He won ! But i can feel the pain of being vanquished and the face of cluelessness of his boxing career on Mr. Morales' face. Lets celebrate his victory but we should remember that all is not victorious. To Mr. Morales, thank you for the good fight, even if we feel shortchanged of the lessen period of brutal punching as you gave out on the third round. To Manny, congratulations, and may you not squander your wealth as some past boxers have done.
Remember N-A-V-A-R-R-E-T-E! No mas!

This weekend, I was in Argao. I wish it was a laag journey but somehow, sounds-like na pud kay trabaho ug laag na man pud siya. I was with the Tzu Chi Foundation, they invited some ophthalmologists to do free cataract surgery para sa mga pobre ug uyamot nato nga mga ka-igsuonan sa lungsod sa Argao. Kuyog nako sila Drs. Jeffery Lim and Janice Lim from the Chong Eye Center, Dr. Milanel Fuentebella , Chief Resident of CEbu Doctor's University Hospital, Dr. Andrew Uy of Cebu City Medical Center Eye Clinic ug uban pa nga mga miyembro sa Foundation. Kuyug pud namo ang mga nurses sa Cebu Doc.

Nagsugod na sila ug opera pag abot nako, medyo na late ko ug abot gikan sa dakbayan. Naka- opera na sila ug 15 ka pasyente sugod pa sa buntag. Naka-ambit na sila sa ilang mga powers sa 15 ka pasyente. 15 patients na ang nabalikan na ug kahayag ang ilang mga panan-aw. 15 patients na ang naka-pasalamat na sila sa Ginoo sa pagbalik sa ilang kahayag. Kaming mga doctor, instrumento lang sa Ginoo. Dili kami ang nag-balik sa ilang panan-aw, ang Kahitas-an ang nagbuot sa tanan.

(Actual picture of Patient's eyes being operated in Argao)

Ang operasyon sa mata, dili kani ka-tiaw-tiawan. Sayon nga tan-awon, pero lisud buhaton. Lalim ba nimo ug dungan ang imong mata ug kamot samtang nag-lili lang ka sa microscope. Kinahanglan ug daghang powers. Kinahanglan ug daghang pangaliya.

A lot of pressures, a lot of stress. But im sure that if you're given the proper training and guidance, young doctors (young pa pud ko!) who wants to go into training, you should go into ophthalmology. Muta ray imo kontra!




Of course, human sa trabaho, pahayahayay na sa baga ug sa mga gi-pangkapoy nga bukton. Ambak dayon sa dagat, swimming dayon sa pool. Ang uban nag-shina-okay sa videoke, pero ang tanan dili na hait nga instrumento ang dala kun dili brown na nga botelya. Kalimtan ang ka-alimout sa operating room, kalimtan ang kasakit sa buko-buko, kalimtan ang ka-poypoy sa kamot.




Pero way juy mo-reklamo, kay wa ra ba mo sugu-a nga pangopera. Way nag-nagpugos sa pag-kuyog. It is our choice, it is our heaven.


















25 ka pasyente ang nabalikan ug kahayag kadtong adlawa. Hinaut nga ilang galmon ang ilang ika-duhang higayon sa pagka-kita sa kahayag sa adlaw, sa ka-berde sa dahon ug sa pahiyum sa ilang mga apo ug anak.

10 ka pasyente ang na-kiskisan sa ptyregium. Nahiluwas na sila sa mga tutuk sa mga tao tungod sa unod sa ilang mga mata. Dili na sila ma-uwaw mu tutuk og balik.

This eerie site met us when we visited the Twin Lakes of Balinsasayaw in San Jose, Negros Oriental last year. It reminded me of the movie, The Others by Nicole Kidman. The mist was all over the place and we were the only people around. A passing local said that this the first lake, farther on is the second lake which 20x more bigger. We decided to go further to make our trip more worthwhile as we had traveled more than an hour in a road of steep ravines and angled unpaved roads.

