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Good morning and Happy Monday!
“Clear!” I shouted, an unnoticeable fraction of a nanosecond before I pressed the buttons on the paddles set against F’s chest. I watched my adolescent patient, limp and blue, for any signs of life. F was born with a complex congenital heart disease, S/P multiple “corrective” and “palliative” heart surgeries. He’s made it to 18 years old, but not without multiple hospitalizations and an almost bedridden life sustained by his inotrope-assisted <10% functioning heart muscle.
“I felt that,” he whispered, as the color slowly returned to his lips, slightly pained, yet slightly smiling. The nurses around me and I started to breathe too, as finally the paddles set against his chest transmitted joyful rhythmic beats of what was a flat line just minutes ago.
Blip-blip…blip-blip…blip-blip…blip…blip…blip…tick-tick-tick-tick-tick…
I work my way through ascending scales on the grand while the metronome clicks a steady MM 208, part of my daily three-hour discipline. I do this before I even hit the introductory chords in B of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Now I am at home, but later, I practice in the concert hall with the orchestra. Now it is technical, mechanical; but later, it will be performance grade emotion. I can play with my eyes closed. I don’t even notice, because I get lost in the music, in another world, perhaps in Tchaikovsky’s Russia, nursing the great tragedy of unreturned love. I hardly notice as tears form and roll gently down my cheeks…
Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tock-tick-tock…
I subtly glance at the huge wall clock behind the couch, strategically placed so that my young client would not notice me checking out the time while she pours her heart out. She tells me how difficult it is for her to cope with the pressures of being a teen, and how she feels her parents have no time for her. She mentions this one girl in school who is particularly mean. At the last counseling session, I advised her to put herself in the girl’s shoes, to try and understand the girl’s behavior.
Today, my patient tells me the girl’s story: she found out that this girl was a scholar, picked by the school nuns from a poor community they are supporting. Her father was killed years ago in street violence so she was being raised by a single mom who worked as a seamstress for the nuns.
After one week of observing, she noticed that the girl always disappeared into the school chapel at lunchtime. Her classmate was skipping lunch because she had no money. A few sessions ago, we both laughed when I reminded her to get a snack before our counseling sessions, because she was quite the grump when hungry. My eyes well up when she tells me that, last Friday, she secretly paid for the girl’s lunch. Her eyes shine for the first time in weeks. I am proud of her. Even prouder when she tells me how helping someone else made her feel more grateful for her own beautiful life. As I glance up the clock, the session comes to an end too soon…
Tick-tock-tick-tock…
The classroom clock ticks loudly while the class sits in dazed stupor as I derive the equation on the board. I can’t blame them. Not everyone has the same fascination for the more practical applications of physics theories.
One day, I told them in my head, you will want to be in several places at one time. And that will be the day you will appreciate Rosen’s and Einstein’s particle metrics and solutions.
I imagine a wormhole right in front of me as I glance at their glassy eyes. As far as this class is concerned, I am probably invisible anyway. So they don’t notice as I walk right into that wrinkle in time-space…
And end up here. I am in India and I am writing.
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My debut on TBR 3.0 #theblogrounds Comeback. The theme is “Alternate Universes”. Not necessarily in this order but the write-up describes what might have been had I not pursued medicine: my best subject/course when I was in high school and college (straight 1.0s), the major I signed up for (Intarmed was only an extra tick-box), my deepest dream “career” (although I realized a lot later that I am relatively mediocre compared to some of the really gifted ones out there), and a true to life experience that describes a core element of who I am and why you can take the girl out of Medicine, but you can’t take Medicine out of the girl. I will always be a doctor, even if I go and sit and dream and do something else.
Warming up this blog for future possibilities.
Photo credits: National Geographic
So when my physician colleague, co-alumnus, fraternity brod and fellow blogger The Bone Doc sounded out the possibility of reviving The Blog Rounds, I was all excited and couldn’t wait to redress my blog: Pinay Megamom.
