Contract Signing

Friday the 13th..

Today is the day. at eto na nga ako sa bahay. I've been to the Hospital already.

*Signed for not less than 5 months.

*Renewed my PNA membership

*Got my schedule and area where I'll be initially assigned.

...and there, my story begins.. After I signed the contract, sabi ni Ma'am Nora Chief Nurse,

"Okay Mr. Dela Cruz, Ward Down ka ha?" at isinulat nya yon sa contract ko as "WD"(initials).

Ang ward down ay Semi Private rooms. AT!... AIRCON FROM LOBBY TO STATION. hahahahahahaha. How cool..kahit na E.R. ko gusto (which is airconditioned din naman)., okay na sakin yun kung san ako in-assign.. Intolerant to heat ako eh..

Oh edi ayun nga, after that, We were endorsed to our respective areas, First is E.R., then Ward Up, then O.B., lastly, Ward Down.

Nung iniintroduce na kami sa Ward Down, kamusta naman at hindi binanggit ang name ko.

At dahil assertive ako, Sumigaw ako. sabi ko., Ma'am?! Excuse me?! Hello?? Saan ako?? sa office nyo??

Ayun. Joke lang yun. hahahaha

ang ginawa ko talaga, ganito:

"Ay Ma'am? ako pa po! (with a smile)"

Sabi nya:

"Ay Mr. Dela Cruz sa E.R. ka..(with a smile din)"

mga 1-3 seconds naghula-hoops ang puso ko sa tuwa at pagka-lito sabay sabing:

"Ma'am, diba Ward Down ako?" (akala ng mga kasama ko hayok na hayok ako sa A.C., kaya ininsist ko don.) eh ang point ko lang din naman, kung san ako talaga ba assigned diba? at sinulat nya yun eh. to think na hindi din naman ako inintroduce sa E.R., so sabi nya:

"Ay o sige, no problem,"

tapos sabi ko ule:

"pero ma'am Ok lang din, san po ba talaga?haha" (kasi syempre I love E.R., eh maganda din sa Ward Down, kahit san na dun)

Sabi nya:

"eh o sige dito ka na lang....dito ka na lang" (na parang full of convictions ang mukha nya na dun na lang ako.hahahaha)

tapos maraming nainggit. hahahahahahahahaha. Tapos naisip ko, OMG. that was a very abrupt decision. I was torn in a flash..obliged to take a stand. Did I make the right decision? so para i-close ang lahat.

sabi ko habang naglalakad na on the way out since uwian na..

"Ma'am, Bye po, thank you,. and..sa next rotation na lang po ako sa E.R..hehe"

Ma'am Nora Chief Nurse: "Ay sure, sige, no problem.."

o edi at least, alam kong may chance pa din ako sa E.R., (^^,)

and to formally close ("formally" talaga?..program 'to for a formal closure?Hahahaha)

sinabi nya sa lahat:

"oh ingat kayo., happy valentines..makipag-date na kayo"

...dun na ako parang tinurukan ng Potassium Chloride. Chaos has come. WAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Umalis na lang ako bigla. pumunta ako kay Papa since nasa likod lang ng Hospital ang school at office nya at nag-share ako what happened. ayun.

Then I went home na. Mamaya I'll be getting my name plate naman. ;-)

BOW.

GOOD DAY EBERIBADI! :)

Officially be living a life as V.N. (-is there such a thing??LOL).

V.N.... as in Volunteer Nurse..

Ambivalent feeling.

I'm happy yet I still feel like flustering for what the future may bring now that I am entering a new episode of my life.

This afternoon I have already reported to the Cabanatuan City Hospital's Chief Nurse, Ms. Nora Cruz, who is also the current president of the Philippine Nurses Association, Nueva Ecija chapter.

"WILLING KA BA TALAGA MAGVOLUNTEER DITO KAHIT GALING KANG MANILA DOCTORS?"

two things:

1.) Does she mean I should prefer a higher standard of hospital since I got higher points on my resume than the others? (Come on let's face it. I graduated from one of the most expensive nursing schools in Manila, with a very good standard of quality, and Me having high ratings in the board exam) and then I would end up volunteering in a Government Hospital in town?

OR

2.) Does she feel sorry for me, that knowing my credentials, she can't offer me a position with pay since there's nothing she can do with this biting reality of Nurses' status in the Philippines..

Well. why would I answer that I am not willing? I want to do something! This is an opportunity, and I am not being an ass pointing out these things, thinking I might sound bragging or whining about stuff.. I am just laying all facts on the table about what it is inside me right now.

