That thing that sprouts in places where you least expected… Looks like a pimple at first that’s why you ignore it but after days… It becomes bigger and painful, with redness and pus inside… You don’t know what to do with it and you’re too shy to tell anyone because of that “invasive” spot. Little did you know that it spreads in some other places that is very uncomfortable… you can’t walk, you can’t talk about it and just bear the pain inside…

Here comes Online Doktora…

Online Doktora is a Filipino podcast that discusses and explains topics concerning overall health and wellness. Your ONLINE DOKTORA, Anna Katharina Garcia-Peña, RN, MD, MPH, will always be ready to answer your questions about health and wellness. All podcast episode is in Filipino (Tagalog) format that made it unique and listener friendly made for Filipinos here and abroad. You can also e-mail her for your questions and get the chance to be aired in her next episode…

Going back to the issue above… listen and be aware… (Click the link below)

http://www.bncast.com/onlinedoktora/paulit-ulit-na-pigsa/

Just a brief background of the host…
Anna Katharina Garcia-Peña is a registered nurse and a licensed physician in the Philippines. She also holds a Master of Public Health degree and an undergraduate degree in Psychology. She is currently a university professor teaching nursing courses.

And Yes, She’s my mom!

Catch her at www.annakatharinamd.com and www.onlinedoktora.bncast.com

Click here to begin praying “Ang Bagong Daan ng Krus”…

Click here to begin praying “The New Way of the Cross”…

You might also want to listen to Tagalog podcast of Word of God (Ang Salita ng Diyos) according to the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. You can click here.

God Bless Us All.

Guess how I have attended this year’s??? Hmmmmm…. (Soooo not allowed to tell )

Anyway, after attending WordCamp Philippines 2010, the first thing that I did was to update my WordPress blog and asked Jeric if he had a back-up of all the posts that I made here. Luckily, he said YES ‘cause now I don’t need to be worried of doing such.

I thought WordCamp was only for bloggers using the platform WordPress but also for website developers (don’t ask me about this, I am just a plain blogger…LOL!)

I attended 3 “breakaway sessions” in the morning such as:

• WordPress Setup and Maintenance by Markku Seguerra
• The Internet is not just for Porn (Videos can be wholesome, too!) by Kring Elenzano
• Blogging with Passion by Jayvee Fernandez

Then, in the afternoon, we were gathered at the hall/theater (whatsoever) for some talks and Q and A portion with the “Mr. WordPress” himself, Matt Mullenweg.

I thought this was just some blogging event, but I was wrong. We had certificates!!!:] too bad I can’t place it on my “Comprehensive Resume” because yes, it is not “some-kind-of-related to Nursing” Ughh.

Nevertheless, I would like to thank WordCamp Philippines 2010 organizers and its sponsors for an awesome event. I was able to spend bonding time with my family too :]

*Pardon me for this super late post. :]

A lot of people may not know about University of the Philippines Open University and may think of it as a “fly by night” University of the Philippines school but it definitely ISN’T.

UP Open University is a National Center of Excellence in Open Learning and Distance Education that offers education opportunities to individuals aspiring for higher education and improved qualifications to for Filipinos who are unable to take advantage of traditional modes of education. In fact, my mum and brother is a UPOU graduate. For more information, click here.

Distance Education means you can learn at your own pace. You have to be disciplined in reading your modules, participating in online discussions and doing your assignment. I don’t expect it to be easy but then, thinking of what it will bring to my career after finishing this degree definitely inspired me a lot. On the bright side, I now have a reason to extend my online hours… JK. :]

Enrolling and receiving my 2.5 thick modules and having to maintain a GWA (General Weighted Average) of 2.0 brought me to a tachycardic state but I a person of determination. I won’t turn back. This is it!

This is a big step for my nursing career and I hope I can make it out ALIVE. Haha!

—Student Mode [ON] —

P.S
I tore my module just so I can read the chapters when I am on duty.
I don’t want to carry those big books at work :]

Twenty-O-Nine was indeed my year, A Year of Life Changing Events.

[NSFW]  JK :]  Read through if you want to continue and want to know why…

—

2009 started filled with FUN at the same time TOXIC (really, that’s the “term”) moments— for the reason that I was a graduating student trying to spend every quality time with friends as much as possible while at the same time, meeting the deadlines and requirements for school.

Massive Case Studies… Dreaded Case Presentations… Thesis major revisions… Hypovolemia-causing Thesis defense (epistaxis=nose bleed!!!)… Tremors-causing revalidas/return demonstrations… Intracranial Pressure-rising Monthly Nursing Audit examination… (OK, I bet stop <<<– now.)

Lots of sleepovers due to above, Oh… did I mention sleep? It was rather, sleepLESS. On the bright side, lots of times to bond— gossip about school people, talk about anything we can’t talk about at school, or just doing school stuff while enjoying the company of each other… (Seriously, we really don’t have time to chitchat at school)

After all those tough, hardcore moments, (here’s the best part) I can’t believe we still had time to P-A-R-T-Y!

