Hospital Workplace Incivility

I guess most of the hospitals here in the Philippines runs a bureaucratic structure wherein an organizational chart portrays a clear line of subordination. I know you know what I'm talking about. Whom is responsible for who thing. Well okay, this is suited for large numbers of workers who performs routine task since orientation and management of workforce is easier. This fosters authoritarian leadership style and the "need to control attitude" which in turn alienates the inferior staffs.

Job description on the other hand is provided to every employee to acquire role clarity. But in reality we work way beyond what is just. The international standard for the ideal ratio of nurse-patient in hospitals is 1:4. Hence, we are serving 10-14 or more patients per nurse + the work of our aides/orderlies even if they're around but cannot be found most of the time. No one seem to think that role ambiguity and heavy workload is detrimental to a healthy milieu.

Superiors' self insecurities magnifies abuse of power by being vindictive despite own fault. Unconsciously, admit it or not, we always desire to reciprocate to that uncivil act and inflict harm. But then again, we chose not to because we were raised by our parents to be eminent even if job dissatisfaction results to low morale. This photo depicts HORIZONTAL VIOLENCE. Grabbed from Medscape (Clark, 2011).


Burn out and angst lingers when we take our eyes off our goals.

One way or another we had experienced workplace incivilities, it may be subtle or overt to be significantly noticed. Classic day to day scenarios are:
1. Being absent or late
2. Feigning unawareness
3. Not listening
4. Side conversations
5. Backstabbing
6. Prejudice
7. Emotional attacks
8. Disrespecting colleagues by harsh comments and gestures
9. Demeaning about professioanl competence
10. Undermining credibility in front of others
11. Overruling decisions without seeking others
12. Giving public reprimands
13. Speaking with a condescending tone
14. Insulting others
15. Production deviance
16. Hostility/ personal aggression
17. Sabotage
18. Misuse of information
19. Poor communication pattern
20. Iniquitous attitude

21. Deliberate disruptions
21. Sexual harrassment....What else?

Why I Hate Nursing #16

16? Well that's the maximum hours of work we can accommodate for each shift. Screw your judgments if you have. My page, my rules.

So I hate being a nurse because....

1. Changing soiled diapers. Why can't the patient's relative do it instead of bugging the nurses if our ate and kuya aides/orderlies are not around? So much with the back breaking pasty/watery stools every now and then. Human shit!!

2. Unavailability of nurses' bill of rights. Patients have their copies of the so called "Patients Bill of Rights" upon admission. A powerful handbook eh?? Why do nurses cannot posses "Nurses Bill of Rights" handbook? We were mistreated and dehumanized frequently but we cannot complain. Sore losers. Damn you too "secretary!!"

3. Manpower agencies belittling nurses. Google it! Just type nurse cook yaya on the search bar. Professional yaya? What a menial job. See for yourself! I intermittently had one on one encounter with the actual posters downtown.

4. Inadequate health benefits and PPEs. We don't have health hazard fees. I'm always queasy and pigging out for antibiotics. This only applies to ou r beloved physicians, swearing an oath to practice medicine ethically, and so on. And a part of this Hippocratic Oath is to cure their fellow sick physicians without charging any professional fee. What about our "Nightingale Pledge??"

I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administe r any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician, in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.

5. No work interruptions. Holidays, rain or shine, in sickness and in health we still have to commit ourselves to serve our patients. There will never be a valid excuse to be missing, except if you are contagious and dying. Poor nurses on duty that they have to work for 16 hours straight just to cover up for the absentee.

6. Human working machine. Ok this is not about money, but the crap that goes along with this job! Everybody knows that we're under compensated, and not much appreciated by everyone else. We're a virtuoso of our routine task, even way beyond our job description.

7. Understaffing. =Fatigue and exhaustion!! Do I need to say more?

8. Dealing with the impossible. Patient's relatives requires more attention than the patient. Shit! We're not your personal maid or private duty nurses. Don't you think that we have other seriously ill patients to minister? Ever heard of prioritization?

