The year that was.. 2012! Never really had the chance to bid a proper goodbye to 2012. I have to say it was the best year, so far. Most people would say that too, but for a fresh grad out of the most difficult college in UP Manila, I dare say, the appreciation is incomparable. The flashback i’ll make is going backwards, so here goes.  Nothing much happened in December. I was in complete isolation up in my room to study for the boards. December In terms of my career, this is what I am most proud of so far. I was part of the “Country Situational Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance in the Philippines” as a research assistant. I had the privilege of attending TWG meetings in DOH, as well as meet with the AMR team of WHO Western Pacific Region at their office in UN, with my bosses. I am speechless by how well Prof. RLS and Dean Pena treated me as a subordinate. It was truly an honor to work with them.  *not in the picture: Jade Biyo, RPh CSA-Team Dr. Lilen Sarol - Med Mico Dept Head - CPH; team leader Dr. Adelwissa Ortega - CPH Dr. Imelda Pena - Dean CP Prof. Eric Salenga - Pharmacy Dept. Head - CP Diane Aninon, RPh,  Cristy Mendoza, RPh Jade Biyo, RPh Nerissa Funtanares, RPh Noime Melarpis Angel Latorre November SG-KL Tour It was really an impulsive decision to have said yes to my cousin who booked the trip. It really felt the whole thing was inappropriate given the boards coming up. Nevertheless, i have to say that every out of the country trip is such an amazing experience. I really loved SG. KL was more like of Manila. I think Makati is way better. I am still looking forward to come back to SG for the theme parks. Legoland is nearer in SG vs. KL. I will be back in Malaysia to visit Genting.    October Meet Physician’s Desk Reference Team Manila. From June till the 1st week of October, i worked as Drug Information Specialist/Medical Coder in PDR at PBCom, Makati. We are a team composed of RN, RPh, and MDs that maintains the Index-Concise-LCU Database. It was surprising to meet 2 alumni from the team, Constancio Castro (aka Xian Lim, or so they say) and Kim Escoto. I was the one who referred Benjamin Arcaira. IIt was my cousin Ate My who encouraged me to apply for this work. :)    2012 2nd International Conference on Environment and BioScience Phnom Penh, Cambodia There was not even a 1 month gap between SG-KL and Cambodia trip. It was my first oral presentation abroad, and was such a big accomplishment on my end, although I must say it was not very much different in what we do in CP very often. We landed in Siem Reap, visited the Angkor Complex. To be able to visit all of the temples, a person must spend 3 days. But then again, if youre not so much of a history enthusiast, or a photographer with a really nice cam, one day is enough.  We also tried the Khmer Traditional Massage wherein they concentrate more on your feet and legs. It was definitely great!  August Bicol Trip The trip was initially conceived for Batch 05 peeps. However, due to heavy rain, the PNR was cancelled and no plane was available (i think). Most of them cancelled, so what’s left of us were Jade, Cristy, Kokey, Jayvee, Jing and our host, Neri. I had sooo much fun in Bulusan lake where we spent about 2 hrs of Kayaking.  July Citius, Altius, Fortius! 12th Asian Conference on Clinical Pharmacy Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, HK, SAR, China My first abroad trip was in HK. I soooo love HK. Getting to HK after grad was a very amazing and timely experience. Of course, the theme of the park is saying dream high and all of these things will come true if you will only believe it. And of course, ACCP is a conference I have come to love. It updates you on what is happening in the pharmacy profession around the globe. It makes you aspire more for your country. It gives you several realizations about what more you can do to improve our situation in the Philippines. Thanks to our chubby guide Jayvee who toured us around the different tourist spots. :)    June Ilocandia trip sobrang daming abnoy pics dito. It was my first time in Pagudpod. They have an amazing and beautiful beach!    DY2M April Graduation Of course, i wouldnt forget my random dates with all of the people dear to my heart.    *TBC.. some entries are yet to be filled. 

The year that was.. 2012!

Never really had the chance to bid a proper goodbye to 2012. I have to say it was the best year, so far. Most people would say that too, but for a fresh grad out of the most difficult college in UP Manila, I dare say, the appreciation is incomparable. The flashback i’ll make is going backwards, so here goes. 

Nothing much happened in December. I was in complete isolation up in my room to study for the boards.

