magtaya. ....magpalaya..... magmahal.....

NThC 2008 Christmas party

2008-12-16T07:15:00.000-08:00

We had out Christmas party at the UPMASA-PGH Science Hall Foyer. Thanks to Alex and Alison -- we had a good lunch...

Plus Tina for the giveaways...

Hopefully the bonuses reach them in time...

Dato and his Hi Chicks Routine

2008-01-19T23:24:00.001-08:00

Laptops/Smartphone Awarded to DTTBs

2007-10-14T06:04:00.000-07:00

Finally, we were able to award the Acer and Neo laptops and Nokia E61i to the doctors-to-the-barrios. These were made possible by UPMASA. More details to follow.

Neo 540SVB laptop

2007-10-08T06:41:00.000-07:00

I bought a Neo Q-Note 540 SVB based on Doc Mana's blog about it running quite well with Ubuntu. It's not for me -- it's for a doctor-to-the-Barrio (so in the end, s/he may opt to run Vista on it [yikes!].)

Anyway, it's always good to offer options to the end users rather than just let them get a proprietary operating system that they can't seem to get out of.

Aug 15-18 Kuala Lumpur

2007-08-19T02:57:00.000-07:00

Had a fun time with my sweetheart.
Aug 15: depart, dinner at a shabu-shabu at Times Square
Aug 16: first day of conference, had panel discussion, wifey writes a lot -- Lemon Square at Low Yat (spicy fried rice + lamb + Boaz siopao/siomai)
Aug 17: second day, had impromptu panel followed by my presentation on telehealth; Low Yat again! spicy chicken, bbq chicken + chicken soup
Aug 18: breakfast at airport of nasi lemak (chicken curry); dinner at mapayapa for jo's despedida

Aug 13

2007-08-13T06:50:00.000-07:00

Good morning session with the doctors.

Afternoon session with ADB TA 4647...

Evening session with UPD Comp Sci

Aug 3: Revelations

2007-08-04T08:22:00.001-07:00

Tough day.

Morning meeting with DepEd

Then MIU affairs before heading to Bayview for PHIC Benchmarking.

Sandra Famador offers help.

WHO needs help.

UP Diliman IE students barge in.

HH finally.

Blogged with Flock

August 1: Hanoi-Manila

2007-07-31T16:20:00.001-07:00

Hanoi to Manila

Settled Eric's and Anton's hotel

Long trip back home. Great time with Patrick...

Blogged with Flock

July 4: Las Vegas to Philly

2007-07-20T21:02:00.001-07:00

Whew. Expensive taxi (USD30!). But off to Philly through Chicago. Experienced my first thorough airport check-in security check-up. Good to have WiFI (USD 7) in O'Hare. Checked in at Courtyard Inn in Philly -- arriving 12 midnight.

Blogged with Flock

July 5: Philly to NLM

2007-07-20T21:00:00.001-07:00

Took all day to travel from Philly to NLM. Left luggage in Union Station and then fixed all monetary affairs in NLM. Good to meet up with Dr F and Erick Ducut. Dinner with Eric and family. Great to be back in their home.

Blogged with Flock

July 6th: Hopkins Telemedicine

2007-07-20T20:59:00.001-07:00

Eric drops me off at Vienna and I head on to Hopkins (nearly missed the train). Met up with Alex and Chri s in Baltimore. Then off to Metro Park station with Cip picking me up. Checkers for dinner.

Blogged with Flock

July 7: Six Flags

2007-07-20T20:57:00.001-07:00

Peter Pan PIzza

Kingda Ka

Superman the Ride

The Great American Scream Machine

Blogged with Flock

July 8: Philippine Community Center

2007-07-20T20:56:00.001-07:00

Attended mass with Cip then headed off for South Jersey Philippine Community center (205 South Whitehorse Pike, Stratford, NJ).

A few UPMASA people were there (Mike and Liz DL, Wee B, Chelle BJ, Paul F, et al).

Gace a talk. New insights: global health course for UPMASA.

Blogged with Flock

July 2 -- Big Day

2007-07-05T03:08:00.003-07:00

Presented my JBP Chair. Attarcted a lot of attention. Thank you Lord!

