But, never say never.

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.

The Wedding in Ward 14B

After a weekend of blessings spent with my family, and 21 years of blessings behind me, I wanted to give thanks. It has been a tradition of mine to hear mass on my birthday, and this year I specifically wanted to attend the mass at the PGH chapel. I was hoping that Fr. Francis Alvarez would officiate the noon mass. I’d heard him say mass at PGH several times before, and his homilies were truly inspiring. I was eager to find out what his homily would tell me on my birthday.

Unfortunately, when Mama, Papa, Monch, and I arrived at the chapel, we found out that the noon mass had been cancelled because it was a holiday. So Mom suggested we go to the chaplain’s office on the off chance that Father would be there, and ask for birthday blessings. Luckily enough, he was around. And after exchanging pleasantries and praying over me and my family, Father mentioned that there would be an emergency wedding at the PGH wards the next day, and if some of us med students could possibly take time out to help. I wholeheartedly said yes, thinking it would be the perfect way to celebrate my birthday.

Fr. Francis explained that the patient who was to be married was a woman named Mary Grace Lumogda. She had been diagnosed with cervical cancer just a few months ago. She and her boyfriend of several years, Titus Quintela, had been saving up for a dream wedding, but the funds they raised ended up being used for her hospitalization and treatment expenses. They also have a one year-old daughter with hydrocephalus. Mary Grace’s doctors said that she could go any day, thus the reason for the emergency wedding. Fr. Francis described to me how Mary Grace’s eyes had instantly lit up when he told her that she and Titus could still get married. Father was able to somehow make arrangements for Titus to be flown to Manila from Antique, and so that Mary Grace’s relatives could buy a simple white dress from Baclaran. He asked me for help with the makeup, just enough so she could feel special on her special day. For that, I asked Julie, 2014’s resident makeup artist.

The Lumogda-Quintela wedding was held on September 8, 2009, at Ward 14B of PGH. A number of us gathered to witness the occasion. Julie did the makeup, some of us took pictures, and some members of the MedChoir sang It Might Be You, Mary Grace’s favorite song. Mary Grace was even singing along softly. Titus held on to Mary Grace as Fr. Francis took them through the rites and the vows. And when he proclaimed them man and wife, you could see nothing but joy in their eyes. There was no cancer, no sickness, no pain. Only love for each other.

I am so thankful to have been a part of such an important event in the lives of Ate Mary Grace and Kuya Titus (I was even one of the witnesses in their marriage contract!). Some have said their story is straight out a Nicholas Sparks novel or a Maalaala Mo Kaya episode. But this was no fictional love story created from someone’s imagination. This was real, it happened right inside PGH--a miracle of the Blessed Mother, on her birthday. A miracle because a woman was made to smile and sing even at the point of death. A miracle because two people were brought together and were married, against all odds.

I look forward to many more miracles, both big and small, within the wards of PGH and beyond.

To see photos of the event, click here.

So much to be said

...after almost a month since my last post, and as I enter my fourth month in med.

For one thing, kaya ko naman pala. After two heartbreaks, I think I'm getting the hang of this. Of studying, that is. I've accepted the fact that I'm not naturally smart, and I don't have magical testmanship skills either. I've learned that it takes more than highlighting a trans to really understand it. Starting early really helps. And so does studying with a friend (CarlaBon!). I learned also not to believe in all feedback about exams or subjects i.e. 204 (Head and Neck) ang pinakamahirap sa OS series. I actually enjoyed 204. I hated 203 though (Skin, Muscles, Bones), and I'm am looking forward to 205 (Thorax).

To anyone else, my life now may seem quite routine and monotonous. Class from 8 to 5 everyday, with just an hour for lunch. I've never consumed so much coffee in my life. It is not only recommended that we study every night, but necessary that we do so. Starting three days in advance is already cramming. The circles under my eyes are darkening by the week. The only TV I get to watch is on weekends, and my internet time has been reduced to checking the class Yahoo! Groups for trans errata. As I drift off to sleep at around 2 a.m., my neurons are still firing with thoughts of sternocleidomastoids, thyroid ima arteries, inferior obliques, ansa cervicalises, lesser occipital nerves, foramen rotundums, etc etc etc.

