When I started this blog, I promised myself I won’t be using it in politics. Rather, I wanted it to be as far from this aspect of my life as I can. Maybe, I just wanted to prove to myself that I can live a life away from the mob so to speak, in my own little world. But what I am about to share now is so big, I really cannot help but blog about it.
As a lot of those who check out my blog know, my father is running for Governor of the Province of Camarines Sur, yes – against that wakeboardin’ dude – self-proclaimed John Lloyd Cruz look-alike (its really making me retch as I write this…) – L-Ray Villafuerte.
Admittedly, it is an uphill climb for my Dad, our family and our supporters. I had so many doubts when my Dad started exploring this path after the end of his three year term as Congressman started looming in the horizon. There were so many objections and oppositions from within and without, especially since his major supporter in this endeavour was someone the family does not trust.
I prayed and prayed because things are just so confusing. I wanted God to do his work and clear out the dust and show us the truth and what we are supposed to do.
As expected, with much faith, the answer came in the last three days of last week. The major supporter finally shed his chameleon clothes and showed his true self. Blood is thicker than water after all. People indeed can change their minds according to what is convenient to them. Principles can be compromised despite of all the people that will be affected.
Our family braced for the expected. It was my Dad’s birthday last Saturday and despite preparing for a thousand people, we were afraid that the people we were expecting to arrive might not come. But God is good – coz they did, amazingly despite coming from far away places. They pledged their support for my Dad. It was a good feeling seeing all these people come and tell my Dad “Sir, walang iwanan!”
Nakakataba ng puso and my heart is only so full of gratitude. At this point, if we lose, the fact that the people of Camarines Sur has seen how wily this political family is, and their supporters have also felt how little this family think of them, we have already served our purpose.
Now, we are still with the administration, as my Dad had been since 2001. He is supporting Gibo Teodoro and it will stay that way. Clear, clean, transparent. No more, no less. That is who my Dad is. That is how our family is.
Monday, November 09, 2009
Friday, October 09, 2009
PRISAA or First PRISA
Today is a great surprise!
I attended a meeting of the Bicol Foundation on Higher Education (BFHE) this afternoon. We hosted the meeting again of this organization of higher education institutions in the Bicol Region. Being a quarterly meeting of the organization it was attended by the officers and board of directors only.
Our agenda list was long. The BFHE is the Regional Association on Higher Education Institutions of the RAHEI of the Bicol Region and being such, we discussed how we will go about with the CHED directed Academic and Cultural Competitions related to the CHED National Games. In a nutshell, if SCUAA, LCUAA, and PRISAA is now going to join together for the CHED National Games (unified!), the RAHEIs and the NAHEIs are in charge of the academic and cultural competition portion of the games.
The discussion regarding Bicol Region's participation was quite long so I will not bore anyone reading this with the details, but something really blew me away.
Apparently, the PRISAA national organization has transformed itself into a party-list organization calling itself First PRISA. I don't know how this happened. A lot of things are still fuzzy. But suffice it to say, that whatever is happening, the guys behind First PRISA are using the PRISAA organization to build a network of members throughout the country. Remember that it is part of COMELEC accreditation requirements that a party-list organization have nationwide membership and representation to be classified as such.
Although it seems clear that PRISAA is a different entity from First PRISA, there is no doubt that the people they have listed as their regional representatives are the same regional presidents of the local PRISAA. This is weird and crazy especially for us PRISAA member schools who were never informed of this development.
Honestly, as a President of a University, and a paying member of PRISAA, I cannot help but think about the possibility of First PRISA using PRISAA funds to further their cause without the consent of its general membership.
Right now, we -- along with several other member schools -- are thinking of withdrawing our membership from PRISAA, lest we be used for the political interest of others without our knowledge or consent.
Actually, what I really feel so bad about is how this exhibits how the PRISAA National Officers see their members. They see us as minions rather than equals or partners to attain the goals of PRISAA.
I will blog some more about this as soon as I get more information. But, still this thing stinks like after-flood garbage in Marikina.
I attended a meeting of the Bicol Foundation on Higher Education (BFHE) this afternoon. We hosted the meeting again of this organization of higher education institutions in the Bicol Region. Being a quarterly meeting of the organization it was attended by the officers and board of directors only.
Our agenda list was long. The BFHE is the Regional Association on Higher Education Institutions of the RAHEI of the Bicol Region and being such, we discussed how we will go about with the CHED directed Academic and Cultural Competitions related to the CHED National Games. In a nutshell, if SCUAA, LCUAA, and PRISAA is now going to join together for the CHED National Games (unified!), the RAHEIs and the NAHEIs are in charge of the academic and cultural competition portion of the games.
The discussion regarding Bicol Region's participation was quite long so I will not bore anyone reading this with the details, but something really blew me away.
Apparently, the PRISAA national organization has transformed itself into a party-list organization calling itself First PRISA. I don't know how this happened. A lot of things are still fuzzy. But suffice it to say, that whatever is happening, the guys behind First PRISA are using the PRISAA organization to build a network of members throughout the country. Remember that it is part of COMELEC accreditation requirements that a party-list organization have nationwide membership and representation to be classified as such.
Although it seems clear that PRISAA is a different entity from First PRISA, there is no doubt that the people they have listed as their regional representatives are the same regional presidents of the local PRISAA. This is weird and crazy especially for us PRISAA member schools who were never informed of this development.
Honestly, as a President of a University, and a paying member of PRISAA, I cannot help but think about the possibility of First PRISA using PRISAA funds to further their cause without the consent of its general membership.
Right now, we -- along with several other member schools -- are thinking of withdrawing our membership from PRISAA, lest we be used for the political interest of others without our knowledge or consent.
Actually, what I really feel so bad about is how this exhibits how the PRISAA National Officers see their members. They see us as minions rather than equals or partners to attain the goals of PRISAA.
I will blog some more about this as soon as I get more information. But, still this thing stinks like after-flood garbage in Marikina.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Hopeful
Last week, I was informed that Col. Tomasito Clet, the COP of Iriga City for several years now was transferred to Naga City.
I felt mixed emotions. I felt really sad that Col. Clet left our beloved Iriga. He really made such great difference in our City with his team up with our Mayor Madel A. Gazmen. Crime in Iriga is almost zero and during Col. Clet's tenure he was able to make important and substantial drug busts that paralyzed, if not completely eradicated the proliferation of drugs in our City.
In a way, I also feel HOPEFUL, because at last Naga City will have a Chief of Police that is known for his integrity and being an action man. He is a man of results, and is very humble. I think he came to Naga just in time.
You see, about a month ago, there was an attempted break-in and robbery at my store in General Luna Street, just a stone's throw away from the Naga City Police Headquarters.
