Expectation vs Reality

When caricatures are less threatening than real people, caricatures tend to make people seem cute and friendly with wide eyed smiling faces.

 

Opening Remarks for HIV Symposium for International Condom Day

 

Maayong hapon mga ka-AMBAG ug mga ka-TEACHCebu!

Distinguished guests, colleagues, and fellow advocates.

Welcome to today’s HIV symposium!

Ania ka karon for another educational discourse on the essentials of HIV diagnosis, treatment, care, support and prevention as we celebrate International Condom Day.  Along with abstinence, fidelity and pre-exposure prophylaxis, correct and consistent condom use is still one of our effective armamentarium against the spread of HIV.  Since 1990, condoms have averted an estimated 117 million new HIV infections.  Yet, as we lean into 2026, we face a paradox:  as our medical toolkit expands with PrEP and advanced ART, our reliance on the most cost-effective, dual-protection tool we have is wavering.

Ang pagsaulog sa International Condom Day (nga gihimo matag Pebrero 13, usa ka adlaw before Valentine’s Day) importante kayo isip pahinumdom sa pagmatngon sa sexual health.

Ania ang mga rason nganong angay kini saulogon:

1.  STI/HIV Prevention.  Proteksyon batok sa mga sexually transmitted infections.  Ang paggamot og condom mao ang usa sa labing epektibo nga laagi aron malikayan ang pagkatap sa HIV ug uban pang sexually transmitted infections.

2.  Prevention of unplanned pregnancy.  Paglikay sa dili planadong pagmabdos.  Importante kini alang sa family planning ug pagseguro nga andam ang magtiayo kon magkaanak.

3.  Safe Sex.  Responsableng paghigugma.  Isip “adlaw sa mga kasing-kasing” ang International Condom Day nagpahinumdom nga ang tinuod nga paghigugma naglakip sa pagprotektar sa kaugalingon ug sa partner.

4. Breaking Stigma.  Edukasyon sa pag break sa stigms.  Ang pagsaulog niini makatabang sa pag-edukar sa publiko ug pagwagtang sa kaulaw o stigma sa pagpalit ug paggamit og condom.

5.  Accessibility.  Sayon ug dali ra makuha ang condom.  Nay libre nga condom sa mga health centers, city social hygiene clinics ug sa mga HIV treatment hubs.  Ang mga condom dali ra makuha ug barato, naghimo niini nga sayon nga pamaagi sa pag-atiman sa panglawas.

 

Our goal today is RETHINK, REBUILD and RISE.  We must rethink our distribution strategies, rebuild the momentum for barrier protection, and rise above the stigma that still surrounds sexual health.  Let this symposium be the catalyst for a year where protection is not just available, but accessible to every individual, regardless of their zip code or status.

Our theme is "Strengthening Facility-Based HIV Case Finding and Integrated STI and Hepatitis Management" as the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center KAAMBAG Clinic celebrates International Condom Day with our fellow advocates, patients and stakeholders. We have prepared a good program for you with our expert resource persons.  

Dr Noreen Matig-a talks about Screening and Management of STIs to “Stay Safe, Stay Informed: Essential Facts on STI Testing and Care”

Dr Mitzi Inting will lecture on Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis “The Invisible Trio: Why Safer is always SEXY"

Dr Lui Balbuena of the DOH will talk about the Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS "The CEBU HIV Profile:  From Concentrated Epidemic to Community Awareness"

Dr Jamaica dela Cruz discusses Increased HIV Case Finding “The Default Choice:  How Expanded Opt-Out Screening Increases Case Detection and Reduces Stigma"

Awareness is Key

Control is FREE

CEBU will #StopHIV

AI and the Mental Healthcare Worker

 

This beautiful night sky over Cebu City is my view for tonight as we discuss about the use of AI in mental health over #HealthXPH on Blue Sky.

Stephanie Miaco shared her write up on AI and the [Mental] Healthcare Worker where she explores the use of AI bots and therapy replacement options.  It is about Artificial Intelligence and replacing human empathy.

