Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Coming Up Daisy

I'm not comfortable with awards. This my night shift colleagues in the unit I used to work in know. And I instructed them never ever to nominate me - for anything - at all.

But there was a group of people I missed to instruct - patients; them who, along with nurses, stand at the front line of their health care battle.

Today I received a Daisy. What exactly is it? In a nutshell, it's an award given to a nurse who has done something extraordinary.

It is bestowed by the hospital where the nurse works, in my case, White Memorial Medical Center, with blessings from the Daisy Foundation.

But primarily and before anything else, a patient or a colleague nominates one who they think deserves it. In my case, it was patients and their families who did.

I never knew what the deal was about the Daisy Award until I read about it. In the website it talks about what the recipient receives and why Daisy cares about nurses.

During the award ceremony, the letters of nomination were read, including details of who the patients were and what the nominee did to deserve the recognition. I could only come up with faint recollection.

It's probably the same on the other end. With many nurses coming in and out of a hospital room, a patient may forget faces, names, acts.

But one thing they will always remember is how a nurse or anyone in the health care team made them feel. It proves the adage: Nobody really cares how much you know until they know how much you care.

It's daunting to be given recognition. From then on, everyone in the workplace look at you in a different light, expect more from you, and look up to you for example.

I guess the only thing to do is say to yourself, "You can live up to it. You once did."

To patients and families who do not allow good deeds to go unnoticed: Thank you for helping us remember how small things and simple acts can make a world of difference.

To millions of nurses on every corner of the world, I believe there is a Daisy hidden in every one of us waiting for the right spring to come.

And once it reaches full blossom, it's only a matter of time before it gets plucked out of obscurity.

{The following thumbnail photo is a link to an online album}.

Daisy

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Photos & video are posted with permission from Eva Guadiz, RN and Elizabeth Powis.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Farewell to the King

The King of Pop died today.

I knew about it while at work. The stunning news was a virtually incessant content of TV as well as conversation. It struck a melancholic chord among my contemporaries and I.

I feel fortunate to have been an 80s kid, growing up with his music, but I have never seen him perform live.

He had a concert in the Philippines in 1996 but I didn't have enough money to watch him then.

When I came to the US about a couple years ago, I vowed to be there once he stages a comeback.

Now I have the means, but the king is no more. I wish I had borrowed money then so I could have seen him in concert.

I have admittedly been bothered by his personal troubles and eccentric behavior but I remain an ardent admirer of his worldly pop music.

He is a great loss to people whose lives he touched and made a little better through the sheer power of his music.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Hollywood Bowl Opening Night '09

One of the signs that says summer has arrived in Los Angeles is when the Hollywood Bowl opens season.

My colleagues and I caught the Bowl's opening night. It was also the 10th anniversary of its Hall of Fame inductions.

The two inductees of the night were New Zealander soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and L.A.'s very own Josh Groban.

The thumbnail photo is a link to an online album.
HB Opening Night '09
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Photos & videos in this post are author's property.

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Hard To Say It’s Over

May binasted ako ngayong gabi. Mahirap pala gawin. Palibhasa first time ko.

I’ve never been in a situation where I’ve had to decline someone so, it was nerve-wracking. I’ve also only recently started to put myself out there so I’ve never really had anybody pursue me - and persistently.

I had sleepless nights thinking about how I was going to break it to him without breaking him. I had to call several friends several times to ask advice. I was really freaking out.

Dapat nga kagabi pa nangyari. Kaya lang may karamdaman siya. And despite cold sweats and an ensuing fever, he said he’d meet me last night because he was really excited to see me.

Buti na lang we called it off. Otherwise, I would’ve been so heartless.

So we met at a local hangout a little while ago and started talking, all the while my pulse was pounding waiting for the right moment to break it.

The point came when he was constantly talking about seeing each other again.

Holding my breath, I let it out in one, slow sweep, “F----... Oh, how am I gonna tell you this? (Sigh) I don’t feel the same way.”

There was a moment of deafening silence.

He looked at me forlorn. His eyes reached for the ground.

“I’m sorry,” I said, as my eyes searched his in an attempt to meet mine and solicit a reply.

He then looked at me and said, “I kind of knew you were going to say that.”

“I feel sad about this,”
he continued. “But I’m not mad. I’m just very disappointed because you’re such a wonderful and handsome guy.”

Mabait siya at maalaga. He’s very thoughtful with constant emails, texts and voicemails. He’s also lavish in humor, praise and considerateness.

Pero wala talaga akong nararamdaman, eh. I wish I felt the same way he does but I don't.

But I’m glad he was forward and cool with it. At least, that's the impression I got from him. And I told him I honestly felt more comfortable afterwards.

We talked some more about the common things we enjoy, laughed at our dating deadlock, joked about how awkward I am at dating, pondered about a big life decision he’s about to make, and then called it a night.

We hugged. He kissed me on the cheeks. We promised to keep in touch.

There’s a feeling of heaviness I took with me on my way home. I feel kind of bad letting him down. But I know I will let him down further and feel worse if I mislead him or allow him to hang on to false hope.

I wish there was a better way of saying or going about it but there is none. I only hope he finds the one who truly deserves the lovable person that he is, the one who will be able to see how he deserves to be seen.

I called him thrice later in the evening just to make sure he got home safe and to see how he is doing. No reply on any attempt. So I just left a message.

“Hey, F----. Just calling to make sure you got home safe and that you’re okay. If you’re sleeping already, it’s good that I didn’t wake you. Good night, buddy. Take care. You have a good day tomorrow. Enjoy your weekend.”

Monday, June 01, 2009

Divas 4 Divas

{Thumbnail photos are links to an online album. I suggest opening each one on a different window so you don't navigate away from the page.}

Mangibang-bayan ka man, nananatili ka pa ring Pinoy - sa isip, sa salita, sa gawa. Maging sa pagkain, telebisyon, sine, musika - hanap pa rin natin ang sariling atin.

Kumbaga, tanggalin mo man ang Pilipino sa Pilipinas, hindi mo matatanggal ang Pilipinas sa Pilipino.

Kahapon nanood kami ng mga katrabaho ko ng "Divas 4 Divas" sa Terrace Theater ng Long Beach Convention Center.

Sumusunod ang mga piktyur at bidyo ng aming gimik.

Islands

LBPAC

The Divas

D4D Vids

D4D

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Photos & videos in this post are author's property.