I'll finally be working next month! Thank God! I waited for over a year!
However, it's not a regular job, it's only as a staff volunteer in a local hospital here in Cebu. But anything is okay for me, as long as I'll be able to develop my skills and knowledge and gain some experience.
I have to review the basics again, the concepts, drugs, and especially the nursing interventions.
I'm so happy!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Friday, April 03, 2009
Nursing: A license to serve
Nursing, in essence, is all about service. Service for other people, the ill and the well. We all know that, especially us nurses. But sometimes we forget that essence, and so practising our profession becomes a little more difficult and challenging. When we remember the ultimate aim of nursing, our tasks become lighter, because we know why we do what we do. Even though many times during the course of our work we may experience all kinds of negative emotional experiences and stress, it helps to be reminded that since nursing is all about service and providing care, our emotional responses and personal gripes don't really matter much. In other words, it's not about us, it's about them, our clients.
Every one of us, including those who are not in the health care profession, have the ability to serve. We have the ability to fulfill our obligations to one another. But nursing, since it's a profession, gives us the ability to provide high-level care. That gives us the opportunity to help more people, especially those who have more unique health needs. If all professions are noble, how much more is nursing, which is all about giving direct care to clients? Other non-health care professions help people in many ways, more often indirectly, but the health care professions, including nursing, give hand-on service. It is service which is so personal, since a nurse can actually interact with his or her clients eye to eye while serving them.
I really believe that as nurses, we are in a very privileged position, because we have the ability to help so many people. We have the ability to fulfill our obligation to other people on a daily basis, in the course of our work. We have the ability to practice what Jesus preached when he told the story of the Good Samaritan. In the eyes of God, those who are great are those who serve others. Therefore, we as nurses, together with those in the health care profession, have the tremendous privilege of practicing greatness.
Every one of us, including those who are not in the health care profession, have the ability to serve. We have the ability to fulfill our obligations to one another. But nursing, since it's a profession, gives us the ability to provide high-level care. That gives us the opportunity to help more people, especially those who have more unique health needs. If all professions are noble, how much more is nursing, which is all about giving direct care to clients? Other non-health care professions help people in many ways, more often indirectly, but the health care professions, including nursing, give hand-on service. It is service which is so personal, since a nurse can actually interact with his or her clients eye to eye while serving them.
I really believe that as nurses, we are in a very privileged position, because we have the ability to help so many people. We have the ability to fulfill our obligation to other people on a daily basis, in the course of our work. We have the ability to practice what Jesus preached when he told the story of the Good Samaritan. In the eyes of God, those who are great are those who serve others. Therefore, we as nurses, together with those in the health care profession, have the tremendous privilege of practicing greatness.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Good news for unemployed registered nurses!
I got this from TV Patrol Central Visayas.
The Department of Labor Employment has a new program for unemployed registered nurses. Called NARS, or Nurses Assigned in Rural Service, the program aims to provide employment for all those registered nurses who haven't been working as a nurse for at least three years. Qualified applicants will be assigned to designated municipalities and will receive basic pay. At the end of the employment, the nurse will receive a certificate of competency.
Visit the DOLE website here for more info on how to submit your application.
The Department of Labor Employment has a new program for unemployed registered nurses. Called NARS, or Nurses Assigned in Rural Service, the program aims to provide employment for all those registered nurses who haven't been working as a nurse for at least three years. Qualified applicants will be assigned to designated municipalities and will receive basic pay. At the end of the employment, the nurse will receive a certificate of competency.
Visit the DOLE website here for more info on how to submit your application.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Are assessment fees necessary?
We went to a consultancy company yesterday to inquire about the requirements for working and living in New Zealand. I have to be honest, I regretted going there. The thing is, they charge you with 800 pesos just for an assessment! I've been to a similar agency last year and I got the same information for free!
Well, I can't blame them. They're just running a business. But 800 pesos is just a little too much, and especially considering that other agencies don't charge you with anything.
That's what you call an expensive lesson.
Well, I can't blame them. They're just running a business. But 800 pesos is just a little too much, and especially considering that other agencies don't charge you with anything.
That's what you call an expensive lesson.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
For all those who didn't make it in the Nursing Board Exam
Are you one of those who didn't make it in last November's Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination?
