My paternal grandmother, or Amah, as we fondly called her, passed away last August 8, 2008 at the age of 85. She died one day after her birthday, and one day before my board examinations..
Amah, I made it. I hope I made you proud.. Thank you for everything..
This one was for you...
Friday, August 22, 2008
Certified!!!
Praise God!!! :)
I now exhale a heavy sigh of relief...
I can't believe it. It's finally over.. All those sleepless nights and those endless hours spent sitting on my butt reading book after book..
Thank you Lord. You never left me at my hour of greatest need...
I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be in this situation right now. It all seems just.. surreal...
I'd like to thank everyone who supported me during this long arduous journey. And since this is my blog, I can thank whomever I want.. :P
First off, I'd like to once again thank the Lord for all the great things he has done. None of this would have been posible without Him..
Next would be my family, who put up with all the craziness I went through during the review. Thank you for supporting me and for providing what I needed to ensure a smooth review.
I'd like to thank...
My sweet inspiration. Thank you for being there always.
My seniors who encouraged me and humored my texts during those times when I was panicking. (Jep, Reg, Don, Doc Hen)
My friends who never stopped believing... (Georms, Vaw, Hannie, and my lawyer: Raveneffect :P)
My classmates who kept me sane through the pain. Especially my closest co-interns (Pat, Nats, Dan, Carla, Borj)
All the other people who were praying for our success. I thank you from the bottom of my heart..
And with that, a new chapter begins...
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Waiting..
All the anxiety is killing me.
I'm 4 days removed from the last day of the board exams. Now we hold our collective breath for the outcome which would either leave us in tears, or shove us right back into the hospital.
I've always said that I'd try to ride out the wait by being as cool as possible, but last night I guess my patience ran dry.. With all the prayers and chain messages flying around through text, I was lead to believe that this would be "the day". So, I set up camp and sifted through the internet stating 11:45 in the evening hoping to catch an early glimpse of the results when they were just freshly posted. The joke was on me. No results, nothing. But now I'm sure that it's gonna be on tonight. You can't really take too long with a multiple choice examination that can be machine-checked. =P In the back of my mind, I imagine that i was in a situation called "borderline case", and the Board members were busy deliberating my fate, which is why the exam results are taking a bit too long for comfort..
Lets just see what happens in 24 hours..
I'm 4 days removed from the last day of the board exams. Now we hold our collective breath for the outcome which would either leave us in tears, or shove us right back into the hospital.
I've always said that I'd try to ride out the wait by being as cool as possible, but last night I guess my patience ran dry.. With all the prayers and chain messages flying around through text, I was lead to believe that this would be "the day". So, I set up camp and sifted through the internet stating 11:45 in the evening hoping to catch an early glimpse of the results when they were just freshly posted. The joke was on me. No results, nothing. But now I'm sure that it's gonna be on tonight. You can't really take too long with a multiple choice examination that can be machine-checked. =P In the back of my mind, I imagine that i was in a situation called "borderline case", and the Board members were busy deliberating my fate, which is why the exam results are taking a bit too long for comfort..
Lets just see what happens in 24 hours..
Friday, June 20, 2008
Self study
Nakakaloko... Especially when you get around to thinking about it...
A year ago, I was just a nervous CGH intern starting on my first few days on the job. Everything was so alien, so unfamiliar.. The stuff you learned at med school and clerkship were of little help. This was the real thing, so much more real then clerkship, despite the fact that we were already dealing with real patients at the time.. It was such a big change for all of us because in clerkship you almost never worked alone. There was always somebody there to share the load or a senior nearby to lend a hand. Sure, we had residents during internship to refer to, but having moved up the proverbial "ladder of rank", more was expected of you and sometimes referring was an unacceptable option.
All those experiences.. the different procedures done at the wards, the different ORs I've assisted (ranging from the ridiculously simple to the absolutely fantastic), the infighting among interns, the MSA practices and the event itself, even the day-to-day interaction with the rest of the hospital staff, all left an impression upon me. This has been a good year, and it shall be remebered well..