Aside from the anticipation in this new event in my life,

I'm also afraid...of the unknown...

Am I going to be credited for this?

Is this really the start of something better and the start of the life I have always dreamed of?

or Is it just a road I have to savor before I go to the path that God has actually chosen me to take?

because it is still under construction? and that I just have to take the detour in His time? for the reason of spontaneity?..

If it is the case, I just wish I won't lose my supply of Happy pills for my everyday journey..

I believe in my HAPPINESS philosophy but I also believe that it is still young and still needs to be supplied by experiences and some other ingredients to make it strong and definite. Just so I can easily rely on it and cope with everything the healthy way.

As I enter this new phase, I will embrace the newbies that will come my way...new people..new learnings.. (GOD PLS.,.. NEW LOVE LIFE!) -ayun yon oh! LOL

With everything I am going and will go through, I will always wish for Happiness.. it maybe on the top list of wishes' cliches, but I believe in this powerful word and emotion.

I know that with happiness, everything follows accordingly.

Cool Breeze and Ultimate update.

The weather's cold.
And so am I.
Nothing in particular. It's just like my day is a major blah.
So before it gets worse, I decided to enter a new post here.
So I say blogspot is my savior for the day.

Since I haven't shared plenty of stories about me these past holidays, I will try my very best to give you some of 'em now. As much as I am more willing to post bulks of pictures in my multiply, facebook, and friendster account. (too disappointing that friendster doesn't allow more than 20 albums).

What about me last December? the parties? the people?
Let me start off with these creatures:

December 19, 2008, My ever true high school friends are starting to come home for the holidays and this is the day we started to paint the town red. Me, (a proud bum), Aldrin, (also a bum reviewing for IELTS), E.J., Aiza (both fresh from the Nurses' Licensure Exam last Nov. 29-30), & Athena, (Fresh from a Drug Company in Makati) decided to meet up, watched QUARANTINE, ate @ Barj, attended the mass, and went back to Barj again up to midnigt :)

The next day...

December 20, 2008, we tried Jack's Coffee after the mass and it was great. :)

The next day, I am a Godfather :-p

December 21, 2008, to this Angel :) Keighleen. (^^,)

The following day, Lea (standing homecoming queen, still smells like U.S. and Canada.) and Tasha (winking ateneo law student) were already in town..

December 22, 2008, another Coffee day, not at Pablo's but again, in Barj.. where PIZZA is a must try! We attended the mass and satisfied our BIBINGKA cravings after @ Lei's house..A get together like this calls for a bigger reunion right after Christmas day.

So before that, I'ma show you my Christmas celebration, of course with my amazing family!

December 24, 2008, Mom baked my ever favorite cake, and that is for the Noche Buena, after the mass, we gathered in Tita Fe's house, and there we celebrated the Christmas eve, Japanese style (Yakiniku and Shabu-Shabu). Went home around 1 A.M.

then it's...CHRISTMAS DAY! I woke up as early as 6 A.M., and it's not normal since my parents are still sleeping and I slept @ like 3 A.M. Excited? Haha. I turned the stereo on and indulged in to my favorite christmas songs! :-P

December 25, 2008, That night we gathered again in Tita Fe's house and there we partied until past 12M.N.. how we love Karaoke? how I love singing. Hahaha

and then again, the following day, as I have mentioned above, a post Christmas day bonding with Friends!

December 26, 2008, It was supposed to be an Almond Jelly party to be hosted by Ella, ( a ballerina by nature working in Shangri-La Boracay) but then due to schedule conflicts, It wasn't pushed through. BUT! it's never a reason to go home! after deciding not to watch an MMFF film entry since the Cabanatueños swarmed the movie houses and like we don't have a space to fit in, We went to: JACK'S COFFEE!! where we became a fan of their MOZZARELLA FINGERS and NACHOS! ;) then after we went to Select to gulp some alcohol, nibble, take pictures and share stories to the max!

After a day, The Feast of the holy Family,

December 28, 2008, Hanz and I received the sacrament of Confirmation through the Bishop :)

Up next is the Ultimate party of the year that was..

December 30, 2008, E.J.'s Birthday fusioned with our Gossip Girl themed Party
QUOTED FROM TASHA: We may be projecting a classy facade but our old-jologs selves made us enjoy the event to the top! ;)

In this photo: Earnest John Tenorio (Nurse planning to take the Medical Course and concentrate on Neurosurgery), Ramonica San Juan (Garment Technologist) , Crisselle Placido (Psych grad who works for a Drug Company...order LESOFAT from her ;)), Argel Joseph Sotto (Fine Arts Grad who teaches Asians about English) Jianessa Camille Diaz (CPA-9th Placer, May 2008), Lea Angela Viterbo (CommArts Grad searching for a workplace), Alleli Pier Garcia (Psych Grad-Office Worker in PRU Life UK), Nathalia Gozon (Nurse who wants to take A Culinary course), Jaymar Castro (From GMA's BORN TO BE WILD to ABS-CBN's HABANG MAY BUHAY), Anjeli Cadiz (CPA in the making), Aldrin Vincent Vallarta (Nurse reviewing for IELTS), Erickson Tolentino (CPA, works with Jianessa in PUNONGBAYAN ASSOC.), Natasha Cayco (Ateneo Law Student) , Chinee Mallari (UST Med-Student), JC Dela Cruz (Nurse struggling to work out of the country), Athena Mae Imperial (CommArts from U.P. who works for a Drug Company in Makati), Aiza Marie Ingalla (Nurse bumming around and planning to take the Medical Course and concentrate on Pediatrics), & Joanne Pestaño (Assumptionista and like Lei, searching for a workplace that suits her).

MIA: Joyce Anne Pertez (Advertiser), Diorella Angela Santos (Ballerina for life, working in Shangri-La, Boracay), Joy-Anne Calica (Engineering student)

Lastly,

December 31, 2008, MEDIA NOCHE! Me, Mama, Tito Mark, Papa, and Tita Fe, dining before 2009 hits! :)

...AND THESE ARE THE PRICELESS MOMENTS OF MY 2008's HOLIDAY SEASON! ;)

Boom 2009!

I wish everyone a Happy and Blessed New Year! :0)

It may be known as the year of the ox but i believe It is always the year of the Lord.,

No particular Good Lucks, and no Bad Lucks..

All I want is for everyone to find happiness in everything we do and in every choice we make.

As i have said, I consider this year my "Jumpstarter". As I'll be making moves for my career.

God be with me.

Looking back to the year that was, I can say that it's definitely a very prosperous and fortune-filled one. Rocks on the road of course but Managed it well in the end.

That is why I am so GRATEFUL.

Last year I graduated, celebrated it with family and friends, successfully reviewed for the board exams, passed the June NLE, got a grade of 80.80, happy 21st birthday, attended the oath taking ceremony, had a thanksgiving party together with family and friends again, had frequent outings with friends and family, I'm finally driving, I received my NCLEX fingerprint card just after 19 days of request, I already received the confirmation sacrament, I have seen and felt everyone's support, received numerous of gifts, I generated my Facebook account, and of course my blogspot.

It's also a year of trials., Which I thank God for..for making me a stronger person, and realizing the importance of the people that surround me..
I never cease to learn from life.

My love for MY PEOPLE grows more and more as time goes by.

Every year I'm thankful, but 2008 is extra special.

So hello 2009.. may you be my year 2008 -enhanced edition :)

Merry Christmas People! :)

Haven't been blogging these past few days.. Kinda busy with the season, enjoying the remaining days of 2008 :)

Shout out to my friend Fleda! I also completed 9 night masses plus 1 dawn mass. Hehe. Funny part is I forgot to make a particular wish. Wahaha. but then.. God knows what it is. ;)

I'm simply Grateful :)

I Feel Good! (tenenenenenenen) Haha.

Oh well, It's already 2 in the morning, been to my aunt's house for our Family party.. Yakiniku/Shabu-Shabu style Noche Buena. Hehe.

I'll be posting pictures in my Friendster, Multiply, and Facebook soon! :)
Gotta love parties., more in days to come. YEAH!!

Happy Birthday to the Almighty! :)

Celebrate Life! :)

Fine Line Between Being Honest and Truthful

"What is the difference between honesty and truthfulness?" -Father Elmer Mangalinao asked.

Tita Fe and I looked at each other and was like "Huh?? Isn't it the same?"

Then things ran through my mind about "Pagpapakatotoo" which is I think being stereotyped and is being defined as showing your bad side, or how arrogant you can react to a particular situation and be stubborn enough to say that people should not care since IT WAS YOU that YOU are showing.. take it or leave it they brag. You see how reality T.V. show participants does this,

One of the many examples: Pinoy Big Brother Season 2...that time of Wendy Valdez and Bea Saw conflicts. Wendy would accuse Bea of being safe since Bea doesn't retalliate, a Psychology graduate so maybe she just wants to be rational. The exact oppostie, Wendy would always express her rage.. and next to that she'd always state that she's just being real.