I can't imagine what you may have been feeling these past few weeks. I know many fellow nurses who also didn't make it the first time around.
I have this to say: Don't lose hope, and don't give up!
You may still be feeling a little down right now, but I tell you, one can only go so low. You will stand up again, and you will feel strengthened to try harder the next time.
The good news in all of this is this: When you fail, it doesn't mean that you don't have what it takes. It only means that you may have not prepared for the exam adequately, as you only should. Or it may mean that you allowed your emotions to get the better of you during the day of the examination, so much so that you weren't able to concentrate. Well, whatever the factors were, the truth is that failing doesn't really say much about your own intelligence, capability, or potential as a nurse. That's a fact! And I've seen these many times. I've seen people close to me who didn't make it the first time around and who tried harder the second time. And you know what? They are now excellent nurses! I know a cousin who failed the test the first time, but who is now a very skilled and competent nurse-leader. Another relative, who is now in Dubai, who also took the exam twice, also became an exceptional nurse in Bacolod, and she earned the respect and trust of her peers and other members of the health care team whom she worked with because of her commitment and dedication to her work. If anything, failing only brought out the best in them. So failure is not a judgment, it's an encouragement.
So, again, fellow nurses, when you fail, it doesn't mean that you don't have what it takes. It only means that you need to prepare better and try harder. It does not in any way say anything about your capability or potential. In the same way, when someone passes the exam on his or her first take, it doesn't mean that that person is better than those who didn't pass. It only means that that person has prepared more, or, in a few cases, luck was on his or her side.
So cheer up! Take a vacation, and try again!
I can't imagine what you may have been feeling these past few weeks. I know many fellow nurses who also didn't make it the first time around.
I have this to say: Don't lose hope, and don't give up!
You may still be feeling a little down right now, but I tell you, one can only go so low. You will stand up again, and you will feel strengthened to try harder the next time.
The good news in all of this is this: When you fail, it doesn't mean that you don't have what it takes. It only means that you may have not prepared for the exam adequately, as you only should. Or it may mean that you allowed your emotions to get the better of you during the day of the examination, so much so that you weren't able to concentrate. Well, whatever the factors were, the truth is that failing doesn't really say much about your own intelligence, capability, or potential as a nurse. That's a fact! And I've seen these many times. I've seen people close to me who didn't make it the first time around and who tried harder the second time. And you know what? They are now excellent nurses! I know a cousin who failed the test the first time, but who is now a very skilled and competent nurse-leader. Another relative, who is now in Dubai, who also took the exam twice, also became an exceptional nurse in Bacolod, and she earned the respect and trust of her peers and other members of the health care team whom she worked with because of her commitment and dedication to her work. If anything, failing only brought out the best in them. So failure is not a judgment, it's an encouragement.
So, again, fellow nurses, when you fail, it doesn't mean that you don't have what it takes. It only means that you need to prepare better and try harder. It does not in any way say anything about your capability or potential. In the same way, when someone passes the exam on his or her first take, it doesn't mean that that person is better than those who didn't pass. It only means that that person has prepared more, or, in a few cases, luck was on his or her side.
So cheer up! Take a vacation, and try again!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The November 2008 Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination result
The result for the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (PNLE) last November 2008 is now available at the Professional Regulation Commission website:
November 2008 exam results
To all the passers, congratulations and welcome aboard the profession!
To all those who didn't make it, don't lose heart! Don't give up!
November 2008 exam results
To all the passers, congratulations and welcome aboard the profession!
To all those who didn't make it, don't lose heart! Don't give up!
First post after a billion years!
Wow, this is my first post after what felt like a billion years!
A lot has happened since I finished nursing school!
I took the Nurse Licensure Examination (the board examination for nurses here in the Philippines) last June 2008 and passed. After that I took many months off in preparation for my wedding.
Bel and I initially planned our wedding to take place on March this year, but a very unfortunate thing happened.
Her mom became severely ill. She had long been suffering from cancer. After many radiologic therapy sessions and frequent trips to her doctor's office, her health worsened and we had to admit her to Davao Doctors' Hospital. She stayed there for a month, then her doctors told us the sad news: her case is already terminal, so all we can do is give her palliative care. They allowed Mama to go home so she can be with the rest of her loved ones. We took her home and took care of her for many weeks. On the 5th of November, she passed away after a bout with pneumonia.