Life took over, as it always does, and very succinctly, I only had time to change just three things: my domain (hooray, finally got my own!), to my blog name the MD suffix, and to my headline, I added the word “doctor”.
Yes, I was very reluctant to reveal my profession/educational background when I started blogging back in 2007. Not really for reasons of security, but because before I was blogging with a community of Filipina mothers, and I didn’t want to be pigeon-holed as “the doctor”. I did that for about two years, before work became really busy and I moved overseas and blogging became less cool. So the blog was dormant for the better part of the last six years.
But now here I am. Why am I doing this? I am not even sure I will have time for it. I am not even sure anyone will bother to read what I write.
I have to admit that recent world events, where “alternate truths” have taken on a life of their own and have played a huge part in shaping the destiny not just of sovereign nations but perhaps the world and the universe, have had a lot to do with it. I have seen social media revolutionize the spread of information, both good and bad, factual and… well “alternatively factual”. This same volleying is being played out in the fields of medicine and health.
I’d like to quote another fellow man of the white coat, Dr. Atul Gawande (who also happens to be a famous writer and surgeon), who said in a commencement speech to Caltech students in 2016:
Today, you become part of the scientific community, arguably the most powerful collective enterprise in human history. In doing so, you also inherit a role in explaining it and helping it reclaim territory of trust at a time when that territory has been shrinking.
I have come to the conclusion that we, as physicians, have a moral obligation to take that “explaining” beyond the confines of our consultation rooms. Hence, Pinay MegaMom is re-born, this time, conferred with a hard-earned, well-deserved medical degree (among other qualifications).
And now (drum-roll) for TBR 3.0 Inaugural Topic: Alternate Universes.
My fellow MDs, at one point or another (maybe in the past, or maybe now and ongoing), I am sure you have thought of some other career.
So for our inaugural blog rounds, please use any of the following writing prompts.
If I were not a doctor, I would have been…
If I were not a [insert your specialty here], I would be a…
When I retire from my medical career, I would …
Leave a comment with the link to your write-up by Saturday, May 6, 2017.
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I was getting conflicting information on whether I can cook with a glazed, decorated tagine (some said yes, some said no), and I was told I had to ‘prime’ it so that the glaze doesn’t leech into the food and change the flavor.
In the end, the couple who gave it to us insisted that it could be used for cooking and not just for serving. This was based on reliable information from another common friend who had lived in Morocco and continues to use these decorated ones for cooking to this day. And I just decided to prime it with whatever I had in the house this weekend, after all, it’s my first free weekend in weeks!
I literally raked through my freezer and found some frozen fish fillet, and through my pantry and found some bottled herbs and spices (Mrs. Dash, basil and rosemary). Turned the oven up to 200°F, threw the stuff into the tagine with some olive oil and topped with tomato sauce, and forgot about it for about an hour.
Voila! Pretty good sarciadong isda, very tender and flaky, with not a trace of glazed earthenware taste. And tagine is intact.
Forking through this fish dish brought back some tagine memories from our past life living in NYC. My first taste of Moroccan food was when my husband and I lived in New York and were adventurous with our food picks. I had lamb tagine served in what else but a tagine at this place the name of which escapes me right now. Somehow I am remembering the name Blue Orange, or was it Blue Tangerine? It was also the first time I had couscous and had no idea what it was. My husband and I launched into a debate as to what kind if grain it was (barley, lentils?) only to discover later it is closer to being a pasta product and not a natural grain at all. I was enjoying the new tastes, textures served in a funny looking dish that looked new to me, while Euro futbol blared on the wide-screen at the bar attracting crowds more interested in football and liquor than the cuisine.
Nuff said, kids are trying to insinuate themselves again (quite physically, between myself and the computer). In conclusion (like a true experiment), using the tagine was easy enough, and I will use it next week to make lamb tagine (got the recipe from BBC.com) and couscous. If anyone has other recipes to share, those would be appreciated.