We had break-ins before, but they just got a cd player worth about P3,000.00 and about P1,000.00 in cash. It was in 2006. My stay-in tinderas reported to me that sometimes, they would hear someone attempting to break-in the store but since my husband installed three door locks those who attempted to do so -- with my tinderas in the store were not successful.
Fast forward to about a month ago... my husband was woken up at about 3:00AM by a call from our Store Manager. She told him that someone tried to break in the store. The small door (service entrance) of the store was destroyed save for a lock at the top of the door that kept it to the doorjamb. Apparently, the man attempting to break-in used a crowbar to destroy the door.
What was really scary was the fact that I have two tinderas who sleep in the store. One tindera was in shock and just stayed in a corner. My other tindera got a knife and attempted to hit the hand of the robber everytime it tries to hold the door and push it. In fact, my tindera claims that he was able to hit the man's hand several times and was sure that it must have left a wound. So what does this mean? The man knows there are people inside the store yet he insisted to break-in. I was sure that if he was successful, he will kill my tinderas.
It was a good thing that my store manager was just living in a boarding house near the store. My tinderas called her up at the start when they heard that someone was trying to knockdown the door. My store manager immediately dropped by the station before proceeding to the store. When the police and my manager arrived the roober was nowhere to be found. Apparently, he left when a police mobile left the station just before the police and my manager arrived at the store.
I am just so disappointed that Naga City, which has been lauded by several award giving bodies for good governance and being the best... a world-class city, cannot even solve the criminality proliferating in the urban center. That whole lane of laundry shops, ukay-ukay stores, beauty salons along general luna st., near Barlin St., very, very near --- literally a stones throw away from the Naga City Police Headquarters have been plagued by robbers, thieves, holdapers and other criminals for years now. Aside from our store, the Tad's Laundry Shop was also broken in last month, for the second time ha! Even the Menasec Drugstore which is within the compound of the police station was robbed. I mean... is this world-class? Utang na loob naman!
Last SONA, the economist Solita Monsod said of GMA's speech, that it is true that the economy of the Philippines is doing good but it is regrettable that the Filipino poor does not feel the benefits of this good economy.
Like Naga, it might be true that Jessie Robredo is the best Mayor the City of Naga will ever have with great governance policies, but it is regrettable that a simple problem like peace and order cannot be solved.
I dream of a day when I can once again walk the streets of Naga without being afraid that my bag or my celphone will be snatched away from me or no longer see elementary school age kids sniffing rugby at the Barlin Statue, right in front of the Naga City Police Station. I am always HOPEFUL.
I felt mixed emotions. I felt really sad that Col. Clet left our beloved Iriga. He really made such great difference in our City with his team up with our Mayor Madel A. Gazmen. Crime in Iriga is almost zero and during Col. Clet's tenure he was able to make important and substantial drug busts that paralyzed, if not completely eradicated the proliferation of drugs in our City.
In a way, I also feel HOPEFUL, because at last Naga City will have a Chief of Police that is known for his integrity and being an action man. He is a man of results, and is very humble. I think he came to Naga just in time.
You see, about a month ago, there was an attempted break-in and robbery at my store in General Luna Street, just a stone's throw away from the Naga City Police Headquarters.
We had break-ins before, but they just got a cd player worth about P3,000.00 and about P1,000.00 in cash. It was in 2006. My stay-in tinderas reported to me that sometimes, they would hear someone attempting to break-in the store but since my husband installed three door locks those who attempted to do so -- with my tinderas in the store were not successful.
Fast forward to about a month ago... my husband was woken up at about 3:00AM by a call from our Store Manager. She told him that someone tried to break in the store. The small door (service entrance) of the store was destroyed save for a lock at the top of the door that kept it to the doorjamb. Apparently, the man attempting to break-in used a crowbar to destroy the door.
What was really scary was the fact that I have two tinderas who sleep in the store. One tindera was in shock and just stayed in a corner. My other tindera got a knife and attempted to hit the hand of the robber everytime it tries to hold the door and push it. In fact, my tindera claims that he was able to hit the man's hand several times and was sure that it must have left a wound. So what does this mean? The man knows there are people inside the store yet he insisted to break-in. I was sure that if he was successful, he will kill my tinderas.
It was a good thing that my store manager was just living in a boarding house near the store. My tinderas called her up at the start when they heard that someone was trying to knockdown the door. My store manager immediately dropped by the station before proceeding to the store. When the police and my manager arrived the roober was nowhere to be found. Apparently, he left when a police mobile left the station just before the police and my manager arrived at the store.
I am just so disappointed that Naga City, which has been lauded by several award giving bodies for good governance and being the best... a world-class city, cannot even solve the criminality proliferating in the urban center. That whole lane of laundry shops, ukay-ukay stores, beauty salons along general luna st., near Barlin St., very, very near --- literally a stones throw away from the Naga City Police Headquarters have been plagued by robbers, thieves, holdapers and other criminals for years now. Aside from our store, the Tad's Laundry Shop was also broken in last month, for the second time ha! Even the Menasec Drugstore which is within the compound of the police station was robbed. I mean... is this world-class? Utang na loob naman!
Last SONA, the economist Solita Monsod said of GMA's speech, that it is true that the economy of the Philippines is doing good but it is regrettable that the Filipino poor does not feel the benefits of this good economy.
Like Naga, it might be true that Jessie Robredo is the best Mayor the City of Naga will ever have with great governance policies, but it is regrettable that a simple problem like peace and order cannot be solved.
I dream of a day when I can once again walk the streets of Naga without being afraid that my bag or my celphone will be snatched away from me or no longer see elementary school age kids sniffing rugby at the Barlin Statue, right in front of the Naga City Police Station. I am always HOPEFUL.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
A New Project
My Dad and Mom has a house in Bonifacio Village, Quezon City. My parents allowed me and my family to live in the house whenever we are in Manila.
Recently, when we got back the house from unscrupulous caretakers -- this one deserves another post -- my husband and I decided that we cannot continue to use the house without making the necessary maintenance repairs. Our previous caretakers left the house damaged, not to mentioned robbed. We had to fix the electricals and the plumbing. The roof was leaking and the gutters busted.
But as we started planning our repairs, we thought, why not start a small business with it. Since we have always been sending students to Manila for their OJT and they had to pay exhorbitant fees for their accomodations, why not fix the house to accomodate about 15 to 20 people and have our students stay in the house for a cheaper fee. My husband liked the idea so we immediately told my Dad who was very supportive of the project.
Now, we are well on the way of the repairs. We have transformed the lanai at the back portion of the house into a big hall that can have 5 bunk beds. The two rooms we have we have also repaired. I am really excited but I know it is still a long way to having the house accept its first guests.
