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...