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Each of us desires to have a stable family of their own. We dreamt of a perfect family we could ever even fathom. I am sure everyone knows that a family comprises of a father a mother and a child or better, children. I can clearly remember of how my grade school teacher wrote the word FAMILY in the blackboard one sunny day. It was bold and capitalized. She finished it with an underline and said that it literally meant Father, Mother, I Love You but what if one of them is out of the picture? then, here comes the tough part. Broken families… could it still be called a family or just another “group of people”?

Incomplete, Abandoned, Unwanted, Discriminated, Separated, Imperfect, Unfortunate, Broken… those were the words connected to a family who has fallen apart, this is the social stigma attached to them. A family is supposed to be intact, united, loving and nourishing but due to some instances, it doesn’t. Living in a modern world today, I am aware of the many families crashing down. I have friends and I have myself to testify to that. Failed marriages, Unwanted pregnancies, Illegitimacies are the most common reasons for this. Yes, I am from a broken home. Some keep it as a secret because of the aforementioned reasons, they are shy and ashamed but I chose not to.

For 9 years now, I have been living with my hardworking, persistent and loving mother, who is a mother and father all in one for us. She has the most amazing and challenging job in the world being a solo parent. She never fails to provide us with everything though I know she is having a hard time considering that she doesn’t receive any help from my father but she always manage. I really admire her for that.

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“While the right to talk maybe the beginning of freedom, the necessity of listening is what makes the right important.”

Some says freedom is having the right to express yourself without suffering consequences. In the same manner, one way of expressing our freedom is our right to talk. On the other side of my thinking, I asked, What is the sense of our right to talk if nobody or no one just even tries or dares to listen? Will there be freedom or at least a chance to practice it?

I believe that listening is the starter and the main essence of exercising our right to talk for without it, there is no point of having that right in the first place. Listening or having a listener is a necessity. It should always be present, if not, you’ll just talk to yourself even if you have the most brilliant or the solutions to the problems of the world… It will just be wasted and be gone with the wind.

*this was my assignment for my speech class, we were asked to explain the quotation above and this was graded 96% — high enough for me…=)

I have never had my own experience relating to Philippine justice system nor have I found myself guilty of violating laws or whatsoever but being aware of the injustices happening in our society nowadays makes me think and worry, what will happen to me if ever I was on the hot seat and experiencing something that involves justice in the Philippines?

Justice in the Philippines from what I can hear and see is very difficult to achieve. I know this may sound a cliché to you but I believe it is true. If you happen to be oppressed, this is a right that you can never practice but if you happen to be rich and has many “big” connections, it is just as easy as one snap of a finger. Prejudice is very evident unlike in other countries. Our government should take actions regarding this matter but I doubt they will because they themselves happen to be involved in such controversies.

Maybe in this materialistic and selfish world most of us can never attain justice that is right for us but in God’s eyes, we will find the perfect verdict.

*This was my assignment for my Nursing Ethics and Jurisprudence concept, this is 200+ words but the real instruction was 100 words only. We were asked to write about what can we say on our justice system in our country. I didn’t get the chance to know my grade but I believe that there is not right or wrong answer in this essay. =)

The most common thing or if I may say the only thing that people answer when you ask them about Jose Rizal is that he is our national hero— idol and he is found in our 1-peso coin— icon. Sad to say that, in our modern times today, people have very limited knowledge about our national hero. The facts above are the only two things most of us know about Jose Rizal but for historians and experts; they have so much adjectives to connect with our national hero.

Bayaning Third World, a “detective” story about Rizal being Philippine’s National Hero. Commenting on the movie per se, at first I thought it is just some boring documentary about Rizal but understanding the facts exposed made me interested. The film is in black and white but it didn’t hindered my amusement because of the funny way they presented the most serious facts about Rizal. The movie is easy to understand if you are able to read about his life story or if you have tackled his life in your Filipino or Rizal subject but if not, you may get confused. Good thing, I have read and we have tackled his life in our lecture— that helped me follow through the film. This film also highlighted Rizal being a “Pilosopo” which reflected the Filipino attitude both in a good and not so good way. They also showed Rizal’s letters and documents which is commonly taken for granted to unveil the truth about his controversies. The movie made it “viewer-friendly” by face to face interviews with the involved persons and that is why I appreciated Rizal’s significant others behind their names.