The greatness of LORD to me this year have brought these blessings:

• College Graduation at the early part of the year…
• Passed the Nursing Licensure Exam and Oath Taking at the mid part of the year…
• —-INSERT BUMMER MODE HERE—– at the mid to the “almost” end part of the year… (Mostly, spent Facebook-ing)
• Enrolled myself on a “Teacher Certification Program” (Yes, you got it right. I haven’t blogged about that yet but hopefully soon) and Got in for a Nurse Training Program in one hospital at the end part of the year…

In between those “Life-Changing” events, I also have fulfilled simple/little things like attended some nursing seminars/trainings, registered for 2010 election, opened a savings account, gone hospital hopping/submitted resume, and earned something in my own little ways…

With all those achievements (not to brag), I also felt confused… I almost lose hope… I felt indecisive… I felt rejected… I felt my self-esteem has been drained out from me… I was depressed— the feeling of being useless ‘cause you’re unemployed and *insert all self-demeaning things here* …

But as each day passes, I realized that this was just a phase in my life that I have to surpass. As I rise, my family, friends and most especially, God, here I am now, facing my year 2010 with my chin up and a big smile. I realized that I shouldn’t rush things because there is a right time for everything in this world. Just believe. I believed.

2009 made me gain friends and miss some… made me “mature” (well, at least for me)… made me independent… made me more responsible…

I hope year 2010 will be an awesome and splendid year for everyone.

Thank you for being a part of my H-U-G-E 2009. I wouldn’t have finished living this year without you. :]

TIME REALLY IS MOVING FAST…
IT’S JUST NOW THAT IT REACHED MY SENSES…
THAT WAS A DECADE BACK THERE!

And Oh… If you want to check out my 2008 year-ender post click here, here, here and here. (yes, It’s 4 parts. LOL)

Let’s rock 2010!
May GOD Almighty Bless Us All!

2009—-Now Signing Off!

P.S
I actually am convinced not to make a year-ended post but this year definitely deserved one and I was inspired by my good friend’s year-ender post and so, there!:]

P.S Part II
Please don’t ask me of my 2010 wish. It’s still under construction. [Having troubles of envisioning my 2010. I really don’t know what’s going to happen] Let’s just all wish for God’s will to ensue! :]

With all hopes high,
Dianne Kristin G. Peña, R.N
(Feels sOOOOoooo good to type that… :])

P.S Part III
I stopped jumping already. LOL!

I have completed Simbang Gabi 4 times including this year. I have started attending it since 2002. So far, all my wishes were granted. The awesome part was this year’s wish because it was granted even before I finished Simbang Gabi. God is reaaaaally GOOD. He truly never let me down.

My Misa De Gallo experience for year 2009 was different because I attended mass at four different churches. The first day was at the Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Tagaytay City with my College friends, third day was at the Immaculate Conception Parish, Pateros also with my other College friends and a great way to end it was by attending the last stretch of Kraft Eden Cheese, Keso De Gallo— a nationwide event coinciding with the traditionally celebrated Misa de Gallo.

I, together with my mum and brother, Jeric had the privilege to attend our last day for Simbang gabi at San Guillermo Parish Church in Bacolor, Pampanga. The mass was in Kapampangan and I only followed through the mass because of the order, I even responded in Tagalog. (I was kind of worried if I were able to complete it because I didn’t understand the homily. Hihi). It was my first time to hear a Kapampangan mass and that was a splendid experience.

Parallel to the nine-day Simbang Gabi, Eden brought the goodness of Filipino dishes to Pinoys in nine different towns including Bacolod City, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu City, Naga, Butuan City, Laoag and Pampanga.

After the mass, At least 300 “kabalens” enjoyed the “Cheesy Squash Puto” a recipe done by pupils from the San Matias Elementary School in Pampanga sponsored by Kraft Eden Cheese. I can see those pretty little smiles from them that brightened the whole event after tasting the YUMM-Y Cheesy Squash Puto. You’ll never notice that there was a veggie in it. It was some sort of an alternative for our famous Bibingka and Puto Bumbong every after a Simbang Gabi mass.

Everyone was happy eating, chatting, singing, playing and taking pictures… It was a peaceful, triumphant, and superb event. I felt the warmness of the event even though its really cold outside the Church because I was able to savor this experience with my family—the most important thing of all.

Keso De Gallo as it aims to will explore the wonders of our country’s cuisine while providing an extended feast that will bring joy and delight to as many families as possible, was indeed a great means of celebrating the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This event really brought out the true essence of Christmas. Nothing beats sharing, loving and togetherness in this season.

Thank You Kraft Eden Cheese for this wonderful experience.

“Dahil kay rami talgaga nating nagagawa pag may Eden Cheese”

P.S

My mum kept on repeating this experience to our relatives during our family Noche Buena.