And this the second lake that we have been chasing. It was more eerie than the first one. You can feel the Loch Ness Monster suddenly arises from the water and eat you alive, whole! What a great way to die! But my husband said that he can imagine the water full of piranhas ready to munch and chew his flesh. But hey, in fairness to the lake, it was very beautiful, pristine and peaceful. We took turns in shouting and hear our own echoes. Yes, echoes! in a lake nestled in between a range of small mountains. Amazing noh? But our grumbling stomachs brought us back to reality, demanding its share of chow, but there was nothing to eat but a few cans of sardines. I would have wanted a big bite of pork belly sinugba and kinilaw to go with the ambience. A few slurps of ice tea or mango shake would'nt hurt a bit. But nah, we just have to make do with the hot sardines with lots of garlic and sibuyas paired with the steamy smoking bugas mais cooked by the nature park ranger's wife. A grumbling stomach has no choice but to grabbed what's laid out. Mind you, the food doesn't taste bad at all but it evokes memories of many comfort foods you longed to eat in a rainy afternoon (it was in fact a rainy afternoon during our visit).

We hopped on rented bancas to tour and criss-crossed the lake aboard it , discovering its hidden secrets, btw, we did not find any.

And to Rey, our good friend and tireless defender. May the memory of this trip, be with you always, rest in peace our friend. You will always be remembered.

Ambot lang sa Ok-ok!

Read in syllabics :

FE-A-RA-BOY, FE-A-SA-TO, LI-LI-A-A-DA-CU-A

Asa ang Dyuti Guard?

Bottomless! Free tissue.

Ayaw ug babagi ang gate kay ma-negro mog way oras!

Gahi man gud mo ulo! Ingnan no vendors, na rattle
hinuon ang tag-iya sa koral, na-wrong spelling wrong!

LECHON CHRONICLES

Si Manny Pacquiao ug ang akong bugtong anak sa dihang ni-bisita siya sa lungsod sa Mandaue. Fight ni Pacquiao ug Morales karong Domingo, kinsa kahay makadaug?

Di sad ko motou nga magpakulata si Morales ug usab ni Dodong Manny, mohatag jud ni siya sa iyang katapusang katakus para ma-pildi sa makusgang komo ni dodong Manny. Sa akong tan-aw, dili na ni siya simpleng boxing match usa na kini ka ego smashing event. Dili na bukog ug unod ang mabun-og ani kundi balati-an ug garbo na sa duha ka mga fighters.

Pero kay usa man kita ka dakung BISDAK, atoa jung dapigan atong GREATEST BISDAK BOXER.

Go Manny!

”In the name of the best within you, do not sacrifice this world to those who are its worst.

In the name of the values that keep you alive, do not let your vision of man be distorted by the ugly, the cowardly, the mindless in those who have never achieved his title.

Do not lose your knowledge that man's proper estate is an upright posture, an intransigent mind and a step that travels unlimited roads.

Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all.

Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach.
Check your road and the nature of your battle.

The world you desired can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it's yours.”

-Ayn Rand

Pastilan!

On STEVE IRWIN : Mirisi kang tawhana ka! Gi-ingnan nga dili mag-paduol sa mga wild animals, mi-dutdut jud. Pwerte jud siguro ning sipata pagka-bata niya. Na-orphan na hinuon iyang mga anak tungod sa iyang kabuang. Pagka-anugon!





On KRIS AQUINO : Naka-score na jud akong idol ! Mang-hinaut lang ko nga dili mapareha ni Josh ang iyang anak. Ka faet kung ma -abnormal napud. Simbako!






On CEBU'S ULTIMATE URBAN LEGEND: Nahinumdum pamo sa storya sa dakung bitin sa Robinson's Cebu. Kaluha kuno ni Robina. Kung mag-ilis ka sa dressing room, tukbon ka sa bitin nga nag-puyo sa ilalum sa tindahan. Mataypa! pwerte jud nakong to-oha ani (kani laging high school pata). Di jud ko mu-adto ug CR kung wa koy kuyog.






On PHILANDERING HUSBANDS: Put-lan ug onitch!Unya ipa-bitay- bitay sa punuan sa tamatis.



On UNFAITHFUL BOYFRIENDS: Pakan-on ug blade ig human ug pangag.

The Right to See

The Right to see is not written in the books of law
not defended in the Halls of Justice,
But when one sees the beauty of nature around him,
and lens the blind child a helping hand,
The Right to see must then be written in the heart of every man.

