Almost a Week in QMMC

Two months ago, Youngest Brother contracted one of the vicious diseases in the Philippines. My brother became ill of dengue fever.

My brother is already out of the hospital and out of danger. However, I can still remember the worry that my parents felt when they discovered my brother's illness. We thought at first that my brother only had the usual fever. The initial medical check-up also showed that he didn't have any grave illness. But after a few days of fever, my parents decided to bring Youngest Brother to Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC).

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There, my parents discovered that my brother had a dengue fever. Our consolation is that the dengue fever is just starting, which means that he didn't need any blood transfusion. The doctor said that my brother only needed to stay in the hospital for a few days for recovery.

Renting a private room in QMMC is expensive. Our family didn't have enough money to afford such expensive room. Also, we need to spend our money for my brother's medicines and other needs. My parents decided to send my brother to the “charity ward.”

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QMMC's children's ward.

The ward is very crowded. It was said that majority of the patients in that ward were victims of dengue. It was the dengue season during the time when my brother got sick.

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Other patients in QMMC's children's ward.

My brother had to share one hospital bed with two patients. It is a big sacrifice on his part but still he is fortunate because he got a bed. Other patients had no choice but to sit on monobloc chairs.

The stay in the “charity ward” is not free of charge. The hospital bed is for rent. The only benefit on staying in the ward is that my brother became eligible to get assistance from the Department of Social Work.

My brother recovered after staying for almost a week in QMMC. We are so happy that he is out of danger. Our hope is that none of us in the family will suffer another dengue fever.

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Do you or your loved ones experienced dengue fever? Or did you experienced staying in a public hospital? Tell us your experiences by leaving a comment in the comment box below.

A Worker Who Can’t Work

Friday is Quiapo Day. Devotees and parishioners fill up Quiapo Church entirely and even extends to areas outside of the church. This is an opportunity for vendors to maximize their profit by selling stuffs related to the faith of the people. I saw some vendors selling rosaries, anting-anting, sampaguita and religious relics. Some are just tapping churchgoers to ask for some money. Each has their own story. Each has their own lifestyle and routine. But what is caught the most by my camera is the story of two guys, who are on wheel chairs, not begging for money but use their remaining capacity to earn a living.

The sun is high as I arrived at a very historic place, the Plaza Miranda. This is where a bombing happened in 1972 that killed nine people. It is regarded as the place of Philippine political discourse and one of the markers before the Martial Law. I wonder if people here are aware of the significance of the place where they are standing. I hope that they appreciate even the small things they may not be aware of.

This guy caught my eyes. His job was extreme and ordinary. ‘Kuya,’ as I called him, startled me because he works despite of his inability to walk. He is a Sampaguita vendor in front of the Quiapo Church. At first I felt sorry for this guy but as I watched his work, I can see an inspiration.

Determination and perseverance. Even under the sun, ‘Kuya’ strived to sell sampaguita. I felt sorry to see him alone in such a busy street with no one buying from him. Later, I saw that that loneliness is only for a short time because he has his ‘kabaro’ which I call ‘Kuya (2).’ They don’t mind if they didn't sell. They are even located in a place not attractive to buyers. But I can still see the smile on their faces. What's important is that they have something to talk about.

Upon seeing this, I immediately ran to them and ask them if that job could make them survive. ‘Kuya (2)’ even smiled back at me saying, “minsan may pangkain lang sapat na.” He said that even in a Friday they are not sure if they will earn or not. This is what I love with these two - they are very entertaining. It seems that they are friendly to all those selling in Plaza Miranda. No competition, they were all friends.

When I get in touch with them, many parishioners bought at them. It is where I feel as if I am a gift from heaven to them. I said to them, “kuya malaking kita ‘yon ha.” But he replied, “’di pa rin natin masasabi ‘yan. Mamayang gabi pa malalaman.” Many devotees, person by person, started buying at them. I saw their pockets started to have many coins then I asked them, “magkano ho puhunan ‘niyo diyan at kita niyo sa isang araw?” Then he replied, “minsan nasa sixty, ‘yung puhunan namin 350, nakakakain naman kami.”

Their life is not easy. It is hard to move their wheelchairs when authorities are confiscating their sampaguitas and when vehicles are crossing their way. It is even hard to stay under the sun. Yet, they don’t forget to smile. This was the realization in my life that I had because of this photo essay - contentment. We are busy on our work. We are busy pleasing people. We are busy because of our complicated lives. We spent time in depositing money in our banks. We become stressed to all the school requirements yet, these two guys remind me not to forget smiling. I realized that it is us who makes our lives complicated. Their lives are happier than ours. This makes me feel that simple life is better. It is easier to only worry for the food that we are about to eat. How lucky are these people that even in their wheelchairs, they found happiness and contentment. Before I left them, ‘Kuya’ told me that he is also a college graduate. He even knew that I am a Mass Communication student without me telling him.

