November 2002 Vol. 2 Issue 18
An Internet Newsletter publication of the American Society of CIM Alumni, Inc.
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November 2002 Vol. 2 Issue 18 |
An Internet Newsletter publication of the American Society of CIM Alumni, Inc. | |
| THE ASOCIMAI OFFICERS: Dominador Ong, M.D. Board Members: Horace Cabasares, M.D. CME Coordinator: Ways and Means Committee BRAIN WAVES STAFF: Editorial Board: Maida Antigua, M.D. Editor: Staff Correspondents: Guest Correspondents: Send news, articles, pictures, announcement, obituary, etc., to:clems3ra@adelphia.net
| Editor's Column"Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born." --UnknownOne Year Anniversary
To the staff of Brain Waves: we did it! And thank you all so much. To the readers: thank you all for taking your time to read our newsletter. We definitely hope that Brain Waves will continue to arouse your youthful curiosity, widen your intellectual capacity, cool your emotional sensitivity and help remind you not to forget to laugh. Just think how often do you get a real good laugh. Laughter has a lot less to do with jokes than with your sense of humor and your attitude. How many jokes you found yourself not laughing? Why? It's mainly because you lose your sense of humor or you're not in the mood. That's what Brain Waves will continue to try to do - help you keep your sense of humor and make your mood sweet and upbeat. And to all those in our mailing list or in our e-mail community particularly those non-alumni whom we consider as CIM friends and who feel like members of the community because they basically are, thank you for staying with us and not asking us to delete your name or address. Whether you are reading our newsletter or not, we prefer to believe you are. Finally, to some ASOCIMAI officers and board members and Brain Waves editorial board like Maida Antigua, Horace Cabasares, Epi Aranas, Mike Espiritu, Ramie Cadag, Rise Faith Dajao, Eli Estabaya, and to some friends like Siegfred Jalalon, Hector Vamenta, Pompei Jubay, Maning Juson, Tito Orig, Beeboy Racoma, Terry Lambo Quisumbing, Ernie Yu, Lando Pasignajen, Albert Yu, Nick Pascua, Tanny Aranas, Alex Rodriguez, Helen T. Yap, Henry Yu, Ray Castillejo, Anabelle Lim Go, Teofilo Recitas, Roger Gochoco, Charles Sy, Ethel Cornejo who, were there to provide moral support at least when I was still groping and struggling to make sense of what I was doing, thank you all very much. And to Maida Antigua and Brad Tan, two good friends who are always ready and willing to provide technical help, thank you kindly. All of you just didn’t know how much your support or help little they maybe, gave me a big push. Some of you may no longer remember anymore what you did. But I want you all to know that I had really appreciated it. Barbara Streisand’s song says: "People who need people are the luckiest people in the world." Indeed I consider myself lucky in my endeavor to learn to build web site that led to our newsletter publication, because of people like you. A Certain Kind of Light We share our personal experiences, knowledge, or philosophical ideas not as tools to influence your way of thinking, but as means to provoke your thought, modulate your sensitivity, stimulate your sense of humor and illuminate your mood to make it sweet and upbeat. Too much tension and turmoil that are often the results of negativism and skepticism make your mood sour and stale. When you are not in the mood, it's much harder to laugh, to think clearly, to be friendly, to relate in positive ways to others, and to focus on cooperation instead of control, appreciation instead of criticism, fulfillment instead of fragmentation. So stay connected with Brain Waves if you want to experience the waves of powerful impulse it generates. As Helen T. Yap said: "It is sometimes full of emotions." Brain Waves offers you a certain kind of light, and leaves you alone so you can use it. The
Future of Brain Waves Suffice it to say, one's creative imagination can definitely
get exhausted. Thus Brain Waves needs correspondents to provide variety of
something to read, something to learn or something to arouse the fancy of its diverse readers – correspondent particularly for news about the alumni
and their family’s achievements and events like wedding, birth, or death, or
retirement, etc., - correspondent for information about CIM and its students
or faculty activities, - and correspondent for information about events and
activities of Filipinos in different parts of the world that could impact on one's
travel plans and preparations. Any volunteer? Just put your
thought on paper and send it to Brain Waves. Who knows? Your thought could
very well make someone having "a feeling deep in her soul that says she’s
half" realize that "she’s whole." Wouldn't it make you feel good to think that perhaps you're making a little bit of difference? |
We hope our mistake did not create any feeling of disrespect particularly to the mother of Monica. If it did, we are very sorry. Our thanks to Monica for pointing out the mistake to us. We hope that it serves as an example that would encourage every reader of our newsletter to point out to us whatever mistake we make or have made without hesitation. Brain Waves’ goal maybe the relentless pursuit of excellence, but never perfection.
