A Joyous Day!

Life is full of surprises like what I had experienced today.
A day before my birthday my wife booked us in a hotel. I even had the chance to see both of my parents and had merienda with them. And my two bestfriends from college, Aileen Gaviola and Sheryl Gervacio, was with me today in a dinner held at Max's restaurant in Robinson's Galleria, Ortigas.
I even had an early greetings from a good friend Imay Natividad Ang, and a former classmate from High-school.
I may not have everything, but looking at people that's with me and love me...I believe that would make me say I had more than enough.

Thank you Lord for a very wonderful blessings!

I wanna grow old with YOU

Today, after church we have seen an old couple dining together.

I think both of them are in their early 70’s.

My wife started to ask me a question,

“Do you think we will grow old together like them?”

Without hesitation, I said… “Yes!”

I also added, “Especially if you look at what you eat and take good care of your health,

We will grow old together.

And if ever one of us passes away, even though you think I am your life,

Still look for a reason to live”.

Goodbye Bone!

As far as I and my wife remember our dog 'Bone' is with us year 2005. Several years ago, 'Bone' was so thin and black, and from that look I arrived with that name.

But because He was taken cared of well, Bone grows appealing to everyone.

He's very sweet, never even failed to give me and the rest of the family members a very warm welcome every time He sees us.

He even barks and always defends us, if He thinks someone is trying to hurt us.

Bone never run out of appetite, that is why several days ago, when he seemed not eating anything, we are all bothered about it.

I don't know if it's too late for us to respond, we saw a need to bring Him in a Vet, after two days.

The initial finding was 'Bone' could have eaten a pesticide, clorox, a rat, that made him sick.

But after His oral medication, and some injected antibiotics to stop Him from vomiting and prevent the spread of His ailment, nothing happens 

Bone is still not at himself. 

October 1, 2012, Monday, again we consulted a Vet, and upon checking on Him that day, and upon knowing some symptoms related to it, right then and there, Bone, was diagnosed with a Leptospirosis.

Action taken, again Bone were injected with antibiotics and a dextrose was inserted on Him, for He's not eating anything for three consecutive days.

I might be personally bothered about it financially, but what I am more concern of is His welfare.

I might be busy working daily, but I and the rest of the family members never fails to check on Him.

Bone's Vet told us that the vomiting were lessened, He can even stand. We are all happy to hear some of these changes, meaning Bone is getting better.

I remember, I paid him a visit last October 3, 2012, Wednesday, immediately after coming from work.

Bone even did an effort to stand. He even looked at Me in the eye. 

I wanted to open His cage and hold Him, or at least caress Him in the head.

I hope I did that. But I never did. 

After four days, I and my wife told Bone's Vet that we will be continuing His oral medication at home.

We plan everything to pick Him up last October 5, 2012, Friday, but at work that day, I received a call from His Vet, that he died at 4 in the morning after defecating and vomiting with blood.

If only we could all turn back time, and wish that Bone is well and alive again, we will definitely do that.

My wife was asking me the same day if I still wish to see Bone's remains, but I told her not too.

I don't think I will have the guts to see Bone’s dead  body at His cage.

I just told my wife to bury Bone.

With the help of my brother Ralph, Bone was buried with a cross and a rosary courtesy of our youngest sister Rosalie.

May His soul rest in peace.

We will surely miss Him a lot.

For the last time, we all wanted to say thank you for seven long years you are with us.

We love you so much Bone!

A Breaking News

Just this morning, I posted something on Facebook regarding the current condition of my wife and praying that what were both worrying will not manifest. But I am here to break a bad news that my wife Mary Anne, had been diagnosed with Urinary Track Infection (UTI).

She had Her urinalysis and the count as indicated in the paper showed that She exceeded up to 90 Pus cell, where in the normal is 0 to 1.

The attending resident announced it as...it's just a common and normal thing, where in, in my case and I believe my wife also did, it was a very shocking news.

The dictionary defined the ailment as...Urinary tract infection (UTI)

 Infection in one or more of the structures that make up the urinary system. Occurs more often in women and is most commonly caused by bacteria. 

My wife was given an antibiotic to prevent the ailment from worsening. Bad for She has to be taking it for a week, and twice a day.

Personally, maybe i'm just lucky because never in my entire being I experience it. Upon learning it, interests develop and some helpful research as to understanding it's very nature and how to avoid it really puzzled me.

Facts related to it came out from the google.

