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Showing posts from 2009

LOOK WHAT I FOUND: A letter I wrote for Everyone (2006)

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After being diagnosed with leukemia in 2005, I created a blog in 'Xanga' which I intended to use as my online medical journal. I have wanted to write about my experiences, my thoughts and help other leukemia patients and their families by being a source of information and support. I have failed to make regular posts because I was almost always in the hospital and there was no mobile internet tools yet back then. Somehow, I felt I failed in my objective. Thank you notes and general updates were the most that I could do. I'd rather spend all my time with my family especially my son who's barely a year old then - since I was not guaranteed of a 'tomorrow'. Anyway, I'd just like to share my old blog entry posted in Xanga/reposted  in  Multiply and Blogspot accts. (June 2006). Here goes: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi everybody!!! I just turned 23 last XXX…and it’s been 73 days today, after my transplant. Everythi

THE BATTLE OF THE CORNED TUNAS

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This IS one very very late post. I completely forgot I have a file saved somewhere. Shucks. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I have been meaning to make this post since the very first time I saw Derek Ramsey's Century Corned tuna TV commercial. I thought San Marino must be doing well in terms of market sales considering that they were first to introduce the 'corned tuna' concept in the Philippine market - and that Century had to keep up with it. San Marino Corned Tuna TVC Century Tuna TVC So finally last Sunday morning about two weeks ago, I opened two cans of corned tuna - one San Marino and one Century - and put them to a taste test. There's 7 of us having breakfast then. Without telling them which is which, I asked them which tastes better. (L) Century and (R) San Marino My nephew was first to say that he likes the taste of the less oily and sauteed-tasting one. (the one on the left, which is Century Tuna ) I totally

Blog Action Day 2009: Climate Change

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  The recent onslaught of typhoons Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma) became a wake-up call to the Filipinos especially those who were directly affected. The aftermath is clear evidence of the vast changes in our global environment. Although there are natural factors and processes that contribute to the world’s changing climate, we cannot dispel the fact that a lot of human activities have altered the atmosphere’s makeup particularly in terms of the greenhouse effect. Global warming (and cooling) and climate change have a significant impact to the way we live life and to our environment. If we fail to act now, there will be further harm not only to our natural resources but also to our own being. Living in this world will be very different for our children and future generations if we ignore the very obvious signs that nature is already giving back to us the damage we have caused it. It is never too late to make a difference. It is now more than ever that we need to take a revolutio

THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF BLOOD

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  My brother undergoes stem cell apheresis   This is the blood bag of stem cells extracted from him ready to be transplanted to me. I now have a deeper appreciation to the life-giving properties of blood. I am living a renewed life for more than 3 years now because of the gift of blood by my eldest brother. If you'll ask me at what point in my life did I feel the most gratitude towards God, life, my family, friends and medical personnel, it would be on my Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant Day last March 3, 2006. Surviving leukemia made me thankful to - God for a new lease of life, my parents who are my cheerleaders and financial supporters, my eldest brother kuya Fidel, my stem cell donor, my two other brothers and sister, who have patiently watched over me day in & day out, my partner Mike, for his unwavering love and patience , my son Wei, the top reason why the battle is worth fighting for, my doctors, for their expertise and genuine concern, my friends for always remind

Pre-Blog Action Day 2009: Climate Change

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Exactly three days from now, bloggers from all over the world become one by posting about the same issue on the same day. This year's Blog Action Day will be about Climate Change . The event aims to raise awareness and spark action across all borders. The series of unfortunate events that hit our country now is great evidence of the effect of climate change in our lives. By asking hundreds of different minds through their blogs to express their viewpoints, we take the topic to many different perspectives - thus creating a catalyst for sustainable solutions to our concerns. Take part. Share and Spread and the word!

Skepticism, Kindness and more...

