Friday, December 31, 2010

Out with the old, in with the new

It's annual cleaning time. I don't know. I just felt the need to give in to my compulsion after postponing it so much, I finally decided that I need to clean things up for the new year. I need it and God know my life needs it. :) I didn't bother the before pictures but here's my after pics.










.... I know it might not look clean. But it really is already.. Considering I threw away 2 trash bags of things. :) I just wanted things to be cleaner... BETTER. :D

New Planner

I know my bro won't be happy because I'm not going to use the planner I had.. But.. I just really need to set it at a better direction.. Here's my 2011 planner. :D




Hope I can "navigate my life" this year. 

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas Post

I am not one who celebrates Christmas that much. I don't know. I can't say that I am a Grinch but i'm not an eager-beaver as well. I'm a Catholic - a moderately faithful one but still a Catholic nonetheless and I do or we do celebrate Christmas ever since I was young. I don't really know when I started losing the essence of the celebration - whether it was when I found out the reality of the Santa story, an incomplete Christmas celebration or what.. But what's clear is that I no longer am up to the celebration sometimes. I don't know. It's more on who I am celebrating it with than just the meaning behind the season. Love has been such a foreign word in this story. it's as if everything is just a mere obligation nowadays. I don't like what I'm doing and it's more on the powers of the superego that's pushing me to complete such daunting tasks. It would be easier if I could feel the appreciation and a little reciprocation. Unfortunately, that's one thing that they can't do. And the more I persist here, the more I die. 

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Where would be the best vacation spot for Christmas?

Where would be the best vacation spot for Christmas?

Answer here

When is/was your most memorable Christmas? How would you say so?

When is/was your most memorable Christmas? How would you say so?

Answer here

What will comprise your grown-up Christmas list?

What will comprise your grown-up Christmas list?

Answer here

What's your favorite Christmas song?

What's your favorite Christmas song?

Answer here

What present do you want to receive for this Yuletide season?

What present do you want to receive for this Yuletide season?

Answer here

Now that the Aquino administration has been in power for a few months, it is more or less acceptable to evaluate their performance. What is/are your opinion/s with the current administration?

Now that the Aquino administration has been in power for a few months, it is more or less acceptable to evaluate their performance. What is/are your opinion/s with the current administration?

Answer here

How would you make 2011 different from 2010?

How would you make 2011 different from 2010?

Answer here

What are the top 5 memorable events in your life for 2010?

What are the top 5 memorable events in your life for 2010?

Answer here

Do you observe the new year's resolution tradition? If you do, what's your new year's resolution and how do you plan to see it through?

Do you observe the new year's resolution tradition? If you do, what's your new year's resolution and how do you plan to see it through?

Answer here

What is a typical Christmas season (celebration) for you?

What is a typical Christmas season (celebration) for you?

Answer here

What is a typical Christmas season (celebration) for you?

What is a typical Christmas season (celebration) for you?

Answer here

Let's start with an easy question, what do you plan to do or accomplish this Christmas break?

Let's start with an easy question, what do you plan to do or accomplish this Christmas break?

Answer here

Since it's Christmas break, I have loads of questions fro everyone. Brace yourselves because it's going to be intoxicating! Merry Christmas ;)

Since it's Christmas break, I have loads of questions fro everyone. Brace yourselves because it's going to be intoxicating! Merry Christmas ;)

Answer here

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Avoidance

It's not doing what we are supposed to do because we want to get away from the act or the person itself. Unfortunately, I'm also a suspect of this crazy coping mechanism. I'm supposed to write something that's relatively easy for me to write and yet here I am, not being able to do so. It's so stupid. I can write my columns and my editorials and now I can't even write a simple recommendation. What the heck, right? Ack. I'm so freaking tired and lethargic from the job, I suppose. I don't even think I'm still coherent. O_O ASS.

Reunion Mal-union

Every year, we have a family Christmas party organized by my maternal aunties to try and keep the family intact. I believe this all started when my grandmother was in her last few days and she wanted to have all her children together. They did what they had to and showed up in those reunions and were mostly in the hospital trying to please my dying grandma. I can't really recall every detail since I was young when she passed. All I know is that after her death, they decided to keep the tradition. Thus, we have a Chua's Christmas party tomorrow at a place I don't know where. Yes. That's always the case anyway. I never know where my body will be brought to until I actually get there. That's how inconsiderate they are of a person's rights. Anyhow, that is going to happen tomorrow. 

