Monday, December 6, 2010


"I hate my parents...


I hate my mother, she carried me for nine months,

yet she did not even plan for that small part where she will bring me to this pit... you call Earth...


Medical services are available...for free... yet I waited nine months inside my mother's womb

without even getting palpated by the midwife except...when it's time to go see what's outside...


I hate my father...he knew I will be arriving soon,

yet he did not made nor plan what's to become of us,

when I'm finally out of mother's malnourished body,

whom whether hungry, drunk or drugged, I get dizzy inside...


Now, I am out...here in this place you call country,

in this place you call Earth...


I have enough reasons to hate my parents...

Give me enough reason not to hate the World and the people in it...


I have a dream...yes, I do dream...

but, AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM..."

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

War


For years, people have killed each other, countries have colonized small countries

and the only reason is the want for more power...


You see, power gives us so much...

When we get a position, we thought we have power,

By telling lies about a person, you thought you have power,

By knowing that a person loves you so much, you thought you have power...

By not assuring that person of your love or feelings for him/her, you thought you have power...


I believe otherwise...


How can someone who only rises above anyone through stepping on people's toes have power?

Are you aware that there are persons who prefer the hard way? the narrow road?

Are you aware that when you step on people's toes, they might belong to a feet that will step on your face?


How can telling lies about the person you dislike give you power?

Don't you know that "all that goes around, comes around?"

Don't you know that lies are boomerangs that goes back to the source?


By knowing that you are loved, yet you withhold your true feelings

in an effort to gain more leverage against that person, you thought you had power...

tsk.tsk.tsk...

Don't you know that love is also an emotion? And emotion has an ever changing state,

capable of depleting and increasing, depending on your nurturance?

Don't you know that when someone expresses their love for you,

don't you know that they are passing the burden to you?

It is difficult to restrain an ever powerful emotion

and when someone tells you of their romantic feelings for you,

they are getting much power against you. How?


One example, when you see someone wearing a white skirt,

with a blood stain indicating she had menstruation,

you are so uncomfortable, that you have to tell her, right? (if you are a good person, you will not be comfortable letting that person walk and be seen by others with that stain on her skirt)

Notice how confused she gets when you finally tell her of that stain...


When you are puzzled by someone's sweetness and caring,

and you confronted that person with such actions,

notice how uncomfortable he/she became?


When you are in a position to kick people's butt,

and abuse that power, it felt good for a time...

Would you still be comfortable when it comes to your knowledge

that the person you butt-kicked was related to your boss?

Hmmm... I don't want to be in your shoes...


Positions...Promotions...


According to Peter Drucker: "People get promoted on the level of their incompetence."

You are so good in doing the routine work you do, you got noticed

and you got promoted to a job that is entirely different from what you are used to.

And you learn... - that is the proper promotion...


I do not desire to get promoted just because I "know" someone...

I am very much capable of climbing my own ladder

and wait for my turn...

If you get intimidated with people who do their work well, pity for you.

They are not putting out their best to get promoted, they are conquering themselves!

(AND YES, THEY DON'T WANT YOUR POSITION.... THEY CAN AND VERY MUCH ABLE, MORE THAN YOU ARE AND MORE THAN YOU KNOW, GET THAT WITHOUT SNATCHING IT FROM YOU --- and you know that)


Why do you get intimidated then? Why do you worry?

Because at the end of the day, when you look at yourself in the mirror,

you know that you don't deserve the immediate superior that you are...

You know that the person you dislike so much is better than you...

and when you cannot accept that,

like a country that has a culture of envy,

you will start a war...


A war that ultimately, robs you of everything...power, time and integrity.


Don't worry, you will have to start all over again, while your enemy

will stand up all over again, dust herself/himself

and will still prove to be better than you for you must know...


"YOU CAN NEVER, EVER, PUT A GOOD MAN, DOWN."



Friday, July 2, 2010

LIFE



"Life is a Test and Trust..." (Purpose Driven Life)



Hmmm... To a student, it is always a test, a test of will...



The will to read the mind-boggling, sedative-hypnotic medical-surgical books...

The oh-so-all-texts-limited-pictures of the community health nursing books,

and no-pictures-at-all of the operating room technique books...



To professors who continously evaluate student's performance,

testing their will, and at the same time, testing her patience...



To a professor, who also tests her knowledge through her students,

test her hopes of forming unique and better individuals,

test her trust that all her efforts will come to naught...



To someone who falls and get broken to pieces over and over again,

a test of perseverance, patience, hope, trust, love and fidelity...



To someone who continuously guide you through your stubborness,

your shortcomings, your imperfections...

