The Freudian Slip Of A Bacolodnon

Like everyone else, I too have my own resolutions for 2010: 1. I resolve to watch over my diet. I have not been giving some attention to my body especially on what I am eating and this can be dangerous, health-wise. So I need to practice what I preach when it comes to Healthy Lifestyle. I resolve to eat more nutritious food, less of those cholesterol-containing delicious stuff and give more time to jogging, brisk-walking, even maybe going to the gym. 2. I resolve to be more thrifty and to really plan things ahead, especially financially-wise. I must divest myself of my impulsiveness and must bear some sense of self-control. 3. I resolve to give more time to reading. I have not really spent time reading, even the non-technical materials. Perhaps the only book that I have really read for 2009 is Og Mandino's The Twelfth Angel. I mus resume to reading, especially my textbooks. I have them close to my bed every time I sleep but I usually cannot read them for reasons I do not know. Mayb...

I made this widget at MyFlashFetish.com . Year 2010 is the Year of the Tiger according to Chinese horoscopes. Happy New Year everyone!

Nice camcorder to be your first camcorder, right? Hmmmmm.......

The end of 2009 also marks the end of my tour of duty as a Doctor to the Barrios. The 2 years have passed. I still could remember how I started as a DTTB, how I went to Manila all by myself for the first time, heading for DOH to take the exams and the interview for DTTB. I still could recall how I made new friends and met my batchmates during our predeployment seminar, how they chose me to be their batch president and how we learned our first dance steps which catapulted us to being the Dancing Doctors to the Barrios. Since then it has been one long roller-coaster ride. There have been so many ups as well as downs and while along the way there were feelings of regret and frustrations, victory and success as well. Sometimes one could no longer distinguish one emotion from the other. There are times when they come in successions I could hardly cope up and adjust. But even as I end my being a Doctor to the Barrios, I still believe that I shall always remain as a DTTB by heart. For once yo...

December 25 was celebrated with family, just like any typical Filipino anywhere around the world. Christmas is another reason for Filipino families to gather around food, fireworks and gifts and ours was no exception. So, at exactly Dec 25 12:00 midnight, after attending the Christmas Eve mass in our parish, we all gathered around our table and had our Christmas Dinner. The Church was filled with people and was actually spilling over the frontyard of the Church. My son was tasked to bring one of the offerings to the altar. Our Christmas dinner was the traditional spaghetti, fruit salad, ham, red wine, and lots and lots of sweets. We then opened our gifts after dinner. During Christmas day, the family went to the mall to had our lunch. After lunch, we brought the kids to another mall where they could play in their fun park. We then went back to the first mall, had dinner at Mang Inasal with my wife's family and watched the Christmas Fireworks. The day after Christmas, we also went t...

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Since the start of the Project, many of the mothers in Candoni heard about the reward and many are asking about it, whether or not the Project will extend beyond December. The only answer we would give them is that "offer's good while supplies last". Many mothers would rush to the health stations during immunization days and for those who have yet to "graduate" from their EPI, watching others receive their White Bags have motivated them all the more to bring their kids to the health station. Yesterday, two barangays received white bags: Brgy. West and Brgy. East, both barangays in the Poblacion area. Many mothers enjoyed the bags they received especially the toys for their children. In one barangay, I had to give two bags because the mother had twins. I remember the twins which the mother delivered also in our Main Health Center. Here are the names of the recipients: Maria Nita de la Cruz, Brgy. West Elena Escanilla, Brgy. West Josie Robles, Brgy. West Liza Maki...

In a few more days, 2009 will become a part of human history, my own personal history. Like many years that have gone before, this one is indeed a memorable year. Looking back, there are still the usual heartaches, frustrations, failures, small achievements, vindications and hopeful moments. There are as many low points as there are high points. If I can generalize things, 2009 is a year of great moments. First of all, 2009 is the great year of travel for me. I have traveled more frequently this year than ever before: Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Tagaytay and Clark. Many of these travels are due to conferences, trainings and award ceremonies. I have observed though that in my frequent travels, a storm always follows close. This is true during my HLMP training in Tagaytay and 34th CME DTTB also in Tagaytay. During the AMHOP convention in Puerto Princesa, a storm also hit Palawan. During the 35th CME in Clark, Pampanga, a storm was ravaging Central Luzon. I am not sure but in 2...

