What I like about buying books at Kinokuniya is that they cover it with a plastic before handing it to you. The nerd in me is sooo excited for this one! And super glad that I got the last copy on stock! 

I haven't been in the WWW for the past days due to a difficult internet connection and a huge lack of time but I don't want this excitement pass. 

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL MY FRIENDS WHO MADE IT TO THE AUGUST 2011 PHYSICIANS LICENSURE BOARD EXAM!!!!! 

Wooot!!!! Of course, special mention goes to my BFF #902 Mamari, Noranihar Dalidig. 

All praises belong to Allah, Thy be the Glory. 

Class History

*I was told to make and deliver the Class History for our Grad Ball two nights before the event. Because I got so busy for the grad rites, I almost forgot my task. So I crammed writing this few hours before the ball. Funny how I read this from my scratch paper. No further editing done on this post to preserve the originality of my cramming skills. Haha. Oh by the way, I included here some of my adlibs.

Our beloved doctors; freshmen; sophomores; members of the organizing class, the juniors; members of the Class 2011, good evening and assalamu 'alaikom warahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.

When I was given this task of writing the Class History, I thought of our grad song which is actually a brief summary about how and what we were for the past four years. But tonight, I will relate to you the miniscule details that lie behind the Class 2011.

It seemed as if yesterday when we entered the portals of MSU-COM on June 2007, specifically June 4, 2007. We consist of 52 vibrant college degree holders from big institutions all over the Philippines such as UP Los Banos, UP Cebu, UP Mindanao, UP Cebu, Mindanao State University Main Campus, MSU-IIT, Silliman University, Velez College, University of Southern Mindanao and Emilio Aguinaldo College. Modesty aside, most of us were fresh graduates with flying colors from their respective universities while others were fresh board exam passers, one of us was a board topnotcher (I wouldn't tell who para dili kaayo obvious na si Alvi 'to siya).

Just like any blossoming relationships, our freshman year was filled with battling of our minds, because indeed, we are all leaders in our own rights. We are a bunch of unique individuals , hence disagreements among us was often inevitable. There was the famous line of somebody who walked out during a class meeting yelling while stomping his feet: "Kung ing-ana bitaw mo, mas maayo wala na la'y Commed!!"  (Again, I wouldn't tell who kay ma-hurt si Chrismar). Yet, despite the disputes, we kiss and make-up at the end of the day. It was also during our freshman year that we have accepted each and everyone's individual differences and yet all of us met at a common point. Most of us went out of their shells to join the class' bandwagon. We have identified ourselves in mini-groups under the dynamic Class 2011 umbrella. We have the Princesses, the Datu group (basically, these are the Pala-o people) and the Immediate Friends. The creations of these mini-groups did not obliterate our class' oneness, because when we are together, we are filled with heaping inside jokes that create roars of laughters.

Came sophomore year, this was the time I have witnesses our class unity and sympathy for each other. This is not meant to scare the incoming sophomores but this year was indeed the most grueling year net to clerkship. This was the time the Student Council was at our hands, headed by Cor-cor as the President, Alvi was the V-President, I was the Secretary, Jue was the Treasurer, Abby was the Auditor and Angeli was the P.I.O. (It was kinda difficult for our administration because remember, this was the time our Palakasan didn't push through due to the bombings here in Iligan City). Our girlpower wouldn't work without the selfless help of our classmates. They were always there to help us out, so it appeared as if every SC activity was also Class 2011's activity. Our classmates were the wind beneath our wings.

This was also the year when Ianni, Elmer and Ate Ducky left us to do some reflections while Ate Johanna joined us to complete the 50 individuals of the Class 2011.

Our sophomore year marked the creation of jargons that only members of the Class 2011 can comprehend, these are the words "winner" and "namilo" among others. Because we are very generous, allow me to use these words in a sentence to give you a context clue. For example, when you're asked "Winner na ka?", you better answer: "Dili uy, loser pa'ko!", because in our jargon, losers are more appropriate than winners.

So much for jargons, let's peer at our junior year. This was the year when we got used-to at med life. We got used to the daily grinds of PBL sessions, correlates, modular exams, histopath lab exams, and commed papers. We got used to our inside jokes that sometimes we no longer laugh at the jokes per se but we laugh at the person delivering the joke. As far as I can remember, our heated arguments ended during our freshman year, hence almost everything went smooth sailing for us. I attribute our class' success at executing school activities to our commendable class officers since freshman year headed by Cor-cor, sophomore year was headed by Maya, junior year was headed by Marc Duane and clerkship year was headed by no other than the enrgetic Kenzle. And of course, how can we forget Chrismar as our Community Medicine president since freshman year until the very end of med school? Chrismar, indeed, put so much effort in all the activities we conducted at our community and for that he is worthy of what he has achieved.

