The Freudian Slip Of A Bacolodnon

Last May 28, 2009, I attended this Lasallian Leadership Training Seminar at the Santuario de la Salle. It was a gathering of young lasallian student leaders and alumni who are considered as leaders in their own respective fields. It was an honor to have been identified as one of those resource speakers tasked to "inspire" young leaders. There were many big names present: Councilor Wilson Gamboa was there, Atty. Andy Hagad, Brother Arian of course was there, my former medical professor Dr. Magbojos, even an old mentor and youth organizer Manang Jet Octaviano who happened to be the daughter of Doctor Octaviano, businessman Dave Saroza and other young alumni leaders. What does it mean to be a Lasallian Leader? It is a question that is actually posed as a challenge as well. Let me make a list: A Lasallian Leader is.... a gentleman/lady for others a good example someone who seeks the truth a person who inspires others is a hardworker is a person with integrity is a person with the...

During the Summer youth camp held last May 21, 2009, I conducted a survey regarding perceptions about premarital sex among the youth participants. We handed out survey forms and after checking out the validity of their answers, I consolidated the results. Around 90 participants answered the survey however only 75 forms were found to be answered completely. Forms which were not answered completely were not included in the tabulation. Based on the results, of the 75 valid answers, 47% were males and 53% were females. Average age is about 16-17 years old. 97.3% of respondents considered themselves straight. All participants were single. 85.3% were Catholics, 5.3% were Protestants and 5.3% belong to other religions. 50.7% of the respondents were college students, 48% were high school students and the rest were elementary students. Question No. 1: I already experienced having sex. 12% of the respondents said YES and 88% of the respondents said NO. Among those who answered YES, 55.6% said th...

Last night, during my "guesting" in a "talk show" during the annual Lasallian Leadership Training Seminar at the Santuario de la Salle, I was asked what challenge I would leave the young lasallian leaders on how they could participate in nation building. I told them that if there is one thing a leader must know how to do, that is he must know how to empower people around him. I always believed in education. Knowledge is power and once we share knowledge and teach and educate, we open so many opportunities and perhaps even endless possibilities to those we teach and educate. I know this because I have seen it right before my eyes, as a Doctor to the Barrio of the Department of Health. It is important that in order for your "own ideas" to work, the community must be made to realize that it is not only "your idea" but also theirs. In fact, it is even better when the ideas come from them. Empowering the people is the key to nation building. Once empo...

When I went back to Candoni yesterday, I was told that the talk of the town was the successful youth camp held exactly a week ago. And the young people are wanting more. It was a fun and learning experience for many of the young people. Currently I am trying to consolidate the data we gathered during the camp when we conducted a series of surveys among the camp participants. We are hoping to conduct more of this activity with other youth groups, albeit smaller, either in Candoni or elsewhere who wish to hold it in their own areas. Post Classified Ads That Produce Results

This week is a hectic week. It started with yesterday, when I went to Kabankalan City to attend our Technical Working Group Meeting of the South Negros Interlocal health Zone. The agenda: The Interlocal Health Zone Anniversary at Sipalay. The last time I went to Sipalay was last year to attend an Interlocal health zone meeting as well but I never got to enjoy the white sands of Negros island in Sipalay. Now, the Zone is planning to hold its annual interlocal health zone anniversary in Sipalay. So, from Bacolod, I took an early bus ride to Kabankalan, had my late breakfast at the bus terminal and attended a four-hour meeting. It was not really a toxic meeting. It was light, light enough to even include some "gossips" about the latest Hayden Kho-Katrina Halili sex scandal. After lunch, I went back to Bacolod instead of going to Candoni because I was scheduled to attend another meeting in Bacolod the following day (which is today). The meeting was actually an orientation on Infa...

I left Candoni this morning elated that our First Summer Youth Camp ended successfully. After a month of planning led by our NARS and youth volunteers, supported by our midwives and nurses at the RHU, in cooperation with various youth organizations and church-based youth groups, the It Can Wait youth camp pushed through without a hitch. A day before the camp, I was quite worried considering that for the past 3 days, it has been raining in the mountains of Candoni. I was worried that it might rain during the opening ceremonies, caravan and plenary sessions in the morning. After doing some novena to my favorite and reliable saints, I woke up early morning of May 21 to a less cloudy weather. The fog was thick and creeping over the valley. Before going to the camp, I introduced to the facilitators my choice for a theme song for the youth camp. We studied the lyrics and made up gestures for some of the lines, making it an action song. The song was Tina Arena's The Flame which was act...