Aside from the OJT students, we can also have the house for rent for families who are staying in Manila to fetch a balikbayan relative or for families who are in Manila to attend an event like a wedding or a birthday.
I just hope I am on the right track. Keep your fingers crossed. I will keep you all posted.
PS: The rates are P500.00 per person per night. It includes breakfast and one set of toiletries. Kabayan charges similar fees but without toiletries and no towel. We will start hopefully by September. For interested parties please just comment on this post and leave your email. I will contact you.
Recently, when we got back the house from unscrupulous caretakers -- this one deserves another post -- my husband and I decided that we cannot continue to use the house without making the necessary maintenance repairs. Our previous caretakers left the house damaged, not to mentioned robbed. We had to fix the electricals and the plumbing. The roof was leaking and the gutters busted.
But as we started planning our repairs, we thought, why not start a small business with it. Since we have always been sending students to Manila for their OJT and they had to pay exhorbitant fees for their accomodations, why not fix the house to accomodate about 15 to 20 people and have our students stay in the house for a cheaper fee. My husband liked the idea so we immediately told my Dad who was very supportive of the project.
Now, we are well on the way of the repairs. We have transformed the lanai at the back portion of the house into a big hall that can have 5 bunk beds. The two rooms we have we have also repaired. I am really excited but I know it is still a long way to having the house accept its first guests.
Aside from the OJT students, we can also have the house for rent for families who are staying in Manila to fetch a balikbayan relative or for families who are in Manila to attend an event like a wedding or a birthday.
I just hope I am on the right track. Keep your fingers crossed. I will keep you all posted.
PS: The rates are P500.00 per person per night. It includes breakfast and one set of toiletries. Kabayan charges similar fees but without toiletries and no towel. We will start hopefully by September. For interested parties please just comment on this post and leave your email. I will contact you.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
TURNING 33
This post was written last June 21, 2009.
Tomorrow, June 22, 2009, I will be turning 33 years old.
I had always dreaded this age.
I was always told that great men and women die at 33 years old.
Alexander the Great died at 33 after conquering the world.
Jesus Christ died at 33 after preaching the Gospel.
I am 33.
I am not afraid of death. I think I am prepared for it.
What I am afraid of is dying when I have not accomplished anything yet.
A long stay in Manila made me think about my life and I decided to make an inventory of everything that I have done in my 33 years of living, but that was difficult.
How can I define my achievements as my own?
I decided instead to just take stock of what I have learned in my 33 years of life.
1. In whatever you do, always ask for God’s guidance. I have never achieved anything without approval from above. Everything I have, I asked first from God through prayers. Sometimes I am confident, sometimes not… but what is important is that as you pray you also work for the fulfilment of your requests.
2. In everything you do, there is no substitute for great preparation. May it be as simple as brushing your teeth or as difficult as taking the Bar Exams for Lawyers. It always pays to have prepared for anything you do. Remember what they said about luck… luck is nothing but the meeting of good preparation with great opportunity.
3. It is always important to have a vision. Having a vision will enable you to be grounded and focused on your daily tasks and makes you do it properly and excellently. People who have no vision and therefore no focus tend to be more “kalat” in their thinking. I am not an organized person. But, in my few accomplishments in life, I have learned that having a vision of your end goal is a big key to success. And I do mean vision, imagine yourself in the ideal situation that you want.
For example, when I took the Bar, I imagined myself during the first Sunday of the Bar. I do not want to be nervous, so I knew I had to study well. I did not want small irritants like health concerns to bug me so I prepared my Backpack for D-Day to include every conceivable solution for any mishap (vomiting, headache, tummy ache, hunger, period, etc…) That is why I had such a big backpack on the day of the exam, as if I was going to climb Mt. Everest.
The same thing happened when I got pregnant. I played the day that I will give birth, a thousand times in my mind thinking about what I need, who I need to call, what to do, etc… I was able to give birth with the least of worries. I was previously so afraid to give birth, but thinking about it in my mind helped to psyche myself for the Big Day.
4. Always, always be humble. It pays to remember that you are but an actor in this play called life. Do not assume that the world revolves around you. It is wrong… wrong… wrong… Even if it seems true or you feel that it is true. Don’t believe it. People around you have lives of their own, families of their own, their own dreams to fulfil. You are not the messiah. Even if you helped every person in the world, it does not make them less of a person than you are that enables you to control them. They are people in their own right.
5. Be grateful. It always helps to thank people who helped you in your everyday life. If you are grateful, you also become humble. However, if you helped people, don’t expect them to give back. If they do, then thank them, if not, just let it go. They have no responsibility to give back especially if the help they received was voluntary. Just let it go. It is okay for other people to be ungrateful, as long as it is not you. Kaya kung hindi naman bukal sa loob mong tumulong, huwag ka na tumulong, sasama lang ang loob mo kung di man lang nagpasalamat ang tinulungan mo. If you want to help, just help.
6. Respect other people. When you respect other people, you become more emphathetic, more humane and become more caring and compassionate. When you respect them, they will respect you also. I do not only mean respecting your parents, or your boss. I mean respecting their things, privacy, their space, especially their lives. If you respect other people, they will leave you alone. Remember, respect is the key to tolerance and tolerance begets peace.
7. When you arrive at problems, always think… is this really my problem or someone elses? If it is someone else’s, you are not compelled to solve it. Sometimes, people have the tendency to displace their problems and limitations on other people and it becomes our own. It burdens us and makes us less of who we are. I am an eldest daughter. I went through life always thinking about my brothers, my family and all their concerns. So Filipino! But, then, I realized, are my concern about them really “my concerns” or am I just treating my whole family like a baby and making them dependent upon me? I realized, I had to start teaching my siblings to decide on their own and not make them so dependent on me. I realized I had to teach them to solve their own problems. In Filipino: “Huwag mo problemahin ang hindi mo naman problema.”
8. The last one that I always practice daily without fail is: if it doesn’t kill you, just let it slide. As we go along our daily lives, people will hurt us and make us feel lesser than who we are. Other people react to these irritants, but for me, as long as it does not create damage that will kill me, my family or my reputation, I just let it go. If it is constructive, I welcome it, but if purely designed to destroy my work and my reputation, I just let it be. I am confident in my work. I let it speak for me. If some people would decide to malign me, then go ahead. My next successful work will speak for me. This gives me peace of mind and allows me to focus on my work and being in the service of my fellowmen. I will always remember a saying I once read somewhere, “if people speak ill of you, then live in a manner that no one will believe them.”
So far, that’s it. Eight important lessons. Actually, I would suggest you also listen to “Sunscreen” by Baz Luhrmann. When my husband and I first heard it during the late 90s and early 2000s, we tried to follow every advice. It was really a treasure. I hope you do listen to it. Just google it.