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Readers' Feedback, Comments and Anniversary Messages
"Thanks for always sending me the latest edition of Brain Waves. It's a pleasure reading them. I would like to congratulate the contributors as well as the editorial staff for the sustained effort in putting together an interesting newsletter." ---Vivien Seno, M.D. Cebu, Philippines
"More power to Brain Waves. It is indeed a very constructive, informative sometimes full of emotions as well as laughter - the best medicine. I never fail to read them." ---Helen T. Yap, M.D. Cebu, Philippines.
"Sometime in July 2002, I had asked you to delete my name from your mailing list because I did not know you and I'm not from CIM. But while surfing the Internet for Cebu alumni, I encountered your web site and I decided to open it and read Brain Waves. It's an interesting newsletter and you have great articles and really funny jokes. I spent more than two hours reading the back issues. Please put my name back in your mailing list. Thank you." ---Cesar Otadoy., Philippines
"Happy birthday, Brain Waves. Go! Brain Waves Go!" ---Dodong Gonzalo, Philippines
"Thanks for including me in your e-mail community. I've been reading CIM Brain Waves since February 2002. Your alumni newsletter is unique. It’s therapeutic. My husband and I are not doctors nor are we in the health care profession, but we can understand the articles and of course, the jokes. We always look forward to the next issue. But I'm just curious. How come you have correspondents that haven't written anything? Sorry to bring it up." ---Tina B., Jax, Florida.
"I started receiving your e-mail regarding CIM Brain Waves in March 2002, but I had always deleted your message because I thought it was junk. Also, with the computer virus spreading around these days, I have to be careful. Not until June 2002 when I was bored that I decided to click on your web site. Your web site is very impressive. It makes it easy for any visitor like me to go to the page of my choice. Anyway, I started reading Brain Waves and I got hooked. It's very informative, enlightening and entertaining Internet newsletter. I don't know how you got my e-mail address and I don't want to know. Just keep me in your mailing list. Thank you.” ---Faye Richardson, Chester, Virginia
"I noticed that you accept articles, essays, poems and other information from the readers that are not members of your alumni and you've been trying to recruit correspondents. I think it's a wise thing to do so that your newsletter can have some variety. I myself am interested in writing something to share with others as you call it. I am aspiring to be a religious minister. I like the looks of your newsletter. It’s colorful and periodically evolving. However, I also noticed that you already have more than enough correspondents in your list." ---George Bland, Prince George, Virginia
" I congratulate you and all the staff of Brain Waves for doing such a great job. You must have spent a great deal of time putting every issue together. I hope the members of your alumni organization have appreciated your effort and dedication. Happy Anniversary!" ---Phyllis Allen, Dinwiddie, Virginia
"I am not from CIM and I am not a doctor. I have deleted your e-mail messages without reading them since May 2002. But you've been very persistent and so I decided to open your e-mail message in the month of August and I still deleted it because Brain Waves sounds like an advertisement trick. I was about to ask you to remove my name from your mailing list when a friend forwarded your message to me that I already deleted this month, October, containing the current issue of Brain Waves. I decided to surf in your web site and started reading your newsletter. I'm glad I did. Your newsletter is unique. It is informative, interesting and has funny jokes. Thank you." ---Joanna L., California
"Thank you Brain Waves' staff for sharing your knowledge, wisdom and experiences. I am not from CIM, but I'm grateful to the one who gave you my e-mail address. Please keep me in your mailing list." ---Lisa A., Georgia
"Happy anniversary, Brain Waves! Your staff ought to be congratulated for putting time and effort just to share their knowledge and thought-stimulating philosophy that laymen like us can understand and benefit. Not too many people would do that for free. May the force be with all of you." ---Mario Solante, Guam
"Thank you, Brain Waves, for helping me understand my complicated life. Happy Anniversary!" ---Tina E., Australia.
