CIMBRAINWAVES

Dec. 2001 Vol. 1 Issue 4

An Internet Newsletter publication of the American Society of CIM Alumni, Inc.

THE ASOCIMAI OFFICERS:

Dominador Ong, M.D.
President
Maida Antigua, M.D.
Vice-President
Dolores Lao, M.D.
Treasurer
Epifania Aranas, M.D.
Secretary
Clem S. Estrera, Jr., M.D.
P. R. O.
Jose Auditor, M.D.
Auditor

Board Members:

Horace Cabasares, M.D.
Perry, GA
Ramiro A. Cadag, M.D.
Kings Point, NY
Mike Espiritu, M.D.
Okeechobee, FL
Rise Faith Dajao, M.D.
Portsmouth, VA
Cecilio Delgra, M.D.
Charleston, WV
Rosario B. Gonzaga, M.D.
Cumberland, MD

BRAIN WAVES STAFF:

Editorial Board:

Maida Antigua, M.D.
Boston, MA
Horace Cabasares, M.D.
Perry, Georgia
Eli Estabaya, M.D.
Yuma, Arizona

Editor and Technical Adviser:
Clem S. Estrera, Jr., M.D.
Petersburg, VA

Staff Correspondents:
Roland Pasignajen, M.D.
New Jersey
Henry L. Yu, M.D.
Cebu City, Philippines
Ernesto Yu, M.D.
Buffalo, New York

Send news, articles, pictures, announcement, obituary, etc., to:clems3ra@rcn.com

FROM THE OFFICERS OF ASOCIMAI AND THE STAFF OF CIM BRAIN WAVES:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU!

Editorial


We Care


"We cannot do great things on this earth. We can only do small things with great love." - Mother Theresa

The Strings that bind
    For members of the ASOCIMAI, our association as most of you might have known already, is now a charitable Foundation. Being approved as a Foundation, its privileges don't come short and sweet, or with no strings attached. They come with legal strings that our association has to loosen and lift - something called an exercise of compassion. But strings or no strings, it really doesn't matter, because all of us have a good, compassionate heart. And that's just the way we, CIM physicians are, no matter what other physicians or other people say about us. All because we care. Our heart beats for others' sorrow. It bleeds for others' sufferings. Our Foundation, however, is not asking for your tachycardia or your cardiac tamponade. It simply asks you to please exercise your compassion by paying your membership dues on time or before the end of the year to take advantage of its tax deduction for your 2001 income-tax return on April 2002.  

A Highway Robbery
    Being a taxpayer in this land of milk and honey, every member of our Foundation pays a lot of money to Uncle Sam each year, although it's more like a yearly highway robbery. For when you feel Uncle Sam's presence, it is enough to make you shake, and when he stares at you, it is enough to make you tremble. When he points his finger at you, it becomes more than you can bear. He would look at you straight in the eye and says: "I want my money!" Keep in mind that he says my money, not your money. Thus you have no choice but to give him his money up to the last penny until he comes back the following year and asks for his money again. You cannot run, nor escape, let alone hide. You give or else...

    Isn't it ironic that we are supposed to be in the land of the free and yet, we are being robbed by the government every year like we are one of the regular victims of the April fool? And do you know what the government does with the money? A significant portion of it is being used to support parasites that are active and healthy, but who don't take responsibility for themselves. While some of us are struggling to make both ends meet because our kids and mortgages are conspiring against us, some of these parasites couldn't care less about their kids; they stay home, watch TV, and drink whiskey like they own the Milky Way. And while many of us have to work so hard sometimes day and night just to have some of the pleasures in life, many of them simply sleep, shit, eat and procreate like gerbils and rabbits. It isn't fair, is it? Teliho Hasuki joked, "I am from Osaka, Japan. I came to America because I'm lazy."

Don't mess with the IRS!
    If you don't give Uncle Sam's money in full, his ruthless KGB in the IRS would come and get you. When they do, you can kiss your peace of mind goodbye unless you have a death wish. But if you want to drastically lose weight, then this is the way to do it. Because when the IRS KGB start asking questions, food would lose its flavor and sex would lose its savor. Viagra, Ginseng, or Gingko biloba becomes useless. Instead, you'll need Valium, Pepcid, Pepto Bismul, and Mylanta. Plenty of them. The worry and fear you'd most like to wipe away from your mind would cling to it like the tenacity of weeds, while those sweet memories and harmony you want to treasure would fade like the blush on a rose. You might as well say to the IRS KGB, "Take me, I'm yours." Yet in your self-pity, you would probably say, "It's always the ones that don't deserve it that get all of life's troubles." And do you know what the IRS KGB would say to that? They would say, "Tough luck!"