In about 36 minutes, I will turn 33 years old. Happy. Contented. Living the life I wanted. And I only have God to thank for this meaningful life.
Thank you.
Tomorrow, June 22, 2009, I will be turning 33 years old.
I had always dreaded this age.
I was always told that great men and women die at 33 years old.
Alexander the Great died at 33 after conquering the world.
Jesus Christ died at 33 after preaching the Gospel.
I am 33.
I am not afraid of death. I think I am prepared for it.
What I am afraid of is dying when I have not accomplished anything yet.
A long stay in Manila made me think about my life and I decided to make an inventory of everything that I have done in my 33 years of living, but that was difficult.
How can I define my achievements as my own?
I decided instead to just take stock of what I have learned in my 33 years of life.
1. In whatever you do, always ask for God’s guidance. I have never achieved anything without approval from above. Everything I have, I asked first from God through prayers. Sometimes I am confident, sometimes not… but what is important is that as you pray you also work for the fulfilment of your requests.
2. In everything you do, there is no substitute for great preparation. May it be as simple as brushing your teeth or as difficult as taking the Bar Exams for Lawyers. It always pays to have prepared for anything you do. Remember what they said about luck… luck is nothing but the meeting of good preparation with great opportunity.
3. It is always important to have a vision. Having a vision will enable you to be grounded and focused on your daily tasks and makes you do it properly and excellently. People who have no vision and therefore no focus tend to be more “kalat” in their thinking. I am not an organized person. But, in my few accomplishments in life, I have learned that having a vision of your end goal is a big key to success. And I do mean vision, imagine yourself in the ideal situation that you want.
For example, when I took the Bar, I imagined myself during the first Sunday of the Bar. I do not want to be nervous, so I knew I had to study well. I did not want small irritants like health concerns to bug me so I prepared my Backpack for D-Day to include every conceivable solution for any mishap (vomiting, headache, tummy ache, hunger, period, etc…) That is why I had such a big backpack on the day of the exam, as if I was going to climb Mt. Everest.
The same thing happened when I got pregnant. I played the day that I will give birth, a thousand times in my mind thinking about what I need, who I need to call, what to do, etc… I was able to give birth with the least of worries. I was previously so afraid to give birth, but thinking about it in my mind helped to psyche myself for the Big Day.
4. Always, always be humble. It pays to remember that you are but an actor in this play called life. Do not assume that the world revolves around you. It is wrong… wrong… wrong… Even if it seems true or you feel that it is true. Don’t believe it. People around you have lives of their own, families of their own, their own dreams to fulfil. You are not the messiah. Even if you helped every person in the world, it does not make them less of a person than you are that enables you to control them. They are people in their own right.
5. Be grateful. It always helps to thank people who helped you in your everyday life. If you are grateful, you also become humble. However, if you helped people, don’t expect them to give back. If they do, then thank them, if not, just let it go. They have no responsibility to give back especially if the help they received was voluntary. Just let it go. It is okay for other people to be ungrateful, as long as it is not you. Kaya kung hindi naman bukal sa loob mong tumulong, huwag ka na tumulong, sasama lang ang loob mo kung di man lang nagpasalamat ang tinulungan mo. If you want to help, just help.
6. Respect other people. When you respect other people, you become more emphathetic, more humane and become more caring and compassionate. When you respect them, they will respect you also. I do not only mean respecting your parents, or your boss. I mean respecting their things, privacy, their space, especially their lives. If you respect other people, they will leave you alone. Remember, respect is the key to tolerance and tolerance begets peace.
7. When you arrive at problems, always think… is this really my problem or someone elses? If it is someone else’s, you are not compelled to solve it. Sometimes, people have the tendency to displace their problems and limitations on other people and it becomes our own. It burdens us and makes us less of who we are. I am an eldest daughter. I went through life always thinking about my brothers, my family and all their concerns. So Filipino! But, then, I realized, are my concern about them really “my concerns” or am I just treating my whole family like a baby and making them dependent upon me? I realized, I had to start teaching my siblings to decide on their own and not make them so dependent on me. I realized I had to teach them to solve their own problems. In Filipino: “Huwag mo problemahin ang hindi mo naman problema.”
8. The last one that I always practice daily without fail is: if it doesn’t kill you, just let it slide. As we go along our daily lives, people will hurt us and make us feel lesser than who we are. Other people react to these irritants, but for me, as long as it does not create damage that will kill me, my family or my reputation, I just let it go. If it is constructive, I welcome it, but if purely designed to destroy my work and my reputation, I just let it be. I am confident in my work. I let it speak for me. If some people would decide to malign me, then go ahead. My next successful work will speak for me. This gives me peace of mind and allows me to focus on my work and being in the service of my fellowmen. I will always remember a saying I once read somewhere, “if people speak ill of you, then live in a manner that no one will believe them.”
So far, that’s it. Eight important lessons. Actually, I would suggest you also listen to “Sunscreen” by Baz Luhrmann. When my husband and I first heard it during the late 90s and early 2000s, we tried to follow every advice. It was really a treasure. I hope you do listen to it. Just google it.
In about 36 minutes, I will turn 33 years old. Happy. Contented. Living the life I wanted. And I only have God to thank for this meaningful life.
Thank you.
OF DEVOTION AND PARADES
OF DEVOTION AND PARADES
By: Atty. Remelisa G. Alfelor-Moraleda
University President
University of Northeastern Philippines
Iriga City
Last June 22, 2009, which was incidentally my birthday, the Bicol Association of Catholic Schools (BACS) came out with a statement saying that, after reflecting on the issue, they decided that all their member-institutions will no longer participate in this year’s Penafrancia Fiesta Military Parade Competition.
I have to say that this did not surprise me at all. I have been getting varied reactions from most of these Catholic schools regarding the said Competition in the past years and I believe that it is about time that they came out with a statement that reverberated to every corner of the Bicol Region, and commenced the debate raging now about the separation of the church and the state.
The University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) already arrived at the same decision way back academic year 2007-2008. We don’t have to elaborate on the circumstances on why or how we were able to reach this decision. However, in this article, I will instead outline on how a school, sectarian or otherwise, may be able to discern their position on this matter.
Our University has joined this event for many years already since the 1980s. In fact, our contingent has always been one of the most awaited features of the Parade. Observers, devotees and guests from everywhere in the Bicol Region lauded our participation, whether we brought home the bacon or not. And why not? The University has always given its all in providing the best performance in this competition.
For years, we have always participated with a passion of a Manny Pacquiao training for his next boxing bout. We had always taken this competition seriously. Getting the best trainors, reasonably spending as much as we can, confident that our preparation is enough to come out with a performance that is worthy of our reputation.