Now here I am, reviewing for the boards, hoping to prolong the inevitable. I just hope and pray that a favorable outcome would be inevitable for me as well. =D
My seniors were dead on when they said that reviewing would be tedious and tiring, to say the least. Opportunities to procastinate abound, especially with an apparently endless amount of time.. But at least I'm finally settling into a solid study routine still relatively early on. Dr. Monty was right. You should spend the first few weeks of your review resting and generally doing all the stuff you missed during internship. You should also begin experimenting with how and where to study. Discover early on when is your most "productive" time of the day where you can soak up the most from your review sessions. He also said to shpp around for a comfortable chair, a table of the perfect height for you, and a lamp that would serve your purpose. I never got around to buying all these stuff because of space and budgetary constraints, but I have looked around the house for ideal places to study. Now that the NBA Finals are over (CELTICS RULE!!), I can safely say that I have a fine-tuned routine that should tide me over the next 1 1/2 months until the boards (man, how time flies!).
A year ago, I was just a nervous CGH intern starting on my first few days on the job. Everything was so alien, so unfamiliar.. The stuff you learned at med school and clerkship were of little help. This was the real thing, so much more real then clerkship, despite the fact that we were already dealing with real patients at the time.. It was such a big change for all of us because in clerkship you almost never worked alone. There was always somebody there to share the load or a senior nearby to lend a hand. Sure, we had residents during internship to refer to, but having moved up the proverbial "ladder of rank", more was expected of you and sometimes referring was an unacceptable option.
All those experiences.. the different procedures done at the wards, the different ORs I've assisted (ranging from the ridiculously simple to the absolutely fantastic), the infighting among interns, the MSA practices and the event itself, even the day-to-day interaction with the rest of the hospital staff, all left an impression upon me. This has been a good year, and it shall be remebered well..
Now here I am, reviewing for the boards, hoping to prolong the inevitable. I just hope and pray that a favorable outcome would be inevitable for me as well. =D
My seniors were dead on when they said that reviewing would be tedious and tiring, to say the least. Opportunities to procastinate abound, especially with an apparently endless amount of time.. But at least I'm finally settling into a solid study routine still relatively early on. Dr. Monty was right. You should spend the first few weeks of your review resting and generally doing all the stuff you missed during internship. You should also begin experimenting with how and where to study. Discover early on when is your most "productive" time of the day where you can soak up the most from your review sessions. He also said to shpp around for a comfortable chair, a table of the perfect height for you, and a lamp that would serve your purpose. I never got around to buying all these stuff because of space and budgetary constraints, but I have looked around the house for ideal places to study. Now that the NBA Finals are over (CELTICS RULE!!), I can safely say that I have a fine-tuned routine that should tide me over the next 1 1/2 months until the boards (man, how time flies!).
Saturday, May 17, 2008
The Review...
Back once again in the familiar tech-laden surroundings of the LRU, I have a sudden onrush of memories from my Med school days.. Having already been through internship, it seems like such a long time ago.. Time does fly by so fast... Perhaps a little too fast...
I'm presently surrounded by the latest batch of Clerkies.. It's funny, 'coz not too long ago, I was one of them, and at the time reviewing for the boards was probably the last thing on my mind..
Hmm.. Madami sila dito sa LRU ha.. They seem to have a lot of free time on their hands. I guess mas maluwag na ngayon sa mga clerk, given all the new hospital policies, the most famous of which is the institution of 12-hour duties. 12 hours! Do you believe that?!?! samantalag during our time, we were undermanned (our batch numbered just 270-something while we worked in a system built for 400 clerks..), underpowered, and we had to go on 24++ hours in the hospital!!! Life is so unfair...
I'm supposed to be in the review downstairs right now, but personal preferences led me to the LRU to pass the time.. ;) (don't worry, i'll be down in time for the next lecture)
I can't help but feel sorry for the curretn crop of CGH interns. Manning an understaffed hospital is no joke. We already had trouble with the load as a complete batch, what more with these newcomers with only roughly half our number? Kawawa naman sila...
