TheToiletThoughts

Sannga ba ang punta natin?

2016-03-31T17:06:00.000+08:00

Well I had a very lengthy discussion with a very good friend, and this time, the topic is about "heaven and hell", which, I guess is a quite heavy topic for a casual conversation.

Paniwala nya kasi, there is no heaven, hell, or purgatory, while I think otherwise. He believes that we are placed here on earth and it is here where we should make our own heaven, doing what Jesus has made while He is here on earth, and we should all strive to live a good Christian life. That way, our stay here on earth becomes heaven.

Ang argument ko naman, using the scriptures. There are numerous times where a place called "heaven", where God stays was mentioned in the bible. Kahit nga sa last part ng passion of Christ, one of the prisoners who were crucified with Jesus even asked Him to also be brought to "that place".

So to cut the long story short, well it was a very good casual talk, we did accept each other's opinions on the matter. Tama nga naman, both are valid and good arguments din naman.

As we parted ways, ~~at habang hinihintay ko yung isaw na pinapa-ihaw ko~~, there was one question which struck me the most, which also lingered on my mind for a very long time.

"So, kuya, sabihin na nating may langit at impyerno, at mapupunta tayo sa langit if we do good during our stay, and sa hell if we don't, edi parang may kapalit lang ang paggawa natin ng mabuti?"

Oo nga naman. Good point. Takot kasi tayong lahat mapunta sa impyerno where there is pain and suffering, kaya siguro tayo umiiwas sa masama at gumagawa ng mabuti.

In the end, naisip ko, yeah, we should do good and avoid doing evil to become more Christlike, rather than to avoid eternal damnation and expecting something comforting after death, like heaven.

(Yes, nakapagpost din after a very long time. Musta kayo?)

Nothing is Impossible

2015-07-29T20:20:00.001+08:00

After having a very long hiatus in writing, I decided to write a blogpost. (Lol, seriously)

Updates.... I am not a third year student, close to graduating. I have been recently elected as the student council president. I was bombarded with what the third year of medicine can offer. And I am having that periodic intermittent loss-of-hope syndrome again and again.

I feel like I want to quit this course. Again. And again. And again.

Whenever I see my friends' and classmates' posts, with them being able to go to vacation and enjoy the fruits of their labor, here I am, working my ass off, studying, and loading myself up with stresses which I could have avoided.

I wanted this. I am the one who pursued this course, and I am the one who filed by certificate of candicady. It was me who wanted to become a physician to help the needy. It was me who wanted to hone my leadership skills and serve the student body. I don't have anyone but myself to blame. Sometimes, I just wanted to give up.

But I realized, in the end, it is from whom you extract your strength from that matters. My friends, family, my team, and Jesus which, when I am really stressed and can't go on, is always present, though I sometimes fail to follow His example. Even though I am really unfair when it comes to Him, He is always there to lend me a helping hand - those bruised, bloody hands are whaticks me up when I stumble. It was those warm hands that makes my heart feel warm again.

And as I was losing hope, I consulted the scriptures, and it gave me this wonderful message:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." - Psalms 3:5 NASB

God is really great. All is well.

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.

Figure1: The "Instagram" for Medical Professionals

2015-06-15T19:52:00.000+08:00

Photo Credit: http://www.wheelessonline.com/images/bennf2.jpg

Do you recognize the image above? Or do you even have the idea of what disease is it?

That's the same for me, before I downloaded this so-called "Instagram for Medical Professionals."

Let me share a story...

It was the second year of my Doctor of Medicine degree when I came across the subject Pathology. Yeah, it came easy for the first few months, going through the basics, however, as it ran long, it became harder and harder. Lab time transformed from rest time to serious time as every slide becomes complicated. A professor is present, however, is not enough to cater all our explanations. I tried to hit the books, however, it gave me additional headaches.

I needed help.

It was then that I read an online article about the "Instagram" for medical professionals. It is called Figure1, which is built by medical professionals for the same, though it is widely open for those medical professional-wannabes as well as students.

Figure1, Photo-sharing App for Medical Professionals!

It showed me Pathology slides which I was not able to appreciate from the laboratory, as well as books. Those diseases which were not taught very well were well-explained. Even those topics concerning dentistry, which I think are important for our medical career are introduced. Rare diseases, which are not even mentioned in school are found there, shown from real patients (with confidentiality matters, of course.)

Real pathologists, internists, radiologists, medical students, nurses, medical technologists, etc., are interacting with me. It's like I am working in a hospital. It's like a meetup with people having the same "language" as me. It's like I found a new family.

I started telling friends, classmates, as well as family about Figure1, and have enjoyed the application ever since. Our knowledge about the diseases we are studying became more vast, and it really supplemented my medical studies.

It definitely is helpful.

And now, I would like to share these benefits with you, my dear readers. For medical professionals and students alike, this application can become helpful. It is available in the Android OS, as well as iOS. The application is highly safe, and is device-friendly. It does not require much resources, which is really nice.

You can download the Figure1 App here.

PS: And, if you're wondering what disease is shown in the X-ray film above, it's a case of Legg-Calves-Perthes disease, one of the rare cases available in Figure1!

So this is how life goes..

2015-05-13T00:33:00.001+08:00

You Only Live Once.

This is a statement that you might commonly hear everywhere. This cliché Has been used repeatedly that it has lost its real meaning. Well, based on my observations. Youngsters tend to do things which maybe dangerous, or overly pleasure-giving, and say YOLO! afterwards, as if what they did can really make life worth living.

Just today, I realized how fragile life is. How important it is to be cherished and to be enjoyed the right way. Let me tell you the story of Chicky (as named by my sister).

Day 1. May 9, 2015. Saturday
It was the start of the strong winds and rains Dodong has unleashed in our province. For an hour or two, torrential winds really blew up everything to our house - dust, dirt, garbage. As I was planning to go outside and meet friends, I waited for the rain to stop.

It stopped after two hours, and then left our house. As I came back, I heard it. This chick peeping, maybe asking for her mother. I saw it, still wet from the rains, in a box, with a flashlight focused on it, one foot still not working, one eye still closed. It just lay still, probably looking for its mother.

I asked my mom where they got Chicky. She said they saw it in our backyard after the rains. (Well, we do have a wall before our backyard, and it stands 6 feet. So Chicky really flew its way across - or better yet, was carried by the strong winds.)

I took Chicky in my hands, put some gentle pressure over it with both hands, to simulate a hen's way to keep her chicks warm. For a second, it stopped peeping, and felt it sleep.

Still looking for a heat source (we don't have a lamp), I tried improvising. I took our WiFi router, put some foil over it, and then put the router on a box. I placed Chicky, still immobile, over the router. It continued sleeping.

Well, I just prayed that Chicky will make it through the cold night.

Day 2, May 10, 2015, Sunday
As I went out of our room, I saw Chicky's box empty. As I rushed to the box, I heard some peeping. Chicky is on the floor! And she's able to walk and the other eye was open! I took Chicky on both hands, and thanked God for the blessing. And then, I put Chicky on her box.

We are set to go to our grandparents' house to celebrate Mother's Day. I can't bring Chicky along. The air conditioning might cause hypothermia. What I did is, I put the box below the table where it's at, took some water and cooked rice (the best I can give), and left the box open for ventilation. Took off.

Now as we arrived, I noticed that our grandparents are currently taking care of a hen! So sad we didn't bring Chicky along. I was looking for surrogates, since I really have no idea where it came from in our street.

Came home, and looking for a sign of Chicky. Yes, that peeping is still present! Again, prepared its pseudo-coop, and resigned for the night,

Day 3, May 11, 2015, Monday

Well Chicky is a strong chick. I was able to hear the peeping while still in my room. She's in her lair, unlike yesterday. Took her some food, water. And was ready for the day. My sister took her outside - saying that she needs the warmth. Took her out, then put her in shade after an hour or two of exposure. She shows promise to survive until I look for surrogates.

I tried looking for other houses which have hens, but still, negative. I really wonder where Chicky came from.

The night of Monday, Chicky has a weaker-than-normal peeping. I thought she was just tired for peeping the whole day. Hell, who wouldn't? I set up her lair again, and put her on top of the router. She moved, but the peeping is the main concern. It was weaker.

An hour later, the peeping stopped. My brother told me that Chicky stopped peeping, and was immobile. I immediately ran to her box and looked, her eyes closed, immobile, but still, breathing spontaneously. "She's sleeping.", I told myself.

I never thought it would be her last day.

Day 4, May 12, 2015, Tuesday

No peeping. No signs of Chicky. I saw her on her lair, immobile, and not breathing. I took her with my hands, and saw that she laid still, one eye open (possibly because of her position), with what I think is saliva dripping out of her beak.

Chicky has died.

Filled with sadness, I took Chicky to our backyard, our first encounter with her, dug a hole, and told Chicky that I am sorry for being a bad steward. I buried Chicky with a promise to be a better one to other animals.

LIFE may seem easy, as we can do everything with it, as well as our bodies, as we can do as we please. Little do we know that this life that we take for granted is a highly fragile one, and once the damage was made, there's no turning back. It's our choice if it will pass and be remembered, or be put into misery.

Once life is already lost, we cannot say sorry to the Lord, the only life giver, for being a bad steward for our bodies and lives. A life is a gift from God, and what we must do with it is something that will make God proud of.

Rest in peace, Chicky.

Let me get things clear...

2015-05-07T22:49:00.000+08:00

I am a Christian, under Roman Catholicism. Let me show you what we do and what I don't.

We believe in God, His son Jesus Christ, our saviour, and the Holy Spirit.

We do not worship wood, nor are we idolaters. We do worship the person being "portrayed" by the statue. We do not worship inanimate objects as portrayed by the event involving the Golden Bull. No.

We do revere Mary, the mother of God. She's not an "ordinary girl" imbued with a micro-sperm. We also revere saints, which are "role models" in our preparations for the kingdom of God.

I personally do not detract other Christian denominations - I do believe in mutual respect. I believe that as one big family, we should never let anyone down. We have the same goal, just different paths.

I am staying here in my religion not because I believe that we are superior, but this religion has provided me with different avenues to worship God.

And I belive that it is Jesus Christ which will judge us when the time comes.

I am a Christian. I am Catholic. We are all children of God, and all of us will be saved.

I am not posting this because I'm angry with what happened. Though I cannot just rest and watch while others detract me, my faith, and my church.

I rest my case.

GENERIC MEDICINES: Ano nga ba sila?

2015-02-08T02:18:00.000+08:00

Kanina, kagagaling ko lang sa palengke dito samin para bumili ng maintenance drugs ng nanay ko. Matagal na kasi syang na-diagnose ng hypertension pati diabetes, at kinailangan na talaga nyang ma-control ang presyon at blood glucose nya.

