Thursday, May 4, 2017

CebuMD or DocBuboy of Earth-Two

This is me, a superhero in an Alternate Universe or Earth-2.....Just kidding.

When Pinay MegaMom MD put out the call for blog posts to start TBR or The Blog Rounds 3.0 and when I saw the topic was about the Alternate Universe, I got excited to blog again even though I know I am having a busy week. Something about the words "Alternate Universe" just gets me going. Must be my being a Marvel and DC universe enthusiast (Isn't it obvious from the photo?). In both of these fantasy worlds, many popular stories are based on a parallel universe setting. And that includes my favorite Flash TV series where you have characters jumping from one Earth to another.

Well anyway, let me imagine myself in another parallel universe. What would I be? I hope not a bad guy (cause often in Flash, the good guys on one universe become bad on another.)

OK. OK. I'll just answer the writing prompt by Pinay MegaMom MD...If I were not who I am now, I would have been a (blank). It is actually tough to fill in this blank. Because there are a lot of possibilities I could end up being. Let me explain.

You see I have many interests.

I love music. I can see myself as a composer. I actually composed 3 songs that are not yet publicly introduced. Two love songs, one religious song.

I made the latest musical arrangement for the Cebu Institute of Medicine (CIM) Hymn including the "voicing" part of the hastily assembled choir of around 10 to put a modern twist to the song. I enjoy being part of the backup vocals whenever a makeshift band performs. For one time, I recorded a version of myself singing Christmas songs doing the tenor, bass and melody like Ryan Cayabyab did in his Christmas album. I miss my days in the choir. Incidentally, one of our choir members back in the province did pursue a musical career -- Raymund Marasigan (of Eraserheads, Sandwich, etc.).

I love listening to musicales. I could very well be the Music Meister of the DC universe. Hehe.

I also love art. I love to do sketches but I do not have time to do so. Okey, here is one sample.
I used to draw in my notebook making my own comic characters (usually ninjas) or draw Voltes V and let my classmates read my "Voltes V comic book" or my "ninja comic books". Some of my classmates during the elementary years thought I will pursue Fine Arts in college even. But it was not meant to be.

Believe it or not, performing on radio or TV is in my blood. My aunt was the first or original Flordeluna (Remember Anna Liza's "rival" Janice de Belen? My aunt was Flordeluna before Janice de Belen got the part in TV.) . An uncle was a TV director. I love shooting videos. I once made a fun music video for my dialysis support group.

And with a little make up, I can be an action star...

Did you watch my latest movie with Vin Diesel and the gang? (Lol.)

I almost became a chemist. My first two years in college were spent in the BS Chemistry course. My parents graduated as chemists. Most of my siblings are chemical engineers. Chemistry is in my blood. (I composed a rap song for the periodic table anyway, to help me memorize it.) I actually love Chemistry. I love explaining the different kinds of bonds, bond angles, stoichiometry, synthesizing compounds during an exam, balancing equations, etc.

Education and teaching is close to my heart. One of my masters degree is on health professions education and I have been teaching ever since I finished my medical degree. I help start the Google Educators Group in Cebu. I can purely be a teacher in another world.

In an alternate universe, I can possibly be a travel and food blogger. I used to be very active attending blogging events, tasting food and reviewing products. One of my most memorable is a staycation in Crimson Resort in Mactan. If I was not on dialysis, perhaps I will be actively exploring the different tourism destinations in our country.

I could possibly be a dog enthusiast. I love dogs and I support the cause of dog rescuers. My Instagram profile pic is that of my dog Bacter who died a few years ago. Even wrote about a pitbull named Princess and the cause of Island Rescue Organization (IRO) of Cebu in Yahoo 5 years ago.

So in different Earths or in Earth-2, I could simply be a musician, or an artist, or a chemist, or a teacher, or a food and travel blogger, or a dog enthusiast.

But God has a different plan for me I guess. My health condition brought me to this patients' advocacy of mine. It lead me to #HealthXPh and #DialysisPh. Instead of Chemistry, I decided to pursue Medical technology in preparation for Medicine which I eventually finished to help me prepare and better understand chronic kidney disease.

I realized God has not taken away all the possible me's I could have been with my kidney condition. In fact, God is so generous to allow me to be all of the above (well, except the Jason Statham part) so I could better reach out to fellow patients like me.

Given the choice, Earth-2 or Earth-one? I'll take this Earth's version of me still.

Sunday, January 8, 2017

University of Cebu School of Medicine now has its own home

Starting tomorrow, University of Cebu School of Medicine (UCSM) medical students will be staying in their new home beside the University of Cebu Medical Center (UCMed) in Mandaue Reclamation area. I had the honor of getting a glimpse of the school during preparations for its opening from semestral and Christmas break and here are the raw pictures.

So guess where I am? In a state-of-the-art movie theater? Nope. Here's another view.


This is one of two amphitheaters/lecture rooms of UCSM medical students. Yes you read that right. Lecture rooms. Fully air-conditioned with very nice sound system and comfortable chairs. Good also for research presentations, mini conventions,

UCSM also does small group discussions (SGD) and for these, it has the SGD rooms. Here is one of them.
Laboratory rooms? UCSM has plenty. Here are some.
This might be the Microbiology laboratory.

Histology laboratory (Note the numerous microscopes including the multi-headed covered one).

I think this is the Anatomy laboratory if i remember correctly. (The cadavers are not shown.)

Medical school life is not complete without exams. So below is the examination room.

Soon-to-be library.

Study lounge where students can also study complete with tables, spaces for their things. It is just beside the canteen.

The comfort rooms? They are like that found in malls. Found on each floor. PWDs also have their own comfort room.



UCSM also takes good care of its faculty with parking space and department offices.




Even the technicians have an office.

Skills laboratory (see the hospital beds)

UCSM's new home is simply impressive. UCSM medical students are really very lucky. They have Atty. Go and family to thank for.  Cebu has another high quality medical school in their midst.