However, as in any endeavor, one comes to a point where one re-examines why we participate in an event that seems to have already paled in meaning. We carefully deliberated on our reasons why we should participate and tested it against our reasons why we should not.
Regrettably, we arrived at a decision that announced to us that there is no relevant purpose anymore in continuing to participate in this event.
How did we arrive at this conclusion?
1. The first argument that is always used by the organizers of this event is that the Penafrancia Military Parade Competition is an expression of our devotion to Our Lady of Penafrancia. We can not argue with this statement. An expression of devotion is relative to the person who is expressing that devotion. It is subjective and is not capable of an objective examination. However, is it not a better expression to participate instead in the Translacion which is a truly religious activity? This is the time allotted by the Church to focus on the devotion to Ina and the start of her 9-day Novena. Ina is the star of this show and as a University that encourages such a devotion, this is a better way to drive the point rather than let them participate in a Military Parade and off-tangently hope that they drop by the Church also on their own.
The University has already done this in the past several years. We have organized our students to participate in the Translacion with great success. After the activity, we encourage their teachers to discuss their experience in class and truly this has been a more effective way than attending the Military Parade, which to our mind just grazes the target of providing avenues of expression of our devotion to Ina.
2. There is also the argument that the Penafrancia Military Parade is an effective medium to market and promote our school. Actually, we have anchored our involvement in the competition in this argument, every year, to justify our participation. We have studied this as part of drafting the marketing plan for our school, however, we found out that it is more cost effective to do our marketing more directly through ads in tri-media. We have implemented this and true to our study, statistics show that advertising in tri-media is more effective than participating in this event. Definitely, this argument does not hold water.
3. It has also been argued that the Penafrancia Military Parade Competition promotes inter-school camaraderie. To be honest about it, there is no inter-school camaraderie that happens among student-participants. The students are trained to be focused on the competition and do not have time to interact with student-participants of other schools. Besides, this is more effectively fulfilled by other activities such as participation in the PRISAA, Tertiary and Secondary Schools Press Conference Competition and other academic and related activities, not in the Penafrancia Military Parade.
4. It has also been argued that the Military Parade Competition instills discipline and meaning to military training. Well, to be frank about it, the discipline that they say this competition instills is supposed to be already innate in the participating school and just expressed in the competition. If a school contigent does not have discipline in their school, it will always show in their performance in the competition. Again, this argument does not hold water.
On our part, we have also several reasons that point out a stronger argument against not joining the competition.
1. Participation in the competition is getting more expensive every year. For our participation in the 2006 competition alone, we had to spend around more than P400,000.00, almost half a million for trainors, uniforms, make-up, allowances, transportation on the day itself, meals and other incidental expenses. For the uniforms alone, we had to spend more than P100,000.00 for the band alone. It should be noted that majorettes and band members are scholars of the school and therefore cannot afford to buy their uniforms on their own. The University spends for it. This does not include the revenues that are lost in scholarship programs for the band and majorettes. This also runs into the hundreds of thousands.
For the ROTC and CAT participants, we also have to spend for their meals and transportation on the day itself. The parents only shell out for the uniforms of their participant-children. Some parents save money by borrowing uniforms or renting it from others at a much lesser fee than providing their children with new ones. They also have to give their children allowances to defray expenses that they may incur while in Naga. The competition therefore also means more expenses for parents who are already burdened by the high cost of quality education.
Truly, participation in the parade has become impractical for us in the University of Northeastern Philippines, for our students and for our parents. Of course, as an institution, we can still afford it, but should we continue to spend onerously for an event, the objective of which can already be fulfilled effectively by other activities at a lesser cost?
2. Preparation for the competition has been physically draining for our students and our school. When we were still participating, preparation starts in May when we start drafting our operational plans for the year. Training starts in July. Student-participants train every day in the afternoons after class, increasing to a frantic crescendo as the competition draws near. Our majorettes and band members miss classes in the last two weeks before the parade as we let them focus on the competition. Therefore, they had to work harder than their classmates when they get back to their classes after the competition. Is this sacrifice worth it? We are compromising the academic performance of these students in order to perform our best in the competition. Is this fair?
3. There is also a problem of coming up with the right number of students to participate in the military competition. After the passage of the NSTP law which makes military training voluntary for students, there is a patent decrease of students choosing military training for their NSTP requirement. We had to make military training a requirement for our Criminology program as part of their curriculum to be assured of the numbers needed to come up with a contingent for the parade competition. This should also be addressed by the organizers of the event, something which until now, they have ignored.
4. Lastly, although admittedly we have no proof or evidence of this argument, we still want to express that we have great doubts in the carrying out of the rules of the competition. Through the years, although there seems to be great effort in addressing the concerns of the schools in terms of having a fair and just competition, still the issues prevail and continue to hound the organizers of the event. Our school cannot continue to subject itself to a competition whose organizers are suffering from a reputation of bias and lack of integrity. I regret having to say this, but this is the view of most of the school authorities in the University and we cannot discount this. Of course, I acknowledge that this is a subjective opinion, but like in any democratic country, we expect that our opinion also be respected. This is why we have declared and maintained that unless and until there is a revamp in the organizers of the event, we will continue to forego participation in the Penafrancia Military Parade Competition.
These being our sentiments, our institution proposes therefore the following recommendations:
1. On the issue of economic factors, we suggest that the LGU also defray some expenses of the participant schools by giving a mobilization fund that can somehow ease the burden of the participant schools. For example, maybe covering the transportation expenses or the meals of the participants would be a great help. It is should be noted that some schools ask the parents to defray the cost of transportation and meals. In our case, our school spends for it. We can take the case of the City of Legazpi which gives a token assistance of P10,000.00 to at least defray the cost of transportation everytime we are invited for a competition in their city. I hope the City of Naga considers this recommendation and follow the example of the City of Legazpi.
2. On the issue of the dwindling numbers of students participating in the ROTC program, the organizers can decrease the number of required warm bodies to come up with a contingent. I really do not know how they will do this, but maybe they can also promote the ROTC program in the schools.
3. On the issue of the integrity of the organizers, it is also necessary for the City to evaluate the performance of the organization carrying out this event. Is there a need for change? I also urge the City to conduct a consultation participated in by the schools to get their opinion regarding this issue.
Having said all these, we would like it to be clear that our school is not against military parade competitions. In fact, we have been conducting military parade competitions for several decades already during our Activation Day celebrations. However, we are one with the Bicol Association of Catholic Schools in saying that the military parade should not be conducted within the 9-day Novena to Our Lady of Penafrancia. We should focus more on Ina and on our faith and not in endeavours that actually has even the capability of eroding our faith to Ina.
We would also like to clarify that our school is not calling for a complete boycott of this competition by other schools, but rather a call to re-evaluate our purpose for participating in this event. I just hope that this article be able to aid the schools in reaching a decision that is just for all concerned.
