My Address is Earth

Stranded sa Taiwan

2017-10-09T23:17:00.000+08:00

"Kelan kayo pupunta sa Taiwan?" Tanong ni Sisil kay Yanna.

"9 days na lang " todo ang ngiti ni Yannang sumagot.

"Akkaw, 9 days baga? De halatang excited."

(Date ang tinatanong, countdown ang sagot...hahaha)

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Bakuna Schedule 2017

2017-02-17T08:21:00.003+08:00

May mga UPDATES sa Vaccines for 2017

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Sa PGH lang may Toxicologist

2017-01-30T20:35:00.000+08:00

              The phone kept on ringing on the other end , until an automated voice prompted "The number you have dialed in now unattended. Please try your call again later". I kept calling anyway. I tried five times. I was calling East Avenue Poison control , a phone number listed over the internet.

   I caught a glimpse of my patient's mother. She was distraught. Tears were continuously flowing out of her eyes and I knew she wanted to howl like a wounded dog. She was trying to be super nice to the utmost of her ability... I think she was afraid that I might just give up doing what I was doing.

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Yung Araw na Tinamaan Ako

2016-01-25T22:12:00.000+08:00

     ***WARNING***
                    This could get a little dirty.

     The previous week was really busy. The hospital was so packed with patients that we had to call to reserve rooms at the admitting section before admitting patients to the emergency room (bummer...). But by the end of the week, the toxicity died down. My patient's parents were all happy to be sent home.

     I was ,nevertheless, looking forward to a peaceful, no phone call weekend evening (yey) and , maybe, the following day, I can take the two kids for a few kilometers of swim to wear them out.(Mwahahaha...).

(Swerte mo Ate, nasa Maynila ka.)

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Trapped in Batanes

2015-07-06T18:46:00.000+08:00

We started taking pictures as soon as we landed . Our goal was to take one thousand five hundred pictures each.

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Burned Out

2015-06-10T22:05:00.003+08:00

          An adult female in her mid thirties together with two other persons came barging inside the clinic.

          Before introducing herself, she started asking multiple successive questions. She was highly confident and very authoritative. She was asking about her patient's conditions, complications, treatment and long term outcome. And more thoroughly, she was asking about hospital charges.

          When I finally had a chance to interrupt, I said, "Wait, What?!"

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Coco Plantation Resort Dipaculao

2015-06-07T19:49:00.002+08:00

Just in case you would like to check out Coco Plantation Resort in Dibutunan, Dipaculao, Aurora

The rates are at the bottom of the page

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Half Ilocano, Half Pilipino

2015-05-17T19:52:00.002+08:00

"I'm half Ilocano."

I heard my eldest say. She was telling it to her playmates. She was only 5 years old. Although, it was true that her grandmother was Ilocano, I think, she was a bit proud that she can speak a few words of Ilocano, and, she felt that she can understand a bit of Ilocano too."Wen."

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Dahilan or CAuses ng CAH - Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

2015-02-08T09:48:00.000+08:00

Sa normal na kondisyon ng katawan, ang adrenal glands ay gumagawa mga hormones. Ito ay ang cortisol, aldosterone, at androgens.

Ang main problem ng CAH ay

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CAH or Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Explained in Tagalog

2015-02-07T18:16:00.000+08:00

Ang tagal bago ko napag desisyonang isalin sa tagalog ‘neto… super hirap mag translate!

Define muna natin.

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Mag Papasko nung Nawala Ka

2014-12-21T21:04:00.000+08:00

Na announce na ng director ng hospital ang schedule ng party December 19 Miyerkules.

Malakasan na ito. Maraming imbitado, may mga papremyo, may best decoration contest na, may sing and dance contest pa, tapos, mag lelechon pa. Todo na talaga ‘to.

Sana makabunot ng electric fan man lang sa raffle.

Ang lahat ay masaya. Nagpractice na ng kanta at sayaw ang mga grupo. Mahirap maging kulelat sa contest na ito.

May mga nagdadagdag ng mga decors. Kumukutitap pati mga pasilyo, pati na ang hardin.

Festive ang dating ng araw na ito. Nakangiti ang mga tao. Ang saya talaga. Merry Christmas ang bati ng lahat ng makasalubong.

PERO...

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One of the Gods of Cardiology came to Baler

2014-11-15T00:02:00.001+08:00

"Ay really? Will he really come?"

"But wait ... who is he? Is he really important? "

"Owhhh, He's your boss from Philippine General Hospital."

"Do we need to bow down, kiss his ring, genuflect or address him as 'you majesty'? "

Our young cardiologist smiled and told us that , truly, he was a nice person. It just so happened that he was a cardiologist qualified to give lectures and speak in annual conventions. He was giving lectures in areas where doctors whom he trained were starting their clinical practices. It was meant to jump start the new cardiologist's practice in the new place. ( Not that she needed any boosting.)

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Against All Odds: Ubot Waterfalls Aurora

2014-10-27T21:56:00.001+08:00

Hiking seemed to be a good idea...It is a good idea.

The kids were really excited. They couldn't wait for Sunday to arrive.

Hmmm.... there were going to be three kids ages 11, 14 and 16 and six adults. (Well, I don't think there's a need to mention the adult's ages...hahaha)

We dropped by the Aurora Tourism Office to ask specifics about the waterfalls we wanted to go to.

And we have learned that
a. It's approximately two hours drive from Baler.
b. It's approximately 50 minute walk from the starting point.
c. We needed tour guides. And because there were nine of us, they said that we needed at least two tour guides.
d. It was preferred that we use proper hiking gear. When I asked what proper hiking gear meant, they responded that we needed to use long pants , long sleeved uppers and hiking shoes.