Within three years of being together, you think we know all of our classmates better? No, we don't. Until we reach clerkship when we got to see through each other transparently. How can we not when we literally live together under one roof, one room in the hospital, at least 24/7? We have no one but our groupmates. This was the time the beauty of companionship, friendship, mutualism, parasitism and commensalism manifest. We saw how their faces were distorted when their temper go beyond the threshold, we heard never been told abstract ideas that often led to endless stomach-aching laughters, and during the wee hours of the night when we were fortunate to have no patient awaiting in the ER or no ward calls, outpouring of emotions and sentiments were shared. It was during clerkship when we can no longer differentiate between day and night, weekends and weekdays, family and friends. Our classmates, our groupmates, they are our friends beyond measure and our family outside our home.

Ladies and gentlemen, there is so much to tell about our class, our history doesn't end here. We are yet about to begin as we enter the bigger world of the medical field. We are set to move forward keeping in our hearts the moral values and ethics our parents and our mentors have instilled in us, while keeping in our minds the medical knowledge we have imbibed from them. We wouldn't reach this point without our mentors from the College of Medicine, the strength and wisdom by the Almighty and the wonderful friendship the Class 2011 have shared.

As we part ways and embark on another fulfilling journey, let's keep in our hearts the beautiful memories we've shared. May our friendship last a lifetime. I can only imagine ourselves in the not-so-distant future bumping into each other in the hospital hallways while doing our rounds and then calling on to the future clerks and retelling our story over and over again.

Kudos Class 2011, and to the Class 2012, 2013 and 2014, may you all have wonderful experiences ahead of you.

Thank you so much and good evening. 

There's FUN in Goodbyes!!

Thank you Nurkhan Istarul for capturing memorable moments during the send-off party! 

Class 2011

Class 2011 and Class 2012, with Doc Ikoy

The lights.

Group 4 goofing around. Tisoy didn't make it to the party. 

Sabi ko senyo eh, MASARAP ANG PAGKAIN!! Thanks to Daroy Catering Services. :)

Free henna tattooing!

I so wanna do it again but I don't want my skin "dirtied" for the grad rites. Henna tattoo is really cool!

Our wonder photographer had his deltoid sun-kissed!

Kantahan galore!!

Getting ready for the games!

Brainstorming for the win!!

Them people on the pool. 

Silang matitipunong ginoo ng College of Medicine na hindi ko malaman kung ano'ng gustong gawin sa shot na 'to!

Party peeps!

I wouldn't dare showing off my pout beside Angeli!! She has full-thickness leps!

Papay, my dance mate. :) It was smoky and the lights had a blinding effect!! Behind us are Nurkhan and Naj.

With that,  I'll leave you with my favorite jumpshot of the day. :)

Again, my heartfelt THANK YOU Mangbala Class of 2012!

Send-Off

I suck at goodbyes. I'd rather be the one left than being the one leaving. I hate leaving and all the drama it causes. Our juniors, the Class 2012, gave us a send-off party this afternoon 'til evening (even though it is against their will). Our batches had a cold clash since the beginning of our coexistence that although we had individual friends among them, our batches just don't get along pretty well. Our class' abstractness is often misconstrued as snooty and we cannot blame them because, oh well, we are...snooty. And up until their junior clerkship that things gradually cleared out between us. Tonight was a night full of honesty as their class president admitted how they actually didn't plan to give us a send-off party. We had anticipated that as our class also thought of having a despedida among ourselves only! But I guess, junior clerkship changed everything when apprenticeship began and slowly, friendship among the Sensens (senior clerks, us) and the Junjuns (junior clerks, them) blossomed. :) Hence, the send-off party pushed through. I didn't actually expect something big. I, personally, am not close to most of them (some would-be friendships were obliterated by the rumor-has-its), so I went there looking forward to food and music alone in the company of my classmates. I don't see myself participating in the fun games because I am such a coward running to and fro. But I was kinda surprised that our juniors actually prepared something big for us. The venue was great (Holcim RCP), the food was superb and the music was awesome! 

We have this semi-personalized towel as souvenirs. <3 Thank you guys, now I can crash out towel on my to-buy list for internship. 

The stage. We had a reggae-themed party!