Unfortunately, we have a very important balikbayan friend that we need to entertain tomorrow and so y mom has her perfect excuse to bail on her family once more. I can never really say the reason why she's like this but I have my own guesses. At any rate, we are not going to be together tomorrow. It's either we would go to the reunion first and then follow after the party to the other party or just plainly stick to the other party. It's just unfortunate that the family air is no longer present. my brothers have some conflicts with my uncle and aunts since they are working with them. Thus, during holidays and rest days, they are automatically deemed as eye sores. Needless to say, they are not so inclined to go too.

It's just sad because I am not close with my cousins and I believe that this is one big factor that contributed to that. I wonder how it could have been like if I had a cousin that's really close to me ever since birth? well, that's not going to happen anymore. I just find it wrong that my mom would always lecture and push us to be each other when she can't do it herself. 

Scribbling Block (a poem written in 10 minutes)

Blank stares won't do any good
as I toil along for words to come through
Clearly I'll never be in the mood
to get a simple message that is true

It should actually be easy 
to put into words something so real
Everything could come along freely
if only I could figure out what's the deal.

For months, heck, years! 
I've forced myself to write. 
And yet for this simple one, yet dear
I've lost all my might. 

All hope can't be found
As detriment seems to be in progression.
It seems that this is the only way bound
- an inevitable road towards regression


Saturday, December 18, 2010

A Gavel Unbanged: A Scale Unbalanced and a Silenced Fourth Estate

“Justice denied anywhere diminishes justice everywhere” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

A year has passed since the atrocious Maguindanao massacre took place but the litigation is nowhere near its completion and justice has not been served. The crime that ended numerous lives is deemed as one of the worst, if not the worst, crimes that have taken place in our country as Filipinos mass murdered fellow Filipinos all for political motives and an undying thirst for authority. Add to that, more than half of the casualties were journalists wanting to bring the truth closer to the people, hoping to keep the spirit of democracy alive for their hometown. Their lives were mercilessly ended, leaving the Philippines touted as “the most dangerous place for journalist all over the world”.
Unfortunately, it seems that justice will not be attained anytime soon. People believe that the progression of the case will remain sluggish as there are more than a hundred suspects and numerous witnesses are yet to be called to the stand. The estimated time of conclusion would be about a decade – a lifetime’s worth of waiting to have justice restored. Apparently, the return of the spirit of freedom and democracy may also take forever.
As long as the scare of the Maguindanao massacre is present in our country, journalists who bring the truth to the people would be apprehensive about presenting the facts to their fellowmen, especially with the threat not only to their own lives but also to their families’ as well. And as long as justice has not been met and no one is held accountable for the monstrous crime, similar callous criminals would still resort to these actions as very few of them are punished. We might never see the end of this.
This is not just a battle of political clans or journalists. It is a battle of all Filipinos. This is a battle for our rights and our freedom to speak. Time may have passed and events may have occurred in our history but we should never forget the injustices made against our people.
A year has passed since the atrocious Maguindanao massacre took place. How many years will we wait for justice to be served? How sure are we that this won’t ever happen again? What will you do? 

For Real or For Show?

“All the world’s a stage; and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time, plays many parts.” – Shakespeare

