it didn't appeal to kids because of the mature themes, and didn't appeal to adults because of the target kiddie market (which was being enticed to buy the toys), but I think that its a very engaging series which did the best it could with what was on hand at the time.

I used to regret that I wasn't able to follow the entire show as a kid, but now I kinda regret having seen it, only to be left hanging in the end without a sense of closure... :(

I hope they would come up with a re-imagining of the series, kind of like what the Sci-Fi channel did with Battlestar Galactica, and they could probably generate enough buzz by starting things off with an "origins" movie. Now that's something I'd gladly pay to watch. ;)

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a season.. :)

Wow, that was cool.

Yesterday, the struggling UP Fighting Maroons chalked up their first win in UAAP season 72 against no less than the league-leading Ateneo Blue Eagles 75-65.

*for all the number-crunchers out there, sorry if you find any inaccurracies in the points I report. I wasn't able to watch the whole game and relied of the commentary to get my numbers right.

In an epic David-versus-Goliath struggle, the Eagles were able to grab an early lead,  leading by 16 points at the end of the first half. UP came back firing on all cylinders, grabbing a slim 5 point lead as they went into the final quarter. The Maroons were able to keep their composure and stood their ground, playing solid defensive basketball against a strong run by the Eagles led by season 71 MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini. The shots weren't falling for the Eagles as the normally steady three-point shooting of Emman Monfort, Jai Reyes, and Eric Salamat failed to connect at crucial points of the ballgame. Adding to Ateneo's woes were the highly spirited play of such UP stalwarts like the fearles Mark Lopez (who went for a breakaway layup despit the looming presence of last season's defensive player of the year Nonoy Baclao) and the hot hands of former Xavier skipper Woody Co who put up 3 cold-blooded three-pointers in the second half that sustained the winning effort of the Maroons. In a game where they were thought to be overmatched in rebounding, UP was able to get the critical boards down the stretch, denying Ateneo second-chance points and triggering fast break oppotunities.

The season has just busted wide open, with the lowest-ranked team beating what was percieved to be the best in the league. Its anyone's season now, and the games just got a bit more exciting.

Earlier, the DLSU Green Archers were able to pull off a sqeaker against the Adamson University Falcons, 64-63 (Didn't watch, but I heard they won by free throws by Maui Villanueva with 2 seconds remaining in overtime)

Here are my power rankings as of July 27, 2009 (which are not reflective of current team standings. Personal opinion lang ha? :P)

1. ADMU Blue Eagles - despite the loss against UP, Ateneo's towering lineup and depth on the bench is still a force to be reckoned with. There's just no real answer for Al-Hussaini's dominance in the paint. They also have so many options from the perimeter such as Eric Salamat, Emman Monfort, and even Jai Reyes. Nico Salva has been showing that effective mid-range jumper of his that gives ADMU a bit more versatility. Look for them to come back really strong after the loss as they take on Adamson on thursday (7/30)

Rookie watch: Typical of coach Norman Black not to use much of his rookies (unless you're as good as Ryan Buenafe, who has not been showing his usual game as of late)

2. FEU Tamaraws - Though they may not be too flashy, the Morayta-based dribblers have been playing steadily, anchored by veterans Andy Barocca, JR Cawaling, and Reil Cerventes. Aldrech Ramos is expected to take his game to a whole new level, as he's gotten bigger and stronger this season, but has yet to deliver on this promise. With four guards in the rotation, FEU will always have fresh legs for their highly effective pressing and trapping defense.

Rookie Watch: Hippo Nuondou has been a revelation for coach Glenn Capacio. He has a nice midrange jumper and passes well out of tight spots. His heft also allows him to snatch those rebounds despite being undersized compared to the other big men of the league. Ryan Roose Garcia is another rookie staring for FEU. Steady at the point, he gives Barocca a lot more fredom to move without the ball and get into scoring position. Oh, and he's got a decent shot as well. ;)

3. UST Growling Tigers - After losing Jervy Cruz and Japs Cuan to graduation, many naysayers have written off UST to fade into obscurity. But the lack of a legitimate big man dosen't seem to bother the Tigers as Dylan Ababou and Kasim Mirza have stepped up to the challenge to lead UST back to the Final Four. The UST players have really bulked up compared to last season, where they had a whole bunch of lanky long-armed wingmen who struggled at the post or while getting into position for the rebound. If UST is able to overcome to the adjustments that will inevitably be made against them in the second round, I look to them to take the number 2 or 3 spot in the Final Four.