Last Wednesday I gathered all of my program coordinators at the Rural health unit and discussed our plans and activities for 2010. The following will be the activities for the first quarter of 2010 (January-March): January 2010 - Theme: Strengthening Capabilities. Program Implementation Review, Data Recon and Analysis - Jan 4-7, 2010 Encoder's Training for RHU CDSS - Jan 11-12, 2010 Refresher's Course: History Taking and Approach to Patient's Symptoms - Jan 18, 2010 Bloodletting Activity c/o PNRC - date to be announced February 2010 - Theme: Healthy Lifestyle Month: "Magpabalhas para sa kaayong lawas" Launching Ceremonies - Feb 1, 2010 Bantay BP - daily Interbarangay and Open Category Hataw Dance Competition - culminating day 3rd Mountain Marathon - culminating day Awarding Ceremonies of Candoni's Best - culminating day March 2010 - Theme: Responsible Pet Ownership Month Happy Dogs Day: Anti-rabies immunization for dogs - date to be announced Animal Bite Aware...

The following are the latest recipients for the Buntis Baby Bag Project - WHITE BAGS: Rosemarie Mingan, Brgy. Haba, Baby Boy Jean Garzon, Brgy. Haba, Baby Girl Amanda Obara, Brgy. Agboy, Baby Boy Jean Manoling, Brgy. Agboy, Baby Girl Two more bags were given to recipients at Brgy. Banga. I have yet to take their names. For the Green Bags, we were only able to give one bag this morning: Arleen Ortega, Brgy. East, Baby Boy Last Wednesday afternoon, I was able to receive another batch of donations from Mr. and Mrs. Abaja, parents of Rommel Abaja who is a high school classmate and close friend. The Abaja family donated 1 sack of rice and two boxes of grocery items. This morning I was also able to receive batch no. 4 of donations from the Premed Society of the University of Saint La Salle: 5 bags filled with baby diapers, multivitamins, baby toys and baby clothes. Once again, thank you to the Premed Society and to the Abaja family.

Until now I am still in the state of shock. Even if it has been a day since I received that unforgettable call in my life.Even if it has been 12 hours since I had my first dinner meeting with the friendly folks from the U.S. Embassy. I am literally still in a state of shock. Perhaps it is because I was not expecting it. Sure, there is this "want" to go but then again I was facing one side of reality that I was not qualified to go. I am referring to the ASEAN Youth Leadership Program sponsored by the U.S. Government. What the program does is to select qualified young people plus one adult leader, bring them stateside, train them for a month on American perspectives about leadership, then send them back to their home countries and expect them to make a difference. Everything will be paid for by the U.S. Embassy: travel to Manila for Visa processing, accommodations, international airfare, everything. When Mr. John Maguire, the American Cultural Affairs Officer of the Embassy, ca...

More recipients of the Buntis Baby Green Bags were given during the weekend, yesterday and today: Jocelyn Diego, Brgy. Haba, Baby Girl Myden Esmeralda, Brgy. Banga,Baby Boy Teresita Badieles, Brgy. Haba, Baby Boy Julinda Tico, Brgy. Agboy, Baby Girl Janice Torre, Brgy. West, Baby Girl No White Bags were given during the weekend but I am expecting some to be given away tomorrow during the regular EPI schedule at Brgy. Haba and Brgy. Banga. Tomorrow, I will be giving away 3 White bags at Brgy. Agboy (if the recipients will come for their immunization schedule) during the turnover ceremony of the New Barangay Health Station of Brgy. Agboy. The Philippine Army constructed the new health station; a much bigger structure compared to the current health station. More bags to be given away!