As the beloved Nursing Week commences, one can’t help but think back on all the presentations that transpired. From singing to dancing to acting, the Nursing community definitely showcased its undeniable talents in various captivating performances. It was enticing and it was entertaining especially from where we were seated. But how would the view be from backstage?
As performers would always say, and I would definitely agree, it’s crazy backstage. The microphone may be on even when it’s not, the gigantic props are too big to be concealed or there are too many cast and crew members for the lead to squeeze in and enter the stage. Things don’t always happen as planned and mishaps are bound to take place. When they do, the best thing that we can do is to cover them up and pretend everything is going just fine and it was all part of the show. No one will be able to know the difference as long as you’re quick and keen to mask the flaws. But the stage is not the only place where acting or even directing takes place. Everyone we meet in our everyday life can put up a show and pretend that they are okay even if they are not. And as surprising as it may sound, even the government and its politics can put up a great show.
Of course, we would not be able to know that it was a cover-up until things blow out of proportion or we’re too keen to detect what might just be a manipulated broadcast. The spokesman would be quick to assure everyone during press releases that the situation is under control even when in reality it is not. Take the hostage-taking incident a few months back, for instance. At first, it was said to be under control until we found out that the hostage-taker had already murdered seven tourists. After quite some time, we learned the story behind the whole drama and what was happening backstage. Another incident would be the recent bus transportation strike which, again, was said to be under control. However, the traffic jam that day was a nightmare of epic proportions. Perhaps, there were measures taken to alleviate the situation. But the cover-up was not enough because we have not only seen but also felt the consequences of the predicament. The list can go on and on but we would not really be able to figure everything out because the only ones who know the real score would be the ones behind the whole production.
This makes me wonder what else could the administration have covered up and what else will they be concealing from the people? A news blackout here, a bribery there - how difficult could it be to hide the flaws of their performance? Although the media tries as much to deliver accurate and reliable news to us, we can never really be sure what reaches us is the truth or just a made up story by the government to assure damage control especially now that the current administration is still in its primacy. We need to be careful and figure out the story behind the story, if ever there is one.
 For now, we just have to scrutinize: Is what we see for real or for show?

The Promised Dream: Reality or Ideality?

Pwede na muling mangarap? Can the Filipinos dream again?
A new chapter in Philippine History is being written as a new administration, believed to bring about the pivotal change that our country needs, assumes office. Most Filipinos believe that having the son of two prominently virtuous and patriotic icons as their president would resolve the country’s chronic problems of graft and corruption. Yet, some still dwell on the scarce competencies that the newly elected president possesses compared with his opponents. No matter what one’s opinion may be, the elections has concluded, and it is clear that Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” C. Aquino III won by a clear mile.
Though still in its primacy, the Aquino administration is not altogether safe from the painstaking scrutiny of the public eye. Each decision and action is a target for criticism as high expectations derived from the promises of busting corruption and leading with bureaucratic democracy is expected from the current government. However, it is undoubtedly too early to pass judgment on the Aquino administration. We can only go as far as criticizing his apparent leadership skills or methods and his plans for the various sectors of the country.
In President Noynoy Aquino’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA), apart from emphasizing the inherited “mess” the current administration has to clean up, he was also able to enlighten the Filipinos on how he will be as the leader of the country.
The “wang-wang issue” became a mainstay in broadcast media even several days after the SONA, and numerous remarks and jokes have been made about the whole issue. But amidst all criticisms, Pres. Aquino stayed true to his word and did not use his wang-wang privilege to steer clear of Metro Manila’s very heavy traffic jams. Small and simple as it may seem, this action taken by the President actually depicts how he would, more or less, rule the country.

“A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not.”
            Choosing not to use his presidential privileges emulates identification with the Filipino masses, depicting that he does not see himself better than or above them. It depicts that he is willing to lead with the people by example. The wang-wang has often been abused by officials, who have no authority using them, in cheating their way through traffic jams at the expense of the common Filipinos who sit through long rides just to get to their destination. Through this example led by the highest authority in the country, stricter implementation of rules and regulations would now be more possible, and the people would not entertain the thought of cheating, especially when the leader does not.

“Great things start from small beginnings.”
            This simple gesture, together with the decree prohibiting the use of the wang-wang, can be the start of the battle against blatant cheating, a simple and thoughtless crime that may ultimately lead to corruption, which remains to be an unresolved issue despite efforts on the part of the new administration to rid the old government of such rampant anomalies. As much as lying or cheating can lead to worse crimes, simple measures of following rules and regulations can bring about a more peaceful and organized country. Here, one is once again reminded that things both great and devastating have always originated from small, simple acts.

“Be the change that you want to see.”
            Oftentimes, in the perspective of the majority, implementing change for a better future falls under the responsibility of a single individual. There are numerous opinions, aspirations and desires of the people but there is no follow through. A leader is indeed necessary. However, a leader should not fight this battle alone; we, Filipinos should be one in our battle for a better country. We should not rely on just a single authority to make the changes that we want to make. Instead, we should initiate these changes and commit ourselves as living examples of the kind of Filipino that we want to be.

