Venus Raj Grabs 5th Place in Ms. Universe 2010

I'm no expert in delivering top news in show business, beauty pageants and the like. But, yes, you got it right, I'm delivering a delightful news for the Filipinos - Maria Venus Raj wins 5th place in Ms. universe 2010. This is another breakthrough to the Filipinos who have waited for so long for this moment. For the devastating news that are being watched from Philippines all over the world, this may be - even for a minute - a moment that can change the country's bad image.

1st runner-up is Jamaica, 2nd runner-up goes to Australia and 3rd runner-up goes to Ukraine. The Miss Universe 2010 crown goes to Mexico's representative.

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100 Days in Bed

I always wondered if there were blogs similar to mine. These are blogs about lives of people who want to stand up once again for their mistakes. These are blogs about lives who would want to be lived in utmost reverence. These are blogs about lives who want to look forward to the success of their future. One day I was searching the internet about stretch marks. My search landed me to this page. You can click it once again, here. Just reading the blog's description has filled my heart with awe.

Two years ago, I had it all. An amazing job, a great boyfriend and a stable, wonderful family. Then my cousin died, my job went away, my boyfriend and I broke up and my Mom had a break down. This is my true story of how I went from having it all to having nothing at all. And this is my journey out - ONE FUN ADVENTURE at a time until I find my way back to me. 'Cause, after spending over 100 days in bed, I've realized, I don't want to live that way anymore.

I read some of her posts and some of them made me think, "Why, haven't I thought of that?" In an instant, I followed his blog. It’s a good read to me and it can be a good read for you too.

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A Mother's Love

A Mother's love is something

that no on can explain,

It is made of deep devotion

and of sacrifice and pain,

It is endless and unselfish

and enduring come what may

For nothing can destroy it

or take that love away . . .

It is patient and forgiving

when all others are forsaking,

And it never fails or falters

even though the heart is breaking . . .

It believes beyond believing

when the world around condemns,

And it glows with all the beauty

of the rarest, brightest gems . . .

It is far beyond defining,

it defies all explanation,

And it still remains a secret

like the mysteries of creation . . .

A many splendoured miracle

man cannot understand

And another wondrous evidence

of God's tender guiding hand.

~Helen Steiner Rice~

BVJVHYDPU3QG

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Short Hair Style for a New Look

That is how my sister and I look during our college days. We maintained our long locks for over four years. Our mom has long hair, dad likes long hair, my hubby likes me with long locks, most people here like long hair. But, we decided to threw the norms behind. How about a new look? Here's our new look now.


I feel comfortable on my hair now although I look better with long locks. I think I'm gonna stick to having a short hair for a long time. It's easier to fix or maybe less time to fix (except maybe when you'll be keeping your hair in a bun). But I don't need to do that now! And it's an advantage. Before, I spent long time taking a bath - an hour or more I guess. But when I cut my hair short, I'm out in the bathroom in no time. There's less time to spend in washing and drying short hair. It helps me save on shampoo and conditioner too. Plus, there are few tangles to deal with and less hair fall - which was my hideous problem when I had long hair. Before, my hair lacks volume. It's always easy to get volume with a shorter cut. My split ends are gone and my hair is healthy now. I like what I look now and I think it adds up confidence in me.

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A Message To My Father

The message below is originally published on my first (and outdated) blog. I'm moving it here because the event is worth remembering.

This is my Mom and Dad. The coolest buddies, well...parents, in the whole wide world! This picture was taken March of 2009 at Gerry's Grill, Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila.

When I first had the glimpse on Earth,

Never knowing anything, all naive,

A man carried me with outbursts of mirth.

This man, I felt, was uniquely amative.

When this man heard my first word,

He was very delighted doubtlessly.

He taught me more on his own accord,

Impart the whole dictionary if need be.

When he recognized my first walk,

He pushed me to move forward.

Until I had my first day at school-shock,

He remained supportive and ever on guard.

Now that I have finished school,

And have raised a family of my own.

I know he'll always be here for me,

All through these times and more.

I made this piece for you because I love you. I miss you a lot. You are still someone to look up to no matter how tall I've grown. I thank God for sending you to this world because you are truly one of a kind. I know you've got a lot of work to do but I hope this day would come out like the day you have want it to be. I am praying for your health all the time. You are the greatest hero and the family's greatest strength. We appreciate, admire and thank you for everything you have done for me and for us. Still, nothing can be better. Happy father's day, Papa.