We were all very much saddened, but still we thank God that He allowed her to stay with us that long. She was first diagnosed with the disease in 1998, so she really fought a good, though unimaginably hard, battle. We were glad that at least she is now free from all of her pains.
Mama Leling, before she died, asked us to change the date of our wedding to a much closer date: the 11th of December. So we changed the date and did our best to prepare everything. She was so happy about it and she kept on telling our relatives and friends who visited her that her daughter's wedding is on the 11th. Sadly, her condition grew worse by the way, and on the 15th of November, she peacefully passed away.
Bel and I decided to push through with the wedding despite the fact that we were still mourning, since it was Mama's chosen date, it was her wish. We were sure that as we marched on the aisle that afternoon in December 11 last year, she was with us, as she promised she would be, though in spirit.
So 2008 was a very busy year for me, so much so that only recently have I began to file my application to the different hospitals here in Cebu!
But I'm so glad to be back blogging!
I'll be blogging about all things related to nursing, so stay tuned!
A lot has happened since I finished nursing school!
I took the Nurse Licensure Examination (the board examination for nurses here in the Philippines) last June 2008 and passed. After that I took many months off in preparation for my wedding.
Bel and I initially planned our wedding to take place on March this year, but a very unfortunate thing happened.
Her mom became severely ill. She had long been suffering from cancer. After many radiologic therapy sessions and frequent trips to her doctor's office, her health worsened and we had to admit her to Davao Doctors' Hospital. She stayed there for a month, then her doctors told us the sad news: her case is already terminal, so all we can do is give her palliative care. They allowed Mama to go home so she can be with the rest of her loved ones. We took her home and took care of her for many weeks. On the 5th of November, she passed away after a bout with pneumonia.
We were all very much saddened, but still we thank God that He allowed her to stay with us that long. She was first diagnosed with the disease in 1998, so she really fought a good, though unimaginably hard, battle. We were glad that at least she is now free from all of her pains.
Mama Leling, before she died, asked us to change the date of our wedding to a much closer date: the 11th of December. So we changed the date and did our best to prepare everything. She was so happy about it and she kept on telling our relatives and friends who visited her that her daughter's wedding is on the 11th. Sadly, her condition grew worse by the way, and on the 15th of November, she peacefully passed away.
Bel and I decided to push through with the wedding despite the fact that we were still mourning, since it was Mama's chosen date, it was her wish. We were sure that as we marched on the aisle that afternoon in December 11 last year, she was with us, as she promised she would be, though in spirit.
So 2008 was a very busy year for me, so much so that only recently have I began to file my application to the different hospitals here in Cebu!
But I'm so glad to be back blogging!
I'll be blogging about all things related to nursing, so stay tuned!
Friday, September 19, 2008
New home
I found a new home at Counting My Blessings. Please come and visit, and don't forget to leave your mark. :)
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
I'm no longer a student!
My life as a student nurse officially ended today. Hehe. I can't really say I'm happy. Why is that? Relieved, maybe, but happy, nope. I guess I should be happy. Okay, here's something better: I'm grateful. I'm grateful that school is done. But I can't really be happy yet because finishing school is just step number one. There's still step number two, which is a bigger challenge: The local board exam.
I'm not sure yet whether to take the June or the December exams. But I'll be reviewing for June. If at the end of the intensive review for June I'd still feel that I'm not yet ready to take the exam, I probably won't. Because there's just less than two months left before the board, and I feel that time is not adequate for the preparation.
Tomorrow we'll start our orientation for the intensive review. Then after that we need to go to the PRC to file the necessary papers for the board exam, and there's quite a number of these requirements! What displeases me is the thought of queuing in the PRC.
I'm not sure yet whether to take the June or the December exams. But I'll be reviewing for June. If at the end of the intensive review for June I'd still feel that I'm not yet ready to take the exam, I probably won't. Because there's just less than two months left before the board, and I feel that time is not adequate for the preparation.
Tomorrow we'll start our orientation for the intensive review. Then after that we need to go to the PRC to file the necessary papers for the board exam, and there's quite a number of these requirements! What displeases me is the thought of queuing in the PRC.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Giving
We had a recollection in Tabor Hills yesterday, and it was so wonderful. The speaker was wonderful. His name is Alejandro Espina. A super funny guy. And because he is super funny, he was able to effectively impart to us the message of our recollection.