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Photo from Flickerhappy I was at the House of Representatives earlier to attend a healing session and mass officiated by Fr. Fernando Suarez . As part of the HOR Week celebration, the Congressional Spouses Foundation (CSFI) invited the healing priest over. The south lobby was lined with chairs and an altar was set-up. Some congressmen like Speaker Nograles , and their spouses were present as well as the house employees and their families. The organizers asked the attendees to stick-on color-coded cards (where we're also asked to write on our ailments/concerns). Color coding was based on the gravity of the ailment. I was given a red card which was the color assigned to the gravely ill and cancer patients. Technically, I am neither a cancer patient nor gravely ill. I was - then. But friends and organizers (who were privy to my condition) insisted that I get the red card - and so I did. Red card holders were supposed to sit in front, especially since most were wheelchair-bound.

Helping In The Way That I Can

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I barely slept last night. Still worried that my partner isn't home yet, I can't relax. We were watching TV the whole night, texting friends and family - checking on them. We planned to go to our relatives' houses that are already accessible and help. My dad, sister and I bought some grocery items, packed them and delivered them. We saw how much damage Ondoy made to their homes and properties. It is very heartbreaking.   Shots taken by my cousins from Marikina Shots taken by my cousin from Paranaque  Outside the Provident Villages via N78 When we got home, I was relieved to see my partner there - showered and fresh, yet full of mini-bruises and scratches. He hugged me and our son tight, and told us that he never thought that the extent of the damage caused by Ondoy was that much until he started walking along Marcos Highway. He recounted what he went through since the early morning of Saturday. He even saw our high school classmate with her sister and dad walking

THE TYPHOON THAT WAS ONDOY

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Photo reposted from this site We're supposed to have a family meeting early today at Bonifacio High Street, Taguig. My sister and I left our house early considering it is a weekend - there's traffic and it is raining hard. Little did we know that the pouring rain would eventually stop us from reaching our destination. The flood started to rise in Elliptical Road while we're passing by. We had to take a turn at Kalayaan Avenue (we'll leave our car and ride on our brother's SUV because of the flood that we might encounter) only to be told by the bystanders that it is already unpassable to light vehicles. Our car took another round at the Elliptical to take a turn at East Avenue. By then, dad called us and asked us to come home as the meeting was cancelled already. My sister and I were praying hard and out loud as we passed high floodwaters along Commonwealth Avenue. We were checking the flooring if the flood has seeped in the car already. It felt like we were ridin

CANCER IS SO LIMITED

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 Cancer is so limited – It cannot cripple love It cannot shatter hope It cannot corrode faith It cannot destroy peace It cannot kill friendship It cannot suppress memories It cannot silence courage It cannot invade the soul It cannot steal eternal life and It cannot conquer the spirit. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I saw this posted on the wall in a doctor’s clinic. Instantly, I felt a flood of memories coming to me. This is the fourth year since I got diagnosed with cancer – cancer of the blood, which is more commonly known as leukemia.  Being sickly since childhood, my memories of doctors, hospitals, needles and medicine are very vivid. And it has become more apparent, that despite my being unable to become a medical doctor (a childhood dream – yet choosing a different path) that I am still destined to be in the hospital, but as a patient.  I know how hard and disheartening it can get, but I am sure that God has reasons for givin

REMEMBERING THIS DAY FOUR YEARS AGO

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Photo from this site It was this day on 2005 when I have decided to have my blood tested ( CBC and Blood Chemistry ) in preparation for a medical checkup before I resume school in June. From the usual one to four hours of wait for the results, I got mine about 3 days after. I remember the anxiety that we felt when the hospital staff refused to release the results without explaining why and what happened. I was eager to find out why that I have decided to go to another hospital for a repeat exam. I got my results an hour after but it revealed under and over-normal range results. It gave us an idea then, that it is probably why the other hospital I went to won't give me my results right away. We tried to find information about the results - scouring books and the internet. Though we had initial suspicions based on what we read and heard about, we have decided not to dwell on speculations. We may be wrong and misinformed after all. And so I waited for my doctor's appointment. I g

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