But I feel more sorry for the residents we've left behind. They've treated us kindly (in almost all departments at least), and most had become our friends. Now they have to carry a much heavier load due to the lack of interns helping them get the work done. Sigh..
Life goes on..
I'm presently surrounded by the latest batch of Clerkies.. It's funny, 'coz not too long ago, I was one of them, and at the time reviewing for the boards was probably the last thing on my mind..
Hmm.. Madami sila dito sa LRU ha.. They seem to have a lot of free time on their hands. I guess mas maluwag na ngayon sa mga clerk, given all the new hospital policies, the most famous of which is the institution of 12-hour duties. 12 hours! Do you believe that?!?! samantalag during our time, we were undermanned (our batch numbered just 270-something while we worked in a system built for 400 clerks..), underpowered, and we had to go on 24++ hours in the hospital!!! Life is so unfair...
I'm supposed to be in the review downstairs right now, but personal preferences led me to the LRU to pass the time.. ;) (don't worry, i'll be down in time for the next lecture)
I can't help but feel sorry for the curretn crop of CGH interns. Manning an understaffed hospital is no joke. We already had trouble with the load as a complete batch, what more with these newcomers with only roughly half our number? Kawawa naman sila...
But I feel more sorry for the residents we've left behind. They've treated us kindly (in almost all departments at least), and most had become our friends. Now they have to carry a much heavier load due to the lack of interns helping them get the work done. Sigh..
Life goes on..
Friday, February 29, 2008
STALLION PRIDE: Official Championship Report.. =)
I had a really good feeling about this year.. Like I could smell a championship coming...
Once again, my Stallions did't disappoint... =)
XAVIER JUNIORS REGAIN TIONG LIAN TITLE
February 23rd, 2008
by Henry Liao ‘72,
Hail to the Tiong Lian champions!
Twice over.
First, it was the Xavier Aspirants who secured their sixth consecutive championship in the Aspirants Division with a two-game finals’ sweep against Chiang Kai Shek.
Friday night (Feb. 22) at the Uno gym, it was the turn of their Big Brothers, the Xavier Juniors, to turn in the trick.
The Xavier Juniors registered a masterful 101-86 victory over Chiang Kai Shek in the deciding Game 3 of the best-of-three Juniors Division finals of the 32nd Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association tournament to regain the crown they lost to the Blue Dragons a year ago.
For only the fourth time in Tiong Lian history, one school annexed the Aspirants and Juniors Division titles in the same year. Chiang Kai Shek turned in the trick in 1991 and Xavier duplicated the feat in 2003, 2006 and this year.
The Golden Stallions took the opener of the Juniors Division in dramatic fashion, posting a come-from-behind 85-83 victory that shattered CKSC’s 16-game winning streak over two seasons. In Game 2, CKSC got back at Xavier, registering an 83-77 decision in a shootout that saw the protagonists combine for 20 three-pointers (11 by CKSC).
In the winner-take-all Game 3, both teams again torched the nets from beyond the three-point arc. Xavier knocked in 11 trifectas and CKSC connected on eight threes in the highest-scoring contest of the well-played titular series.
In the end, however, it was Xavier that proved to be the tougher nut to crack.
More than their impressive overall field-goal shooting (hovering around 50 percent) and suffocating team defense, it was the Golden Stallions’ gritty and determined stance that proved to be decisive.
As Banal, who completes his high school career with his first-ever championship, admitted in a television interview following the rubber match, this game was all about ‘heart.’
And it was Banal and his teammates who exhibited the heart of a champion throughout the 40-minute showdown – and not Chiang Kai Shek, the erstwhile reigning – and now deposed - titlist.
What was a close first quarter developed into a rout by game’s end.
Both teams casually exchanged baskets in the initial period before CKSC took the lead for the final time, 16-13, on a trey by Karl Villaflor.