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My ECG Certificate from CCNAPI

After three days of toilsome ECG reading, at last, I've finally earned my certificate. I'm not a pro (yet). I need hundreds - better yet - thousands of practice. Dad and Mom always wonder how my certificate looks like. So, for the benefit of the doubt, I'm now displaying a piece of paper to thousands of people with my not-so-bewitching name on it. Three days of agony is worth the wait. Plus, you get the best deal of what you have paid for - no early dismissal, no break extensions, six o'clock maximum dismissals, best instructors, finical and mind boggling exams and take home assignments, free flowing coffee, unlimited snacks (not meals), all the questions you think of asking they'll answer to the best of their abilities and, last but not the least, ambiance is conducive to learning (clean and organized air-conditioned room). Oh, I forgot to mention, hand outs are included too. There's no hassle on writing what the instructor is saying all the time. Everything is laid on the table, what you just need is to listen and comprehend.

Well that is my say. However, some of my colleagues say that lessons are fast paced. Logically speaking, workshops, like this, are (really) supposed to be swift. Reason behind it is that these seminars are only updates to what you have actually learned from four years of studying nursing. Primarily, it's distinguishing how good the student's foundation in medical-surgical nursing is. I have backlogs for this subject matter but I still read few topics days before the start of the seminar. Summing it all up, graduates who want to attend this seminar should be ready and know the basics of ECG reading. The (normal) P-Q-R-S-T-Us have been taught eagerly during college, maybe most of us were not listening that time. But you should know all the basics and the normals so you could have a pretty background of what is and what's not. Not everything is contingent to the instructor's lesson plan, understanding ECG also depends on how the student behaves before, during and after a lesson is taught.

I just hope and pray that I will be able to practice ECG reading on field (when I start working at the hospital). On August 24, I'll be attending another training on respiratory procedures. So soon...which means I'm back on reading thick books again.

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EKG Steps of Interpretation at CCNAPI

Today marks another significant tale of my life. I am already here in Manila to attend a three-day-training on electrocardiography reading and interpretation. I enrolled at CCNAPI’s (Critical Care Nurses Association of the Philippines, Inc.) main office which was located at the 8^th floor Medical Arts Building of Philippine Heart Center two weeks before the onset of the seminar. I did not count the participants on the master’s list but I am pretty sure that it’s going to be a huge class.

My day one started a while ago.

Following the road directions that I read on their site, I had no problems finding the place even if it’s my first time to go there. I left the house around 7.15 in the morning and arrived at the venue around 7.35. It is a positive thing that my house was just near the place. I surveyed the site and discovered that it is a pretty much convenient place. You’ll find good restaurants to eat at. Although they are all fast foods, I’m sure (if you’re in my place) you’ll find something interesting to eat - McDonald’s, Starbucks, Red Ribbon, Goldilocks and Mang Inasal. I just haven’t found if there are small restaurants who offer “lutong bahay.” (I’ll check that out tomorrow.)

We started around 8.30AM with a pre-test. It was so humiliating for me because I do not know most of the answers. I read a night before but only the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system. I did not realize that they will strike as with a hard pre-test…a very difficult one! But it’s a good karma; I can evaluate myself on how much I learned from my instructors at Fatima and how ready I am to face the ICU-ER-OR world.

It was a long talk - very bulky but it gets boring at times. Sometimes, I hardly ever understand the terms. But in all fairness to our speaker, Ma. Isabelita C. Rogado, she was very much patient to teach us in layman’s term. I wish I can be articulate just like her. How can she not be? She has three decades of experience – two decades of patient contact in critical care and more than a decade in teaching. She was one of the first nurses in the Philippine Heart Center and Lung Center of the Philippines. She has been the vice-president of St. Luke’s and so much more achievements that anybody could wish they would also achieve. Above all her achievements, she’s kind-hearted and very articulate (the quality that I admire most about her). Anyway, that long talk was very moving. I understood the basics, PQRSTs, rate and rhythm. But when the strips are laid on the table, I get blank all of a sudden. I do not know where to start anymore. That’s when I realize, it’s really not easy to say "ECG Easy Steps to Interpretation!" Some may get it fast, well, I say they have talent! Good for them. Some may be taking it slowly but surely. Well, that’s what I call practice. Practice is having determination. That’s the quality I need to have during and after this seminar. I must learn how to analyze and comprehend. I must be good at this. No what if's. No but's.