We had a lecture in the morning, which started late. In the afternoon, we sang, we danced, we laughed, we offered our bodies to the Lord. We had a confession and then heard Mass afterwards. I wish I could go to a similar recollection in the near future - or better yet, a three-day or week-long retreat.
To love - that simply was the message. Love, he reminded us, is a verb. What action does it involve? Giving. Not just of things, but of one's time. If you love someone, you give him or her your time. When you love the Lord, you offer Him your time, in prayer or in serving other people. I was once a member of Singles For Christ, and we understood that loving and serving God involves three things. In addition to giving one's time, one also has to give one's talent and treasure. We call it the three T's: Time, Talent and Treasure. Thus, the weekly prayer meetings, the monthly chapter meetings, fellowships, conferences, seminars, and many other wonderful activities that we did regularly. Thus, we offer what talents we have for the community - singing, dancing, playing the instrument, offering to give talks in seminars. Thus, the tithing.
I really miss SFC...
I've learned this, too, lately: I've realized that all the wonderful experiences in my life -- the things that brought me joy, happiness, gladness, and peace -- are all "gifts" to me by other people. I have absolutely nothing to do with it. I say this because I often have the tendency to think highly of myself whenever people treat me kindly or commend me, but actually I don't deserve their goodness. They just give them to me willingly, because the goodness is actually in themselves and they want to share it. So now whenever someone treats me well, offers me a kind comment, etc., I acknowledge that it is not due to any quality or characteristic that I might possess, but it is due to the kindness and the goodness in the other person. So from now on I will take a more proactive stance, I want to give more than receive. :-)
We had a lecture in the morning, which started late. In the afternoon, we sang, we danced, we laughed, we offered our bodies to the Lord. We had a confession and then heard Mass afterwards. I wish I could go to a similar recollection in the near future - or better yet, a three-day or week-long retreat.
To love - that simply was the message. Love, he reminded us, is a verb. What action does it involve? Giving. Not just of things, but of one's time. If you love someone, you give him or her your time. When you love the Lord, you offer Him your time, in prayer or in serving other people. I was once a member of Singles For Christ, and we understood that loving and serving God involves three things. In addition to giving one's time, one also has to give one's talent and treasure. We call it the three T's: Time, Talent and Treasure. Thus, the weekly prayer meetings, the monthly chapter meetings, fellowships, conferences, seminars, and many other wonderful activities that we did regularly. Thus, we offer what talents we have for the community - singing, dancing, playing the instrument, offering to give talks in seminars. Thus, the tithing.
I really miss SFC...
I've learned this, too, lately: I've realized that all the wonderful experiences in my life -- the things that brought me joy, happiness, gladness, and peace -- are all "gifts" to me by other people. I have absolutely nothing to do with it. I say this because I often have the tendency to think highly of myself whenever people treat me kindly or commend me, but actually I don't deserve their goodness. They just give them to me willingly, because the goodness is actually in themselves and they want to share it. So now whenever someone treats me well, offers me a kind comment, etc., I acknowledge that it is not due to any quality or characteristic that I might possess, but it is due to the kindness and the goodness in the other person. So from now on I will take a more proactive stance, I want to give more than receive. :-)
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Last clinical duty
We had our last clinical duty as nursing students yesterday. Yes, our very last, as nursing students. I don't know whether to be happy or sad. To tell you the truth, I feel quite sad, because I'll never have another opportunity to work with my group mates in the clinical setting ever again.
I was aware of this fact from the first day of the week. I looked at my group mates and absorbed as many details as I could of them, of their conversations, and my own conversations with them. I wanted to store them in my memory. I knew, that many, many months and years from now, I will look back at this very ordinary week with fondness and a little aching of the heart.
I was aware of this fact from the first day of the week. I looked at my group mates and absorbed as many details as I could of them, of their conversations, and my own conversations with them. I wanted to store them in my memory. I knew, that many, many months and years from now, I will look back at this very ordinary week with fondness and a little aching of the heart.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Nag-awas-awas nga kalipay
Nag-awas-awas akong kalipay ganiha!