]]>“Don’t take too long…” Hahahahahahahaha… That would be the day. Books and me – now there’s a relationship that would last forever. Harder even to make me choose just 15. Besides, that list would include such an eclectic and varied spread of stuff: from “The 7 Habits” to “Molecular Basis of the Pathogenesis of Bacterial Disease” to “Bonfire of the Vanities” to “Le scaphandre et le papillon” – I am losing my English version of this book by the way… maybe I lent it.Yoohoo, whoever borrowed it, please return.
So I decided to focus on one genre – Kids’ books. I’ve always wanted to review my kids’ books on this site, but I’ve really lost hope in being able to blog regularly that my kids would probably be in college by the time I finish (or start?).
So here goes, without thinking too much:
1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Photo is from Eric Carle‘s website
My daughter J was only 6 months old when she picked this out from Fully Booked in Rockwell. She was in a stroller and as we rolled by the kids’ books aisle, this was at her eye level. Can’t blame her for picking it up intuitively: the cover art is very attractive, as is the rest of the inside of the book, and as is true of all of Eric Carle’s books. The reason we all love them is because of the simple yet meaningful stories, plus Eric Carle’s characteristic art. Check out The Official Eric Carle Website for more of his work. My kids have about 1/3 of his books, including Mister Seahorse (see below). One of my dreams is to take the family one day to his museum in Massachusetts, USA.
2. Fuzzy, fuzzy fuzzy! by Sandra Boynton
Photo from Sandra Boynton’s website: https://sandraboynton.com.
Another one of my daughter J’s picks that same day she picked out #1 at Fully Booked. Everyone just so loves Sandra Boynton’s silly prose and her cartoon art. This book is perfect for babies as it is ‘interactive’. The textured art allows young babies ‘touch and feel’ the book, while enjoying the funny and memorable narrative. ‘Moo, Baa, Lalala’ is another favorite, and I still remember my young nephew Mark who at 2 years old, had memorized the silly lines from this other signature Boynton book.
3. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Photo Credits: Amazon.com
A classic from the 40s that kids love. They were one when they recited from memory, and almost two when we would go through saying Good Night to everything, just like in the book. Perfect book to tuck them into bed with and to introduce the concept of rituals – what do we do before we go to bed?
4. The Runaway Bunny also by Margaret Wise Brown
Photo credits: Amazon.com
We always end up hugging each other after reading this book. More poignant now that they are five and tend to do really naughty things. Perfect book to reinforce the notion that no matter how much kids stray, their parents would always run after them and love them, and be ready to take them back anytime. To think this was written too in the 40s, and the message has withstood time.
5. Olivia by Ian Falconer
Photo credits: Amazon.com
Who doesn’t love this cosmopolitan piglet who goes to museums and dreams of Maria Callas? I immediately fell in love with her even before we had kids. Launched in 2000 just before hubby started a fellowship in Manhattan, I couldn’t help but imagine that one day, I would have a kid who would visit the MoMA and paint our walls with their own interpretation of Pollock. (At least half of that dream has come true… haha!)
6. Haluhalo Espesyal by Yvette Fernandez
Photo credits: Anvil Publishing
“Dear MJ&E, Let’s eat! Love, Tita Yvette” This book is quite meaningful to us for many reasons. 1st, it is a perfect embodiment, whether realistically or metaphorically, of our Filipino culture: the food, the fusion, the melding of various ingredients to come up with something surprisingly delicious and resilient. 2nd, The story’s heroine, Jackie, is Ninang Jackie to our daughter J, of the same given name. Our daughter J loves to go through this book and pretend to eat through the ingredients (“Mmmmm…. beans, mmmm… gulaman… “- Jill Arwen Posadas’ illustrations just makes it look so yummy!), apparently just like her Ninang Jackie. We miss Jackie sorely, but we are so happy to have this book from Yvette, Jackie’s sister, to remind us of all the good times we spent together eating. (Yvette’s profits from this book go to Jackie’s charity Carewell.)
