Fourth Month: DONE

Matibay ang walis, palibhasa'y magkabigkis.
A broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly bound.

Jero, Dj, Me, Barbie, Joana and Aliza

I am thanking God for having allowed us to survive the first four months of Fellowship in Palliative Medicine, a section of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. Aside from the usual academic rigors that the training requires, there is the daunting task of going through the  bits and pieces of government bureaucracy.

Since the beginning of this academic year, there have been visits to the Family Medicine Department area on the third floor of Out-Patient Department Building of the country's 102-year-old national tertiary referral center and teaching hospital. Talks floated around the Department about certain new policies and priorities of the new administration. During last Thursday's culminating activity for the resident rotators of the Section, we were shown a copy of the letter addressed to the Department Chairman. It seemed that the whole Department will have to vacate and rearranged her physical set-up because  we have "underutilized" areas that could be put into better use by the Medical Records and Blood Bank units.

I distinctly remember feeling sad and frustrated; as I tried to hide that quiet tear. I know that Family Medicine, in anywhere in the country, is somehow not given her deserved importance in this age of medical specialties, even if the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, is the largest organization of physicians under the banner of the Philippine Medical Association. It enraged me and I likened it to discrimination. 

The same can be said for the Palliative Medicine. Under appreciated. A relatively new field in the Philippines, but has grown by leaps and bounds in Europe and in the United States. According to one of our consultants, the training program was not even mentioned during a presentation, with members of the World Health Organization as audience. Certainly, the majority of physicians in the Philippines do not know about this training program or has an idea what the specialty is for... Dame Cicely Saunders? Dr. Josefina Magno? In our ire, we commented that, "magiging pasyente din kita...."; and you will see what we can do.

Ang mabigat ay gumagaan, kung pinagtutulungan. A heavy burden is lightened if everyone participates in carrying it.

On second thought, I asked for forgiveness for such remarks. My co-fellows and I are made of much sterner stuff. We can cry for awhile on this impending loss of our "home," lambast them even; without a sure area of where are we going to relocate; "mabuti pa ang mga taga-Laperal Compound..." 

But then, we can always let our  work, our patient care, do the rallying;  and  thus, be able to rest in God's  faithfulness at the end of the day and be the fuel of our hearts for tomorrow's labor.

-x-

I was the home visit fellow (along with Aliza) for April. I have an alternate during the Mondays-Wednesdays-Fridays' visits. This means that I get to have less patients from the ward referrals. After the first week, I got bored. I was sleepy most of time. "Parang walang gana..." I missed the action while in the wards, although, it can be overwhelming, too. I need to find that zest.

I sure did, on the morning of April 20th. 

I had no residents with me or students or volunteer nurses. Just Sir Roger and Sir Loy. After seeing a family near Harrison's Plaza, we decided to do an initial visit the Missionaries of Charity in Tondo. Then, nagpabaga ko og nawong... I asked them if it would be if it would be fine to stop at the Eng Bee Tin (besides, its my birthday!) - I would really like to eat their hopia with a combination of flavors...  pLease.... please...

Tito Ruben used to bring us these delights from his trips to Manila as pasalubongs when my cousins and I were in grade school. Truly, one of my favorite things in the world.

 An absolute pleasure.

 Plus Plus points for the combinations =)

This is from their website http://www.engbeetin.com

-x-

Walang mahirap na gawa pag dinaan sa tiyaga.
No undertaking is difficult if pursued with perseverance.

In Los Banos, Laguna during,  with the parents of Jero, Dr. Rhodora Ocampo and the staff of Madre de Amor

After the day's work at the Shawarma Snack Center in Malate, with Dr. Eva, Jero's pretty wife

At the Icebergs in Robinson's Place, with our senior fellows

Just before starting  the pre-fellowship, I was interviewed by two members of the consultant staff. They told me about the heavy load that the training could possibly bring in all aspects of my life (what an understatement!)  and that it is important to strike that balance. One of the questions they asked was if I have a hobby or something that I find interesting other than the hospital work - and truth to tell, the first thing that came into my find was FOOD.

I am so glad that I have found a new group of "vultures" here. =)

-x-

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:21

Julius (sounding board, and everything else) and Me

Keona Ysabelle Hernan aka Ysai Churvaness

-x-

Yipee! 

May -Ward rotator!!!!