research day

Today the graduating PT student presented their researches in the annual research symposium of the college. The seven groups worked the whole year with their thesis advisers from writing the proposal to data collection and analysis to manuscript writing and presentation.

I arrived late at the event (because the LRT broke down and because I woke up late). I missed Ma'am Mia's Gawad Centenaryo Professorial Chair Lecture and the first two groups of students who presented. Darn! I wanted to hear Ma'am Mia's clinical reasoning research.

I sat at the back and tried to tweetcast the whole event. I was fairly successful. Haha.

Here's a rundown of the researches that were presented:

Aguila, et al. "Physical activity habits of UP Manila students"

(presented by RA Borlat)

Rotor, et al. "Clinical reasoning of two Filipino physical therapists in out-patient clinics: Preliminary results of a qualitative case study"

(presented by Clariz Patricio)

Bandong, et al. "Perceptions of Filipino older adults on physical activity"

(presented by Zoila Dayao)

Gorgon, et al. "Physical therapy for people with dementia: exploring the required competencies

(presented by JR Canono)

Gomez, et al. "A pilot study on the perceptions of Filipino adults on physical activity"

(presented by Mae Ang)

Mendoza, et al. "A review of the waitlist and wait times in the Clinic for Therapy Services

(presented by Ren Dizon)

Magpili, et al. "Awareness of clinical obstetricians-gynecologists about the role of physical therapy and referral pattern in obstetrics and gynecology at the Philippine General Hospital

(presented by Albert Pagdato)

Congratulations to the students and their faculty advisers for a successful symposium. I'm proud of my group for answering the panelists' questions so well. Too bad they lost their chance to win the Best Research Presentation Award because they submitted their materials late. Overall, it was a very good effort. They presented and discussed the results well without overwhelming the audience with the numbers. Their powerpoint could use a little adjusting though. It was hard to read from the back. One more edit and the paper is ready for binding.

The symposium was the students' last hurrah! After this, it just make-up clinical duties and then GRADUATION. And another academic year comes to a close. (sigh of relief)

(photo from Ma'am Mia's blog)

roar of a choco

I love chocolate! Actually, I love food in general. I was reminded of how lucky I was and my sweet tooth as a child because I got to eat a lot of chocolates every time my Pa would come home from Saudi. (Yeah! I'm a typical pinoy child of the eighties - a provinciano middle middle class with a parent working in the Middle East.)

Of all the chocolates my Pa would bring home back then, it's the Lion Bar that's my favorite. I could finish three or four bars in one sitting. I was reed thin back then so there were no worries about getting flabs. Oh how I miss that sweet chocolate taste. I think it was in the early 90's when I last tasted that particular brand.

Based on my internet research, I learned that the original Lion Bar was made by Rowntree but by the start of the 90's they sold it to Nestle. Nestle still sells the bars but they've changed the recipe. Too bad!

I think I'll search for a Nestle Lion Bar soon and see for myself if the taste did indeed change. Haha.

Everyone has fond memories of childhood. Mine is a bar of chocolate goodness that roars back with every bite.

photo credit: 205gti306gti

ethical last day

Last Friday was the official last day of classes. Next week is just for exams, exams, and more exam. After that, it's "hello internship!" for the kids (all of them I hope).

The ethics class ended the sem for the students. In groups, they creatively reported on solutions to different ethical dilemmas. And if there's one thing these smart students are, its creative. It was an interesting and fun way to end the year.

I'm proud of these students and I can wait to see them strut their stuff in the clinics. Good luck with the exams!

Meanwhile, the sem is not over for the faculty especially for us doing graduate studies. Good luck to us too!

of course the year can't end without some picture taking

pareng Oble paid the class a visit

and the crowd went wild!

with students Cez and Sophie

(pictures from Cez' FB page)

death of common sense

Got this from Betchay

Obituary printed in the London Times

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;

- Why the early bird gets the worm;

- Life isn't always fair;

- and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;

I Know My Rights

I Want It Now

Someone Else Is To Blame

I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone.

photo from Thinkstock

gudjab teach!

Just a quick blog while I rest from working.

I received my teacher rating today. At the end of every semester, the teachers are "graded" by the students using a teacher rating scale devised by the college. It's a 51-item tool with questions ranging from grooming to classroom discipline to actual teaching and exams. Space is also provided for comments and suggestions. For me, more than the numbers, its the written comments that has the biggest impact may it be positive or negative.

I can't help but smile as I read what the students thought about how I taught and handled my classes. It really feels nice to be appreciated by your students. That plus knowing they are learning and striving to get better makes everything wort the while. I did get some feedback regarding my occasional tardiness and how I sometimes get easily frustrated. (Duly noted, sirs and ma'ams.) But overall, I was overwhelmed with the positive things they wrote. At one point, I can't actually believe they were writing about me! :)

To my students, thanks for the kind words and the useful suggestions. You don't know how your comments inspire me to do better.

Cheers to teaching and learning!

see the (new) look

I was finally able to make a banner for the blog. Looks a little simple but it will do for the time being. Now it looks like a proper blog. Haha. IMHO, a blog is not yet considered"proper" when it lacks some sort of personalization. I also added the ambigram my friend Revilo made for me a few years back to add to its "properness". Hehe

Ok, so there you go. Now back to the papers. *grins*

bustos daw! dining pinoy style

He is the new pinoy youtube sensation (well, fairly recent, at least for me because I only heard of him today) - Mikey Bustos. I saw someone quote him on twitter, "Op kors, redhorse"; watched his video "tutorials"on youtube; and laughed my head off. In the tradition of Rex Navarette, Christine "Happy Slip" Gambito, and other pinoy comedians who grew up in a different country with the vantage point of someone outside looking in, he presents a brand of comedy that highlights the idiosyncrasies (i hope i used that term right) of Filipino culture.