"More power to you, Brain Waves. Happy Anniversary!" ---Betty S., Canada
"Thank you for including me in your mailing list. Your CIM Brain Waves newsletter is very unique. I was surprised to learn that it's not all about your medical profession and alumni activities, but mainly about practical wisdom and insights as well as humor and jokes. Your staff writes very well. Is English the primary language of instruction in the Philippines? Just curious. Happy Anniversary!" ---Philip E., Bristol, England
Editor's Note: First of all, the above messages do not include those from the few individuals who seemed upset to receive my e-mail message notifying them of the current issue of Brain Waves, and who asked to have their names removed from the mailing list. There were about 15 or 16 of them since we started our newsletter. I wondered if they had ever read just one issue of Brain Waves.
Well, on behalf of the staff of CIM Brain Waves, I'd like to thank the readers above for taking the time and effort to send their messages for the anniversary issue of our newsletter. We feel lucky to have readers like you. You have given us something to hang on to in time of disappointments and frustrations. We are humans and we often wonder whether it's worth doing what we are doing and whether there are enough readers reading what we are writing.
At least one of you have indicated that you are hoping that the members of our alumni organization have appreciated our effort and dedication. It does sound like you're concerned and thank you very much for your concern. Honestly, it's hard to say for sure whether the majority of the alumni have appreciated what we are doing because there is very little, if any, indication that they have. Comment or message from them as you can see above is as rare as the sighting of Loch Ness Monster in Scotland. But we, the staff, would like to believe they have. After all, this kind of service has never been provided before or at anytime in the past, and the members have now been getting not just a constant update in detail about our association, but also other information and thought-provoking philosophical ideas, humor and jokes. I doubt seriously if there are many other alumni associations that are providing the kind of service or the kind of newsletter we have with articles that make you think, jokes that make you laugh or smile at least, and insights that make you wonder what might have been.
Anyway, your messages mean so much to us. They have a way of transcending our frustration, doubt, disappointment and discouragement that keep us from accomplishment and contribution to help make a difference. Even if our goal is mainly personal growth and improvement, we are not insulated completely from the occasional thought of the uselessness of what we are doing. Needless to say that your messages give us a strong antidote to such poisonous thought.
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The Meeting of the ASOCIMAI Minds
We came, we saw, and never mind.
The Philadelphia meeting of the ASOCIMAI officers, board members and committee members this past Saturday, November 2, 2002, was more like a mini-reunion. Almost all of us came, some with their husbands or wives. El Presidente rented a Ford Club Wagon that could seat up to twenty passengers, of course with our butt sizes. Only one of the officers could not come. Anita Avila and her husband had the plane ticket already but in the last minute, their daughter-in-law went into labor. And since it was their first grandchild, it had to be the priority. Two of the members of the board did not come. We did not hear and have never heard from Elie Gonzales. We also did not hear from Celio Delgra since the last meeting during our reunion in Washington, D.C. Almost all of the members of the Ways and Means Committee came. So far, it was the most attended meeting and it turned out to be an enjoyable escape from the monotony of life. Mike and Leni Espiritu brought with them several of the sweetest buongon and calamansi from Florida while Yakyak and Lolit Lao brought four huge baskets each containing homecooked bodbod, torta, leche plan, and impanada. We were having a feast every morning and night, for we were out during the day.