Pumunta ako sa pinakamalapit na The Generics Pharmacy at Generika, (bawal bang mag-advertise? Hehe) para dun bilhin ang mga gamot nya. Actually nagsimula yan nung magtrabaho ako sa PhilHealth, kasi nag-pledge ako na ako ang bibili ng gamot ng nanay ko, bilang contribution ko na din sa gastusin sa bahay. Nang una, branded pa binibili ng nanay ko, at sabi ko naman, try muna naming bumili ng generics, tignan namin kung parehas lang ang epekto o hindi. Sa ikinabigla namin, parehas lang ang epekto - umayos naman ang blood pressure ng nanay ko, at ang sugar, medyo tumataas, pero ayos pa din naman. Ibig sabihin, effective din naman. Nice. Tipid.

Nung BS Nursing pa ang tine-take ko, palagi nang sinasabi samin ng mga professors namin na ang mga generic drugs naman daw ay effective at safe, nagkaiba lang naman sa excipient (yung powder na nag-huhulma sa tabletas). Simula noon, nung mag-duty kami sa mga hospitals, napakalakas kong advocate ng generic medicines. Talagang pinag-pipilitan ko sa mga pasyente na bumili ng generic medicines, para maka-mura.

Pero pagdating ko sa Medicine course ko, di ko alam kung magbabago ba ang pananaw ko sa generic drugs o hindi.

(Teka, Mr. Writer.. Ano nga ba ang generic medicines?)

Bago natin sagutin yan, i-explain ko lang ng madali kung ano nga ba ang proseso ng pag-gawa ng gamot.

Kunyari, trip-trip ko lang pag-experimentuhan ang damo dito sa garden namin, kung may effect nga ba sya sa pagpatay ng bacteria. Syempre sa laboratory ko gagawin yan. Kukuha ako ng sample, patutuyuin, at gamit ang mga procedures, kukunin ko ang sabihin na nating "sabaw" nga mga dahon ng damo. Itetesting ko 'to, ipapatak ko kunyari sa isang culture (pinatubong bacteria). Ilang araw pagkatapos, iche-check ko 'to kung effective nga ba, at lo and behold! Effective nga. Namatay ang mga bacteria. Ibig sabihin, may potensyal na maging antibiotic ang damo na nakuha ko!

Yan ang tinatawag na culture. Yung mga bilog na parang polka dots,
dun nilalagay yung "sabaw" na kinuha galing sa halaman. Yung mga
bilog na parang may nakapalibot na pure red, yan ang mga epektibong
sangkap. Yung mga wala naman, walang epekto.

Next step, aalamin ko kung anong sangkap nung "sabaw" na ginamit ko ang effective laban sa bacteria. Marami yan, polyphenols, steroids, flavonoids, carotenoids, etc. At sabihin na natin na isang flavonoid ang nakuha ko. Ngayon, ipu-publish ko ang mga resultang nakuha ko sa experiments ko. Tapos, ipe-present ko kunyari sa pharmaceutical company, for example, Pfizer.

Kukunin ng Pfizer ang data ko galing sa research, at magsisimula na sila sa animal trials. Susubukan muna nila kung effective sa mga hayop (usually, Albino Rats ang ginagamit nila), kung yung dose eh masyadong nakamamatay o kaya malaki ang chance na ma-lason. Dahil dun, gagamitin nila ang data galing sa animal trials sa mga tao. Tawag dito, clinical trials. Maraming steps yan, pero di ko na papaliwanag. Kunyari effective din sa mga tao. Ayos!

Pagkatapos, ipapa-register nila ang gamot na na-develop nila sa FDA (Food and Drug Administration), pangalanan nating "Toiletthoughts" ang gamot na na-produce nila. May karapatan ang kumpanya na hindi ipaalam sa publiko ang nilalaman ng gamot ko, sa FDA lang. Bibigyan ako ng FDA ng tinatawag nating "patent", na kung saan habang effective ito, ako lang ang pwedeng gumawa ng gamot, at bawal kopyahin ang gamot ko. Usually, 20 years ang effectiveness ng patent, pero sa US at Europe, may additional na 5 years.

Ngayon, for 20 years, solong-solo ko ang kita galing sa gamot ko, syempre dahil malaki ang ginastos namin sa pag-Clinical Trials. Pero pagkatapos ng 20 years, dapat ko nang ipaalam sa lahat kung ano ang laman ng gamot. Dyan pumapasok ang generic medicines. At dahil wala na ngang monopoly sa gamot na binibigay ko, pwedeng ibaba ng ibang kumpanya ang presyo ng gamot na binebenta ko dati. Syempre, choice ko na yun kung ibababa ko din ang "branded" na gamot na binebenta ko, o pareho lang. Yung mga malalaking kumpanya, gagawa din sila ng sarili nilang version ng "branded" na gamot nila. For example, para sa gamot na paracetamol (generic), meron tayong Tempra, Biogesic, at Tylenol (branded). Pero may makikita kang kunyari, Lagnatex, Bawaslagnat, Heatloss na gamot (hinula ko lang), mga "generic" na tinatawag. Actually, branded din yan, kasi di naman paracetamol ang pinangalan, pero mas mura nga lang kumpara sa mga "branded" na binibili natin. Usually, ang mga kumpanyang gumagawa ng mga "generic", subsidized ng gubyerno, o kaya ng ibang mga organizations, para gumawa ng gamot at ibaba ang presyo nito.

Ngayon, choice na ng mga tao, kung anong bibilhin nila. Sa kasamaang palad, may mga namemeke ng mga gamot ngayon.

---------------------

Mabalik tayo sa issue. Ano nga ba ang generic medicines?

Sa explanation ko sa itaas, ang generic medicine ay isang gamot na naglalaman ng "active ingredient", na epektibo ding gamitin sa mga may karamdaman. Mas mura syang gamot kumpara sa mga branded, pero pumasa din sila sa "standards" ng FDA (o BFAD dito sa Pilipinas).

(Oh, yun naman pala. Niloloko mo ba ako? O bakit may mga branded pa ding binebenta? Bakit ang mahal?)

Sabi ko nga, may mga kumpanyang subsidized ng gobyerno o ibang organizations para gumawa sila ng mas murang gamot. Yung mga mahal na gamot ngayon, syempre may mga pangangailangan din sila, usually sa paggawa mismo ng gamot, packaging, etc. May mga kumpanyang syempre, gusto pa ding kumita kahit papano sa gamot na nadiskubre nila. Idagdag mo pa dyan yung advertising costs, delivery, (at yung iba pa).

(Ahhhh, ganun pala. O bakit branded pa din yung pine-prescribe ng doktor ko? Niloloko ba nya kami? O gusto lang din nyang kumita kasi sa kanya yung pharmacy sa harap ng hospital?)

Sabi ng prof ko, "we prescribe branded medicines, because due to the clinical trials and tests that they have made, as well as our experiences in the community, we have bias towards drugs which are branded, because they have shown us better results in treating patients. We have also tried generic medicines, yes, they are effective, but in a personal note, I prefer the branded version better."

Meron naman akong prof na nagsabing mas gusto nya ang generic medicines, dahil parehas lang din naman sila ng active ingredient. At considering the Philippines, which is a developing country, syempre, healthcare costs are still booming. That's why we need cheaper medicines.

At kung ako naman ang tatanungin, ayos lang naman kung branded or generic ang bibilhin ko. Basta kaya ng budget, bakit hindi branded? Oh kung gipit, ayos na ayos na ang generic. Sa ngayon, kahit medyo nakakaluwag na, generics pa din naman ang binibili ko. Lalo na, kung maintenance drug ang binibili. Isipin mo, yung isang gamot ng nanay ko, kung branded ang bibilhin, aabot ng 15 pesos. Pagbili ko ng generic. 1 peso lang. Ang paracetamol, kapag branded, usually 4-5 pesos ang isang piraso. Sa generics, 0.50. Same effect.

At sa kasamaang palad, may mga duktor na gumagawa nun, branded ang pineprescribe kaagad, na mali talaga. Dapat, kasama ng prescription ang generic name ng gamot, for example, paracetamol (Tempra), para may choice na bumili ang pasyente ng generic version ng gamot na yun.

(O baka naman sa sobrang mura eh, may peke kaming mabili!!)

Sa kasamaang palad, may mga namemeke ng gamot dito sa Pilipinas. Pero madali lang naman silang mapansin. In the first place, di naman siguro magbebenta ng pekeng gamot ang The Generics Pharmacy o Generica, o kahit ano mang pharmacy dito sa Pilipinas diba? At may mga nakapaskil din silang mga posters na nagsasabi kung paano malalamang peke ang gamot. Halatang halata din naman kung peke ang gamot o hindi. Moral lesson, wag bumili sa mga kahina-hinalang drugstores.

O sya, tigil muna ako sa pagka-geek. Hehe. Medyo marami pang isyu tungkol dyan, at bilang isang studyante na nangangarap maging duktor, syempre gusto ko din naman ang naka-gaganda ng kundisyon ng mga pasyente ko. Sabi ko nga, kung kaya naman ng budget, bakit di na lang mag-branded? At kung medyo nahihirapang kumuha ng pera, generics na lang tayo.

Sa TGP at Generika, kung gusto nyo akong maging model, sige message nyo lang ako. Hehe

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(O, bili muna ako ng amoxicillin na generic dyan sa kanto. May sugat kasi ako.)

Bawal pong bumili ng antibiotics sa pharmacy ng walang prescription. Hehe. At alam nyo po bang di naman effective ang pagbubudbod ng powder ng antibiotic sa sugat?

(Balita ko may nadiskubre daw kayong gamot na pwedeng panlaban sa cancer. Musta?)

Nasa publication phase na po kami, ibig sabihin magiging available na ang research namin para sa pre-clinical trials, kung sakaling may kukuha ng research namin! Hehe.

PASENSYA NA SA SOBRANG HABANG POST! Just wanted to inform everyone. Hehe

Di yan ang gamot na tinutukoy ko. Unang una, bawal yan.
Pangalawa, walang generic yan,
at talagang BAWAL YAN!

(Note that this blog is not affiliated in any way to the drugstores, companies, or drugs being mentioned.)

And 2014 is?

2015-01-01T10:41:00.000+08:00

Starting 2011, I always branded years as they come, on how they affected me, and how that year marked in my years of existence. For example, 2011 is the year of "achievements", 2012, the year of "transition", 2013, the year of "excellence", and now, I'm still puzzled of what I will call 2014.

Well, what more can I say? 2014 is a year of ups and downs - it's not a fully good one, not a bad one too. It is a year composed of several events and circumstances which have strengthened what I am today and those who shaped the "me" who is entering this incoming year.

