Tuesday, June 30, 2009

salbutamol: don't leave home without it

Had an unpleasant blooper today: I went swimming but left my salbutamol inhaler at home, because of changing bags and all that. And just as I was starting the first lap I could feel an asthma attack coming. Oh, no! I went very slowly, at the most leisurely pace possible, so as not to aggravate the bronchoconstriction going on, hoping it would just go away by itself as it sometimes does. But to no avail. I had to get out of the pool after the fourth lap, afraid that the beginning asthma might progress into a full blown attack if I continued swimming. It was such a bummer because today was one of the rare times that Iday and Jinjun were also at the pool and I was looking forward to swimming with them. Heaven forbid that they might have had to bring a wheezing me to the ER for a stat nebulization.

So tomorrow again, with the salbutamol inhaler, please.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Dr. MSB's Clinic


Doctors' clinics at the SU-MAB


Dr. VTR's

Dr. BPF's

Dr. AES's

Dr. RMTO's

Dr. EBQ's

Dr. DVO's

Dr. STF and Dr. SLF's

Dr. LEFT's

Dr. DMA and Dr. RGA's Clinic

Dr. KGK's Clinic

______________________________


Dr. MSB's Clinic


door to inner clinic



sitting area


examining table


Sunday, June 28, 2009

Coyiuto Concert

[Got this blurb from the Silliman University Cultural Affairs Committee Facebook account. ]

_______________________________

The 47th Cultural Season Launches with Pianist Christine Coyiuto and Flurist Caitlin Alisa Coyiuto in Concert



Acclaimed pianist Christine Coyiuto comes back to the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium stage, this time with her flutist daughter Caitlin Alisa, for a concert that is the also the inaugural show of the Silliman University Cultural Affairs Committee’s 47th season.

The concert, which is part of a Visayan tour, is slated on Sunday, 28 June 2009. The show will be preceded with a launch of the CAC’s cultural season’s slate at 6 p.m. at the Luce Auditorium foyer, and the concert will start promptly at 8 p.m.

The duo had wowed Manila audiences previously with a critically lauded concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The Philippine Star’s Rosalindo L. Orosa has written of that event: “Pianist Coyiuto was the epitome of elegance, refinement, sensitivity, and restraint, infusing it with the subtlest nuances. Flutist Caitlin, young though she is, brilliantly rendered, her tones full, firm, assured. Her vibrant performance was an eloquent augury of the brightest future.”

The Coyiutos will be performing Franz Joseph Haydn’s Capriccio in G Major, Hob. VII:I, Felix Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words, Cecile Chaminade’s Concertino for Flute and Piano, Op. 107, and Claude Bolling’s Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio (with Joi R. Magadia on bass and Jorge F. San Jose on drums).

Tickets for the show are available at P200, P400, and P500.

Tickets and season passes for all other Luce Auditorium shows produced by the CAC are now available at the College of Performing Arts office, the Luce Auditorium office, and at the theater lobby before the show. For inquiries and ticket reservations, please call (035) 422-6002 loc. 520.


__________________________


What a potentially lovely and entertaining evening! I say potentially because I can't watch the concert as my notes and slides for tomorrow's lecture on Membrane Potentials and Action Potentials, is nowhere near completion yet.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

big blog break

:: on vacation ::

[yeah, in June. why not?;-) ]

Friday, June 26, 2009

jazz kiddin'


I am kidding myself, of course, semi-believing that it is possible to post everyday and still make sense or style. My postings of late remind me of when I'm swimming a lap and am so very tired already that there's no more concern for grace or form, only the determination to touch the tiles at the end pool, never mind if the arm strokes are artless and the head coming up for breath half chokes on the water that enters along with the air.


Everyday I plan to say my farewells, good bye, dear reader, no I am not tired of writing, only that other responsibilities demand much attention for the moment, I shall be back when there's more time to be deep and thoughtful and relevant. But then again, even a leave from posting would not guarantee that I shall be all that when I return.

So here I am still, filling yet another page, like the swimmer who believes some serious lung power is going to be built from persevering, a weblogger who imagines writing muscles are flexed by writing.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

reclining buddha

My friend and fellow wanderlust, RV, is going on a hard core back-packing tour this July to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Wish I could do that, too!

This reminds me of Bangkok and here are a couple of pics from among the many things that impressed me about that country.