If we can do this, then maybe we can dream again.  

UST @ 400: Are You Ready?

The quadricentennial anniversary of the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas is fast approaching, and everyone is preoccupied with the physical preparation and the formation of activities for this academic year. Yet, while everyone is filled with the grand desire to have a worthy salutation to the oldest existing university in Asia, there are vital aspects in the said celebration that may have been overlooked in the process. Most of the preparations focus on the physical setup and not on reliving the culture and values that brought the University to its 400 years of continuing excellence. Numerous innovative and ambitious activities have been conceptualized and implemented to accomplish anything that would sum up to 400, leaving a jam-packed academic year for the faculty and students. It would be essential to consider if these activities still fulfill the purpose of the celebration. Which is important, the quantity of activities or their quality?
Celebration of momentous occasions demands activities that are congruent with the commemoration of how UST had grown, stood the test of time and morphed into the University as we see it now. Significantly, it should uphold the values and virtues that stood as the elements of its foundation to be the globally recognized university that it is. As grandiose and booming as we want the celebration to be, it is essential that all the activities reflect and uphold the Thomasian values and principles. More importantly, these are the readiness and willingness of the university, faculty and students to be examples of true Thomasians upholding the culture of excellence it has established from its prime. If we are willing to uphold the Thomasian values and spirit, then we are ready for the quadricentennial celebration. If we have embodied the image of a true Thomasian - committed, compassionate and competent, then we are ready for the quadricentennial celebration.
Now, here is the grand question: Are you ready?

Untitled Editorial (co-written with Demi)

Filipinos have a reputation for being resilient to hardships. This quality can be traced back to the time of the Spaniards to the present. Perhaps this is because the average Filipino has, through the years, developed attitudes that allow him to still look at the bright side of things. Amidst the political conflicts coupled with the economic crises of the country, his optimism is unwavering in the sense that he still lives his life with a smile on his face, a song in his heart and a joke ready on his lips. This is especially apparent during the Christmas season, when houses and streetlamps are decorated with Christmas lights and parols. However, this year that is not the case. This year, our resiliency will be tested with a simple question: “How will we spend Christmas after Ondoy?”

            Last September 26, typhoon Ondoy (or Ketsana in other countries), devastated Manila. It is said to be the worst typhoon this year, judging by the extent and amount of damage to property and the lives it took, with a death toll of over 360 people. The aftermath, however, can be considered tremendous for those immediately affected, both psychologically and financially. Realizing this, the University offered its help by collecting donations, along with the individual efforts of each and every College to help the direct victims of Ondoy. While these have been helpful, the trauma and efforts required re-establishing routines and activities of daily living entail a longer adjustment period and continuous support from friends and family members.

            In a few days, it will be Christmas; and yet, a lot of people would say it doesn’t feel that way. Normally, preparations for the holidays start during September and end midway November, so that come December, the decorations and Christmas trees are already up and lighted, with gifts wrapped and safely tucked away under the tree. However, this year, it seems like we have lost some of the Christmas spirit. There is an apparent lack of holiday cheer to go around because there are still people trying to rebuild and recover from the damage brought by typhoon Ondoy. While it is understandable given the unfortunate circumstances, it still makes for quite a frosty Christmas. Then again, perhaps it need not be that way after all.

            Christmas stands for something more than just material things, it reminds us of our Savior’s birth. If we can recall, He was born in a stable, laid in a manger and surrounded by farm animals; humble beginnings not fit for a king and definitely not for the King of all Kings. But it is this simplicity, along with the charity of the barn owner, which should be remembered and noted during the Christmas season, especially now that we are still trying to restore our lives after the Ondoy tragedy. After all, we can do away with the bright (and sometimes musical lights), shiny decorations and expensive gifts; but acts of charity, love and friendship—these we cannot do without. 

Nursing – Compassion = Success?

