Ate Irene

Last night before I went to bed, my celphone rang without any number flashing on the screen. I had a feeling that somebody used a call card to call me or perhaps an international call in which my phone couldn't read the caller's number. But anyhow, I was surprised when that call came from Singapore and from a person I've known since high school. She is my favorite housemaid, Ate Irene. I was touched that she was able to keep my number after a year of silence. She left her family in the Philippines to work as a domestic helper in Singapore. We had a heartfelt talk about sacrifices, dreams and life. She told me, "Kuya TJ, kundi lang sa pamilya ko hindi ako pupunta dito sa Singapore para magpakahirap. May pangarap din naman ako".(Translation: "TJ, if not for my family, I won't go here to Singapore to suffer. I also have a dream".) On that very moment, I heard myself saying those kind of things to myself. I share the same dream to Filipinos who leave their country putting the ultimate sacrifice of leaving their loved ones behind. Their strong determination is a reflection of poor economy and that's where the drive to reverse the situation comes in. Personally, I still feel sorry to those people living here in Hawaii or in US in general who are wasting every opportunity by being out of school, bum and drug addicts. I wish I had the power of bringing in smarter people from the Philippines who are a step behind for not having a US working visa. Even a busboy's job here is equivalent to a pot of gold to any poor country. So to you Ate Irene, even if your master is not that generous by giving you only 1 day off in a month, just think that there are more people beneath us. Those people who don't know how to optimize their resources and those who are simply victims by being poor. You are not alone and I am with you on this battle.

Thanksgiving

Since we never celebrated Thanksgiving in the Philippines, I have no idea of what in store for me on Thursday. One thing I know for sure, there will be no school but I will have to work that day. I took a very tedious examination last Saturday and I'll get the results in 2 weeks. Whatever it is, I'm not saying. I know my family is of full support to me no matter what happens and they are just there in my corner forever. Perhaps the only way to do on Thursday is to have a brief moment of silence and be thankful to my Creator for every blessing He's been showering me all these years especially those that came after I moved here to my new country 2 years ago. It was not an easy path but with God's blessings I am still here making the best of each day for brighter mornings to come. This is my story; the real essence of my own Thanksgiving.

Very inspiring...

While I was busy as hell whining to myself why I only got 83% on my latest exam on anatomy, I came across this student, crippled on his power wheelchair, trying to insert his bill on the vending machine. As I approached to help, I noticed that he doesn't speak English. For going out of his way to study in a foreign country with less armaments than most of us have, I give him credit. I have no excuse of sometimes looking down on myself when some people, amidst their plight still manage to thrive, breathe and trudge with courage.

Schadenfreude!

The crowning moment

I'm just happy to say and share that for the record, since I continued my education here in the US last January 2005, I have already accomplished 9 As in all the 9 subjects I've taken and the scary part is, I'm still counting. Now, I wonder how it is being a Reconstructive surgeon. After reading my anatomy book in the evenings, I steal some of my time watching discovery health where they feature a graphic representation of the marvels of the medical world and the success stories that come with it as well. I'm just thinking that most doctors get into the peak of their career on their 40s. Not with me, I want it on my 30s. I'm still debating. But wait, my sister is already a doctor and my future brother in law is a lawyer. My dad is a lawyer, my mom is a nurse. Let's see...I'll just jockey for Healthcare Administration so there's a diversity in our family. Does it make sense?