Jeric Teng, a junior high-schooler who was the tournament’s scoring champion with a 30.5-point clip, quickly struck back with a three of his own to equalize the count, 16-all.
Xavier was ahead 21-18 (on Banal’s trey) at the end of the first 10-minute quarter.
Though the Blue Dragons were able to tie the score three times (18-all, 21-all and 23-all) bridging the first and second quarters, they would never lead at any time thereafter.
Another trifecta from Banal gave Xavier the lead for good, 26-23.
Halftime was 47-37, with the Gold and Blue ahead after 20 minutes for the first time in the series. Tomas Santos, Game 3’s surprise package, struck for eight markers during the period, including a pair from bonus-point territory.
Coach Lito Vergara’s battle-scarred troops continued with their torrid shooting in the third quarter as heady guard Robin Tan hit a pair of threes and Teng collected nine markers, including a trey that gave Xavier its largest advantage of 23, 75-52. Likewise, a tenacious help defense limited the touches of CKSC’s man-mountain Justin Chua and mesmerized its three-point marksmen.
John Laohoo connected on a three to end the third quarter at 75-55. But for the shellshocked CKSC unit of coach Sunny Co, it was the beginning of the end of its one-year reign.
Twice when CKSC attempted to pull close in the fourth period, at 77-60 and 82-65, it was Banal who doused the fire with a three-pointer on both occasions.
CKSC could not come closer than 13 points throughout the payoff period, slicing the deficit to 93-80 with 1:37 left on a last-ditch 5-0 run by the Blue Dragons.
The Batman and Robin duo of Banal and Teng bannered Xavier’s title crusade.
Teng finished with 27 points (on 10-15 FG and 5-9 FT clips, two three-pointers) 12 rebounds and seven assists while Banal totaled 23 markers (on 9-16 FG and 1-4 FT shooting, four three-pointers), nine boards and six blocked shots.
Robin Tan also played the game of his life, collecting a career-high 19 markers, including nine from the three-point area. Santos, a HS senior like Tan and Banal, contributed 16; Ian Umali, testing the defense of Justin Chua from time to time, had eight; and Miguel Tan wound up with seven.
Chiang Kai Shek was led by the 6-5 Chua, who had 30 points (on 13-21 FG and 4-7 FT shooting), 10 rebounds and five blocks in his farewell game as a Blue Dragon.
Villaflor (three three-pointers) knocked in 17 points and longtom artist Arnold Shih (four three-pointers) and bull-strong Laohoo had 16 and 15 markers, respectively, for the losers.
Once again, my Stallions did't disappoint... =)
XAVIER JUNIORS REGAIN TIONG LIAN TITLE
February 23rd, 2008
by Henry Liao ‘72,
Hail to the Tiong Lian champions!
Twice over.
First, it was the Xavier Aspirants who secured their sixth consecutive championship in the Aspirants Division with a two-game finals’ sweep against Chiang Kai Shek.
Friday night (Feb. 22) at the Uno gym, it was the turn of their Big Brothers, the Xavier Juniors, to turn in the trick.
The Xavier Juniors registered a masterful 101-86 victory over Chiang Kai Shek in the deciding Game 3 of the best-of-three Juniors Division finals of the 32nd Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association tournament to regain the crown they lost to the Blue Dragons a year ago.
For only the fourth time in Tiong Lian history, one school annexed the Aspirants and Juniors Division titles in the same year. Chiang Kai Shek turned in the trick in 1991 and Xavier duplicated the feat in 2003, 2006 and this year.
The Golden Stallions took the opener of the Juniors Division in dramatic fashion, posting a come-from-behind 85-83 victory that shattered CKSC’s 16-game winning streak over two seasons. In Game 2, CKSC got back at Xavier, registering an 83-77 decision in a shootout that saw the protagonists combine for 20 three-pointers (11 by CKSC).
In the winner-take-all Game 3, both teams again torched the nets from beyond the three-point arc. Xavier knocked in 11 trifectas and CKSC connected on eight threes in the highest-scoring contest of the well-played titular series.