Games. Games. Games. People gathering beside the pool. Too bad it rained hard so we had to cut the games short. :(

MYUUUUZIK!! Yeah, we danced to the tune of reggae music! I admit, I don't let go of the opportunity to shake my hips on the dance floor during school parties. It is the only avenue for me to do so. Gotta do the things I love while I still can. Right?

HAHAHA. Only few people were there. I just wanna show the lights and the smoke effect. 

Ah, the food, the food! I wasn't able to take a photo as you already know what got me busy. There were numerous viands and flowing desserts! I love, I love!

Thank you Class 2012, we may have our peculiarities and indifferences but tonight we have proved that with common goals, we can get along. We will be colleagues in the medical world so we might as well patch up things and leave the past behind. I wasn't able to have a speech but I can share this to you.  As Kuya Dave wrote on my blouse, Carpe Diem! :) Good luck to all of you as your embark to the world of clinical clerkship!

***********************************************************************************************************************

We agreed to bring our oldest uniform and have everyone in the class write a short message. Funny how some people can be seriously sincere at the same time hilariously crazy! This definitely is a must keep. 

Here are some of the messages people wrote on my blouse:

• I will surely miss your company, I have always admired your determination and tenacity in things. Stay sweet and vibrant as always. I'm forever blessed knowing and having met you. (Alvi)

• Si (my full name here including middle name!), buotan ni siya og responsable nga pagkababaye. Salamat Aisha kay mu-approve ra pod ka pag muingon ko nga gwapo ko in front sa mirror. Hehe. (Febro)

• Make a BANG and make it BIG. We'll always love T.O.P. Congratulations! (Chang, my fellow Japanese/Korean Pop lover.)

• Aisha! My fellow PEDIA lover! (Cor. There's a story behind this.)

• I'll be missing you partner! (Engot aka Shengot/Shengita/Shenggay)

• Malapit ka nang maging isang Dyosa. Good luck sa ating internship! Wag makakalimot ah? I'll miss you. You just don't know how much I love you and how proud I am to be your friend. Naks! *hugs* (Cos. Again, there's something behind the "Dyosa")

• I will really miss you and your shallow humor. Have fun sa Manila! Thanks for being a friend. (Faith)

• I'm very proud of you, very much! Do your very best, Shield! (Doc Ikoy, who happened to be at the party)

• I'm proud knowing someone like you who is firm to stand for us Maranaos. Keep you goals high and Allah bless you. I love you! (Olin)

• Girlfriend, I hope PGI does not mark our break up. I will miss you (for the 1st time). Hahaha. I love you. Mwah. (Jho. My constant date. Malapit na kaming magkatuluyan nito.)

• Sangay, mamimiss ko ang mga kalokohan mo, aw, natin pala, at ang ka-evilan mo. HAHAHA! Ahlabyou sangay! (Ai-ai)

• Ayu-ayu sa PGI. Sorry sa akong gilabay sauna na history. Friends japon ta forever 'no? (Raish. I can't seem to forgive her after she tossed on the trash bin THREE WELL-ACCOMPLISHED AND PERFECTLY WRITTEN HISTORY AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS of my patients!! Haha. Yes, sobrang inaway ko siya because of that)

• I will miss Group A because of you! You are such a good friend, kahit dami sa mga na-share ko ay mga problems. I will miss you and I know you will miss my eyelashes! Hahaha. (Ashley, who just had her hair dyed and her eyelashes permed!)

• Ini, thank you so much for being a true friend. Salamat sa inspiration. Salamat sa kasaba especially at times of kahibangan. Love you! (Nasheba)

• Idol kita kasi you're so cool and open minded. At syempre, partner ko sa dance floor, hehe! Thanks for being a good and true friend. Thanks din sa mga advices sa "you know" na! I'm so proud of you. Keep it up! (Papay) 

There are still so many but my energy is drained already. Still many of my classmates weren't able to vandalize my blouse and there is scarcity of space so I'm contemplating on bringing the partner skirt of this blouse tomorrow! Yes, we support vandalism! Haha. Seriously, it's heartwarming to know that there are people who love us and appreciate us truly. I will definitely miss my classmates as we drift apart. :( Good luck as we embark on another journey called internship, guys! 

If Only Life Is A Rehearsal

We had our grad rites rehearsal this afternoon at school. We were meticulously given instructions on the basic how-tos during the rites proper, including guiding our parents on the  pinning of our hoods and putting on our caps at perfect angles. We were called "on stage" one by one at the same time acting as "parents" to some of our classmates. 