There are a lot of things to be thankful for, for example, I was able to strengthen relationships - not only with my family, but also my friends, as well as people around me, like professors, and church people. Another is being able to maintain my scholarship and study another year, and be one step closer to my dream. One more is that I was able to do what I have planned to do for years now - read the whole Bible, and with conviction, I would like to apply what I have read in my life this incoming year. These good events also include my father successfully landing a job abroad, as well as my sister, to support our finances, and my mom being cleared of urolithiasis (a miracle) and being cured of her "trigger finger" for free. I was also able to discover a lot, not only in medicine but also in life, to include people opening up not only themselves, but also their family to me. I was able to be part of another family and feel that I am really a member. And lastly, I am thankful for my life, another life here on earth, with my family, as well as the blessings I have received this year.

Well, there are also problems which made this year which has strengthened me, which I will reserve, for now. I might not enumerate these problems, I am highly sure that they have shaped me for life, made me stronger, and made me look into life in a different perspective - that not everything is perfect, that one has to experience the bad to appreciate the good.

And yes, the new year resolutions should be present. Last year, I promised myself that I would lose weight this year. Not because I am being morbidly obese, but I thought that being slimmer would mean better self-esteem, feeling lighter and better, and what would beat the good health effects you can gain from losing weight, eh? Well, with a little support and push from my school friends, I was able to shed some, and wear clothes that I hoped I was not able to wear again. (But I think that these holidays, I just gained what I lost. Darn.)

Well today, I promise myself that I will lose (again) what I gained. Konting exercise at proper diet pa. And another resolution is, I promise that I will come to school early next year. Pramis yan. Another is, spend less. As I am nearing internship and residency, I think I should save and have money for my own that time.

Thank you Lord for 2014. I will call it, the year of "experiences". I was able to experience things which I was not able to experience before. It is the year that I had my first plane ride. First Visayas experience. First time to sing a song in front of if not a thousand, hundreds of people. My first time to join a school production and win the first prize. First time to finish the Bible... and many more. And I hope that these "firsts" will continue coming.

PS: Special mention to GMA for entertaining the countdown to 2015. Kahit medyo corny at substandard ang mga production numbers. Hehe. Joke.

The "DOC" is IN

2014-12-28T00:14:00.000+08:00

"Doc, musta?"

"Doc!"

"O yan na ing doktor tamo!" (O, ayan na ang doktor natin!)

"Ilang years na lang, doc?"

Ilan lang yan sa mga naririnig kong mga kataga galing sa mga kaibigan, kamag-anak, at mga kapit-bahay. Be it a conversation starter, isang greeting, o talagang seryosong usapan. Minsan mapapasabi na lang ako ng "ay, hindi pa naman po ako duktor", o kaya, "ayos lang po, eto studyante pa din". Pero deep inside, kahit di mo man ako tanungin, tuwang-tuwa ako, kasi this just means na kahit paunti-unti, I can see myself in the future.

Pero kahit nakakatuwa man, minsan, napaka-laking pressure yan. Minsan, may mga uncertainties akong nararamdaman, lalung-lalo na, kapag may mga mabababang grades akong nakukuha sa ibang mga exams, kapag minsan tinatamad na ako, kapag minsang nawawalan na ako ng motivation para mag-aral. Minsan kasi talaga, kahit sinong tanungin mo, napaisip na sila within the course of their study na kahit minsan, kinwestyon na nila ang sarili, kung bakit tinuloy pa nila ng Medisina, where in fact, pwede na silang magtrabaho, magpahinga, etc. Maraming nasasakripisyo, ang oras mo sa pamilya, lalo na kapag nag-do-dorm ka.

At minsan, nakikita mo na din ang mga kabatch mo na pa-abroad-abroad na lang, yung iba parang maning-mani na sa kanila ang pagpunta sa mga tourist spots dito sa 'Pinas, yung iba, nakakabili na ng sarili nilang gadgets. At ikaw, nasa tapat ng libro o handout, nagbabasa.

Minsan mapapaisip ka na lang, pano pag wala nang perang pangtustos? Tulad ko, na nabubuhay lang sa Medicine dahil sa scholarship, ay napapaisip talaga. Maaaring madali lang makakuha ng passing grade. Konting sipag lang. Kaso, sa sitwasyon namin, isang maling galaw mo lang, pwede nang ikatanggal ng scholarship, goodbye Medicine.

Di ko alam. Siguro sinulat ko lang 'to kasi talagang nararamdaman ko na ang pressure. Tulad ng mga kabarkada kong scholar din, minsan nagsasabihan na lang kami ng positive words para lumakas ang loob namin, minsan tinatawanan na lang namin bawat mababang grades, but deep inside, we feel anxious.

Pero ngayong Pasko, thankful talaga ako sa opportunity na binuksan ni Lord. Na hanggang second year, scholar pa din ako. Na palapit na ako ng palapit sa gusto kong makamtan. At sana, magtuloy-tuloy na.

At pinapanalangin ko, that there will come a day wherein legal na na "doc" talaga ang tawag nila sakin.

Please, isama nyo na din ako sa panalangin nyo. Hehe.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

PS: Di talaga ako maniningil ng mataas na PF pag naging doktor nako. Yung sakto lang talaga, pramis! Di ako magooverprice.

Mga walang kwentang analogies, atbp.

2014-10-20T07:53:00.001+08:00

Minsan, habang kumakain sa isang carinderia. Nag-order ako ng Bicol Express, nakita kong isang order na lang, pero may sobra pang konti. (Buffet style kasi)

Kuyang nagseserve: *kinukuha yung isang order, aktong ititira ang konti pa*

Ako: Kuya, bigay mo na lahat. Hehehe

KN: *hesitant*

Ako: Kuya, ang pagseserve ng pagkain, parang pag-ibig yan. Dapat binibigay mo lahat.

Lahat ng staff ng kainan, pati mga kaibigan: *tahimik, kulang na lang, cricket sound*

KN: Sir, mahirap yan. Kapag binigay mo na lahat, wala nang matitira sa'yo. Pero sige, ibibigay ko na lahat.

Ako: Kuya, kahit ibigay mo naman lahat, sa huli, kahit konti lang, may babalik at babalik sa'yo. *abot bayad*

OK, isa na naman pong walang kwentang analogy.

Stay, or Go Away?

2014-10-04T18:52:00.000+08:00

Kanina, kausap ko ng masinsinan ang kasama kong Christian galing sa ibang denomination when it comes to faith and Christianity. Tinanong ko sya ng isang tanong na matagal ko nang gustong tanungin, isang tanong na bumubulabog sa sarili ko bilang isang Kristiyano.

"Kung hindi ko na nararamdamang lumalalim ang paniniwala ko sa denomination ko ngayon, anong advice mo, lumipat ako ng ibang denomination, o mag-stay na lang akong ganito?"

Nabigla ako sa sagot nya, actually, hindi ko inaasahang ganun ang isasagot nya sa tanong ko. Expect ko na sabihin nyang tumiwalag na ako sa denomination ko ngayon, at lumipat na sa kanila. Kung ibang denomination siguro sya galing, ibang sagot siguro ang matatanggap ko sa kanya.

Sa totoo lang, lumalim ang paniniwala ko nang makasama ko sya - I've learned how to say grace regularly, naenganyo akong magbasa ng bible, na-hikayat akong magtanong sa kanya kapag may hindi ako maintindihan sa binabasa ko, andyan ang tatay nyang pastor kapag di nya mismo masagot, at talagang nararamdaman kong lumalim ang paniniwala ko nowadays - a thing that I am currently not experiencing (or somewhat unfelt, or lacking) in the place I am currently in. Naenganyo din akong gamitin ang talents ko in service of the Lord. I can say that I was brought closer (really closer) to God.

Hindi ko alam. I'm not bashing the denomination I am currently in - it has given me the best foundation that I needed para maging isang responsableng Christian, in this church I am in, God was brought to me, bata pa lang ako. I was taught how to pray, and how to do good.

But with the church that he has shared with me and my friends, I knew I felt deeper faith, at mabilisan lang yun, in one year. Take note.

Ang sagot nya? Simple.

"Ganito yan, wag kang lumipat. Kung alam mong hindi na nagde-deepen ang faith mo, na nagiging stagnant na ang paniniwala mo at ng mga churchmates mo, gagawin kang instrument ni Lord para ma-deepen ang faith mo at ng mga kasama mo sa church. Wag kang lilipat - yun ang pinaka-maling bagay na gagawin mo. Wag na wag mong iiwan ang ministry mo. Ikaw na mismo ang magsimula ng pagbabago."

I was struck. Di ko alam ang isasagot. Expect ko kasi, palilipatin nya ako. Kasi nga naman hindi na lumalalim. Pero hindi. His understanding is far deeper than mine - at nakakahiya kasi napaka-immature ng iniisip kong sasabihin nya. At naaalala ko pang palagi nyang sinasabing I should have my own ministry sa church, kasi, kung magiging passive lang ako at makikinig sa sermon every Sunday, walang patutunguhan ang ginagawa ko. At ang constant reminders to read the bible and if given the chance, share it with others is a really nice deed. Iba talaga tong taong 'to. Idol. God needs more of these types of persons.

Sa bagay, ang "church" nga naman kasi ay hindi isang structure. Isang gathering 'to ng mga tao. Kahit dalawa lang kayo, church na yun, lalo na kapag may sarili kayong hangarin at paniniwala. Sa ngayon, my group of friends, we're a church. May pamilya din naman ako. That's another.

PS: Alam mong hindi ka din naman nagbabasa ng blog, di ka din naman kasi mahilig. Pero isa lang ang masasabi ko - idol na idol na kita! Saludo! Ay, tutu man!

The "Elegant" that GILAS PILIPINAS is now

2014-09-04T23:36:00.003+08:00

We are never the "giants" in world basketball. We entered the arena being belittled, and inasmuch as we have the heart to play and win this basketball tournament, when it comes to physicality, we are highly outmatched. Iilan na nga lang matangkad sa team natin, yung isa, "naturalized" pa.

But hey, we soared high this time!

I am not a devout fan of basketball. I am just a silent watcher (viewer, whatever you may call it) and whenever our national team plays in a game (either local or international), I am just there to watch and support them, even if I'm just in front of the boob tube. However, this arrival of the Philippines to the world stage has set my liking to the sport to the next level. It made me realize better the "coolness" of the sport. Naks, pang-FIBA na talaga tayo! and this time, even though we aren't able to get to the finals or just to the next round, I became more proud of being a Filipino, for these guys definitely brought home the bacon.

We may have lacked the skills to face these giants blocking our way to championship. We may have lesser resources to train on. We may not have the tallest people on the team. Let's admit it, the team, as they played against different countries, looked like they are just a bunch of children playing with professional ballers - for they got the height and the proper training to venture in this tournament.