With that, I still say, Happy Penafrancia Fiesta to all of us and may we just continue to respect each other’s opinion as what is expected in a free and democratic country.
By: Atty. Remelisa G. Alfelor-Moraleda
University President
University of Northeastern Philippines
Iriga City
Last June 22, 2009, which was incidentally my birthday, the Bicol Association of Catholic Schools (BACS) came out with a statement saying that, after reflecting on the issue, they decided that all their member-institutions will no longer participate in this year’s Penafrancia Fiesta Military Parade Competition.
I have to say that this did not surprise me at all. I have been getting varied reactions from most of these Catholic schools regarding the said Competition in the past years and I believe that it is about time that they came out with a statement that reverberated to every corner of the Bicol Region, and commenced the debate raging now about the separation of the church and the state.
The University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) already arrived at the same decision way back academic year 2007-2008. We don’t have to elaborate on the circumstances on why or how we were able to reach this decision. However, in this article, I will instead outline on how a school, sectarian or otherwise, may be able to discern their position on this matter.
Our University has joined this event for many years already since the 1980s. In fact, our contingent has always been one of the most awaited features of the Parade. Observers, devotees and guests from everywhere in the Bicol Region lauded our participation, whether we brought home the bacon or not. And why not? The University has always given its all in providing the best performance in this competition.
For years, we have always participated with a passion of a Manny Pacquiao training for his next boxing bout. We had always taken this competition seriously. Getting the best trainors, reasonably spending as much as we can, confident that our preparation is enough to come out with a performance that is worthy of our reputation.
However, as in any endeavor, one comes to a point where one re-examines why we participate in an event that seems to have already paled in meaning. We carefully deliberated on our reasons why we should participate and tested it against our reasons why we should not.
Regrettably, we arrived at a decision that announced to us that there is no relevant purpose anymore in continuing to participate in this event.
How did we arrive at this conclusion?
1. The first argument that is always used by the organizers of this event is that the Penafrancia Military Parade Competition is an expression of our devotion to Our Lady of Penafrancia. We can not argue with this statement. An expression of devotion is relative to the person who is expressing that devotion. It is subjective and is not capable of an objective examination. However, is it not a better expression to participate instead in the Translacion which is a truly religious activity? This is the time allotted by the Church to focus on the devotion to Ina and the start of her 9-day Novena. Ina is the star of this show and as a University that encourages such a devotion, this is a better way to drive the point rather than let them participate in a Military Parade and off-tangently hope that they drop by the Church also on their own.
The University has already done this in the past several years. We have organized our students to participate in the Translacion with great success. After the activity, we encourage their teachers to discuss their experience in class and truly this has been a more effective way than attending the Military Parade, which to our mind just grazes the target of providing avenues of expression of our devotion to Ina.
2. There is also the argument that the Penafrancia Military Parade is an effective medium to market and promote our school. Actually, we have anchored our involvement in the competition in this argument, every year, to justify our participation. We have studied this as part of drafting the marketing plan for our school, however, we found out that it is more cost effective to do our marketing more directly through ads in tri-media. We have implemented this and true to our study, statistics show that advertising in tri-media is more effective than participating in this event. Definitely, this argument does not hold water.
3. It has also been argued that the Penafrancia Military Parade Competition promotes inter-school camaraderie. To be honest about it, there is no inter-school camaraderie that happens among student-participants. The students are trained to be focused on the competition and do not have time to interact with student-participants of other schools. Besides, this is more effectively fulfilled by other activities such as participation in the PRISAA, Tertiary and Secondary Schools Press Conference Competition and other academic and related activities, not in the Penafrancia Military Parade.
4. It has also been argued that the Military Parade Competition instills discipline and meaning to military training. Well, to be frank about it, the discipline that they say this competition instills is supposed to be already innate in the participating school and just expressed in the competition. If a school contigent does not have discipline in their school, it will always show in their performance in the competition. Again, this argument does not hold water.
On our part, we have also several reasons that point out a stronger argument against not joining the competition.
1. Participation in the competition is getting more expensive every year. For our participation in the 2006 competition alone, we had to spend around more than P400,000.00, almost half a million for trainors, uniforms, make-up, allowances, transportation on the day itself, meals and other incidental expenses. For the uniforms alone, we had to spend more than P100,000.00 for the band alone. It should be noted that majorettes and band members are scholars of the school and therefore cannot afford to buy their uniforms on their own. The University spends for it. This does not include the revenues that are lost in scholarship programs for the band and majorettes. This also runs into the hundreds of thousands.
For the ROTC and CAT participants, we also have to spend for their meals and transportation on the day itself. The parents only shell out for the uniforms of their participant-children. Some parents save money by borrowing uniforms or renting it from others at a much lesser fee than providing their children with new ones. They also have to give their children allowances to defray expenses that they may incur while in Naga. The competition therefore also means more expenses for parents who are already burdened by the high cost of quality education.
Truly, participation in the parade has become impractical for us in the University of Northeastern Philippines, for our students and for our parents. Of course, as an institution, we can still afford it, but should we continue to spend onerously for an event, the objective of which can already be fulfilled effectively by other activities at a lesser cost?
2. Preparation for the competition has been physically draining for our students and our school. When we were still participating, preparation starts in May when we start drafting our operational plans for the year. Training starts in July. Student-participants train every day in the afternoons after class, increasing to a frantic crescendo as the competition draws near. Our majorettes and band members miss classes in the last two weeks before the parade as we let them focus on the competition. Therefore, they had to work harder than their classmates when they get back to their classes after the competition. Is this sacrifice worth it? We are compromising the academic performance of these students in order to perform our best in the competition. Is this fair?
3. There is also a problem of coming up with the right number of students to participate in the military competition. After the passage of the NSTP law which makes military training voluntary for students, there is a patent decrease of students choosing military training for their NSTP requirement. We had to make military training a requirement for our Criminology program as part of their curriculum to be assured of the numbers needed to come up with a contingent for the parade competition. This should also be addressed by the organizers of the event, something which until now, they have ignored.
4. Lastly, although admittedly we have no proof or evidence of this argument, we still want to express that we have great doubts in the carrying out of the rules of the competition. Through the years, although there seems to be great effort in addressing the concerns of the schools in terms of having a fair and just competition, still the issues prevail and continue to hound the organizers of the event. Our school cannot continue to subject itself to a competition whose organizers are suffering from a reputation of bias and lack of integrity. I regret having to say this, but this is the view of most of the school authorities in the University and we cannot discount this. Of course, I acknowledge that this is a subjective opinion, but like in any democratic country, we expect that our opinion also be respected. This is why we have declared and maintained that unless and until there is a revamp in the organizers of the event, we will continue to forego participation in the Penafrancia Military Parade Competition.
