From April 1 onwards, I will be using this space as a way to support my fellow Filipinos especially our health workers in their battle to contain the COVID-19 Virus. Some of the charities I personally support are the following :
KAYA NATIN! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership – bit.ly/forCOVID19frontliners
Philippine General Hospital – What: Surgical masks, N95 masks, gloves, surgical gowns (alternative: Daiso raincoat), 60 to 80% Ethyl alcohol, hand sanitizers, goggles or face shields, surgical caps and shoe covers How: Direct your donations to Dr. Mia Tabuñar, coordinator for resource generation. Trunk line (02) 8554 8400 Local 2004, cell contact (0919) 350 6917
Mental Health PH What: Mental Health PH is providing Hugot Packs to healthcare workers. Each pack contains vitamins, coffee, power bars, energy drink, trail mix for snacks, hand sanitizer, personal hand soap, tissue, ecobags, small notes of appreciation and support. How: Those who wish to participate in the call may send cash donations through its Go Fund Me account: https://gogetfunding.com/help4health/. Those who will provide in kind donations and letters of support may contact Dr. Denese De Guzman at +63-917-5191406 or via email at help4health@gmail.com.
As human beings, no matter where you are in the world, we are all inter-connected. Currently, there are so many Filipinos (even the world over) that are going through some very difficult times. Basic needs are not completely met, with ongoing threats of depression and a deadly virus that does not discriminate.
As of today April 1, PH Covid cases have jumped from 538 to 2,084 overnight.
Please reach out to the charities mentioned above. They can help protect the health and sanity of our medical workers who are now our front liners to help contain this disease.
I appreciate you took the time to read through. Be safe, stay healthy and follow the protocols given by your LGUs.
It comes in waves. It hits like lethargic nonsense.
You feel out of focus. There is no drive and purpose. You have difficulty in concentrating. You are just sapped of energy. You begin to doubt yourself.
Getting out of bed is difficult. It overshadows everything good: a good family, a steady professional life, good health, good city, good life, good weather. You should be fucking grateful!
But alas, the sun doesn’t shine here, not this time.
Nothing tastes, smells, or feels right and you are unable to think or make decisions–yet you still have to carry on doing all those things. And so much of the time you just don’t have the energy or the desire. But you still carry on anyway.
Then you refuse to answer phone calls. You refuse to answer emails and messages. You just want time out. Away from everything and away from people. There is this loss of desire to partake in life.
You’ve fixed the bed for the nth time and now your attention is on the sink. Hoping someone would cook and let you wash the dishes just so to keep your hands busy. You hate looking at your shaking hands. Since all you do is watch walls, mindless repetitive work sounds good right now.
You can’t eat. You barely sleep. You can’t really put into words what’s bothering you because you don’t have the slightest clue what it is to begin with.
Worst is, people watch you when you eat, saying you’ve lost so much weight. In your head, you tell them to mind their own goddamn business.
It’s all in your head you tell yourself. Get out of this funk you tell yourself. But all you feel is this deep melancholy. Maybe you just need a change of scenery? The beach or a trail hike will do you good. A swim, a little bit of writing? Perhaps.
Being down this road before, you know that somehow you’ll get passed this. Take your time, there’s no rush love.
Smiling maybe painful right now but I have long embraced my violent rain clouds.
Blood transfusion is a life-saving measure, and millions of lives around the world have been saved each year because of access to safe blood transfusion. In many developing countries however, people still die due to inadequate supply of safe blood and blood products.
This has particular impact on women as a consequence of pregnancy-related complications like hemorrhage viz-a-viz the scarce supply of safe blood. To complicate the issue, the testing process may either be non-existent or sporadic and the storage method inadequate. The result is a national blood supply that contributes to the alarming rise in disease related to blood transfusion.
Every day, an estimated 800 women die from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications. Severe bleeding during delivery and after childbirth is a major cause of mortality. That’s why the focus of this year’s World Blood Donor Day is; “ Give blood for those who give life “. The goal of this campaign is to increase awareness why timely access to safe blood and blood products is essential for all countries to prevent maternal deaths.
MissTolentino.com was privileged to be part of this campaign.
Hosted by Philippine Blood Disease and Transfusion Center, in partnership with Unilab, PTV4, Kredin Events Engineer, WCU, Terumo, BMAY and Air Gurus this event is also in partnership with Pasig Catholic College Alumni Association (HS Batch 1972).
Join us as we appreciate why each and everyone of us should be part of this advocacy:
This year’s World Blood Donor Day Campaign,held at Fisher Mall, Quezon City, was hosted by Miss World 2013 2nd Princess, Zahra Bianca Saldua.
One of the strong advocates of this momentous event was Col. Joel Torregoza. At the age of 66, the Col. has already donated 185 times. He started donating blood at the age of 19. Col. Torregoza’s passion for this advocacy was all thanks to an encounter with a 7 year old boy who happened to have hemophilia. Col. Torregoza was so moved by the boy that he committed himself to donating blood regularly. It also ignited a hidden passion for writing. Here, the Col. shares with MissTolentino.com readers a piece of one of his many works:
“ I could feel numbness, my hands, my feet are weak. My arms are feeble, my back pains, my body trembling and aches; My perspiration is cold; there is shortness in my breath, I am a bit nervous for I can sense death lurking in my bed.
