The Freudian Slip Of A Bacolodnon

A year ago, I left the country to work. It was my first Christmas spent away from family. I remember how I cried myself to sleep that Christmas Eve, alone in my cabin, far from the usual warmth of home and midnight dinner. It was also my first New Year's Eve spent away from family. More than 6 months later, I came back after my contract ended, hoping that I would no longer have to leave my family and home. That experience made me understand the plight of our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). This Christmas, I am offering a prayer for them, especially those working onboard ships. My heart goes out to them and their families who long for their presence more than their padala and pasalubongs . And then I came across this video from Coca Cola featuring our OFW. This got me teary-eyed. Hopefully one day, our families shall stay together, not sundered by the demands of economics. Like it? Share it. Get the Share on Facebook widget and many other great free widgets at Widg...

A few days ago, I was able to read a posted note from fellow doctors on Facebook. The shout out reads, "“If you ask yourself why doctors charge so much for consults, it's because we don't get paid vacations, we don't get paid sick days, we don't get bonuses for outstanding performances nor for Christmas. We don't have insurance plans nor do we qualify for unemployment. We sacrifice our family on special days so that we can bring treatment to others. Illness or personal affairs are not excuses for a misdiagnosis or mismanagement. Next time you ask, remember that doctors are doctors because of the love of life, but that love doesn't pay the bills." Re-post if you're in the medical field" I felt my skin crawling actually when I read this note. I wanted to write a comment but another doctor friend of mine, perhaps unable to withstand the creepy feeling this note brought to some doctors and ordinary people, was able to beat me up to it. I am repos...

A group of health leaders from 7 municipalities from Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur were asked about their hopes for their respective municipalities during the first day of their training in Dipolog City (Municipal Leaders for MDG's). These health leaders are the mayors, municipal health officers, municipal social welfare and development officer, and councilor for health or chairperson of the league of barangays. It is quite touching to note that all of them have sincere hopes for their towns, particularly in the field of health. After collating their answers to this question, I made a cloud tag (courtesy of Wordle) to see the pattern in their answers (kinda like a semantic analysis). The following is the cloud tag of the answers to the question: "What do you hope for your municipality?" Click the picture to enlarge. Like it? Share it. Get the Share on Facebook widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox ! Not seeing a widget? ( More in...

I love listening to Teddy Boy Locsin's TEDitorial portion in the World Tonight on ANC. While I may not agree with all of his opinions, I feel that he makes a good point for every one, even those who are not legal luminaries, to consider, especially at the current situation that we are facing now. His latest editorial, "The Rule of Law or The Rule of Ignorance" made a very interesting point on the Arroyo case. Teddy says, "Erap Estrada should not forget who let him go. First to Hong Kong and then for good." Perhaps this is an answer to Erap's remarks that what is happening to Arroyo is brought about by karma. In his same editorial, Teddy Boy also emphasized that it "was not GMA who toppled Estrada but Cory, Joker, Manny Villar, Erap's allies in Congress, civil societies, FVR, The Church and the Generals..." He also added that it was not GMA but the press "devoid of decorum" who published Erap's humiliating mug shots. Perhaps wh...

The Philippine Azkals will be having a friendly match with David Beckham's L.A. Galaxies this coming December 3, 2011. And since I will be in Manila during that day, I am planning to watch the game considering how rare this moment can be for Philippine sports. So I went online to check the seat prices at Ticketworld. The cheapest ticket is 2,000 pesos. This is perhaps the most expensive ticket being sold in an Azkal international football match. In the past, ticket prices would range from 300 to 3,000 pesos. The most expensive ticket is 15,500. The seat arrangement is posted here, courtesy of Ticketworld. I am having second thoughts of watching the event. I am not sure if it is going to be covered by Studio 23 or any cable channel for that matter but the point is, I think it would be exciting to watch the game together with the rest of the crowd. The match starts at 7:30pm of Dec. 3, 2011. I still have until the end of the week to decide whether or not I am going to watch th...

A few days ago, I was sent a link in facebook about baby Aiyanna, who was born with a complex cyanotic heart disease (complete atrioventricular septal defect, single atrium, single ventricle, malpose great arteries, pulmonary stenosis, closed PDA). She has what they call single ventricle defect, which is a very rare congenital heart defect. A normal person would have 4 chambers in his heart but Aiyanna only has 2. Her latest 2D echo result suggests heterotaxy heart condition and she is considered for heterotaxy syndrome, another rare defect involving the arrangement of the heart and other organs in the chest and the abdomen manifesting malposition as well as abnormal symmetry. Why am I giving so much focus on Baby Aiyanna? Baby Aiyanna is actually a daughter of a fellow former Doctor to the Barrios (Doc Yash, Batch 21). The multiple issues with her heart requires three (3) stages of surgery. Doc Yash and his family is in need of financial support to help save their baby and give he...

A new video ad for Axe deodorant has recently been banned due to it allegedly offending Christians. The video depicts women angels falling from the sky seemingly attracted by the scent of Axe deodorant worn by a man. The commercial ends with the angels throwing away their halos, apparently exchanging their immortal state of life for a mere mortal. According to the news, a male Christian viewer wrote a complaint to the company expressing how upset he was that by "the suggestion that God's messengers could literally fall for a man on the basis of his shop-bought fragrance." I am posting the video here. What do you think? Like it? Share it. Get the Share on Facebook widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox ! Not seeing a widget? ( More info )Like it.