Did that mean I have to wear my pearls when I use my long sleeved shirt. hmmm, I wondered.

Then they quickly added that a long sleeved rash guard was best...hmmm...now we had to go shopping at some ukay-ukay place.

e. It was not advisable for kids to go.

"Hwhattt?!!! Why not?" I asked with controlled disbelief .

They thought the kids can't take the long walk especially Yanna the youngest. Well, I begged to disagree. She swam 2km training, days earlier, and then ,came home with no complaints aside from feeling hungry. I'm certain she could walk a few km...wink... and I honestly believed that it was I who would be the weakest link....hahaha.

f. They also said that it was best to go during summer time, when the river current was not rapid. (won't that be... less the adventure?)

g. They were strongly advising us to go to Ditaolag Falls a less difficult trek for an uncomplicated adventure. ( bummer...)

We're not taking that suggestion. So, we're going against the odds...hahaha. We were going to Villa. We were going to look for a guide and we really were going to that waterfalls .

We were bringing packed lunches, adobo, langgonisa and rice.

The expedition team

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Does electric fan cause pneumonia?

2014-08-29T05:56:00.000+08:00

Does electric fan cause pneumonia?

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Dear Grace

2014-08-17T10:35:00.000+08:00

Dear Grace,

It's been a long time since I wrote.

I suddenly remembered you as I stand beside the bassinette waiting for the baby to get delivered. When I peeked, I saw baby's crumpled little head in between mom's legs and I wondered what time I can go home and finish my cup of coffee.

The head nurse (that's noel) gave a light fundal pressure to help mom a bit. The baby's head nudged outward a little.

I think, I suddenly remembered you because I was waiting with boredom.

If this was you, my nerves will be tingling in anticipation. I'd be silently waiting beside the bassinette while my brain is wishfully thinking over and over that this delivery will be truly uneventful.

"Blood pressure...meds, give it slowly...fetal heart tone...push...give it... regulate... now... push... just a little more...mommy! You’re doing great...fundal... do it... push...blood pressure...fetal heart tone...do it...this is it mother! Do it Kristine." Many of my moments with you were charged with adrenaline. (I always knew why you have a lot of complicated cases , that's because patients knew too why they should see you !)

You give me a baby. I start my resuscitation. And in between medications and procedures.... I keep on thinking over and over… cry dammit, wake up dammit. (Not that I don't do that anymore, but I do it so rarely. I always get cold sweats 5 minutes into the resuscitation you know...hahaha.)

But when I make my rounds the following day, just about the time when mommy is happily breastfeeding her baby, she tells me how wonderful her obstetrician was. She usually recalls that after she fell asleep, the next moment she knew was...her beautiful baby sleeping beside her.

Fantastic.

I miss you. Don't you miss being a doctor?

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Sample Affidavit for BIR Revenue Regulation No. 4-2014

2014-05-20T08:25:00.000+08:00

Republic of the Philippines )

City/Municipality of _____________ )

AFFIDAVIT

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Anak, Don't Forget

2014-05-05T23:00:00.000+08:00

I've been having this crazy apprehensions for weeks now.

I'm sending my kids to Manila this summer.

I have this list of things I need to say just before I leave them there.

This is important.

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Philippine Pediatric Convention 2014 and the Manila International Auto Show 2014

2014-04-20T21:50:00.002+08:00

"There is no room available for you at Diamond hotel" , the med rep said and he explained some more.

His company wants to book me at Manila Hotel, but I didn't want to stay there. The food they are feeding the convention delegates are awful. The delegates get to eat breakfast in a different room where they serve double mashed scrambled eggs in a large tray, fried meat , some low end corned beef and rice. Of course, there were the usual loaves of bread, butter, juices, small pieces of cakes and cereals. ( I think the food looks a little yukky in comparison to other hotel breakfast I had before.)

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Measles Vaccine and MMR Vaccine Frequently asked questions

2014-01-09T23:04:00.000+08:00

7. You forgot your baby book in the province ,or, your usual pediatrician is away ,or, your house was ravaged by the storm and you lost the vaccination record , and you don't know what vaccines your baby has already received. Can you let your child be vaccinated?

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12 Kinds of Medical Representative

2013-11-27T20:12:00.000+08:00

The medical representatives aka the "Medreps" are pharmaceutical companies' sales professionals who earn more than some doctors I know.

Here is a list of 12 kinds of medreps:

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The PHA Adventure

2013-11-26T00:05:00.000+08:00

PHA is Philippine Hospital association.

I haven't been to this convention before. And this time, it will be held at SM SMX beside Mall of Asia.

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I'd Rather be a Fish Vendor

2013-11-16T22:36:00.000+08:00

I left mother crying beside her sick princess.

I explained everything.

I stood in front of the nurse station trying to figure out what to do next. I was reviewing my medications, I was recomputing intravenous fluid, I was considering giving volume expanders and I was contemplating whether there is something more I could do to assure them. (The situation is, the truth may not always be reassuring.)

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Being a doctor is one thing, Having a patient is another

2013-11-09T16:56:00.003+08:00

Being a doctor is one thing,
Having a patients is another.

One of my professional fees

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No Available Medicine

2013-11-02T19:07:00.000+08:00

"What???!!! No Flucounazole capsule? " I asked the nurse at the station. I swear, I remember Melanie, the OBGYN doctor just prescribed those a few weeks ago, and she mentioned that our pharmacy doesn't have the 150 mg capsules. So she prescribes 3 of 50mg capsules available in stock for her patients.

"Call them up again." They might have overlooked it. It's easier to say that the drug is not available rather than go through the list.

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Why do Children Fear Doctors

2013-11-01T02:19:00.002+08:00

I can hear a faint scream of a child coming from the hallway beyond the entrance of the hospital.

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