Here, Dr. Van is directing Bam-Bam, the first name on the roll call. Made me wish my family name starts with either C or D so I can have earlier and longer "air time" too. :P 

49 members of the Class 2011, in un-alphabetical order.

Febro seems to be way too excited, ayusin mo hood mo oi! Here, Breech and Sheila (the forever loveteam..LOL) acted as parents.

Grad rites is only less than 10 days away but it just won't sink in. Probably because I'm thinking too much about so many things the date always slips my mind. Honestly, if I can have the power of freezing time, I will definitely do it!! I don't feel ready leaving med school and going forward on to internship, but...but...*broken voice* that's life, we have to move on. Move on to the next level to avoid getting stuck to wherever we are right now. Isn't this what I have been dreaming of? So I gotta snap out of my drama queen mood. 

Speaking of internship, I got a copy of this letter this afternoon too.

Ito na!! Internship na!!! *faints*

Requirements. 1. Ahem. Check (?) R., A-Aziza A, MD na? 2. I'm hesitant to have my chest x-rayed, baka mamaya may infiltrates na'ko! Haha. 3. I had three doses of HBsAg vaccine and one booster. But I don't have a proof certifying I have completed the dosage, so let's see what I can do about it. 4. I had chicken pox (varicella zoster infection) back when I was 9 years old, so I don't need this. 5. If I'm not mistaken, my pediatrician gave me a certification of my childhood vaccines prior to entering med school and it included MMR. 

Sigh. If only life is a rehearsal so we can repeat our performances over and over again until we achieve perfection. But it isn't, we might as well give our best on our first attempt as take two only happens after a major life-changing failure. :) 

Bittersweet

It's at the brink of success where the most difficult things usually occur. It's when we almost give-up, terrible ironies come about and left us nothing but a heavy heart. But looking back at the series of trials we've been through, we realize this is just one of 'em which affirms our strong conviction and faith. We are not supposed to give up because life is about tsunami-likes of mishaps and failures. What matters is how we stand (might be wobbling) tall and strong amidst the debris after everything has passed. We must keep our optimism and faith, continue working hard and InshaAllah, it will all pay off the way we deserve it. 

In the meantime, here's a proof of my bittersweet semi-success.

Photo Courtesy of Nur-khan Istarul.

"A doctor's education never ceases. And a doctor's work is never done. There is so much to learn. And there is much to do. Be honest and humble about it. Do not stop trying in spite of the bitter disappointments and heart-rendering frustrations." -Surgeons Do Not Cry 

GASP!!

...before the end of clerkship!!!

However, piles of paperworks await us as we comply our prerequisites for graduation such as: community diagnoses (our assigned community, i.e, Purok 1 Brgy. Tambacan and our clerkship community, i.e, the entire Brgy. Tambacan), epidemiologic study, hardbound copy of our behavioral science research, pharma study, objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and mock board exam. Sounds like everyone would go into respiratory arrest after March 9, eh? 

Meanwhile, we're on our fourth rotation in the Ancillary Services: Ophthalmology and Radiology. 

Dr. A. E. H.

As the entire archipelago commemorates the 25th year of People Power, two powerful people I personally know celebrate their birthday!! Johanifah, who is Cory at home, and CORilyn celebrate their 25th and 24th birthday respectively. So, for the tweeter question: Where were you during the EDSA revolution? Johanifah would most likely answer: "I was struggling my way out of my mother's womb!". Happy birthday girls!

Photo taken at the Community House this lunch. :)

Girls, I demand for a post-birthday dinner. Understand? ^___^

Patho/Rehab

After Anesth/Derma comes Patho/Rehab Med. Pathology in the morning and Rehab Med in the afternoon. I have seen so many things in the Patho clinic that one wouldn't ordinarily see in the hospital, or some things that we wouldn't normally mind but are clinically significant. "Little things do matter", 'ika nga. And I am so surprised how I am so ignorant of such little things I sometimes want to melt in shame. At the same time, there are countless things that amazed me. 

Back in the OB-GYN module in junior med, I was able to read up on mature ovarian teratomas which are presumably derived from ectodermal differentiation of totipotential cells. Normally, one would find hairs, cheesy sebaceous materials, tooth, bones, and rarely, brain tissues in the ovary. Common beliefs would blame witchcrafts or adultery with evil, but of course, we are in the 21st century where almost everything can be explained by science. When I was an OB-GYN clerk, we rarely have gynecologic cases. Most ovarian cases I was able to assist to in the OR were either serous or mucinous cystadenomas judging from their gross appearances. Only in the patho lab was I able to see dermoid cyst which we were able to identify immediately by the hairs and the sebaceous materials!! There was even a nipple protrusion and a piece of tooth found!! 