But these "tiny players" got something to show. Walang malaking nakakapuwing. There's definitely a "David" for every "Goliath". We may be insufficient to be in that stage, but looking at the team's performance - 3/5 games we have lost by just 3-4-point difference, 1/5 lost with just a 12-point difference, and the last battle we had to face, we have won, with a 3-point lead - it definitely shows that we can make it, and next time, we can do better.

Whenever a team loses a battle, sadness and depression definitely sets in. Not only to the players, but also to their supporters. However, my friends and I have felt the opposite - there may be regret at some point, but through what they have shown, the team has got the highest respect that we can offer. Even my friend has said that "Kahit di tayo umabot sa Top 16, pero kapag umuwi ang mga yan, at may Heroes' Welcome sila, pupunta ako." ("Even though we didn't make it to the Top 16, but if the team went home and is given a Heroes' Welcome, I would definitely go.")

From what we call "The Curse of Korea", the team has really flourished like a tiny sampaguita - soft, pure, and fragile - but when it blooms, it gives out a fragrance that no one can't mimic. We have turned from the "cursed" to the "breaker" of curses, from a small, belittled team to a big and respected one. We definitely have soared from the "broken-winged" bird we have become for 40 years now. They have definitely shown "Gilas" (elegance), in which the team is named after.

I can't really express how I admire and how hand-down I am for these people. With our "PUSO", we have conquered every obstacles that have come our way. You guys just made me, no, the Philippines proud. Ayos lang kahit di tayo pumasok sa Top 16. Even I, if given a chance, would definitely prepare a welcome for you.

...and this event (might) open the government's eyes that we definitely can go to the world stage when it comes to sports. We have the right people and the "heart" - we just need the proper support and a little "push" - and we can dominate in every aspect we work on.

Saludo ako sa inyo, Gilas! Pati na rin sa'yo Coach Chot!

(Photo taken from Gilas Pilipinas Basketball Fanpage)

#LabanPilipinas #PUSO #ParaSaBayan

PS: Tignan nyo, may humihirit pa, Wildcard daw for Top 16. Naks naman!

CEBU, here I come!

2014-08-10T13:41:00.001+08:00

It's been a while since I've posted here in my blog, well hello, blogosphere! Yes, I admit, I was too ~~lazy~~ busy to post here in my blog, nowadays, there are a lot to do in school. Anyway, let's reserve that chit-chat for next time.

To make it short and simple, I would like to talk about the research paper we have created a year ago. It came to different places, and it took me to places which I haven't been into. It took me to Baguio, and the research, upon qualifying in a national research competition, will be taking me to Cebu. Yes, tomorrow, I will board the plane (again, another first time) going to Cebu.

Actually, I don't know what to expect. Many say that Cebu is just a regular place to be, especially that I have lived in an urbanized area for a very long time. Most of the people talking about Cebu say that it's just the same as the metro, with lots of trash and pollution. My friends say it's somewhat a lair of prostitution and drugs.

Setting those preconceptions aside, I really should think positively - it's the first time I will to to Visayas, and first time to ride a plane. Some of my friends are even envious of me - saying that they didn't have a chance to ride a plane yet. I can also ride the taxi for the first time. I can go to beaches and other scenery present in the city. Together with my friends and our professor, we should explore the place and make the most out of it.

Let me talk about a very good song I've listened to. I fell in love in this song the first time I've heard it. This song is entitled "Best Day of My Life by American Authors." It gives me a lot of positivity and energy to move on, even though we're swallowed by stress and anxiety. It reminds me that every day that God gives will be the best days of our lives. Here, take a piece of it.

Well, do you have some tips while riding an airplane? Moreover, if you have something to tell about Cebu, and what is to expect, please tell me below. It would be pretty much appreciated.

Thanks! I'll update you about the details!

Speed Typing!

2014-05-24T17:53:00.000+08:00

Maraming tao na ang nakakapansin, lalong lalo na sa mga kaibigan ko. Mabilis akong mag-type.

Siguro skill na lang ito na nadedevelop over time, yung skill na memorize mo halos ang buong keyboard, at dahil dun, medyo napapabilis ang pag-input mo ng information sa computer mo. At habang sinusulat ko ang article na ito dito sa blog, pinapansin ko ang bilis ng aking pag-type, kaya ang dami kong mali. Hehe. Siguro, yun na ang tinatawag na Hawthorne effect, yung panahon na nagkakamali ka kapag may nakakapansin, pero kapag ikaw lang mag-isa, nagagawa mo sya ng perpekto.

Siguro wala lang akong maisip na isulat sa panahong 'to kaya sumulat ako tungkol sa speed typing. ~~(Dahil sabaw na sabaw ako sa ngayon).~~ Nagsimula ang practice ko nung tumungtong ako ng Grade 4 ng grade school. Unang beses kong humawak ng computer, dahil dati, typewriter pa ang ginagamit namin para sa mga project. Sa una, mahirap kabisaduhin ang mga letra ng keyboard. Maraming "qwertyuiop, asdfghjkl, at zxcvbnm" din ang kinailangan kong imemorize para talaga makuha ko. Ang mga exam namin nun, pati kung anong mga daliri ang dapat pumindot sa mga letra ay kailangan naming i-memorize.

At alam mo ba, kung bakit ang letrang F at J sa keyboard ay may mga "notches"? Ang mga ito ay ginagamit bilang palatandaan kung saan dapat ang mga daliri. Siguro for ease of access para sa mga kaibigan nating disabled, lalong lalo na ang mga bulag.

Mabuti pa ang typing, pwedeng hasain. At kapag nagkamali ka, pwede mong burahin in an instant. Pero kapag sa tunay na buhay, minsang nagkamali ka, mahirap nang burahin. Pwedeng i-improve ang pagkakamali, pero nasa isipan mo na yun hanggang mamatay ka. Mananatili yun sa utak ng mga taong naka-saksi, kahit na ikaw mismo iniiwasan mo nang mangyari ito ulit. At ang typing, kapag nai-hasa mo na ang skill na ito, ay talagang bibilis at bibilis ka. May shortcut ka na, kung baga. Pero ang buhay, walang shortcut.

Ikaw, nakakapag-speed typing ka na din ba? Habang may ginagawa kang report, blog post, letter, o kaya type mo lang talagang mag-type, napapansin mo na bang bumibilis ka na din?

Heto na naman ang isang "sabaw" post na naisulat ko dito. Di naman sa obligatory ang post na ito, pero inspired lang talaga akong sumulat ngayon, pero hindi ko alam kung ano ang isusulat. Naramdaman mo na din siguro yun. Hehe. Pag-upo ko, dahil na din siguro sa init ng panahon, nawala bigla ang napakaraming thoughts na nasa loob ng utak ko. Pagbigyan na.

'til next time!

Ang Pilipino at ang "Freedom of Speech"

2014-04-29T12:41:00.000+08:00

Kahapon, habang nanonood ako ng balita, ipinakita ang iba't-ibang reaksyon ng mga Pilipino ukol sa state visit ni US President Barack Obama sa Pilipinas, at ang paglalagda ng isang agreement na napapatungkol sa "military presence" ng Estados Unidos sa ating bansa. Bawat Pilipino'y may kanya-kanyang opinyon - may mga sang-ayon sa ideyang ito, at meron din namang mga hindi sang-ayon. At dahil sa ating "Freedom of Speech", malaya nating naipapahayag ang ating mga opinyon at saloobin.

Pagkatapos ng Martial Law, malaya na nating na-e-exercise ang "freedom" na ito. Wala nang manghuhuli sa atin, kung sakaling ipapahayag natin ang ating mga opinyon. Malaya na tayong makaka-tuligsa o sumang-ayon sa bawat galaw ng gobyerno. Malaya.

Kalayaan. Freedom. Napakagandang salita. Ngunit mahirap pangatawanan.

Naituro sa amin sa eskwelahan ang paksang "freedom". Ito ay estado na kung saan nagagawa ng isang tao ang mga gusto niyang gawin. Ang gawin ang isang bagay ng walang pumipigil, at walang pag-aalinlangan, ngunit may kapalit - sa bawat kalayaan na naibibigay satin, dapat, may responsibilidad. Kasi, kapag nagamit mo ang kalayaan mo para masira na ang kalayaan ng ibang tao, hindi na iyon maituturing na kalayaan.

Ipinakita sa telebisyon kahapon ang iba't-ibang kilos protesta na isinagawa ng iba nating kababayan bilang pagtuligsa sa Visiting Forces Agreement at ang state visit. May mga nag-welga sa daan, kumain ng itlog bilang tanda ng kanilang "maralitang hapunan" na pinaniniwalaan nilang "tunay na estado ng Pilipinas sa ngayon". Umulan, ngunit hindi pa din napigilan ang kanilang pagpapahayag ng kanilang saloobin. Kung sa persistence lang, napakagandang hakbang nito upang ipaglaban ang sariling opinyon ng may kaakibat na responsibilidad.

Sa General Santos City, isang grupo naman ng kabataan ang pumunta sa isang satellite branch ng Department of Foreign Affairs sa isang mall. Kung tutuusin, kalayaan din naman ito upang ipahayag ang kanilang opinyon. Ngunit iilang sandali lamang, lumapit na ang grupo ng mga kabataan, pinagtatanggal ang mga posts na naka-ayos sa branch, sumugod sa lugar kung saan naghihintay ang mga kababayang namamag-asang makakuha ng passport, pinag-susugod ang mga gwardya at kinauukulan, at ginulo ang mga upuan na dapat sana'y ginagamit ng mga customer nito. Sa madaling salita, isang kaguluhan ang nangyari sa kung tutuusin dapat ay isang tahimik at payapang pag-proseso ng iba sa kanilang mga dokumento.

Palagay mo, "freedom of speech" pa din ba ito?

May bugbugan, may alitan, may away dito at doon, at nang may magtangkang kumuha ng litrato ng insidente, isang raliyista ang sumugod, kinuha ang cellphone na ginamit at akmang sisirain ito. Natigil lang ang gulo nang may isang raliyistang masugatan at naging duguan.

Don't get me wrong. Ayos lang din naman sa akin kung may mga raliyista at tumutuligsa sa isang bagay na sinasang-ayunan ko. Dahil sa kanila, may mga pagsasaayos na nagagawa sa mga batas at mga alituntunin na ipinapatupad ng gobyerno. At dahil dun, nasasaayos ang ating bansa. Win-win situation, diba? Pero kung isinasaalang-alang naman natin ang kaayusan, ang kalayaan ng ibang tao, at ang kaligtasan ng lahat, palagay ko'y dapat magkaroon pa din ng masinsinang pagiisip at pag-aalinlangan kung dapat bang gawin ang isang hakbang. Maraming paraan upang maisagawa ang mga bagay na ito, at marami din namang options na ligtas para sa lahat, at nasisiguradong walang naaabalang tao. Sundin ang mga batas at alituntunin na ibinigay kapalit ng kalayaang gawin ang gustong gawin. I-consider ang mga benefits at risks na maaaring mangyari. Gawin ito sa mapayapang paraan.

