Hospital Boy

No. I did not say I'm a hospitality boy (as if I would pass as one). For the fourth time in my life, I had been confined in the hospital. The first one was when I was unconscious for three days for being bumped by a speeding jeepney (God! Thank you for covering me at that time that I didn't encounter any fracture). That was on April 1992 in the Elisa R. Ochoa Memorial Hospital in Butuan City. The second one was in Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City, October 31, 2004, the first time that I was away from home, and the first time when I've proven that I could manage to bring myself to the hospital alone. I could remember at that time that at the middle of every call, I had to excuse myself from the customer for me to run to the wash room and vomit and/or move my bowel. The third was in Butuan Doctor's Hospital in February 2005, when I felt too weak of having cough and colds for more than a month. My! I thought I already had TB at that time. Then this is the fourth - April 23, 2006, 2:05 p.m. when I brought myself to St. Luke's Hospital, Quezon City, for my loose bowel movement and for constantly throwing up.

I have a timeline of the things that happened to me and the things that I've done in the hospital but I think they are too personal and that you may not find anything essential in it except the words nagtae na naman or blood backflowed up to the middle of the dextrose hose since the nurses don't constantly check the patient unless you call them through the intercom.

This has been the most difficult hospitalization that I've got. Except Caro (who processed my admission papers, lent me Igno, her iPod nano that is, constantly visited me and bought me food) and Jay (who was compelled to visit me since I asked him to bring the pre-signed PhilHealth Form 1), nobody paid a visit. There were people who asked if they could still come and I told them no. God, I am not a well-mannered person but when I know if a friend or a close relative who is sick and is confined in the hospital, it's needless for me to ask if I could visit him or not - it's automatic for me to go to him, even without bringing something. Personally, asking one's friend if he could be visited or not solicits for that patient's guilt of bothering you. I hate it. If you want to pay a visit, you need not ask. It's nothing compulsory.

For that, I want to sincerely thank you, Caro and Jay. Thank you too, Arlette and Giz for sending me uplifting messages.

Through that experience, I've pondered upon two things. The first one was about what Joanna told me long ago - that, unlike in any other places, people in Manila don't have a strong support system. Friends wouldn't care if you're still breathing or not. All they're thinking are their own lives. And this experience proved that Anna was right. Though folks in Cebu were as busy as the people here, they never failed to come and see me when I was sick, though it was also a burden for my finances since I would have to order for their food every now and then. But then, their support was so amazing and it was only now that see the big difference.

The second thing is about my attitude. I couldn't forget what Caro said. "Kawawa ka naman. Wala ka'ng friends. Hahaha!" She's true. I don't have friends because it's my choice. And if I have some, they're just too few. I'm not a friendly and warm person and I don't care if people think of me as bitchy or what. Anyway, I was confined because of acute gastroenteritis, not because my leg had to be cut or what, so I was still able to drag my dextrose stand and go to the bathroom.

Hospital Review

Now comes my comments on the hospital. The service isn't too nice. I had been in the ER ward for five hours, waiting if I'll be confined or what. I was too pale and my lips were severely chapping and I've told the doctor right from the start that I want to be confined to regain my strength. Kesyo they still wanted to make sure if Hydrite would resolve the problem or not. I was already too weak and I found myself lying in an air conditioned yet very hot and very noisy room. Unlike in Chong Hua, they immediately gave me the form, told me to go to the frontdesk to get a number and before an hour, I found myself having a dextrose and being sent in a very cozy room that no one would think it's a hospital. St. Luke's is too hospital-ish that you still could feel that you're ill.

The food, as always, tastes so terrible. I am too particular on edible things since I know how to cook. As the primary priority in my life, I always make sure that what I take in are delicious and sad to say, I felt like I was eating something for the pigs. Even dog food would smell and taste better than those.

Anyway, I must commend the nurses for being so courteous and accomodating, though they don't possess the sense of urgency when you call them and that they don't have the timer to check what time they're supposed to replace your dextrose. Thanks for constantly refilling my bottle with water. And to the housekeepers and linen people, thanks for making my room and bed nice and neat.

