I long for holidays. Since 2003, if I remember right, holidays would be no-clinic days. And during holidays, surprisingly, I wake up early so that I get to enjoy a full day. And so, when my long-time friend Allen and hubby Edrich invited me to see Anvaya Cove last August, during the long weekend, I didn't think twice. A little past 7 in the morning, we were on our way to Anvaya. The trip was super stress-free. I enjoyed driving through NLEX and got impressed with the view from Clark to Subic. My only stress came a few minutes before reaching Anvaya when my patient texted that she was in labor. Didn't want to ruin my mindset so, after staying for an hour, I was back driving to Manila.


Before 6pm, my patient Jhen delivered already. Thanks to my friend Ana, in an hour, I was driving back to Subic with her! Otherwise, driving on a non-lit road alone for more than an hour would give me the creeps. well, it almost did.

Welcome, Anvaya. When we got there by 9pm, all you can hear are the diverse repertoire of the frogs. It was such a quiet place, the sound of our giggles and stories till 2 am seemed too loud. The following 2 days were captured by my camera. My best moments would be seeing the changing hues of the sunset, falling asleep on the seashore while listening to the waves and treating our yaya Waps to this whole experience. Thanks, Allen and Edrich.

It’s half past midnight. I thought I was tired and had wanted to sleep early since I slept at 2 am yesterday after watching Cinderella . But here I am in front of mira’s laptop. I have a persistent thought.

I wish life were a fairytale.
I wish I had a fairy godmother who would appear when I have some good news to share… or would pop out just when I needed to talk to someone after a bad or tiring day.
I wish animals could speak… like those rats and horses. They could be better friends.
I wish I had a carriage at the stroke of the wand…I wouldn’t have to pay my monthly car amortization.
I wish I had a wicked stepmother with two wicked stepsisters. Doing all their chores would be my daily workout.
I wish I had a prince…who wouldn’t be afraid to take a risk and love with all his heart. No if’s, no but’s, no excuses.
I wish every story has a happy ending. This way, we all get to say, And they lived happily ever after…

Life, though, is not always a fairytale.

After watching the whole play, the message was clear... Impossible things happen everyday.
And maybe, I would want that to be my persistent thought for now. Goodnight.

After more than two years of non-existence, due to insistent public demand…this blog is alive again. Thank you to my two avid supporters, tina and marie who prodded me to continue writing again after tina accidentally reached this blog through my sister’s, Mirsbin’s Kitchen. And after hearing them laugh over and over again as they vividly remember my picture from the salon, I tell myself… why not?

A day after the breast biopsy results of my sister revealed benign findings, it's as if the whole family was given a new lease on life. And so, we all decided to spend the Sunday morning in UP. With the cool breeze gently blowing the falling leaves from the trees, the kids enjoyed alternately running and walking through the main road. We, the adults, seem to enjoy it better.

I just realized that as you go through major trials in life, you learn to appreciate the simple things you almost took for granted... like the beauty of falling leaves, the cool breeze, sunshine and Sunday mornings...

We are on the process of mastering the art of dealing with a family member who is sick. This week was truly a test for me.
With my dad just released from the hospital after a week at the icu, starting on Christmas through the New Year, my brother had to be admitted for his second chemotherapy session and my sister for her breast mass biopsy...yes, on the same day. Like preparing for a field trip, i packed my things hoping it would just be an overnight stay, fetched my brother and sisters after arranging for their rooms in the hospital. The next day, i had to make sure my brother was tolerating his chemotherapy drugs, had to make sure my sister was ok during her operation and had to make sure that i see my patients, too.
My siblings and i managed to have hearty meals during our stay in the hospital...not only with good fastfood but with good conversations and laughter. Since my brother's illness, we were praying together again, having longer breakfasts together, watching hbo and lifestyle, and yes, tagalog movies together, deciding on the house renovations together and have learned to smile amidst all these... as a family.
Until our next trip to the hospital...

No, this is not a wig. This is the end-product when the whole staff of the salon you go to is out for bridal make-ups in another hotel and you are left with the security guard or errands boy to do your hair. I was waiting for someone to tell me that i was a victim of a tv show but to my surprise, nobody showed up.
My sister and I had to control our laughter, as well as our urinary sphincters. I had no guts though to get mad at this guy. On the lighter end, it caused the whole household laughing upon seeing me. Well, goodbye hair asia....

First day of the year. Had to wake up early to start the year right. No more resolutions. On New Year's Eve, we had to break a few of our traditions like eating at 11 pm instead and not going out at 12 midnight to light the fireworks. No definite reason for doing all these. Maybe we're getting older. Maybe we just want to try out something different this year. With my dad still in the hospital and my brother just getting over his first chemotherapy session, thoughts cross my mind of leaving all those not-so-good events in 2005. Didn't even feel the days passing by the last quarter of the year from the time we learned my youngest brother had a huge mass in his chest which turned out to be cancer. Since that day, everything was seen in a different perspective. Primarily the reason why I started this blog. So I can write those insights and release all the emotions.
First day of the year. All I could do is hope... hope for better things to come. And pray...pray for more strength. And focus...focus on all that is positive, counting the many blessings that we have received, most specially the year that has passed, 2005.