Batid ko ding mukhang bingi-bingihan minsan ang ating gobyerno tungkol sa mga opinyon at kuro-kuro ng mamamayan. Minsan, ang mga rally at mga petisyon ng mga Pilipino ay naibabaon na lang sa limot. Pero hindi ito masosolusyunan sa marahas na paraan. Sa maayos at masinsinang pakikipag-talastasan, at least, may pag-asa pa din naman. Gumawa ng online petition. Gumawa ng ingay sa social media.At kung titignan mo, ang mga isyu na naipapalabas sa media ay ang mga isyung tinututukan ng gobyerno. Dahil yan ang abot-kaya at ang ginagamit ng kabataan at ng mga mamamayan ngayon, (tulad ng ginawa ni Barack Obama sa kanyang campaign) siguradong may pag-asa pa din para mapakinggan ang ating boses.

Mabuhay ang bansang Pilipinas!

Is this GEEK talk getting overboard?

2014-04-20T19:07:00.001+08:00

It was a plain Friday night when my friends just invited me to crash on a friend's house, buy some snacks, and just talk to each other and update each other on whatever happened to our lives these past few months.

Yeah, it's the usual meet-up - us munching on food, and others already talking about their cool experiences. One opened up about his new found love, the other, about breakup. Advice has flown from a party to another. One talked about getting a movie, and then sharing it with others, and even planned for a movie marathon. And yeah, yours truly, has thought about how this person will get his movie, and yeah, I talked about torrenting, and explained its concepts, benefits, and risks. Truly something about my life.

"Torrenting is just simple. You take a piece of paper, then transfer it to others piece-by-piece. When your internet connection stops, the "paper distribution" just stops, but when it's on again, you just continue. Unlike regular download, you can resume on your stop point, until you finish. When you finish, you do the paper sharing with others, together with the one who shared it with you."

This is statement I gave to my friends, and they were absolutely stunned - I don't know if I spoke with words they can't digest yet (they're not that tech-savvies), or because I did that "geek talk" again, with no relation whatsoever to what we're talking about. After that long pause, I asked them, "am I that geeky?" Others said "no", but others kept silent.

Then another friend continues the "personal experiences" talk.

I asked myself, am I too geeky? I remember some who told me that I tend to over-expound things, however, they also said that it's better to explain it further than leave it under-explained.

There was one occurrence when a friend asked about what a neurosurgeon (my dream specialization) does. I told him about the usual, performing craniotomy, and other surgeries that involve the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. But I didn't stop there - I talked about craniotomy, how it is done, why it is done, etc. Moreover, I also talked about diseases that may lead to doing craniotomy, using terms that are not that misleading, as much as possible.

I also remember talking about the Stonehenge, and the Great Pyramids of Giza, and their histories, involving the alien-conspiracy theories evolving about these structures, as well as the recent news about these structures while we are talking about a song entitled "Stonehenge".

I don't know. I can't compare myself to the knowledgeable "Kuya Kim Atienza" of the Philippines, but I surely idolize him. I know I tend to over-explain things to people, and talk about additional information wherein they don't even ask for it. Being that way, I think may have its benefits and risks in my chosen career. I may explain a disease condition further to a patient, explain the treatment regimen that I have chosen, what the risks and benefits of performing something, and what to expect. Patients love that. However, there are also risks involved, which may include a patient being bombarded with so much information that it just gets complicated.

I really don't know. I think that this quality is already a part of who I am, with that underlying "researcher" inside me, I think that this "geek talk" will stay that way, and I hope to harness its benefits in the future.

Anyway, Happy Easter, everyone.

Medicine Gone Wrong: Who is to Blame?

2014-04-04T23:19:00.001+08:00

The news is spreading - a young woman diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma (a type of cancer involving the lymphatic tissues) succumbs to the said disease. A loss of not only a family, but a loss of mankind. An achiever (cum laude), she could've been the next best news anchor, or one of the most famous writers the world has had. However, due to medicine gone wrong, we just lost that star. And that star, is Kate Tan.

Practice of medicine is a very complex process - you go to school for 5 years to prepare yourself to the practice, pass the board examinations, go to residency, attend additional continuing education to specialize, and go to seminars to continually update yourself with the latest innovations. In order to provide safe care to patients, you have to take all these steps. It's not an overnight course, you can't learn it with a shortcut.

And because of that, some wanted the "easy way" - pretending to be one. And yeah, they are ready to kill.

Kate was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma on 2009, still on her Communications course. Young, she was already subject to a huge challenge, but she battled it out. As a treatment for the said disease, she was put under chemotherapy.

"Patients with localized Hodgkin's disease are cured >90% of the time... Increasingly, patients with all stages of Hodgkin's disease are treated initially with chemotherapy.*"

She was declared cancer-free in 2011 and continued her studies. Unfortunately, in 2012, Kate and her family were informed that the cancer is back. Desperate for treatment, her case was presented to a "doctor" named Antonia Park, who owns a wellness center in the country. The "doctor" took in the case, and subjected her to stem cell therapy, which is a treatment regimen currently still under study in treating the said disease. Moreover, this Antonia Park claims that the former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been under her care, in addition to one public figure. Reports say that she also claims that she has treated one of her children who has lupus. Story-wise, you would think that you just hit the jackpot in consulting this "doctor." "Doctor", because Antonia Park is not licensed to practice Medicine here in the Philippines.

She was told not to take any "Western" medicine. No drugs, no radiotherapy, whatsoever. She was subjected to a fruit-and-vegetable diet. A management done one time, another next time. Like a lab rat, Kate was deprived of of an "established treatment regimen", while she was subjected to a treatment still in debate.

Kate Tan graduated with honors, with a degree in Communications, on the year 2013. She died months later. Western medicine tried to treat her once more, but she was unable to make it. A star fell down the sky.

With this, I ask you, my dear readers, who is to blame?

Is it the "doctor" who took care of Kate Tan, who claims she has treated others using the method that she does? It's for you to judge. In the end, why was a non-licensed doctor able to practice medicine here in the Philippines undetected? Why does "quackery" still exist here in the Philippines, and how come these "quacks" are not discovered earlier than expected?

How many innocent lives do we need to lose to eradicate this kind of faulty practice?

Kate, this is for you, and also to the cancer warriors out there.

(* Longo, et al., Harrison's Internal Medicine, 18th Edition)

Is it your first?

2014-03-24T09:40:00.000+08:00

Final exams have just ended, and being able to answer the 110th item in that exam means that I am finally free from all the school works, and finally, a vacation after about what, 10 months?

Either I admit it or not, those past ten months, my body has been full of epinephrine, as well as cortisol. Stress hormones. Every day, I have to do something productive, and even though I don't have something to do the next day, my mind would still look for something to do, and even invoke my conscience that I should do something so my workload will somewhat lighten.

Yes, medicine is quite challenging. Before I entered medicine, I thought to myself, this is just an easy course. It's like nursing wherein I will study for an hour or two, sleep, then eat, then prepare for school and still, ace the exams. Have a relaxing day or two, then study just the night before, then take the exams again. But now, everyone has to read a handout twice, or thrice, just to get the answers right. Moreover, some professors would somewhat "add a twist" by getting questions from other books which are not prescribed or somewhat not read.

But still, I'm proud I survived this year, and I'm proud that I entered medicine. Not only because I don't have a stable job (so this is somewhat a form of escape, haha), but also, because this is my childhood dream, and while working as a nurse, I just felt the feeling that I can do something better. I have always thought I can diagnose and treat patients, conduct medical missions and such, and perform surgeries that only a trained physician can do. Right now, I am an MD. "Medyo Duktor".

This is a year of firsts. My first to have this big a peer group, who will support me in everything I do. It is also the first time that I have a symbiotic relationship with a group of people, wherein we carry ourselves, not racing to go to the top spot. I learned to give more than I give myself, I learned how to be patient with people, and I learned how to deal with others more. Someone who can appreciate the talents that I have long hidden.

It's my first to play the piano. Actually, it's my childhood dream to play the instrument. I remember that before, I used to bug my parents about getting a keyboard, but unfortunately, my wish was never granted. It's understandable - who will teach me if ever I got one? And now, this friend (who is really great with the instrument), saw my desire to play the piano, and even though it seems really late to play such, still tried to teach me the basics, the chords, scales, etc. Now, I'm getting the hang of it.

It's my first time to, for three consecutive months, have a somewhat "fitness routine". Jogging, then diet control. If not of these friends who continually encouraged me to run (even though at first, my endurance was really poor), to control what I eat, I think I won't be motivated to have a more active lifestyle, and somewhat lose weight. Guess what? Before this school year ended, I lost some! And this summer, I plan on getting regular runs, and hopefully, next school year, I would show up more fit than before.

It's my first time to drink alcohol that much. Yes.

It's my first time to enjoy schooling and life at the same time. To sum it up, it's stressful, but it's worth it. With the proper people to join me in this journey, I think that having myself in this challenging condition would be a joyride.

May gamot na nga ba tayo sa Cancer?

2014-03-03T20:54:00.001+08:00

Cancer. Yan ang pinaka-buod ng thesis naming pinrisinta kamakailan lamang. Kung ang pinili ba naming halaman ay may kapasidad na makapag-pigil ng pagdami ng cancer cells. Kung pwede ba nyang pigilan ang pag-buo ng ugat ng isang tumor para wala silang makuhang sustansya mula sa dugo, at kung pwedeng parang sakalin na lang namin sila para walang makarating na oxygen. At ang resulta? Pwede. May anti-cancer effect nga ang halaman namin. Nice one.

Ang cancer ay pwedeng maihantulad sa mga masasamang elementong inaangkin natin. Selos, inggit, sakit ng loob, takot, galit, at iba pa. At parang mga cancer cells, nagpaparami sila at kumakalat, hanggang sa gustuhin na nyang magpakarami ng sobra at lamunin na lang ang buong pagkatao ng isang indibidwal. Kung hinayaan na lang nating manatili sa katawan ang mga ito, maaaring ikamatay ito ng mga relasyon natin sa iba, o kahit man lang sa sarili natin, at naglaon, sisirain nito ang sarili nating buhay.

Habang nasa Stage I pa lang ang "kanser" na yan, dapat agresibo na tayo sa paggamot sa mga "ligaw na bahagi" ng ating katawan. Kung hindi man pwedeng tanggalin, maganda na ang pinapahupa natin sila. Posibleng bumalik, pero tulad ng iba, kung malakas lang ang loob natin, at may tiwala sa Diyos, posibleng hindi na.

