24
Apr

The Virtue of Thoughtfulness

Thoughtfulness is definitely a virtue worth praising! A person who is thoughtful definitely touch the lives ofpeople around him and warm the hearts of many. Some of the most thoughtful people who remembered my special day in spite of their busy schedules are the following:

  1. Kevin aka Sisiw
  2. Drew, RN
  3. Ivan
  4. Russell
  5. Toni
  6. Mam Ana
  7. Ate janet Laurente
  8. JC
  9. Tita Betchie
  10. Auntie Amy
  11. Auntie Juvy
  12. Stephen
  13. Jenny
  14. Kuya Eugene Magboo
  15. Juy2x
  16. Ariel
  17. Arian Rose Jobel
  18. Joyce Dimaano
  19. Connie
  20. Jen-i
  21. John Solita
  22. Rose
  23. Sis ni Rose
  24. Vince
  25. Tosca
  26. Jazz
  27. Mitch Kla Kla
  28. Kuya Dewy
  29. Joan Gonzales
  30. Kuya Isidro
  31. Maristel
  32. Jhundy
  33. Jerome
  34. Ate Rio
  35. Xyra
  36. Joey
  37. Norman
  38. Kuya Jake
  39. Dior
  40. Kuya Bitoy
  41. Vicky
  42. Bryan
  43. Alab
  44. Roxanne
  45. Kristine
  46. Allan
  47. Auntie Daisy
  48. Luvel
  49. Mabel
  50. Ate Nemi
  51. Choi
  52. Mam Romz

And to all of those whom I failed to mention…

Thank you very much for making my special day MEMORABLE this year!!! I love you all people!!! May God bless you all

23
Apr

Now that I am 26

Yeah, you heard it right! :) Today is the official day when I start my year as a 26- year old professional! :) It’s my birthday!

Just a little reflection on the significance of this day! Yeap, I am 26 years old. And until now, in spite of all the things that happened in my life, I am still here…still empty and feeling lost. I don’t really understand the reason behind this. I am blessed…yes I am! I’ve got a loving family, supportive friends…a stable job…and a ZERO lovelife! hehehe maybe the last one is the last link to my contentment…or is it???

Lately, I am haunted by thoughts and words of some famous men…The words of Thomas Merton kept ringing on my ears…”Everything happens because of God’s love.”..and St. Augustine’s words..”We are made for you O Lord, and our hearts are restless until it rest in Thee..”

All the events that happened to my life seems to be pointing to something else. There are so many coincidences that is a mystery to me! Our Lady (of Mt. Carmel) seems to be involved in these coincidences. And it seems to me that these events are leading me to Mount Carmel…the mountain that is sanctified by Elijah and blessed by Mary, our Queen and our Mother…the mountain that is home to mystics Teresa de Ahumada and Juan de Yepes…that favored Mountain which lead Therese Martin to obtain her dream of loving God in simplicity and in the ordinary events of life…the mountain that is made fertile by the  blood of the Carmelites of Compiegne and its Carmelite martyrs…the mountain that is glorified by its Saints and Blesseds…That sweet mountain that will soon be mine!

Yes, you heard it right. It seems to me that God is calling me to this Holy Mountain! I am just waiting for the lresponse of somebody from the Order of Discalced Carmelites Seculars (OCDS). My life will then be a walk with God as I discern for my true vocation in life! Maybe, this is the ONE that will fill the emptiness inside! This might be the REAL THING! Please pray for me as I embark on this pilgrimage in life! :)

24
Sep

Reflections in Cebu…

Yeah, you heard it right…I’m in the beautiful city of CEBU! The home of Lapu-lapu, vina Morales, and my favorite, Van Roxas, hehehehe I am here for a very special reason…Not to hunt Van Roxas…it’s because of ACADEMIC quest! Nyahaha Ewan ba kung bakit nakiuso din me sa pagkuha ng Doctor of Science in Nursing… Bongga! And my school? The top 2 school of Nursing in the Philippines, Cebu Normal University! :) I don’t know if I am in the right place ‘coz I think I am the only abnormal in the school for normal peepz! Hehehe abnormal? Because I am unique in my own way…

Cebu really is a land of good looking people! Grabe, bumabaha dito ng mga GWAPO! At higit sa lahat, and daming MAGAGANDA!!! Lalo na sa favorite alma mater ko, UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS!!! :) Weehhh!!! Ang sarap lng mag-sight seeing eh…Makahanp nga ng GF na Cebuana? Hahaha joke