We needed a break. Thus having a break with a good number of our friends, classmates and colleagues we don't see too often is exciting. We become energized and motivated, not just because there are always jokes and laughter that seem to come naturally like parts of the agenda, there is that kind of bonding we feel for each other that is so different than even with our own brothers or sisters. Not only that there is a real sense of belonging, there is also a sense of closeness saturated with fun and pleasure. It's not surprising that the younger alumni Brad and Ailyn Tan, and Yakyak Lao readily fit right in like we have been together for years. The older ones Diana and Tino Amores, Bebie Varona, Lolit Lao, Ramie and Winda Cadag seemed to shed a significant number of years of their life. They released themselves free from anything that may have bothered their mind and laughed like teenagers. We, the not so older ones, Boy and Rise Dajao, Clem, Tanny, Dodong and Epi Aranas, Doming, Maida, Mike and Leni, Titus, Horace, Kidday, Ramon and Luna Navarro, just wanted to stay as sweet as we are. Just for laughs, we made fun of everyone, but we never went near the border of tolerance even if we knew that everyone's threshold of tolerance is very high. The Foreplays Our Saturday night dinner was sponsored by Jabbar Chetham of Pfizer at the Ocean City Chinese Restaurant with nine different delicious food for each table. Thanks to Jabbar it was another great dinner. Unfortunately for Tanny Aranas, the eel made her cringe, but it was tasty. Although eel may look like a slimy snake, it is a fish and it tastes like a fish. It's a delicacy in many Asian countries. Tanny was also unable to eat the pigeon adobo because at lunchtime that day, she was feeding the birds with the left over of her cheese steak sandwich. She looked at the food and said to herself: "Poor birds." Doming brought us to the original Philadelphia Cheese Steak fast food restaurant for lunch that day. The pigeons there are so tame that they mingle around with humans looking for food. Many of the birds allowed us to touch them. After the dinner, Mr. Matson gave a talk about the foundation that many of us have not been able to take seriously mainly because we haven't understood it fully. This individual piggyback foundation for each of us in the alumni, provides us a lot of advantage and security for ourselves and our children or grandchildren in the future. You don't have to put in any money now in your own individual foundation except for the membership payment of the CIM Master Foundation of $285. Many of us are still struggling financially because of our kids that are still in college, private colleges. But once they're finished, we then can start building up our own individual foundation. I'm sure you're fed up paying too much to Uncle Sam. If you don't want to be robbed by Uncle Sam anymore, then think about having your own foundation. Also, being a member of the CIM Alumni Foundation, we have so many privileges and a significant discount service in lots of things like estate planning, tax planning, etc. For more information and clarification, you can contact Mr. Matson or Bill Gowan at this phone number: 1-800-353-7923, Fax:1-513-563-7597, E-mail: pfajm@adelphia.net More Foreplays As many people know, Philadelphia has one of the best shopping places. Best, not just because everything you need is there, but mainly because the prices of things to buy are a whole lot cheaper and sales or mark downs are so significant that they would readily turn over your wallet. Franklin Mills Outlet Mall is known in the East Coast like Virginia because even in our hospital, there is a bus trip twice a year just to go shopping at Franklin Mills. It has some class department store outlets like Nieman-Marcus and Nordstrom. But the downtown shopping stores in Philadelphia are even better. Designer jackets, coats, shoes, dresses, sweaters, etc. mainly from Europe are being sold at 60-75% mark downs at Daffy's. The only problem was the traffic and the difficulty of finding a place to park the huge van. Doming, however, drove and parked the van like it was nothing more than a beetle. Unfortunately, while trying to park on the side of the street on Saturday afternoon, the van carried with it the left headlight of a parked Lincoln Continental. It was a good decision to purchase a separate insurance when Doming rented the van. The Meeting's Orgasmic Highlights The tickets will be sold to anyone who is willing to pay $200 for a chance to own the sport Mercedes Benz. If you're interested in purchasing a ticket later and you're not from CIM, you're money is as good as anyone's. It will be a first come, first served basis. This is a whole lot better fund raising event than simply asking for donation. Your