Sleep and Chocos

Waking up early is a struggle for a candle burner. It seems that all the emulsified cholesterols are getting their fair share of respite. But these old bones have to get up and be ready for work and all that comes with it. Such an everyday scenario for me.

We live quite far from the hospital and my son’s school, ngitngit pa gud ig lakaw namo, nindot pa ka-ayong iku-ub sa habol. What we do is sleep through the journey to the city with our pillow on board. Mag-lanug-lanug pa gud kuno among hagok ingon pa sa driver, mamukaw na lang na siya kung naa na nami sa Boy’s High. Pilit-pilit pa among laway ig mata namo. Mukalit dayon ug kaabtik akong anak kung abot nami sa iya school , dayon pangutana ” late nako, mi?”

When its my turn to got off, diha pako magkara-kara ug sudlay, pulbos ug lipstick. Dayon dagan sa taas para mag-rounds, dali dali ug ilis ug scrub suit para sa mga kaso. Usahay muhapit pa ug panga-saba sa ophtha interns nga nag kwinanggol.

After all the procedures, adto dayon ko sa OPD. This has been a routine for quite sometime.

You see, im the only resident physician in my department with no applicants in sight. We serve a lot of patients a day and sometimes mag-GGB ka.

Manawagan unta ko kung naa moy kaila nga gusto mo training pagka-ophthalmologist, palihug kontaka dayon ko. Dawaton siya sa among department nga way lisud-lisud.

Pul-an pud biya ko usahay sa akong kahimtang, pero wa na may jud koy mabuhat kung dili sa pag-dawat sa sitwasyon. As in NO CHOICE. The only redeeming thing amidst the fatigue is the smile of the people you have help.

Like what happen yesterday. There was a patient who sought consult. She was not my ordinary clientile. She was a rich looking old woman with an educated bearing. (no offense to my other patients ha, who belong to CDE crowd) She wanted to have a second opinion on her eye problem. (nakalitan pud ko sa iyang tuyo kay kinsa ra man gud tawn ko nga pangayo-an ug second opinion, ni konsulta na ni siya sa usa sa mga ginoo sa ophtha sa cebu who is by far very much experience than me) She said she just came back from the US, where 3 american doctors saw her, they were not able to satisfy her. After examining her, i told her that indeed she had a serious eye problem (total retinal detachment), if she will undergo surgery, there’s only a slim chance that her eyesight could be restored.( this is what the other specialist also said) I was telling her that you should’nt be sad or felt sorry, God is so good to you, your other eye is still good. God gave you a lot of blessings, He gave you a good life, at least you will not worry where to get your next meal, all your children have studied well and you have never experienced anything to being poor. In fact your blessings are way beyond the usual. But I impressed upon her that with all the information that she’s getting about her condition, she and only she can make the decision for herself. Either she will undergo the surgery and all its risks or accept the situation wholeheartedly. It’s all up to her. The technology to treat her will always be here, and she has no financial hindrance to speak of, but the decision to use it will be her’s alone. And that was it.

Then, this afternoon, two girls were looking for me at the opd. I ask them why, they said that Mrs. XXX sent them to give me a bagful of chocolates, one for my interns and one for me. There was also a letter from her, thanking me for the time i spent with her and that technology cannot be compared to truthful and heartfelt explanation. Of course, i cannot deny that I was touch (tao lang po ako). And definitely, Im not sharing these with you so that I can brag ( im not also sharing my chocos, bleh!). Im sharing these because I wanted you to know that there are still people who have good souls, who appreciates what you’ve done to them. These are the things that makes me believe in the goodness of humanity. And for us overworked, government MD’s, this is what makes us keep going.

Eye of the Beholder

THIS MAY SOUND GROSS, BUT THIS THINGS DO HAPPEN.