Blogged with Flock

July 3 -- Walk, walk, walk

2007-07-05T03:08:00.001-07:00

Haha. After the workshop with UPMASA, I spent the night breaking the casino bank (yes, I won 25 dollars), and walking around the strip from Wynn to Circus then back then again to Denny's but chickened out.

Finally got my steak at Terrace Pointe inside Wynn :(

Blogged with Flock

July 4 on air

2007-07-05T03:06:00.001-07:00

Spent most of July 4th on the air -- that is on a plane. Left Vegas in the morning towards Chicago. After a four hour stopover, finally reached Philadelphia at 11PM. Yes, I missed the fireworks! :(

O'Hare had good wifi though...

Blogged with Flock

Halfway around the world

2007-07-01T03:54:00.001-07:00

Jetlagged. Now in Candlewood Las Vegas trying to get some sleep. It's 5pm in Manila so what do we expect?

When I checked in, I learned about the terror plot in UK and Glasgow and the heightened alert in LAX. I hope it all settles down within the week because I'll be there soon...

Room has gigabit Internet! I can send video to the Orange Kubo Hotel.

Blogged with Flock

June 19, 2007

2007-06-21T15:08:00.001-07:00

CHITS presentation to PHIC at Lagrosa.

technorati tags:phic, chits

Blogged with Flock

June 20, 2007

2007-06-21T15:07:00.001-07:00

Big day today. Collaborative sessions with the ComMed group and the World Health Chart. There was a testimonial for Dr. Paolo Campos followed by the small group discussion on WHC and the first use of the mediawiki.

Blogged with Flock

June 21

2007-06-21T15:04:00.001-07:00

Well today is Dennis Streveler's presentation to the UPM community. It was well attended with some interesting post-presentation questions. This was followed by the MSHI class and with some family affairs in between (Ate Girlie).

Blogged with Flock

Last meals by the clerks

2007-06-18T00:44:00.001-07:00

Golden Cowrie, Cebu

Swiss Alps

Mr. Kebab

Mushroomburger

Sunken garden

Minado [South New Jersey] -- $15

Teriyako Boy

Blogged with Flock

Happpy Father's day!

2007-06-17T18:24:00.001-07:00

Kids woke up ahead and greeted me happy father's day. Mom and I went to Pasay San Isidro to help out with the medical mission. Marvin and Sheila Portillo were heading this mission for GK.

Lunch was a great hipon halabos! It is indeed happy father's day...

technorati tags:father

Blogged with Flock

First Day Blues

2007-06-13T07:18:00.001-07:00

Opening ceremonies at St. Paul's

PNB -$3000, convert 3k @46.30

Lunch with Dom Ta Yann

Afternoon opening ceremonies -- Quasi

Interlink (KL and Las Vegas trips)

5pm meeting with Ulten, Toni, etc...

Blogged with Flock

June 11 -- Independence day 2007

2007-06-11T06:33:00.001-07:00

We celebrate Independence Day in the house. But there were errands at the Coop (xerox IMCI), print out Z's pics for her invitations. In the afternoon, I bring A to her party...I can start sensing some changes now happening to my dear daughter...she is starting to test the limits of her freedom...

Blogged with Flock

Hello

2007-06-11T06:31:00.001-07:00

Hi!

technorati tags:first, blog, flock

Blogged with Flock

Feb 27, 2007

2007-03-03T07:39:00.001-08:00

Talk MAHLAP City Garden Suites
Dinner Li Jin at NIH

March 2, 2007

2007-03-03T07:38:00.001-08:00

NThC meeting with staff
Diliman trip (2nd half of research fund, CHD4A check)
Prayer meeting SFC

March 3, 2007

2007-03-03T07:35:00.000-08:00

Breakfast with Kuya Bogie
Visited Butch Mabunga in PHC
New tires with wheel alignment
Oral self-surgery
Dinner with Ting Serye Eastwood

Jan 5 -- Meetings all day

2007-01-05T16:22:00.000-08:00

Biotech for NIH Anniversary preparations
With Yas, JP, and Gilbert for CHITS etc
Lunch with BW M&E team
BW TL meeting
txt2MEDLINE team (Chino, Martian)
IOSN team (Myk, Francis, Eric)

Jan 4 -- MSHI

2007-01-04T16:40:00.000-08:00

Deposited PhilMIS Phase 2 check
MSHI Seminar (Carlo on Education and Consumer Informatics)
Florabel's :)

Jan 3 -- Catching Up

2007-01-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

First day back in school
Caught up with backlog in papers

Jan 2 -- Checking out

2007-01-02T17:00:00.000-08:00

Checked out
Riverbanks for mom

Jan 1 -- Puyat

2007-01-01T17:06:00.000-08:00

Celebrated New Year at Mapayapa
Checked in Astoria

Dec 31 -- Fireworks!