At ang tanging oncologist (cancer doctor) nating 24/7 available for treatment ay si Lord. Marami syang treatment regimen, kung paano nya aatakihin ang cancer na ito na nasa kaloob-looban ng ating mga puso. Kahit alas-tres man yan ng madaling araw, pwde mo syang tawagan, at viola, alam na nya agad kung anong kailangang gawin. At higit sa lahat, TAX FREE!

Darating ang panahon na balang araw, pagka-"chemotherapy" mo sa mga kanser na 'to, bigla sila ulit susulpot, at at least, alam mo na kung anong gagawin. Alam mo na kung sino ang tatawagan, at kung anong mga gamot ang pwede gumawa nito. O ano, sabay-sabay na tayong magpakonsulta. At least, malay natin, mapipigilan na natin ang "cancer" na nagbabalak na naman bumalik.

…Back sa aming study. Hindi man kami ang nanalo ng first place ng patimpalak ng mga researchers, maraming compliments ang lumabas, at may mga nakatagpo kaming mga parents, professors, at students na bagkus hindi namin kilala ay parang napaka-proud sa aming study. At higit sa lahat, may nag-offer saming isang research enthusiast ng funding para mai-publish internationally ang student research namin. Talk about blessings! Praise God! Mas mukha pa kaming nanalo! (Pagbigyan, masyado lang akong proud sa study namin! Hehe)

Hanggang sa muli!

God said, "Let there be light: and there was light."

2014-01-11T15:12:00.000+08:00

In the beginning, God created the heaven and earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

- Genesis 1: 1-4 (KJV)

Imagine life without electricity. Not being able to use your computer or cellular phones for communication. No television to be updated with the latest news. No radio for simple entertainment. If you're a person like me who depends on electricity in order to function properly, then, you might just think, "I won't live."

Now, let's just make it simpler. Imagine a life being in constant darkness, always depending on the sun for illumination, and still, without means to lighten up our own homes during the day. Imagine taking a bath in constant darkness, preparing for work without being able to see yourself in the mirror, studying in a room wherein you can't even read your books, cleaning your house wherein you can't even see where the dirt is, or even cooking your food with no clue where you put your calderos or even your ingredients on.

It's simple, and you won't need to imagine - life in that state is just pitch black.

Yes, it's just pitch black.

Light symbolizes hope, and a brighter tomorrow. After the dark and difficult times we've experienced, even a small bit of light can warm our hearts and help us rebuild, and move on. It makes life easier. It gives people a sense of positivity even though we're buried in a lot of problems. It gives us hope, and that's for a brighter tomorrow. In the Philippines, there are still those who can't enjoy the "gift of light."

"If there is one thing you can give to the Philippines, what is that gift?"

If given the chance to give a gift to the Philippines, I would like to surprise it with the gift of light. The Philippines has been devastated by several calamities, and this has left several of our countrymen not only mentally and physically challenged, but also economically. There are people left with absolutely nothing, not even a single cent to spend for their food, and worse, lost even their homes. Moreover, there are also areas in the Philippines which are still covered in darkness, even in the day, not being able to enjoy the light inside their homes. Worst of all, there are people who still can't enjoy light because they have no means to pay for the bills.

And just recently, I realized I am not alone in this feat.

Just a few years back, an organization named Liter of Light also had an advocacy just like mine, with a goal of having "affordable and sustainable light" for the Philippines. Established in April 2011, the organization wanted to give light to those who have none, and helped illuminate the homes of a few families here on the Philippines. With just a simple 1.5L PET bottle, water, and glue, the organization has so far installed 15,000 "solar bulbs" in 20 Philippine cities, and still counting. With such simple materials and volunteers who wanted change, they have shared the "gift of light" to these families. Those 20 Philippine cities just comprise a small part of the map, and with our help, Liter of Light might just help give more to the whole country.

This is the "light" what we're wishing for. Beautiful, isn't it?
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The organization currently is in need of more materials, and additional food for volunteers who are trained to create and install "solar bulbs" in houses, as well as for the project's maintenance. More materials, and more resources for the organization means more "light" for those underprivileged. More light for the poor means more light for the whole country. More light for the whole country means a better tomorrow. And with my wish this new year, I might just make it happen.

Now, imagine Globe Telecommunications working hand-in-hand with Liter of Light in making this dream come true. Not only houses are given the "liter of light" that they certainly need, but they are also given a "light for forever". And with this light, we might just assist the future "President" of the Philippines to study well for school, the "ilaw ng tahanan" to truly shed light to her children, and the "haligi ng tahanan" to prepare for work. I know, that with my wish through #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014 and these two strong organizations, great things are indeed possible.

God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. God saw the beautiful light, and saw that it's good. Now, if given the chance, I would also like to help in "dividing" that light from darkness, especially here in the Philippines.

Now, my dear readers, I ask you: if there is one thing you can give to the Philippines, what is that gift? Comment below. You might just win a gift for the Philippines, and a gift for yourself, too.

#GLOBEProjectWonderful2014
#GLOBEProjectWonderful2014
#GLOBEProjectWonderful2014

The Perfect Pinoy Resume (Part III)

2014-01-11T08:13:00.000+08:00

Just in case you've landed here and haven't read the first two installments, you can start reading here. If not, then, you're welcome to proceed.

Step 12. Aesthetics. Your resume is something that reflects who you are. This means that it depends on how you style it how your prospective employer sees you. However, there are some standards to keep when doing your resume.

a. If you're trying to get into a company that works on design or architecture, and the like, then you can make a resume that is full of aesthetics. Lines and shapes might just make you land the job, if done right. You need to use whatever designing methods you can do, however, you must know what is excessive and what is lacking. Something that can impress, a clean but sophisticated resume can help you.

b. Otherwise, if you're trying to enter a company that is about health, accounting, and others, then, you need a clean and simple resume. No need for useless aesthetics. Usually, these companies would concentrate on the content, and not the design. You are trying to work in a company that likes clean and precise work, not good-looking ones, right?

c. FONT STYLE. This is a crucial one when it comes to constructing your document. Never use "fancy fonts", as they call it. Comic Sans MS is a big no-no when it comes to resumes. Try something simple but neat, like Verdana, Tahoma, and Century Gothic. These font styles are pleasing to the eye, neat, and are easy to read.

d. Font size. These employers need something to read and check easily - they are not making a thorough investigation or a book review. Meaning, keep the font size easy to read and understand. No one wants to use a magnifying glass to read something, or even spend more time trying to understand what is written on the resume. Remember that there are tens, hundreds, or even thousands of applicants that would like to fit in, and what the hiring manager would do is just try to scan your document. And if it's time consuming and bothersome to read that small-sized letters, then it might just land straight to the trash once it's picked up. Harsh, but true.

e. Font color. Definitely, a black-and-white resume is easier to read, than those which has the whole rainbow in their resume. You might want to avoid putting too much colors in your document - it's not a pamphlet, a manual, or an invitation, it's your document to being an employee. So if you're sending a document up that looks like a restaurant's menu or a birthday invitation, then it might just be denied.

Step 13. GRAMMAR. Yes, we're Filipinos, and English is not our native language. However, it's the universal language of business. Considering that most of these companies use English in their transactions and let's say, business in general, having the right skills in English would definitely help you in your application. Know the difference of your and you're, the proper use of the plural form, tenses, and punctuation. Consider these examples.

Career Objective:
To work in you're company and, helped in providing quality health care to patient's.

Career Objective:
To work in your company, and help in providing quality health care to patients.

If the first example lands in your resume, then it's kind of making job hunting hard for you. However, with proper application of grammar and your English skills, you might just arrive with the second.

So what if ~~I didn't listen to my grammar lessons and didn't care about English in the first place~~ my grammar teacher didn't teach us very well? Don't fret. You can always consult your English-inclined friends, colleagues, or even that grammar teacher that didn't teach you well. It's better if you can hand it to multiple persons that can refine and refine that document, until it becomes perfect. Just don't forget that small token of gratitude, because they've just help you land a job that makes more than that. :)

That's it. You've constructed your resume. For first timers, remember that you can update your resume as soon as something has come your way, like further studies, additional (long) work experience, and training. You can also tweak your resume whenever you're applying to a different type of work setting, like if you're first applying in a health insurance company, then another in an advertising type. Of course, if you're applying for a health insurance company, you would like to put your healthcare experiences first, right?

Just remember that landing a job is not something instant. It's definitely not easy as 1-2-3 or do-re-mi. Landing a job means that after screening for several potential candidates, they have chosen the best one, and that one is someone that, even in just that simple document, have poured their time and effort into. Good luck! Balato naman dyan! :)

Next year, is the year of the ALTAR!

2013-12-31T23:23:00.002+08:00

The incoming year is fast approaching - as I am writing this, (it's exactly 10:38 PM GMT +8), it's approximately 1 hour and 22 minutes before we welcome another set of 365 days, another year of joy, blessings, and prosperity. But let me ask you, who is to thank for the past 365 days, and for the incoming 365 days?

As I attend the New Year's mass today in our church, I've experienced one of the most spiritual and most inspiring mass as to date. After finishing the mass, I just felt energized, felt positive, and hopeful for the incoming year. Now, I would just like to share to you one of the most striking statements of our priest, which is about the ALTAR.

This new year, we must always remember the ALTAR. Everytime we receive Jesus' body and blood, we must remember the ALTAR, and as we pray, we must remember the ALTAR. If you're wondering what the ALTAR is, let me break it down for you.

ADORATION. We must adore the Lord, and worship Him, for He is the most generous, loving, and forgiving person we know. He has given us a lot of blessings which we do not even expect and deserve. He is loving because He accepts us even though we have turned away from Him several times. He is forgiving, because that hand is forever extended to us, even though we have sinned. Adoration. Something that is deserving to the Lord, our Creator, and our Savior.

LOVE. Let's express our love to Him. Right now, let's tell Him how much we love Him. For a person who is overly generous and forgiving, He definitely deserves our love and affection. A loving relationship with Him is definitely the best relationship we can enter into, for this is a relationship that is full of love ONLY, and no space for hate. Love that does not expect love in return, for it just depends on us if we decide to give it back. That time is now.

THANKSGIVING. We may not realize it, but we are definitely blessed more than what we expect, and what we deserve. There are a lot of things that we have taken for granted, and there are definitely a lot of things we should thank for. Ultimately, let's thank Him for the gift of life. We are lucky to be waking up everyday, experiencing things that we enjoy, spending time with our family and friends, and more time to prove that we are worthy of our existence. A simple "thank you" is enough. A "thank you" for all those blessings we have and we are currently experiencing, and those blessings that we will definitely experience in the future. A "thank you" for the food in our tables, for our family, friends, and many more, and a "thank you" to Him for giving His only begotten Son, to save us from our own sins.

