Healthcare Conversations with Lola

 

In Filipino, Lola means grandmother.

I was remembering how my lola Sising and my lola Flora were both working girls helping to make both ends meet to provide for their families.  Although they were not medical doctors or homebodies, they knew how to take care of their children when they get sick.

Tonight let us remember the things we learned from our grandmothers and their approach to healthcare, tonight at 9PM MLA time on #HealthXPH.  See you on Bluesky!

T1.  What alternative medical treatments did your lola expose you to when you were growing up?

T2.  What have you learned from your exposure to your lola's approach to health and wellness?

T3.  What health advice did you receive from your lola that you could also pass on to future generations?

LET THEM Theory

The LET THEM THEORY helps you save energy and get more work done.

Four big ways that you've turned other people into a problem:

1.  You let people stress you out.

2.  You consider what other people think about you.

3.  You allow emotional immaturity in other people and in yourself to dominate your actions and how you move through your day.

4.  You constantly compare yourself with others and this makes you feel that life is unfair, and that other people are against you or competing with you.

All four of these obstacles are simply not true, so let them!

When you no longer allow people to stress you out, you have more energy.

When you allow other people to have negative thoughts about you because whatever negative they think about you is beyond your control anyway, let them.  Focus instead on the things that are within your control.

When you operate in a way that makes you proud of who you are, you authentically don't care about other people's negative opinions.

Be better than you were yesterday, no matter what others are achieving you are competing only with yourself.

We meet ourselves

I realize that no matter my approach to people, no matter if I put on a brave or friendly face, if peope don't like you they will snub you and overlook you or completely ignore you.  It doesn't matter how much effort you put into meeting them halfway.  If they are not willing, then it simply is not worth it.

On the other hand, there will be people who watch out for you and care enough to correct your mistakes and teach you how to move forward.  These are the people who matter.  Be motivated to work and improve yourself so that you can be like them.  

 

Survive

 

Learn something new everyday!

I decided to try learning how to use the Canva app on my phone.  I heard that students nowadays hardly use Powerpoint anymore because Canva is allegedly easier to use with lots of templates and designs... so i decided to try it out.  

After all, the best characteristic for learning is the willingness to try something new.

It started out with me making inspirational posters for my brother as part of my gentle reminders for him to take his maintenance meds... one poster per day from pictures grabbed from facebook and sayings/messages from my newsfeed.  Better you know it, I had created 10 designs!  I've started to get used to Canva.

As they say, practice makes perfect.  If you want to learn a new skill, you if you just want to maximize the use of an expensive cellphone so that you don't regret your purchase...

T1.  What new skill did you learn recently?

I remember when I was 17 years old, I was soooo excited to get my learner's driving permit so that I could learn to drive my car... I think my father almost had a heart attack when I was starting to speed up and didn't break abruptly when he said to stop.  He then delegated the rest of my driving lessons to my uncle Tony.  Today I enjoy driving because of the freedom it affords me.

T2.  Is this new skill a milestone?  How does this new skill impact your life?  Why?

The first time is always memorable.  

I remember singing the psalms in church the first time.  I was given a tape to listen to then the next day I sang in church.  No biggie.  I kept singing the psalms on Sundays until I had to leave for college.  This taught me how to be confident in my God-given talents.

I remember the first time I rode on a bus by myself to UP Los Banos and to rent a room and live away from home.  This was a new phase in my life when I had to learn how to budget and how to motivate myself to wake up on my own in the mornings, how to fend for myself and decide whether to walk or to ride the jeep... This was a lesson on independence and self-reliance.

I remember the first time I performed cesarean section as the primary surgeon during residency training.  My eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.  My hand was as steady as a sewer.  My heart was as brave as a lion's.  I had to keep in mind that surgical mistakes can spell the difference between life and death.  This taught me humility in service, accountability and stewardship.

T3.  What skill do you hope to learn someday?

My mother is a great homemaker.  She goes to market and makes sure she gets her money's worth.  She cooks and bakes.  She sews me dresses and bed covers and curtains and blankets.  She gardens.  She cleans the house.  She even does her own carpentry and paint jobs.

If I can only learn one of these homemaking skills, I would be more like my mother.

BRANDING

 

Last January 13, 2025 I was officially relieved of being the division chief of the Professional Allied Health Services (Health Information Management and Medical Social Services).  I gave my endorsements and I left all the group chats.  So now I can focus on leading the VSMMC Research Institute - to genuinely provide an enabling environment for research, as well as the KAAMBAG Clinic HIV/AIDS Core Team - to target enhanced awareness and control of HIV/AIDS in Cebu.

THIS WILL BE OUR BRANDING:  the way we make others feel will be our trademark.

Our strategy is to find ways to streamline our process flows so that nobody is indispensable.  All the staff are empowered to take on office functions in the absence of the other co-workers.

We spend hours on meetings, discussing our strategies and identifying our priorities to avoid getting overwhelmed.  After all, the journey of a thousand miles begin with a single step.  Ever forward we go, not allowing our fears to paralyze us, trying to do things differently each time until we find the best solution.

Go ahead and write.

I read Ronnie Baticulon's post and was genuinely happy for him.  His first book is still selling well in physical bookstores.  To all medical students out there, I highly recommend you get your copy of this memoir of a neurosurgeon, and the very real challenges of being a doctor in the Philippines.

Even our staff Alden Arsenal was bold enough to self-publish his book "Walay Bayot sa Langit" in Bisaya.  This gives me courage to pursue a collaborative effort to come up with the KAAMBAG Coffee Table book and start producing booklets in installments as both a way to raise funds for our programs and to reduce stigma and discrimination against PLHIVs because they are humans too, who need love, care and respect.