Nakit-an ra jud nako thankfully ako Operating Room and Delivery Room notebooks. Whew! I thought I lost them!
I was so worried, since last month, because I left my notebooks in the Faculty. I thought someone has got them; I thought I was doomed! (For those of you who don't know, the OR and DR notebooks records all the OR and DR cases required by the school for graduation and by the PRC for the board exam). Kumpleto na raba unta ko sa tanan; the thought of losing it, at this very point in time when I am about to prepare for graduation, just made me wanna go mad.
But this afternoon after my duty at the hospital I stormed the Faculty and dugged through several stacks of OR and DR notebooks submitted by those who have also completed the requirements. After 20 grueling minutes I finally found them! I bathed in my own sweat despite the air conditioning because I was so fearful I could not find them. Haha.
Now there's only the minor (?) problem with the thesis and this one last signature by a C.I...
Nakit-an ra jud nako thankfully ako Operating Room and Delivery Room notebooks. Whew! I thought I lost them!
I was so worried, since last month, because I left my notebooks in the Faculty. I thought someone has got them; I thought I was doomed! (For those of you who don't know, the OR and DR notebooks records all the OR and DR cases required by the school for graduation and by the PRC for the board exam). Kumpleto na raba unta ko sa tanan; the thought of losing it, at this very point in time when I am about to prepare for graduation, just made me wanna go mad.
But this afternoon after my duty at the hospital I stormed the Faculty and dugged through several stacks of OR and DR notebooks submitted by those who have also completed the requirements. After 20 grueling minutes I finally found them! I bathed in my own sweat despite the air conditioning because I was so fearful I could not find them. Haha.
Now there's only the minor (?) problem with the thesis and this one last signature by a C.I...
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Finally read a Marquez novel
I had a great time last night. We had dinner in Acha Pizzeria instead and then afterwards we went to the Breakfast Club in I.T. Park since Acha was a bit crowded and noisy.
We talked about a lot of things - of course, mainly about love, and many more naughty things besides hehehe...
I'm really thankful this club was realized, because it gave me the opportunity to meet a lot of very nice people.
For next month we will be reading The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus and A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. The first one is an essay and the second one is a short non-fiction book, so I guess we will be able to discuss them together next month.
Sisyphus... that's heavy existential stuff. Probably will make for a lot of interesting discussion. Our facilitator is a teacher of Literature and Philosophy, so I've heard, so this should be great! Eckhart Tolle... that will be my first book from the guy. Don't know what its genre is exactly (spirituality?). Whatever it is, I hope it's not New Age stuff...
I hereby congratulate myself for finally having read at least one Marquez novel!
Later today we leave for San Remegio for some beach and fishing, and, of course, reading.
We talked about a lot of things - of course, mainly about love, and many more naughty things besides hehehe...
I'm really thankful this club was realized, because it gave me the opportunity to meet a lot of very nice people.
For next month we will be reading The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus and A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. The first one is an essay and the second one is a short non-fiction book, so I guess we will be able to discuss them together next month.
Sisyphus... that's heavy existential stuff. Probably will make for a lot of interesting discussion. Our facilitator is a teacher of Literature and Philosophy, so I've heard, so this should be great! Eckhart Tolle... that will be my first book from the guy. Don't know what its genre is exactly (spirituality?). Whatever it is, I hope it's not New Age stuff...
I hereby congratulate myself for finally having read at least one Marquez novel!
Later today we leave for San Remegio for some beach and fishing, and, of course, reading.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Book Discussion: Love in the Time of Cholera
WHAT: Dinner + Discussion for "Love in the Time of Cholera"
WHEN: Feb 23, Saturday
PICK-UP: Dimsum Break area, BTC @ 6:15PM
VENUE: Ananda Marga Wellness Center, Pagsabungan, Mandaue City
DINNER: Vegetarian Buffet (with a Caribbean flair) @ 90.00/person only
OTHERS: Yoga demo, brief orientation on the center's services
Friends who might be interested to try the vegetarian buffet are welcome to join the dinner. Just sign them up.
Hapit na amo book discussion for this month. Actually, ugma na hehe. This gathering is open to the public, provided you have read the book; but you can come just for the dinner (if you want to try a vegetarian buffet).
