Anyways, the new year for me and hubby began with a lot of work. Yes it was a holiday, but our clinic was open due to some emergency cases. Our life is now consisted of work and series of more work. Oy, don’t get me wrong ha? I am not complaining…it is just that even if we are at home, may mga pasyenteng pumupunta sa bahay para magpagamot. Yan ang buhay country doctor…always on the run to save life and cure sick people. It’s not bad at all…for we take it as a challenge and yes it is also an opportunity to earn more money. Money is not everything but we invested a lot, and so we must work hard in order to get it back. Kaya nga si Tita Poorshya niyo ay nag bade goodbye na sa web designing to concentrate on her present career.

Hehehe, from web designer to a nurse! Nurse like Florence Nightingale? Hehehe, I am far from that but I am on my way to become one. Nightingale worked hard to educate herself in the art and science of nursing, and that is what I am doing now. Hubby suggested I should take nursing continuing education. But as of the moment, kontento na muna akong mag practice sa clinic mismo. Hindi ko pa kasi gaanong feel ang trabahong ito.

Well, well…life is full of surprises, changes and learning. Not long ago, I took web design continuing education. There I learned PHP, CSS, HTML, XHTML, JAVASCRIPT, PHOTOSHOP, ILLUSTRATOR and etc. Ito naman ang pinag-aaralan ko ngayon: Ultrasound, ECG, Injection (hypodermic and muscle injection), Infusion, blood sedimentation and all medical administrative work. Learning the first two and of course administrative task were quite simple, but all the rest simply made me sweat blood. One unforgettable experience is drawing blood, and my first victim was Kathleen. When I saw hubby took patient’s blood, it seemed like an easy job. But when I hold the syringe on my hand, the feeling was completely different. Besides, Kathleen’s veins were so hard to detect and making me so worried that my lousy skill would hurt her. But luckily hubby was standing at my side and gave me guidance and I successfully made it. Hay naku, it looks like I need more time before I could master this job…

1. ICE

This year’s December 25th is not only Christmas but it also happen to be my 25th Christmas celebration here in Germany. Dati rati, lagi akong umiiyak kapag Pasko dahil miss na miss ko ang aking buong pamilya sa Davao. Napaka-dry and near to lifeless kasi ang selebrasyon nila dito. It took me a while before I finally get adjusted, but still I can’t avoid feeling melancholy and pensive. Well…c’est la vie!

But tell you what? This time it is absolutely different. This Christmas is one of my happiest and most memorable of all times. Why? It is because we are lucky WE achieved many of our goals this year. AND I am lucky to have a husband with a good business head on his shoulders. I am lucky to have my eldest son to be proud of. Lucky to have a daughter like Kathleen, lucky to have Gillian who tells me daily he loves me “and everything” and he will often thank me for making him meals or playing with him. And I am lucky to have a loving, supporting and understanding parents, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews. Like I said we achieved a lot of our goals this year, not only us here but also my whole family back in Davao.

I can write a long story kong bakit ang Paskong ito ay isa sa pinakamasaya kong Pasko, but I’d rather not say anything. Hehehe, as if hindi ko alam na maraming *familiar non-blogger enviers lurking here na nag-aabang lang nang pagkakataon para masabi nilang: “Ayan nagyabang na naman si Beng.” *Merry Christmas and peace be with you bad tongues and wicked ears.

Life is full of…mysteries, happiness, pains, difficulties, possibilities, beauties and blessings.

Simple Christmas celebration at home. Thank you Lord for everything!

My son Ivan took his masters last year, and now he’s working at a big firm in Neuss and appointed to a high position just after a few months.

My two sweet makulets…waiting for more Christmas gifts.

The most loving and selfless person I’ve ever met. He keep on telling me not to buy gift for him, but I did this time. He simply deserved it…

Family’s Christmas present: Cookie! A Labrador Retriever.

Last but not least…si Lola niyo.

To all my beloved friends,

Christmas is upon us and this season, this year, this moment is the perfect time to remember wonderful Christmases of the past and reflect on how we want to make this Christmas just as joyful.

I hope and pray that your holidays will be filled with thousands of little joyful happenings that bring you peace, comfort and happiness.

With all my love,
Tita Beng aka Tita Poorshya

Hindi sa sinasakyan ko ang nagbabagang usapan na ito. It is just that the behaviour of this stupid spoiled brat reminds me of some incidents I witnessed before. The Tracy Isabel Borres in us or better to say the bad in us. Hindi lang kasi si Isabel ang umaarte ng ganyan, I find that even matured educated people are acting in a totally irrational manner.