How do you spend your money?

During the Christmas season, we usually receive our bonus and Philhealth share, SRA, PEI and CNA (and all other abbreviations of benefits they can think of...).  It is also a great opportunity for income generation with all the parties and gift-giving and shopping.

December is a season of spending money.  Aside from the mandatory gifts, how did you spend your money?

T1.  Share with us what you consider your largest purchase for this year. 

January is the start of the year with the New Year resolutions and we start the cycle of saving all over again.  Some tips on managing your money include (1) creating a budget, (2) saving for emergencies, (3) investing for the future, and (4) reducing your debt.  

I've personally observed that the older generation is more thrifty than my generation and label me as "galit sa pera" but when we discuss about spending with my younger colleagues, they think I have a lot of money that I could have spent for travel and vacations.  

Different people have different priorities when it comes to saving and spending.  Some save up for emergencies or contingencies.  Others invest in further formal education.  Large purchases become forced savings when purchasing a new house or a new car or top of the line gadgets.  Others put away funds for retirement, while others save for travel to allow them to experience new cultures, explore the world and create lasting memories. 

T2.  What are you saving up for?  Is this a need or a want?

I asked Gemini about key investment options and the shortlist I received include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, real estate and commodities.  At my age, I am still paying for my condo unit and a farm that I purchased in 2018.  Filling up my SALN reminds me that I have liabilities that can be considered investments.

3.  How do you save or invest your money?

Join us tonight on #HealthXPH at 9PM MLA time for a healthy discussion on money.

Shallow water makes much noise

When people feel insecure, it is natural to say things or do things that put other people down.  One of the things that I learned the hard way is to accept myself, and accept that I am different.  It's a nice feeling to belong, to blend in with the crowd.  However, if peer pressure keeps you from being true to yourself, then it is ok to be different.  It is alright to stand out.

The CHILD JESUS

Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle shares in his youtube program THE WORD EXPOSED that the CHRIST CHILD Brings Hope.

Reflections on the Santo Nino:

1. How can the CHILD JESUS purify us of false images of happiness?
2. How can the CHILD JESUS lead us to authentic security in life?

 

Don't take the BAIT!

BAITING

When toxic people say negative and hurtful things, they are baiting you to get a reaction from you.  Don't take the bait!  Don't dignify negative comments with a response.

The best way to piss off a narcissist: Stop reacting!

Thankful Heart!

We do not realize the blessings that we have unless we see how others are coping with less.

 

Chill

Sometimes I can feel highly stressed about deadlines piling up, but I verbally and literally remind myself that "done is better than perfect!"

 

When you have a bad day...

There are days that anything you say will be misinterpreted and met with negative comments.   

There are days when anything you do will be considered a threat.  Then again, you have the choice to succumb to the negativity or to consider it as a learning opportunity.

A friend gave me solid advice:  

Don't take it personally. It's human nature. People generally don't want to be told what they should or shouldn't do. The recipient might have interpreted your suggestion as you thinking that they haven't thought of that, or they are not doing their jobs right. This quality is more the rule than the exception though.

Nevertheless, there are proper ways to communicate.  We need to promote non-violent communication, because we do 't really know what the other person is going through.

Atty Augusto W. Go and the University of Cebu

This is the first time I met with Atty Augusto W. Go, the patriarch of the University of Cebu (UC).  During the time that Lola Sising set up The Share A Child Movement, he was one of the benefactors, allowing poor but deserving children to complete their education.  Many of our current scholars are also scholars of UC.

Following the heels of Lola Sising's birth anniversary last January 9, 2025.  She would have been 107 years old... I took a selfie with Atty AWG telling him proudly that I am the granddaughter of Atty Esperanza Valenzona and I took over The Share A Child Movement, Inc until it closed down in 2022.  He still knows Atty Valenzona.  He still remembers the Share A Child Movement!

Honoris Causa

Dr Gerardo M. Aquino, Jr, MD, MHA, CEO VI is now also PhD.  He was awarded with a PhD in Business Management, honoris causa.

I have been contemplating on taking on the challenge of writing a historical research on the impact of Dr Aquino on VSMMC this past 2 decades of his tenure as medical center chief.  This should be done BEFORE his retirement, while he is still available for interviews.

47th

It's my 47th birthday today and I wish to hide from the world.  I feel that I don't want to have the spotlight focused on me.

I think that I have my priorities in check:

PEOPLE.  I think I have done my best to let people important to me know that they are cherished and valued: my family, my direct support group, my work team creating enabling environments for patients and stakeholders, my co-workers, my friends and my patients.

PLACE.  From this quarter's Philhealth share, I spent on building a loft bed which I spent YEARS planning until I was ready to implement.

PROTECTION.  I also put aside sufficient budget to get new tires for Rosebud 2.0 to ensure our continued safety during road trips and family adventures.  It cost a lot, but I feel it is a worthy investment.

PURPOSE.  Today I remember my father who died at 47 years old.  He didn't grow old because he died young.  I am honored to have lived as "young" as my dad.  I remember when his co-workers would post "SMOKING IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH" he would add "BITCHING ABOUT" at the beginning of the statement to warn those nagging him to quit smoking.  When he was diagnosed with lung cancer, he quit smoking cold turkey.

I am honored to have lived 47 years with purpose and maximally utilizing my skills and talents to help other people, reaching goals and walking the untrodden path.  Trailblazing!