donation of course is tax deductible, but you don't have a chance of getting something in return. The money you spend for the ticket is not tax deductible, and if you win the car, you have to pay an income tax for it. But hey! it's Mercedes and your odds of winning is 1:400-500, a lot better than in the casino or lottery. The car is solely the basic standards so that if you want to add optional equipments, you'll have to pay for them. However, you can choose the color you like and we'll try to accommodate you without extra expenses. But you have to pay the transport to be delivered to the Mercedes Benz dealer near your place for you to pick up. If you don't like the car, you can give it to your teenage son or daughter or opt to have the money instead. Some of the details will be worked out soon and we'll let you all know. So keep reading Brain Waves to get not just the information, but also the tickle. This fund raising event is the idea of the Ways and Means Committee led by Dr. Diana Amores and Dr. Maria Luna-Tan Navarro. They have a good experience running this kind of fund raising event. We are confident of their capabilities. If we are successful which I believe we will be, then the next time it will be either Mercedes ML or BMW and perhaps a trip to the moon in the future. The drawing will be after the Grand Ball of our reunion 2003. You don't really need to come to our reunion to win the car. But wouldn't it be nice to be there and hear your winning ticket number being announced? Wouldn’t it be nice to claim your prize and drive home with your new Mercedes sport convertible? Imagine the smooth driving with the wind hugging your face. The post-reunion China trip will cost each person $3,000 that includes plane ticket, meals and accommodation. It's 12 nights and 14 days tour. The two days difference is on the flight and time difference. It's relatively cheaper considering that you will be staying in five-star hotels and all your trips within China airfare and landfare are included in the payment. Details will be worked out soon by Doming. Doming is just looking for a better deal. If you want to talk to him about it, anxious to know more soon, you can call him at this number: 1-215-803-3260. You'll leave Sunday July 20 and come back August 3 also Sunday. The minutes of the meeting will be available to any member who requests it as soon as our charming and efficient secretary Epi Aranas has finished putting it in Word document. New Members of the Executive Board Our President has appointed Tanny Aranas and Bradford Tan as the new members of the Executive Board. He also appointed Yakyak Lao officially as an assistant treasurer. Epi Aranas is given the authority to choose an assistant secretary if she wants to. So Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to the ASOCIMAI minds. We are definitely glad that you join with us. You're the kind our association needs. We need leaders who take their job seriously and who are fully aware that their service is totally free and yet they are willing to render it with a sense of pride and dedication. We need minds that clearly understand that if we can work together in harmony, we can accomplish a lot of things and make a lot of difference. In other words, we need leaders who want to achieve, not just maintain the status quo, and minds with a sense of purpose rather than a desire for prestige; with the eagerness to tackle the problem, not the anxiety to look for blames and excuses; and with a focus on what to do, not on what not to do. We want to be able to say to ourselves: "If it's got to be done, it's got to be done" instead of "Who cares?" Our desire to do something right should be greater than our desire to just do something. The Most Outstanding CIM Alumni (MOCA) There is no question regarding Dr. Montero's selection. His qualifications are impeccable and his achievements are more than outstanding; they are phenomenal. It's like Dr. Montero has dedicated his entire adult life in the relentless pursuit of achievements in his chosen field of Surgery and at the same time, in the never-ending service to the community and the medical societies. I feel proud to have been a part in nominating Dr. Montero. It was Rise Faith Dajao who recommended the nomination. When I insinuated to Rise Faith whether our ASOCIMAI has a potential winner, she told me: "Wait till I fax you Dr. Montero's CV." Our congratulations to Dr. Montero. The selection of the MOCA is based on very strict criteria. Dr. Seguerra reported that there were years when they did not have a MOCA, all because the nominees' credentials fell short of the criteria. Now here are few of the past selections that the Committee is proud of: Sr. Eva Maamo, SPC, a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, an award