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!