Today I attended the State of the Region Address by Regional Director Priscilla Razon. It was a different environment from the functions I usually attend. Maybe because it's the first time I attended such an event from the DSWD and not from the DOH. 

It was nice to see new faces in the crowd, but it was better to see familiar faces. Got to meet focal persons of the different programs. Also, it pave the way for me to understand better the different programs of DSWD and their updates. 

 

 

It started out well. I arrived just in time as she was welcoming guests. She looked very good too even at the distance where I was sitting. Then she stopped and asked her assistant to continue for her. She was exhausted. 911 was there to assess her. As I approached the stage, I could feel it was hot. Although the room was airconditioned, the spotlight made the stage hot. She said she was sick for several days now. She was having cough. Her doctor already told her to take it easy, but she wanted to deliver her SORA. We advised her not to do anything exhausting for the mean time. 

Malita got cheques for the Supplemental feeding and Social Pension Program. With me were Philippine Councilors League Federation President Marianella Malinao, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer for Davao del Sur Mrs. Esterlita Hermosisima and Ms. Alona Estrella-Lagat of LGU Malita. 

 

When her message was done, she managed to stand again and deliver her last few messages. Then she went on with the pictorial. I'd say she handled everything gracefully. Kudos to Director Razon. 

 

Missing you terribly

I love taking photographs. I've been looking at my collections and wonder why I didn't have much of mama's last few months. I have a few of them. Only a few. Maybe I didn't like seeing her sick and don't wanna remember her sick. But As I was browsing, I wish I had taken more of them. I guess I miss her so so much. 

Everyday as I walk around the house I'd ask myself what she'd be talking about. We used to have this conversation about plants, how she'd put things, how she'd arrange them. I would remember her calling everyone to clean areas around the house. 

I think about mama's purpose in life. I was told that maybe her purpose was to make sure we were all doing okay. But I say I don't need much. I need her more than what she left us. 

Whenever I pass by her photo or visit her grave, I always tell her, "Ma I'm here, how are you? I miss you." And everytime I'd imagine her saying , I'm okay, how's everybody?" And then I'd say, "everybody is doing fine, we're all here and wish you were here with us too." 

It's been two months and it feels like it was just yesterday. I don't think I'm gonna be okay without her. I can deal with it sooner or later. I love you mama. I miss you terribly. 

Working on a Healthy Lifestyle - J U I C I N G !

Ever since mama got sick, we've been trying  to lead a healthy life. We've started juicing. We used mainly fruits. The only vegetable we juiced was carrots. Then recently I stumbled upon sited with recipes for juicing. I'm more of homemade juicing than those commercially bought. Homemade for me means no preservatives, and no other ingredients besides fruits and vegetables. Plus, I get to decide how it would taste.

Juicing does a lot of goodness to your body. It cleanses the body of toxins, prevents you from getting sick and helps you lose weight. It does take out your time to buy the vegetables, prepare the juicer and chop the ingredients. But then again, think about all the goodness.

Here are the websites if you're interested: Juice Recipes, Reboot with Joe and Juicing Diet.

My favorite ingredients thus far are celery, spinach, ginger, apple and lemon. Combine them all and you've got a very good juice.

Care to share your recipes...

Basic Dengue Training and Prevention

Dengue is now endemic in the Philippines. All year round, everywhere, dengue is there. We have been trying to eradicate this disease but it is still here and a lot of people are still affected. Is the authorities not doing enough? DOH-CHD Regional Director Dr. Abdullah Dumama came and spoke of his experience with the disease during his time as MHO of Cotabato City. "We have been trying to eradicate the disease for the longest time, lahat na ginawa na pero andyan pa rin.", said the director.

Part of the training was to introduce a new classification of dengue infection. With the Revised Dengue Classification, hopefully more patients can easily be treated, minimizing the risk for hemorrhage and fluid overload. Apart from this, advocacy, vector surveillance and program implementation and monitoring and evaluation were taught.

We also went to Catalunan Grande to experience first hand and see the ABKD ( Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue). It was a humble experience. Most of the people living their have at least 1 family member who had suffered dengue, making them more conscious of dengue.

At the end of the training, we gained knowledge, experience and new friends.

the whole group wearing the pink dengue shirt

Group 2 doing their cheer

Group 1 doing our cheer

at Catalunan Grande Health Center

Group 1

Outfit post din pag may time

doing the house-to-house interview

Cebu (Part II)

Sunday came and I could take the kids out... Finally. First stop was Sto. Nino.

Next stop was Rainforest Park. 

Finally, last stop was at a playground inside SM Cebu. 

And the kids had so much fun.