9. Competency in all aspects. The need to know

everything attitude is a must. Anything bad is forbidden. We don't want to commit sentinel events right?? If something goes wrong, it will ALWAYS be blamed on the nurses.

10. Doctors who decry nurses. Respect us the way we respect you. I detest writing doctors order during their rounds, seems like I have left with no choice. Delegate that unpleasant strain to your resident doctors than being an outright rude. The

fact that I accompanied you during your rounds means that I acknowledged your presence and willing to assist you on whatever patient endeavor you will make. I'm not your secretary.

11. Sexual harassment at workplace. Old man's arm wrapped around your shoulder and waist caressing you, what a common hospital scenario. I once had a horrible experience with a wild disorderly doctor who has a great craving for women

!!! Disgusting!!

12. Workplace incivilities. Senior staffs who treat their "juniors" as minions and not a part of the team. It's a shame that so many experienced nurses who has superiority complex are so inconsiderate to the "un-experienced."

13. White uniforms. Absolutely a fashion killer!! Affixed on our head is our nurses' cap that makes us distinctive from yayas. Yes, we all hate our caps and tight buns but it dignifies our profession.

14. Unfinished business. 1 nurse vs. 10 patients or more with all those useless demands. They don't even have common sense to think how tired their nurse can get on each shift. I'm physically and emotionally drained. How I wish I can just leave them all at my own pace.. to eat, and rest.

15. Biological clock disharmony. We can't sleep and eat on time with that work shift inconsistencies, such drift does not take place under normal

circumstances because external cues reset our internal clock each day. We're living with an accustomed jet lag!! Complete resetting of my cockerel requires a week or more. Darn to my immensely erroneous brain component!! And ooohhh I really really really hate my raccoon eyes!

16. Because I'm a NURSE!? Trapped in this dreadful career?? Grotesquely miserable!!

But of course we do have generous SELFLESS REASONS why we LOVE NURSING...

No matter how we hate or love our job, its what we make out of it... :) XOXO!!

Customer Review: Times Trading Co. Inc.

Times Trading Co. Inc. Since 1945 (http://www.times.com.ph/contactus.do?action=showContactUsPage). Oh well, I don't really care how established they are since they provide poor customer service. I only visited that store 2x and I'm not happy with my experience buying office supplies there. The service is inefficient and time consuming as if they're jam packed with customers!! To tell you, your 5 fingers is more than enough to count their potential buyers.I purchased Colop brand self-inking stamp. Of course I inquired about the prices of the stamps, font styles and sizes available. The one who entertained me I can say is not product cognizant, what's she told me when I inquired was: "Sila na magllay-out at bahala sa size pipili ka na lang doon." I asked for the font sizes because I find it too big and she answered: "Wala. Ganyan lang talaga." And when I reiterated it to her a while ago, she admitted that she didn't offered any font sizes to me, time wasted on that transaction last Monday is 40 minutes. My excitement down poured when I got my erroneous stamp today, so I decided to return it and have it fixed. Again, they wasted 45 minutes of my time waiting for their shitty response. I think its not convenient to join a conversation when one can't even understand basic explanations just to overcharge your client. For me this is very similar to that of CD-R King experience, long waiting lines, manual writing of receipts and poor customer service (at least they do really have a lot of customers!!). This is my 2nd stamp I suppose, my 1st stamp was Shiny brand, bought at NBS. In there, I encountered a systematic process of ordering accurately and getting what I want. Lists of available alignment and fonts/sizes with samples was shown, the sales clerk also assisted me on filling up the order form. I am very satisfied with the product, I completed the process for <15minutes including the long lines for payment.

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Sponge-on Cream Makeup

I got this cream foundation from my mom's aunt and yes I was downhearted upon receiving it because the color might look too dark for my skin tone (but I was wrong), the product seems to swim on lard, and ohhhh!! I really really hate its fetid old maiden perfume smell. I am now forced to ignore them all due to my affection for this product.