 

A Deal and a Date
    Now here's a terrific deal. Give a little bit of that money every year to our Foundation whether or not you plan to attend our reunion. After all, it's one of those small things that Mother Theresa said we could do with great love. Because it's the money that provides the Foundation the necessary means to loosen the legal strings, and tow and tie it somewhere. You know only too well that our Foundation supports and helps only the helpless poor, not the healthy parasites; the ones who can move only with the dead and the near dead, not the ones who can move with the quick and the dead; the ones who cannot even see, smile, and breathe easy, not the ones who can drink 2-3 bottles of whiskey every day and have someone to constantly manipulate the government system to support their bad habits, abuse and indulgence. You can't get any better deal than this where Uncle Sam, bless his heart, actually encourages you to exercise your compassion and approves your date with charity. In fact, Uncle Sam even allows you to deduct or charge the expenses of your date to him. He is cool when you are honest and can produce receipts of your expenses, but he becomes cruel and unforgiving when you are cheating.

Cracking the Nut
    So the friends and cousins of charity are making it easy for those of you who have e-mail to pay your date with charity and your membership of the exercise club of compassion. All you do is get into our web site: www.asocimai.com Hold on for a minute. I understand your doubt about its safety particularly that we are new to this technology. Believe me, I had some doubts too, but I went ahead and was the first to pay for my yearly dues. It's smooth and easy, and I could not help but shake my head and smile at such wonderful technological convenience. It is safe, safer than using your credit card to pay for a pair of shoes in a department store, or paying something with your credit card on the phone. It has an encryption or an unbreakable code although it's not really unbreakable because a crack computer hacker can have a go at it. But if the hackers have enough brains to hack, then they must have enough brains to know that if they steal, they might as well steal something big like hundred of thousands and millions, not dimes and dollars. They might as well go for the big ones. Furthermore, even if your card number is stolen, you don’t have to pay all the charges you did not make, perhaps only a small amount. I know because my card number was stolen one time most likely through the phone, and I called the credit card Company and I did not have to pay anything. Because once your credit card is declared stolen, the Company’s insurance covering losses like this would kick in and so with the insurance of the store or other businesses where your card number was used to purchase. You simply have to call, explain and argue a little bit. In the U.S., the customer is the most important person in business and is being treated that way. That’s what we, the officers of our association, are trying to do to every member because to us, one member is as important as the other. He or she is the structural unit of the association. Anyway, so far, hackers had gone for the banks and financial institutions to exercise their skill, and steal. So it’s definitely safe, safer than playing golf on a cloudy spring or summer day. A lightning has a better chance of striking your golf club than a hacker stealing your credit card. Convinced? No?

    What about if I tell you that the Internet shoppers in the U.S. alone had already spent around $31 billion this year, up from $24 billion last year? It's estimated to steadily increase because not just that it's convenient, shoppers found it a lot safer to shop in the Internet. Plane, train and bus tickets are already purchased through the Internet by the travelers themselves in more than 60% of the time. Ultimately, the world will be going into purely cashless and paperless transaction. It's not a matter of if; it's a matter of when. You might as well start now. Still not convinced. What do I have to do to convince you? I've given the best arguments there are. Is it me? I knew that you're one hell of a tough nut to crack, but I did not know you were this tough. I'm about to go nuts. Well, what about sending your check to Dr. Dolores Lao at 13 Garrity Terrace, Pinebrook, New Jersey 07058? I’m sure you would prefer to do that. It’s okay with me. Come on. Just mail it today. You might forget it tomorrow or the next day. Now, for those who are convinced, simply follow the simple step-by-step instruction below. No muss, no fuss.