Next example: PBB Teen edition Season 2: Rona and Priscilla. Priscilla stated multiple times that she was just being real. Rona on the other hand, I remember said that "Pagpapakatoo doesn't mean pagiging masama" or something like that.


Then it made me think, "Yeah? why does everybody use the term "Nagpapakatotoo ako" when in fact, they sound like it's as good as saying "I have issues and bad attitudes".. (now wouldn't it be more true?:-P)

And now going back to the mass., according to father Elmer 's explanation, this is how it goes and I think I believe so:

Being HONEST means YOU are true to what you do and say because YOU measure things on how YOU think and feel.. Meaning YOU want to express YOURSELF to others as the raw YOU.

Now being TRUTHFUL, he says, Is much supreme than being honest. because sometimes, being honest doesn't mean you're always truthful. But by being truthful, you are always honest. Because in being truthful, you consider OTHERS. This time you don't measure things on how you think and feel alone but also the people around you and especially the people involved. This does not ask us to be very analytical, just be rational.

This is his example:

HONEST: I'm a married man, I work in an office miles from my wife and home. I've a beautiful and very attractive secretary. She told me she likes me, I told her I'm attracted to her too..who wouldn't with how she looks? and so we had an affair. I'm just being honest. it's what I feel. I've to let it out.

TRUTHFUL: I'm a married man, I work in an office miles from my wife and home. I've a beautiful and very attractive secretary. She told me she likes me, I told her I'm attracted to her too..who wouldn't with how she looks? but then I have a wife and children. They are my Family. I am committed, so my secretary and I shouldn't have an affair.

"Family is not just about your feelings for them. Family is a decision" -father added.

Do you guys get the point?

So then it's crystal clear for me. The people I cited above as examples are for me the perfect manifestations of these. If before I would wonder "Who's really the one who's NAGPAPAKATOTOO??", Now I think I can just determine who's being honest and who's being truthful.

In tagalog it may be a question: Kung ganon, anung tagalog sa pagiging "Honest" at "Truthful"? ano ang right english for "Pagpapakatotoo".. for me, make it a phrase: "Nagpapakatotoo ako sa sarili ko" for HONESTY and "Nagpapakatotoo ako sa lahat" for TRUTHFULNESS. It is sometimes correlated., and sometimes, also different. Naturally, I guess you'll understand by situation.

So please. Kids, Adults.. Enough of the Bragging like you're REAL for real. Scan through.. Maybe you're just having tantrums.

BOW.

and PEACE.

Misa de Gallo: Paano Ginagawa?

(Photo from the Web)

Last night, it's already the second Simbang gabi in Sto. Niño Church in our subdivison, I wonder why they started on Dec.15? Tsk. Does it mean I'll get an "INC" mark in my "Simbang gabi Card?" Oh well. I'll make a way to make it complete.

Anyway, the homily last night was great. I love the weather, I love it when I go to Church with relatives.

But seeing some people around makes me think:
"Are they all sincere?", "Why are they there??", "Why are they doing that??", "Do they know what this is all about for real??".

It's kind of disappointing, it's not that I get bugged and annoyed by them all the way, it's just that I respect the Church, the mass and I respect God., I just wish they do too.

Then I read this column in a newspaper last night while I was nibbling at midnight:

read and identify yourself if you belong. ;-P

"PAANO KA MAGSIMBANG-GABI?"
-By Lester Gopela Hallig (Pilipino Star Ngayon)

Noong nakaraang araw ay nagsermon ang aming kura paroko hinggil sa mga klase ng taong nagsisimbang-gabi. Walang hindi natawa sa mga tinuran niya. Marahil ay tinamaan sila sa mga kategoryang nabanggit ng pari. Iyung iba naman ay may kilalang ganoon. Bakit hindi natin silipin kung sinu-sino ito? Malay ninyo. Baka iyong katabi o kasambahay ninyo ay ang matatamaan dito. O baka rin anman iakw mismo. Heto, ibabahagi ko sa inyo ang nakaaaliw at napakatunay na obserbasyon ng aming pari:

Nagsisimbang-tango
Wala siyang ginawa kundi tumango nang tumango habang nagmimisa. Hindi dahil sumasang-ayon siya sa sinasabi ng pari, kundi dahil natutulog pal siya, kaya ayun, tatangu-tango sa simbahan. Mayroon akong kaibigang ganyan ang ginagawa tuwing simbang-gabi. Tutulug-tulog sa misa, eh may ugali pa naman siyang napapadapa siya kapag nakakaidlip. Hayun, minsan ganun ang nangyari kaya napasubsob siya sa mga manang ng simbahan. Siyempre, namumula na kaming mga kasama niya sa sobrang pagpipigil ng tawa (at kahihiyan na rin). Parang naiskandalo ang mga manang, may kasama pang matatalim na tingin.
Siguro ang ipapayo ko lang sa mga ganitong tao, kung kaya mong magsimba sa gabi (mayroon sa aming alas otso ng gabi ang misa), doon na lang. At least, gising ka pa at may malay ka pa kung ano na ang nangyayari.