Haven't finished the book yet; I'm down to the last few pages already.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Great lecture
Our lecturer for Medical Surgical Nursing refresher review last week was awesome. A very intelligent and articulate guy. And to top it all off, a stand-up comedian! Hehehe. What a great combination for a lecturer. It was a treat to just listen to his discussions. I tell you, we started at 9 in the morning and ended at around 7 in the evening every day for two days, and there was not a moment that I got bored!
Today's PIBJ episode: Entrepreneurship
Today's Preacher in Blue Jeans episode is about enterpreneurship:
Bo is interviewed by enterpreneurship students from Assumption.
His advice on those who want to start businesses (to summarize):
1. Discover and develop your core gifts (talents/ skills/ unique attributes that you have). What are you good at? Or, what are your passions? What are the things you like doing? Singing? Dancing? Making/mixing music? Writing? Speaking in public? Theater? Selling? Reading and collecting books? Cars? Bags? Fashion? Wellness? Foods? Travelling? We can pursue them. The idea, I think, is to follow your passion; the money will just follow.
2. Never say you've learned enough. Continue learning. Read, study, listen, observe. He used one of the interviewers as his example. She plans to open a restaurant someday. Bo's advice: Work in a restaurant. Know everything there is to know about the business. Work as a cook, cashier, marketer, manager, bartender, and yes, waitress. His other advice is to find a mentor. One who is successful and who has been in the business for many years. It doesn't matter if you have to fetch him coffee every morning, as long as you learn a lot from him.
3. Know the true purpose of wealth. The true aim of business, Bo says, is not to amass profits but to serve. Money can be used as a tool to help and enrich others. When you do that, you are truly rich!
Bo is interviewed by enterpreneurship students from Assumption.
His advice on those who want to start businesses (to summarize):
1. Discover and develop your core gifts (talents/ skills/ unique attributes that you have). What are you good at? Or, what are your passions? What are the things you like doing? Singing? Dancing? Making/mixing music? Writing? Speaking in public? Theater? Selling? Reading and collecting books? Cars? Bags? Fashion? Wellness? Foods? Travelling? We can pursue them. The idea, I think, is to follow your passion; the money will just follow.
2. Never say you've learned enough. Continue learning. Read, study, listen, observe. He used one of the interviewers as his example. She plans to open a restaurant someday. Bo's advice: Work in a restaurant. Know everything there is to know about the business. Work as a cook, cashier, marketer, manager, bartender, and yes, waitress. His other advice is to find a mentor. One who is successful and who has been in the business for many years. It doesn't matter if you have to fetch him coffee every morning, as long as you learn a lot from him.
3. Know the true purpose of wealth. The true aim of business, Bo says, is not to amass profits but to serve. Money can be used as a tool to help and enrich others. When you do that, you are truly rich!
PIBJ's Valentine's Day episode
I used to watch Bo Sanchez's Preacher in Blue Jeans almost every day. Now I rarely do. But watching it daily is a good habit to acquire. It can nourish your soul!
I'll try to write down my insights for every episode, just so I can remember them.
The above show was aired last Valentine's Day, and the topic was about - what else? - love. Bo talked about two kinds of love: eros and agape. Eros is romantic love while agape is a deeper kind of love, or what he referred to as "true love", because it is the one more lasting. Agape requires sacrifice.
My date last week was thousands of miles away - in Davao. So I was all alone, and she was alone. But it was okay, we were used to it hehehe. That's the surprising thing about our relationship: we've been geographically apart for almost two years now, and somehow we managed to cope. So we haven't spent Valentine's for two years now!
One thing I remembered with Bo's talk is that honesty is really essential in any relationship. He said he "quarrels" (small "one-minute" tensions/ conflicts) with his wife at least 5 times a day! He might just be exaggerating. I guess that's just normal, and healthy. Better to have 5 small "quarrels" a day than to have a huge one every week or every month, because then it will be like seeing a volcano explode, with all the repressed hurt, misunderstanding, wrong assumptions, and failed expectations that each spouse hides inside him or her. So it's better to have an open relationship, one wherein you can freely say to you partner, "Ouch, what you just said hurt me," or "I don't agree with you on that," etc. etc. Then you talk it over and settle your differences. We can be too polite with our partners sometimes, afraid that we might hurt him or her. Tension and conflict can be healthy if handled properly.