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Sponge-on Cream Makeup shade in Warm Beige goes on smoothly when applied and gives me a full coverage. It precisely conceal any skin imperfections for that glowing flawless look (literally and figuratively). Moreover, its staying power is superb which almost lasts all day. Despite its unpleasant smell, this product do not cause any skin break downs nor will aggravate your present skin conditions.

Just blend well and apply evenly to avoid that heavy feel on your face.

I highly recommend this awesome foundation to those who have normal to dry skin 5/5 rating! I have a super oily skin but still this product never failed to work at its best :)

*I don't have any idea if this is locally available.

Elizabeth Arden Color Kit Review

Who wouldn't drool for this one? Creme eyeshadow and color intrigue lipstick in one handy package. This can be flipped open with middle mirror on both sides, this comes with a small lip brush and a sponge applicator.

L-R: Blossom, Sunrose, Blonde, Caramel, Aubergine

Creme eyeshadows are not oily and has the same texture with mousse make-ups. However these are not pigmented and doesn't even last a couple of hours. I just love its subtle gold shimmery effect on my eyelid when used with other e/s. Nonetheless this product is a huge disappointment!!

L-R: Dream, Catherine, Intimate, Cabana

Color Intrigue Lipsticks on the other hand has a creamy texture and is super pigmented with shades ranging from pink to orange. These lip colors last for couple of hours but has an awful grandma lipstick smell. Overall, this product is 2/5 good.

The Great Interior Designer/ 3D Visual Specialist

His name is Cheney Wendell Ching

Call him Chinz for short

His work of art is fascinating

So throw your bleakness back court

Each day Mr.Sunshine gleams

Don't you just sit there and squeak

Piece by piece you build your dreams

Now is the time to act and speak

Have no idea? Worry no more

What you want is what you get

The Master is waiting ready to explore

Turn your old rag into a great asset

Tissot------ Shinagawa Optical-------2 Branches of Sookee Jewellery @ Singapore

*Photos grabbed with no permission :)

For more eye-popping creations and interior visualizations: please visit his website--

http://idesignchinz.carbonmade.com

02/09/2011 2141

Tikoy

Tikoy or Nián Gāo is a traditional Chinese New Year Dish made of sweetened glutinous rice flour. Chinese customs, and foods are naturally tailored by the Filipinos thus making it a piece of their own. This stemmed from the legends and beliefs of Chinese that eating sticky rice pudding brings luck.

The LEGEND

According to the legend, every house of Chinese have a Kitchen God known as Zaowang. He watches every family and tasked to deliver their overall outlook in life to God on the 23rd day of the last month of the year. But before Zaowang leaves the house, the family serves delectable foods for him to convey good news to God. However, there is a notion that tikoy is given to him to glue his mouth from declaring delinquent news.

The SUPERSTITION

In Chinese language "Nian" means sticky and year, on the other hand "gao" means cake and rising. Therefore, Nian Gao means "Moving Up Every Year." The final adjudication, TIKOY is believed to bring good fate and tight family bond.

Happy Chinese New Year!!

02/03/2011 1500

My New Love: Falsies :)

In 1916, American movie director D.W. Griffith designed the first set of false eyelashes.He wanted his leading lady to have lashes so long that it will be noticed when she blink or look down. The result was a movie magic. However, the false lashes were remembered to the misfortune of Griffith as he never made a claim to their fame and had his idea stolen, and altered in the decades to come.

Bet every Chinese gal has a lifelong battle with their chinky eyes and almost bald eyelashes. I'm always allured with thick-long lashes for the reason that my lashes were too short to be clipped by eyelash curlers, extra dose of volumizing mascara does not work as well.

Learning to apply those takes time and patience. Give it a try if you want a sky-high lashes. They come in various styles, colors and sizes. Have a happy lashes! :D

01/27/2011 2303

HYPNO-PIER: Official Project Gener8 Entry

Grabbed with permission from http://absoluteawesomeness.blogspot.com/

http://nokian8.production-server.net/philippines/the_finalists.html
Don't forget to vote HYPNO-PIER by Cyrus and Glynis. Thank you! :)

Pier Roxas woke up one day on a pier along Roxas boulevard and try as he might, he could not remember where he has been for the past 8 days.

His real name is Pierre Quijano, a half American, half Spanish model working in the Philippines. His father was an ex-US army sergeant stationed at Subic. When Pierre’s mother died when he was 16, he came to live in the Philippines with his dad who took a Filipina waitress as his second wife and settled at Olongapo city. He went to college at the Ateneo finishing a course in International studies. But with his good looks, he was discovered by a talent scout for an advertising firm where he soon became a print-ad model.

He lived a fairly normal life given the circumstances and things were going quite well for him. A couple of years back, he went to the US to visit his relatives. He visited his cousin Joseph who was studying at Harvard at the time. One night, his cousin brought him to a frat party where some unusual entertainment was going on. There was a pretty hypnotist there by the name of Camille Siy. She was Chinese and was doing a lot of fancy tricks; hypnotizing guests to do silly stuff. People were mooing like cows, clucking like chickens and others were acting like they were Spiderman. At the time, Pierre thought that the party was pretty trippy although he didn’t really want to participate.

All of a sudden, Camille called him from the back and asked him if he would like to join him in a small exercise. Reluctant at first but after much prodding by his cousin and frat buddies, he was cajoled into joining.

The exercise was simple. Camille asked if he has had much to drink. At the time, he hasn’t even had any alcohol yet being fascinated with the show he just walked into. Camille said that she could make him drunk without drinking a single drop of alcohol. Pierre was skeptical but went along with the hypnotist. She sat Pierre on a chair and asked him to imagine how it felt to drink alcohol and what sensations he felt when he tasted alcohol. He was asked to imagine drinking a bottle of beer and imagine further how it felt sliding through his esophagus and down to his stomach while Camille ran his finger from Pierre’s throat to his stomach. He was asked to imagine that over and over again and every time he imagined it he was told that the intensity was doubling every time he did that. At first he thought nothing was happening then suddenly he felt warm and giddy then slowly as he followed her commands he knew it he was euphorically drunk. Camille then asked him to stand up and walk the line like they did on field sobriety tests when you get pulled over for DUI’s and to everyone’s amazement, he couldn’t do it, toppling over like a drunk buffoon every step of the way. Then Camille announced that she would give Pierre a password which would turn off this drunken state and return him back to normal. She went over to Pierre and whispered something for about 30 seconds then she snapped her fingers. Pierre felt the drunkenness disappear in an instant. She asked him to walk the line again and he performed it with ease. She asked him to do it again then half way through the line, she showed him a placard which read X-hilir8 and suddenly he felt drunk all over again and promptly stumbled as he took his next step. Everyone was clapping. She snapped her fingers and he was fine again.

Although that incident happened years ago, as Pierre picked up the sub zero bottle of Coor’s Light, he couldn’t forget that one night of insanity. Pierre looked around in the club and saw his friend Luis dancing on the dance floor with a couple of girls they just met. He wasn’t in the mood for dancing for he felt a little sore playing basketball during the afternoon with his buddies. He was contented to chill it out in the bar listening to the music with his ice cold beer.

Then suddenly someone caught his eye. A sexy girl walked in and was walking straight at him. He was admiring the gorgeous lady coming closer, and when the disco lights shone on her face, he recognized her. It was Camille. Surprised, Pierre could not believe that she was in the Philippines. Camille came closer looked him in the eye then sat beside him. She reached closer and whispered to his ear. He had to strain what she was saying then he heard it , “Project Gener8.”

Suddenly Pierre fell into a trance. Camille planted a kiss on his collar then stood up and walked away. A couple of minutes later, Pierre’s buddies came back from the dance floor. But Pierre ignored them and still in a trance like state, walked out the door.

He got out of the bar where a man in a hooded jacket was waiting for the man with the lipstick smudge on the collar. He followed Pierre to his car and got in from the passenger side and dropped a black box on his lap. Pierre opened the package and looked at the contents. There was a piece of paper which he read.