These being our sentiments, our institution proposes therefore the following recommendations:
1. On the issue of economic factors, we suggest that the LGU also defray some expenses of the participant schools by giving a mobilization fund that can somehow ease the burden of the participant schools. For example, maybe covering the transportation expenses or the meals of the participants would be a great help. It is should be noted that some schools ask the parents to defray the cost of transportation and meals. In our case, our school spends for it. We can take the case of the City of Legazpi which gives a token assistance of P10,000.00 to at least defray the cost of transportation everytime we are invited for a competition in their city. I hope the City of Naga considers this recommendation and follow the example of the City of Legazpi.
2. On the issue of the dwindling numbers of students participating in the ROTC program, the organizers can decrease the number of required warm bodies to come up with a contingent. I really do not know how they will do this, but maybe they can also promote the ROTC program in the schools.
3. On the issue of the integrity of the organizers, it is also necessary for the City to evaluate the performance of the organization carrying out this event. Is there a need for change? I also urge the City to conduct a consultation participated in by the schools to get their opinion regarding this issue.
Having said all these, we would like it to be clear that our school is not against military parade competitions. In fact, we have been conducting military parade competitions for several decades already during our Activation Day celebrations. However, we are one with the Bicol Association of Catholic Schools in saying that the military parade should not be conducted within the 9-day Novena to Our Lady of Penafrancia. We should focus more on Ina and on our faith and not in endeavours that actually has even the capability of eroding our faith to Ina.
We would also like to clarify that our school is not calling for a complete boycott of this competition by other schools, but rather a call to re-evaluate our purpose for participating in this event. I just hope that this article be able to aid the schools in reaching a decision that is just for all concerned.
With that, I still say, Happy Penafrancia Fiesta to all of us and may we just continue to respect each other’s opinion as what is expected in a free and democratic country.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Passing the Real Estate Broker's Exams
Last Saturday morning, I was surprised when my mobile phone was inundated by texts from several people congratulating me on passing the Licensure Examn for Real Estate Brokers which I took last May 31, 2009 at the University ng Makati, JP Rizal, Makati City.
I couln't believe my great fortune. I had been on this quest since the late 1990s, taking the exam... I think twice on the prodding of my mother who has always been my booster in taking all sorts of exams for all sorts of reasons.
Previously, I did not pass it. The simple reason being that I did not study or prepare for it before thinking that attending the seminar is enough. Well... after my experience with taking the Bar Exams to which I passed on the first try, I have come to this exam more prepared and more studious than before.
My recent journey towards this goal has been prodded by the fact that allegedly, this year is the last year that the exams will be managed by the DTI. Next year, it will be the PRC which will manage the examinations leading to maybe requiring a Bachelor's Degree for this exam. I had two reasons for taking it: one, is that this being the last year of DTI and therefore perceived to be more easier to take and if ever this becomes a regular Bachelor's Degree program, I can easily open the course in our school. Second, is for my Mom. My Mom had always wanted to make me take the exam. It really is not clear to me why but she has always encouraged me to take this exam right after college and even the Exam for Insurance Brokers. Maybe when we have the celebratory dinner, I would be able to get a better grasp of her reasons. Professional reasons is a bonus but certainly is only on the background.
Preparing for the exams was quite difficult. During the seminar-review I was always late. I missed important topics. During the study period of about three weeks, I was very busy being the start of the school year. However, I decided to dedicate the last week before the exams to diligent study.
As I have done during my Bar Exams, I played the day of the exams in my mind taking note of what I might need. Although this time, I was more confident and thus did not do the overkill that I was famous for. Therefore, I did not lug around about 20 kilos of stuff as I did during the bar. Besides this is just a four-hour exam on one Sunday. I don't have to be that prolific.
What I was worried about though, being the Secretary of the seminar-review class I was tasked to arrange the transportation and accomodations of my classmate. I was also able to do this, but I did not want to be bothered that much during my stay in Manila so I brought along Manay Nilda Brila, my executive secretary to help me. She was our punong abala in Manila. Anything that the group needed she provided. I would not have such a worry free exam prep if not for Manay Nilda.
I would also make mention of the wonderful people of Kabayan Hotel Pasay. They are the most positive people in the world. They never say no on any of our request. Only if it is truly unreasonable that they do. When you are surrounded by such positive people, your mind clears up to accomodate more information which is maybe why I passed this exam.
Truly, it is an experience to remember. I will be blogging some more on this in the coming days. For now, again... thank you to all who congratulated me. All for the greater glory of God!
I couln't believe my great fortune. I had been on this quest since the late 1990s, taking the exam... I think twice on the prodding of my mother who has always been my booster in taking all sorts of exams for all sorts of reasons.
Previously, I did not pass it. The simple reason being that I did not study or prepare for it before thinking that attending the seminar is enough. Well... after my experience with taking the Bar Exams to which I passed on the first try, I have come to this exam more prepared and more studious than before.
My recent journey towards this goal has been prodded by the fact that allegedly, this year is the last year that the exams will be managed by the DTI. Next year, it will be the PRC which will manage the examinations leading to maybe requiring a Bachelor's Degree for this exam. I had two reasons for taking it: one, is that this being the last year of DTI and therefore perceived to be more easier to take and if ever this becomes a regular Bachelor's Degree program, I can easily open the course in our school. Second, is for my Mom. My Mom had always wanted to make me take the exam. It really is not clear to me why but she has always encouraged me to take this exam right after college and even the Exam for Insurance Brokers. Maybe when we have the celebratory dinner, I would be able to get a better grasp of her reasons. Professional reasons is a bonus but certainly is only on the background.
Preparing for the exams was quite difficult. During the seminar-review I was always late. I missed important topics. During the study period of about three weeks, I was very busy being the start of the school year. However, I decided to dedicate the last week before the exams to diligent study.
As I have done during my Bar Exams, I played the day of the exams in my mind taking note of what I might need. Although this time, I was more confident and thus did not do the overkill that I was famous for. Therefore, I did not lug around about 20 kilos of stuff as I did during the bar. Besides this is just a four-hour exam on one Sunday. I don't have to be that prolific.
What I was worried about though, being the Secretary of the seminar-review class I was tasked to arrange the transportation and accomodations of my classmate. I was also able to do this, but I did not want to be bothered that much during my stay in Manila so I brought along Manay Nilda Brila, my executive secretary to help me. She was our punong abala in Manila. Anything that the group needed she provided. I would not have such a worry free exam prep if not for Manay Nilda.
I would also make mention of the wonderful people of Kabayan Hotel Pasay. They are the most positive people in the world. They never say no on any of our request. Only if it is truly unreasonable that they do. When you are surrounded by such positive people, your mind clears up to accomodate more information which is maybe why I passed this exam.