December

In terms of my career, this is what I am most proud of so far. I was part of the “Country Situational Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance in the Philippines” as a research assistant. I had the privilege of attending TWG meetings in DOH, as well as meet with the AMR team of WHO Western Pacific Region at their office in UN, with my bosses. I am speechless by how well Prof. RLS and Dean Pena treated me as a subordinate. It was truly an honor to work with them. 

*not in the picture: Jade Biyo, RPh

CSA-Team

Dr. Lilen Sarol - Med Mico Dept Head - CPH; team leader

Dr. Adelwissa Ortega - CPH

Dr. Imelda Pena - Dean CP

Prof. Eric Salenga - Pharmacy Dept. Head - CP

Diane Aninon, RPh, 

Cristy Mendoza, RPh

Jade Biyo, RPh

Nerissa Funtanares, RPh

Noime Melarpis

Angel Latorre

November

SG-KL Tour

It was really an impulsive decision to have said yes to my cousin who booked the trip. It really felt the whole thing was inappropriate given the boards coming up. Nevertheless, i have to say that every out of the country trip is such an amazing experience. I really loved SG. KL was more like of Manila. I think Makati is way better. I am still looking forward to come back to SG for the theme parks. Legoland is nearer in SG vs. KL. I will be back in Malaysia to visit Genting. 

 

October

Meet Physician’s Desk Reference Team Manila. From June till the 1st week of October, i worked as Drug Information Specialist/Medical Coder in PDR at PBCom, Makati. We are a team composed of RN, RPh, and MDs that maintains the Index-Concise-LCU Database. It was surprising to meet 2 alumni from the team, Constancio Castro (aka Xian Lim, or so they say) and Kim Escoto. I was the one who referred Benjamin Arcaira. IIt was my cousin Ate My who encouraged me to apply for this work. :) 

 

2012 2nd International Conference on Environment and BioScience

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

There was not even a 1 month gap between SG-KL and Cambodia trip. It was my first oral presentation abroad, and was such a big accomplishment on my end, although I must say it was not very much different in what we do in CP very often. We landed in Siem Reap, visited the Angkor Complex. To be able to visit all of the temples, a person must spend 3 days. But then again, if youre not so much of a history enthusiast, or a photographer with a really nice cam, one day is enough.  We also tried the Khmer Traditional Massage wherein they concentrate more on your feet and legs. It was definitely great! 

August

Bicol Trip


The trip was initially conceived for Batch 05 peeps. However, due to heavy rain, the PNR was cancelled and no plane was available (i think). Most of them cancelled, so what’s left of us were Jade, Cristy, Kokey, Jayvee, Jing and our host, Neri. I had sooo much fun in Bulusan lake where we spent about 2 hrs of Kayaking. 

July

Citius, Altius, Fortius! 12th Asian Conference on Clinical Pharmacy

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, HK, SAR, China

My first abroad trip was in HK. I soooo love HK. Getting to HK after grad was a very amazing and timely experience. Of course, the theme of the park is saying dream high and all of these things will come true if you will only believe it. And of course, ACCP is a conference I have come to love. It updates you on what is happening in the pharmacy profession around the globe. It makes you aspire more for your country. It gives you several realizations about what more you can do to improve our situation in the Philippines. Thanks to our chubby guide Jayvee who toured us around the different tourist spots. :) 

 

June

Ilocandia trip

sobrang daming abnoy pics dito. It was my first time in Pagudpod. They have an amazing and beautiful beach! 

 

DY2M

April

Graduation

Of course, i wouldnt forget my random dates with all of the people dear to my heart. 

 

*TBC.. some entries are yet to be filled. 