But I'm happy where I am. I know that even as I sit through lectures upon lectures, willing myself not to fall asleep, that this is exactly where I want to be. I prepared myself for this throughout college, impatiently counting down the months, weeks, days until the first day of class. I want to be doctor more than anything. And if studying like mad for five years is what it'll take, then I'll do it. If memorizing the stages of swallowing or the roots and branches of the cervical plexus will help me save a life one day, then so be it. Always with the end in mind.

Of course, we all need our "small holidays." For me, a cup of yogurt topped with strawberries in syrup, mango, and cheesecake does the trick. So does time with Ruari, which I find myself longing, no, aching for as each week ends. And as much as possible, I don't compromise time with my family. No matter what exam is coming up, I have to go home for the weekend. I have so much to go home for, and I can only be thankful.

I know also that my life in med school can only get better, richer even. I'm looking forward to the second semester, and the years beyond with the wonderful girls who all made the same decision. I hope many more will do so. :)

An exam has been scheduled on my birthday. Biochem, nonetheless. So in anticipation of my special day, I will have to master the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, bioenergetics, metabolic integration, metabolic regulation--all of which are completely new to me. Birthday blessings please? :)

Basta pwede, go. :)

I made my ogre's day today. Despite his horrible exams (as he says). And that made my day. Despite the return of a sore throat and being how many pesosesoses poorer. Haha. Worth every centavo. :)

Happy birthday, dear Ruari. I love you so. But you know that already. Hee. :)

Week Three!

Actually I'm entering Week Four. So much has happened, and I am a bit sad at not having been able to document it all. Just off the top of my head--carsick/drunk car rides, adjusting to life inside a mall, finally deleting Minesweeper, getting to know my alphamates, mind-numbing scares, failing to win a steth or a laptop, sorority dine-outs, the Topshop private sale (for which I was late to class!), first scrubs day, inspiring professors, sleep-inducing professors, missing the PMHS Acquaintance Party, and love lost and found. Whew.

Weekends have never felt shorter. I pack so soon after I unpack. And I feel so disconnected from the universe! I've never appreciated the TV more. Not to mention the internet! Thank God Globe works well in Adriatico. I'm surprised to find that maintaining the household isn't so bad. We clean up after ourselves, dishes, garbage, and all. I call it the Domestication of Mindy. Haha. I still can't cook, but it's a start.

Jess is too good to me lately. I've been getting everything I want. And yet, I can't seem to stop asking for things. Jess, please let me pass my neuro exam. Jess, please take care of me as I drive home. Jess, please take care of my family while I'm gone. Jess, please let me fall asleep, I need to get up at seven. Jess, please keep me safe as I walk through Pedro Gil.

I still get shivers when I think that I am in the UP College of Medicine. I do hope that won't go away. Throughout the toxicity of med, I hope to never forget how lucky I am to be here.

Ang gaan-gaan ng feeling. :)

Nice surprise. :)

Only someone who truly knows me and loves me would get me a book that says KILL YOU on the cover as a gift, knowing I would absolutely love it. We had to go all the way from Serendra to Greenhills to get it, too, because the last remaining copy was there. I'm so happy! This pretty much takes care of my reading time this week. :)

Thank you, my love. It's perfect. Happy un-anniversary. :) :)

Sendoff 2009

I just got back from my third and last PMHS sendoff. As with the first two times, it definitely felt longer than an overnight trip. Possibly because, just like the first two times, I got very little sleep, most of which was had in the car on the way home.

What made this sendoff different was that I was a sendoffee this time. It felt really nice not to have to help prepare food, assemble souvenirs, or coordinate transpo. I didn't even have to pay for anything. :p That scav hunt they put us through was such a workout though. I initially just wanted to relax and not have to play any games or what, but I have to admit that I really enjoyed it. Especially since Tribe Kiat-Kiat won. Haha competitive forever. :p

I was so impressed by how the whole sendoff turned out, how the mems and inductees pulled everything off. The venue was really nice, not as far as last year's, and with a really pretty beach, too. The waves were the best! The food was great, especially that heavenly chocolate fondue. A lot of us just wanted to drink that chocolate straight. Transpo couldn't have been easy to fix, with so many mems and inductees in attendance, even if we were just ten sendoffees. The Survivor theme, from the welcoming spiel, to the scav hunt, to the touching AVP, to the candle torch ceremony, was truly inspired. And I love the souvenirs! The little Survivor dolls are the cutest. Thank you and congrats again, PMHS 09-10, if any of you happen to be reading this. :)