“FORGET WHO YOU ARE. Who you work for is not important. Your mission is to rendezvous with another agent eight days from now at the pier near gate 1 along Roxas boulevard. From now on, you are PIER ROXAS and he will identify himself to you as MV Shipwreck. He will hand you a package that you would carry to the TARGET. Enclosed in the box is a key for the safe house where you will be staying there further details of this mission will be given to you. Go with the agent beside you who will take you there and who will transport you through this mission. Leave all your personal items in the box and leave it in the car. Take with you the Nokia N8 and the Smart Gold Sim which we will use to contact you for further instructions. The PASSWORD to terminate this mission is known to you and you will receive a text message from us releasing you once the mission is complete. Once released, you will not recall this mission and your part in it. Tear and dispose of this message after reading.”

Pierre read the instructions. He left his wallet and cell phone in the box, taking out the Nokia N8 and Smart Gold Sim as well as the key and pocketed them. As he stepped out of the car, a slip of paper fell from his lap, it was his parking ticket. The hooded man picked it up and gave it to him which he placed in his pocket. Pierre tore the message left to him and threw it in the garbage receptacle. Pierre was escorted to a red car which brought him to an undisclosed place. When they reached the safe house, inside were some gym equipment, change of clothing and food to last a week. On a table, there was a box which contained further details and instructions of what he was supposed to do. For eight days prior to the meeting, he was supposed to train in the safe house for his mission was to bomb the visiting foreign aircraft carrier that was coming in on that day. The bomb will be handed to him by the agent known as MV Shipwreck.

Thus Pierre did as he was told. He felt compelled to obey. Eight days passed. He wore the same clothes he wore when he came in and burning all the mission directives in the metal waste bin. A knock on the door told him it was time to go. He pocketed the key and the Nokia N8 and Smart Gold Sim then proceeded to open the door. The hooded man was back, and he was dropped off a couple of blocks from the pier. Pierre walked towards the pier. He was a man with a mission. As he was about to cross the street, he saw a van with a sign on the side which said “Project Gener8.” That was the password to release him from his hypnotic trance which he accidentally saw on an advertising van for Nokia. He suddenly felt dizzy as he stepped further, not noticing the oncoming delivery truck. The truck swerved to avoid him but it still managed to hit him on the cheek with its side mirror. He spun around and staggered to the sidewalk falling unconscious.

Moments later, he woke up and couldn’t remember where he was or how he got there.

There, that's it....now go and visit: http://nokian8.production-server.net/philippines/the_finalists.html
and vote HYPNO-PIER by Cyrus and Glynis! :)

or watch us on http://www.youtube.com/pierroxas#p/u/7/JDBCl7geRqE

Thank you! :)

Nokia Project Gener8: The Unexpected Call

One boring Sunday (November 7, 2010), my brain is infested and intoxicated by enormous journal articles.I can count a thousand lambs just to past time but I have to do a lot of reading so as to make my day productive...somehow. Sigh.

I haven't wrote any new blog since March. Yes, I admit, I am not hooked into writing yet. So the story begins. Flashback: me and my partner in crime, Cy (http://absoluteawesomeness.blogspot.com/), decided to join Nokia Philippine's Project Gener8, a contest to retrieve a poor guy's memory (http://www.facebook.com/pier.roxas).

Cy, who is a natural genius has a wild and creative imagination. We tried our luck and submitted two entries for the said contest. We merely talked about this nor slobber over the prizes. Days have passed without us noticing, hence there was a delayed response on our second entry. To our fate, it was also received by Nokia. It was a coalescence of our ideas which has been put up into artistic writing.

By November 7, 2010, my idle phone suddenly rang. An unknown caller was buzzing me and trying to draw away my attention from my beloved journal articles. Since I'm not into answering text or calls from unknown numbers too, I was boggled whether to pick the call or not. This time, I'm having a mixed emotions for an unidentified reason, felt like millions of pins and needles stinging my nerves. I decided to answer the call even if it is against my principle, I haven't talked until they introduced themselves. To my surprise, it was someone from Nokia!! I over reacted of course! :) seems like I'm dreaming analogous to winning a lottery jackpot! I'm in denial, it's unconvincing, my brain stopped working for a short while, feigning from reality then I reiterated and clarified what they've said. Poof! Wake-up!! It's not a prank call! Our entry was indeed officially chosen for the top eight.