I am really a Carolinian at heart! hehehe i really admire this school… Sobrang kakaiba sa nakasanayan ko… They are so high tech here… You can check your grades by merely touching the screen of so many touch screens scattered in their campus… The professors look really smart and there’s a great sense of academic pride among the students and staff…And the nonteaching personnel? Sobrang accomodating…Lahat ata sa Campus, ay ok i-approach eh! :) HTCians will really find it different here, hehehe (oopsss, no offense to HTC NTPs), hehehe may mga mababait din naman sa HTC NTPs eh, hehehe..The Talamban campus is really great! I love it specially the College of Nursing building and the Church of St. Arnold and St. Ferdz! :)

Cebu is so large! It’s so easy to get lost here specially if you are not familiar with the language and the number coding system of the jeepneys! Thankfully, taxi drivers are kind and honest…Unlike in mla where so many drivers are very mapagsamantala…

Hmmm… Food? My gosh! hehehe i’m so excited to taste the LECHON and PUSO? hmmm… my mouth is watering whenever I think of the succulent meat form the Pig (wawa naman ang baboy…), hehehe dito ko rin natikman ang mga lutong di ko pa natikman dati..even the breadfruit na I forgot the name… pati beef steak dito iba ang timpla… Yum yum!

Cebu is beautiful but PALAWAN IS THE BEST! Di ko ipagpapalit and home town ko! When it comes to cleanliness, orderliness and beauty, Palawan really is a model city…Cebu is like Manila…the only difference? The dialect!!! :)

Speaking of dialect, here’s an interesting conversation between me and the Cebuana cashier in USC…

Me: “Good morning ma’am. I will be paying the fees required for my TOR and Honorable dismissal…”

Cashier: (In Cebuano), “Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah….”

Me:” Waah! Wait ma’am…” (looks around for any interpreter to no avail… finally….) “Err, I can’t understand you. I don’t know how to speak in Cebuano…Im from Palawan.” (grins)

Cashier: (smiles) “Ohh, sorry… You have to add additional P20.00 for your honorable dismissal…”

Me:  (langya, yun lng pala yun, hehehe) “Thank you ma’am.”

You see how language can become a barrier in the Philippines? hehehe Thankfully, there’s English which is widely spoken here rather than Filipino…Why don’t we make english as the official language of the Phils instead of Tagalog?!

Cebuanos are really commendable for their faith! There is a strong sense of piety among Cebuanos… Where else can you find a daily hourly Mass attended by SO MANY people? It’s only in Cebu!!! :) I really love the liturgy here…It’s so solemn…And I even attend the daily Liturgy! :) Sana ganito din sa Palawan…Ewan kung bakit kulang sa solemnity ang mga Misa natin… Super dry at nakakaantok… Bakit kaya? :) There is also a strong catholic presence here…It’s so rare to see Churches of other denominations! The faith that was first planted by the Spaniards is SO EMBEDDED in the hearts of Cebuanos! With them, I can shout from the bottom of my heart and lungs…”PIT SEÑor!!!” :)

29
Aug

Realizations… (para sa mga nars at gustong maging nars)

Just recently, I facilitated a retreat for our junior nursing students who are about to receive their caps and pins…And as usual, it is not surprising to find out that the main reason why these students are in this course is that they want to go abroad in search for a greener pasture. Many of them are even forced by their parents and relatives to take up nursing. During the retreat, we looked into our motivations in taking up this course… A lot of realizations took place…Nursing is not all about DOLLARS, EUROS, etc. etc…We are again reminded that nursing is not only a profession but a VOCATION. Thankfully, many of these students of ours finally realized that they are partaking in the healing ministry of the Church. That they are extending God’ healing presence into a wounded humanity. That they are in the world to be angels in the midst of suffering and despair…That they are there in order to respect and promote the dignity of man…

This year, we have the best Capping, Pinning and Candle Lighting Ceremony ever…It was a ceremony that made a difference in the lives of these future nurses…And I am glad whenever our students start their hospital duty with a simple Bible Service (where they reflect on the Gospel for the day) and they go to their patients with a smile on their faces and gentleness in their hearts. Finally, they were able to see Christ in their patients…