  1. Go to the Membership Page
  2. Click on PayPal logo
  3. Click on "Sign Up"
  4. Fill in Credit Card Information
  5. Click Continue at the bottom of the page to send payment.
  6. Robbed and Exploited
        You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your payment. Print and save the e-mail confirmation as your receipt and proof of payment so you can give it to your tax accountant because he is likely going to ask for it. To avoid the hassle of being asked with too many questions, it's probably better to tell your tax accountant that it's your yearly contribution to our Foundation. Tax accountants sometimes make you feel like they work for the IRS, not for you. I guess they are afraid of the IRS too. And they charge like lawyers, even more. All they do is figure out the money you owed to Uncle Sam, and the more money you had to give to Uncle Sam, the more they charge. I guess it’s part of what is called capitalism. This reminds me of a joke that the Russian negotiator told during the Cuban missile crisis. It was to make everyone relax during the tense moment when the American and Russian negotiators were having a deadlock. “What is the difference between capitalism and communism? The answer: In communism, man exploits man. In capitalism, it’s the other way around.” 

        On behalf of the ASOCIMAI officers and executive board members as well as the Staff Of CIM Brain Waves,Wishing everyone to have a glorious Christmas and a harmonious New Year!

    Clem
    ****************

    WELCOME!

        Speaking for myself, it's never in my wildest expectation that our CIM Alumni e-mail community would grow fast enough to reach a hundred members until at least after our next reunion in July 2002. That's why I have tried everything I could and use every word I could think of that would inspire, encourage, excite, implore, urge, demand, and push everyone to get into the e-mail bandwagon and join with us in our small alumni e-mail community. For I strongly believe that the choice between e-mail and postal mail is the choice between change and status quo; between the fast and the furious and the snail and the slug; and between going with the flow and getting snagged and stuck with the drift woods of yesterday. Indeed I did the best I could, and I was beginning to believe that my best has just not been good enough. I was also beginning to doubt that I just didn't have even half the style or the special ability, let alone the suave way of convincing alumni to join with our e-mail community. My worst pessimistic thought was that, if I could not sell my arguments to our own kind, then I may not even be able to sell a beer to a man on his way to hell. But the result now has shown otherwise, and it definitely tugs at my heart, touches my hopes, and paints the pictures that color my dreams.  

        I'm proud to announce that our membership has now grown to about 120 members including about 10 members from the Philippines. We welcome CIM alumni from wherever they are who want to join with our e-mail community. After all, we came from the same great medical school that keeps producing great medical doctors, and thus we should be able to do great things together with the use of our not-so great mouse. Whether they are in Australia or Africa, Panggasinan or New Zealand, Basilan or Pakistan, or even Afghanistan, as long as they are CIM alumni, they are welcome. However, if they happen to be connected with the Abu Sayef group, or the bin Laden's Al-Queda network, then we are sorry to tell them to take a hike because we don't want their kind in our peaceful community. But we can tell them to get into the web site of O.J. Simpson at this address: Slash slash Backslash Escape. Just kidding. 

    Here are the news members:
    From Class 1973:

    Sarah Bontuyan, M.D.
    Judith Branzuela, M.D.
    Eleonor Lim-Causin, M.D.
    Roly Chan, M.D.
    Teresita Escasinas-Chiu, M.D.
    Febe Linda Oro-Castillo, M.D.
    Esther Quijoy-Catalya
    Jose Espanol, M.D.
    Estrella Sy-Huang, M.D.
    Hossana Famador-Juario, M.D.
    Danny Jumapao, M.D.


    Agnes Romea-Jamero, M.D.
    Aurora Tan-Kaamino, M.D.
    Preciosa Pagunsan-Pinunggan, M.D.
    Chauncey Santos, M.D.
    Rose Torrevillas-Sunio, M.D.
    Almario Tantoco, M.D.
    Luvenia "Ging" Tantoco, M.D.
    Hector Torre, M.D.
    Verna Yu, M.D.
    Judith Brigoli, M.D.

    Judy Lao-Tan, M.D. Class '75
    Vicente Batiancila, M.D. Class '70
    Alfonso Milijor, M.D. Class '72

        On behalf of the officers of ASOCIMAI and the staff of CIM Brain Waves, I am happy to welcome every one of you to our small but growing CIM alumni e-mail community where we don't necessarily see each other, but we feel each other's presence in our heart and in our mind. This is a unique community where our feelings and thoughts count more than the actual close encounter of each other. Yet when we see each other one day, there likely would be something between us that could be more than friendship and stronger than just being colleagues or classmates. That something's name is bond, family bond. Not shaken, nor stirred. 