ACCP is one of the best things that happened to me back in undergrad. I wouldve never comprehended how there is more to the pharmacy profession than what I see in this country. Through ACCP, I have actually envisioned how to make our practice a better one. I’m not saying ill do it alone, or I am the solution to the constellation of problems that we have. All I’m saying is that through this conference, I/we am/are all learning from how others did it, and eventually for the key people in this country to make a plan which will be most suitable to address our issues.  The true answer to the problem is COLLECTIVE EFFORT FROM ALL OF THE RPh in this country. Assert our role as “drug experts”, and by assert i mean do it with all conviction. KAYANG PANINDIGAN. Then do collaboration with other health care professionals. Sounds simple but it takes a loooooot of work. God bless PH and the pharmacy practice! :)  Pasensya na at nakakainis na pic ko ang nilagay ko! :)) 
“Theres a star in all of us, you’ll just have to dig deeper.” Im soooo blessed to have experienced the HK trip at the time I needed it the most. After a month of soul searching, of countless jumping from one plan to another, here I am decided about the path to choose. Disney experience was the cherry of the luscious ice cream, telling me to keep on dreaming and believing… and hold on to it. I was literally crying during the fireworks, for maaany reasons i dnt want to expound. Thank God, mom, ate my and tita elsa. :))
“Being always transcends appearance - that which only seems to be. Once you begin to know the being behind the very pretty or very ugly face, as determined by your bias, the surface appearance fades away until they simply no longer matter… any appearance that masks the reality will fall away.”
Of all things bright and beautiful Amidst all the good things happened, it ddnt really feel as happy as I imagined it would be after grad. Problems after problems came, and I was too shattered to face them head on. Relationships kept falling apart, while some are built and rebuilt. I decided to go through with the Ilocandia trip thinking Id find peace and that id be able to settle myself with the world. Gone are the days i’d laugh so hard people thought id taken drugs of abuse. I guess it was because things were simple back then. Im just grateful that despite all the odds, i was able to get to Sweet Waters and make it to the medical mission. Indeed, DYTM is not only a project that helps the indigent people of Kanawan, but it also changes the lives of people becoming a part of it. It was designed to bring out the best in us, to believe that we can do so much more if we want to, and to appreciate God’s miracle in our lives. For a lot of reasons, i came there with a shattered heart, but came out of it whole again. The pain and suffering in CP was too much. You can just add up my dad to the equation. Its not as if all of my problems were solved. Rather, i found the peace that I wanted. Some time in the past, id get so depressed with how people around me changes. Now, id like to think that they were a part of my past that may be or may no longer be part of my future. Im just grateful they came and inspired me in various ways possible; so that id become the person that I am today. So i guess its a goodbye, thanks, and i really loved you.

Of all things bright and beautiful

Amidst all the good things happened, it ddnt really feel as happy as I imagined it would be after grad. Problems after problems came, and I was too shattered to face them head on. Relationships kept falling apart, while some are built and rebuilt.

I decided to go through with the Ilocandia trip thinking Id find peace and that id be able to settle myself with the world. Gone are the days i’d laugh so hard people thought id taken drugs of abuse. I guess it was because things were simple back then.

Im just grateful that despite all the odds, i was able to get to Sweet Waters and make it to the medical mission. Indeed, DYTM is not only a project that helps the indigent people of Kanawan, but it also changes the lives of people becoming a part of it. It was designed to bring out the best in us, to believe that we can do so much more if we want to, and to appreciate God’s miracle in our lives.

For a lot of reasons, i came there with a shattered heart, but came out of it whole again. The pain and suffering in CP was too much. You can just add up my dad to the equation. Its not as if all of my problems were solved. Rather, i found the peace that I wanted.

Some time in the past, id get so depressed with how people around me changes. Now, id like to think that they were a part of my past that may be or may no longer be part of my future. Im just grateful they came and inspired me in various ways possible; so that id become the person that I am today.

So i guess its a goodbye, thanks, and i really loved you.

College Lessons This post would come in installment. I just need a space to express myself, although to do so is not always a very good thing. Why? Well, its precisely because people cant always handle the truth even if it was them who asked for it. I said it because i know i owe it to that person, with respect and trust laid in front of me. However, it turns out saying what I felt will be turned against me. Inaako ko naman na nagkamali ako, pero hindi ko nabasa ang kahit anong apology sa fact na naooffend ako. In the end, we all chose to stick to our pride. It truly frustrates me to realize that some people change when the environmental conditions change. When people no longer needs u, or when they can no longer benefit from u and what u can do for them, baam, youre easily thrown off the grid. 3 years lang naman yun. I guess it ddnt matter at all. Ang dami dami daming taong ganon. Di na ako natuto. At the end of the day, we would always think of ourselves first before others. Some things are too good to be true. It may hurt too bad right now but we will have our own lives anyway. If I’m easily erased for one mistake, then probably it was because we were brought together for a reason, and that reason just ended.

College Lessons

This post would come in installment. I just need a space to express myself, although to do so is not always a very good thing.

Why?