Dermoid cyst.

Aaaahh!! There are so many fascinating things in the Patho lab. For instance, when you see your crush's pleural fluid for cytology exam. And you'd be like "what? oh, what could be happening to him?". And there you see, under the power of the microscope that he's positive for Koch's infection aka TB!!! Eeew. He's a health worker so he's prone to that. All of us, Filipinos, have 95% possibility of having a latent tuberculous infection. Just don't get that immune system of yours down.  Whatever, he's still my crush. My tall and lanky crush who made my surgery days a lot more inspiring. Yiheeee.  <3

Add caption

In the Rehab clinic, all we do is to observe what is being done to the patients after our lectures. Mostly are post-stroke, s/p ORIF, those with Bell's palsy, scoliosis and other musculoskeletal diseases. Shengot and I roam around like kids trying some of the modalities used.

Sheng trying on the crutches.

Pretending to meditate using the vestibular ball.

We also tried paraffin waxing (i loooovee!!!) and the different electrotherapies. I pray none of my family members and friends would suffer anything that would bring them to the Rehab because I swear you wouldn't like the feeling of electricity permeating through your muscles!! Even with 9 volts only, it shook my muscles like crazy I so hate the feeling!!! Brrr... 

*****

This is another story. 

In line with being a med student, we're taught to investigate like a journalist. We ask who, why, when, where, how. It came to my knowledge that someone we closely know has chronic Hepa B infection, and presently has psoas abscess and his attending cannot completely rule out malignancy. I feel for him and his family. I know they're keeping this a secret because of the Hepa B infection which connotes his true sexual preference. I don't care he's homo, he's still a very good friend and I wouldn't judge him because of that. This time around, he cannot deny, his illness spoke in his behalf.I'm still deciding whether to visit him in the hospital. Most probably, I would. As a friend, I cannot do anything but pray for his early recovery. InshaAllah. Ameen. 

Answered Prayer

 Finally, matching is done. There's basically none to fuss about. Just another phase to conquer. :) 

Alhamdulillah. 

The Becoming

"Why do you want to become a doctor?"

This is an essential and vital question being asked upon entering med school. I remember sticking to my truthful answer: because it's my lifelong dream. I may haven't known the rough road towards reaching it, all I know at that present moment was how much I wanted to become one. I didn't said anything heroic like helping the community or to become rich to help my family (because certainly, one doesn't get rich in the medical profession), or making the world a better place. Frankly, those were never my intentions. Being not a member of The Social Liability Club is already a contribution in making this world a better place, at least for me. Sure I do know that taking med school seriously means reading and re-reading mountain loads of medical books and locking yourself away from the wordly things, but I never had an inkling as to how the clinics go. Sure we were told that being on call means stopping whatever you're doing, including sex, and attend to patients. Easier said than done, eh? Now I have a hard time staying awake and pushing myself to the ER when an admission comes. It occurred to me how naive I was about a real doctor's life---how much time he sacrifices for his profession. The responsibilities a doctor is shouldering---to the humanity, to his colleagues and to medicine itself. During my me-times, I cannot help but wonder. Had I known the difficulty of going into the clinics, the hurly-burly world that is embedded in the medical profession, would I plunge into this? I probably would have considered another profession. But what?

I don't wonder why many doctors opted to become single for life. If one doesn't perfect the art of time management, then he shall choose between his profession and his personal life (read: getting married and having children). And most toughies I know opted the former. Honing a doctor's skills requires a long time, you don't stop when you earn your license. Being just a mere general practitioner puts you in the lowermost rank in the medical world. The only difference you have with a clerk or an intern is a piece of paper called license. You still have to undergo years and years of training to acquire that great status of being on the top hierarchy--- consultant. And when you become one, you realize how much personal time you've missed. 

I cannot think of anything that suits me best. I loved what I'm doing from the very beginning. But probably when all the energy and physical strength are exhausted and being put under too much pressure, it gets the best of us and we wanted to evaporate from the current boiling situation. At the end of the day, being a doctor is my cup of tea. This is my first love and we don't get easily unattached from our first love, right? If I haven't had the concrete answer on that very first question asked when I entered med school, probably  I can picture out everything in place now that I am towards the finish line. I want to make a difference. And plunging  into the medical profession, no matter how hard it seems, is my own way of achieving that difference I wanted. :) 

P.S.