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Kuya is ready to sell sampaguita on a Friday, Quiapo Day, at Plaza Miranda where many devotees are expected.

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Kuya waits for the Final Blessing so that he can sell to parishioners who are getting out of the church.

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The shadow is the effect of the sun as it rises which kuya does'nt bother to evade. He instead covered his head with towel but still he has no buyer.

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Kuya's 'kabaro' arrives with a pack of stories to tell him. Smile is inevitable from their faces even if they haven't sold sampaguita yet.

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Kuya and his kabaro were not just the Sampaguita vendors there. That is why it is hard for them to sell.

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Still, they welcome their co-vendors and even chat with them. They treat them as friends not competitors.

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Kuya's 'kabaro' continues to call churchgoers to buy sampaguita from them.

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Kuya and his 'kabaro’ still fail to sell their Sampaguita and people just ignore them.

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Finally, kuya's ‘kabaro’ has his 'buena mano' and this made kuya smile.

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Kuya's 'kabaro' continues to sell not just once but twice. Kuya said that his capital for this is P350.

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Children begging for alms is a usual event once a buyer bought sampaguita from them.

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It's hard for them to move their wheelchairs once vehicles cross their way but they continued to sell our National Flower.

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Police authorities let the sampaguita vendors sell in the prohibited area as long as they don’t disturb church services.

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She is their last buyer as I leave the area. Kuya said that their usual profit is P60 per day yet they are happy for they survive each day with food.

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The photos taken and the article written by Eljohn Marin, a student and an aspiring lawyer. Visit his blog: The Law and Me.

The Dog and His Master

Pictures of funny animals are always a hit in the Internet. Even news programs have segments that feature these amusing animals. I thought that I can only see such things in the Internet or at “Funniest Home Videos” until I saw this:

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My fellow passengers were amused when they saw the dog standing on the motorcycle without falling. I had seen this scene twice along EDSA. They always capture the attention of sleepy bus riders in the early morning.

I am not sure if PAWS or the PETA will complain about what the dog owner is doing to his dog. One possible thing that they can say is the the “dog owner is endangering the life of the dog.” However, the dog owner will just said that his dog is wearing a helmet.

As if the scene is not enough, the dog owner added another amusing thing. Let's zoom in:

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You can see that the owner shaved the dog to show the logo of GMA. Is the dog owner a fanatic of GMA 7? Who knows. GMA 7 must find this guy and feature him in their morning show.

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Blast from the Past

I was flipping through the pages of G. K. Chesterton’s book “Orthodoxy” when I was surprised to see this:

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This is an old bus ticket of Metro Manila Transit Corporation (MMTC). What got me excited is the thought that this ticket is quite old. It is possible that the ticket is older than me. An interesting information from the ticket is the ticket cost 2.00 pesos, which may mean that it is the minimum fare during that time. Compare it with the minimum bus fare now, which costs 10.00 pesos.

I showed the old bus ticket to my mom and she told me that she rode the MMTC bus during her college days. She told me that the MMTC buses travels around Metro Manila during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos.

I googled MMTC and I discovered that it is a government-owned company. MMTC was possibly dissolved, like other government corporations, under the presidency of Cory Aquino. There’s no more MMTC buses plying in Metro Manila and only few people remember that MMTC existed. I googled some pictures of MMTC and, to my delight, I saw this:

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(Photo by express000)

The bus in the picture is a double-decker Leyland Atlantean model bus on Senator Gil Puyat Avenue (circa 1986). Sadly, there is no more double-decker bus in Metro Manila. I want to experience riding on the top floor of such bus while traveling along Commonwealth Avenue at a speed of 80 to 90 kph. That is an adrenaline-pumping experience that will cause many passengers die of cardiac arrest.

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An Unpleasant Morning

Last Wednesday, me and my younger sister were walking to my workplace when we happen to see this:

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A bus hit a jeepney near Lawton Park in Manila. The accident is the reason why there is heavy traffic from Quiapo Church area to Lawton. Because I am an “usisero,” I went near the accident to ask the other bystanders about what happened. One of the bystanders told me that the bus’ break malfunctioned and hit the jeepney. He also told me that at least one person, a pedestrian, died in the incident. I counted that two buses, two jeepneys and one van was involved in the accident.

I was about to leave the place when my sister told me that she saw something under the jeepney. I peeked under the vehicle and saw one of the victims, who I think is already dead. Policemen weren’t able to pull the person out and they are just waiting for rescue personnel or the SOCO.