Well, its precisely because people cant always handle the truth even if it was them who asked for it. I said it because i know i owe it to that person, with respect and trust laid in front of me. However, it turns out saying what I felt will be turned against me. Inaako ko naman na nagkamali ako, pero hindi ko nabasa ang kahit anong apology sa fact na naooffend ako. In the end, we all chose to stick to our pride.

It truly frustrates me to realize that some people change when the environmental conditions change. When people no longer needs u, or when they can no longer benefit from u and what u can do for them, baam, youre easily thrown off the grid. 3 years lang naman yun. I guess it ddnt matter at all.

Ang dami dami daming taong ganon. Di na ako natuto. At the end of the day, we would always think of ourselves first before others.

Some things are too good to be true. It may hurt too bad right now but we will have our own lives anyway. If I’m easily erased for one mistake, then probably it was because we were brought together for a reason, and that reason just ended.

2 years. When UP Sports Alliance of Pharmacy Students was established in July 2010, I was appointed as Secretary for Membership by its founder, Stan. I just accepted the offer and worked with him and Willi, the first Athletic Beadle (now Commissioner).  Now that I have graduated, I am officially passing the responsibility to the new Commissioner, Makee Gutierrez. I trust that with him, and the rest of the execomm, UP SAPS will be bigger and more exciting! In one of my meetings with the University Sports League, they have mentioned that our right to sports was included in one of the sections in the UP Charter.  Based on Section 10 of RA 9500, also known as AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES AS THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY:Sports. - The national university shall undertake and support comprehensive sports programs that promote physical education, uphold excellence and encourage competitive participation in sports activities, instill school identity and solidarity, cultivate pride, self-discipline and teamwork which serve as a foundation for fostering active participation in the national university, as well as in nation building. So sana wala ng maging excuse sa hindi pagsuporta sa org or sa CP players dahil lang sa claim na hindi ito interest ng majority. I strongly disagree to that! Nasa batas na dapat ito ay SUPORTAHAN. My biiig thanks to the whole Execomm of 2011-2012! Salamat kay sir Tim, at syempre sa unang adviser na ramdam na ramdam namin ang pagmamahal at suporta, sir West Paraiso. :)  I <3 u SAPS! :)) 
From a battle of multiple deaths to laser tag, we ended up playing HUNGER GAMES in paintball! :)  Commuting our way to Global Gutz Taguig was already an adventure! LRT-MRT-BUS-JEEP-JEEP with rain to deal with was craaazy!  And you know, playing paintball under the rain was not easy too. Our breaths fog the lens of our headgear which makes it harder to find your opponents. The sun was down, and all we had  were floodlights that blinded our vision!  All was worth it in the end. Dinner in Conti’s was amaazing, especially with a mango bravo as dessert.  To join SIGAW was definitely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I may have not won the position, but I gained wonderful friends who were instrumental to the biggest transformation of my CP life. In fact, I think I was able to accomplish so many things I would never have dared to do in CP, if not for SIGAW.  Thank you Stan, our leader. He’s one of those few who can really see the potential  in others and help them realize the kind of person he/she can be. Truly, he can make a leader in others.  Thank you Jo, our researcher. Amidst all the controversies, his meekness as a sign of strength became an inspiration for me. The way he organizes his work is amazing. Thank you Yana, our manager. From our group’s baby, she has transformed to a woman who can fight for what she believes in. I also admire her passion to do whatever task she was given. Thank you Holic, our entrepreneur. He may have decided to deal with his personal struggles this year, but i know he has served others in simple ways thru his natural kindness. Thank you She, our decision-maker. I love how she takes seriously her job. It was only in PPha convention that I got to work with her, and I really admired her dedication. Thank you Jenna and Tim, our life-long learners. Jenna’s the most martyr of all the batch reps in CP history. The best sobra! Tim’s the most creative, he made our year more memorable than it already was.  Thank you Im, our communicator. I’ve seen how meticulously he performed his job as a batch rep. I’m so proud of this person.  Thank you Sam, our caregiver. Trials may have come his way, but I know deep in his heart he has served and did his best.  Thank you Cid, our agent of positive change. Tamang-tama tibakers! :) I know someday, he’ll be an agent of positive change in this country. Mabuhay ka Cid! Indeed, whatever happened was God’s blessing in disguise. Thank You for them. :) 
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