I immediately called Cy, for I know he won't answer a call from an unknown. I didn't even bother thinking on whatever he was up to, I'm being annoying as I can. After several attempts of calling, I caught his spirit. I deliriously utter to him the good news I received from the anonymous phone call in full excitement. I'm over reacting right? :)

Semi Flashback: We then undergone briefing on November 9, 2010 at JWT, an advertising firm who handles Nokia's Project Gener8 Campaign. This was a briefing about the second part of the contest, filming our stories in HD using Nokia N8. This is overwhelming and definitely novel since we were suddenly deviated from our genuine world, the realm of medicines. The brainbox will be directing the film, my role this time will be more of our story's execution.

November 10, 2010, we were called to attend the "Official Press Launch" of the finalist. It was held at Greenbelt 3: My Cinema from 1030-1630. We weren't allowed to disclose any information until after this event. We were technically nine there because of me. Okay! No one is allowed to leave their violent comments here as we fully understood the mechanics of this contest and was frequently recapitulated to us. We will only receive ONE prize if ever we won.

A warm appreciation to Nokia Philippines, JWT Advertising Agency, Abracadabra Production House and to all the press who made this event possible. I would also want to thank Mr. Daiguro Dash, WebMaster/ Feature Writer of BusinessMirror Publication for mentioning us on one of his posts.

11/13/2010 00:28

Doctor Turned Story Teller/ Film Maker: Nokia Project Gener8

Reposted with permission (http://absoluteawesomeness.blogspot.com/)

This may come as something new for my beloved 100+ readers who follow me here, for it is not really my custom to write common , day to day events. But like I always say, there’s a time for everything. Recent events sort of force me to tell you a more true to life story of a very surreal experience.

I’ve been writing here for over a year and a half now, I think, and mostly about love and what not. This is my past time to de-stress when I get bored over the things I do in my eccentric life. Well, actually I have a lot of friends to blame for this. I think all your compliments during the past months over my works went to my head somewhat for I have sought to seek confirmation of my writing mettle on a much grander scale.

Nope, I haven’t compiled my works into a book yet. I haven’t found a sponsor for that. But as you will most likely find out, I have joined a writing contest…. Or so I initially thought it to be a writing contest.

If you have heard or seen ads on this guy named Pier Roxas... Yes, dear friends, I have joined Nokia Philippines’ Project Gener8, a contest to retrieve the poor guy’s memory in exchange for a chance to win a Nokia N8.

To be honest, I’ve never heard of all these things up until a couple of weeks ago. My partner in crime, Gly told me about it after we heard Gino and Fran talking about him over RX 93.1. I asked Gly on what was that all about and she was surprised that I never heard about it, for it seems to be very visible over various forms of media.

I got curious and decided to check it out when I went for my customary night coffee at Figaro. I found the Nokia website as well as the You tube video of Pier Roxas.

I thought, this seems interesting, all I needed to do is write a story to supply the poor dude’s missing eight days using eight clues. It seemed pretty straightforward to me then. So after an hour, I texted Gly that I just finished writing a story for that thing we were talking about and I wanted her to read it if it was contest worthy. I e-mailed it to her but she didn’t want to read it at first because she was busy playing BRAIIIINS!!! on FB. But after much prodding I got her to read it and she said why don’t we send it?

I was hesitant, but after a flurry of text messages trying to convince me, I just said that since the contest was her discovery and the ideas in the story were mostly stuff I picked up from her, I told her that she should be the one to e-mail it and put ourselves as co-authors. We really didn’t care for the prize anyway, I just wanted to see how a story I wrote would fair in a story telling contest. Thus, minutes later, I get the text that the email was sent for what was to be our first entry.