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While we continue our walk, my sister told me that she felt bad because of what she saw. It is the first time that she saw a person who died due to a vehicular accident.

As for me, it is not the first time that I saw something as terrible as the accident last Wednesday. I saw one motorcycle rider who died along Quezon Avenue months ago. I also saw injured motorists, mostly motorcycle riders, a lot of times. Vehicular accidents are very common in Metro Manila and early morning news programs have scores of such news items every single day.

When I am still a college student, I have no fear in jaywalking across Commonwealth Avenue. I don’t care if that avenue is considered as the deadliest road in Asia. All I want is not to be inconvenienced in climbing up the high pedestrian overpass.

I now use the overpass because I don’t want to die just because I was hit by a bus while I jaywalk across Commonwealth Avenue. I wish that I will never see incidents like the one I saw last Wednesday. I hope that motorists and pedestrians will be careful to avoid unpleasant accidents from happening.

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MMDA Should Fix Their Footbridges

One morning, as I rush to work, I noticed a bunch of bystanders near the MMDA footbridge located in Litex Area, along Commonwealth Avenue. The bystanders are looking intently on something and this got me puzzled. So I stopped walking and looked at what they are looking. I am surprised to know that they are looking at this:
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MMDA Footbridge, Litex, Quezon City

The bystanders are looking through the gaps of the stairs of the footbridge. They are looking through the gaps because they are trying too peek at the ladies who are wearing skirt and are climbing the footbridge to cross the Commonwealth Avenue.
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Stairs with gaps.

I sent a message to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) through e-mail telling them of the problem that skirt-wearing ladies must endure whenever they use the Litex footbridge. However, it is more than a month now and the the MMDA has no response. Nothing was changed on the Litex footbridge and the gaps were not covered.

The next day, I noticed that the pervert bystanders are nowhere to be seen near the footbridge. I don't know the reason why they're gone. I hope that they don't return. I also hope that the MMDA construct better footbridges for the sake of Filipinas using their footbridge.

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The Handicraft Caravan

One morning, as I rush my way to work, I happened to see this:

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That is a photo of a big bull pulling a big cart of handicrafts. I am surprised to see this because I do not expect to see a handicraft caravan in Metro Manila. That is why I never hesitated to take a picture of this.

When I was a child, caravans like the in the picture is so common. Every summer, farmers place their handicrafts and other products inside a big cart to sell to different parts of Luzon. They sell brooms, baskets made of rattan, sepak takraw balls, and other products made of rattan and other materials that can be found in the farm.

Now, it is quite rare to see such caravans. Maybe the reason for this is that many of the farms in Rizal, Bulacan, Laguna and Cavite were all transformed into subdivisions. Also, I think that only few people buy farm-made handicrafts that is why many farmers are not that motivated to make and sell handicrafts.

At least some farmers still make handicrafts and bring their products to Metro Manila. The handicraft caravan is still, somewhat, alive.

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Who the Hell is SalenGa?

If you frequent the city of Manila, then I am sure that you saw a chalk written scribble like this:
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The scribble asks, “Do you see a round ocean? Earth locally flat www.salen-ga Tangent Theorem.”

Chalk written scribbles like this is quite common in Manila and I have seen another one like this on a wall along in front of Quiapo Church. The scribble above was written on the wall of dilapidated Metropolitan Theater in the Lawton Area of Manila.

What is so special with this scribble? The special thing about this is Salen-ga or Salenga. He is a “mysterious” man who scribbles his theories about flat earth and positive electrons all around Manila. Mystery about this guy abounds that many people talks about him, there is even a heated debate about who he is or if his theories are correct. There are also stories that some professors are telling their students to look for Salenga (Salen-Ga) and interview him.

Actually, I had a close encounter with Salenga (Salen-Ga) and during that encounter, I never knew that he is somewhat a celebrity in Manila.

About two years or a year ago, a middle-aged man climbed up our bus. He did not took any seat but started preaching. Well, preachers talking about the Bible is ordinary but when the middle-aged man started lambasting scientists and accused media of covering scientific lies, then I know that I am in for a weird treat. The middle-aged man talked about the earth as a flat object. He reasoned that when you stand in the middle of the road, all you can see is plane surface and you can never see any curvature. He kept on talking for almost an hour until he climbed down our bus.

Salenga (Salen-Ga) is somewhat weird because he chose to air his scientific arguments inside a bus where most of the people don’t care much about science or any theories about flat earth or positive electrons. I am amazed with Salenga (Salen-Ga) because he doesn’t tire preaching his scientific belief and he doesn’t stop scribbling his ideas on walls around Manila.