I'll try to write down my insights for every episode, just so I can remember them.
The above show was aired last Valentine's Day, and the topic was about - what else? - love. Bo talked about two kinds of love: eros and agape. Eros is romantic love while agape is a deeper kind of love, or what he referred to as "true love", because it is the one more lasting. Agape requires sacrifice.
My date last week was thousands of miles away - in Davao. So I was all alone, and she was alone. But it was okay, we were used to it hehehe. That's the surprising thing about our relationship: we've been geographically apart for almost two years now, and somehow we managed to cope. So we haven't spent Valentine's for two years now!
One thing I remembered with Bo's talk is that honesty is really essential in any relationship. He said he "quarrels" (small "one-minute" tensions/ conflicts) with his wife at least 5 times a day! He might just be exaggerating. I guess that's just normal, and healthy. Better to have 5 small "quarrels" a day than to have a huge one every week or every month, because then it will be like seeing a volcano explode, with all the repressed hurt, misunderstanding, wrong assumptions, and failed expectations that each spouse hides inside him or her. So it's better to have an open relationship, one wherein you can freely say to you partner, "Ouch, what you just said hurt me," or "I don't agree with you on that," etc. etc. Then you talk it over and settle your differences. We can be too polite with our partners sometimes, afraid that we might hurt him or her. Tension and conflict can be healthy if handled properly.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Love
"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.
"Love is patient, is kind: love envieth not, dealeth not perversely, is not puffed up, Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
1 Cor. 13: 1-7
Happy hearts day!
"Love is patient, is kind: love envieth not, dealeth not perversely, is not puffed up, Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
1 Cor. 13: 1-7
Happy hearts day!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Badian
I will really miss our duty in Badian; it was our group's last district assignment, so no more out of town trips and week-long stays in creepy dormitories together. Sigh.
What I will miss most is the freezing shower in the dead of night. We wake up at around 11 every night. The hospital was just 2 minutes' walk away from the dorm, so we had plenty of time. Going to the bathroom takes so much effort. I always felt a hint of panic, because I always did not get enough sleep during the day. But when the icy water hits my skin, though, all anxiety fades away, and I hum to the tune of the RnB music our C.I. always plays in the background. She played it so often that we were all able to memorize the songs by heart, and their sequence.
It wasn't very much busy in the ward because most of the patients are asleep during that time. All we did was monitor the vital signs every four to two hours, prepare the medications and write the SOAPIEs. After that we go to the library and get some midnight (not exactly) snack. Then we carefully prepare the chairs and benches where we are to nap. Hehehe...
Those of us who didn't want to sleep entertained ourselves with reading patients' charts (as if that's entertaining), reading a book, or watching movies on an iPod. I saw portions of Snakes on a Plane. Ate R had a Freudian slip when I asked her what the movie's title was: "Sex on a Plane".
On our last day an old man was brought to the ER because of gunshot wound. He was already dead. They said it was politically-motivated. The shooting occured in Moalboal, over an hour's drive from Badian, at around 11 in the evening. It was already 4 AM when he arrived.
What I will miss most is the freezing shower in the dead of night. We wake up at around 11 every night. The hospital was just 2 minutes' walk away from the dorm, so we had plenty of time. Going to the bathroom takes so much effort. I always felt a hint of panic, because I always did not get enough sleep during the day. But when the icy water hits my skin, though, all anxiety fades away, and I hum to the tune of the RnB music our C.I. always plays in the background. She played it so often that we were all able to memorize the songs by heart, and their sequence.
It wasn't very much busy in the ward because most of the patients are asleep during that time. All we did was monitor the vital signs every four to two hours, prepare the medications and write the SOAPIEs. After that we go to the library and get some midnight (not exactly) snack. Then we carefully prepare the chairs and benches where we are to nap. Hehehe...
Those of us who didn't want to sleep entertained ourselves with reading patients' charts (as if that's entertaining), reading a book, or watching movies on an iPod. I saw portions of Snakes on a Plane. Ate R had a Freudian slip when I asked her what the movie's title was: "Sex on a Plane".
On our last day an old man was brought to the ER because of gunshot wound. He was already dead. They said it was politically-motivated. The shooting occured in Moalboal, over an hour's drive from Badian, at around 11 in the evening. It was already 4 AM when he arrived.
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