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I had a quiz a while ago on my psychiatric nursing concept about psychiatric drugs, defense mechanisms and different theories regarding human development and interpersonal relationships. While reviewing during our break, my group and I brainstormed about the different examples of defense mechanisms because it is very confusing. We argued and everything. I thought what I know was enough but it was not. I still failed the quiz with just a point away from passing. I was quite disappointed because I could have passed if I followed my first instinct nevertheless, I would like to give you the “lay-man’s” meaning and examples of each defense mechanism and let’s see of which applies to you.

1. Compensation- You excel on other things to make up for your deficiencies
example: “I am not that beautiful and so I will study hard to be the Top 1 in class.”

2. Conversion- It is something you feel biologically when stressed or pressured
example: A student experienced stomach ache before taking her examination

3. Denial- A person fails to admit or perceive a particular situation
example: The wife can’t believe that her husband is now dead.

4. Displacement- You let your feelings out to a less threatening thing
example: Your boss got mad at you, when you got out of the office, you slammed the door or you got angry to your girlfriend

5. Identification- You imitate a person through physical attributes
example: A girl blonds her hair because she wanted to be Britney Spears

6. Intellectualization- “No Emotions”
example: The girl was telling her friend that her grandfather died with no emotional expressions at all

7. Introjection- Imitating/portraying attitude, values or beliefs of another person (usually someone superior)
example: The leader of the group acted like her professor to be respected by her group mates.

8. Projection- You blame other things/people where in fact, it applies to you
example: You are mad to your friend who is very defensive where in fact, you are the one who is defensive

9. Rationalization- Giving excuses for one’s faults to avoid conflicts or low self-esteem
example: A girl bumped into a side mirror of a car while walking at the same time texting, she blames the side mirror for the pain she experienced.

10. Reaction Formation- “Being Plastic” You exhibit the opposite feelings towards a thing or situation
example: You were mad at your friend but you tell our other friends that she is very nice

11. Regression- Going back to the times when you were a kid
example: A teen-ager stomped her feet and cried when she wasn’t allowed to go to the party

12. Repression- “Mother of all defense mechanisms” You eventually forget unwanted experiences as time passes
example: The girl doesn’t cry anymore 6 months after her mother died but she still feels the pain

13. Isolation- “being objective” “being professional”
example: You hate your professor for dismissing you late but when you talk to her and asked for something, you forget that she dismisses you late and not get mad

14. Sublimation- Venting out to acceptable behavior to make up for unacceptable behavior
example: A person who likes gossips became a entertainment column writer

15. Suppression- Conscious forgetting of certain unwanted feeling or situation
example: A student doesn’t want to talk about grades after receiving a failing mark on an exam

16. Undoing- “Making-up” for your faults or mistakes
example: A friend forgot to greet you on your birthday, he gave you a cake the next day.

17. Dissociation- temporary alteration in a person’s consciousness
example: A girl was raped, when she was asked to narrate the story the day after, she forgot the details of the incident

After our review, we applied those terms for us to easily remember everything and it was fun because we got to analyze each situation. Giving examples to each kinds is more effective than merely memorizing each meaning.

What defense mechanisms apply to me? Can I say… All of the above? Well… it depends on the situation! LOL! But I believe UNDOING is the favorite defense mechanism not only for men but also for women thinking that they gain benefits instantly. LOL!

How about you?=D

The result of the Nursing Board Examination for June 2008 is now released. 27,765 out of 64,459 passed the Nursing Licensure Examination for June 2008.