The next day, we were talking about the story when we sort of revived a topic on hypnotism which she was interested in a month ago and that we spent hours watching You Tube clips on. I said, hey, we could make a new story on that one. I told her I’d give it a try later when I go out for coffee. Then an hour after arriving at Figaro, I texted her to check her e-mail again. She read it and another flurry of text messages were exchanged with the same end result, hence our 2^nd entry was officially sent.

We were discussing about other possible scenarios and there were actually others like reincarnation, time travel and stuff but I had other things to do then so we ended agreeing to talk about it some other time. But time passed and we never managed to put it into writing.

The deadline for submission of entries passed without our noticing, we rarely discussed about the entries after they were sent. It was just a game to us then, nothing to be lost for trying.

Then over the weekend, I was quite busy then, I found that I had a missed call from an unknown number. Since I on principle don’t bother answering back on numbers I don’t know, I dismissed it. Moments later, Gly was calling and when I answered she was ecstatically screaming in my ear that we got chosen for the final 8. I was surprised then pleased with myself that our entry got in, then I asked which entry and she said, she doesn’t know. We got confirmation later on in the day that it was the 2^nd story that made the cut. Not bad for an hour of typing with 16 oz. of Iced barako blend and an undisclosed number of cigarettes. Then we realized, we were getting a new Nokia N8 as prize. As I look at my relatively brand new, 6 day old Samsung Corby Wifi, I shake my head thinking, I shouldn’t have bought a new phone. What would I do with another one? Oh well, what are partners in crime for anyway? XD

Then what was supposed to be a simple test to confirm my so-called writing skills takes a turn for the surreal. We were called for an orientation yesterday at JWT, an advertising firm handling the Nokia account- the brains behind the Pier Roxas campaign. There we learned that we are supposed to shoot our story with Pier Roxas using our Nokia N8. Damn, there was a page 2 to the mechanics, why didn’t I see that before I decided to write???

But, being one who doesn’t back down on anything, Gly and I decided that it’s something inevitable at that juncture. So we’re going to get a glimpse of another kind of life, far away from the hospital life I am so comfortable with.

So in the coming week, we’ll be making a commercial or short film of sorts on the story we made with a real professional production team and Pier Roxas himself. I’ll be directing and Gly’s “punishment” for putting me in this mess is that she’s going to star opposite Pier.

Earlier, we were at Greenbelt for what they called a “Meet the Press” event where they announced all the eight winners, although technically we were nine since Gly and I were the only tandem winners. So much for the eight everything huh?!!

As of writing, I am at work in the hospital, waiting for new patients to come in through the ER seeking medical attention. As this is a government hospital, there’s no short supply of patients. It’s just funny that nobody here knows of this circus I’ve just entered. It’s like living a dual life, reminds me of Batman/ Bruce Wayne. But I guess the secret can’t be kept a secret for long. So here’s to me and my story and the riot of a video that’s to come. Stay tuned here for updates. I’ll keep you guys posted, wish us luck.

Christmas Time '08

12/25/08 Thursday 1300

Comparing previous Christmases, I can still remember how joyous it was, Christmas songs heard everywhere, bright lights twinkling blinded my astonished eyes, people wear very happy masks way back then, families and individuals of different races and social status filled the churches. Me and my family go to this sacred place to before the long waited Christmas eve. During my childhood I remember me with my brothers falling into long lines just to get one of the arrays of sweet package given to children at Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel, it consists of assorted candies and biscuits, yumm!! That package always made my day. An innocent heart who appreciates the simple things in life, worry free, pure laughter, I just missed those days....

As I observe this very moment, gone is the spirit of Christmas, parades of jocund people, Christmas lights, songs, carolers, and the sumptuous feast. Poverty dominated this special season of giving and sharing. Darkness took away everyone's smile. I'm one of them, I too can't feel its essence anymore. And of course still present here is the inevitable traffic!! Beep! Beep!! I am awaken everyday by honking cars darn!! Divisoria is the culprit obviously!! Endless haggling of buyers for the cheapest price possible crowded the streets. Unavailability of rides going home killed my super tired feet for four years. Had to walk home. A part of my past that ruins my day......