Just say yes

Today is March 25. Exactly nine months before Christmas. Thus, we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation. When Mother Mary said yes to God and, as we say in every Angelus, conceived by the Holy Spirit.

I've never commemorated this day before, March 25. I've never thought to celebrate the Annunciation. It was always just a mystery in the Rosary to me. But how wonderful it was to learn about it in mass today. For it was this thought that I took with me as I started studying for my final exam in human ontogeny and parturition. I thought, if I had to learn about the conception, fetal development, and birth of a mother to her child, might as well be that of the Mother Mary and her Baby Jesus, right?

I've been dreading the thought of having to take finals. But it doesn't seem so bad now. This was the new perspective that I needed. Thank You.

Yesterday's second reading

"...Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own."

- from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians

Plug!

In a tight spot, these little white lies are usually our best choice of escape. They’re not exactly good but neither are they qualified as heinous crimes. They’re just simple acts that make the truth, and life in general, a little sweeter, a little easier to swallow, and a whole lot more fun.

In that spirit of a fun-spirited escape, we’re having a White Party at the Hexagon Lounge, RCBC Plaza on March 5, 2010 for the benefit of PagKalMa, the service arm of Phi.

Your ticket to a night of white hot fashion, booze, games, prizes, and surprises is sold for P250.

Come in your whitest wear or reveal your sugar coated affair.

Contact Julie (09158507391) , Charvee (09178914881) or Alex (09164460398) for tickets and details.

I just don't know anymore.

Full circle

I've often told the story of how I first knew I wanted to become a doctor. It started with a book, really. I was six years old then, and my mom was pregnant with Monchie. Mom had all these pregnancy books lying around, and being the biblophile that I am (I've loved reading ever since I could read, at the tender age of four), it was almost instinct to pick one up and start browsing through it. And I was fascinated by what I found. It was a different kind of adventure from those in my story books and fairy tales--it was a tour of the human body, specifically that of a pregnant mother's, and it was also a story of the creation of a life, from conception to birth. I was so hooked that even the very graphic pictures of vaginal delivery couldn't keep me from turning page after page. I don't remember what book that was or how many others I read, but Mom told me I read more about pregnancy than she ever did. I was six years old then.

Reading Williams Obstetrics 23rd ed now, at 22 and in medical school, I feel like I've come full circle. I actually resisted buying the book for the first two OB exams because of its price, but I gave in in the end. I've only read a few chapters but I can already say that I don't regret my decision. Not one centavo's worth. Williams is a joy to read, not at all a chore. And not only because of its glossy pages and colored photos that are new to the 23rd edition. For me, it is because it brings back the same feelings I felt at six years old--wonder at the architecture of the human body, specifically the female reproductive tract, and awe at the beauty that is human life. And not to mention, it has also expanded my medical vocabulary quite vastly, with new words like ballotement and puerperium, and of course our class's favorite, violaceous.

I've said before that I would never consider OB-GYN as a specialty, but I'm actually rethinking that now. Because really, OB was my first love, the reason for my desire to go into medicine in the first place. Of course, this is all before I've experienced any duty or rotation in OB, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at PGH is legendary for its toxicity. But who knows? For now, I'll just keep reading.

Thief

Why do I feel like you're stealing everything that is MINE. That was mine. This is mine. Get your own!

---end of rant---

Sorry. I promised I'd be more generous this Lent. This was a moment of weakness. Sorry.

And anyway, they do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

A book. :)

Taken from somewhere on deviantart. Sorry I can't remember whose. :(

You see giant proclamations are all very well.
But our love is louder than words.
- Bloc Party

It's true today as it was two Valentine'ses ago. And hopefully, it'll still be after a lifetime of them.

Happy Valentine's Day, love. This year's February 14th was definitely one to remember. Let's remember what we need to and forget what we don't, agreed? :) Remember that I love you and that I'll always be yours. If nothing else, that will suffice.