2006-12-31T17:12:00.000-08:00

Paid townhouse
Bought 3 lbs of Cebu lechon --- wow
Grand fireworks at Mapayapa

Dec 30 -- Dance anniversary

2006-12-30T17:18:00.000-08:00

Dinner at Banana Leaf

Cip and GK

2006-12-29T10:08:00.000-08:00

Mom and I brought Cip to GK Baseco for him to see in real-life how it all works. I hope Cip had a good time. I did. Then we went off to savor one round of Aristocrat Pork Barbecue (with two cups of rice each!). Matthew had mange flavored ice cream for lunch...

Blue Computer Fixed!

2006-12-29T10:06:00.000-08:00

Brought the Blue computer to PC Express and look --- all it needed was some cleaning...it now works and I am typing this on it now...

Dec 28 -- Historic Cavite

2006-12-28T17:25:00.000-08:00

Costurera
Wake
Aguinaldo Shrine

Dec 26 -- Long Day

2006-12-26T10:12:00.000-08:00

Well, the day after Christmas is supposed to be for resting but this was what we had:

Picked up Cip at Somerset and then brought him to UP Diliman. Had lunch with Cip and Mark at Choc Kiss and then went home to wait up on Mom. Had to leave Cip and Mark at Robiosnons while Mom and I attended Aimee's thanksgiving party at Intramuros. On way home, picked up Cip and Mark again to head (rush) to LGV for the Class 91 party...wow...

Arrived at eleven pm after bringing Cip and Mark back to Somerset...

UPMAS 2006 Homecoming Parade

2006-12-20T19:32:00.000-08:00

This is the worst homecoming parade I've attended-- there was only one representative from 1991 -- ME!

Dec 20, 2006 -- UPMAS Homecoming Ball

2006-12-20T12:00:00.000-08:00

Well attended. Makati Shangrila. In order of appearance: Esther Saguil, Mela Lapitan, Eloy and Portia, Gene Yusi and Au, Raffy T and Yvette (and Yvette's sister).

Host: Ruby Rodriguez
Guest artists: Noel Cabangon

Who's who --

Dr. Antonio Talusan, golden jubilarian (56)
Former Senator Orly Mercado, husband of Suzanne Mercado (86)

2005-05-22T21:56:00.000-07:00

training for osiris anatomy lab

2005-04-09T21:27:00.000-07:00

facilitated MSC team buillding at loreland antipolo. good, good, good.

2005-03-21T01:15:00.000-08:00

Bjorki71@yahoo.com flash animation

2005-03-20T17:36:00.000-08:00

met with rgeb, tm, joeyam + DOH at manila polo club

2005-03-08T00:15:00.000-08:00

Safekids mtg,asian social institute,2-4pm

Brain Teaser

2005-02-27T19:59:00.000-08:00

FOr the UP College of Medicine -- Should we admit students who will pass the boards? or get students who will serve the communities?

For the first option, we need to get excellent students on admission. This is easy because GWAs have a direct correlation with passing the boards. Good academic standing also ensures that they will eventually pass the boards. But making academic excellence a criterion means we are not necessarily getting studnets who are willing to serve the country and therefore we should form them well in the next 5 years so they will decide to serve in communities.

For the second option, we need to get dedicated students on admission and form them so they will acquire enough academic maturity to pass the boards. Getting such students is a difficult process. First, only a few students at that age know that they want to do in life. Second, willingness to serve is a very subjective criteria. It can even be faked. But if the Admissions Committee is successful and accepts students who are willing to serve, the College is now burdened with the reponsibility to form them academically so they will pass the boards.

It all goes back to our vision and mission.

BuddyWorks Team Building: A Success

2005-02-27T04:09:00.000-08:00

We had our team building at Subic Homes Feb 26-27. Portia facilitated.

Castro-Bravo Reception Feb 25, 2005

2005-02-27T03:59:00.000-08:00

Wow, ninong. Big time. I hope I was able to pass the flame: magtaya, magpalaya, magmahal.