Three Top Notchers are from FEU-MANILA and they are:

MARION KATRINA LARA RAGUINI 84.80- Top 7
ARTHUR MICHAEL ARIS CAMU SUNICO 84.40- Top 9
DARRA MAY RAPADA RIANO 84.20- Top 10

I am sure that you will have your big tarpaulin at FEU’s Technical Building maybe on Monday. LOL! Congratulations! May the Tamaraw spirit be with you as you live your chosen career. (sooo jealous! LOL!) I am not sure of how many percent is the passing rate of FEU but I hope it is high enough to maintain the credibility of the school.

For the complete list of the top 10, click here.

Congratulations to all the Nursing Licensure Exam Passers! You deserved it. Soon I will be the one taking that exam and I hope, I really hope that I will also be able to see my name at the Passing list. Good Luck and God Bless to you RNs. May you possess all the desirable characteristics of a nurse in serving humanity.

For the complete list of the NLE passers, click here.

I am sure everyone knows that the band Eraserheads will be having their reunion concert this August 30, 2008 at the CCP Open Grounds. Upon knowing that it was sponsored by Malboro, I was shocked.

I learned in my Community Organizing concept about the RA 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. It is stated in here that:

Section 26. Ban on Sponsorships. - Beginning 1 July 2008, cigarette and tobacco companies are hereby prohibited from sponsoring any sport, concert, cultural art or event, as well as individual and team athletes, artists, or performers where such sponsorship shall required or involve the advertisement or promotion of any cigarette or tobacco company, tobacco product or tobacco use, name, logo or trademarks and other words, symbols, designs, colors or other depictions commonly associated with or likely to identify a tobacco product; Provided further, That no manufacturer may register a tobacco brand name as a company name after the passage of this Act.

So clearly, this Republic Act was violated. I am not against Eraserheads. I actually wanted to watch their concert. My classmate even told me to register to get tickets at Malboro’s website. You should be 18 years old and above to be able to register and you must present an I.D where they can validate your age. Though they see to it that participants in this event are 18 years old and above and it was stated in RA 9211 that:

Section 25. Restrictions on Sponsorships. Beginning 1 July 2006:
a. No sponsorship shall be provided for:
1) an event or activity which bears a tobacco product brand name, unless there is reasonable basis to believe that all persons who compete, or otherwise taken an active part, in the sponsored events or activities, are person eighteen (18) years of age or older;
2) a team or individual bearing a tobacco product name, unless all persons under eighteen (18) years of age or older;
3) a sponsored event or activity reasonably believed to be particular appear to persons under eighteen (18) years old.
b. Tobacco brand sponsorship shall be prohibited except where there is a reasonable basis to believe that:
1) attendance at the sponsored event or activity will comprise no less than seventy-five percent (75%) persons at least eighteen years of age or older;
2) the sponsored event or activity will not be of particular appeal to persons under eighteen (18) years old;
3) the sponsored event or activity will not receive exposure, other than as a news item, on television or radio or the Internet, unless such exposure complies with the provisions of this Act governing tobacco marketing through those media; and
4) the principal activity associated with the sponsorship does not require above-average physical fitness for someone of the age group of those taking part.
c. All persons authorized to bear tobacco product advertisement, logos and brand names at sponsored events shall be at least eighteen (18) years old.
d. All forms of advertising associated with or ancillary to sponsorship shall comply with the marketing provisions of this Act.

It isn’t an excuse. There was a new policy implemented, why is there such a big glitch existing like this? This is not to be nerdy and all. I am just concerned. A lot of people doesn’t know about this law but I, I want some explanation regarding the said matter.

Politics? Greed Purposes? Hmmmm…

*source

Just an update from my E-learning blues…

Sadly, I wasn’t able to attend again because of heavy rains, interrupted LRT operation, also the main purpose of me going to school are my group mates whom incidentally are not there also, I have to get something from them and so I didn’t attend. Actually, I was ready to go to school, I has holding my money and ready to go out of the rain when I learned that they weren’t there, I immediately retrieve.

