Calbayog City Sports Complex

I've been trying to find nice picture of the proposed Calbayog City Sports Complex. This is what I got, please bear with me. Construction of this building is ongoing at Brgy. Capoocan (near the Hall of Justice). For some reasons, its opening last December did not push through. Come opening day - let' keep our fingers crossed - Calbayognons will be in for a 5,000-seater airconditioned gym with fiberglass floor, among other amenities.

my latest NAIA 2 experience

I dunnow who thank to, but PAL has also slashed down their ticket prices. I got one which I booked a day before and picked up at the airport 3 hours before my flight for 1,365 pesos. Not bad, as in not bad. And thanks to the rockbottom prices I got to see the NAIA Centennial Terminal again. And thanks to the low fares, the place was crowded. And it starts here at the entrance . . .

. . . the day I took the trip, there was this guard who was extra courteous - ONLY TO FOREIGNERS!!! talk about a culture of tourism. What made me say that? There were at least three estrangheros before me and he said good morning only to these three, one of them was this guy in blue . . . but to be fair, the crew at the restrooms were courteous, greeting everyone - be it an indio like me or puti as in taga ibang bansa

some counters still had that electronic thing which dipslays flight details. But not this one. I guess what they had was plywood painted blue; and look at what happened to number 3

I guess this happens everywhere: bags get to have their own seats

and yes, they always rush to the doors, even before the plane stops . . .

back to reality. It's never a quite or stress-free thing at the baggage claim area of the Tacloban Airport

dining with the prosecutors 2

When I traveled to Manila the other week, among the things that gave me headache was not the traffic or the rains (and the flood that went with it) but the fact that some people manning some church offices can be so - oh never mind.

Anyway, the day he did an affidavit for me (for what else but some church papers), Prosecutor Edwin Gomez and his friends brought us to this nice resto somewhere in Quezon City. How I wish I was able to take nice pictures of the place set in a Garden (sadly my phone said no).

Prosecutors Edwin Gomez, Mario Quenit and Chari Calalang

me and Warren

Happy Birthday tita Emmy

Mrs. Emmy F. Abasolo turns 76 today. Many Happy Returns of the Day!

why can't they wait?

I traveled to Manila (again) and i took Cebu Pacific from Tacloban. So what about that trip? It (err, many passengers) never changed. It starts with boarding time - they never learned how to fall in line regardless if it's the elderly, children and the disabled who are supposed to board first, many of them just rush to the door (or gate). It seems like there's a prize waiting for those who went out first . . .

. . . so why the rush when you end up lining on the stairs if not the tarmac and be exposed to the sun (or the rain, whichever comes first) . . .

. . . and there will be the rush again even before the captain hits the brakes for the plane to come to a full stop. Hhmm, I wonder what's going on in the stews' minds in instances like this.

The day I arrived in Manila, I was wondering why passengers were boarding their cabs at loading station number 4. It tuned out the first three stations were cordoned off because of a plastic bag left on a baggage trolley. It took me almost twnety minutes to wait for my cab. I believe that the place was cordened off minutes before our arrival. So what about it? If there was indeed a bomb, it could have served it's purpose. The whole time we were waiting for our cabs, the cordoned area was just that - cordoned with no officers or anyone checking on the plastic bag. Well, es la vida.

inspiration in a restroom

with each milestone,

we make our place along life's journey . . .

we smile at how much we've lived,

loved and learned along the way . . .

we look ahead with the happiness

that only experience can bring . . .

In case you think that poem is inspiring, don't thank me. I had a pleasant surprise to read that poem the first time I dined at chowking Calbayog. Well, the framed copy of the poem is not exactly in the dining area but surprise - they hung it at the male restroom (okey, CR if you want)

And while we are into CRs, this establishment certainly has one of the better restrooms in town. But then, the floor can get wet (especially towards closing time), the faucet needs to be locked in place, and careful not to get near the hand dryer it's kinda sensitive.

The food is certainly good considering that it's Chinese fastfood (hmm, I wish Chinese food purists will love me for this). But I wish the crew can be more friendly and that's what I love Jollibee for.

Sunday School?

I went to Oquendo today for a meeting. On the way back to the city proper I came across a very familiar sight in Ipao which I have always wanted to take a picture of and write something about.

It happens on weekends and on some special days when this "Sports Complex" along the national higway get crowded with "sports enthusiasts". Well, they are into sports that are not exactly that most people are into. (I still need to hear some sports competition held in the area) I also call the activity Sunday School. One thing worth noting though, they know how to park their motorcycles properly.

