Arriving Home From Work

It's a good thing the pre-residents were not required to take the exam for today.  I was able to leave the hospital before sunset.

When I got home, everyone was on the street - my sister, my nephew, my daughter and the helpers.  It was so nice to be home at that time.  Everyone was enjoying the late afternoon outside since it was a really nice day today.

My daughter enjoying the afternoon out along with babies, toddlers and kids in our street.

Mommy looks "wasak" from work.

Ate Rose was there to carry my things up in my room

but then I asked her to wear my blazer and took a picture of her

also carrying my books!

She looks like a mad doctor with her usual unruly hair!  

How My Birthday Went

I totally forgot my birthday.

I woke up from my fetal position in the two-seater sofa in the residents' quarters this morning.  All I could think of was that I'm going to go home early today from my From Duty status.  I really felt lucky because I got my weekends off from unpaid training.

I only remembered that today I was a year older when someone greeted me through text.

Well, this must be the most thrifty of all birthdays I had.

I attended a Jollibee kiddie birthday party and a wedding on my birthday.

I'm happy to sign in the attendance logbook as a From Duty (Pre) Res.

That means, I will be heading home soon.

Best birthday gift for today...

We headed to a Jollibee in Marikina 

The birthday celebrant is sooo cute in her hot pink gown!

Via's first-ever Barbie item.

As always, Jollibee kiddie parties are fun 

and my friend's daughter's celebration was no exception.

One hour after, I was headed to One Esplanade

to attend one of my best friend's wedding.

I was happy to be seated in one of the tables

 until I realized I was not seated with anyone I know. 

Bummer!

My birthday is almost over and I'm officially 33 years old!!!

From Duty

Well, since I wasn't accepted in V.Luna Hospital,  I went ahead with my pre-residency in East Avenue Medical Center.  There was actually no reason not to go through the pre-residency training.  There's nothing to lose and everything to gain.

There are two of us applying for the job and we're both hoping that we'll get the position.  There's another one who was sending his application too.  I hope all three of us get in.  The job will be much easier if there were three of us.  We can go on an "every three day" duty rather than "every other day" if there's only two of us.  And I truly hope, there are no more applicants ^_^

Anyway, the department is currently suffering a sanction from the chief resident.  Their attendance logbook was lost and there was a suspicion that a resident who is always late or absent could be the culprit.  And so the chief resident placed everyone on house arrest.  No one goes home until the logbook is found.  Bummer for everyone!  

The logbook was a requirement for Philhealth accreditation and without it, the residents and the department are going to have some problems.  I whispered to my co-pre-resident that if we happen to enter the department, we will make sure the logbook is secured and nothing like this will happen again.  Well, it isn't my problem yet.

My problem right now is reviewing anatomy extensively in the radiological science's point of view.  And I have already ordered a book which hopefully will help me survive the three no-salary on-probation months!

Crossing my fingers!

By the way, my Via hasn't forgotten me yet :)  

Single Moms Not Welcome

I'm already starting my pre-residency tomorrow but I wanted to try applying in a more "benign" workplace.  And so when I was called for an interview in one of our military hospitals (there are two of them in Manila), I readily went there hoping to be given a slot in their residency program.

There were four of us who are going to fight for a position.  When it was my turn for an interview, I calmly took my seat where the air-conditioner was blasting cold air directly.  And so calm turned into nervousness.  But it wasn't for long.

In the first two minutes, the panel learned that I was a "single" mom.  I didn't have a chance.  They went on a litany on why they are not choosing a mother of a 9-month old child.  And then, one of the panel even emphasized that I was single - that there was no father around to help me support my child.  I didn't bother elaborating my real situation - that the father is not living with us but is financially supporting us in one way or another.  The interviewer's tone made it clear to me that I wasn't welcome in their department just because I was a "single mother".

Nervousness turned into resentment.

I wished I didn't waste any more time.  Applicants should have been informed on Day 1 that Single Mothers are not welcome.  I shouldn't have wasted my time taking their exam.

But it's not a total waste.  At least I learned that there are some people who don't have any faith in Single Mothers.  I don't take it against them if they grew up in a perfectly established family.  Instead, I envy them.  They are so lucky to be able to have a "complete" family of their own.

Wait, I grew up in a "complete" family too but I don't think single mothers are less of a person than other people.  I think (WITHOUT BIAS) that real single mothers are great by themselves.

I just wish the interviewers could have given me a chance because whatever I said during the interview, they keep getting back at being a mother and a "single" one at that.

Giving It Another Whirl

Let's see if I can do it again.

I have removed my UST hospital badge from my white coat hoping to patch another one on it to make it official - that I'm practicing my profession again.

Crossing my fingers that I get it right this time.

Dear Lord, thank you for second chances.

Family Day In Megamall

Birthday is coming up and so, we decided to have a family get together before work starts when I couldn't find anymore time to spend freely with anyone.   And so, along with Yaya Jane, Via and I drove to Megamall to meet her father for a lunch out.

Savory has become our favorite family restaurant.

My mom complains that they serve food that are too salty.

Husband and I find their food just right, however.

Pa trying to talk to Via.

Our family photo for the day

Everyone had to wait for me to get my pedicure done

Pictorial ni Dalaga

 These were taken when she was seven months old.  It was the time when I was not around.  And her lola took her to Great Image for a random pictorial.  The photos were poorly scanned, sad to say.  And I have to ask a professional to do it for me and have them printed.  It's too expensive to buy prints from Great Image, sadder to say.