There are countless temples and buddhas in Bangkok but the Reclining Buddha stands out because of its sheer size, the entire sculpture is about a whole city block in length!



The other thing that impressed me about Thailand is the attention given to intricate detail in their architecture, such exquisite precision preserved through the years.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

lola agre's birthday

We had a little dinner gathering at home tonight to celebrate Lola Agre's birthday. It was also a time to check out the wedding (Ivy and Clyde's) and family reunion pictures in Houston, thanks to Lhet's posting in Facebook!


15 years ago, in 1994
Lola Agre with me and Carlo (4 months old)





Tuesday, June 23, 2009

ivy and clyde


Here's my dear, dear cousin, Ivy, with her parents, Tito Felix and Tita Paro, on her wedding day, June 22, 2009, in Houston. Clyde is somewhere there near the altar, beaming his big smile.

Isn't she lovely?



Monday, June 22, 2009

Dr. KGK's Clinic


Doctors' clinics at the SU-MAB


Dr. VTR's

Dr. BPF's

Dr. AES's

Dr. RMTO's

Dr. EBQ's

Dr. DVO's

Dr. STF and Dr. SLF's

Dr. LEFT's

Dr. DMA and Dr. RGA's Clinic


______________________________


Dr. KGK's Clinic


receiving room
(hmm, is that the spinal column?)


shelves and light



inscriptions



Sunday, June 21, 2009

Enting's Special of Sagay

We had Father's Day dinner at the popular new restaurant in Tubod, Enting's Special of Sagay. Tonight was the third time that we went there but it was the first time that we were actually able to get seats, because previously, the place was always jampacked. My siblings made sure we had seats by going there early in the evening.

What's so attractive about the place?


grainy signage, by my Nokia
(Sagay is a city in Negros Occidental)


Probably not the name because the first time I heard it, I wrinkled my nose, thinking, wala na bay lain sila mahunahunaan? Then when I saw the signage, I winced, ouch, it's so Bisaya, and the old colonial mentality was perhaps wanting to hear something like Luigi's or Mario's in provincial Dumaguete.

Maybe it's the food. Their food is good, an assortment of fresh raw fish, shells, lukot seaweeds that they'll cook to your specifications, as well as pre-cooked food like kaldereta, nilagang baka, sisig and the like, displayed in big woks with black lids. I wouldn't recommend their chicken barbeque though, as it was quite dry, compared to my most favorite of all, those from City Burger, which are always juicy and savory.

Or maybe it's the price. Sixty to ninety pesos per dish may not be too steep a price for the quality of the food and most especially for the place.


lobby decor: dried flower arrangement, stones in wicker baskets

The Place, which I think is the most attractive feature of the restaurant. There's a big guarded parking lot, which is always full, by the way, and the dining areas are airy and well-lit. There's
visible effort exerted to make the place interesting and pleasing to the eye. I am no good at interior decoration so I don't know if the decor is classy or chic or tacky and kitsch. What I can sense is that the ambiance of the place is a good one. It was a busy night, as usual, and there were some ladies who who were not wearing waitress uniforms but were bussing enthusiastically as well. Maybe they were friends or relatives of the owners, if not the owner's daughters themselves.

As with last year's Father's day outing, there was a booboo again tonight, a minor one though. They ran out of rice so some of us had to go low-carb until towards the end of the evening when the waiters brought in steaming cups of rice, for an upside down dinner of ulam-now-rice-later. A special treat tonight, though, was the surprise candy give-aways they had for all the dads.

Would I recommend the place? Most definitely. Everything but the barbeque. According to the story printed on their disposable placemats, Enting's specialty is really seafoods, which is what I will have next time.



Saturday, June 20, 2009

Nurnberg and Rothenburg


That's where I'm going, to these exotic places in Germany, near where my friend, Vicki, who sent these postcards, lives.

When? Someday, someday! For now, in my dreams only. :-)


Rothenburg ob der Tauber


Nurnberg or Nuremberg



Friday, June 19, 2009

it's that time of year


It's mid-June and this has been quite an overwhelming week, especially for our first year students who were in a sort of 'culture shock' as they quickly realized that medical school is not like anything they've ever tried before. It is both a privilege and a heart-pain for me to see the young hopefuls, so eager and excited to come to school, and see the growing horror in their faces as reading assignments, exams, names of all the bones and cells in the body, enzymes and chemical reactions, and all other bodily what-nots, are summarily dumped upon them one after the other, morning and afternoon, all the days of their first week in school.