Rookie Watch: Former Stallion captain Jeric Teng has been seeing considerable minutes for coach Pido Jarencio, putting up an average of about 10-12 PPG and giving UST yet another offensive threat from beyond the arc. "Robo-kid" just needs to work on his free-throw shooting though. :P

4. UE Red Warriors - I would have to say that UE is a bit more of the same when compared to last season. Despite the loss of James Martinez due to illnes, their nucleus of veterans is still intact with Elmer Espiritu, Paul Zamar, Paul Lee, and Parri Llagas (who seems more dominating in the paint this season). Neophyte head coach Lawrence Tiongson has made some tweaks in the game of the Warriors, but they are still the same high-octane team (only a little stronger, wiser, and better as compared to last year). I'll skip the rookie watch for this team because I don't know their rookies. :P

5. AdU Falcons - Still sporting a seemingly unremarkable lineup (except for maybe former Green Archer Michael Galinato), coach Leo Austria seems to have made headway with his team, as they seem to be playing more organized basketball this time around. With plays centered around Galinato, the Falcons have beeen able to get a lot of different good looks at the basket and made their opponents pay with their good ball movement. If Adamson stays true to form, and follows their coach's system, they may just have a shot of breaking into the #4 spot. No rookie watch here either. Sorry. :P

6. UP Fighting Maroons - Long since removed from the glory days of Ronnie Magsanoc and Benjie Paras. the state university has been through season after season of heartache and disappontment. The talent pool is just too limited for UP, however this year's lineup shows great promise, as evidenced by their shocking 10-pont victory over the highly touted Ateneo Blue Eagles. I believe that the game was no fluke, and is a foreshadowing of what this UP team can achieve. Magi Sison is showing a lot more bulk this season, while retaining the quickness at the low block which made him one of UP's scoring options last season. the undersized Mark Lopez has made his presence felt all over the court, from excellent transition defense, to fastbreak points, both against bigger opponents. Martin Reyes is always a marked man, and thus his numbers seem to have dipped considerably. He has to find a lot of other ways to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates to be more effective. Playing on his fourth year, Woody Co is slowly showing the form he once had when he led Xavier to the 2006 Tiong Lian title. Seemingly able to score from anty point on the floor, his versatility is a headache to any team's defense. Ditto on the rookie watch, as coach Aboy seemingly uses a short rotation list during games.

7. DLSU Archers - Although they are not at the bottom of the standings, the Archers seem to have been performing way under par this season. Compared to LaSalle teams of the previous years, this year's crop of veternans seems pretty weak. Led by Hyram Bagatsing, PJ Barua, Bader Malabes, and the under-performing James Mangahas (whom I expected to take over the void left by Rico Maierhoffer), I don't think DLSU will make it very far this season unless the veterans really shape up. Through the years, DLSU always seemed to be an underdog team, and that made them pretty exciting to watch. Despite the underdog label, they always had someone they could really count on to make the "miracle shots" that would bring them home. Not so with this team, which seemingly has an entire bunch of role players without anyone really taking the lead.

Rookie Watch: DLSU was able to bring blue-chip rookie Arvie Bringas into their fold, probably half-expecting him to bring a ready-made A-class game to the seniors division (like his SSC Staglets teammate Buenafe who took the UAAP by storm last season). However, things don't always turn out as planned. I think that all the hype must be getting to him. Instead of the killer look that Buenafe sported last year, Bringas looks like a deer caught in the headlights, groping for form and seriously struggling with his game. The sooner he can shake this off, the better the prognosis for LaSalle. Sure, they can very easily pull off a miraculous turn-around this season, but until that happens, at the bottom they will stay. :P

8. NU Bulldogs - Now under new management by the SM group, the Bulldogs are expected to make waves in the UAAP as the team's resources expand a great deal However, don't expect them to do anything fantastic just yet. :P Despite coach Manny Dandan's best efforts, NU still plays very disorganized basketball (Larong Kalye kung tawagin). They still have a lot of growing up to do in terms of basketball IQ. The best example I can think of is they way their point guard often looks over his shoulder back to their bench for instructions after he's just crossed the half-court line, providing a dangerous situation for a quick steal and a transition basket. Ponferada has been the cornerstone of this NU team, and can hold his own against the big men of the league.

