Helping Others: Not As Easy

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church may be known for many things like its emphasis on health and diet among others but it is generally not a wealthy religion, more so here in the Philippines.

But I guess wherever there is a church, people in need of assistance are drawn to it. Most of them in need of medical assistance (health insurance isn't common here). Its the policy of the church not to give financial assistance (we can't afford to) but to extend assistance in the form of medicines if we have them available.

What gets me though is that the people who come for help all expect, some even demanding financial help. They refuse generic equivalents of the prescriptions they have (don’t get me started on physicians in government hospitals who prescribe the most expensive brands when they know their patients don’t have money).

Just now a lady approached me here at the church clinic with a request for various lab exams. The estimated cost was about $25. I offered her the services at a nearby lab which would cost her $6. She didn't even seem a bit interested. Instead she asked if why we couldn't just give her the $6.

09.12.2009 AM

10.20
children's homily is once again poorly thought of. The story teller should really think about his story - if it is interesting to kids. No visual aids should mean extra talent in speaking.

10.30
Just staring at the chorister's butt haha

11.15
Very irritating style of some pastors or speakers is when they make questions as part of their sermon. Do they want the audience to actually give an answer?

Professional Competition

I feel insecure all of a sudden. Somehow I’ve never felt that confident in my abilities as a doctor. I think I’m always on the defensive since most of the time, first-time patients are hesitant to come to me for consult. I guess it has to do more with my appearance (I don’t really look my age and I don’t dress my age either).

Then there’s this guy who goes to the same church I do. We have the same premed course, except that he topped his Licensure exams and he’s now in the top medical schools of the country. It doesn’t help that he looks like what a doctor should look like already.

In a few years he’ll be a licensed MD and it’s a given that people will be more confident going to him.

…and it doesn’t help that he has a great personality and is a good singer.

*sigh*

Lost Anonymity

I think I’ve lost the anonymity I’ve always wanted on the net. Oftentimes I can’t post everything I want to because I’m afraid I’ll be judged or someone I know will read it.

I’ve been thinking about starting something like a diary. That way I’ll have something to write about everyday and not wait for something exciting to happen just so I can post about it.

The problem is, I don’t know where to start my diary. I want to be anonymous but at the same time I want other people to read about it and share their comments and criticisms.

… I don’t wanna start another blog, but I don’t think I can comfortably write things down in this blog either.

Thank You President Cory

August 1, 2009 at 3:18AM, former Philippine President Corazon Aquino passed away after a year-long battle with colon cancer.

23 years ago, she brought the country together to put to an end a 20-year dictatorship. And during the past 5 days, the Philippines is once again united but this time in gratitude.

I can’t count the number of times I have fought back tears this past 5 days. Every time I watch TV, I end up teary eyed. It’s not just me. Almost all my friends have mentioned being in tears these past days.

It’s not grief or sadness I feel. In fact, I don’t even really feel anything specific. I think it’s an overwhelming sense of gratitude. The country isn’t perfect, it’s one of the most corrupt in Asia. But it’s because it’s what we choose to be as a country. And that freedom to CHOOSE is what President Cory has given the Philippines.

Once again, crowds are taking to the streets. This time however, it’s not because of anger and frustration at the government. It’s because we all want to honor the person who gave the country back it’s freedom. This time there has been no call to gather, no propaganda talk. People are just spontaneously going out to honor Tita Cory.

This yellow ribbon has become a symbol of the country’s gratitude to her. It’s on trees, on the side mirrors of vehicles, on many cable channels beside their logos, on websites… it’s everywhere.

The country is united - old and young, male and female, the government and the opposition, the rich and the poor – in this sense of gratitude for the freedom this country is enjoying.

Thank you President Cory. Thank you for the freedom to choose.