Focused Effort

One drawback of wearing many hats is that it becomes difficult to focus.  There are a lot of evidence that shows focused effort makes for more success than multi-tasking.

 

Hospital-Related Cyberbashing

I just feel that it is unfair for entitled relatives of patients to pass judgement and rant on social media about the weaknesses of healthcare systems and incompetencies of healthcare workers who provided medical care to their patients to the best of their abilities.  Changes to improve the healthcare system is hardly ever talked about on social media platforms, and yet when patients face poor outcomes, these posts go viral on social media without the slightest hint of being evidence-based.

Ofcourse, we express our condolences and our deepest sympathies to the bereaved family, but there must be a more constructive way to express one's grief instead of tarnishing the reputation of a public hospital just because services are provided free of charge.

Sharing some of the sage advice shared by the #HealthXPH peeps on how to address these issues and concerns, mainly to bring the conversation offline.

 

Let them go

 

Badian-Malabuyoc Medical Mission

The KAAMBAG Clinic HIV Counselots join the Cebu Provincial Government in their Badian-Malabuyoc medical mission where 101 constituents of Malabuyoc and 42 constituents of Badian were successfiully tested for HIV and #knowtheirstatus. 

We trooped to the beach at Basdako to inhale some of the fresh sea breeze to decompress.

 

Family Planning

 

Borrowed Shoes Theory

Today I experimented with airfryer-baked cheese omelet and it turned out well.

While at Nichols, I was preparing post-lunch dessert of avocado cake ala mode with creamy avocado ice cream.  While the seniors were eagerly awaiting their share, auntie Annie grabbed half the slice of cake on her plate and stuffed it into her mouth.  She couldnt wait for the icecream...  she raised her hands in supplication saying "thank you Lord!" when I was scolding her to "wait!"

20 things to get rid of

 

Appreciation post for Gil

Parking here this post which I can add a little bit by bit throughout the day to say "thank you" for all you do for my family, for the scholars and for the patients.  You have chosen the simpler life of service, adhering to what is essential and important to you.

 

Fun Questions to ask your Partner

I am not married, but these are some fun questions to ask a life partner.  It would be cool to know the answers.

 

Boss evaluates

Saving this here because I feel that this is somehow true and useful as well...  either for a boss or a subordinate.

 

Daily posting

Sometimes we can post everything that social media throws at you no matter how it touches us, because other people might think hyperposting is a symptoms of an underlying pathology.  So to keep note of those tear-jerker and aha posts, we send it somewhere else that is no-so-mainstream media, like Sleepless in Cebu.

Sometimes we don't understand why things happen or why we are receiving these messages but it is important to know how to listen, not just to the noise outside but also to the silence within.  

No matter how loud the noise is in our heads, we can find a way to quiet down and calm ourselves so that we don't quit.  We keep on struggling and pushing and plodding on, but we never quit.  We never give up.

2026 First Day High and Happy Birthday to me

Attended the General Assembly and Presentation of the 2025 Annual Statistics and Accomplishment Report of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Happy about three (3) improvements in this year's statistics:

1. Increase in our papsmear census. Hopefully this will continue to increase such that all women we engage with are offered cervical cancer screening with papsmear. Will add to this expanded opt-out facility-based HIV screening as well so these women leave the hospital knowing their health status.

2. Increase in our outputs for OBGYN ultrasound. With OBGYN clinical management heavily dependent on sonologic findings, it is important that VSMMC provides quality imaging for diagnostics (and maybe even therapeutics).

3. My mentee Jesline Tarongoy as one of the outstanding residents. We are reminded of our non-negotiables as the knowledge and skills that we acquire today will spell the difference between the life and death of the patients we serve. Study hard, study smart, and always always learn from experience.

Padayon! 

#VSMMCOBGYN

#atyourcervix

Difficult Planning Questions

Doing the same things and expecting different outcomes is insanity.  If you want things to improve, you have to change to do things differently.

 In reality, your 8PM is ofen more important than your 8AM: