The Freudian Slip Of A Bacolodnon

It has been a year since I was deployed as a doctor to the barrio in the mountains of Candoni in Negros Island. One more year and my contract as a doctor to the barrio shall end. I remember the time when I made my choice and how some of my friends were critical about my entering the doctor to the barrio. They fear that if I enter into public health, I might remain stagnant, devoid of any professional growth. Although the fear is valid and perhaps true in some cases, I felt that the choice I made was due to this pulling effect of many life's experiences prior to my becoming a medical student. However, the fear of stagnation can be viewed as a misinterpretation. For one to consider stagnation in knowledge, one must consider first which knowledge is he talking about. For knowledge is varied. All knowledge, regardless of how one acquires it, or which one is acquired, are the same. Perhaps, for those who fear stagnation in public health, they refer to the knowledge which a clinician in ...

Here is Bacolod's entry to the Fireworks Festival Competition held last December 20, 2008 in Bacolod City, SM mall grounds. For related story, click here . Youtube has been flooding with videos about the event. The video above is a personal video I uploaded. Unfortunately, it was taken from a cellphone so the resolution is not that good. The video posted below is the Fireworks Festival Competition last year. Bacolod's entry won the first place award.

Another reason why kids shouldn't be drinking soda AND eating Mentos candies at the same time. It has something to do with Carbohydrates (sugars) reacting with an acid. It was a good thing these teachers showed this neat trick to the kids during the Christmas party of my son's school. Now, they would be thinking twice of drinking softdrinks and eating candies. It was the season for Christmas parties already and yesterday, the family decided to go malling to celebrate our Christmas Holidays. Of course, the celebration was just a prelude to the big celebration this coming 25th. But it was a nice break for the entire family. We did nothing but stroll inside the mall, eat, and played. We let the kids ride the train inside the mall. Yes, there is a train inside the mall. When I told my son about it, he said he didn't want to ride that particular train in the mall. I asked him why and he answered, "Because it is too slow". He was expecting real trains, the ones "wi...

The "King" was no where to be found, so First Prince Rien had to ascend the "throne" if only for a brief moment, only to turn it over to the new "King" of SRM.

More than a year ago, before I was deployed in Candoni, I made a list of things that I am woried about, things that I look forward to and things that I will do in Candoni. I know I promised going back to this list on my second year as a DTTB, but since it is already half-time, and the last two quarters of the game are about to start, I think it would only be fair if I go back to this list and check. According to my list of things that I am (was) worried about: 1. NPAs - peace and security. - So far, there had been no threats to life or limb during my first 12 months in Candoni. I was able to visit a far-flung area in Barangay Agboy a few months ago and it was rumored to be a hotbed (former) of NPA's but I never experienced any real threat. Of course, there will always be threats to life and limb, whether or not you are in the mountains. But hey, for as long as they don't bother me, I won't really bother them. 2. The modest board and lodging - how modest? Currently, I hav...

Here are videos proof of the fact that Filipinos are talented, in fact, far more talented than anyone could ever be. Remember Mark Mejia? Mark was a contestant in the American Talent Show Star Search hosted by Arsenio Hall. In fact, there was a time that he was competing against an American Idol contestant David Archuleta. And now Mark Mejia has grown and here's a home video he posted on youtube: And then of course there is Charisse Pempengco , the rising international star of the Philippines. Who can forget Ramielle Malubay who was the last Filipina to join the top ten of the American Idol? And then came Arnel Pineda , now Journey's latest front man. His fame has been phenomenal, even covered by CNN. He was lucky to have been invited to Malacaniang to serenade no less than the President herself. Of course, there is Charlie Green , a Fil-Brit who was a popular contestant in UK's Got Talent. For a short time there was this OFW girl Madonna Decena who took all her guts and ...

I am officially on leave starting today. This means, my vacation begins today and will end on the 4th of January 2009. And yet, even if I will be having this year's longest Christmas holiday, I would be missing a lot of Christmas parties. I missed the ILHZ Christmas party in Cauayan. I am about to miss the Christmas party of the BHW's tomorrow in Cauayan. I am also certain that I will miss the Christmas party of the municipality on Monday. And oh yes, I am not also certain whether I can go to the Christmas Party of the College of Medicine this Saturday. I am also quite sure that I will miss the Christmas Party a la reunion of my batch from high school. If there is one Christmas party that I am sure to attend, it is the Christmas party of my son in their school this Friday. It is very ironic considering that I should have been in the position where I can afford to attend all of these parties. My only regret is that the Christmas parties with my staff in Candoni could be my last ...