It is more common in women than in men because of the relative shortness of the femaleurethra. Men over the age of 50 are more susceptible because of enlargement of the prostate and urinary stasis. Symptoms include dysuria, malaise, nausea, urinary frequency and urgency, and nocturia. There also may be a feeling of suprapubic fullness not relieved by urination. If the infection is higher in the urinary tract, in the ureters or kidney, there can be lower back pain or genital pain.

Treatment includes antibacterial, analgesic, and urinary antiseptic drugs and increased fluid intake up to 3L/day, unless contraindicated. Teaching the patient about increased fluid intake, frequent voiding, and good perineal hygiene is also helpful.

A good way to clean your unrinary tract system is to drink cranberry juice and other high acid drinks. This will remove the bacteria due to high acidity or at least help the process of you getting better.

Signs and Symptoms:

• Pain or burning during urination
• The need to urinate more often than usual
• A feeling of urgency during urination
• Blood or pus in the urine
• Cramps or pain in the lower abdomen
• Chills or fever (fever may be the only symptom in infants and children)
• Strong smelling urine
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Nausea, vomiting, and malaise

What Causes It?:

Risk factors include:

• A new sex partner or multiple partners
• More frequent or intense intercourse
• Diabetes
• Pregnancy
• Escherichia coli (E. coli)
• Staphylococcus saprophyticus
• Use of irritating products, such as harsh skin cleansers
• Use of irritating contraceptives, such as diaphragms and spermicides
• Use of birth control pills
• Heavy use of antibiotics
• A blockage in the urinary tract (benign masses or tumors)
• A history of UTIs, especially if the infections were less than 6 months apart

Nutrition and Supplements

Following these nutritional tips may help reduce symptoms:

• Drink a lot of fluids, such as herbal teas and water. Avoid sweetened fruit juices and other sweetened drinks.
• Cranberries and blueberries contain substances that inhibit the binding of bacteria to bladder tissue. Drinking unsweetened cranberry juice regularly helps lower the risk of UTIs.
• Try to eliminate potential food allergens, including dairy, wheat (gluten), corn, preservatives, and food additives. Your health care provider may want to test for food sensitivities.If you are susceptible to UTIs, drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry pills may help prevent recurrence.
• Eat antioxidant foods, including fruits (such as blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes), and vegetables (such as squash and bell peppers).
• Eat more high fiber foods, including beans, oats, root vegetables (such as potatoes and yams), and psyllium seed.
• Avoid refined foods such as white breads, pastas, and especially sugar.
• Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy is present) or beans for protein.
• Use healthy cooking oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.
• Reduce or eliminate trans fatty acids, found in commercially baked goods, such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine.
• Avoid coffee and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Drink 6 - 8 glasses of filtered water daily.
• Exercise at least 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week.

My wife was advice to undergo a urine culture examination, for Her to determine what type of bacteria it is

But of course, as her husband, I am also concern with this, 

Is it safe to have sex if you have a urinary tract infection?

And a health expert said this...

I don't recommend having sex while you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), because it could worsen your symptoms. This is particularly true if you haven't finished taking the full course of your antibiotics. In addition, intercourse might even feel uncomfortable if you are still suffering from the burning associated with UTIs.

That said, if you do decide to have sex, be sure to go to the bathroom and urinate before and after the act. And drink plenty of fluids. These simple steps may help you overcome your current infection, and they'll go a long way toward preventing infections in the future.

Now, we are both very cautious about it, I and my wife are now praying that after her medication everything will go back to normal again.

I know it will manifest. It will be.

References: 

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/urinary-tract-000169.htm

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/urinary-tract-000169.htm#ixzz27sOcQw67

http://www.everydayhealth.com

An inspiring story

Rain struck me today as I went home from work.

Although I have an umbrella, I still fear that I might get wet.

Aside from pouring rain, I am confronted with an almost knee high flood.

I really wanted to go home, the shoes and socks I’m wearing is almost wet.

When I was about to lose hope, upon uttering a little prayer,

A little while here comes an approaching pedicab driver.

It was handed by an old-man, whom I believed in his 60.

I asked him if he can bring me home, he replied where.

I thought he would resist me, but he was brave to face floods and

a hard rain.

While he was driving his pedicab on my way home, the old-man keeps on coughing.

Successfully after a five minute and more struggles from rain, I got home.

I gave an old-man a penny, and doubled it.

He looked at the paper bill I gave him, and showed a gesture of giving me back a change.

I said no, it’s okay.

Upon uttering that, the old-man in return said thank you.

Today, it gave me a very important lesson, that I am very lucky.

And I really thank God for it.