Now I surrender to God and accept whatever He dictates, Whom I pity are my parents who don’t want to see me dead; It’s them who inspired me to struggle day-by-day to live, I can do no less but wholeheartedly accept whatever is my fate! I wish I could live for another day. Stroll the beach, breathe some fresh air, and sip a cup of tea; I just wish to console my parents for thinking so much of me, I gladly accept whatever comes to me, for God is my destiny.
Several times in my life I experienced smaller deaths, Many instances the shadow of death haunts me in my sleep; I thank God, there are still people, who would give blood for free, Dugong Pinoy and Blood Galloners whom I owe every bit in me!
I wish I could live for another day. A day which is much longer than months of April and May, Every second that passed is counted, leaving no void to see, Refuse to close my eyes, afraid that life will fade away. “
“I wish I could live another day” – Col. Torregoza
He also stated that donating blood is a heart issue: All we need is to have love for others. Being a blood donor is such a noble thing to do. The donor does not know to whom his/her blood will be given and the donee does not know where the blood came from.
World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) : Give Blood for those who give life campaign poster.
Beauty-Queen Approved. Miss World 2013 2nd Princess and head organizer, Bianca Saldua gives her “thumbs-up” to donating blood and giving life at World Blood Donor Day.
(L-R) Miss World Philippines 2013 2nd Princess and Head Organizer, Bianca Saldua together with Ramonito Martin, Dra. Ma. Victoria Abesamis, Col. Joel Terragoza, Moleen Ailenette Del Rosario, Marissa Del Mar, Marianito Dabalos, Rodel Martinez, Dr. Melvin Jude Katapang, and Ob Del Rosario.
WWBD Campaign Poster
Introducing Blood Donor Advocate, Col. Joel Terragoza
Cadets registering for the blood donation drive at Fishermall
A glimpse of the blood donation drive at Fishermall.
WHO encourages all countries and national and international partners working on blood transfusion and maternal health to develop an activity plan to highlight the need for timely access to safe blood and blood products in the prevention of maternal deaths. In line with this, the Department of Health (DOH) is encouraging the public to voluntarily donate blood to improve the quality and boost the supply of blood and blood products for emergencies through the Philippine Blood Disease and Transfusion Center. Its vision? Safe blood for all.
To the organizers particularly Bianca, Louie and Gian thank you for having MissTolentino.com become part of this event.
“Topical creams and anti-aging regimens can only do so much. If you want to take care of your skin, you should also watch your diet. Remember: garbage in, garbage out. The condition of your skin can be a reflection of what you eat.”
– Dr. Mylah Joven, Dermatologist
A firm believer of the anti-inflammatory diet, Dr. Mylah Joven, a dermatologist at the Makati Medical Center, says that inflammation is the one of the major causes of skin aging. Sunlight is made up of ultraviolet (UV) rays. When you are not protected by sunscreen, especially if you’re out in the sun from 10AM to 4PM, UV rays can cause visible inflammation (sunburn) as well as inflammation on a cellular level. This leads to wrinkles, pigmentation problems (freckles, melasma), uneven complexion, and dull, blotchy skin…
***
From the right creams to use, the huge debate on chocolate to the benefits of getting a monthly diamond peel, dermatologist Dr. Mylah Joven dishes out on her skin care secrets Jane’s like you and me can benefit from.
My interview on this spunky doctor comes out on Health.Care Magazine’s June 2014 issue. Available soon on all National Bookstores nationwide!
Dr. Mylah Joven shares her dermatologist approved skin care secrets with Miss Tolentino. The Health.Care Magazine article comes out this June. Stay tuned!
Aside from being a practicing Neurologist and the Dean of St. Luke’s College of Medicine, Filipino physician Dr. Brigido L. Carandang, Jr. is a game changer.
From his infamous curriculum overhaul to generous scholarship grants, Dean Carandang is breakingnew ground to develop not only excellent clinicians but a more compassionate set of doctors.
“Going beyond the classroom when it comes to learning and becoming caring and better doctors for their patients. This is my vision for the students of St. Luke’s Medical.” – Dean Carandang
What makes this educator so controversial?
He is challenging the educational system. He wants to create more coffee shops in replacement of the usual classrooms. He is adamant in raising the standards of admission and challenges his students to go beyond getting thelicense.
However, the vision to get the best students comes with its challenges. The Dean encourages raising funds for these scholars. He wants the general populace to know that funding for someone else’s education is a cause worth pursuing, more so, if that same student is able to give back to their community. You want the best doctors? Start them young. Help fund and raise quality doctors.
The Dean introduces the infamous ‘Harvey’, a human prototype.
Back in the lab, Miss Tolentino gets acquainted with a human head sliced in half.
Meet some of the permanent residents of the college.
Real human skulls for closer inspection and study by medical students
Human Brains. Yes, they are real.
A painting commissioned by the Dean which is hung in the student library features a young student taking a nap midst a number of books. I found it funny. Any idea why? 😉
“The real game changer isn’t something external; it is internal. It is the way we think and grow. It is moving from that “fixed” mindset about teaching and learning, and moving to the “growth” mindset…Some learn better in isolation, while others excel in collaboration…We have to stop looking for standardized solutions to try and personalize learning.”
– George Couros
Under Dean Carandang’s leadership and tutelage, the ability to produce fantastic clinicians with a soul for the patient is possible with St. Luke’s College of Medicine.