To someone who loves you without expecting anything in return,

It is really a test of everything he/she has...

values, time, energy...



But why? Why go through such tests? Why suffer? Why live?

Why can't it be just a simple, Yes, a simple No...

Why does everything have to be so complicated?



To the friend you've trusted all your life,

to the friend you've shared memories with,

to that friend who betrayed your trust...



To you, he/she is a test to you,

To test how strong and enduring your heart is,

how forgiving you can be,

but to him/her, you will be someone significant,

someone who trusted him/her,

someone whom you cannot remember any evil done to you...



And yet, he/she was the person you betrayed...



To the nurse who patiently sits by your side,

who patiently listens to your complaints,

who through gritted teeth, endure your unreasonable complaints,

rants and raves,

who though hurt by your angry words, still sees how you are doing,

how she can help you alleviate any pain,

help you get through your illness,

to her, you are a test...



To that blind and mute person,

being born with such disability,

seeing nothing, saying nothing,

yet, hearing everything,

Life is not merely a test, it is a licensure exam...

That if they fail, there will be no one who can hear how they failed

for they cannot speak...

If they fail, then, there is nothing left...no legacy...



To them, life is a test of endurance, stability...

that amidst the prison walls of their disability,

they are out to prove that they can be BETTER individuals,

MORALLY UPRIGHT, even though they cannot speak, nor see you...



What makes you different with all that you have,

functional senses and complete limbs?

What do you have that the Divine Person above

did not give you?

Then, why are you moping, keeping all that talents to yourself?



We are all unique but imperfect

and we are all given gifts to relish and extend...



What makes you think you are different and above anyone else

When ALL OF US HERE are all indebted with this thing called "Life?"






Wednesday, June 30, 2010

What Club are You?

Clubs, anyone? Not the club you belong to get that free movie ticket, nor is this that foot your patient is trying to show you. Definitely, this is not about that club you frequent to unwind. Nothing of the sort that happens in the night.
The club I am talking about is only used during daytime. You go out with your best buddies, you're luckier if the girl of your dreams happens to play golf, too.
Yes, this is about golf and that club you've always wondered for its being pricey.



Basically, the golf club has 3 main parts: the shaft, the club head and the grip.

For the golf enthusiasts, this is easier to comprehend. But how about the beginners or just plain asking?

Ladies, read on so you can decode what the golf guys are talking about.



You stand there, mouth agape open while the golf player swings.

Do you know that it is not about the swing of the arm but the club? The club defines where to your ball would go.

There are three main types namely, the driver, the putter and the iron. The driver, from the word itself, is meant to be used for long shots. So when he says, "Give me the driver," do not go on and look for a person or rummage inside the tool box. And, be ready to walk because when a player asks for the driver, this means so much farther where you stand.



Next is the putter. This type of club is used when rolling the ball leisurely. Think of it this way: the hole is somewhat 20 steps away from where you stand. That is when you used the putter. No specific golf club is meant to be present in a golfer's bag but this type comes closest. Most golf players start with driving the ball to distances same as mentioned above, thus the need for a beginner to have one.



Lastly, but not the least, is the iron. It was named iron since the club head is made from iron but historically speaking, almost all clubs evolved from iron.

Modern technology afforded us to enjoy the much more durable type which is steel. Like every golf club's use, this is also used to propel the ball towards the hole but mainly it is used at rough parts and hazards. These are characterized by the man-made lakes, bunkers and dense vegetations.

Now that you have a backgrounder on those clubs, don't go on being suspicious when you overhear your husband's conversation on the phone with, "I really want to see your club."

Sunday, June 6, 2010

The PRICE of buying prepared food at the CONVENIENCE STORE...


During World War II, in an effort to find ways to overcome the logistical problems of producing edible food in a short time, and to be able to reduce the amount and bulk of cooking fuels that would be required to support their planned operations for the military invasion of Russia, the Nazis began research and development of microwave ovens.


Russians continued to research on this until now and the following are the alarming results:


1. Produces cancer-causing agents

2. Destroys nutritive values of your food

3. Alters the molecular component of your food, either accumulates radiation (ready for your consumption) or produce trace elements or compounds that causes cancer cells to grow...


The abovementioned enumerated are effects on foods when you microwave them. How about to human beings? When microwave oven leaks or you ingest your food, freshly heat up from the microwave oven? Here are your life's predictions of illness:


1. Long term or permanent brain damage

2. Alteration or Loss of your hormone productions

3. Stomach and intestinal tumors

4. Increase of cancer cells in your blood

5. Immune system deficiencies

6. Loss of memory and concentration

7. Emotional Instability

8. Decrease in intelligence


Question: How much of your life do you spent buying your food at the convenience store? How many times do you want it heat up in their very functional microwave oven?


Hmm.... gusto mo pa?


Thursday, May 27, 2010

True Altruism by Filipino Nurses


At Ospital ng Sampaloc, Manila, I met a number of colleagues


who for one reason or another opted to stay in the Philippines


and work their ass off...




Gloat ye all nurses that work overseas...


Gloat all you want, but here...


where you learned all your nursing procedures,


all your skills, all your principles and knowledge


in the tradition of Florence Nightingale,


here, the Josephine Brackens stayed,


lingered and cared...




I computed the time they spent working


inside the hospital:


I believe they work a total of 12 hours...


This 12 hours becomes 14 or 15 hours due


to the influx of patients...


endorsements and nursing procedures


needing to be finished before you go home...


leaving you 9 hours left...




Deduct 3 more hours from the 9 hours,


1 hour for your ride home,


2 hours for your preparation and ride to work...


leaving you a whopping 6 hours!




Sleep? how does a nurse who works at a government


hospital fit the remaining 6 hours?


How is the child or children left at home?


Do they get to see their mother?


If they get to see her, will it be a time


that they will remember when they start to walk


and meet the loves of their lives?




How does one manage with the remaining hours?


How about the husband?


Extramarital affairs right and left?


Poor nurse...




She may care for her patient


Give all the attention they need,


Give all the health education they want,


work her ass off to provide food on the table


only to be left alone?




Altruism...Selfless...


Passion...


Only a nurse who works at a public hospital


can define it...


By merely looking at her,


you will know that her feet are killing her


from walking to and fro,


checking on patients...




Yes, patientssssssss...


an astounding 56 patients


with 2 nurses at the station


working for 12 hours...




And yet, you can still see them smile...




Next time you get hospitalized


especially in a public hospital,


can you just say "thank you?"




It's more than enough


to show her you appreciate


all her efforts...

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Male Infertility


First things first, Fertility is not synonymous with virility. Libido, erection, ejaculation may all be existent and in proper functioning order, but this does not automatically translate to the capability of instituting pregnancy. On the other hand, the inability to achieve erection is not a necessary precondition for infertility, although of course it is a prerequisite to penetration.

Infertility is not a sexual disorder, nor a sexual dysfunction. It is a medical condition that could benefit from medical treatment, as long as it is diagnosed early on, and diagnosed correctly.

Generally, the inability to achieve conception after a year of working towards that goal is considered primary infertility, which affects an estimated 15% of couples wanting to have a child. Then there is secondary infertility - the inability to conceive after having delivered the first child involving the same partners. This is usually medical in nature and due to age and stress.


It is very common for Filipino childless couples to wait for years before seeking professional help, mainly because of the fear of finding out that infertility is involved, and thus feel the stigmatic judgment of society. However, according to Dr. Stephen Shaban of the Department of Surgery of the University of Carolina School of Medicine, the earlier that infertility is diagnosed, the better chance for successful treatment, if needed. As such, the wait should not take longer than one year.

Normal Semen Parameters as determined by the World Health Organization

  • Volume: 1.5 - 5ml (1 teaspoon)

  • Sperm Density: more than 20million sperm per ml

  • Motility: more than 60%

  • Morphology: more than 60% normal forms

Factors affecting Sperm Production, Transport and Ejaculation

  • Hormonal/ Endocrine Diseases - diabetes, hypo/hyperthyroidism (goiter)

  • Genetic disorders - cryptorchidism (absence of one or both testes)

  • Medications being taken - tranquilizers, hypertension medication (spironolactone), meds for treatment of thyroid problems, steroids, meds for the treatment of ulcers (cimetidine), meds taken for bowel irritation syndrome, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, rheumatoid arthritis (sulfasalazine), antibiotic for UTI (nitrofurantoin)

  • Obstruction in the vas deferens - retrogade ejaculation (dry ejaculation - the ejaculation goes into the bladder instead of through the penis); hypospadias (penile opening is not at the tip, nasa gilid or nasa ilalim ang butas)

  • Previous Surgeries

  • Past Diseases - Mumps after puberty

  • Lifestyle - Drug abuse, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption

  • Occupational hazards - excessive heat and radiation, especially those working or who have worked in military air stations and other places with installed aircraft tracking radar or cellular site, as well as aircraft flights (high and certain risk of developing infertility)

Treatment: There is treatment. You just have to be impatient enough and not wait for a year.

From Health Care Magazine July 2006 Issue