Sanctuario de San Antonio then Manila Polo Club.

2005-02-26T03:12:00.002-08:00

Feb 25,2005-Wedding of Dr Jonathan and Tricia Bravo at Sanctuario de San Antonio. Reception followed at the Manila Polo Club.

2005-02-26T03:12:00.001-08:00

Feb 25,2005-Wedding of Dr Jonathan and Tricia Bravo at Sanctuario de San Antonio. Reception followed at the Manila Polo Club.

2005-02-26T03:12:00.000-08:00

Feb 25,2005-Wedding of Dr Jonathan and Tricia Bravo at Sanctuario de San Antonio. Reception followed at the Manila Polo Club.

demo 2 tetchie

2005-02-14T18:36:00.000-08:00

while waiting 4 JMCA

GlobeXTM Message

2005-02-13T18:28:00.000-08:00

I am waiting 4 JMCA.where is he?

Long Day: Frustrating too

2005-02-04T08:23:00.000-08:00

I had hoped to eat a good breakfast but sudddeny got swamped with the GK newsletter. Had to finish it asap and rush to the LFA of BuddyWorks (I came without my homework) --tsk-tsk.

After that, I headed to Physio for my oath taking at the National Research Council of the Philippines. But lo, Dr. Caviles was not around and I could not be inducted --sigh.

So off to Trauma for the conference and lunch. Remind me to spend sometime with the residents.

Had to wait for 5 pm (which became 6pm) to talk with the MSC about the tuition fee problem. I felt I did not give a good enough pep talk. sigh...

Tempting Hearts: Sad story :(

2005-02-02T19:29:00.000-08:00

Watched Tempting Hearts (movie directed by Jackie Chan) at the Film Center, February 2, 2005

2005-01-31T20:27:00.000-08:00

I emceed the forum on the cost of UP Medical Education at Science Hall today. There is no compromise. We should resist all efforts to release the government from its responsibility to subsidize medical education in UP.

2005-01-31T01:48:00.000-08:00

Met w dr lladres and kenneth. Will assist in wireless networking. Moa signing on feb 14

2005-01-30T23:48:00.000-08:00

Public health vs private practice. Graham mooney bull hist med summer 99

2005-01-30T19:37:00.000-08:00

hello testing

Hinulugang Taktak: after thirty years

2004-12-22T23:20:00.000-08:00

After thirty years (?), we finally return to Hinulugang Taktak. Not bad looking. The smell wasn't that good though but the pictures can lie about that... :)

Evaluation of DFHSIS Submitted

2004-12-21T17:11:00.000-08:00

Finally, we submit the final report on the DFHSIS evaluation!

PCS Registry: Orientation of Point Guards

2004-12-21T16:08:00.000-08:00

Met with residents from UST, FEU, JR to discuss their roles in the upcoming computerization of the PCS Registry.
Chairman's conference room, UP-PGH Department of Surgery

MIU Thanksgiving Lunch at Mexicali

2004-12-20T16:14:00.000-08:00

We had our 2004 thanksgiving lunch at Mexicali Robinsons Place. Good to see everyone there. This was followed by gift giving at the MIU office over Gonuts Donuts :)

SBAC Moves Forward

2004-12-20T11:13:00.000-08:00

The BuddyWorks Special Bids and Awards Committee met with the bidders and answered questions.

We're in for a busy Christmas break...definitely a marathon meeting on Dec 28 to 29.

Presentation of DFHSIS Eval in Bohol

2004-12-17T15:17:00.000-08:00

Was in Bohol from Dec 15-17 to present the results of the DFHSIS eval. All in all a very good experience. Opportunity to bond with DOH people. Also to learn a lot about how much help the health system needs. Good talks with Drs. Nick Bautista and RD Rogelio Chua.

Surgical Informatics: State of the Art

2004-12-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

Enhancing Surgical Education with Technology

60th Annual Clinical Congress December 7, 2004.
Palawan I
Moderated by Dr. Arnold Angeles

Proof of Concept

2004-12-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

The Sentrong Sigla people were no-show.

We have to move on though. I think Armand and Malou are good allies as well as Dr. Encinares. We just have to move on.