What is nursing without compassion?
I haven’t asked myself this question for quite a while now. Perhaps, I have been very preoccupied with the stresses of being a junior nursing student and an editor-in-chief that I sometimes tend to forget the simple yet important things in our profession. It was not until our class was required to attend ABS CBN news anchor Ms. Karen Davila’s talk, Discipline: Path to Personal National Progress, when I have been reminded of the importance of having discipline, passion and compassion towards the things one does.
Who would have thought that a famous ABS-CBN news anchor could talk sense and relevance to a group of future nurses and remind them of their responsibilities to themselves, their families, their patients and of course, their country? I do not mean to be indulgent and give Ms. Davila too much praise. It’s not her persona as an established broadcaster that I would like to dwell on—rather, the substance and sense of the words she had imparted within that short span of time is what I would like to highlight in this column.
The words of wisdom served as a good reminder, a wake-up call if you may want to term it as such, amidst the very hectic schedule and challenging school workload that we were beset with. It reminded me of the importance of enjoying the things that we do and making the most out of every situation that we are placed in. It reminded me of the passion that we must for our work and how that passion can give one so much drive and make us affect a huge difference. It had reminded me of the simple yet vital things that we tend to forget whenever we are preoccupied with our own ordeals. It had reminded me of our field’s essence – compassion and care – and that without them, we forfeit all that we work for, which is our identity as Thomasian nurses. Perhaps, I am being too idealistic in believing that values must accompany education in the formation of good citizenry in a country and in the continuation of the good posterity of professions.
In this era, when nursing has become a hit—or a “trend” if you may allow the term—a lot of our students have been persuaded by the prospect of gaining monetary rewards in the long run, or pushed by their families to pursue this course for hopes of greener pastures.
Some individuals may have been undecided, and eventually went for what they believe was practical. They wanted to have financial stability, so they chose what they could foresee as financially-rewarding. It didn’t really matter what they had to do as long as they will be able to earn a good living. They make money as their driving factor - nothing more, nothing less. I wonder though—what will happen to them when the money is gone?
Those who were pushed by their parents have been impelled to face something so foreign that they dismiss it as a stressor in their lives and want to be out of it as soon as they can. Some of them would finish the course just to satisfy their parents’ wishes, and then chase after their “real dreams”, believing that this was the only best solution.
I can recall an established professional saying that this was inevitable and that those who were forced to take up this course will learn to love the profession when they start with their related learning experiences. Truly, a lot of successful nurses didn’t plan on entering the profession. They would always say that they just learned to love it in the process. I would like to believe this because I know that the experience one gets from Nursing can be so unique and fulfilling. However, most of the time, this is not the case. The feelings of disinclination persist to the point that any chance of converting an “obstacle” to an “opportunity” is hindered. This leads to the production of future nurses who lack the drive in everything that they do and be nonchalant towards the simplest acts of having compassion and caring. They may still be functional and knowledgeable of the dos and don’ts of nursing care. However, they lack the very essence of the profession—caring—a simple yet powerful quality that can make the big difference. Caring is an experience that only a few professions are privileged to provide, and as a matter of fact, this is what we nurses are given in abundance. Nursing allows us to affect other people’s lives and make them better. It gives us the opportunity to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ, to exercise our role as stewards and stewardesses of God’s Creation, and to gain that sense of fulfillment once our efforts are put into good use. This, I believe, is much more fulfilling than any satisfaction money can buy.
But what can we do to change this trend in a trend?
Hoping that this would remain etched onto every single reader’s mind, I would like to emphasize on what Ms. Davila said, “There are no accidents in life. Everything has a purpose.”
To my fellow students who chose this course out of their own free will, I salute you. May you find the deeper meanings of life that this profession can bring, and may you always keep the passion inside you burning. It may be a bumpy ride filled with rocky roads and jagged trails along the way, for the roads were never smooth, never easy. Yet never forget the very essence of why we are spending restless days in the classrooms, and sleepless nights shoving our noses on the hollowed spaces of our books—never forget that this is not only for self-improvement, but also for the better quality of care we could give to our patients. The aforementioned would be useless without compassion or care.
To my fellow students who feel trapped in this profession, if you are not meant to be in this college or in this field, then you would not be here in the first place. It may not be to your liking, yet the fact remains that you are here and you had no other choice but to stay. Since you are here, you might as well enjoy the ride. Resisting and carping would only make it difficult for you. There are a lot of opportunities that you could embrace, and a lot of people to appreciate along the way. Make the best out of the situation because that’s what you’re given and that’s what you are going to get.
Perhaps, another way to look at it is this: If you were in the position of your client, who would you want your nurse to be? Would you want your nurse to be insensitive, uncaring, unknowledgeable and ignorant? Would you want to feel that your nurse hates what s/he is doing or is forced to care for you?
So now, I ask you again. What is nursing without compassion?

