NAVOTAS CITY HOSPITAL'S EXCELLENT TREATMENT AND CARE

With my Mom, June 4, 2016 

An old cliche' says..."First Impressions last."
But this is also similar to a "golden rule." that has two sides positive and negative.
Thus,  I am sharing a positive outlook here.

I believe this is not the first time, I'm writing about our very own hospital in the city...
Navotas City Hospital.

Recently, I together with my youngest sister brought my
Mom there who needs urgent medical attention.

At the time, she was experiencing dizziness...had her blood pressure checked, it was 150 over 60.
She was given a certain medicine named Vertrol (16mg), after more than 30 minutes her BP became 160 over 70 and eventually her dizziness slowly fades away.

She was checked by the attending physician. But more than the asking part you would know and feel that there was so much care on every hospital's patient.

My mom is now turning 65, about a year ago, she was hospitalized with a mild stroke. She's still on her recuperating stage.

We were even told that there was a resident Endocrinologist, whom available during Tuesday and Thursday. And that was a very good news for us . Imagine, my Mom has to go to PGH, which was not easy for her. The travel plus the money she has to spend is something very bothering.

We were also enlightened about that fact that it would be best if we have other doctors, so that when there's emergency cases like that of we experienced recently, giving immediate medical attention would be easy.

If the hospital of Navotas only knew how much it means to us...a BIG HELP.

Special thanks to Christie Sanchez M.D. who personally attended on my Mom's case.

With Christie Sanchez M.D.

And it was always, a PLUS to any of your patients your kindness and being naturally polite.

We're even out of the hospital, without paying anything. And that was so much of a blessing to us.
At least, my Mom can utilize her money and will be spending it to prioritize buying medicines to speed up her continuous recovery and healing.

When we were about to go out, one of the hospital staff, even helped us to look for a tricycle.

Thank you all so much!

Navotas City Hospital Facade

Happy 1st Baby Kayla!

The clock is ticking and time really flies fast.
My wife and I couldn't imagine that our youngest whom we named..."Mikayla," A. K. A. "Baby Kayla," has now turned 1.
Exactly, last year 3rd of May 2015, it was Pacquiao's fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr...and that was a stressful day for the whole family and yet our "HAPPIEST DAY," as well.
With the coming of Baby Kayla in our life, now we have two kids...a bold proof that the family is growing.
We would have wanted to give our youngest a big celebration...but at the moment the family is facing financial difficulties.
But that doesn't stops us all to make a simple but a memorable celebration of her special day.
We begin with of course, church visit first thing in the morning and after that we all went outside for a mall visit.
At noon, the family had a simple lunch with my eldest favorite home of grilled chicken...Mang Inasal.
We often visit famous and common fast food chain for merienda but this time...we tried dining in at "Zark's Burgers."

Zark"s Burgers, SM North, May 3, 2016, Tuesday

The truth, it wasn't the best seller of burgers but at least, it gave us all excitement and new flavors.

And, of course an hour visit at the videoke house...where I and my daughter Althea belt out our favorite songs, while my youngest and my wife continuously cheered for us.

Karaoke Hub, SM North, May 3, 2016, Tuesday

But you know, fun never stops from our mall visit...at home with my family and closed friends we wished Baby Kayla her a very HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY.

We are so thankful that my family are so blessed and we wish for the shower of continuous blessings from each other's health, safety, and life's pleasure.

At home celebration, May 3, 2016, Tuesday

SCORCHING HOT WEATHER!

Here we go again, summer is official here in the Philippines.
And you know what I mean when I say this.
Here, now...its literally hot!

Most of us are actually hiding from direct sunray. Simply because, we never wanted to get sunburns.
We simply stays at home, in our air-conditioned room or in front of an electric fan watching TV or simply sleeping. This is because were actually avoiding movement that would generate sweat...
it makes us feel uneasy and uncomfortable.

We often visit our fridge for anything cold or just simply to get water.
We even preferred drinking cold beverages and
having desserts like that of Halo-halo and Ice cream.
Most of us, also taking a bath one in the morning, also in the afternoon and at the time we go to bed.

We also starts to wear sleeveless shirts, sandos and shorts.

And if the hot is unbearable, and staying at home is really a boring idea...
we resort to a mall visit with friends and family...or if we have enough budget we
commonly invite everyone and plan for an outdoor activity like that of swimming in the pool or travel to see beaches.

Well, some of the things I made mentioned are some of the common things, one might think.
But there are actually many ways to enjoy the scorching hot weather here in the Philippines.

Do you have anything in mind now?
Think of anything and tell me.

Have a memorable summer everyone!

Althea on reaping the fruit of her labor

Late afternoon, my wife sent me a text message telling me that Althea was proclaimed Top 1 (first Honor), in their class.

It was actually a great blessing from God.
But we feel much of the blessing coming our way when Althea was announced "Overall Top 1, for grade one in her School.

I and my wife were very thrilled about it. We both dream for it.
But of course, we were reminding Althea that if ever it wasn't for her, just accept it.
And adding that, there will be next time and that when she again double her effort...reward will follow.

Exactly a year ago, when Althea was still studying for Kinder she was rate second best.
Althea was sad about it. I remember she told us..."Mama, Papa, 2nd Honor lang ako."
Well, we never really knew that it has an impact on her. Because were thinking that she's still young and will never take it seriously.

Althea, even doubled her effort this year when she entered elementary.
We fear at first that she wouldn't be able to adopt with her new school, great numbers of classmates, from air-conditioned room to electric fan ventilated room, classes begins in the morning, more hours in school and a lot more.
But surprisingly, she has too many friends, and her teacher loves her because she was once described as very active in their classroom.