Goodbye 25 orders of Jollibee :)

Dingalan, Aurora: Epilogue

2004-12-04T23:23:00.000-08:00

I arrived last night at 10pm, drenched after walking from Iglesia ni Cristo up the oval to the house. (Good thing my CFC-MMF vest was there to keep my head from the rains:)

What a day.

Dingalan, Aurora: Part 2

2004-12-04T14:00:00.000-08:00

There were about five hundred people waiting for us. The choppers landed 50 meters apart and it was a good thing that we had soldiers to help us with the load (come to think of it, wala na pala akong binuhat mula sa helikopter!).

T. Ellen set up the tables as T. James drafted the careflow. I waited for the signal and started seeing the adult patients.

Were they really sick? Well for those with wounds, I guess that's a no-brainer. But for most, it was hard to believe that they really had headaches, tummy aches, dizziness and all those other ailments. I was slowly getting carried away with my suspicions when I was presented with a kid with bilaterla subconjunctival hemmorhage. Pitiful sight even for a doctor like me. But what was more heart wrenching was that all his five siblings had died a few days before from the landslide. He was the only one left.

Sorry for the doubts. I had no right to be righteous in the midst of the misery of these people. For all you know, they wanted the medicines just in case they're in for another misfortune.

Russian roulette, chopper style: Dingalan continued

2004-12-04T08:41:00.000-08:00

While waiting for the choppers, we had a short chat with Gen Romeo Tolentino (who apparently is a member of CFC. I'll save my comments about our discussions later but suffice it to say that there are fundamental differences between how I see it and how he sees it. But the fact that we're using his choppers, I decided to keep cool.)

There were 2 Huey choppers and 1 Sikorsky. I was told to take the Sikorsky since it had two engines. I ended up on the Huey that loaded all our stuff (are we overloaded sir pilot?). How to describe my first chopper flight? It felt safer than a ferris wheel ride (no jolts -- I learned later that our pilot was a lady!).

I was placed on the door/window side of the copter (I requested for aisle but there was no difference in turned out). BTW, there were no doors! Before lifting off, the soldier manning the side guns/door told me to hold on to my seat. I was already strapped down and it was kinda weird for him to say that but I followed. I learned why in the middle of the flight when I tried to point out to something on the ground. My left arm was nearly pulled out of socket by the wind. It was so strong and amazingly, just centimeters from where I was seated.

Don't tell Portia. (hi mom!)

Ateneo Grand Homecoming

2004-12-04T08:04:00.000-08:00

I attended the Ateneo homecoming - really to buy Ateneo paraphernalia (and to grab a bite). Instead, I had a long talk with Ching CheeKee and Atty Ben Olivas (79). Jimmy Hofi was there too.

Dinner was crispy pata and beef-liversteak. But what made it most enjoyable was talking with your mentor and exchange ideas as peers. I would think CK was most pleased to see her 'kids' swarming up to her, trying to get her attention.

Sigh. Ateneo. The programming is just to deep. As I shared to CK, after looking around and seeing all the powerful men of civil society: what has Ateneo contributed to society after forming all of them?

I guess I would have to answer that question myself first. Then I would know.

Will doctors be extinct? Discussions on the way to Dingalan: Part 3

2004-12-04T07:35:00.000-08:00

Will doctors be extinct soon? Why do we ask this question? Let me share what I know:

1. Every year, the Department of Surgery PGH gets about 150 applications for our 15 slots for residency. Last year, we got 60. This year, we had 23. The trend is going down fast. We might not have enough next year.

2. Every year, 15,000 new graduates take the National Medical Admissions Test (NMAT). UP only allows the 90th percentile to apply so that amounts to about 1500 eligibles. This year, only 2000+ are taking the NMAT. Do the math.

3. Last year, a number of Intarmed students decided to take up nursing instead of proceeding with the seven year medical curriculum.

What do all of these mean? It means the medical professions is losing its attractiveness. It means there is a 'force' greater than the conventional pull of medicine which is depleting its usual source of new recruits.

It means something must be done or else we will not have enough MD manpower to run this country by 2010.

Blog Day One

2004-12-04T07:22:00.000-08:00

Hello all. I am now starting my blog. Am quite interested on how technology works and we might have use for it later on with our community work.

The CFC MMF team is heading off to Aurora tomorrow. Please pray us and for the people in Dingalan.