that is considered as the Asia's Nobel Prize. Dr. Camilo Roa, a recipient of the Gawad Award that was presented by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malcanang Palace for Dr. Roa's extensive work on Tuberculosis. Dr. Roa is recognized by WHO (World Health Organization) for his contribution in Tuberculosis Control. Dr. Roa has a professorial chair at UP-PGH on the section of Pulmonary Medicine. Dr. Judy Lao-Tan, a recipient of a Presidential Award for her extensive work on Hepatitis. Dr. Tan is recognized by WHO for her contributions in Hepatitis Control. Dr. Nelson Abelardo, has a professorial chair at UP-PGH on the section of Cardiology. Attention Class 1966 The next CIM Founder's Day celebration will be during the 100th birth anniversary of Dr. Jacinto Velez, Sr. on December 7, 2002 when the CIM Most Outstanding Alumnus will also be recognized and be receiving the award during the alumni affair. Dr. Tomas Fernandez will be the memorial lecturer. The silver jubilarians this year, the class 1977, are renovating Amphi 1 to make it a presentable conference hall and it will be named the Dr. Jacinto Velez Sr. Memorial Hall. CIM has always maintained its standard. It has been classified as category IV since the 80's, the highest level a medical school in the Philippines can attain. Outside the Metro Manila, CIM is the only medical school with this level. In the early 90's, CIM was one of the three Centers of Excellence (COE) in Medicine with UP and UST as the other 2. Recently there are now five COE in Medicine with the addition of UE and FEU. CIM is one of the few medical schools that shifted to Problem Based Learning (PBL). It is now in its second year and so far, the students are performing quite well. CIM is fortunate enough to have supportive clinical faculty who are willing to put in their precious time for PBL either as a facilitator, module maker, or preceptor. CIM also has Clinical Epidemiology Unit (CEU), the only one outside Metro Manila with Dodong Donaldo as the director. The members of the CEU are: Fidelis Quiza, Cherry Bullo, Teray Catapang, Stephen Bullo, Charity Ypil-Butac. CIM is encouraging its faculty and students to go into research. As a Center of Excellence in Medicine, CIM has adapted West Visayas State University College of Medicine and help develop their research capabilities. This is called Twinning and it's now on it's third year. At the end of November the twins of the 5 COE will present research papers in Baguio for the twins to show their output. Lastly, the mission-vision of CIM is to produce a physician with a heart. Let's hope there is a space in our heart for CIM. "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." --T. S. Eliot "We would have much peace if we would not busy ourselves with the sayings and doings of others." --Thomas a Kempis "There's always room for improvement - it's the biggest room in the house." --Louise Heath Leber "God asks no man whether he will accept life. That is not the choice. You must take it. The only choice is how." --Henry Ward Beecher "We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't." --Frank A. Clark "The positive emotions are no less a physiological factor on the upside than are the negative emotions on the downside." --Norman Cousins When old Simon died, he was initially refused admission to heaven because he had cheated on his income tax to the tune of 50,000 dollars. He was told that the only way he could get into heaven was to do penance for his tax evasion by sleeping with a really ugly woman. He didn't look forward to the prospect but realized there was no alternative. Two truck drivers came to a low bridge. The clearance said ten foot 8 inches, but when they got out and measured the truck, they realized the vehicle was eleven feet. The first man looked at the other and said: "I can't see any cop around. Let's go for it." A woman appeared as a contestant on a TV show and did so well that she was in line to win the 100,000 dollars jackpot if she could answer tomorrow's night question correctly. While she tried to calm her nerves, her husband sneaked into the TV studio and found the question. Then he rushed home to tell his wife. A man wasn't feeling well so he went to the doctor. The doctor asked him what he ate. Last night I dreamed of Fluke. We were in the middle of our grandfather’s field in Argao – he was riding at the back of a cow and asked me to ride with him. I refused and told him “Tomorrow”. He smiled and answered back, “What if tomorrow never comes?” Then, I woke up – it was three in the morning. I got out of bed, made myself coffee , sat on the couch and reflected on the painful realization that I miss him. It’s been almost two years since he passed on, and I still miss him terribly. I have never told him I missed