Truly, it is an experience to remember. I will be blogging some more on this in the coming days. For now, again... thank you to all who congratulated me. All for the greater glory of God!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Bicol Autonomy
Dr. Jose Abueva at the 2nd Bicol Forum at the USI Auditorium, March 26, 2009
Two days ago, I attended the Forum on Bicol Autonomy organized by Commodore Dante Jimenez of the Mariners Polytechnic Colleges and VACC fame. I was drawn into attendance by my own curiousity and I did not want to pass up seeing Dr. Jose Abueva again.
I was only supposed to attend as an observer... a "miron". However, I found myself suddenly elevated to become a reactor to the resource speakers representing the Academe.
My take on it is quite simple. I am all for Bicol Autonomy, in the same manner that I am for the parliamentary form of government and I am for Federalism. I feel that it is great that we are starting to talk about it and discussing it in forums.
However, before we even start talking about autonomy I think it should be clear what the proposals are. It is important to answer the 5 Ws and more importantly the 1 H first.
As I have pointed out -- are the Bicolanos prepared for this?
It seems a long way to go for this to reach mainstream advocacy, well, at least the first step was made towards this long journey to autonomy.
Monday, February 16, 2009
PAWD CONVENTION 2009
Direct Gaudencio Asanza, Director Benjamin Epres and Me
I have just arrived yesterday morning. I went to Cebu last week to attend the Philippine Association of Water District's (PAWD) Annual Convention at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino Lahug. Being the Iriga City Water District (ICWD) chairperson of the board, I have to attend to represent ICWD making me miss the Tinagba Festival completely. I had to content myself with text messages and calls from my people in Iriga.
It was a successful convention having been attended by at least 800 delegates. I appreciated the parallel session with directors from other water districts and the chance to meet suppliers and see new innovative products all geared towards effecient and effective water supply services.
However, Waterfront was not very good in their services. The food was completely another story. The lines were long on the buffet tables despite the fact that there were I think four buffet stations to serve us. The refill did not come promptly making us all the more hungry. There was one lunch time that all I got was one viand and some rice. I did not wait for the refill of the other viands anymore considering that the line was really long. No more soup, no more desert, just that one pork viand and some rice. I pity our muslim delegates. I hope they were able to get better fare.
The accomodation system was however very efficient. The check-in was in a different place than the front desk so making a line at the reception desk was prevented. It was also very quick. In five minutes, I was given my key to the room. The room was clean and orderly and had the all important mini-ref for my breast milk.
All in all, I would rate the convention a 7. The food really brought everything down. Well, you really cannot please all of us.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
DELIVERY
I had always been wondering why they call it a DELIVERY. I wish it was easy as that. I think it had to do with the stork thing -- that babies are delivered by storks. Well... at least my particular stork was one of the best storks ever.
I believe my story starts when I went to my Doctor November 17, 2008. She told me "mid-line ka na Peach. You will be giving birth already in a week." In a week? I thought... he's coming early. I was supposed to give birth first week of December. I thought... hmmm... no more afternoon walks at the mall then lest I suddenly give birth in the middle of Megamall.
Then, fast forward to the early evening of November 18, 2008. I felt unusually tired that day. I felt some cramps that similar to menstrual cramps. I just ignored it as Braxton-Hicks. I had worse abdominal cramps and aches when I had diarrhea the week before so I did not think much of it. I just slept but earlier than usual.
At around 1:00 AM, I woke up feeling the need to urinate. That was when I saw that my membrane had ruptured already. I called Manay Rachel -- our Mayordoma -- "I think its time already." She immediately prepared herself. I also knocked on the door of my parents room and woke them up too. My Dad immediately told my Mom to accompany me but I told him that I would be fine with Manay Rachel. It was me, Manay Rachel and my personal assistant Jen. We then proceeded to Medical City.
I was worried. My husband was still in Bicol. I called him up but he seemed disoriented having woken him up from sleep. Manay Rachel called him up and he left Iriga at 6AM.
However, my fears started to disappear. I looooove Medical City. They were so efficient. Everyone knew what they were doing and I truly felt so confident. My fears were more personal and did not have to do with the hospital or their staff. When I informed the emergency room person that I was going to give birth, he immediately called the person at the Maternity and in about 5 minutes I was wheeled to the Pre-Labor Room where I was interviewed and cleaned. At around 4 AM I was wheeled to the Labor Room where the epidural was attached to my back.
The Labor Room was quite nice. They had classical music piped in -- maybe to calm the mothers waiting for delivery. There was also a photomural on the wall -- which surprisingly was the same as the mural in our dining room. I was half-expecting Cho, our cook, to come in and bring nilagang baka. It was quite funny and truly calmed me more.
At the onset I was already prepared for a normal delivery. Although I did not take birthing classes, I read up on normal childbirth so I knew what to expect. However, I did not really plan on an epidural. I wanted it to be a natural birth sans pain relievers etc... However, I think it was the standard procedure in Medical City so I just played along. It is just fortunate that my birth was so textbook. No glitches at all. I prayed for a textbook birth because I wanted to recognize my time when it comes and it did, blood first, water at the hospital... etc... I was coming along pretty well also, my cervix was dilating on time also.
However, my baby's head would not descend according to the time that was expected. At around 11AM I was already 8cm but the baby is still not going down. The resident doctors and the nurses were concerned because the baby's heartrate was slowing down during contractions. At around 2PM in the afternoon, Dra. Abat, my OB-Gyne decided to ask me if I agree to a ceasarian section because the baby was starting to get distressed. I immediately agreed. I did not want to stress out the baby unnecessarily.
So at around 2:30 PM I was wheeled to the delivery room and the baby was out by 3:15 PM. Baby Nico's cry was not very loud, but maybe its just because I have been used to the loud screams of my brothers when they were growing up so it seemed weak to me. I was quite worried but the Doctors assured me that the baby was big.
The funny thing was, the Anesthesiologist said "Naku, misis, ang laki ng baby nyo. Parang maglalakad na." I really wanted to laugh but they were still closing up my uterus. They reasured me that the baby looked healthy. Truly, his APGAR score was 9.9.
When he was brought to me, I thought, he did not look at all the same as his picture in the 3D ultrasound. His face was all red and seemed "maga". He looked all scrunched up. But I felt relieved that he looked healthy.
Then at around 5PM, I think, I was wheeled to the Recovery Room to be there for about two hours. I was wheeled out at around 8PM. The first person I saw was of my husband's. I wanted to talk to him for great lengths but I was told not to talk, laugh or take anything to eat yet for fear of gas pains. I felt relieved. It is over.
My baby Nico has been delivered. Another chapter of our life starts.
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