As I take a sit at the hospital’s lounge

I had my Titer shot yesterday. The officer-in-charge injected me. She got almost 3 ml. of my blood to fill the 3 ml. syringe. It was over and I asked her if when I could get the result, she told me within 2 hours.

It was 10:42 a.m. when I had the shot done, so I have to get the result at 12:42 noon time. I have  to wait for 2 hours then.

I don’t want to take a sit at the Laboratory’s couch. I went outside the office and there in the hospital’s central lounge, I find it comfortable to stay. I take a sit. I’ve witnessed numerous expressions of people’s reaction and most of them show frowns and worries.

Out from my stare, I was amused with the “gay” person who managed to put on his make-up even he was busily talking with his friends. They both laughed voraciously at their jokes. I was like silently keeping my smiles and hold them. Maybe they will think that I am seriously listening to them. Their loud voices made me stare at them. And it’s not my fault, of course.

Suddenly, there came this old man who was in a wheelchair. He just came out from the Emergency Room. I think he will be confined at the hospital. I saw him like really grasping for breaths. He wanted to stand and would like to get away from the wheelchair. He was reprimanded by his companion.

In a moment, an old woman who is with her son took a sit near me. Her abdomen is bulging. She is so thin. It seems like her abdomen when pricked will burst to erupt like a “volcano”. There were countless old people who were there at the hospital. Most of them walk in very slow pace, are stoop and lonely. They look tired and unhappy. There are those individuals who come and go, to and fro at the main entrance. Others took their nap at the benches. Children who were injected cried a lot. Their mothers tried to manage them really hard so that they will stop crying.

These vibrant scenes of expressions of sick people who suffer from various illnesses and diseases are the ones of the many faces that I have to encounter on my duty next year. This day marks me to prepare myself more and let my emotional side be in control for I don’t want to cry as I see these kinds of patients when I am on duty struggling really, really hard. I am glad that this scenario reminds me again to be more tough to face realities that softening of my feelings towards the situation must be modulated, instead my care should I give more of priority to of.

I know that it is normal to feel pity to these kinds of people, but I don’t let myself being drown to the kind of feeling that I will seriously let me feel in a way that I have to think about the situation all over again deeply which resulted to weaken me.

I know I can be of help to them. I will care for them and I will never let any instance of myself being too much emotional surface the whole process because I have to mind that my help and care for them are indeed in demand, urgently needed.

I don’t want to feel weak because they are already weak. I want to uplift them with the way I care.

Picturial during the Season of Christmas with my friends. (December 2, 2013)

 



Gift-Giving Activity at St. John Elementary School, Puntod, Cagayan de Oro City

We, the RLE 30 as well as the Midwifery students of Capitol University are on-the-go for the Gift-Giving Activity at St. John Elementary School at Puntod, Cagayan de Oro City. This was last December 6, 2013, a Friday.

 

The children really enjoyed playing with the games that we prepared for them. They happily received their individual gifts from us. We also served them with food.

Here are the captured moments of us:











Orientation at Capitol University Medical City with Dr. Annie P. Jacalan, The Nursing Director

Last December 11, 2013 (Wednesday) is our Orientation Day at the Capitol University Medical City, Cagayan de Oro City with the RLE 20 and RLE 30 students of Capitol University. Dr. Annie P. Jacalan is the one who gave us the Orientation. She discussed topics like the Hospital's Policies and Guidelines as well as its Vision and Mission, History of CUMC, their Services offered, the Nursing Responsibilities, Hospital Infection Control, the Do's and Don't's of the Responsibities of the Nursing Students On-Duty and many more.

I like the way Dr. Annie do her discussion. She delivers it well. I understand everything that she said. She also taught us how to do the IV preparation.

In the following pictures below are my friends and my classmates with Dr. Annie P. Jacalan, together with our instructors, Mr. Roy Andrew B. Ansale, RN, MN and Mr. Ramel B. Pacuno, RN, MN.

My Tatay (father) shed in tears. (Missing Christmas with us)

Christmas time for us, Filipinos, should suppose to be celebrated with families, physically present on the event of the celebration, but as of my Tatay (father), he celebrates it all alone, lonely without us.

We had a chat with Tatay yesterday evening. As I utter all the things we have prepared for Christmas, I was suddenly stopped for some time because there were tears on his face. And I asked, "What happen Tatay?". He said that he misses us so much and that his Christmas in the far away country is so lonely because there is no us in there to celebrate the meaning day with him.

I felt so lonely for a moment because every Christmas even those times when "Mama" (mother) is still around, we used to celebrate Christmas with all the love and happiness, lots of laughters and smiles, love and care. But now, my Tatay is on the other part of the globe, working for us as well. If I am that rich, I could have let Tatay be here with us this Christmas. I miss him so much. I wish I could embrace him personally for real. But distance permits us to be like this with our family because of our dreams. I know someday, I will be there personally for him and we could all spend our Christmas together with my sisters and my stepmother.