him, I have never told him I loved him. There is so much sadness in my heart because I took Fluke for granted. There were many things I wanted to tell him, there were many things I wanted to do for him and with him – but I never got the chance to say them, I never got the chance to do them – because I postponed them for tomorrow. I live in a world of work, household chores, church commitments, and extra curricular activities. Several are the nights that I slip into bed with the sensation of being caught in a whirlpool, forcefully spun around, without a moment to take a deep breath. Sometimes, I sacrifice sleep in order to carve out more time to accomplish all that needs to be done. I always justify my tendency to overbook my life with the compulsion to cram more and more activities into each twenty-four-hour day. I live in a shrinking world characterized by political uncertainties, with the allurement of instant gratification and accelerating technological advances that I have gradually, unintentionally lost perspective of what’s important in my life while struggling to juggle work, family and faith everyday. At what cost? In my “busy-ness”, I have taken for granted a lot of things, such as the loving relationships that I have and the world around me. In my “busy-ness” I went through life at a dizzying speed, that now I wonder where did all the years go. In my “busy-ness”, I have put off a lot of things that should have been done sooner. Like letting those I love know how I truly feel about them, like seeking forgiveness from those I have hurt, like forgiving myself for words unsaid and things left undone. I have wasted precious time pursuing useless, fleeting worldly desires and ambitions, hurrying to get to the top, enjoying temporary, fleeting fulfillment – only to ask myself, What for? All these will come to an end. There is still time to slow down, get back on track and stay on course. There is still time to go back and travel the road to a meaningful life, in this world and unto the next. There is still time to take that first step of a journey that will take me to the station in life where I can live without bitterness and regret for wasted time. There is still time to re-direct. And that time is now. The best time is now. Not tomorrow, not next year, not when I retire. Because tomorrow is never promised. To Visit the American Society of CIM, Inc., click on any of the ASOCIMAI below:
Most if not all of us from CIM must have noticed that when we gather together, we sense a change - as if something that nags within us is being released and replaced with a sense of relief or freedom, like our sanity is being restored or our battery recharged. We seem to realize that we're not fine and that we really needed a break to be able to properly deal the complicated and monotonous life we had just left. Otherwise we would go crazy. Nora Ephron said: "That's the truest sign of insanity - insane people are always sure they're just fine. It's only the sane people who are willing to admit they're crazy." It's only human to go crazy being in the same place, dealing with the same people, seeing the same faces, eating the same food in the same restaurants, laughing at the same jokes, and having the same predictable reaction to the same predictable situations. A break is indeed a welcome relief.
Obviously many of us did not come solely for the meeting. We came to have a good time or have some fun and of course the shopping particularly for the ladies. After all, we paid our way and because we happened to be physicians, we have the privilege of having our dinner in elegant restaurants. We had a terrific time. Thanks to Frank Ratchford of Glaxo and Mr. Joseph Matson who together sponsored our Friday night dinner with a terrific educational speaker Dr. Kwakwa, an HIV specialist. It was a great lecture in the midst of a great 5-course dinner with different sweet wine to wash down each course at Susannah Foo's restaurant, one of the best, if not the best and the most elegant restaurant in Philadelphia. Each wine was specifically chosen for compatibility with each food we ate. Our taste buds that may have been undergoing atrophy grew like a tumor that has just gotten its blood supply. I was lucky to be sitting between Yakyak and Epi who did not drink all their wine. But some of us wanted to have more wine. So when we came back to El Presidente's residence, El Presidente could not refuse Kidday Bacalso opening one of his pricey wines he brought from Italy just a week ago. It was a terrific wine and El Presidente got lucky because only a bottle was consumed. It was enough to put almost all of us to sleep. Horace Cabasares slept like a baby. Nothing could have awakened him. The following morning, he needed two big cups of coffee for his hangover.
