The Freudian Slip Of A Bacolodnon

Last night, we celebrated my father's birthday at IMAY's which, coincidentally, was celebrating its 4th year anniversary. The place was packed with people and the motiff was eat-all-you-can. For as much as 180 pesos/adult (half the price if child), you could already enjoy limitless rounds of various dishes: from kaldereta to tinolang manok, to cansi, to squids, lechon baboy, lechon manok, everything. I managed to have at least two rounds at the huge buffet table. Of course, I had my personal serving of my favorite dishes. During dinner, I was jestering about the possibility of me running for barangay kagawad this October. The barangay elections are set this year in October and I think 8 positions for barangay councilman are up for grabs including of course the barangay captain or punong barangay. My wife of course asked me where I would get my money for campaigning. I told them that campaigning for the barangay elections does not really require a lot of money. Expenses will be ...

What a boring week this has been. This week is Patho week review and unfortunately, I am not getting the feel of this review. I don't know if it advantageous or not but the approach of our review is to go over old board exam questions and other review questions and discuss briefly the answers. Hopefully the questions we have reviewed would re-appear once again in this year's board exams but I honestly feel that the pace is quite slow for me. I think it is an advantage in some way considering that Pathology is quite a big topic and a neophyte like me would be at a lost and would not have a clue as to where to begin reviewing the topics. Somehow, at least, a nice review would give me some sort of guidance on how to conduct my own individual review. So I skipped review yesterday, spent the entire day at home and watched the live telecast of the Miss Universe. Miss Japan won the crown, Miss Philippines did not make it in the top 15 but did manage to earn the Miss Photogenic title, ...

As the days of the boards draw near, I am doing double time in my review and triple time in prayer. Usually, before I start studying, I say a brief prayer and then I study away. In my study table there are torn papers containing old prayers, both originally written or attributed to a saint. As an old time devotee of Our Lady of Guadalupe and The Divine Mercy, I always managed to say a prayer to them, especially the Chaplet. Recently, I have decided to say a novena for every 7 days left prior to my board exams. This morning I started the Novena to the Sacred Heart. I have other novena prayer booklets at home, one for Our Lady of Fatima, another for Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and the other for Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Yesterday, while strolling inside the mall with my family, I happened to pass by a religious store and saw this novena leaflet for a less familiar saint, St. Expeditus, patron saint of urgent cases. I did a research on this saint and here's what I read from Cat...

I am enjoying my summer. At last, after 2 years of clerkship and internship combined, I have enough time for myself and my family. While mornings and late evenings would be spent for reviewing, I can manage to spend some time going to the mall with my wife and kids, at times enjoying a nice movie. We recently watched Shrek 3 and it was totally hilarious. I think it is better than Shrek 2. But I cannot also deny that I miss the times I have spent at the hospital, especially at BOLMSH, where I spent my internship. For me, BOLMSH has become family. I learned so much from the experience but I have also gained so much when it comes to friendship. I miss the people at the Delivery room. For me, they are the friendliest batch of people in the hospital, from the nurses to the junior consultants. I miss the fun and jokes, especially the pranks, and also the late night toxicities, double-table experiences, and stat deliveries. It is only in the D.R. where I can laugh my heart out without fear of...

Today is Day 15 of the review classes. The first week of review was spent for reviewing Anatomy. The second week was spent for Biochemistry. This week we are dealing with Physiology. I have just written an essay, an opinionated analysis on why Cong. Monico almost did not make it as congressman. Full essay can be found here . Anyway, I am glad I am done with my "pink form", a clearance form to be submitted to APMC certifying that I am done with my internship and that I can take the national boards this August. Med Boards will start August 4, 2007, which is coincidentally the death anniversary of my grandmother Lola Sol. She was my first teacher. Since the time of her death, I have always felt her guiding presence. In my opinion, she is my guardian angel.