I don't know how many of them will finish to become MDs, or even finish this semester, so daunted have some of them become. I try to encourage them, with this and with that. One thing for sure, it's too early to quit, yet!

As for the teacher in me, I've been swimming in Guyton's first three chapters these past days, with mitotic spindles and polymerases floating in my conscious and subconscious realms, thus the images in yesterday's post. Each year I read the chapters anew, surf the net for better images for my powerpoint presentations, and write a whole new lecture all over again. There's always something new I learn each time, something that was overlooked or did not stand out previously or even something I had not fully understood. Amidst all the novel realizations, an old theme remains, we have been 'fearfully and wonderfully made' and I am just awed, awed, awed.


Thursday, June 18, 2009

stages of mitosis

prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase

ah, lovely.


_______________________________________


so sorry, i've been to so many sights looking for images that i wanted... now i can't find the source of the above pictures. so sorry, i can't acknowledge anybody for these, nakalimutan ko kung saan to galing. :-(
will try to find out later.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

bahig sa bulak

Last Sunday my dear friend, Jonnah Ruth, gave me this flower and fruit (notice the miniature pineapple!) arrangement that she made and look at it today (Wednesday), still so alive!

Thanks, Mother Jonah!


pagkabahig sa bulak



ang pinya, zoomed


Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Monday, June 15, 2009

H1N1 Advisory No. 1

From the Office of the SU President and the Crisis Prevention and Response Team (CPRT)

Influenza A (H1N1) Containment, Mitigation and Response Measures

Following the DOH advisory for schools, Silliman University is implementing the following measures for all students, faculty and staff in the University community:

1. Individuals arriving in the Philippines from other countries are required to undertake self-quarantine and defer going to school for ten (10) days from the date of arrival,and those who arrived recently, depending on their date of arrival, are required to defer going to school for the remaining number of days to complete the ten (10) day observation period.

2. International students and students who have traveled abroad are required to submit a health certificate from the Silliman University Medical Center before going to school for enrolment. They are also required to bring their passport upon enrolment.

3. Individuals who have been in close contact (i.e. cared for, lived with, or had direct contact with respiratory secretions or body fluids) with someone with a probable or confirmed case of Influenza A (H1N1) are required to defer going to school for ten (10) days after separation from the contact with the case.

4. Individuals with influenza-like illness, like fever with either cough or sore throat and other respiratory tract symptoms, are advised to seek medical attention and stay home for seven (7) days after the onset of illness or at least twenty-four (24) hours after symptoms have resolved.

5. Individuals at high risk to develop complications from influenze (for example, people taking steroids for chronic ailments such as asthma, very young children, people whose immune system is compromised by other illness like uncontrolled diabetes and cancer) are advised to take more stringent precautions to safeguard their health.

6. All students and personnel are encouraged to accomplish the "Self-Health Checklist" and submit the same at the neares University office or at the "Influenza A(H1N1) Assistance Center" located near the front of Hibbard Hall and the Scheide Chapel along Langheim Road.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

gremere, long hair

Not anymore!

Gifted vocalist and musician who can play all kinds of musical instruments, Gremere V., 25 years old and a fresh Architecture graduate, shed his long curly locks yesterday.



Before
September 2008



The Graduate
March 2009




After
June 2009


Guapo ra japon, and it didn't affect his voice one bit. :-)


Saturday, June 13, 2009

need a car?

Here's one that a friend is selling. I don't know any car specs beyond that it is a blue Toyota Starlet so if you're interested, just please call cellphone number 09295481893.







Friday, June 12, 2009

Independence Day


Maligayang bati, sa kaarawan ng iyong pagiging malaya, Pilipinas!


Thursday, June 11, 2009

biggest and oldest

They say this is the biggest and oldest tree in the island of Negros: a Dalakit or Balete tree estimated to be more than a thousand years old, in Canlaon City, home of the famous Canlaon Volcano, which every now and spews steam and ash from its peak, which at 8,086 feet (2,465 m), is the highest point in the Visayas.


photo by Dr. Michael Oliveros, our surgery resident


Some say Canlaon Volcano is 'not restive' meaning it is not showing any signs of unrest.
Some say it is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines.