I'm seriously in-love with Pediatrics I feel bad that we only have two weeks left in the department. :(

A Dose of PFC

Six full months glided by unnoticed. Having finished two clinical rotations (surgery and OB-GYN) and community medicine, we're halfway to finishing medical clerkship!! Whoah! Another blink of an eye and we're done, InshaAllah. Clerkship is not just about learning the disease processes in actual setting, for me, it is more about learning to mingle, adjust and deal with all different kinds of people. For the first three years of med school, we are mostly confined in the four corners of the room discussing what is it out there in the hospitals. Reading and re-reading our books alone and an occasional glimpse of patients. Until clerkship officially started, we wouldn't know what it is really like out there. It is a harsh environment, I tell you, and three full years in med school is not sufficient enough to get fully prepared of what's to come. As if everyone is awaiting, possessing that urgent desire to grill and roll you in the dust. However, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. We emerged  unscathed. Alhamdulillah. For the past six months, clerkship taught me to cultivate three important traits.

PATIENCE

All my life I believed that I was patient enough to handle all kinds of pressure blowing from all varieties of people I stumble upon. I believed I was well-adjusted and pliant enough. Until all the physical and intellectual fatigue accumulated, I felt like bursting, screaming, ranting and weeping like a baby. I was at the brink of deterioration. I blamed some undesirable people who unjustifiably wanting to make our lives miserable as a form of revenge of what might take place in the future. Knowing that outrageous actions won't help which might even contribute to some demerits, the best thing to do is holding back the tongue to avoid nasty, irrevocable words. Calm down and ask for guidance to the Almighty to help you think the next best thing to do. 

FAITH

Every single day in the hospital is an unexpected and unplanned scenario. Nobody knows what's gonna happen next, no options are presented but quick actions and equanimity are required. One has to trust his instinct and just have faith that everything's gonna be okay. With faith, that feeling at the end of the day as you go out of the hospital premises without toxic patient left in the ward, or without ER or ward death at your 24-hour watch is superb!!

COMPASSION

ALL patients--rich or poor--share something in common: pain. They're not whiny attention-seeker brats but are in great need to relieve discomfort they're feeling. And if there's another thing I understand, watchers are not getting any OA but they're somebody's loved ones who care utterly and would entirely give anything to free their dearest from the pain. To be able to manage a patient effectively, one has to put himself in the patient's shoes. The way you want to completely relieve your discomfort is exactly the way your patient does want it.

For the next six months, I pray that I may apply these things I learned about myself as well as apply and master the medical theories I have learned and will continue to be learning. I also pray that the relationship I have with the people around me will continue to be healthy and constructive rather than destructive. I am trying to make my everyday life in the hospital a fun and memorable learning experience so that one day, as I look back, residual happy memories that paints a beautiful smile will come flashing on my mind. 

Behind Those Rusty Bars

From inside the jail.

The City Health Office tapped us yesterday morning to perform a physical examination among the convicts who will be transported to a bigger jail in Davao City. They were proven guilty of their charges, hence, the transfer. Among them was Amir (not his real name), who was allegedly charged with carnapping. I did some little chit-chat regarding his case while listening to his lungs and heart, taking his BP and in between asking health-related questions. Apparently, he was accused along with a companion who was killed by the plaintiff's camp. He's been here for two years already. He's married with four children, the eldest being seventeen, under the care of their mother at a certain province in Lanao del Sur. His family seldom visits him probably due to the distance. I asked if they are informed of his transfer, he bowed and shake his head. Tears welled up in his eyes trying not to break down, I asked something else to prevent him from being emotional. The expression on his face pierced my heart, as if he has been forgotten due to the shame and humiliation he brought to the family the moment he stepped inside the jail. He's going to suffer for the next seventeen years of his life behind the bars at a place hundred miles away from his loved ones. I cannot imagine the excruciating pain his family experiences with his absence. Such mishap will forever mark in their hearts. 

While it is good that justice is being served, we should be reminded that criminals are human beings too who should enjoy equal rights. If not for psychiatric condition, they must have done the act due to excessive need such as poverty. I hope the victims are vindicated now and may the criminal serve as an example to the rest of the members of his family they they must not emulate.

(L-R): Abby, Ate Agnes, Dr. Glenn Manarpaac, Sheng, Jhalil. Me at the back.
Taken at the Office of the Warden