It is quite a sad fact that there are parts of our lives that we need to sacrifice for the fulfillment of our dreams and the realizations of them. My father is really old. He is 68 years old and 2 years from now, he will be turning 70. In that age, he should have traveled the world. But someday, I know I can make it for Tatay to be happy. It is just I miss him so much. He likes to eat Philippines' native foods like "Suman", "Bibingka", "Puto", "Banana-Q" and all those vegetables meal. He said that people in where he is right now celebrate Christmas like formally, there is silent everywhere in the place. And I was saying him that "Tatay, maybe you could spend Christmas loudier there." You have to sing the karoake. And he said, "It is totality different when you all are here to celebrate Christmas with me". That moment, I am almost in tears but I hold it because I don't want him to feel so much frustrated and lonely if he will see me crying too.

After we chat, that is the moment, I blew out. I cried.

I love my Tatay so much and I know one day, we will be together with my sisters and my stepmother again. I know it will surely come.

I miss my other friends as well.

This very morning allows me to go over the pictures at my FB pages and transport me to recall the days before, me being a teacher. As I go over, looking at the pics, I was reminded of the time that my co-teachers and I are happily enjoying our trip. I miss them so much!

There are times in my life that drives me to reminisce and prompts me to go back to the old memories which makes me smile as I one-by-one see the pictures. Then, I come to ask, "Where are they right now?", "How are they doing?", etc. I don't have their cell phone numbers and so, I can't be able to greet them. I hope that they are pretty much okay.

I miss being with my friends all the time. Living in this world thinks me all the time that I know someday, we will be able to see each other again.

Probably, some of them are getting married already or have their children and their own family. Maybe others are having their MA's and maybe probably most of them are already teaching in the government schools.

I hope we can have reunion this Christmas or New Year. I miss them so much as well. All was left for me are those photographs which makes me smile as I recall, reminiscing all those old memories that we all had.

That is why, taking pictures is very important to me. At least, I can come to recall and count all my blessings in life. When I have problems, I often look at the pictures and remembering the times my friends and I had a really good time and that is the moment, with that as well I find relief.

I treasure everyone who comes into my life. I don't want to miss a thing with them. Though friends come and go, but I know deep inside our hearts, we are met for a reason, for a purpose. I know someday I can see them again. Anyway, we are just under the one big, blue, sky.

I miss them and I love them so much!

This face. It's me, Arleen.

I love myself.

I believe in the beauty of being natural. I wear simple dresses and clothes. I can perfectly adapt to the occasion. I love to put on simple, light make-up, lipstick and face powder. I love my face even if there is nothing too much I put on in it.

I love the way how simplicity reaches my esteem. I just love being me. Even though I have really a big, round face, I love the way it is being structured.

I am saving to fix my teeth. I am saving for months and hopefully this summer, I can be able to fix them.

I believe in the power of perfect smile. It can make dreams do come true. With a perfect smile, all opportunities are just within reach and I want to make that happen to me. I do want to smile. I don't want to hide my smiles because I know it can inspire more people as well. I want to make that happen and so I am saving really, really hard in order to get what I want.

This is for my own benefit and for myself to fully gain and know more friends in the future. With a perfect smile, dreams are just within reach, but no matter what, I love myself.

I have so many wonderful dreams for my family. I want to really give a wonderful life for my sisters. I want them to enjoy what I also enjoy in life. I want them to be always happy all the time. I want to help my family and so, I am making every step to reach my dream and I do believe that all the happiness can be obtain by me if I have my perfect smile. I will be more beautiful inside out.

With this face, I know I can reach far. I can be able to fulfill my dreams not just for me but all for my family.

What I usually do during long breaks and weekends?

My life is like a whirlwind, so much to do, so much to share.

24/7 is already a BIG blessing for me. My life in a day all started as soon as I am awake. Routinely, I do the laundry, wash the dishes, cook the food, sweep the floor, check out how my sisters are doing, does the grocery, mop the floor, wipe the tables, etc. And I am not tired of doing it because it is part of my everyday habit.

At home, I am like the mother, the father, the sister, the teacher, the nun, the nurse, the caregiver, the manager, the engineer, the janitress, even a waitress, the dancer, the producer, the artist, the painter and even a carpenter. Whew!!! I am like the profession of all the professions. I don't complain because that is my responsibility and I am like "The Flash" who does everything in an instant, managing to carry the day right with lots of things to do. I am just a woman who does everything in life for the sake of my sisters, my family.

Most of the time, I know, people find me so fast. Actually, my way of life has a lot something to do with it.

Who says I don't get physically tired? Of course, I do got sick, but I make sure that I am eagerly well in a week because I always wake up for my family.

My "Mama" (mother) is not around anymore and my "Tatay" (father) is far from us, that is why, I take the "solo-flight" to be the character of all the characters displaying lots of responsibilities. That is when I am at home. But when I am in school, that is the moment I am indeed a whole time student.