Last Saturday, May 19, 2007, Incumbent Congressman Monico Puentevella was proclaimed by COMELEC as winner of the congressional race for the lone district of Bacolod City. Monico won by a slim margin of 1,021 votes over closest rival outgoing Vice Mayor Renecito Novero. This is Monico's third win and last term as congressman. The euphoria inside the BAY Center was overwhelming. As expected, supporters of Novero and Bing, donned in red shirts, showed their display of uncouthness and disrespect. A few supporters were seen throwing plastic bottles inside the area where Monico was to be proclaimed winner. Such show of disrespect from a losing candidate's camp reflects the lack of humility and sportsmanship for a losing candidate. Video of the proclamation posted here taken via cellcam See video at youtube. Click here

I just came from the BAY Center where the canvassing of votes for Bacolod is happening. So far, Congressman's lead has extended to 1,600 plus votes. As of yesterday, in the early afternoon, Novero was only leading by 35 votes based on Action Radio's reporting. By 4:00 p.m., RGMA reports Monico leading by 1000 votes. After taking the mock exams for biochem this morning (of which I did fairly well after checking my answers), I immediately drove myself to the BAY Center where I was greeted with hundreds of supporters from both sides. Facing the BAY Center stage, Bing-Novero supporters, mostly wearing red shirts, were seated at the left side. Monico's supporters were seated at the right side. Immediately I went to Tita Yvette's side and asked how the votes were tallying so far. As of 9:30 a.m., Tito Monico was leading by 1,600 votes. During that time, around 100 plus precincts were still being canvassed at the SCU tables. While waiting for the final tally from the remaining...

A few snapshots of the post-election scenario in some parts of the country. 1) 'Binay made unlawful arrest' - Team Unity lashed out at re-electionist Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay Tuesday for his arrogant and “unlawful” arrest of several people whom he accused of illegal campaigning during the elections last Monday. TU’s lead counsel Romulo Macalintal said Binay violated the country’s laws when he made the apprehensions in a very ill manner. “He hurt the woman he arrested with the way he placed his arm on her shoulder. To think the woman is only an ordinary person who just happened to be wearing a Kampi shirt,” Macalintal said. ( The Philippine Star ) 2) Custodio widens lead vs Pacquiao - South Cotabato 1st District Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio continued to widen her lead against Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao in the congressional race, according to the latest results of the partial and unofficial tally of the National Citizen's Movement for Free Elections quick...

The Exit Poll results conducted by ABS-CBN/Pulse Asia are out. It looks like the voting preferences nationwide reflects a 6-GO, 2-TU and 2-Independents. 1 LEGARDA, Loren B. GO 58.5 2 ESCUDERO, Francis Joseph “Chiz” G. GO 53.3 3 VILLAR, Manuel “Manny” Jr. B. GO 49.8 4 - 5 LACSON, Panfilo “Ping” M. GO 46.4 4 - 6 PANGILINAN, Francis “Kiko” N. Ind 44.6 5 - 7 AQUINO, Benigno Simeon III “Noynoy” C. GO 42.6 6 - 7 ANGARA, Egdardo “Ed” J. TU 41.1 8 - 11 ARROYO, Joker P. TU 36.8 8 - 12 TRILLANES, Antonio “Magdalo” IV F. GO 35.4 8 - 12 ZUBIRI, Juan Miguel “Migz” F. TU 34.9 8 - 12 HONASAN, Gregorio “Gringo” B. Ind 34.6 9 - 12 RECTO, Ralph “Korecto” G. TU 34.3 For the local elections, NAMFREL has finished counting ...

The following are the results of the latest count, all partial and unofficial. For Senatoriables: (courtesy of NAMFREL as of 3 pm May 15, 2007) 1. Angara, Edgardo - 18,583 2. Aquino, Benigno Simeon III - 29,636 3. Arroyo, Joker (Joker) - 19,113 4. Bautista Martin (Dr B)- 1,619 5. Cantal, Felix (Peck)- 193 6. Cayetano, Allan Peter - 26,029 7. Cayetano, Joselito - 1,071 8. Chavez, Melchor (Mel)- 972 9. Coseteng, Anna Dominique - 12,388 10. Defensor, Michael (Tol)- 13,087 11. Enciso, Ruben (Bobby)- 205 12. Escudero, Francis Joseph - 35,942 13. Estrella, Antonio - 386 14. Gomez, Richard - 5,364 15. Honasan, Gregorio - 24,312 16. Kiram III, Jamalul- 3,389 17. Lacson, Panfilo - 31,204 18. Legarda, Loren (Loren)- 34,340 19. Lozano, Oliver - 442 20. Magsaysay, Vicente - 7,779 21. Montano, Cesar - 8,875 22. Oreta, Teresa (Tessie)- 4,745 23. Orpilla, Eduardo (Ed)- 289 24. Osmena, John Henry - 14,221 25. Pangilinan, Francis - 26,404 26. Paredes, Zosimo Jesus II - 1,449 27. Pichay, Prospero Jr (Bu...