When I was in Davao, I met a group of Balikbayan from Germany during the Caracoles Festival in Samal Island last May. With them are their husbands. Matagal bago nagsimula ang naturang programa nang festival kaya napagpasyahan kong kumain muna kami nang aking mga anak. Yong table ng mga balikbayan ang may bakante pa kaya I asked them if we can join. Umoo naman sila kaya ayon nagtake a sit na ang Tita Poorshya niyo and my two makulets. A waitress came after a few minutes and so we ordered our food. Habang naghintay sa pagkain nakipagkuwentuhan muna siyempre ako sa mga nakaupo doon. Small talk lang baga like: saan ka sa Germany, ilang taon ka na doon, anak mo ba ang mga yan, saan ang asawa mo at iba pa. I learned from them na doon na pala sila sa Samal nakatira. Pensionado na siyempre ang kanilang mga jowa kaya they can afford to stay there for good and build a mala palasyong bahay. One of the German guy told me that he felt like a king daw doon. Kibir ko ba, hindi naman ako interesado kong anong pakiramdam niya. Gutom ang naramdaman ko kaya I was getting impatient na dahil ang tagal dumating nang pagkain. Nakulele pati ako sa kayabangan nang aming ka-table. Heneweys, I was so grateful talaga as our food was served. I was also hoping they will leave me alone habang ako ay lumalafang. Teach kasi nang mader ko when I was a kid na huwag magkuwentuhan habang kumakain.

Sorry pero da makuwentong grupo did not refrain from talking. Me full mouth and no choice than to tango nalang nang tango. Maya-maya, a Badjao kid approached our table at naupo sa isang bakanteng silya. The self-proclaimed donyas were aghast at ipinagtabuyan ang bata. They uttered the same words Tracy Isabel Borres spoke on her Fisbuk blog. Kadiri kid, mabaho, madungis and etcetera. At kesyo ang mga Badjao daw ay parang peste, sila daw ay nakakasira nang view sa Davao at kong ano-ano pang salita na nakakapanting sa tenga. Holy cow!!!

I did not say anything, basta’t kinawayan ko ang waitress and asked her to bring extra plate and kubyertos for the kid. The child was obviously hungry. It was also obvious na hindi nagustuhan nang mga ka-table namin ang ginawa ko dahil bigla nalang silang umalis without saying a word. Si Kathleen nga na dito lumaki at sanay sa lifestyle dito ay naawa din sa bata. Ibinigay pa niya ang Coke na nasa backpack niya pati pa ang souvenir t-shirt na kabibili lang namin. Ano at sino ba silang umasta nang ganun? Marami sa atin ang ala Tracy Isabel. Mga ignoranteng matapobre dahil lang nakaangat or umangat. What a shame!

How true, how true…

People are blinded by money. People are blinded by power. People are blinded by pleasure.
People who are blinded by their own pursuits and pleasures are blinded about the reality.
People who put their desires ahead of everything are “spiritually blind”.

Kita niyo? The group I mentioned is only one of the good example. And this kind of incident happens everyday I think at hindi lang during “immersion”. Maraming Tracy na kababayan natin ang nagkalat sa mundo at nasa mismong bayan natin. Sana naman we should not forget who we are or where our families started. Don’t forget those who made you and where you come from. Kasabot?

Our topic of today class…is about Bisaya. Para sa mga tega northern part of our country, FROM DI ka (from the province) if you are a native Bisaya speaker. Hehehehe, eksperyens ko yan when I was in college (Manila). Tingin nila, I was lower than them dahil nga Bisaya eh. Pero dahil ako ay palaban, hindi umubra ang pang mamata nila sa aken. At lalong wa epek sa akin nang may nagsabi nito: “Tega Davao ka pala? Dinig ko marami daw mamamatay tao doon”. I raised my left brow and replied: “Yes, isa sa kanila ay kaharap mo!”. You may believe me or not, tumahimik ang mundo ko matapos kong sabihin yon.

Hindi lahat nang mga Bisayang katulad ko ang may lakas loob na sumagot. Some if not many, felt intimidated kaya madalas nilang tinatago ang tunay nilang background. Kagaya nang mga na-meet kong mga kababayan natin. Yong isa ay nakilala ko sa isang party noong araw sa Freiburg. She was the first who asked me kong tega saan daw ako sa Pinas. I said I am from Davao and she said she’s from Cebu pero hindi na daw siya marunong mag Bisaya dahil super tagal daw silang tumira sa Maynila. It could be true…kaso lang ang intonation nang kanyang pagsalita nang Tagalog is soo Bisaya. Alam niyo na…Bisaya matigas ang dila. Well anyways, few minutes later…may iba pang mga bisitang dumating. That lady tagalang hilaw approached the newly arrived guests. Ayon nagbeso-beso sila at bumanat na nang kuwento itong si Ms. Hilaw. She was talking in Bisaya!!! Kakasabi niya lang sa akin na hindi na siya marunong and all of a sudden…nag Bisaya siya? Ngeekk what a fake.

Just recently may na-meet ako ditong Pinay. Nagtagalog siya siyempre, madali lang ang usapan namin dahil may lakad pa akong iba. The next time we met, ayon binanatan niya na ako nang kuwento na tega Cebu nga siya and that hindi na siya marunong magbisaya dahil doon na sila tumira sa Maynila etc. etc. etc. Ilang beses ko nang narinig ang ganyang tell-tale, it’s getting tiresome na ha. I was annoyed na talaga pero pinagbigyan ko pa rin. In between her blahs…medyo nagkandahirap na siyang magtagalog. Kaya I told her na: “Oy alam mo, mabuti pang magbisaya nalang tayo para hindi ka na mahihirapan pa.”