7. A Pig Called Pete by Alan Bowater and illustrated by Pete Pascoe
Photo credits: Pete Pascoe’s Website
“MJE, Best wishes. Pete Pascoe, Melbourne 2007”
This jetsetting pig has been to New York, Paris and Egypt – well actually, he doesn’t ride jets, he has wings! Imagination goes a long way in this endearing story, which I chanced upon the Melbourne street market, and got the illustrator to sign it himself! I didn’t think I’d see Pete Pascoe again, but I did a few months later during another trip to Melb, and ended up buying a whole lot of books from him to give away as gifts. It is now available commercially through a UK publisher, Blackwell, and will be launched soon on Amazon.
8. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)
Photo credits: Amazon.com
I am Sam… Sam I am – the rhyme and alliteration of Dr. Seuss in this classic book makes it a perfect book for early readers. Repeating sounds reinforce reading patterns in young minds (box, fox, house, mouse, will not, cannot), plus the book itself is about being both persistent (Sam) and adventurous. This, along with Hop on Pop (which unfortunately the kids sometimes take too literally with MegaPop), are among our Theodor Seuss Geisel favorites.
9. Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle
Photo from Eric Carle’s website: https://www.eric-carle.com/Seahorsesmall.gif
“To my wonderful babies MJ&E, I love you all so much! Papa” is the dedication MegaPop put in this book in June 2005. There was no occasion, but he fell in love with the book while browsing. It was a warm reminder of his role as a father to the kids. Oh, we so love Eric Carle’s art, and we so love the warm message in this book! But the kids loved our “role play” of the various characters Mr. Seahorse meets along the way, all fathers with their unique roles in caring for their young.
10. Lost in the Woods by Carl Sams II and Jean Stoick
Photo credits to Lost in the Woods Website
“J,M&E, Welcome to the world! Enjoy the wonders of nature! Jean Stoick and Carl Sams II” is the dedication that came along with “Dear J,M and E, Happy first birthday! This book has been on the NY Times best-seller list for several week. I along with the photographer authors whom I met, wish you the best this beautiful world brings. Love always, Lola Pops and family.”
My Auntie Pops, with whom I went to many a trade fair when we still had no kids and were living in Maryland, found this book at such a fair. We so love the nature photography in this book, as well as nature’s lessons. The scenery reminds me of our past living in the US Northeast, and of the kids’ roots in that area. It was also our first inkling into our son’s photographic memory – at one, he could pick out animals (squirrels, chipmunks, etc… from a stack of flash cards.)
We have taken to heart the advice to enjoy nature, and while we don’t have much in the way of “woods” in the Philippines, our advocacy is in preserving the Philippines’ coral reefs. Our kids see our example by accompanying us to annual coastal clean-ups around the country.
I wrote Jean and Carl through e-mail in Jan 2005:
“Dear Jean and Carl,
My name is A_. I am the mother of 14-month old triplets MJ&E, who just absolutely adore your book Lost in the Woods. My aunt P.J. gave them an autographed copy with a dedication from you. I believe she must have bought it at the trade fair in Maryland last 2004.
I have attached a picture of my husband, I, reading the book to the kids. My son E is very precocious when it comes to animals and can easily identify them in photographs. He is the one with the wide grin in the attached photo.
We’ve been living in the Philippines for almost a year now. Although wildlife is markedly different from those in your books and photographs, your message is universal. My husband and I are avid recreational divers and we were involved (at least before the triplets came along) in some coastal restoration projects in the Philippines. Your book has inspired us tremendously and I am sure that it is doing the same for the next generation.
I wish you further success in spreading your message. The world needs more people like you.”
They actually responded but I have sadly lost the response! But it did go something like this – that I was the inspiration, for being a mother to triplets. 