I’ll keep you posted again tomorrow. For now, I’ll be reading the book. Analyze some ECG strips. Answer the homework given. Oh yes, get some rest (at least).

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Sunday Sibling Surprise

Just a while ago, this silent room of ours was transformed into a laugh factory. My siblings decided to come over before I take a business trip to Manila on Tuesday. We watched previous episodes of gag shows at YouTube. We all laughed our hearts out and chortled out loud until our stomachs suffered gas pains. We had a great lunch together. We had the fraction of moment to share and tell every event in our lives. We learned to laugh at even our most serious foibles.

From this simple moment I realized that I completely managed to have fun. I miss them but I have missed most the feeling of being “light” and jovial once again. I almost forgot my dysmenorrheal pains!

Reunions make me forget the tough times in life. I cannot be with my siblings every time now because I have a family of my own which I must look and take care at all times. Being with my siblings, my “original family,” for quite some time inspires my existence. I am grateful for this moment. Every moment spent with them widens my positivities.

So, what now? Let’s pause and breakaway. Out of our busy noses, once in a while it’s better to leave what’s keeping us that way. Call your brother, leave a note to your best friend or hear Mass with your family. Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter – just SPEND a faction of your time with a loved one. Seize the moment because you’ll never know whether it will happen again. After all, there’s a time for everything in life – a time for work, a time to laugh, a time for our families and a time for Christ.

"Our family is a circle of strength and love, with every birth and every union, the circle will grow, every joy shared adds more love, every crisis faced together, makes the circle stronger." - Unknown

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The Clock Ticks the Minutes Away

As the clock ticks exactly 12, we are usually in a hurry to greet a person or a loved one a “Happy Birthday.” Who wouldn’t want to be the first to greet their special someone, right? Even before the event itself, I usually get excited on planning the things I will do for a surprise. Most of the time, I prepare my teary-eyed messages ahead of time. Today, while seeing the clock tick its way to 12, I feel distant and sad all of a sudden. It’s all because the person I am supposed to be greeting a happy birthday has left Earth for good.

In spirit and in prayers, I want to take this opportunity to greet my grandfather, Abdon Macaranas Sison, Sr., a happy birthday. Yes, you have caused us pain when you left especially on Mamang’s part. Yes, you have caused us relentless tears and days of unyielding sorrow. Yes, you have caused us silence and cold twilights in awful desolation. Yet, we should fear not. We have to stay strong and build a steadfast hope. You may have left us but that is all for a better and an unending life with Christ. In lieu of it, we need not ask for more.

My dad may not like this whole idea of posting sad events in our lives. I’m sorry, Popsy. It was a sad experience for all of us but we should not hinder ourselves from forgetting all the good memories that Papang has shared with us. Papang has lived his life to the fullest and time has come for his only chance to rest. It may not be that long since Papang left yet in six months time, we have managed to step onwards positively. We will never forget Papang. Papang will be in our hearts forever.

Now, the clock has ticked 12. As the clock ticks the minutes away, I’ve come to contemplate on this saying – You will only live once. When you get it right, once is enough.

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Letter of Intent

First of all, I want to welcome the readers, if there are any, to my new blog. Hello everyone! My family and some relatives might be reading my new blog anytime now. So, I must explain. Why did I make a new blog? My old blog, Trina's Den, is more of the past. It is more on reminiscing and the like. Well, I want to leave that behind. It’s nice to be reminiscent at some point in our lives but I think I’m doing it way too much. I had to stop. I made this blog so that I can move forward and leave my dreary and faulty past behind. I am constantly learning from my mistakes and experiences. If I’d be reminiscent the whole time, I’d be brooding all the time on the wrong things I made in my life. I do not want that to happen and I don’t want to live that way anymore.

Of the hectic schedule and more, I would love to dedicate my time posting my adventures on challenging the setbacks I have in life. It would be a pleasure to share my experiences on how I stood up for these difficulties. Because I know that through time, I will be able to find my real purpose for living. I’d be getting to share my life with the world, especially to my adversaries and those who consider me as pariah, to let them know how much strong I have become. So, I can thank them for contributing to my journey of making a new ending.

I share my journey with you and I hope you could share yours too! Let them be known. Because I believe that when we are gone, these experiences, lessons and stories of hope and love will leave a trail on the hearts and lives of people we touch. Looks may fade, riches may vanish and all other things in life may be taken back from you but these things – hope and love – can never and will never be taken away. When we are all gone, our lives will flash before our very eyes. Let’s make sure it’s worth watching.

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