Bangkok Dangerous

"kailan ako lalaya? sa anino ng pag iisa? mga rehas lang ang tanaw, nanginginig sa seldang maginaw." - eheads (NGA PALA, NAKARATING NA KO PILIPINAS, SALAMAT SA DIYOS! -12/01/08)

How does it feel to be a prisoner in an invisible jailhouse? This is what i'm feeling right now. I flew here from Manila to attend a business meeting last Saturday. My flight back was booked last Wednesday afternoon. But Tuesday night, there was news that protesters blocked the International Airport leaving no choice but to stop business - all flights cancelled - until further notice. The people are demanding CHANGE. Let the prime minister step down his office and start a new era of good governance. The world will know their plea by demonstrating a peaceful protest in one of Asia's biggest airport (infact 18th bussiest in the world) - Suvarnabhumi.

Ok, this wouldn't probably take long....and so i thought. Today is Sunday, my 9th day in Bangkok. Both local and international airports here are closed. You have to go to Pattaya (+ 2hours) or Phuket (+12 hours) then fly to Cambodia or Vietnam or Malaysia or Singapore if your flight carrier can accomodate you. Everyday, the number of stranded tourists are in the thousands. 5 days post airport seige. Booking for train (earliset available booking Dec10!), car (hotel car to Phuket - 17,000 Baht!), bus (fully booked), boat or plane (prioritize nationals - Cathay for HongKong, SQ for Singaporeans, Thai Airways for those already booked) to any destination away from Bangkok is like joining the Amazing Race! Until finally, you're too tired of thinking all the possibilities.

Shop. Eat. Walk along the streets of Bangkok. Watch CNN. Sleep. Drink. Sleep. Watch CNN. Walk along the streets of Bangkok. Eat. Shop. Plenty of things to do. A lot of sites to see. But no matter what i do, the reality is - i'm stranded, i'm stucked in prison without the jailbars.

I want to go home. I miss my family.... ganito pala ang malayo sa mga taong minamahal mo, sigh....

I AM (LEGEND) doctor

i am a member of pinoymd yahoogroups, and there has been a long email thread recently about the plight of doctors (salary, status, hirap ng buhay). I dont know if i met Carl during residency, but i sure can relate to him on the realities of training in that big hospital sa Taft Ave. Here's my response to his post.

and btw, this is not a will-smith-wannabe-post :-)

Dear Carl,

Wow, i wasnt able to read this the first time. It is a sad reality that not all of us are "Anak ng Diyos", people have the general notion that all Doctors are on the top tier of the society (financial-wise). And even if you want to tell them that we're no different from all the fresh graduates of the University, it's just hard to change such an established notion.

The truth is, having a diploma, additional two letters at the end of our name (and probably a few more post residency) a white coat and a stet hanging on our shoulders are not 100% ticket to success. We still have to work our way up and climb the long ladder to success.

The harsh reality of our economy not only affects the tambays in the kanto, the millions of mang pandoy and the countless indays. Doctors are not immune to experience the difficulties of establishing a practice.

On a positive note, we studied so many years to attain doctorhood. We met so many people along the way. All the prelims, midterms, removals, practicals, decuries and board exam made us logical people. So i'm sure all of us can pass this chapter of struggle in our career. In the end, its the benefit we contribute to the society that makes a mark to the lives of people we have touched and healed. One patient at a time.

Carl, hope you're all good in the new path you have chosen. Doctors are survivors. And to all of us, keep evolving, tandaan mo, hindi ka nag-iisa. Kudos Carl for this great contribution.

rheiboy17

is there somethin wrong huh?

after the taiwanquake (well, every netizen actually in south east asia) noticed the intermittent internet connection since late dec2006. and yes, just like singleguy said, it can really piss you off.

the weird thing about this though is that some sites easily pops out, while others do not. like this one - gmail, blogger and google (obviously came from one creator) are sites i find difficult to access at a single click, early january its even worse! i usually get timed out. i already said this to ryeurn but i thought it was just nothin. until singleguy posted a comment sayin he's havin difficulty posting at blogspot.

oh well, i hope the cables are fixed by now. the connection may have gone haywire, but it will never stop me from blogging (it may slow me (us) down though)

welcome to the wonderful world of blogging.....

peso rallies to highest in nearly six years

everyday upon opening my computer, i usually check daily news. usually headline has always been bad news - thats' what usually sells ( i wonder why people love reading bad news - uh man by nature is nossy?) but this time, its exactly the opposite - peso rallies to highest in nearly six years! this is good news. amidst the charter change, calamities, political bickering and price increases atleast there's something light you can read in the paper.

yup 6 years ago, president Joseph ERAP Estrada was still in power, it was a roller coster or should i say "like in the movies" good-will-prevail-leadership-that-did-not-happen era. He was eventually oustered and faced charges (which btw, the court proceedings is progressing at a snail pace - nothin unusual). The exchange rate was around 49. slowly, similar to other SEA currencies, we're gaining against the green buck.

there are always 2 sides of the coin, exporters are complaining since a stronger peso means less income and more competition from other countries. personally, i want our peso to appreciate even further. not drastically, but at a stable pace, so that everyone can adjust.

kudos to our overseas filipino workers who pumps dollars to the country. all your hardwork is helping your families here live a better and more comfortable life. i hope in time, the country can generate more jobs, so that there's no need for most people to go abroad.

i'm realistic to say that in my lifetime i may not be able to see the country in economic glory. the days when we were second to japan (40-50s) in asia was half a century ago. but i pray that as a nation, we unite and keep the spirit of EDSA people power alive - towards nation building. Yes, the Filipino can!

diaspora of filipinos

i was reading the newspaper a week ago and it was reported that around 1.1 million filipinos got a job abroad this year - includes nurses, doctors, seamen, teachers, engineers and domestics. yup, our brains going out of the country to get better paying jobs. most of them will return dollars to the country - our life source. no wonder everywhere you go, you will always see a filipino.

i just came from a despidida party, my batchmate is going to australia early next year to pursue his pediatrics training. our chief resident in pgh will take USMLE early next year. and most of my batchmates in UST medicine are now working in the US as nurses or as MDs. Looking at their friendster pics, chatting at YM and answering their emails at yahoogroups, i think their coping quite well. life may be different in a foreign land, but atleast they are well compensated. The baluts, menudo, bagoong, sinigang may not be available all the time but what the heck, this is the life they chose, an investment for their future as well as their children's.

its nice to see them having reunions and catchin up activities. in a way, its like home away from home. wish you all the goodness life has to offer.

and to jon cu, hey mate! i know you're used to being "down under", i never knew you were a good cook (im still wonderin if you secretely sprinkled hashish/cannabis in your menu, their f*@?#n' great)! show the aussies how a compassionate, dedicated, hard workin filipino (with matchin alar-flaring and cuss) doctor you are. i believe in you.

and uh btw, to all the filipinos in diaspora, dont forget to look back........