Rookie Watch: Anjeet(?) Singh was reputed to be a sparkplug for the Bulldog offense. He isn't afraid to drive to the basket and works hard on perimeter defense. Admittedly, I am unable to give a fair assessment as I have only seen him play sparingly. 

Just when I thought I could sit around and rest...

... I just realized that today was a UAAP day!!! :P

Sigh.. there goes another entire afternoon... Hehehe

Games today:

2PM DLSU vs UP
4PM FEU vs AdU

The games aren' t as interesting as I'd like. However, the first game might pack a little more punch, as both these teams have yet to chalk up wins this season. I can't say I can favor either of the 2, with UP performing mediocre as usual (the only consistent bright spot being the spirited play of former UAAP Rookie of the Year Woody Co), while LaSalle's rookie-laden lineup suffers from the lack of steady production from the veterans who took over the vacuum left behind by Rico Maierhoffer and JV Casio

Personality Test by iPersonic

I took this personality test at ipersonic.com where I answered around 5 different questions to classify me into one of the personality types they have in store. Click the link below to see what I got. :P

Friends, sabihin niyo sa akin if accurate ba siya o hinde. :P

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy

Last Thursday after I passed my application requirements at the hospital, I skipped on over to Greenhills since I had the day to myself. Suddenly it hit me.. It was the opening day of Harry Potter 6! I went for the 12:45 showing para walang kalaban. Hehehe

The movie was all that we've grown to expect through the years from a Harry Potter movie, all the while maintaining a distinct flavor which sets each book of the series apart from the rest.

*WARNING TO THOSE WHO HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK. SPOILERS AHEAD*

Not surprisingly, this movie takes a much darker tone right from the very beginning. It also shows a bit too much of the hormonally-charged preoccupations of the main characters of the series, but then again, I think they're just being true to the text. :P

J.K. Rowling's storytelling comes alive yet again. The Vanishing cabinet is exactly the way I imagined it when I read the book. The quidditch sequences were both intense and comical (particularly Ron's), but I feel that they were too short and left me wanting for a lot more. More quidditch plz!!! :P They did a really good job on the scenes where Harry and Dumbledore went to retrieve the horcrux, although I think the "trial of Dumbledore" as I'd like to call it, was a bit watered down so as not to scare off the kids.

Special effects were still aplenty in this movie, but It was nowhere near the visual spectacle they put together in the fifth movie where you had the battle scenes in the Ministry of Magic.

I think the way they portrayed Dumbledore's death was brilliant. After he was zapped by Snape, a kind of haunting music could be heard in the background as the Death Eaters made their way out of the castle (unopposed! Was that how they left in the book? Parang hindi ata...oh well), after which they showed the entire studentry, faculty and staff standing around the body of Dumbledore and lifting their glowing wands to displel the Death Eater symbol hanging ominously above the castle grounds.

I'll give it a 4/5 because although I found it really great, it didn't give anything totally unexpected or breathtaking, and I was frustrated with the relative lack of magic.. but then again, maybe that's just me. ;)

The Jacko tribute

It has been roughly two weeks since the whole world was stunned by the news that Michael Jackson, the undisputed King of Pop, had passed away. 

I have to admit that I was never really a die-hard MJ fan. Sure, I listened to his music and found a lot of them to be really good, but I never really bothered to go out of my way to purchase any of his albums (since I didn't really spend much money on music anyway, and I became a serious audiophile only recently). Come to think of it, maybe I was a bit of a fan, but I never really admitted it. :P Riding along with all the "MJ memories" that seemed to dominate the airwaves, I decided to listen to a playlist of pure MJ tracks as a way of paying my respects, because I DID grow up listening to his stuff in the background, and couldn't imagine how music those days could have been without him.