Too bad that I was sick and "disabled." I would have seen Donita Rose in the hallway. Caro did. But I've seen Paul Salas, that bibo kid I constantly see on TV, whose father is one of the twins in the disbanded Universal Motion Dancers.

I'm out of the hospital. My mom asked if I could go home so that I would be treated by means of alternative medicine. I could sense that, as her only son, and her biologically youngest child, she misses me so badly. I'm also dying to go home but I'm afraid my company won't allow me. I would have to compete with several others to have my vacation leave approved. I don't know. But I miss Butuan... and also my family.

Sick Days

I decided to be absent from work since the other night. I was totally exhausted and my lack of sleep for several weeks (a maximum of four hours) drained me too much. I know may halong pag-iinarte 'to but my back really aches these past weeks. I hate this scoliosis and here I am suffering from my migraine again and I feel like throwing up.

On a lighter note, Caro and I had finally purchased the new portable system from ACER. It's actually my sister's computer but she trusts me too much in looking for the best specs and the best price. Maybe, I could suggest that she'll give the PC a good name, just like what Caro does to her fruits of labor (sorry Caro for being gaya-gaya and thanks for the idea. hehehe). Anyway, I'm too confident I've chosen the right one. Aside from the very nice LCD, the system runs fast as compared to her old one (I've just realised that the old Acer laptop has only 64MB of RAM. Ewww. Patay gutom. Hahahaha. I still could remember how my sister got pissed when I laughed out loud while talking with her on the phone about it.) And when I've checked the service center how much the "damage" would be if we'll have the LCD, optical drive, bottom plastic and modem repaired - it's a wacking 45,000 pesos! I could buy a newer and a far better system at that. In fact, it only has a Celeron processor and its operating system is only Windows ME. There's a high-end desktop computer that's being offered to Caro's mom for only 41,000 (17" Flat Panel monitor, etc.)

-o0o-

I'm supposed to be resting today since I really am not feeling well. It's like GOD, or the devils, I suppose, is whispering to me, "eTel is nothing but a hell. Get out of their before you'll rest forever." But I need to survive in this big city so I must stick to it before I could get a new job.

I was still sleeping at 8 this morning when somebody knocked on my door. I thought it was the laundry woman (Yes, I could afford one now. Hahaha) but to my surprise, it's my cousin who is applying for a job here in Manila, since Mindanao has really a few to offer and it's facing the so-called "brain drain" dilemma. Tsk tsk. She asked if I could accompany her to the National Statistics Office to get an authenticated copy of her birth certificate. I thought that it would be to mean for me to say "no" since I am, at times, a very kind person, too, though I feel that I'm already dying.

People in Butuan, hear this. Their NSO office here is big BUT it's too hot. Walang ka-aircon-aircon aside from the fact that the employees are so slow-moving. Ayon at tumindi ang sakit ng ulo ko to the point that I felt my skull would break at any point. Good thing that prayers really worked that I was able to withstand the terrible pain.

I wasn't aware that she's planning to go to the Philippine Stock Exchange (West)building for an interview. Besides waling to the building from SM Megamall, at 1 p.m., when the sun's heat could totally fry my scalp, I also wasn't aware that there are establishments, other than the Professional Regulation Commission that won't allow people in slippers to enter. I felt that I was treated like a beggar to enter the building through the basement, with so many che-che buretse before I could get a visitor's ID. And we were not allowed to use any kind of elevator except the service elevator all because I was in slippers (when in fact my footwear is more expensive than other people's shoes there. Add it with the employees who are too jologs and they speak like market vendors.) I couldn't even forget the face of the elevator operator who asked me, "Saan ang mga idi-deliver niyo?" and I spoke no word. My stabbing eyes would be enough to shut his mouth.

My cousin observed that I was already totally pissed. Vulgar languages flooded at the back of my head but I still decided to maintain the small amount of compsure and professionalism in me. There are times when silence is the best way to attack one's anger. Thank you, Lord for enlightening my mind during that dark moment, else, I could have eaten all those people alive.