In the end, however, it was Xavier that proved to be the tougher nut to crack.
More than their impressive overall field-goal shooting (hovering around 50 percent) and suffocating team defense, it was the Golden Stallions’ gritty and determined stance that proved to be decisive.
As Banal, who completes his high school career with his first-ever championship, admitted in a television interview following the rubber match, this game was all about ‘heart.’
And it was Banal and his teammates who exhibited the heart of a champion throughout the 40-minute showdown – and not Chiang Kai Shek, the erstwhile reigning – and now deposed - titlist.
What was a close first quarter developed into a rout by game’s end.
Both teams casually exchanged baskets in the initial period before CKSC took the lead for the final time, 16-13, on a trey by Karl Villaflor.
Jeric Teng, a junior high-schooler who was the tournament’s scoring champion with a 30.5-point clip, quickly struck back with a three of his own to equalize the count, 16-all.
Xavier was ahead 21-18 (on Banal’s trey) at the end of the first 10-minute quarter.
Though the Blue Dragons were able to tie the score three times (18-all, 21-all and 23-all) bridging the first and second quarters, they would never lead at any time thereafter.
Another trifecta from Banal gave Xavier the lead for good, 26-23.
Halftime was 47-37, with the Gold and Blue ahead after 20 minutes for the first time in the series. Tomas Santos, Game 3’s surprise package, struck for eight markers during the period, including a pair from bonus-point territory.
Coach Lito Vergara’s battle-scarred troops continued with their torrid shooting in the third quarter as heady guard Robin Tan hit a pair of threes and Teng collected nine markers, including a trey that gave Xavier its largest advantage of 23, 75-52. Likewise, a tenacious help defense limited the touches of CKSC’s man-mountain Justin Chua and mesmerized its three-point marksmen.
John Laohoo connected on a three to end the third quarter at 75-55. But for the shellshocked CKSC unit of coach Sunny Co, it was the beginning of the end of its one-year reign.
Twice when CKSC attempted to pull close in the fourth period, at 77-60 and 82-65, it was Banal who doused the fire with a three-pointer on both occasions.
CKSC could not come closer than 13 points throughout the payoff period, slicing the deficit to 93-80 with 1:37 left on a last-ditch 5-0 run by the Blue Dragons.
The Batman and Robin duo of Banal and Teng bannered Xavier’s title crusade.
Teng finished with 27 points (on 10-15 FG and 5-9 FT clips, two three-pointers) 12 rebounds and seven assists while Banal totaled 23 markers (on 9-16 FG and 1-4 FT shooting, four three-pointers), nine boards and six blocked shots.
Robin Tan also played the game of his life, collecting a career-high 19 markers, including nine from the three-point area. Santos, a HS senior like Tan and Banal, contributed 16; Ian Umali, testing the defense of Justin Chua from time to time, had eight; and Miguel Tan wound up with seven.
Chiang Kai Shek was led by the 6-5 Chua, who had 30 points (on 13-21 FG and 4-7 FT shooting), 10 rebounds and five blocks in his farewell game as a Blue Dragon.
Villaflor (three three-pointers) knocked in 17 points and longtom artist Arnold Shih (four three-pointers) and bull-strong Laohoo had 16 and 15 markers, respectively, for the losers.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Post # 100: The 2007 Yearender
At present, it's 11:40pm of the last day of the year at Chinese General Hospital..
... and now it's February 23, 2008, and the Stallions just won another championship...
Oh how time flies... :P
Sayang, i was supposed to write a lengthy yearender but everyone had to go to the ER in anticipation of the flood of people with firecracker injuries that would come after the stroke oif midnight. Maybe I'll talk about that some other time... Maybe... :)
... and now it's February 23, 2008, and the Stallions just won another championship...
Oh how time flies... :P
Sayang, i was supposed to write a lengthy yearender but everyone had to go to the ER in anticipation of the flood of people with firecracker injuries that would come after the stroke oif midnight. Maybe I'll talk about that some other time... Maybe... :)
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