"We Shall Return" by Dr. Manny Cacdac

(note: last week, the City Mayor received an envelope from Dr. Manny Cacdac. It the official SPSA newsletter. It contained an article regarding the group's experience in Calbayog. I've decided to share it with you. RLR)

It is rather unusual for the SPSA to conduct a surgical mission twice in one year more so to the same venue.

But after the Calbayog mission in January 2006, everyone felt that we had too much "unfinished business" after performing a record-breaking 548 surgical procedures. We indeed were able to put a dent in the myriad of surgical cases which at that time seemed endless and futile. But the Society followng the old cliche from General Douglas MacArthur promised the citizens of Samar Island that "we shall return".

We had an open invitation and sponsorship of another mission to Calbayog Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento and Congressman Reynaldo Uy so the society started gearing up for this second mission as soon as we returned to our home states. Both the Mayor and the Congressman consider health care as a top priority for their constituents, especially Congressman Uy who is a medical doctor himself before he became involved in politics. The second mission to Calbayog City was unanimously approved by the SPSA Board of Governors during the March 2006 meeting in Las Vegas and was later confirmed at the July meeting in Long Beach, California during the Society's Annual CME Seminar.

The "old guard" committed earlyto join the mission while we tried to recruit a few "first timers". Dr. Jack Bautista committed to bring his opthalmology team again. His group and eye foiundation has always been an avid supporter of our surgical missions. Wothout them, we would be unable to provide eye care to the islanders especially those that are blind with bilateral cataracts.

My relentless co-team leader Pacing Dorado who just recovered from a serious abdominal surgery readily committed to this second mission to Calbayog City. Medical supplies packed in more than 30 boxes were shipped in September. These supplies were donated by various companies, organizations and hospitals that I have come to solicit from for many years. Additional supplies were also shipped by Pacing Dorado from Ohio and Ed Quiros from Texas.

We had new faces joining us for the first time: Dr. Mahmoud Saber, anesthesiologist from Terre Haute, IN and his wife Peggy, O.R. nurse, Ms. Chris Velarde, a CRNA from New Jersey, Ms. Chris Schettini, a sales rep for Ethicon who brought her mesh grafts for hernia repairs plus suture materials; Ms. Julie Spencer, daughter of Dr. Rey Faylona form Wisconsin; Mrs. Kathy Castillo, RN, wife of SPSA's incoming president, Rey Castillo, a neurosurgeon from Michigan; Dr. Ed Barcvelona, general cand vascular surgeon and his wife Aliceform Palmdale, California; Dr. romy Laygo, my classmate and genral surgeon form Georgia and his wife Marina; Dr. manny Garcia, retired general surgeon from Florida; Dr. Tatad Kalbit, a young urologist from Zamboanga City, Philippines.

The "old guards" consisted of Drs. Pacing and Ludy Dorado, Drs. Manny and Fe Cacdac, Drs. Ed and Bing Quiros, Dr. and mrs. Romy Sangalang, Dr. and Mrs. Ben Zamora, Dr. and Mrs. Rolly Mendiola, Drs. Oscar and Sarie Laserna, Dr. Nap Valdez, Dr. Rey Faylona, Dr. Ed navarro from Germany, Mr. rolando Reyes, a CRNA from New Jersey, Dr. Pedro Cordero, a general and vascular surgeon from New Jersey who earlier joined us in Palawan in 2004, and Dr. Flor Castillo, a thoracic and vascular surgeon form Manila and brother of Rey Castillo.

Our local anesthesia team included Dr. Helen Gomez whose husband is from Calbayog City. She brought with her two outstanding young anesthesiologists from Baguio City - Dr. Arvin Pilit and Dr. George Jularbal. Our opthalmology team consisted of Dr. Jack Bautista, team leader, Dr. Lee Olanan, Dr. April Aquintaña, Dr. Carl Nasol, Dr. Mauel Singson, Jr., Dr. Anton Subhyakto, Cecile Leonardo, Edwin Lipat, Michael Briones and Bangielyn Priscilla.

Our local supporting team included Dr. Arnie Cahilig, Dr. Gilbert Cabigon, Dr. Beth Uy, Dr. Flora Rosales and the medical staff of the Calbayog District Hospital. Without them, the mission would not have been organized, as they were responsible for pre-screening most of the pre-op patients.

A few members of the surgical team arrived early in Manila to participate in the 62nd Congress of the Philippine College of Surgeons at Shangri-la Edsa from December 3-6, 2006. Tom Chua, Ed Barcelona, Rolly Mendiola and myself attended the opening ceremonies on Devcember 3 and were all recognized. That same afternoon we presented scientific papers with Dr. Philip Chua as the moderator. Dr. Francisca Velcek, SPSA Past President was conferred an honorary fellowship to the Philippine College of Surgeons during the Congress.