My role is a lifetime cycle because I survive to be this way and I want to be this way. If ever I will have my own family, my role doesn't end, not a single one for them. I will always see to it that everything is okay but with limitation and moderation in discipline. I know when to say "no" and "yes".

I love my family. That is why, I am like this. And I am used to it.

Where are you Arleen?

I never expected that my friends will search for me. I thought being around with them is just a presence away, but for these past days, they said, "Where are you Arleen?" even we just talked days ago. And they were like, "Arleen!", "Arleen!", "Arleen!". That, I find very much okay. (Hahaha...If I have my album, one of the songs is entitled, "Where are you Arleen?")

Every time when I am at home, especially during long breaks or holidays, my friends are always finding me. They want me to be around. They said that they misses me so much and I was like saying, "Why do you guys miss me where in fact, we just saw each other last day?" And they are like, "We miss your company". With that, I appreciate and know myself even more that my friends can't also live without me. They just don't know that I can't also live without them.

Being with friends, for me is like touching their lives in many ways. Reflections, realizations, learnings and much more experiences capture to surface the whole atmosphere when we are with each other. I listen to them attentively and tell inpiring words and appreciation that are coming from the heart and they are listening to me, laughing and smiling all the time. Then, I asked, "Are they smiling or laughing because I am funny, a joker, or are they just being amused for me being around?"

If the answer is funny or a joker (if they find me that way), I can say that I am not that. Maybe they find me a joker because I usually make them smile and I have this sense of humor that would drive them to at least make their day right, smile and laugh. But in the actual sense as I view what I usually say, there is no funny parts of them or unless my expression permits them so to seem like funny. That is the moment they laugh and smile.

Frankly, I am not a joker or a funny person. I can't even deliver a single piece of joke. But what I have observed about myself is that when I act, everyone is laughing. I don't get offended with that because I know that my actions may seem extraordinary in their perceptions. But at least I make them smile and laugh. I respect them for that.

My sense of humor, I know leads me to them. I always love to share what I learn, will learn, shall have to learn, can learn, etc. I love to share feelings that are deep inside, from the heart. I always want to listen and capture the meat of the discussion or the sense of the thought every time someone speaks. But I never judge because I know there are reasons behind what they say. It may seem not in par with my opinion, but it is them, I can't judge them for what they believe.

They may find me judgmental with the way I act and react, but in totality, it is just a state of mind, not really that seriously judging. I believe that every individual is endowed with sense and everyone is entitled to his own opinion and in that part, I respect that a lot.

Oftentimes too, I can question when they started to laugh, not a single word from what I say - "Is the problem my face?"..."Why are they laughing or acting like that?"...Then it always lead me to think that my sense of humor apts me to let them react that way and I find it okay.

There is frankness from what I say and when I was being franked by or was franked by a person, at first, if it is not good, I will be hurt, but in moment, it can easily be healed.

I am a very forgiving person. I don't carry grudges because that is not me. I always want to settle things right at the moment, no tomorrows, no ifs, etc. I always take everyone special and with my sense of humor, I am very thankful for this gift. At least, I made them all smile and laugh. I know the world has lots of problems. At least, I can help them stretch and exercise their muscles out.

That is why, my friends are always looking for me. :-) Probably, because they find me funny. Hahaha! Huhuhuhu!

Midway Escapade: G-Force rocks!!!

Last December 20, 2013 (Friday), we had a very GREAT time enjoying the nature's bliss - swimming in the waters, playing games (volleyball, water game, etc), taking a climb in the rock, chasing around that place, playing volleyball, eating delicious food, laughing and smiling all around like there is no tomorrow and of course, posing for pictures here, there and everywhere plus our way of exchanging of gifts, singing the song, "I love my Kringle, Yes, I do!". That time, we are indeed in our break from school works.

The place is called "Midway White Beach Resort" which is located in Initao that goes to the road going to Iligan (Mindanao, Philippines). There are lots of cottages around the place and we have the cottage that is elegantly an escapade which is at the sea that going into, we need to cross that bridge made out from bamboo. Everyone takes the tight grip as they crosses that bridge. But we manage to successfully reach our cottage happily.

It was my first visit on the place and the very first time I saw it, I was reminded of the concept of my paradise. I was thinking that as I approach the entrance, it is just so plainly like a level of lands, but as I moved farther to look around, I was like, "WoooooW!!! The place is really wonderful!" I have seen what nature defines as I look down. I love the white sand. It reminds me of the place everyone longs - Boracay and Palawan.

Midway White Beach Resort is like the Boracay and Palawan of Mindanao. The rocky beach did not bother us. My friends and I are really enjoying very much! That is why, we never stop ourselves from taking pictures of our every actions. We smile, laugh, eat and have fun!!! This is truly a break that until now, I can't forget about it.

G-Force really rocks! My friends indeed rock! And we love the waters so much. The experience is irreplaceable. The moment is so wonderful. We had so much fun.

At least in this way, we know how to enjoy apart from the many pressures from school. Indeed, life is full of fun with my G-Force around! I love it, so much fun, fun, fun, fun!!!!