Paquito Is Back From The Veterinary Clinic

Paquito is now home since Saturday from a 2-day sleepover in the veterinary clinic. The doctor made a minor operation on his back because he has infected wounds. It turns out that a huge parts of his skin was already dead, so the doctor had to drain the pus from the wound and cut the dead part of the skin off. The wound was caused by an attack of a very jealous cat more than a month ago. I initially thought that it will heal by itself, but intead, it went from bad to worse.

Searching for a vet here in Jeddah is not easy, and if ever you find one, it will definitely cost a lot because most of their clients are rich people who can afford to spend thousands for their pets, and I'm not one of them. So, after asking a lot of people if they know any veterinary clinic in Jeddah, I've found one that's just near my apartment in Faisaliah district, the Jeddah Veterinary Clinic.

The name of Paquito's doctor is Khumbulani T. Nyathi, he's South African. He obviously knows that I'm not one of those wealthy pet owners who frequent their clinic, and I think he gave us discount for Paquito's minor surgery. He initially said that I'll just pay SR. 345, I guess that was for the surgery and the consultation fee of SR.120, excluding the medicines. All in all I just paid SR.365.

Right now, Paquito is rerecuperating in our apartment. The doctor said that it's not necessary anymore to put an elizabethan collar on his neck, but I still put it to prevent him from scratching and licking his freshly stitched wound. I'm also giving him antibiotic 2 times a day for 7 days to prevent infections. I think he'll fully recover soon enough.

At A Wedding In Abhur!

Last Thursday, September 9, 2010 was the wedding of my classmate Rischel and her groom Jason. The wedding was held at a rented villa in Abhur, north of Jeddah. At first I was a little hesitant to attend the event because I thought the venue was too far and I didn't know how to get there, but then again I thought why not. I called my other classmate who wanted to come with us to the wedding reception. (at this time the wedding itself was already over).

Even though I didn't know the way, we just followed the street signs going to North Abhur, and called some of my classmates who were already there to guide us on our way to the venue. When we arrived, the place was full of people and I was amazed at how big the place was. There's a huge lawn and it has a swimming pool at the side of the 2 floor villa. When we went inside, I heard a loud music,  I saw a huge living room that was converted into a dance floor and there were lots of people dancing.

We went straight to a room which was reserved especially for TCI students, it has 3 single beds and 2 medium-sized cabinets. The other room opposite to our's was reserved for the staff of Cinnabon, where the karaoke was located, which we would later invade. After a while, we thought that it was time for us to eat, so we went to the buffet. Boy, the food was delicious, especially the one with the tofu in it. I love tofu! There were a lot more food on the buffet but I'm on a diet, so as much as I really wanted to eat, I just have to put a portion on my plate. Damn!

After a few hours, some of my classmates went to the dance floor and they 'tripped the light fantastic'. I did not know that they have such talent in the art of dancing. I was just there to take videos of  my classmates and the other guests while they were doing their thing, (which you will see in the video below). You see, I also wanted to dance, but my two left feet won't allow me to. LOL!

As  hours passed and the night slowly turned to dawn, we invaded the other room where the karaoke was, and we sang our heart out. I kept on telling my classmates that it would have been perfect if only we had booze, but of course we didn't have. Too bad, I was on a party mode. Nevertheless it didn't stop us from enjoying. I sang 'Bluer Than Blue' (as usual), but it was when we sang 'Living La Vida Loca' that it made us go crazy. We didn't need booze after all!

And when morning came, it was around 8 AM, and when most of the guests are gone, we decided to take a dip in the pool. It was fun, although it was morning, the water was not cold at all. I can't even remember how many somersaults I did, (joke). It didn't take long for my fingers to crinkle, I had enough of the water, my colleagues soon followed. After we had fun at the pool, we had breakfast. The people in charge of the reception really thought everything out. They brought out one after the other, different menus like papaitan, putong puti, boiled eggs, and sopas. It was great!

Just like Janet Jackson's song goes, funny how time flies when your're having fun..., Yup, It's time to leave! Unfortunately, my car can only occupy 5 including me, so 2 of my classmates had to ride a private bus  with the rest of the guests. It was a great experience, It was my first time to attend such an occasion and my first time also to go to Abhur. Thanks Jason and Rischel for a wonderful time, and congratulations!

¡SOY NEGRENSE!: Jason & Rischel's Eid Wedding In Obhur!

Help Save Japan's Dolphins!

The Cove, The Secret Is Out, Spread The Word.

Article: Dolphin Killings Underway Despite Protest.

I Passed The BLS Examination, I'm CPR Certified!

It was a tiring day for me and I guess for my 5 other classmates as well after that bone-breaking CPR training, and not to mention that nerve-wracking BLS examination at the King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital last Wednesday. But it was all worth it. After more than a week of studying and training at our training center in TCI, the effort has paid off. All 6 of us, which is only the first batch from our class to take the examination, are now BLS (Basic Life Support) certified.