Even at home, she always study. Sometimes it breaks my heart to see her having a hard time understanding some of her new lessons. She even cried once in a while. But she always impressed us with how fast she learns everything.

At times, we limit her from joining school activities. Primarily because, she's giving her hundred and one percent most of the time. And after that, she became sick, sometimes suffered from coughs, flu and even asthma.

We value her health because the logic is very simple...if the child is healthy then everything will follow.

At home, even when playing she always study. She even role played how to become a teacher aside from the usual "beauty queen," thing she does.

We might not have the luxury in life but Althea and our youngest "Baby Kayla," are our treasures from heaven.

Again, congratulations Althea...this is just the beginning!

I LOVE TO SEE YOU AGAIN...BAGUIO!

A lot of people are saying that traveling is one of the most exciting thing to do.
Here, you'll be seeing another place which you've never been too.
Or sometimes going back to the place where you love to travel over and over again.
For some, traveling is quite hard to do.
But for some who has the luxury of the world, they don't care about the miles and expenses.
Traveling is one way of putting one's self away from the usual.
And a lot of us will agree that its a perfect way to relax and unwind.
This is where you specifically stop, forget about your usual routine and commit to something
you're very happy and willing to do.

Days, ago I and my family were given the opportunity to travel to Philippines' Summer Capital...Baguio!
But just wanted to clear that our recent visit was not our first time.
In fact, my wife now used to go there yearly, when we were boyfriend and girlfriend.
But our last was 7 years ago.
It became even more exciting, because we have two kids now...an addition to our happiness.

We've been too many places now, compared to what we have visited before.
We were able to visit Baguio Cathedral, which was just (steps away) from our booked hotel.

And there's one which surprised me...a glance with "Bell Church."
I never entered the church, I was so busy taking pictures.

There's also something that interests me, houses that was like built in the mountain.
Well, I looked at it as a view similar to "Santorini, Greece."
Not exactly the same. We might probably achieved it, if we think of painting all the houses built there in white.

The next phase of our travel, brought us to La Trinidad, Benguet.
And when we speak of the place, most of us who's familiar about it will just think of...STRAWBERRY FARM!

I believe, we came there at a very perfect timing.
What makes it more exciting was to see the place very foggy.
It actually gave me and my family a more feel of the place.

I was so thrilled to see fresh "STRAWBERRIES," not only that fresh veggies as well like that of lettuce,  brocolli, and cauliflowers to name a few.

Best part here, was I was a victim of a 'sales talk,' by one of the orange vendor.
Up to now, I can't believe that...I purchased 3 pieces of oranges for P150.

My daughter enjoyed an iced-cream made of strawberry, which was sold to us like a blizzard.
There was actually so much to explore in the place, but since the clan would have wanted to visit more place...we just stayed for less than 30-minutes.

Then our next journey was a visit to Tam-awan Village.
Actually, I'm not too excited dropping by at the place, for we've been there before and there's nothing much to see.
But I was wrong, for it gave me and my family another beautiful memories.
For one, the photo opportunity we had with the natives, and their story about what makes them stayed at the place.
I've learned that, they only come at Tam-awan, every Saturday, and that there are students and the donations they're getting was the one that they use to support their studies.
And of course, seeing a guy like me in "bahag," also adds interest on me.
But according to them, the one that they were wearing was just normal in their place.

I never knew also that I will be visiting "Lourdes Grotto."
Its kinda intriguing to experience climbing the stairs...imagine how many steps are you going to make before reaching the top.
But we didn't do that. Not because I cannot do it, but because we were with Elders and that climbing the stairs will really give them so much hardships.

Here, I was able to buy a "symbolic colored candle."
They're actually 9. And each of these has a special meaning like that of "WHITE," which pertains to being "SPIRITUAL."
We divided the candles. I gave my wife some and to my daughter as well.
They say faith can move mountains. In salitang tagalog..."wala namang mawawala kung ikaw ay maniniwala at mananalig."

The next tour, lead us to what everyone' s called..."Old heritage house."
Well, from the facade of the the building, you would see that it is really true.
My wife's uncle told us not to go inside. But knowing me, will I let the chance not to see what's inside? Nope.

After our satisfying lunch, we went to the Philippine Military Academy, (PMI).
Actually, there's so much to see inside. Looking at it is like having a perception in mind that it was a "virgin forest."
But, since again, we're running late...we left it after a few minutes of stay.
I know, there's so much to see in the place...but since we will still visiting the "Mines View Park,"
we left at once.

At Mines View Park, I have seen that there was so much change in the place.
Bold changed was the arc outside and the passages way that separates visitor's who are just coming in...and people that was done with their tour.
But, I must say that the place needs more upgrading.
And I hope that, once it was done...the place for taking picture will be a lot more spacious than before.

Last leg tour, was a quick visit at the "The Mansion."
I haven't really enjoyed it for we just entered the gate and have our picture taken far from the facade of the mansion...very very quickly.

And then we all call it a day. Tired but happy.

The next morning, our third day...we dropped by at the very famous landmark of Baguio..."Burnham Park!"

Was so happy to see a live "Sun Flower," with a a flying bee, busy getting nectar from it.

I never ride a boat. I just let my daughter do it for us.
It was her first time, you'll see it in her eyes that she's too excited to try the ride.

The beautiful part of my visit there aside from buying pasalubong's was taking picture of simply irresistible, colorful "FLOWERS," of Baguio.

Before leaving, I and my wife granted Althea's wish to ride a bike.
But the whole family went also on a bigger bike.

Again, I'd like to say that really traveling is one activity that everyone will enjoy and will love to do over and over again.
But make sure to bring cameras (like what the clan did)...to record happy memories.
Visit Baguio and visit Philippines...it was fun here!