And I promise to myself that I will continue to do good to other people no matter what.

Little things that matter

Today, I didn’t go to work and that gave me a chance to go back to my normal daily routine at home.

I thought I was dreaming, for I heard a very familiar voice waking me up. Upon opening my eyes, I found out that it was my 3-year old daughter Althea, who’s at the time giving me a wake-up call. 

It was such a very long sleep. Normally if I have a work I can only rest for 4 to 5hours. Today, I think I had so much sleep.

I even had the chance to have breakfast with my wife, and we had coffee paired with a peanut butter sandwich.

I must say I missed times like this. During weekdays, I normally had my breakfast alone. It became extra-special for it was prepared by my wife, Mary Anne.

After that, it gave me a chance to look at my things. I specifically fix some kept documents and there I spotted important papers that made me went back to some important chapters of my life.

I was once again had the glimpse on the very first script I did way back 2001, in my very first job at ABS-CBN2. Also still existing some of the syllabus I kept during my masteral degree in UP Diliman. And important memories I had with Roosevelt College, at the time I was teaching.

I remembered that I kept some previous lectures and materials on most subjects I was teaching before. And what excites and interests me are some of special greetings and notes my previous students wrote about me.  In a short bond paper printed there a note which says…”What do you think of me?” along with a cute clipart boy wearing a hut. And there I was excited to read once again messages of my students that really warmed my heart.

There was a special letter that one of my students gave me when I left the College, it was a letter written from the bottom of her heart, in behalf of her other classmates. At some point in my life, by reading her letter, it made me realized that as a former Lecturer I was able to touch lives, and became very effective in changing their behavior.

I even looked at pictures of my first out of the country trip when I left Manila and bound to Bangkok, Thailand. I remembered, only to make the trip possible my Mom borrowed money from an officemate. Again, it made me realized, it’s all worth it. It even gave us (my fellow MA’s classmates) a time to bond with each other.  And up to now, I am so thankful that my Professor, Ma’am Paz, included it in our class syllabus.

Some pictures also helped me go back in time, when I officially became a father.  I was able to turn pages of my daughter’s album at the time she was at my wife’s womb and pictures of her at the day she was born. Another important chapter of my life that I wouldn’t forget, and I believe it was all worth it.

I even watched today my favorite noon time show, “Eat Bulaga”. The year it all started was the exact year I was born, circa 1979.

And I was able to clean the kitchen, and wash the dishes.

And also I had the chance to watch over my little daughter while she was enjoying her day playing outside. Put her into sleep and had a nap beside her. I even carried her at the time she wakes up. It’s like going back at the time she was still a baby.

A little effort was exerted as well when I prepared a merienda for my wife.

And most importantly, I was able to write a blog again.

I couldn’t believe that today I was able to experience my daily house routine.

I thank God for a time shared, little things that really matters to me.

Metamorphosis

"Imagination is the highest kite one can fly", this is one cliché that best describes Rodolfo Garabot, also known by many as "Bong",
when he finally got His long before dream and that is to work in a media industry.

When he finishes his degree in Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) Major in Communication Arts at the University of the East, Caloocan in 2000, months after… He finally landed on a job as Researcher in ABS-CBN, Channel 2, which is known by many as 'Philippines largest and number one network'.

Bong is very proud to have worked first in a program named "Balitang K", which was then hosted and produced by today's ABS-CBN, Chief correspondent, Ms. Korina Sanchez.

After a while Bong has been transferred and experienced working with many programs such as TV Patrol and later on given the opportunity to explore works in The Filipino Channel, TFC shows such as Balitang Europe, Balitang Middle East, and Kuwentong Disyerto as Editing Supervisor and Segment Producer all of the same time.

In between Bong's career in Media, he also pursued Teaching at Roosevelt College System, in Cainta, Rizal. This gave Him a chance to finally share some of his learning's in the world of broadcasting to an up-coming media practitioner.

Bong's teaching profession lasted almost a year in a half, and eventually shifted to another job that made him as a Marketing Specialist.

But fate intervenes later on...Bong went back on his first love and job, media.

The next thing he would have known He’s now working at Kapamilya's number one rivals Kapuso Network, GMA7.

Bong recently worked as Segment Producer of a weekly magazine news program named, "GOOD NEWS, Kasama si Vicky Morales.

In Bong's quest for professional growth and career stability, he spotted a better career in media industry.

He is now currently working at Solar TV, whom he considered his "Shining Beacon of Hope", as an Associate Producer for Solar Headlines, and Solar News Day aired via TalkTV.