How Salenga (Salen-Ga) looks like? Here is his photo I found from a Flickr account.

So did you already saw the Salenga (Salen-Ga) scribbles or saw Salenga himself? Tell me about it.

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MMDA Male Urinal is Clean and Fragrant

I had been aching to take photos of one of the refurbished MMDA male urinals, which are scattered all over Metro Manila. These MMDA male urinals are the novel idea of the former MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando. During Fernando’s term, these urinals are pink in color and are famously called as “pink urinals.” The new MMDA chairman decided to change the pink color of the urinal into green.

For those who do not know, MMDA stands for Metro Manila Development Authority. The role of this agency is to beautify the metropolis and ease the flow of traffic.

Finally, I got my chance during my brother’s entrance exam in UP. I took the photo of an MMDA male urinal located along Commonwealth Avenue across the Ylanan Road entrance of the university.
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 Ooops! Somebody’s inside. :-P

Well, I have wanted to take a photo of the MMDA male urinal because I saw this interesting adage:
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The words printed on the MMDA male urinal says: “Ang urinal na ito ay malinis at mabango” (“This urinal is clean and fragrant).

Funny claim huh? But in fairness, that urinal is indeed clean and not that odious. However, I do not know the case for other MMDA male urinals. Many people complained about these urinals. They said that it is unsanitary. Others defended the urinals, especially the jeepney and taxi drivers that its usual users.

How about you guys? Are the MMDA male urinals really “malinis and mabango?” Or should we remove them for health reasons?

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Read about my review of the Cherry Mobile 1202i phone in Ahab Reviews and Tips.
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UPCAT 2010 is Finally Over

Finally, the moment that my youngest brother prepared for is over. The UPCAT or the college entrance exam of the University of the Philippines was held last week and it seems like my brother found the exam difficult. He got out of the examination building scratching his head.

Well, I am not thinking that he might fail the exam because of that. I had a bad experience when I took the UPCAT years ago. When I got out of the examination building, my father noticed that I am exhausted and I am silent. I found the exam very difficult. Thank goodness that my power of guessing served me well that day so I passed the UPCAT.
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My youngest brother’s examination building.

My brother was scheduled to take the exam last Saturday. We went to UP Diliman quite early so we will not be late. Well, we came early so we got the time to walk to his examination building, which is the National Institute of Geological Sciences building.

I instantly noticed that the streets of the university are not heavy with traffic. I have also noticed that the front of examination buildings is not crowded with UPCAT takers and their parents. The increase of tuition fee in the university shunned the poor students from taking the UPCAT.

UPCAT 2010 is a far-cry from the year when I took the UPCAT. The university is crowded back then and there are many food booths around the university. UPCAT back then was like a fiesta. Well, tuition by that time is just a third of the current tuition fee.
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Not crowded. Parents waiting for their kids in front of Palma Hall.

I guess that the number of UPCAT takers will continue to dwindle. Too bad those poor but intelligent students opt to not enter the university because of the tuition fee.

Que sera sera. I just hope that my brother pass the UPCAT.
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LRT Art 2009

I didn’t anticipate that my travel by train last Friday will give me an added bonus. Aside from escaping the traffic and the flooded streets caused by heavy rains, I also chanced upon an art exhibit in the Cubao Station of LRT Line 3. The exhibit showcases that entries of various painters for the LRT Art 2009. The paintings should contain a depiction of the LRT or the train and connect it with society.
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Obviously, many paintings were for propaganda or painted to delight the management of LRTA. However, many of the paintings are good to behold and here are my favorites:

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"Time Machine" by Clarence Cantiveros.

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"Pumasok sa Ginhawa" by John Carlo Jacinto.

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"Puno ng Kulay ang Una Kong Paglalakbay" and Ricky Ambagan.

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"Lahat Pantay-pantay sa LRT Sumasakay" by Redentor Castillo.

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"Ang Pundasyon ng Transportasyon" by Deoner Catamora.

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"Ladder of Dreams" by Rommel Ramota.

Event of the Day: Make Way for the Train

Going home from a job application, my bus suddenly stopped. I looked out of the window to see the reason for the sudden traffic jam.

I am amazed at what I saw. A train of Philippine National Railways chugging through Quezon Avenue. “It is running! It is running!” my mind exclaimed. Actually it is just creeping. Then my mind shouted, “Wow, there are passengers, unbelievable.”

On that moment, it seems that I am watching an LRT2 train prototype ---- moving in 8 times slowmo.

It chugged out of sight, and the little boars are once again free to run the length of Quezon Ave.