Before we had our examination, we were formally trained for about 4 hours on how to perform CPR on an adult, child and infant using dummies, and how to use the AED correctly. They also trained us on how to rescue an adult and an  infant victim when choking occurs. Using the dummies was the fun part although I never realized that giving 5 cycles of CPR  (which is 5 times 30 compressions with 2 breaths) is so tiring, what more in a real life situation?

After the training, we took the examination at the other room. It was a multiple choice test and we just have to encircle the letter that corresponds to the correct answer. I can't say it was easy, but it was not that hard also, probably the only thing that scared me that time was the thought that I might fail and I have to do it all over again. Failing the test was not an option, and thank God I made it! It took me about 20 minutes to answer all the questions.

They told us right away the result of the examination almost instantly after we submitted our test papers. I've got a 100% score! A few more minutes we received our certificates, but we have to give it back to the TCI management, they said that we will get it back on our graduation after 6 months. Passing BCLS was an amazing experience for me, as I remember it right, I haven't finished anything in my life prior to this and now I'm CPR certified. WOW!

I was also given a Saudi Heart Association BLS provider's ID which is good for 2 years and it says,  This certifies that the above named has successfully completed the national cognitive and skills performance examination in accordance with the standards and guidelines of the Saudi / American Heart Association for the basic Cardiac Life Support Program.

My sincerest thanks to our mentor Ms. Glenda Musico for helping us out get over our fears with her precious time shared with us by conducting online review and immersed us with the knowledge of CPR techniques that obviously came out in the exams. And  likewise, with Mr.Tom Lim who painstakingly challenged us with his encouraging words to hurdle any obstacles that may come our way, and also for his dilligence in teaching us so that we would be able to achieve  our goals.

A Tour With Mr. Tom Lim

After the hype was over, we went to the canteen for lunch, and while eating,  Mr. Tom Lim, our instructor/ founder of TCI, who works as a head nurse in the hospital, told us if we would like to see the place where he works, so we said yes. We went to the Cathertisation laboratory and Angiogram room. I was so amazed with the apparatus there, I don't even know what they are for. I saw a lot of monitors and a huge apparatus that resembles a machine from the movie 'Stargate'. No matter how Mr. Lim explained to us how things work in there and what those apparatuses are for, his explanations seemed to just enter to my ear and exit on the other. All in all, the experience was a total fun, Thank you Mr. Tom Lim!

My classmate's story about our BCLS examination, ¡SOY NEGRENSE! -  'Now We Are CPR Certified!'

Classmates At The Corniche

Yesterday, I and 6 of my classmates in TCI went to the Corniche just after our class around 5:00 PM. The sun was still up and it was terribly hot. 3 of them rode in my car and 2 others rode with Chris in his pick-up truck. We first went to a park where we took a lot of pictures with some of the locals there together with their ponies and their 4 wheeled motorcycles.

It was so hot and humid that afternoon and we can't even drink water out in the open, because it's Ramadan, we have to show respect to some of the Muslims there; they were fasting, and they can't either eat or drink until a specific time, so we have to discreetly drink water inside the car.

After the photo session at the mini park, we went to meet the Red Sea. We went to the different sections of the corniche and took photos of ourselves. One of our destinations was at the observation deck. While walking there, I thought that I was being one with the sun, It was almost 6:00 PM and it was hot and humid still, but like those sun worshipers, heat was not a deterrent to get those perfect photos, nope!. But seeing that sparkling, clear water of the Red Sea made me want to dive in it, but of course I can't, I think it's prohibited to swim or wade in the water on that part of the corniche, I don't know, we're in Saudi Arabia, isn't everything supposed to be prohibited here?

Anyways, we had fun and we obviously had our bonding moments there and not to mention those great photos and videos that will remind us of those memorable moments. What else could we ask for?

By The Way, I'm Back In School

Mr.Jeremy Thomas Lim BSN, RN, Founder/ Executive Director/ Instructor

I forgot to write a post about myself being in school again. So, yes I'm back in school, it's an intensive Caregiving program which is a 6-month program that caters for OFW's who are high school graduates and for those who didn't finish college like myself, although there are students that are professionals like engineer, pharmacists, etc. The program is on its 4th batch now of which I am lucky to be part of. The training center is only open every Fridays because most of the students and instructors are working during weekdays.The class starts from 8AM to 5 PM but can extend up to 7PM (although we haven't experienced that yet, thank God), so it's kind of hard for some students especially for those who still have work the night before. This week will be the start of  Ramadan, so for some students that will be an added problem because of the time constraint, most businesses during this time are all busy.