And yes, many of these nurses will soon leave our beloved country in order to search for greener pastures. We could not blame them from doing it…I myself has an application to work in the United States…Kapag pamilya ang pinag-uusapan, gagawin mo ang lahat para matulungan sila…Kahit maghirap ka at magtiis sa pakikipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa…Let us pray for all of our Filipino nursing students and nurses who will serve or are serving globally. May they truly become faithful in their calling as Filipino, Catholic, and Christian Nurses…May the Filipino missionary spirit (quoted by Pope John Paul II) inspire these nurses to proclaim Christ in the world through their service to the sick, the poor and the weak!!!  :p

27
Aug

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW NURSES!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW HTC NURSES (June 2007 passers) !!! :) I’m so proud of you guys, hehehe effective din pala me na C.I. Kahit papaano kasi kayo yung mga pinakaunang products ko na naging nurses! :) Thank you very much for allowing me to be a part  of your training as future nurses! :) May GOD continue to bless you in your chosen profession and vocation! Ang saya2x ko tlaga para sa inyong lahat! Sobra!!!! hehehe (,") I am proud to be your colleaugue!

27
Aug

Lucis Unum 2009

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You finally made it! Finally, you are now officially "STUDENT NURSES!" I just hope that the lessons you learned during this Solemn Ceremony will take root in your life forever…God bless you in your future endeavors…Remember this famous quote from Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta," We are not called to be successful, but to be FAITHFUL!" :)

14
Jul

Dark Night of my Soul

"In the evening of life, you will be examined in love…"

This famous quote from Saint John of the Cross left a deep impression on me…For so may years, I’ve been struggling to find out the true meaning of this quote. Tonight, I finally catch a glimpse of its essense…

28
May

i’m somewhat depressed!

Well, I am here not because I intended to…bumili lang ako ng sabong panlaba kaya me napadaan sa internet shop…Hmmm, I realized that in life, we do not know what will happen next. Even though you make plans, it is not a guarantee that everything will be perfect…’coz life is full of surprises…Hmmm…Who knows, one of these days, milyonaryo na ako? O baka namn mgkaka-love life na me? hehehe ewan…ayun….Uy, btw, I received a testimonial from Gagay, one of my students…Hanapin nyo na lng sa testimonies ko d2 sa frendster…It was so touching…I was really surprised at parang kinurot puso ko…muntik na nga me maiyak eh, huhuhu…I didn’t realize that without knowing it, I touched the lives of other people…Na somehow, I made a great difference in their lives…Gagay, thank you very much for inspiring me to become a better person…thank you for inspiring me to become the BEST NURSE and CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR IN THE WORLD! :)

02
May

In the midst of the Magdalenes…

Yeah, you are right…I live in the midst of the Magdalenes in Malate, Manila. They are everywhere…in my hotel, in the side walks, in the different bars, and even in the Church where I attend to. They are real people living in the reality of "my" world. I cannot ignore their presence and I am somewehat interested to know these people better. They deepen my understanding and my openness to the realities of life. As a nurse, I am taught that I should be non-judgmental in dealing with my patients. Yeah, it’s easy to say, but hard to do…Being with these women tauht me to apply this in real life. Afterall, who am I to judge? Christ in the Gospel taught us to be compassionate to such people…Who are we to judge them? It is not their choice to be in that situation…Rather, it is the reality of "POVERTY" that forced them to it…To use their body in order to support their family, their loved ones…Who are we to judge them? Isn’t it that we ourselves are also sinners??? God afterall is a Father of mercy…Who knows, one of these Magdalenes will be elevated in the altars of sanctity…Remember the thief during the Crucifixion? And what about the woman who washed Jesus’ feet using an expensive perfume…And of course, the woman who was almost stoned to death! God’s grace is more powerful than our sins…He will wash our sinfulness with Hyssop…  (Try to read and reflect on the "Miserere"…Psalm 51)

24
Apr

Am I getting older????!!!!

Yeah…It’s my birthday na naman… At this point of time in my life, biglang pumasok sa utak ko…"Tumatanda na ba ako?" Three generations este batches of nurses have passed in my hands…In short, I have already left my legacy in my former students…Whew, matanda na nga ako!!! Hahaha sad, but true! Up to now, di ko pa rin alam ang gagawin ko sa buhay…So many ups and downs…So many sorrows and challenges and so little joys in life. Maybe, I haven’t found my destiny yet. I believe that somehow, somethiong wonderful will happen in my life this year! :) who knows, di ba? I just place myself in His hands so that things will happen in HIS TIME! :)