ASK. For someone who knocks, the door will be opened. Moreover, we are lucky that the person inside that door is infinitely generous. Ask Him everything you want to have, be it physical health, spiritual guidance, material wealth, peace of mind, anything. Ask, and you shall receive. Most of all, claim it. Thank Him already for those things you have asked for, for He will grant them - not instantly, but in ways and in the time we do not expect.

REJOICE. Rejoice because there is a new year coming. Another year of experiences, of happiness, prosperity, peace, enriching problems, of growth, and life. This second, minute, hour, and day is a moment of joy, and that is because the Lord is always with us, and has never left us, even in times of difficulty. Let us rejoice because this will definitely be a blessed year, and because we have overcome a year of problems and difficulties. Rejoice because we get another year wherein we can praise Him for all His goodness.

That's it, the ALTAR. Adoration, Love, Thanksgiving, Ask, Rejoice. The Lord is definitely worthy of all these - and is more than willing to accept these. Moreover, as the year ends, let's offer Him everything we have - be it our successes, our happiness, our joys, or even our problems and doubts we had the past year, for He will definitely multiply those positives, and reduce those negatives. Now, as 12 o'clock ticks in our watches, let's offer a small prayer, better if we have our families with us, and think of the ALTAR.

For that light will definitely save us in times of darkness.

In addition, let's light a candle in our tables. The first thing that the Lord has made is the light, and that our candle's light is a symbol of being reborn. As the New Year approaches, let's be born again, with all those positivity, and brush away those negativities. Let's let that small light burn in our hearts and minds, to warm those cold times we have in store for next year, and to enlighten our minds when we are covered in darkness.

Again, a prosperous, happy, and peaceful New Year to all of us! It's a New Year, and it's definitely a NEW BEGINNING!

(And let's watch our blood glucose and cholesterol levels after, shall we?)

PMA (Pahinga Muna, Anak)

2013-12-26T22:47:00.000+08:00

Kamakailan, habang kami ay nasa bahay ng aking lola, paglabas ko ng kusina ay narinig ko ang nanay ko kausap ang aking tiya, na sinabi daw ng isa ko pang tiya na "naaawa daw sya sa akin, dahil parang napagkaitan daw ako ng kabataan nang dahil sa pag-aaral."

Siguro, may mga pagkakataon ding nasasabi ko sa isip ko na tama nga ang sinabi ng tita ko. Na napagkaitan ako ng kabataan. Nabuhay ako ng 22 years na puno ng pressure - ako ang kuya ng buong pamilya, na inaasahang posibleng bumuhay sa pamilya sa hinaharap. Ako din ang maituturing na "achiever" sa bahay, dahil maganda naman ang performance ko sa school. Pressure diba? May mga pagkakataon noong grade school ako na grounded ako dahil ayaw kong mag-aral para sa "Spelling Bee" na hindi naman kailangang ireview. Nang high school, napakalaking parusa sa akin nang malipat ako ng second section dahil sa computer games. At nang college, nawalan ako ng "night life" dahil sa pag-aaral ng mabuti. Kung ikaw ang makaranas nito, masasabi mo bang napagkaitan ka ng kabataan?

Ako, napagkaitan ba ako ng kabataan?

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Siguro. Siguro dahil kung titignan mo ang "bell curve" at ang standard deviation ko sa mga ka-edad ko, nasa outliers siguro ako, o yung mga nasa lugar na hindi pangkaraniwan (kung sa imahe sa itaas, nasa asul na mga punto siguro ako). Outlier dahil hindi ako nakapaglaro ng tumbang preso kasama ang mga bata sa daan, hindi nakapaglaro ng patintero kasama ang mga pinsan araw-araw. Dahil hindi ko na-enjoy ang rebellious phase ng high school, walang ganoong katinong barkadahan, at hindi nakatikim ng alak o nakapunta man sa mga bar dahil wala akong nightlife nung college. Malungkot siguro ang buhay ko. At nasabi ng isang kaibigan, masayado daw "predictable" ang buhay ko, dahil napaka-plantsado ng buhay ko. Dry. Tuyo. Barren.

Kailangan kong tanggapin ang mapait na katotohanan, na napagkaitan nga ako ng kabataan. Pero kung tutuusin, nang dahil sa pagdadamot sa akin nito, nabigyan naman ako ng masaganang kinabukasan. Ang mga achievements na natanggap ko simula nang bata ako, mga honors, pagpasa ng board exams, at ang ngayong estado ko, bilang studyante ng medisina, at mga nalalaman ko ngayon, ay bunga ng pagdadamot nila nang bata ako. At dahil dito, siguro nama'y may naghihintay sa aking napakagandang kinabukasan, hindi lang para sakin, kundi para sa pamilya ko na din, at para sa mundo.

Kung matapos ko man ang kursong ito, dadagdag ako sa mga doktor na kasalukuyang nagkukulang sa Pilipinas. May isang doktor na sasama sa mga medical mission na kung saan maraming mga tao ang nangangailangan. Isang doktor na posibleng makagamot sa isang hindi pa magamot na sakit. At higit sa lahat, isang doktor na may takot sa Diyos.

At dahil sa mga bagay na naghihintay na 'yon, siguro, hindi muna ako magpapahinga. Sabi sa amin ng mentor ko sa school, in Medicine, you learn continuously, even after you graduate. Kaya siguro, hindi na talaga ako magpapahinga sa pag-aaral. At kung yung duktor sa taas ang kapupuntahan ko, ay wag na talaga akong magpahinga. Dahil yun ang kailangan sa kasalukuyan, at may tsansa akong mapunan ang pagkukulang.

Kung sigurong magkaka-anak ako, at mayroon silang mga pangarap na mukhang napakaimposible, itutulak ko pa din siguro sila. Dahil minsan, ang mga bagay na napakaimposible ay nasa ganoong estado dahil sila ang pinaka-kailangan ng lipunan. Sabi nga ng isa pang blogger, "Be Unrealistic and Dream the Unattainable." Ipe-pressure ko sila ng naaakma sa kapasidad at sa mga pangarap nila, tulad ng ginawa ng ina ko, dahil darating at darating din naman ang araw na maiintindihan din nila kung bakit ko ginawa yun.

Ngayon, outlier na kung outlier. Tulad ng isang napakasikat na quotation na "because being normal is too mainstream." Di ko man naenjoy ang kahapon, eh siguro maeenjoy ko ang kinabukasan. Nang dahil sa pressure, naging masaya din naman ako kahit papaano, dahil maraming nalalaman, at nagbubunga din naman lahat ng paghihirap. Siguro, passion ko na talaga ang learning. Kaya, thanks, 'ma! :)

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...pero joke lang ang sabi ko sa itaas. Uminom din naman ako ng alak nung college. Pero konti lang, siguro dalawang bote lang ng RH simula first year hanggang graduation. Honesto, pramis!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, mga kaibigan!

Christmas - It's About Thanking and Giving Back

2013-12-25T00:00:00.000+08:00

First of all, guys, I would like to greet you a Merry Christmas, in behalf of my family!

I remember one church homily just on my way to completing the Simbang Gabi, stating that Christmas is a season to thank God for all the blessings that we have received for the year, and also to give back to what He has provided us with. It is indeed true - the Lord, first of all, has given his only begotten Son just to redeem us for our sins, and that, is something that we cannot do - more than that, He also has given several things that we even might not be aware of.

I can say that I have been blessed this year, 2013, in a way much more than I deserve. Some of this blessings, I have prayed for, but most, I didn't. That's how generous our Lord really is, and I'm highly grateful for that. Honestly, this post may not contain everything that He has given me, and I would also like to thank Him for those things that I failed to notice.

Of all the things that have been given to me, I think that there are five things that stood out - things that I did not expect, and things, though I prayed for, are given in a much bigger scale than what I have asked for. And now, I think, is the right time to thank the Lord for such generosity.

I would like to thank the Lord for...

5. ...my entrance in Med School.

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So let's start with my entrance to med school. I have been dreaming of this for all my life - ever since I was a child, and everything that happened in-between, it seems, is a way of preparing me for the real deal. God made me sign that application paper in college, to take up BS Nursing, to have a good background on what medicine is like. He gave me that longing feeling while working as a nurse, to further strengthen the flame of wanting to be a doctor. He intentionally made me see the wrong side of things in the Medical profession so that I will have the encouragement to step up, and try to be one, in order to correct the system. And finally, He has given me the courage to sign that application form, take the required exams, and land my current scholarship just for me to take up medicine. And yeah, it's perfectly orchestrated, and now, I'm on my way to reach that goal.

Moreover, I would like to thank Him for the people who keep supporting me on my endeavor. Be it financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually, these things, which these very good people give me, is a debt that I am definitely giving back, when I become a physician. And I will be a good one. I promise.

4. ...for the gift of friends.

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Don't get me wrong. I'm not an introvert or psychopath or antisocial, or anything, but I now saw what true friends are. Not saying that the others are fake friends, but I think that my bonds with my Medschool friends is something special. I've experienced for the first time having "partners-in-crime", friends who are willing to do something to save me from a violation. (Imagine a friend taking a tissue paper, and then using her lotion to polish my (literally) rubber "leather" shoe [if you know what I mean] for me not to be caught by our college secretary. It's also for the first time I had loyalty at its finest, having friends who will not betray or try to leave me when sh*t happens. It's also the first time wherein someone became proud of what I do, and me the same to them. The moment wherein I became positive towards studying because they are with me. They just make the stressful environment of Medschool lighter and less-stressful.

There may be a lot of ways to describe that special "bond" with them, but I would like to summarize it in a few words - "really glad I delayed entering Medschool, because if I did it earlier, I won't be albe to meet them."

3. ...for the problems that we have, and we are currently facing.

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Life is really like a wheel - sometimes you are up, and sometimes you are down. Well, I might say that our life is somewhere in-between. We are currently experiencing problems in our family that every family might also experience, but this event is something special. It made us closer to each other, more open, one being able to express one's frustrations to another (which did not occur before), and most importantly, these problems brought us closer to God, not turn away from Him. Well, there are times when I ask why this is happening, but there are also times wherein my family will say things that will enlighten me. And this, this phenomenon, is neatly planned, and I know, that someday, there are also good solutions coming our way.

2. ...for my spiritual re-connection with our Creator.

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I've done this before. I've established a good relationship with the Lord. However, I got busy and overwhelmed with everything that I forgot to nurture with what I have started. It's wrong, yeah, and I didn't plan on going back on track sooner, but it might be a blessing, that a friend from number 4, was tasked to re-establish that lost connection. I tell you, he may not be perfect, but this person is good, and it shows. Moreover, he's got the spirituality and faith that I was not able to see in others, including myself. And that spirituality is what put me back on track. I am now starting to read the scriptures again, to discover more. I've been more connected to Him compared to what I had before. And now, I am doing things that I've never done before, like praying before meals. (Yeah, I know.) And that is a good thing to thank for.

1. ...for my life.