11. This is My Friend by Mercer Mayer
Photo credits: Internet Book List
I bought this book when I was in college and I remember my mom asking what I was doing buying kids’ books. I told her “for my future kids”. Did I have foresight or what! In fact, my mom just reminded me recently of that conversation, as she uncovered at their house (the house I grew up in) stacks of kids’ books which I bought long ago. My kids enjoy this book very much, as it touches on concepts so near and dear to young children, such as anger and forgiveness, selfishness and generosity. The cartoonish art lends humor to the seemingly heavy value concepts presented in the book and in the author’s “Little Critter” series. The author, incidentally, is a versatile visual artist, and his works and gallery can be viewed at his website.
12. Doctor de Soto by William Steig
Photo credits: William Steig‘s website
“My personal favorite. JK” I received this as a gift from one of my dearest mentors, Dr. J Kramer, from my past life as a pediatrician. We shared so many common passions, including kids and kids’ books. I have many fond memories of her and my training and my work as an ambulatory and ER pediatrician in that Chicago hospital. Doctor De Soto is a mouse dentist who decides to help a fox with a toothache but the latter is ungrateful and ends up wanting to eat the good doctor even after all the help. The story has a moral yet is absurdly funny, so Steig-esque (like his Shrek series) and makes a great pre-visit to the dentist read.
13. Next Please by Ernst Jandl and Norman Junge
Photo credits: Amazon.com
The kids adore this book even if there are not too many words. Every other page just says ‘Next, please’. But part of the fun is looking at the broken toys and how they cope with their respective maladies in this book about waiting for the doctor. The kids, call the doctor “Owo” after all, their real Owo is a doctor who fixes broken bones. Even more uncanny is the the toy doc’s resemblance to Owo, haha!
14. C’est moi le Roi ! (“I’m the King!”) by Nathalie Dieterle
Photo credits: Kaleidoscope.com
As you can imagine, it’s the boy who loves this book about a lapin whose “power” gets to his head when his maman gives him a golden crown one day. I bought this from a friend whose son attended the French school with my kids and found that it was a great way to teach the language and at the same time teach some values about bullying. In my search for an image, I have discovered that it has since been translated into English and is available at Amazon.com. The original French is already out of print though, which makes this copy a keeper.
15. Time for Bed by Mem Fox and Illustrated by Jane Dyer
Photo credits: Amazon.com
“Dec. 2003. Dearest MJ&E, Welcome to this big beautiful world! We hope to visit with you sometime soon! Love, R&J Romero” That visit hasn’t happened, and we were too dazed to even say thank you for this book when we got it at the triplets’ first Christmas. But we have since said thanks although we’re still waiting for that visit. The universal message of “I love you, good night” in lovely, soothing rhyme, complemented by equally soothing art that makes this another perfect bedtime book. That explains why after all these years, it is the most worn-out book the kids have. I’ve had to tape torn pages over and over, and glue the spine back to the book at least twice. Written by Australian Mem Fox, illustrated by American Jane Dyer, and printed in Singapore – some messages just cut across geographical and cultural boundaries. This book promises to be a hit, wherever, whenever.
]]>Mula sa Melbourne, Australia, isang night shot mula sa Observation Deck ng Rialto Tower, isa sa mga pinakamataas na gusali sa Melbourne…
Mula Singapore naman, isang kuhang dapithapon mula sa itaas ng Hilton sa Orchard Road. Gustong gusto ko ang tanawin kung saan nagsasama ang modernong arkitektura sa katutubong arkitektura.
Mula sa Chicago, Illinois, USA, kuha nang tanghaling tapat, mula sa isang ferry boat. Ang lumang Navy Pier sa background ng sikat na skyline ng Chicago.
Nguni’t ang aking paboritong gusali, mga simbahan ng Pilipinas. Napili ko ang simbahan ng Sta. Monica sa Minalin, Pampanga. Siguro sa lahat ng kuha rito ay ito ang pinakamaliit kung isusukat ang taas ng gusali. Nguni’t katulad ng sinabi ko sa isang lumang post ko tungkol sa simbahan na ito:
“Somehow, I feel more insignificant inside this church than I did amidst the skyscrapers of Melbourne.”