Philippines' Charice Pempengco sings her debut song at Oprah, a wonderfully written song, "Note to God". David Foster tells Oprah's audience, "She (Charice) reminds me of Celine Dion". Charice Pempengco, Mabuhay Ka! Post Classified Ads That Produce Results

After an extended two days of "working vacation", I will be heading back to Candoni first thing in the morning tomorrow. A lot of work is pending on my desk. There are in fact 9 young kids waiting for me tomorrow for their scheduled circumcision. Of course, an important staff meeting in the afternoon will follow. The agenda are: the perennial problem with my Job Orders (or at least one of them) and the upcoming Summer youth camp this Thursday. Although I am expecting some huge support from the SK councils and the Parish youth council, I could not help but feel pessimistic about the youth camp. I don't know if it will be as successful as I would expect it. After all, I have been away for 3 weeks and I was not there first hand to help in the organizing of the youth camp. As far as the people in the ground would tell me, everything seems to be okay and ready for the Youth Camp. Nevertheless, whether only 20 or 100 are coming, the advocacy for Sexual Abstinence as an importan...

This particular Monday is officially another Mad Monday. The morning started okay. Before heading to the Provincial health office for a scheduled meeting on the Province-wide Investment Plan for Health, I dropped by the Universalle Bookstore to buy books for my incoming Grade One kid. I would call this a happy moment. I could not describe the feeling. I am excited and nervous and happy and jittery all at the same time. After buying books and all the stuff for school, I went to buy the local newspaper Agila expecting that my recently submitted article on Doctors to the Barrios would be published today. To my surprise, the article was published but not under my name! I was shocked. I knew it was an honest mistake on the part of the editors but they should know that. I immediately called some people affiliated with the newspaper and told them about the error. I also tried to call the EIC on his cellphone and even left a text message. The EIC never called me back or even texted me. I got ...

It has been a batch tradition to present a dance number every CME of the Doctors to the Barrios. It started during our pre-deployment when a young batch (batch 23) who called their group ABYAN KA (Alay sa Bayan, Yaman ng Kalusugan) presented a dance number infront of the HHRDB people. Unfortunately, none was able to record the dance in full. Luckily, I was able to have a snipet of that moment. ( Pre-deployment Dance Video ) During our first CME as batch, we experience our first "initiation" to the DTTB family when we presented a dance number during the recognition rites of the 32nd CME. ( Robbinsdale Dance Video ) It was yet another repeat performance when the batch also presented a dance number during the 33rd CME at Palo, Leyte. ( Leyte Dance Video ) Of course, during the latest CME (34th CME), Batch 23 yet again presented another dance number, perhaps our last as Doctors to the barrios. ( Tagaytay Dance Video ) ...or so we thought. During our final CME, the Dancing Doctors...

What I love about attending CME's of the Doctors to the Barrios is the opportunity to listen to stories about the adventures of these doctors. From the mountainous terrain to the most isolated island in the middle of the Philippine Sea, these brave doctors persevere in their commitment to provide quality health care service. I have always said it before, these rural health physicians along with so many rural health workers are the true modern-day heroes of the Philippines. They could have made a choice and leave the country for better opportunities. Instead, they stayed and made so much difference in the lives of so many. Through the efforts of these doctors, poor municipalities were able to gain a new rural health unit, new set of supplies, new projects that were able to provide some form of sustainability and quite frankly, a new sense of hope. The 34th CME is quite unique. For the first time, the U.P. College of Medicine together with National Telehealth handled the curriculum o...

Last May 10, 2009, a group of doctors invaded Enchanted Kingdom at Sta. Rosa, Laguna. It was supposed to be a moment of fun and relief from work. It became an extended stress debriefing for many. With the screams came all the tension from work and even personal life. It was a happy moment for everyone, especially the first timers. For a few, it was a "traumatic" experience. I wish to bring my family there at E.K. I would imagine how my kids would react when they ride the tallest Ferris Wheel (Wheel of Fate) or ride the flying balloons (Up, Up and Away). Of course, one of my favorite rides was the Log Jam. But I consider Anchors Away as the best ride of all. Post Classified Ads That Produce Results

What happened in Tagaytay...stays forever in the hearts of these hardworking Doctors to the Barrios. May your breed replenish the earth. Post Classified Ads That Produce Results