I always pray for this. I always thank the Lord for still letting me breathe air, for my heart to continuously pump blood, for my body to stimulate my RAS (Reticular Activating System) to wake me up, experience things, to learn more, to do everything. I may not be here, another sperm fertilizing the egg (yeah, we're getting more scientific here. Hehe), or me not waking up the other day, but yeah, He still wants me to live, because I still have to serve my purpose here. And every day that I spend here on Earth is a debt that should be paid immediately after grant. I promise Him that I would live each day paying for that debt, and I'm making the most out of it, and this life will be spent connecting with Him, fulfilling what I am destined to, and waiting for the second coming.

Yeah, that just became dramatic back there, but really, I am thankful for everything. In addition, me being able to post a blogpost is quite a blessing to. Being able to share what I think to the world just makes me happy, and makes me feel lighter. It may be small, and some may consider it shallow, but the ability to write and share, and know others' thoughts is quite a blessing.

So, what are you thanking for?

Again...

It is indeed a season of thanking and giving. :)

Are we Pinoys really crazy?

2013-11-23T06:50:00.000+08:00

"I think, that you are all getting crazy."

The statement above is what an "American" classmate said after getting a low score in one of our exams. He is an "American" because he lived in the USA for several years, though having both Filipino parents. Note: He declared himself a Filipino for him to get a huge tuition fee discount, but when we asked him if he considers himself a Filipino, he said he doesn't. Cool.

What pushed him to say that is because majority of our classmates got low scores in one of our exams, but still, they kept laughing and rubbing the huge problem off. Here in the School of Medicine, a failing grade is a huge no-no - you need to have everything in track, unless you really want to give up and fail. But still, our classmates chose to be happy and laugh about it, while this "Am" classmate stays depressed, stressed, and kept himself isolated from others. I approached him - asking what is wrong, and that is the statement I got from him.

The statement has offended me (a bit, maybe), however, it just made me more and more proud of being a Filipino. I know, it seems overrated and is repeated again and again, but I will still say that I am a Filipino, and I'm proud of it. And what was my reply?

"You know, we are not getting crazy. We just found out a very good way to push the problem back. We do not escape from the problem, rather, behind those smiles and laughs, is an alert mind that is looking for solutions. People are optimistic because it's the better thing to do. If you frown and continue to be depressed, then you won't have the strength to move on."

After that, I left him. Not because he has pissed me off, but because I left to laugh with my classmates. He may still see us as crazy people, but if this resilience and optimism is something that makes us crazy in the eyes of others, then it's nice for foreigners to see us as crazy people. It's fine.

WE ARE CRAZY. WE ARE WACKINGLY CRAZY. But we are so crazy that we don't even consider suicide as a solution, and just laugh about it. We are crazy, but we don't waver even though huge typhoons and large earthquakes strike us. We are crazy, but still, we are able to move on and won't be buried deep inside the pits of depression.

Recently, the Philippines has been affected by supertyphoon Yolanda that took a lot of lives, a lot of living, and a lot of hopes. People have cried, and became miserable for a moment. But there comes a time that these people will again smile and move on. It's automatic. Actually, there are a lot of people who have laughed already - a medicine that the Philippine people have invented, for us to ease the pain and give a new sense of purpose. In the end, laughter, indeed is the best medicine.

“I’m surprised that they can smile back after all that they’ve been through. This is the Filipino spirit the world is talking about. It’s inspiring,”

- Brian Futterman, a New Yorker (Source)

It's free. It's convenient. What's more, it's contagious. The Filipino optimism. The Filipino spirit. The indomitable Filipino spirit that everyone is talking about. It's not crazy, but rather, a smart way to show that whatever strikes us, we'll fight back, and will definitely defeat any problem that strikes us, hitting twice.

And to that classmate of mine, it's highly probable that you won't see this blogpost I'm writing, but I would like to say that we are not crazy. We may seem crazy but we are really not. You yourself are a Filipino but keep denying it - that's crazy. You just denied yourself the right to earn the recognition of being resilient and pliant.

Note: As I am writing this post, I'm giving my two thumbs up to those in Tacloban, and those people struck with different calamities recently. I hope that those supplies that our school has shared will come to you untouched. Keep the fire burning, just hold on, and everything will be fine in the future. #YolandaPH

Additional Note: The credit for the images above are given to those who have taken them - I do not own the images. Moreover, I don't have a way to identify who you are, but if you own these images, please do inform me, for removal or for proper citation. Thanks!

How to ACE the NMAT (The Not-so-haggard Way) - PART 3

2013-11-01T21:11:00.001+08:00

Now, you have had a background on NMAT, on what to do, and what to expect per subject. You've done your review, and you think you're confident enough to get your target score. So, what now? You're planning to pass the NMAT, right?

Let's imagine yourself a day before the exams. Cramming, reviewing, reading, searching for NMAT forums online to see what others are doing, searching Twitter with hashtag #NMAT to read others' statements about their anxiety. And you, what are you going to do?

(Note: Have you read the parts 1 and 2 of this article? If not, you can click here for the part 1, and here for the part 2.)

1. STOP. Reading others' feelings of stress, anxiety, and others might dramatically increase your anxieties too. Anxiety is contagious - it may affect anyone, and at a very steady rate. Stop reading those posts. What you can do, prepare yourself mentally, relax, or watch TV. Crammers like me usually start their review one to two weeks before the exams, but I stopped reviewing a day before just to have a relaxing time for my body and brain.

2. Prepare your things. If you're trying to pass the NMAT, then, you need to have your materials first. Get a piece of plastic envelope, put a paper envelope inside, then get the following materials: your NMAT Identification form, fully accomplished, with picture, your notice of admission, one valid ID (driver's license, NBI Clearance, PRC License, School ID (if still in school)), two-three pencils (No. 2), your eraser and your sharpener. These essentials are really needed, if you want to take and ace the NMAT.

3. SLEEP EARLY! People, usually with their anxiety, tend not to sleep and just chat with their friends online to relieve their anxiety. But boy, that's hard. Sleep is needed to consolidate memories, and to improve concentration the next day. Imagine having lesser concentration, comprehension, and always experiencing mental block the day of the exam, won't be that hard? That late-night anxiety-related over-waking (if there's such a term) won't help you. Moreover, you need to wake up and be early the next day, right?

4. Calculate. This step may also help you with your quantitative part of the exam.

Calculate your hours of sleep. If you think you need 8 hours, then it's fine. Just before you sleep, calculate and set your alarm. If you have more than one alarm clocks, then it's fine.

Calculate your travel time. Remember that you are not the only one taking the exams that day. There are lots of you taking the exam, and heavy traffic is an absolute possibility. In my experience, I need to go to the testing area around 7:00 AM, and being in a nearby province, I needed to go before 6:00 AM, to find out I arrived way early than my target. (I think I got to UST in just 30 minutes?) Well, that time is spent looking for my building, as well as in falling in a very very LONG line

Calculate your possible expenses. Travel expenses, as well as food expenses also need to be considered, well for not-so-rich persons like me. There are a lot of food stalls present around UST, but I am not familiar of them all, so, me and my sister went to a fastfood restaurant.

5. Be familiar with the place. If you're not from the testing area, it's better if you familiarize yourself with the area. CEM will give you a map that will show you the way to your building, the gates that you need to enter, and the room in which you will take your exams. Ask friends who have studied there for instructions on how to commute to that location, as well as the room, the building, and the food stalls wherein you might save some bucks instead of going to fastfood chains.

6. PRAY. We may have different religions, sects, different beliefs, but there is one thing in common - we can pray. We need spiritual guidance, to relieve that turmoil inside us, to protect us from all anxieties. We can also pray for us to be safe to and from the testing area, and to give us an open and wise mind while taking the examinations. It's free, and it's helpful, trust me.

7. Relax. You've done your best, given that small amount of time to review, those resources that you have, and the determination to pass the NMAT. Now, maybe, it's time to relax. Relax while before, during, and after taking the NMAT. I remember one thing while I was taking the exams - the song "Some Nights" by fun. has been playing again and again while I was taking it, and I guess that relaxed me a bit. I don't know why - it was never my favorite song at that time, and I just heard it for a few times, but it kept playing in my mind. Try remembering your favorite song, have it on-loop while travelling, have your mom prepare your favorite food before the exams, and do something relaxing. Having a relaxed mind during examinations is the best thing to have.

8. Eat a not-so-light but not-so-heavy meal. Going in and out the classroom while taking your exams is a no-no, and it would be a waste if you lose your eligibility to take the exams just because you can't wait to take a leak, right? Moreover, if you're given breaks, use the time wisely - take a leak, do your thing, do whatever rituals you're doing before taking an exam, so as not to interfere with your exam-taking.

9. Be nice to people. Be nice to the guards, to fellow testtakers, to the proctor, and to every person you meet in the hallways. Smiling can increase the release of happy hormones, and can make someone's day. Pay it forward. If you flash a smile to your fellow testtaker, then he/she might give it back. It lessens your anxiety, right? Greet personnel, say thank you for everything that they give. Then good karma will come upon you.

10. Follow instructions. Simple. If the proctor says that you need to fill this up, and write this down, do it. They are the ones checking your paper. No considerations done. Listen carefully for whatever they say. If they say "time's up", then it's time to stop. Do not write ahead of your signal. Erasures are not allowed (as far as I can remember), and if they are, you should avoid them. Remember that the one checking is a machine, and not a person. They may interpret your erasures as wrong answers.

FINALLY. Stand up confidently, and pass your examination paper. Remember that you have done your best to prepare for this exam. Now, as you pass your paper, be confident and smile while going out of the testing area. Don't listen to those people babbling about the answers, it might just give you more anxiety. Just go out, breathe in and out, relax, and go home. Wait for the results. If you pass, then it's good! Welcome to the Medical Student world. If not, it's fine too! At least you had a grasp of what's in store for you in the next exam, and eventually, you'll reach your dreams too!

These tips I've given you cannot cover all of NMAT, nor cannot ensure that you will pass the NMAT. However, these are tips that I've applied in my own process of taking the examinations. They may be helpful for most, but not to everyone. Remember that the most important part of preparing for the NMAT is reviewing itself - making yourself familiar with concepts.

If you know that you are strong in this subject matter, don't be overconfident, enhance that knowledge. If you know that you're weak on this subject matter, don't follow my lead. Review, review, review and you'll eventually get it done.

One more tip: there's a rumor that the November/December NMAT (every year) is easier than the March/April NMAT. However, there is no concrete evidence of such occurrence, just testimonials from previous exam takers. BUT, this is not an excuse not to review for the upcoming NMAT exams!

I've taken my NMAT and passed the exam. Now, I'm moving forward towards my dream - to become a physician. And I can't wait to see all of us moving towards our dreams. Again, good luck on your exams, and don't forget that chocnut!