Nakapangliliit nga naman, dahil ang simbahang ito ay 400 years old na, at isang survivor ng pagputok ng bulkang Pinatubo at kung anu-anong mga delubyong idinulot ng kalikasan sa bayan ng Pampanga.
Ito ang aking lahok para sa L.P. ngayong linggong ito. Ang tema ay gusali. Mahalin natin ang sariling atin – bahagi ito ng ating nakaraan at ng ating kinabukasan. Mabuhay!
]]>Here I am in my hotel room overlooking the Yarra river set against an electrifying Melbourne skyline. Right away, I feel an affinity for this city.
In the cab from the airport, the approach to Melbourne rekindled memories of driving eastbound on the Eisenhower. From a distance I could catch a glimpse of what promises to be a spectacular skyline. At the right moment, it is breath-taking. Up close, it is intimidating, yet it feels comfortingly familiar. I could have lived here in a previous incarnation. (Or maybe I did – no, that was Chicago.)
It is 3 pm when I get to the hotel. Because I only have 3.5 days here, 3 of which I will be spending working my A off, I decide to make the most of this 0.5 day. I don’t even bother to spruce up. In the clothes I left Manila in and a light coat over these, I set out on a walk. My hotel is on the south bank of the Yarra.
First thing that catches my eye is “Trampoline” an ice cream store. It is the beginning of winter yet the place is packed. Very kid friendly it seems, as children were in the store, weaving in and out of queues on scooters. Makes me miss my kids.
I decided to do some shopping. Nothing like shopping to make one get over being homesick. I pass through the Arts Center Street Market, the equivalent of a “tiangge” or bazaar. The stall holders are local artisans, their goods all proudly declaring “made in Australia”.
Curiously, the stall that attracts me has whimsical art prints, and a closer look reveals children’s books in the central display. I decide to buy “A Pig Called Pete” and “A Cat Called Kitty” – both very charming stories, and I think, easy reads for my three three-year olds. Then it occurs to me to ask the fellow manning the stall, are you the writer? Turns out he is the artist! Cool, can he autograph? I ask him to dedicate the books to my triplets. That always catches attention – “Wow!” Jaw dropped, he signs it “To M__, J__ and E__.” I’m happy, but then, he stops and asks, “Can I draw 3 little pigs? I’m sorry – triplets, I can’t resist but draw 3 little pigs!” I’m even happier.
Check out Pete Pascoe’s work at https://www.petepascoe.com. Pete and writer Alan Bowater self-published these first two titles, but a “real” publisher has decided to take on these books and four new titles in the works. I certainly hope these eventually make it to the global market because they are quite endearing. I am so sure my kids will love them. I promise Pete that I will keep an eye out for his books on Amazon. Otherwise, I’ll have to come out to Melbourne again to buy the rest of the titles. (I don’t think I’ll mind that too much.)
My two other great finds at the Street Market: hand-crafted glass by Laszlo (I bought a serving platter), and Rocky Road confections by Just Sweets. Back at the hotel, I wonder if the latter will look good atop of the former.
I walk further north of the Yarra – Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, Elizabeth Street. I am in search for a Melbourne cocoa bar. And as if by divine intervention, I find Koko Black! Woohoo! A legendary Melbourne institution! The seating up front and upstairs are full, people beelined to get seated. I just had to have some of the classic dark hot chocholate so I order one to go. While waiting I buy an assortment of truffles and confections. I have these bagged because I wanted to have the drink first. I did not want my taste buds adulterated.
“One hot chocolate to go!” I am excited as I take my first sip – heaven!, even without added sugar. In fact, I’m thinking sugar might mask the subtle cocoa flavors. It is thick (I imagine that if leche flan were pureed, this would be the consistency), full-bodied, lingers in the mouth… I picture the Yarra as a chocolate river a la Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
My divine communion is interrupted by my cell phone ringing. My hosts (from work) have been trying to track me down. OK, back to reality. I savor the last drops, and walk back to the hotel in a chocolate trance. I hope that when I snap out of it, today’s experiences become ingrained in my Melbourne memoirs.
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