        Somehow I'm reminded by a Texan who was standing admiring the beauty of Niagara Falls when a New Yorker standing next to him said sarcastically: "I bet you don't have anything like this in Texas." "No," said the Texan, "but we've got plumbers who could fix it!"

        Well, our community doesn't have the likes of Niagara Falls or Viagra Rises. We've got no plumbers either. Except for our medical expertise, we are not experts on anything else although we know a little bit of technology to be able to build our web site that makes it possible to publish this Internet newsletter. But whatever we know, we are willing to share it with everyone of you. Since this is your community now, feel free to ask away. We will not pretend to know all the answers to all of your questions, but we'll help you any which way we can. Like if you want to know how to prevent your male Nursing Home patients from rolling out of bed. We'll tell you to prescribe Viagra. Just kidding. Thanks again for joining with us. - Clem 
    **********************

    Christmas Moody Blues

    RED, WHITE and BLUE CHRISTMAS
    by Ernie Yu, M.D. Class '73

        With December airwaves wholly enriched with century-old carols; with dining tables steaming with scents of ham and fruitcake; with a garish display of miniature rainbow glitters illuminating the string of "ho ho ho" around Christian homes, the prevailing mood in my side of the world is of the revitalized same old brewing anticipation of Santa's favorite fanfares. Indeed, the bounding pulse of Christmas is too palpable to ignore.

        Usual scenes lately: Rabid scrambles around Internet malls for those screaming bargains using (and abusing) mere typing fingers; the nifty thrillers of tensing the firepower of one's stack of credit cards for that incredibly exquisite jewelry find; the killer office parties that dissolve one's shyness to insane caloric loads; those season's greetings that melt into season's eating; the repetitive trips to wishing wells for the longed heaven-by-your-side sensory teases.

        Having spent half of my breathing years in Buffalo, I can detect a pulsating tingle in my bladder (Nope, not that kind. Silly!) that come Dec. 25th my piece of earth will be a blanket of nothing but snowflakes and white magic. The bone-chilling crystals of purity just love to coat our pine trees and roadways on Christmas day, permeating a winter wonderland ambience in our hearts. A major reason for why Buffalonians reflexly champion the emotional merits of hugs - one plus one heats up the blood.

        Among numerous symbolic entities, the color red exudes the dazzle and glory of love. Here is someone's Christmas luncheon tradition: Before partaking in the fiesta-like extravaganza for taste buds, a candle is lighted for every departed kin and dear friend when her/his name is called. Silent prayer then follows. "The glowing candles," she intones, "project the presence of their spirit in our lives, while the ritual saves us from dwelling on their absence." Wow, that is love in its purest form. As red as can be.

        Of course, blue Christmas is the devastatingly dreadful pedigree. The sad consequence of sinful shopping marathons, pushing recklessly to the extreme edges the phrase "Sky's the limit!" Likewise, it is the tint of disappointment for unwrapping a gift that is as distasteful as a big snore. Such frustration encourages you to mumble, "Might as well tell the sun not to ever shine again."

        Whatever crayons you elect to rub on your Yuletide coloring book, just spend, spend, spend. Not the mad spending that inspire bazaars and boutiques to explode in a paroxysm of hacking laughter. SPEND quality hours with your family. Pick the wondrous sparkle in your kids' eyes when they fish out Santa's candy cane in their stocking stuffers. Vibrate the joy in narrating a spirited version of Charles Dickens' holiday hits to your breed of young ears. Huddle around the fireplace and trade sweet nothings with your brothers and sisters. Sprinkle cheers and good tidings to the seniors in your clan (mom, dad,grannies, uncles, aunts). Whether red or white or blue, Christmas is all about people who love you and people whom you love.