Some say it takes 42 people holding hands together to go around the massive trunk of this tree. Some say it takes 20 people to do that.

Some say Canlaon belongs to Negros Oriental.
Some say Canlaon belongs to Negros Occidental.

Some even say that the old balete tree is enchanted.
Some say it is just the fireflies that give it a magical glow at night.

I wonder which is fact
and which is fiction
or just plain confusion.





Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Poema de Gabriel Celaya

Shirimiri

fragmento


Llueve y llueve.
¿Qué delicia sentirse en lo fluyente,
ser un hombre corriente-

Llueve: Fiel definición
de lo que empieza y no acaba,
divinamente sin yo.

Llueve y llueve, y llueve. Llueve,
llueve con constancia, ¿amor
de lo que siempre vuelve!

Llueve y llueve. Nada pasa.
Es decir, pasa la nada.
Llueve tan, tan de verdad, que se descansa.

Llueve sin más. Llueve tonto.
¡Mal tiempo!, dice la gente que vino a veranear.
¡Ay qué buen tiempo sin tiempo!, digo yo.
..... "



Tuesday, June 9, 2009

last scrub!

Today is our beloved OR Male Aide Manong Cardo's 60th birthday. It is also his first day of retirement after thirty years of being with the SUMC. His earliest memory of working in this hospital was when they were making hakot all the hospital stuff from the old Mission Hospital (now the Katipunan Hall) to the new location in front of the SU Ballfield. And the hospital memories that he said he would miss the most would be the outings and the numerous parties throughout the year. In fact, he would be joining the OR summer outing in Dakak this weekend.

We are going to miss him (and his singing!) as he is going to miss us too, for sure! As for me, Nong Cardo would always be my standard for perfect patient positioning. I do hope the new male aides would do as well as Nong Cardo did.

Yesterday was his last day at work ...


Last scrub of the OR walls!



At Room 1 with Cherry, Lando, Carlisle, Edith and MaryAnn



At the Workroom with Mommy Mila, Edith, Ma'am Ordna, Amy and MaryAnn. The two guys in front are Nimrod (capless) and Ronald (colorful cap).



Nong Cardo and his successor, Lando


Monday, June 8, 2009

classes postponed


The first day of school in all collegiate and post-grad levels here in Dumaguete has been moved to June 15 instead of June 8 because of the swine flu threat. Some elementary and high school classes have started in several schools though.

Good for the teachers like me who still have to finalize and fine tune our lectures.


Sunday, June 7, 2009

June Birthdays


Lots of birthdays and lots of eating this June.


Anton, Jean and birthday boy Jovitt




Jean and me feasting, on the occasion of our niece Anari's 8th birthday. There's a lechon at my back and humba right in front of me, and lots of other goodies all around.





Saturday, June 6, 2009

Hatton Bisdak Diay

Learn boxing tips from Hatton, the Bisdak Hitman, himself!






Friday, June 5, 2009

Ricky Hatton from Siquijor?!

Ok, so this is like super stale news. But bear with me, my laptop has been mute (no speakers) and blind (no camera) the past couple of months so tonight was the first time that I watched this oh- so-funny video. Enjoy!


Thursday, June 4, 2009

Dr. DMA and Dr. RGA's Clinic


Doctors' clinics at the SU-MAB


Dr. VTR's

Dr. BPF's

Dr. AES's

Dr. RMTO's

Dr. EBQ's

Dr. DVO's

Dr. STF and Dr. SLF's

Dr. LEFT's

____________________________



Dr. DMA and Dr. RGA's Clinic



door to the inner clinic


receptionist's nook


striped examining area

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

x marks d spot

It's been an Xtraordinary summer, full of sun and sea and escapades. There were mountain treks, volcanic crater swims and massage by waterfall. I thank the One who made them all.



In Apo Island, when I wasn't so sun toasted yet


With Jinjun in Apo Island


Kayaking in Coral Cay, Siquijor, with Apo Island in the background.



Dry, stringy hair and a crisscrossed back, testaments to a summer of adventures galore.


Tuesday, June 2, 2009

blink-a-blog



electricity has been blinking on and off here in dumaguete. yay. so horrible for our appliances. arrgh. not to mention our facebooking, weblogging and netsurfing lives. hrrm.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Balanan Hillside Pools

diving in the rain


on edge


potable ni, pramis. dare to drink?