The bottom line of the story is that one should be honest and true to oneself, to avoid embarrassment or awkward situation.

Why pretend to be someone you’re not? Are you afraid that people might belittle you? Or are you ashamed of your roots? Eh ano ngayon kong Bisaya? Ano ba ang dapat diyan ikahiya? Wala!

Concerning the people naman na mahilig mangutya sa mga Bisaya. I think they are brainless that’s why they do that…pangungutya sa kapwa.

I am a Filipina, a Bisaya one and I am proud of it. O ano, may reklamo?

Well anyways, natuloy din ako sa madaling salita. Hubby made it possible for me to travel but not by car but by plane. I flew from Schönefeld, Berlin to Basel, Switzerland and arrived on time in Freiburg for the Gala. There I met several familiar faces from good old days and people whom I did not expect na makakadalo doon like Mr. Andy Pador, the President of Bicol Varsitarian in Cologne. As usual, nadoon yong beso-beso at picture taking. Para baga kaming true celebrities (ngehehehe). But the real celebrity that evening was Archie or known as Matt Ranillo III with his lovely wife Linda Tupaz. He was invited to co-host the beauty contest show with Joyce. Joyce was a former fashion model in the Philippines and now an Ambassador’s wife. The Gala was successful and well attended.

It is a very long story mga kapatid kaya hindi ko nalang isulat ang mga detalye dito. I decided to let pictures speak for themselves this time, so that you can get your own impression.

With my compadre Reverend Luis, the President of Works of Mercy Association in Offenburg.

A stage pose with some of the beauty contestants.

An awardee? Nope hindi akin yan kundi sa kaibigan kong si Tessie (hehehe).

Ayan na sila…

With Linda Tupaz this time.

Past midnight na kaya some are getting ready for the Halloween.

This was taken the next day as we went to Baden-Baden

Around February this year, I am sure you remember that I wrote an entry about going or migrating back to the good old bayan kong (nating) Pilipinas. The preparation and everything went smoothly. First week of June, Kathleen was enrolled in Ateneo de Davao H.S and Gillian in Circular Home Pre-School.

Right after the enrollment stress, I went to my birthplace Butuan City to manage my kapiranggot na lupa while waiting for the result of my queries regarding our planned business. Yes, hubby and I has planned to put up a clinic in Davao for tourist and expat patients. Siyempre, kong manirahan kami doon we need a source of income to live. Di vah? Akala ko/namin dahil may mga kaibigan kaming naka upo sa may talampakan ni GMA, (who promised to help us) things will be easier for us. That is what we thought, but later I realized that almost everything is different in real. Every move that I made means dukot sa bulsa, which was tiring in the long run at nakakaloka dahil slow ang feedback. Sa madaling salita, bago natapos ang June…95% ko nang alam na hindi matutuloy ang aming plano due to several ek-ek. Kids were sad as I told them that we have to go back. Siyempre nalungkot din ako but I had no choice. Anyways, THEY put stones on our way and make it hard for us to achieve success, so we left. Hindi sa pagmamayabang but we were ready to invest €XXX,XXX.XX, an adequate amount to operate a modern clinic with own laboratory. Well sayang, but it’s not our loss but theirs…

“FROM THE WEST PART OF GERMANY…TO THE EAST”

In spite of everything, hubby still decided to pursue his plan…dito nga lang sa Germany. Dito naman sa Germany, hindi basta-bastang makapagbukas nang clinic ang isang doctor sa kong saan niya gusto. Doon lang ito maari o posible sa lugar na may bakanteng “Niederlassung Stelle” or let say “Area of Need” where there is a shortage of specific medical practitioners. We actually had three (3) choices: 1. Usedom 2. Lindenberg-Allgäu and 3. Brandenburg. We decided for Brandenburg dahil mas malapit ito sa sibilisasyon, Potsdam and Berlin for instance.

We have to move din sa lugar na ito of course and so we found a new place to live. Ito ngayon ang aming bagong tahanan.

It’s a 284 sqm. country style house, with 6 bedrooms on the second level, 2 bathrooms and one dressing room. While sa ground floor naman, we have a huge kitchen and dining, storage room, spacious and comfortable living room. There is also a sauna, a fitness and laundry room and an office space din pala which is occupied by my better-half.

Our clinic started its operation last October 1. Now, let me show around…

Below is the former “Landes Ambulatorium” (outpatient clinic) building, where our clinic is located.

The reception area…

The waiting room…

Laboratory…(not done yet)

Consulting Office 1

Consulting Office 2

…and the two medical assistants

The couple behind it.

Certainly mas masaya sana ako kong natuloy ang lahat sa Davao dahil makakasama ko na ang pamilya ko doon. But I think it was not yet the right time, so until then…I have to wait by the edge of my seat nalang muna.