Now that I'm older (and wiser =P), I was able to appreciate his music a whole lot more. For the first time ever, the man struck me as a musical genius! I mean, the songs just really take you away, and he's got these really crazy-ass dancing skills to boot (as seen in his MTVs). He truly was a master entertainer... :D  Its such a pity that he had an unhappy childhood. The combination of being thrust into the pressures of the limelight at such a tender age, along with the stress of having such a harsh father, is a recipe for a psychiatric disaster later on in life..

I'm no Michael Jackson expert or die-hard fan, and thus am in no position to seriously critique or praise him for what he has done for the entirety of his stellar career. All I know is that he made beautiful music that defined and inspired a generation, but continuously struggled with his inner demons which may have indirectly led to his untimely demise at the relatively young age of 50..

I put this entry down with a slight tinge of regret, as I never truly appreciated what he has done for the world of music until it was too late..

Farewell Moonwalker, you will truly be missed..

*Got the cool animated graphic above from a forum paying tribute to the King of Pop. Sorry, forgot the site..

Care for a bit of crocodylus meatus?

Interested in sampling a bit of crocodile meat? :D

Crocodile meat is now commercially available at all Nueve Cafe branches which are located inside selected Wilcon Depot stores (Alabang Zapote Road, Balintawak, Libis, Filinvest Alabang, Pasong Tamo, and Mexico Pampanga)

The meat is sold in packs of 250g each.

There's even a fancy-ass recipe printed at the back of the pack. It's low in cholesterol and said to be good for asthma DAW.. Kaya't subukan niyo na! :P

I believe they're also coming out with crocodile meat dishes to be served at the Nueve branches so you could sample how it would taste like before buying it.

Nueve sells lots more food items other than the croc meat. CLICK HERE to visit their Multiply site for menu items, location info, and more details. (although I believe the site hasn't been updated for quite some time na.. the menu items are still more or less the same, and the maps may prove helpful)

Weaning Off

I've had enough!

As the second half of the year gets going, I have resolved to put my foot down and wean myself from my addiction to Facebook. :P Looking back at the previous year, I find that quite a sizeable chunk of my time is spent online checking my mousetrap, ghost trap,  or fishing line, tending to my farm and resto, answering silly quizzes or surveys, or viewing my friends' pictures or random thoughts..

Seeing residency time draw nearer served as a wake-up call for me. It's time I removed myself from the computer where I was accomplishing absolutely NOTHING, so that I could make a good effort to hit the books and prepare myself for "the next big step". (although I won't be giving up blogging anytime soon. ;) Thanks to achi "goldengirl" for the encouraging words! Its nice to know people actuallly like reading my blog :D)

Its not impossible, but it can be done. However, the UAAP season just started... :P and that's a story for another day. Hehehe

By the way, here are the UAAP opening day scores

UST def AdU 76-75 (This was the first UAAP game of former King Stallion Jeric Teng, where he came off with 3 markers. Go USTe!)

UE def DLSU 65-41 (lowest scoring output ever by DLSU in the UAAP)

Missing C.A.T.

I remember those days in high school when I became part of the Medics in CAT. The summer before 4th year (when we had our training) is probably the most memorable summer I ever had as a student in XS.. In fact, I think that was one of the very few bright spots during my entire high school life..

Boot camp was a barrel of laughs! :P Under the command of our fellow batchmate officers, we marched around, did pushups by the hundreds, and jogged around the Greenhills shopping complex singing lewd soldier songs in while running in cadence (after which we'd commandeer the party area of the local McDonalds for a soldier's breakfast). :P We also when through a basic first aid course and learned how to assemble and disassemble rifles under the watchful eyes of our commandant. :D

I also recall those duties we had to go to like the homecoming, acquaintance party, fun run, and even the Pinaglabanan parade (where we thought we would win it but everything fell apart when we got to the grandstand.. those rifles are HEAVY!! :P) Oh yeah, I think ICA won that one :P

I miss the camaraderie and the "coolness" of being part of an "elite" unit. Although people laughed at us for being too "hardcore" in CAT, we didn't really care. We were the Medics, and together with the officers and MPs (who trained alongside us during the summer), we were having the time of our lives. :P

Daydreamin'..