This blog is supposed to be in Macellarius Est, my other blog, but I have decided to place it here anyway. Tomorrow is elections and 12 seats in the Senate are up for grabs. Other positions for contention are the positions for congressman, mayor, vice mayor, and councilors. This is my third time to vote. The first time was last 2001. For the first time though, I am going to declare in public, at least through this blog here, who I am most likely to vote for tomorrow morning. For Senators: 1. Migz Zubiri - I am voting for him because I believe in his pro-environment agenda, his pro-youth agenda and being a Negrense, I am confident that he would be helpful in advocating our sugar industry, especially the workers and planters. Migz have been consistent in these platforms of government since his days as congressman. He would fit well in the Senate. 2. Mike Defensor - I am voting for him because I laud his housing projects for the poor, during the time he was still a member of the President...

I took a break from yesterday's review classes and went to the movies with my wife and kids. We went to watched Spiderman 3, perhaps the last film in this Spiderman trilogy. In my opinion, this is perhaps the best Spiderman film yet. As expected, the film has displayed awesome fight scenes, but I particularly loved the fight scene between the archrival Spiderman and Venom. The final fight scene, where everyone is gathered in the battle between good and evil, was perhaps the ultimate climax in the Spiderman story of our contemporary times. The final battle ended with everyone having to sacrifice something. Harry, The Goblin, sacrificed his life for his friend Peter. Erick, Venom, sacrificed his life for power and hate. The Sandman sacrificed his hate for better options in life. Peter too sacrificed his vengeance in exchange for forgiveness for the killer of his uncle. In making one's sacrifice, it solely depends on the individual's freedom of choice. What to sacrifice? Perha...

Last May 3, 2007, my son and I along with the rest of the interns went to the island of Boracay to spend our R&R before the start of the reviews for the national medical board exams. We stayed at the island for 3 nights and four days at Rizzo Garden. We left Bacolod at around 9 a.m. via RO-RO. It was my son's first time to ride a boat and to visit Iloilo, the place I can also consider my second home. We reached the port of Iloilo at around 11:30 a.m. We then went to SM Jaro to buy our groceries and have our lunch. We headed for the terminal and left Iloilo City for Caticlan at around 3 pm on a private van. We had fun along the way, thanks to the wit and humor of the interns, especially Melvin. We arrived at Caticlan Jetty Port at around 7 pm. We boarded the small vessel bound for Boracay Island and reached Boracay at around 7:15 p.m. We then road a tricycle to station 2 where we had a reserved accommodation at Rizzo Garden. After settling in, we had late dinner at Barrio Inasal...

During the first day of May, the official start of my Pre-boards life, My wife and I brought our daughter to Church to be baptized. We named her Robie Anne Sophia and together with her 22 godparents, she was baptized and welcomed to the Catholic Christian World. Our comadres and compadres were all from both sides, from my relatives, from my wife's relatives and our mutual friends. I also asked Nikki Boy, Tito Monico's eldest who is running for councilor this coming elections, to be one of the Ninongs. The reception followed in our residence and was catered by our neighbor, Tita Dolly, who used to have a fast food stand at the USLS Foodcourt. It was a successful event. Nanay, my wife's mom, baked her usual cakes and made her fruit salad. Earlier that day, I had to go around finalize things from the caterer to the attendance of the guests. For pictures of the Baptism, click here

Below Are Pictures of the Christening of Robie Anne Sophia last May 1, 2007 Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, at the Triumph of the Holy Cross Parish Church.