And so, we went to that company, that, because of its being too Pinoy, I never heard about it at all. Their office environment is like a noisy internet cafe with computers too old-looking. And the employees' face look like... never mind. We were told by the guard to proceed to the reception area - where the darn, stupid, idiot, ignorant and chimay-looking frontdesk officer would be found. To make it short, she heard several comments from me when she asked my cousin "Are you sure na sinabihan kang may bakant dito at pinsan ka ni (ewan)?" With so many "Are you sure" questions that she asked, I wasn't able to control myself and said, "Are you sure you are the receptionist here? You don't even possess even a... pinch of manners... of sense of professionalism...."

This day has already been ruined. A 250-milligram capsule of Ponstan didn't cure my severe headache. I had to take Dolfenal 500. Anytime from now I'm gonna be inutile. Thanks to Caro's installed games and I'm still enjoying this so-called life.

As for the question if I'll be reporting back to work this evening? NO! I'm not in the mood to.

Ginataang Halu-halo

Visayan term - binignit
Maranao/Cagayanon/Iliganon term - tabirak
Ilonggo - lugaw
English term - still to be discovered.
Note: Remember that looks would often be deceiving. Food tastes a lot better than how it looks. I'm not good at presentation.

Ingredients:
gabi, cut into cubes
camote, cut into cubes
monggo beans
malagkit
langka, cut into strips
sago
landang
saging na saba
bilo-bilo (ground wet malagkit, formed into small balls)
coconut milk
white sugar
vanilla extract
water

Procedure:
1. Separately soak the malagkit, monggo beans and landang in water for at least 30 minutes.
2. Boil the malagkit and monggo beans until tender.
3. Add in the gabi and camote. Constantly stir the mixture to prevent the ingredients from sticking. Keep the fire to low heat.
4. Add in the banana and bilo-bilo.
5. Add some amount of water to lessen the consistency.
6. Put in some sugar to taste.
7. Mix the landang.
8. Slowly add the coconut milk while stirring the mixture.
9. Constantly stir for about 5 minutes under low fire.
10. Remove the pot from the stove and add vanilla and langka strips.

Tips:
1. Keep mixing the ingredients to prevent them from sticking on the bottom.
2. Always keep fire to low.
3. Only add the vanilla when stove is turned off to prevent excessive evaporation, thus, losing its aroma and taste.

A frustrated cook's note:
I normally don't measure the ingredients as I think that I only do that in a chemical laboratory. Cooking must be done with fun and not with strict application of Science.

Moments of Love

"Ang pag-ibig walang pinipiling panahon, walang pinipiling wakas."

I am jologs. I admit it.

The time I heard the song "Moments of Love," my attention was drawn to it and as time progressed, I was curious on how the movie would be like. Add it with the fact that I like Iza Calzado.

So I watched it yesterday at SM Fairview, alone, as always.

I'm supposed to write a movie review but for some reasons, I can't make a good one. Maybe because I didn't find it as a movie but just an hour and forty-five minutes of telesine.

The plot is a combination of "Somewhere in Time," "Frequency" and, according to others, some other Chinese and Korean movies. It's so clear in the movie's trailer that two individuals, living in two different periods, meet through the phone and then their love story starts.

The flick is a revelation of Dingdong Dantes' acting skill - that finally, he's able to prove that he's no longer a matinee idol but a mature actor. I just find Karylle so conscious infront of the cam that I didn't find her acting good. As for Paolo Contis, he's an effective villain but his wig is too funny that I thought it was a nest that anytime a bird would lay eggs on it.

A Filipino film wouldn't be Pinoy at all if there are salimpusas around acting as panggulo or should I say, fillers. But Jojo Alejar's character as an 80's actor who has lost his fame and still possesses the star complex is an effective comic relief.

Comparing to some other Filipino movies I've seen, this one is somewhat different. Different in a way that I wasn't able to predict its ending. There's a twist in the denouement that caught me surprised (just irritated though with a very shallow and stupid audience who kept on howling during that scene).

Generally, the movie is good... yes, it's good.