Planning The Holidays

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I have yet to take my forced leave and I was also informed by a co-DTTB that my batch is entitled to a 2-day union leave as well. And the days in 2008 are already running out! Some of my fellow DTTBs are planning to go to Boracay during their forced leave. That is also a good idea. Unfortunately, everything is kind of hectic in my area especially in the last few weeks of the year. Next week will be our bloodletting activity (which is on a Monday) and we will also be having a C.H.A.R.T. assembly simultaneously. The following day, we will be having capability training for the staff, on Emergency Preparedness. Wednesday is, other than being Immunization Day, another day for capability training, this time on Newborn Screening. Thursday is also another hectic day. I have to attend a meeting at the Provincial health office in the morning, rush back to Kabankalan in the afternoon in time for the SNILHZ evaluation. Friday is D-Day for Candoni, since it will be our turn to be evaluated for our local health board. I am not really confident of winning. I just wanted to join the competition so that the people in Candoni, especially the staff and the LGU, will have some increase in their awareness with regards to health policies and the necessary steps on how to further improve their local health system.

The following week is a little lighter but I have to go to Iloilo to talk with some of the coordinators, to follow up our requirements for the accreditation of some of our programs. The target really is to have our TB DOTS accredited by the end of the year. At the same time, we hope to launch our Newborn Screening Program by the end of the year as well.

December is loaded with both activities and holidays as well. It is going to be the longest holiday ever. December 24 is the official start of the holiday. Everyone goes back to work 5th of January 2009 already.

During this December, the zone has already scheduled our Board meeting, Foundation Day celebrations cum Christmas Party and I believe another training is set for December as well.

So, I really don't know where to put my forced leave schedule (not to mention my 2-day union leave). At the same time, I am not sure either how to spend my holidays. The original plan was to bring the family to Boracay as well. But we've been to Boracay more than once and they wanted to go somewhere else, some place they haven't been there yet. So, I am thinking Bohol or Davao.

Davao is quite far and therefore quite expensive. The las time I went to Davao was in 2002. Bohol is nearer and quite cheaper but there isn't much to see around in Tagbilaran. What is great about Bohol though is that we can arrange for a tour of the island, see the Chocolate Hills and tarsiers and have lunch on the floating resto. That would be good for the kids as well.

But there are no finalizations yet. I am still planning on what to do for the holidays. Any bright ideas?

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