PGMA Administration: ‘So Long!’ or “Sooo Long!”?

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA) delivered her last State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 27, 2009 at the Batasan Complex… or did she?
This is the mind-boggling question that has been lingering in everyone’s minds even after PGMA had delivered her 9th and “last” Philippine SONA for her administration.  As ridiculous as it may seem, the most anticipated part of the SONA wasn’t her declaration of the country’s status or the contributions of her administration but rather, it was hearing a straight-to-the-point, vindictive, and hopefully final statement regarding her political plans and her plans of accelerating the ratification of Charter Change. But to everyone’s dismay, there were no straightforward answers delivered during her last SONA, and the expected contents were delivered with a surprising blow.
After delivering her speech with the usual trends of having statistical data and some testifying personas, she extended her hopes and wishes for the persona and her gratitude for the Congress. This was common for the last SONA of the president.
However, the president designed her speech to deliver quick jabs to her critics and other political aspirants at the end of almost every achievement she mentioned - a low blow which was certainly unfit for the occasion. Ideally, the event should be a medium for the Filipino people to learn about their country’s development and the things that they will be doing to improve the economy, not the woes of their president. In whatever way the First Family would like to defend their mother, the fact still remains that this was not an appropriate event to vent out her feelings. But what’s done is done, and what we have to focus on is the present and, hopefully, direct it towards a good future.
To end her speech, PGMA said, “I shall step down from this stage but not from the Presidency. My term does not end until next year. Until then, I will fight for the ordinary Filipino. The nation comes first. There is much to do as head of state—to the very last day.” This may not be the answer that we were all hoping for, but, from this, we can see her intentions of stepping down from her position when her term ends.
This is not to say that PGMA was a lousy or useless president; she was able to do a lot for our country. She was able to alleviate, if not solve, the problems of our country especially in those concerning our economy, education, employment and energy reserves. She is a well-educated economist and was able to complete her education in other countries. Whether she has the heart to serve the Filipino people as much as others would serve them is the one left unanswered.
But why are we so worried about, then?
With all the attempts of trying to accelerate the Charter Change coupled with famous scandals like the “Hello, Garci”, “ZTE” and others, the Filipinos have heightened their senses in detecting the possibility of history repeating itself. They would like to prevent the possibility of another period of dictatorship and another need for an EDSA revolution. We want to ensure that the president would willingly and peacefully give up her position when her term ends and that she will not have any other political interests of holding that power once more.  
As we have always been told, prevention is better than cure. The Filipinos want to prevent this from happening again. We have experienced much from the Arroyo Administration, and we are grateful for their services. But come 2010, I believe that we will be ready for the elections and welcome a new administration.

Before I Go On

I cannot take away my being an editor-in-chief so I should just embrace it. I'll be posting some of my columns published in the issues of the Nursing Journal.

Here We Go Again

I find myself in this position once more - trying to get the writing feeling back again. It amuses me on how much I can will myself to do things as compared to waiting for my muse to do its magic on me which I was very much used to when I was young. Perhaps, having this job and having an undeniably apparent super ego have allowed me to force myself to do things even when I'm no longer up to it. Thus, it killed the artist in me. 

I started out with plainly writing what's on my mind and expressing without any conformity to a norm. I don't write with some guidelines in need of observation. I just go and allow my hand to scribble or my fingers to key in some words. It used to be so natural and so easy. No grammar checks, no deepening of words. It's just plain stream of consciousness roaring out of my mind - liberated and unconstrained. Now, it's a totally different story. I no longer write to express even if that was my battle cry. I stuck too much to the status quo that I've hidden who I am and how I am. I completely kept away my roots and my heart. I hoped to allow it to break free with a blog like this. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make time for myself once more and allow myself some time to vent. But hopefully, I can start over again. A new layout, new content. More meaningful posts and just plain me as me and not me as an editor, writer or whatever.