Nagsisimbang-puto
Totoo bang simba talaga ang pinunta mo roon? Baka anman excuse mo lang iyon para makakain ng mga kakanin pagkatapos ng misa. "Ay hindi, misa talaga habol ko!" sabi ng kaibigan namin. Pero papunta pa lang kami sa simbahan, heto ang linya niya, "Uy, mamaya bili ako ng puto bumbong ha. Iparada ninyo sa gilid ang sasakyan at matatagalan pa yung bibingkang lulutuin pa. Siguro pagdating sa simbahan, punta na ko ron para maireserba ang kakanin!"
Minsan nga, hindi mapakali ang kasama namin habang nagmimisa. Paano, nasa bibingkahan na ang isip. Noong isang beses nga, pag homily ng pari, lalabas muna para kumain, Mas maganda sana kung isasaalang-alang muna ang diwa ng simbang gabi, hindi iyong palusot lamang ang pagsisimba.

Nagsisimbang-text
Aminin natin, marami pa ring matitigas ang ulo pagdating sa simbahan. Text dito, text doon. Ano ba naman ang patayin muna ang cell phone ng isang oras, at ibuhos muna ang atensyon sa misa?
Kaya lang may mga ganitong nagsisimba talaga. Ganito kasi iyon. Gusto lang magsimbang-gabi at makakumpleto dahil...wala lang. Hindi taos sa puso ang pagsisimba kundi para masabi lang na kumpleto ang siyam na araw. Pero tanungin mo siya kung anu-ano ang mga naging sermon ng pari ay wala siyang maisasagot.
Dapat kasi, iwan an muna ang cell phone sa bahay. Malaking risk kasi na bitbitin yan sa simbahan. Bukod sa baka mawalapa iyan, eh nakakaistorbo pa. Biruin mo, habang taimtim na nagdadasal ang karamihan ay panay ang text mo. Hindi ba makapaghihintay man lang iyan?

Nagsisimbang-tabi
Isa pa ito. Ang nagsisimbang-tabi ay parating nasa suluk-sulok at gilid-gilid ng simbahan. Minsan sa loob, mas madalas nasa labas. Mas mahalaga pa ang magbarkadahan tuwing simbang gabi. Makikita mo sila sa mga lugar na nabanggit at mapapansin mong mas abala sila sa pagkukuwentuhan, apgtatawanan, at pag-iistambay.
Ang masama pa rito, may ibang tao na walang ginawa kundi magtsismisan. Ano ba yan, isang sagradong okasyon tapos babahiran ng paninira sa kapwa?
Aba, kung tutuusin, medyo effort din ang gumising nang maaga. Pero para tumambay lang? Parang may mali yata run. Kasali rin dito ang mga nagliligawan tuwing misa. Mas busy maghawakan ng kamay o hindi kaya ay maglampungan. Oo nga at nakatutuwang makakita ng mga nagmamahalan pero may lugar para sa mga bagay na iyan. Ang simbang gabi ay para lamang sa Diyos, kaya huwag naman siyang agawan ng atensyon.

Nagsisimbang-taos.
At ito ang dapat tularan. Alam niyang ang pagsisimba ay paghahanda sa pagsilang ng Dakilang Lumikha. Alam niyang ang pagpunta sa misa ay hindi lamang sa pisikl na pagdalo kundi pati sa puso at kaluluwa. Alam niya kung ano ang silbo ng simbang gabi. Alam niyang sakripisyo ito (hindi anman kasi normal sa ibang tao ang gumising nang madilim pa, liban nga lang kung sa call center ka nagtatrabaho--pero ibang usapan na iyan). Alam niyang kailangan niya bigyang-galang ang Panginoon, kaya pinapatay niya ang cell phone nya. hindi siya nakikipagkuwentuhan sa misa, at lalong hindi hinahati ang kanyang pagkatao sa oras na iyon.

Kaya ngayong panahon ng simbang gabi, alin ka kaya sa mga taong ito?

*********
Need I say more?