This video talks about some of the dining habits of pinoys. Honestly, this video, aside from making me laugh, made me hungry. I want some rice with my KFC!

acoustic fray

I want to perform this onstage. Naks! But looks like I'm gonna need some lessons: voice lessons, piano lessons and k-hon lessons. That sounds expensive. Oh well, its free to dream.

Boyce Avenue's cover of the Fray's "How to Save a Life"

lens for change

This project aims to raise awareness regarding persons with disability (PWDs). A chance to showcase their strengths, talents, and abilities: how they transcend the barriers of disability. We hope that this project will influence the views of students and other people in the university towards disability. Changing their views will be a stepping stone in building an inclusive UPM community. You can download the forms here.

midyear goals

I believe that when you write down the things that you want, you will achieve them!

So here are my midyear goals!

By the middle (June) of this year (2011), I will...

... have my own apartment.

... have my degree in MHA.

... have one published research.

... have a new QWERTY phone with a camera, MP3 player and internet features.

... have monetary savings of at least 10,000 pesos.

I want to list more but I have to keep it realistic. I'm keeping my fingers crossed as I work.

Lord bless me! Thank you!

peyups, ang galing mo!

I was listening to my random playlist, when this song started to play. It has been three years since the centennial celebration but this song still gets me whenever I hear it. School spirit strong is, in this one. Forever proud to be a UP alumnus he is.

UP Ang Galing Mo

UP Centennial Band

I

Narito kami nagpupugay

Sa unibersidad ng aming buhay

Ikaw pa rin ang binabalikan

‘Di pa rin malilimutan

Ikaw ang UP naming mahal

II.

Salamat sa iyong mga guro

Salamat sa iyong pagtuturo

Taglay niyo ang kahusayan

Taglay niyo ang karunungan

Hinubog niyo kami sa kabutihan

REFRAIN I:

Sandaang taon na tayo

Lagi ka pa rin sa aming puso

Kaya’t kami’y sumasaludo

UP ang galing mo

UP ang galing mo

III.

Wala nang iba pang maihahambing

Sa talino mo’t angking galing

Daanin man sa siyensiya

High-tech man o kahit ano pa

Ikaw UP ang nangunguna

IV.

Sa iyong mga dugo ang kasaysayan

Dumaloy sa pag-unlad ng ating bayan

Sagisag ka ng kagitingan

Bandila ka ng kalayaan

Pag-asa ka ng mamamayan

REFRAIN II:

Sandaang taon na tayo

Lagi ka pa rin sa aming puso

Sandaang taon na tayo

UP ang galing mo

UP ang galing mo

REFRAIN III:

Sandaang taon na tayo

Lagi ka pa rin sa aming puso

Sentro ka ng pagbabago

UP ang galing mo

UP ang galing mo

Sandaang taon na tayo

UP ang galing mo

UP ang galing mo

thank you for your time

Got this from Bambi.

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams.

There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important. Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said

"What box?" Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died, returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read. Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:

"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most was...my time"

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.

"Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"

lost night

I went home to Cavite last night to get some work done (I need the peace and quiet) and to see the folks. It's been three weeks since I last saw them. Unfortunately or fortunately, I left my (borrowed) laptop's power cord at school! Nyark! The laptop's batteries are non-functional and it won't turn on without the cord. No cord means no laptop; and no laptop means forced rest and no work done. Hay! I should be panicking by now. So much to do! So much to do! Well, at least I got to breathe fresh air for a change.

in your north face!

I met up with my friend Roselyn today to get the original black north face back pack I ordered. She got it from a friend in Vietnam and she's selling it for just 2K which is much much less compared to its mall price.

I'm always in need of a new resilient backpack. Careless is an understatement. I leave it anywhere and stuff everything in it. Betchay calls my backpack paper purgatory. Once a sheet of papers goes in my bag, it takes centuries before it sees daylight again. I call it a stereognosis backpack. One needs their streognosis (identification of objects by touch without the benefit of sight) intact to find anywhere in there. Haha. I hope this new north face will last longer than its predecessors.

I'm excited to use it for the Visayas-Minadanao trip we are planning for May. Yey!

gopher's new black borealis

New Blog

I decided to create a new blog! Yahoo!

Actually, its more like reviving and continuing the old blog in a different address. This is the 2nd reincarnation of "departing from wasteland" (DFW). Blog-city was its first address then it was transferred to Multiply when blog-city closed down. Nowadays, Multiply is like a ghost town with the advent of Facebook and Twitter. Its not as exciting as before. So I finally decided to resurrect DFW on the very stable and dependable Blogspot. And here it is!

I don't have time now to spruce up the site and P(F)ersonalize it. Heck, I don't even know if I have time to write anything given the hectic sched. I just want the birth pains to be over and done with, not that theres a lot. :) I just want to put it up before procrastination sets in again.

And so a new chapter begins in chronicling my life (for future scholars and movie makers to study) as I continue my search for the borders of wasteland.