I catch myself daydreaming a lot these days. It's very easy for me to just sit around and space out. :D Thoughts just flow by and range from the vevry mundane like science fiction plotlines, to very real situations like stressful scenarios encountered on a daily basis. I guess that's why I'm never at a loss with what to blog, 'coz there's always something to talk about. :D

Doctor Patient (part 2)

Went to Dr. Fred again today for my follow-up consult. I got my PNS xray result from Radiology then went to his clinic. The xray was basically unremarkable, save for congestion in the L nasal turbinates.

At least there wasn't any chronic sinusitis. I was afraid I might have to undergo an OR..

Still, healthcare is expensive.. The Xray set me back around Php 750, and I bought my meds (antihistamine and proton pump inhibitor, both OD for 1 month) for around 2K... Good thing I'm a doctor, or I'd also be paying the consultation fee as well.. Hay.. mahirap talaga magkasakit... and to think that this is just for postnasal drip and probably GERD..

Transformers - Revenge of the Fallen

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy

I was able to watch the TF2 movie at the SM Mall of Asia IMAX theatre last night, however, it was kind of a dizzying experience since we sat at the second-to-the-front row. Oh well..

This new TF movie picks up where the first one left off. The Autobots are in cooperation with the world governments in hunting and destroying Decepticon remnants around the globe. I won't delve too much into the plot so as not to spoil it for anyone. ;) So... I'll just give my own assessment on certain basic points.

Visuals - IMAX or not, the CG rendered Transformers are a sight to behold. (Although I find them a little too "dirty" with too much transformation going on as compared to the original robots of cartoon lore)

Plot - pretty sketchy at best, but I liked it as it gives additional depth to the lore of the TF universe. Too much movie time is spent following Sam (Shia LaBeouf) running around, running away from Decepticons, etc.. I liked the critical plot twists though. ;)

Audio - Soundtrack? Well, it has what anyone would have come to expect from a "realistic" scifi movie, with lots of metal in the background. But it also has master soundtrack guy Hans Zimmer aboard, and that makes it cool. Voice acting was so-so at best, except when Peter Cullen's booming voice makes itself heard whenever Prime opens his vocabulators. :P Having the Transformers speak in Cybertronian (as in the first movie) is always a cool touch.

Acting - Nothing really extraordinary. Well, Megan Fox is hot.. :P

All in all, I give it a 4/5 only out of respect for the TF franchise. (should've been a 3) I grew up watching this stuff on TV, and it was great having seen real-life movie adaptations, although I'm thankful that Michael Bay is fed up with the Transformers and dosen't want to do any more TF movies. Will someone bring back the old-school robots please?... Oh, and Devastator sucked ass.. :P

Doctor Patient

I went to Cardinal this morning on an "errand" and decided to have an ENT consult for this on- and-off cough that's been bothering me for the past 3-4 years.. :P

At first my friends thought it was Pneumonia/TB (whaaaaat?), but CXR done during Clerkship was negative.

During a slow OPD day, an ENT resident checked me out and we discovered I had postnasal drip. Was prescribed Claricort but was unable to finish the entire course 'coz of my busy sked back then.

During Internship, caught the flu/pneumonia (?) from Nats which resulted in fever and caused me to cough like crazy. Thought I had Pertussis. :P Took Co-Amox TID x 7 days with improvement of fever and malaise, but still with cough (at that time I suspected it to be allergic in nature, occuring only when I was on duty at the DR).

Interestingly, coughing was minimal for the entire duration of my review for the boards..

Lately, cough began increasing in regularity, and exacerbations were noted during gym sessions (Naks!). Afebrile. Was able to finally complete a course of Claricort but had only temporary improvement. Sputum whitish, very viscous.

Developed reflux symptoms and took Omeprazole OD x 2 weeks, with minimal improvement.

Few weeks ago, began having difficulty breathing at bedtime due to feeling of occlusion of L nostril.

Consulted Dr. F. Leh. PE revealed L septal deviation & post nasal drip. Xray of paranasal sinuses was done. To follow up on Saturday with plates.