I enjoy going to school every Friday, because it breaks the routine that I used to have, and it's fun. It excites me so much that I can't even sleep the night before, just like what happened 2 weeks ago, I was awake 24 hours, I felt like a zombie sitting inside that classroom, and I don't want that to ever happen again, so I sleep very early every Thursday night, around 9 PM. Another thing that I really enjoy is that I get to exercise my brain again with those hard to remember, tongue twister medical words like gluteus maximus, vestibulocochlear, sternocleidomastoid etc.  And by the way, it sure is nice to try my hand in writing long lectures and assignments again just like when I was in high school.

Total Care International is now open for the 5th batch of students, so if you are from Jeddah and interested in the program, you can go to Total Care International website that you will see below, and there you will see phone numbers to contact and you can also fill up a form for you to reserve a slot.

The training center was located inside IPSJ (International Philippine School of Jeddah) on Gornatha street but just last Friday we transfered to a different location near Hail street. The name of the training center is Total Care International, and was founded by a  Filipino couple in 2008.

Website: Total Care International

Related: 'Im Back In School Again' at ¡SOY NEGRENSE! (My Classmate's Blog)

Who Am I?

Contrary to what I've been telling other people and on this blog, in some of my previous posts, I knew that the person who I knew as my mother is actually not my biological mother. I learned about this when I was 26 years old, and it was just unbelievable to me at that time. In my mind, things like that only happens on television and in movies, although, that revelation answered some of the why's and the how's in my mind but still I was on denial.

When I was a child, I'd been hearing a lot of stories from other people that I was adopted, but of course I didn't believe them. My parents told me that if people said something about it again, that I should show them my birth certificate, it's an A2-size paper with a Nestlé company logo on top with my name, name of the hospital  where I was supposedly born, date of birth and with the signature of the doctor which obviously turned out to be bogus. I can't blame those people who said that I was adopted, they didn't see my mother got pregnant for 9 months, instead, they just saw this baby in front of their bulging eyes one fine day.

I said earlier that that revelation answered some of my questions. Most of them are about my relationship with my mom and how she treated me as her son. I remember one instance where I was in my room and she was calling me from downstairs, my tv was loud and I couldn't hear her shouting, she then went up to my room and scolded me, after a short exchange of words, she then slapped me on my nape with a closed fist, (don't get me wrong, I never speak bad word to may parents,) I remember I was crying after that. My father came up after my mom had left and he was angry because of the commotions. While I was crying, I told my father, "Why is mother not like a mother?", then he put his arm around me and said, "Don't cry and don't think about it, she's just experiencing menopause, that's all", ridiculous it may sound, but I believed him. There were many more instances like that and some other small things, and collectively they all served as clue to the truth.

I'm 38 now and after more than 10 years since I've learned about my mom, I kind of accepted the fact that she's not my biological mom and that nothing should change. In my mind, I still have my father and he's my real father, we are both a Cabrera and that is all that matters. Although, ever since I've learned about it, new questions popped up in my mind, like who's my real mother?, where is she now? or is she rich or poor?  or is she still alive? and a lot more. My parents and I, we neither talked about it nor I asked my father who he had an illicit relationship with, but everytime I had a chance to speak with my relatives, I would often ask them about it, but their answers would often disappoint me.

Just last Friday, (I didn't have a sleep that evening, probably I was too excited to go to school,) I decided to call one of my relatives in the States. I wanted to just say hello and update myself about what's happening with them there. But then I decided to ask about my real mother or if they know my real mother, at first he said he didn't know her and I was kind of expecting that, but then he said, "I don't know your mother but what I know is that you were given to your parents by a certain Doctora Virata of Imus", and then he added, "and a certain Rementilla, so if you want to find out who you really are, and who your real parents are, look for those people". Then I quickly said thank you, terminated the call and ran to my computer and googled Dra.Virata, but then it crossed my mind, if I was given to my parents.....then? I quickly called back and asked, Are you saying that my father is not my real father? Then he said, "to my knowledge, yes, he's not your father, they are not your parents". I couldn't believe it, not another one! After all those years, all those people who've been telling me that I am adopted was right all along. Everything about me was a lie.

I found 3 Dr.Viratas in Imus, Dr. Mabini Virata, Dr. Cora Virata and Dr. Enriqueta Virata. I don't want to play Sherlock Holmes, but I want to know who I am. I feel so empty, like something's missing, and I wish my Nanay Tita is here, (my aunt who died last year). I don't even know if I have the courage to ask those people about my parents, and if I do, will they answer me or will  they just tell me to go away because they are busy?

I'm Optimistic With P-Noy

I didn't sleep until 9:00 this morning (Saudi Time) just to watch on TV the inauguration of our new president Benigno Simeon Aquino lll live in Manila on TFC. I feel like it's imperative for me to witness this part of Philippine history. Obviously, I can't be there personally in Luneta infront of the Quirino Grandstand to cheer and to give my support, as I am here in Saudi Arabia, so TV is the only way I could witness this special occasion.