        Spread the virus.
    ****************

    Christmas Humor

    Murphy's Law for Santa

        Not long ago and far away, Santa was getting ready for his annual trip. But there were problems everywhere. Four of his elves got sick, and the trainee did not produce the toys as fast as the regular ones. So Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind schedule. Then Mrs. Claus told Santa that her Mom was coming to visit. This stressed Santa even more.
        When Santa went to harness the reindeers, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence and were out, heaven knows where. More stress for the old man. Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the boards cracked and the toy bag fell to the ground and scattered the toys. 
        Totally frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of coffee and a shot of whiskey. When he went to the cupboard, he found the elves had hit the liquor and there was nothing to drink. In his frustration, he dropped the coffeepot and broke into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found that the mice had eaten the straw it was made of.  
        Just then the doorbell rang and Santa cussed on his way to the door. He opened the door and there was this little angel with a great big Christmas tree. The angel said: "Where would you like to put this tree, Fat Man?" And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is how the little angel came to be on top of the Christmas tree.
    **********************

    From Cebu

    by Henry Yu, M.D. Class '78

        The Cebu CIM fellowship night was held last December 8 at Baseline Resto.hosted by Class 1976. There was quite a good number of attendees compared to last year probably around a hundred. Just like any CIM fellowship, we danced, had fun and camaraderie. A sing-along contest was held and was represented by classes. Among them were Fred Abellana ('73), Romy Bigornia ('74), Amado Layno ('77), Wyben Briones ('78), Nora Abesamis-Redulla ('80). They picked a song and sang it along extemporaneously via the videoke. And the winners were the following: lst place – Amado Layno; 2nd place- Nora Abesamis-Redulla; and 3rd place – Romy Bigornia.  

        Former teachers who attended that I remembered were: Mercedes Planas, Bernardita Amigo, Feliciana Seguerra, Virginia Mesola, the Fernandezes - Thelma and Thomas, The Lims – Paz and Jesus, Gloria Bacay, Lourdes Diez, Antonio Tautjo, and Lorna Ybanez.  

        The next fellowship will be for the class 1977. After that, it’s finally ours of the class 1978. Be there.  

    Jokes in the Box

        A father asked his young daughter what she would like for Christmas. She said what she wanted more than anything else was a baby brother. And it so happened that on Christmas Eve her mother came from hospital clutching a baby boy.

        The following year, the father again asked his daughter what she would like for Christmas. "Well," she replied, "If it's not too uncomfortable for Mommy, I'd like a pony."
    **********************

        A bride stepped out of the shower on her wedding night wrapped in a robe. Her husband said: "You don't have to be shy now - we're married." So she took off her robe to reveal her naked body.
        "Wow," said the husband. "let me take your picture."
        "Why," said the wife coyly.
        "So I can carry your beauty next to my heart forever."
        He took the picture and then went to have a shower himself. A few minutes later he emerged wrapped in a robe.
        "Why are you wearing a robe, honey?" she asked. "Remember, you don't have to be shy now - we're married." So he took off his robe to reveal his naked body.
        "Let me take your picture, " she said.
        "Why?" he asked, grinning. 
        "So I can get it enlarged."
    **********************

        A Canadian went on vacation to Florida. His wife was on business trip and was planning to meet him in Miami the following day. When he reached his hotel room, he decided to send his wife a quick e-mail.
         Unable to find the scrap of paper on which he had written her e-mail address, he did his best to type it from memory. Unfortunately he missed one letter and his message was directed instead to an elderly vicar's wife whose husband had passed away only a day before.
        When the grieving widow checked her e-mail, she took one look at the screen, let out a shriek of horror and fell to the floor in a dead faint. Hearing the commotion, her family rushed into the room and saw the message on the screen which read:
        Dearest wife,
        Just checked in. Everything prepared for your arrival tomorrow.
        P.S. Sure it's hot down here.
     
    **********************

    Why did God make man first? - He didn't want a woman looking over his shoulder.
    What's six inches long, two inches wide and drives women wild? - Money.
    How do you stop your husband from reading your e-mail? Rename the folder "Instruction Manual."
    In the beginning God created earth and rested. Then God created man and rested. Then God created woman. Since then, neither God nor man has rested.

    A snail was mugged in an alley by two slugs. Later a detective asked him for a description of his assailants. "Gee," said the snail, "I'm not sure. It all happened so fast."
    **********************

    Insights

    Special Olympics Story

        And they call some of these people "retarded"… 

        Several years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically and mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. 
        The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back …. every one of them. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. 
        People who were there are still telling the story. Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course. If we think about this and tell others, we may be able to change our hearts as well as someone else's ……  

       :  "Down in their hearts, wise men know this truth: that the only way to help yourself is to help others."- Elbert Hubbard

         "A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle."

    "People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. The people who get on in this world are they who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them." - George Bernard Shaw
    **********************

    Merry Christmas Everyone!

      
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