Thank you, love, for this weekend. As I've already told you, it meant the world to me that you came. Even if you injured my arm before we'd left UP. Haha! I took one for the team na ha? :) Thank you for taking care of me and not letting me drown in my drunken stupor. I really hope you had fun, too; I'm glad you enjoyed the waves, the fondue, and your ultimate frisbee. I really prayed for this sendoff, and you know why. I guess we've come full circle, huh? I couldn't be happier. I'm a lucky little ogress. :)

[EDIT 19 April, 8:34PM]

Thanks, Burn, for this picture. :)

Losing steam

I meant to blog earlier, but I never found the time until now. This is partly due to my computer almost crashing last Monday. I made the silly mistake of installing an antivirus program without first disabling the expired one. Duh. Then there was my toothache last Wednesday, which I suspect is due to an emerging wisdom tooth. One more thing to deal with this summer.

Of course I am writing away the time I should be spending on aldehydes, ketones, carbohydrates, carboxylic acids, fats, oils, and amines. Not to mention Experiments 10-16 AND nomenclature. I don't feel pressured at all, which is so wrong, especially since I'm still hopelessly holding on to the dream of being exempted from lec finals. I've always had the tendency to lose steam at the last stretch. Hay.

Not really applicable to us med students (yehess!), but amusing, as always. :P

There are days and there are days. I'm counting them down now, more than ever. I'm so excited to just go condo-hunting and furniture-shopping. Not to mention finally fulfilling my Boracay dreams.

Four years in the making! Yaaaay. :D

There's a certain ogre I'm so, so, so proud of. I couldn't believe it when you told me that it was 31 days that you spent studying in the library, straight after class until the wee hours of the morning. Thirty-one consecutive days. I'm still amazed. You so deserve your shaved head, your four(?)-day vacation, and ALL the sleep you can sleep.

Have fun in Bataan and Zambales, love. Don't forget me. :)

Dreaming of summer

With three weeks left in my life as an undergraduate and with this insane heat already settling upon the metro, it's so hard not to be on summer mode yet. And as I always say when I'm at the final stretch of every semester, I just want to get it over with.

It refers to all, but not limited to, of the following:
Chem 31.1 unknown analysis
Chem 31 third exam
Chem 31.1 final exam
135 quizzes 1-4
135 experiment 7
135 third exam
Chem 31 final exam, if I should be so unlucky

Apart from being free of all academic load, there's one important reason I'm looking forward to summer.

It'll be our third.

:)

If I can make this night light enough to move

So ends another day with you. Of course it hasn't been just any other day. Today is Valentine's Day. But what am I talking about. A day spent with you is never just any other day.

Such days are spent in a cocoon, in our own corner of the universe. Perhaps because we don't have a common group of friends, our time together is always especially for us. I cherish those few hours we devote to just each other. Yes, food is a requisite, since you will forever disagree when I say love will keep us alive. :) Other occasions call for a couple of hours in a dark theater in front of a big screen. Still others find us in a coffee shop, silently (or not so silent, in my case) reading page after page, though still side by side, fingers entwined. And some days have uniquely special touches. Today, for instance, brought us showers of rose petals from the heavens, bites of favorite cake, photographs against pretty glass.

But remember what you said (not so) long ago? Even if we just sit in a corner. Nothing more I could ask for than the feel of my hand in yours, the comfort and security that simple gesture brings. Also that way we have around each other that brings out the absolute silliness in us. Sometimes I imagine what if someone were to catch us in the middle of one of those moments. They would laugh, or perhaps cringe. Because they wouldn't understand. We speak a different language, you and I. It isn't perfect. But it is ours.

One of those moments, captured.

Dearest Ruari,

I’m sorry I wasn’t able to prepare anything for you today. I hope this pahabol entry makes up for it somehow. :P I'm sorry again for those other things, too. And thank you for the many, many things.

Happy Valentine's Day, my love. Let's have a thousand more.

Yours and yours and yours alone. I love you.

Mindy