My mom was able to read my blog about this. She knew that I am not attending this class because at times, she is also here at home… She read my post in front of me and then she just said…

“Dianne, umattend ka na nga, binabayaran ko yan ehh…”

and so, my conscience bugged me so much and that I said to her…

“Oo, sige sa susunod na schedule aattend na ko…”

Hopefully, I can attend it already… I am soooooo hoping… =)

Thursdays were supposed to be my rest day… but sadly, I have this “E-Learning” thing that I have to attend. This is a special class where in I have to sit in front of computer, watch videos and read modules for maximum of four hours about a certain lesson. This is 5% of our lecture grade for NCM 103-B which is our major subject for this semester.

This E-learning thing started when I was in level III. I finished all the modules during the first semester of my third level but when I learned that it didn’t affect my grade, I become lazy attending this class and that is why during my second semester on my third level, I wasn’t able to finish it.

Dianne, Mag-eelearning ka ba? Wag na! Nakakatamad ehh… di naman nakakaappekto sa grade yann…
Dianne, what time e-learning natin?
Di ako magee-learning gagawa ako ng homework at mag-aaral…
Di ako magee-learning, uwi ako ng probinsya ehh…
Di ako magee-learning, matutulog lang ako buong araw…

Those were the phrases you would often hear during Wednesdays…

They say that E-learning is our training for our NCLEX examination if we want to go abroad. True enough, it really does. In some ways, it helped me understand my lessons with the videos and notes it gives. I don’t know how much it cost but surely, it isn’t cheap and this is one of the reasons why I have high tuition fee. They also say that this E-learning thing is exclusive for FEU only, no CDs are available and it is not available on the internet. This is a program from other country and that is why we should be lucky for having this opportunity but are we?

I am sure that my fellow batch mates have the same feelings as mine. I mean, we are given a rest day but we can’t have it. Given the fact that we are so bombarded with school works and overflowing toxicity with just about everything, we really need some time for ourselves. I see the importance of this e-learning and I know that it is for our own good but I believe it’s not healthy anymore.

I am guilty of having not to attend at this e-learning class because I have “more” important things to do like group works and for my community immersion. At times, I arrive late because I have to catch up with my sleep and usually e-learning schedule is as early as 7:00 AM.

I am having a hard time doing my e-learning because mistakes in the exercises given could mean a 5-minute penalty. You have to wait for 5 minutes before you can continue your module. It’s a lot of time especially if you are cramming to finish the module. Videos ran for 1 hour or more before you can move on to the next, imagine the time… now you see why there are a lot of US who take for granted this class…

As what I have said, I know the importance of it but the importance of it is for the future… how about the NOW? I have sooooo friggin’ big and bulging eye bags… I need some rest and I need to fulfill more important things that comprises the NOW which I am talking about.

Tomorrow, I will attend my e-learning class but definitely, I will be late again. See how “Pasaway” I am? I just prioritize the NOW things and things, which have higher weight if I don’t fulfill it. Am I not doing the right thing?

I am just against this. I am sorry I have to blog about it… LOL!

One message I received from my friend…

Being a nurse isn’t about grades. It’s about being who we are. No book can teach you how to be emphatic. No class can teach you how to tell a family that their parents are dying. No professor can teach you how to find dignity in giving someone a bed bath. A nurse is not about the pills, the charting. It’s about being able to LOVE people when they are at their weakest moments.

One text message that speaks a lot about nurses. Oh well, bed bath is not that easy (one fact about me: I got 56%, yes a failing mark in one of my return demonstrations during my sophomore years for the reason that I didn’t big a large towel. pfft.) Charting may seem monotonous but charting is considered one legal document and that with a single mistake, it can endanger your license as a nurse. Charting is not easy because every individual is not of the same level of health. Every individual is unique that you need to render special interventions focused on each of their needs. I have a lot to say about nursing but since I also got “a lot” of things to do, I would stop here first and wait for my next post.

P.S
I am so in high level of toxicity because of my community organizing concept (to be blogged soon..LOL!). I miss clinical setting. =( (I just stole some minutes in my studying time just to post this. LOL! i hope it does make sense…)