I haven't felt this optimism about the Philippines since the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos (president 1992-1998). During this time, whenever I go to Manila (from where I live in Cavite), I remember noticing the skyline of Manila and seeing a lot of buildings being constructed with all those long cranes on top of each building, I thought then that the construction boom in Manila was probably one of the signs that things were improving, and I was not wrong.

I remember my father had a subscription of Asiaweek Magazine and I was always the first one to read it. I was excited to look at some of the pages at the back where one can see the different economic growth charts of some Asian countries. I remember the Philippines was paired with Thailand in one of the charts with the title, "Tiger's Cub".

Things were going well economically, then Joseph Ejercito Estrada entered the scene and everything just crumbled down. I remember my friends and I were talking about this inside a karaoke bar, of all places, and I remember telling them that if Joseph Estrada wins the presidency I will leave the country. He did win. And true enough, I did leave. I was forced to work abroad.

Even though I like the Ramos' administration, the funny thing about it is that I didn't even vote for him during the election of 1992, I voted for Miriam Defensor Santiago, who obviously lost the presidential race. Some would probably disagree with what I said about the Ramos' administration, but this is what I honestly feel about it.

And going back to the inauguration of Noynoy, I must admit that his inaugural speech was full of sincerity, humility and it mirrors his objectives for the Philippines and the Filipino people. One of my favorite parts of his inaugural speech was when he said that he can forgive those who did him wrong, but he has no right to forgive those who abused the people. And he went on to say;

"To those who talk about reconciliation, if they mean that they would like us to simply forget about the wrongs that they have committed in the past, we have this to say: there can be no reconciliation without justice. When we allow crimes to go unpunished, we give consent to their occurring over and over again. Secretary de Lima, you have your marching orders. Begin the process of providing true and complete justice for all."

I know P-Noy will be a great leader and will do all the things he promised to the people. I'm confident not only in him but also to those people surrounding him, most especially his sisters, specifically Ballsy Aquino Cruz, the eldest of the siblings. She to me is like Olivia de Havilland's character Melanie Hamilton Wilkes in the movie "Gone With The Wind", so if Ballsy say it is alright, then it is alright! 

Eventhough I'm optimistic about the new administration, we should not put all our hopes and the responsibility on P-Noy's shoulders, we must also have to do our part, if not, it'll be just like watching a magic show and we are the audience. We also have to be realistic that 6 years is not enough to solve most of our problems. P-Noy needs our help.

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."

 ~Barack Obama, 2008 Feb 05, Chicago, Illinois

To watch Part 2 to 4 of 'Palasyong P-Noy' , go to Probe TV

Link: Full Transcript Of P-Noy's Inaugural Speech; P-Noy's Inaugural Speech In English

Paquito Is His Name!

The other day my housemate found a stray cat in the street just outside our apartment. I think the cat had an owner before because my friend said that it was not afraid of him, in fact the cat was the one who came towards him and seemingly asking for food. My friend called me so that I would   see the condition of the cat personally. The cat was not in good shape, he was having a hard time walking, a huge part of his back has a bald patch and it seems that there's something wrong with his skin, it almost looks like a big open wound when I saw it.

We already have 4 cats inside our small apartment and I know it'll be crowded, but still we decided to take the cat in. I can't imagine how that poor cat could possibly survive outside without food and water under the burning heat of the sun in that condition. I then bathe and fed the cat. I can tell that he was very hungry and thirsty, but may be because of what he was feeling, he just can't eat the way a starving cat usually does. I also noticed that he moves very slowly, another sign that the cat is sick.

This was not the first time I took in a cat inside my apartment, in fact there were 3 of them (in 3 different occasions), but I released the two back to the street when they got well, I really didn't want to do it, but I had to, I couldn't possibly keep them all. The one that was left now has 2 offsprings and a grandkitten, that is Brüno.

Anyway, the other day I tried to find the breed of the cat in the internet, for me to know more about him and yes I did find out his breed, he is a Himalayan, a cross between Siamese and Persian, meaning they have the color of the Siamese and the long fur of the Persian cat. Himalayans have light colored bodies and dark extremities which are called Color Points, the colors could be lilac, blue, chocolate, flame and cream. I'm just not sure about the color points of my cat.

And about the name of the cat, we used to call the cat 'Sweety', but after I discovered that the cat is a male,  it's appropriate to give him a name that would suit the gender. We wanted to give him a name that has a 'growl' in it, that would sound mean to offset his pitiable condition and so we decided to call him Paquito, after Paquito Diaz, a Filipino mestizo actor who always played the role of  'contra vida' or villain in most of his movies.  I think his new name suits him.