FOR THE PAST WEEKEND, I ADMITTED THREE FORMS OF RUPTURED EYEBALL (YUP, EYEBALLS DO BURST, AND YEPEEY MY INTERNS AND PGI’S GOT THEIR DX RIGHT, IM VERY IMPRESSED WITH THEM)

ONE CASE WAS A 34 YO MAN WHO SLIPPED WHILE WALKING IN THE ALLEY. HE BUMPED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TOUGHIE WHO FELT SLIGHTED BY THIS UN-INTENTIONAL ACTION. AMBOT LANG KUNG UNSANG BAKUKANGA ANG NASULOD SA ULO SA BOGOY, GISUKMAG MAN HINUON ANG POBRE NGA NA-DAKIN-AS. ANG KAFAET KAY GI-APILAN UG HAIT NGA YAWI ANG IYANG KOMO, PWERTENG KA BUSLOT SA ATAMS! MOKIHA RA BA KUNO CLA SA BOGOY, KA-FAET SA AKO LIFE KUNG INGUN-ANI PIRMI, ATUBANG NA PUD SA KORTE! PERO SIGE NALANG KAY DILI SA AKONG ATAMS TU NITUROY. LOOY TAWN KAAYO KO SA AKO PASYENTE.

second case: 64 yo f/w from the hinterlands of cebu. she was afflicted with bell’s palsy many years back and her eyes were super-exposed to the elements. wa jud ni matambalan kay tungod sa ka tumang ka-kabus. ang nahitabo ani, naka bantay na lang siya nga naay nibutho sa iyang mata unya naay itum nga duga ang ni-dagayday sa iya nawong. kung magtan-aw ka nya, mura jud ug kumuton imo kasing-kasing kay hiwi pa iya nawng, buta pa ang usa ka mata.

third case: 58 yo f/m from the deep southern part of cebu. samtang, siya nangumpay ug pag-kaon para sa iyang mga hayop, naka-sapdi cya ug wire sa iyang pag-pa-uli. natusukan tawn iyang tu-o nga atams. dako kaayo ning ka-daut sa iyang pag-panginabuhi kay didto raba sa ilang bukid, wala siyay laing kaabag.

PAMALANGDONG: we tend to ignore the important things in life, we took notice only when it is compromised. count your blessings and be thankful you are alive and complete.

BUGTONG ANAK

SIYA ANG BATA NGA NAA SA AMONG KILIRAN.
MAG-SIGE UG AMBAK - AMBAK, MAKA-LIPONG MURAG UG DUYAN.
GAKOS-GAKOSON KA KUNG IKAW NAG-LAGOT,
WAGTANGON DAYON IMONG KAMPUNGOT.
MUPA-HIYUM DAW MURA UG ARTISTA,
MAKALIMTAN ANG IMONG MGA PROBLEMA.
MAGKIG-HINABI NIMU NGA MURAG USA KA DAKUNG TAO,
ULITAWO NA KUNO CYA.
BATA NGA DILI NIMO MAKALIMTAN,
DILI NIMO MAPA- SAGDAN.
GI-UMOL SIYA SA GUGMA,
PATUBU-ON PUD SA GUGMA.
TUL-IRON SA DISIPLINA,
PARA MATINAHURON SA IYANG PAPA UG MAMA.
HINAUT SA KAHITAS-AN NGA PAGA-TUGAHAN SIYA SA MAAYONG UGMA.

I SWEAR

I will prescribe regimen for the good of my patients, according to my judgement and ability, and never do harm to anyone.
To please no one will i prescribe a deadly drug, nor give advice which may cause his death.Nor will I give a woman a pessary to procure abortion.
But I will preserve the purity of my life and my art……………

- from the hippocratic oath demanded of the
young physician about to enter upon
the practice of his profession

Sa singot, sip-on, luha og muta,
makab-ut ra ang tanan
basta na-ay mag-pautang.
Tultulon ug hulog-hulog para way sakit sa dughan
ug dili malabnihan,
dili pud mauwawan.

My hubby is having his day, 37th na cya karon and he is so excited. He prepared everything, ako man ta nang trabaho ang mu-contak sa caterer, tawag sa tent, buhat ug dessert, pero gi-angkon ang tanan karon. Bisita lang ko sa iya party, pag-kahayahay.

Outside, right now, his friends are giving him their wishes and good tidings through the brown bottles. I just hope nga ang espiritu sa baso dali ra mu hupas. I dont want him to get drunk, unsaon na lang ang alta presyon, naa na raba na-cyay gi-maintain.


For you, my husband, you are my life and my love. Hapy Bday, dad. I love you.