On December 7, 2007, the Society was awarded the LINKAPIL Award (Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino) by President Gloria Arroyo at the Malacañang Palace.

This was the first time the Society was recognized for its surgical missions and volunteerism after all these years. Dr. Oscar Laserna, SPSA's incumbent President represnted the Society, together with his wife Dr. Sarie Laserna, Dr. Tom Chua and Dr. Philip Chua. The whole group would have loved to be present during the ceremonies but it was the same morning that the team was scheduled to fly to Calbayog City on a special flight with a local airline.

After a one hour flight, we arrived in Calbayog, met at the local ariport with much fanfare. There were dancers dressed in native costumes who performed for us. We were greeted by our local hosts. Mayor Mel Sarmiento flew with us from Manila where he received an award from the President as one of the top mayors of the Philippines. After brunch, we were assigned our accomodations at two different locations not too far from the three hospitals where we were to operate.

After settling in, we divided each group into "screeners" and "unpackers". Like last year, our "war room" was a large conference room at the District Hospital where nearly forty boxes of medical supplies and equipments were unpacked and sorted out. We divided the team into three groups with corresponding team leader for each of the three hospitals: St. Camillus, Calbayog Sanitarium and the Calbayog District Hospital. Screening of cases were completedby six o'clock in the afternoon and each hospital posted its own operating schedule for the following day.

The first day of the mission was unevetnful, each team doing as many surgeries as the facilty could handle. Calamity struck the following day when heavy typhoon hit Leyte and the southern tip of Samar Island. Electrical power was disrupted and we had to resort to emergency hospital generators and occasional flashlights to power up and light the operating rooms. The power surge burned and damaged some of our equipment. During the periods of brownouts, the opthalmology group could not use their Phaco machines. Without the air cinditioners the operating rooms became oppressively hot. Torrential rains did not make things easier for everyone the following day.

Electrical power was restored on the second to the last day of the mission. In spite of all the obstacles and the difficulties, the whole teram was able to perform 71 eye surgeries, 189 major surgeries under general and spinal anesthesia, and 250 minor surgeries under local anesthesia, for a total of 540 procedures. The surgical cases were the usual comlexities of thyroids, from small to giant adenomas, huge inguinal hernia and hydrocoeles, cataracts, abdominal tumors, uterine fibroids, naso-frontal encephalocoeles, and various emergencies like that of a 4-year-old boy with intestinal obstrcution from a volvolus.

The highlight of every mission is when the host community says goodbye with the usual despedida party. This time it was a party to be remembered. The evening before our departure, Mayor Sarmiento and Congressman Uy and their staff gave us a very lavish going-away party held at the town plaza with a huge audience. The Calbayog Arts and Culture Performers provided the entertainment. A "cookout" was prepared where fresh fish and grand assortment of food were grilled in front of our tables. The usual presentation of awards, individual recognitions, and dancing were enjoyed by all. Gratitude and appreciation from both the hosts and members of the mission was overflowing. We of course were very proud, honored, and gratified for again being able to help our impoverished countrymen in Samar Island.

The return flight to Manila was somber and everyone reflected on how much we could give a little part of oursleves and get so much in return. Many of the members of the mission have already volunteered to join the next mission. It is always a delight to hear from everyone that in spite of the "blood, sweat and tears", they enjoyed the trip and are willing to join another mission.

Pacing Dorado and myself, on behalf of the SPSA appreciate and acknowledge with gratitude the following: Alcon, Inc., Ethicon, MAP Internationmal, AmeriCares, Operating Room Staff of Terre Haute Regional Hospital and Union Hospital for collecting medical supplies, especially Ms. Wanda Coffin, my ever faithful secretaries Marge Bray and Joan Kleptz, and to Mr. and Mrs. David Hughes for their timely donation of $5,000 for this mission. To Mr. Ed Puno we extend our gratitude for his untiring efforts in coordinating the mission in Calbayog City. Lastly, to my wife, Fe, whose love and devotion keep me going.

2007 Hadang Streetdance: Alimango Festival

Here's Alimango Festival from Sta. Margarita

2007 Hadang Streetdance: Sapyawan Festival

Here are some more pictures of the tribes which participated in the 2007 Hadang Streetdance Exhibition. This is Sapyawan Festival

in memoriam + Boy Isidro

Man Boy would have turned 56 today. Let us pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

2007 Hadang Streetdance:Nikit Festival

Hi! I lost my guide and I've got no idea about the names of these groups. One of these could be Nikit Festival of Allen, Northern Samar


. . . and here's another group