Doming, as always is a terrific host. No one could have done better. He never makes anyone of us feel like he sacrifices himself for us. He makes us feel like he is really enjoying what he is doing for us. He brought us to different restaurants for lunch and to where the majority of us would want to go. Our association did not have to spend anything because of his great ways with sponsors.
Our 2003 reunion in San Diego will be held at Westin Hotel in Downtown San Diego in the gas light area. It has everything our reunion would need. But many of those alumni who are familiar with San Diego would probably ask why not in the Hotel Coronado? Hotel Coronado is a terrific place and probably the best there is in San Diego, but the rate is too high for the taste of many of us. It's $290 a night and non-negotiable. Westin Hotel's rate is only $160 a night and would leave us more money for shopping or eating. Most of the hotels like Mariott are already booked a year in advance during those days of our reunion. We don't have a contract with the hotel yet, but we'll let you all know as soon as Doming has arranged it.
One of the problems of our association is our funds that have steadily gone lower the past several years. If we depend mainly on the membership fee, sooner rather than later, we won't be able to fulfill our charitable functions and obligations. Without much money, our options are limited. So we are going to hold a fund raising event. Now you must be wondering what's the Mercedes Benz' pictures on the right side are all about. That's a convertible Mercedes SLK 230 you are going to have if you're willing to spend $200. We are going to sell raffle tickets between 400-500 tickets for that Mercedes as our fund raising event at $200 per ticket. The maximum number of tickets to sell is 500 and the minimum is 400. Once we sold 500 tickets, the raffle is closed. We'll start selling the tickets in December 1, 2002 and stop selling in June 1, 2003. If we reach the desired number of tickets sold, we'll proceed with the raffle. If not, we'll cancel it and we'll return or refund your money. There will be more elegant raffle prizes, by the way, but not more cars.
None of us were aware that according to our Bylaws Article IV Section 2, our association is supposed to have a maximum of nine members of the executive board of directors and that the secretary and treasurer can each have an assistant. At present, there are only seven members of the executive board. To fill up the vacancies, the President can appoint new members to the executive board. Anyway, our association is fortunate enough to have an officer who reads between the lines and makes us all aware of what we have missed. That officer is no other than our precious and irreplaceable Vice-President Maida Antigua. There is no other Maida who does this, only Maida Antigua. *******************
ASOCIMAI POTPOURRI
A couple of months ago, CIM was requesting everyone of the alumni from all over the world to help them search for nominees as the most outstanding CIM alumni for the year 2003. From the ASOCIMAI, we were able to nominate at least two that we know of well-qualified members. Well, Dr. Feliciana H. Seguerra, the Selection Committee's Chairperson of the Most Outstanding CIM Alumni ( MOCA ), has just sent us an e-mail message announcing the chosen one. And the winner is…. - Dr. Juan Montero II of the CIM Class 1965.
Dr. Ben Fajardo has just sent me about 6 group pictures of the members of your class during the alumni reunion in Washington, D.C. If you want to view them, click on Home at the bottom of this page and then on Class 1966 Reunion Photos 2002. CIM News Update
reported by Viring Mesola, M.D. Class 1962
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A week later, his friend Tom also died and he too was initially refused admission to heaven because he cheated on his income tax to the tune of 100,000 dollars. He was told that the only way he could get into heaven was to do penance for his tax evasion by sleeping with an even uglier woman, a hideous creature rarely allowed out in daylight. Reluctantly he too agreed.
A few weeks later, Simon and Tom were commiserating with each other about their fate and how they wished they had paid their taxes when they spotted their friend Wilbur walking ahead. On his arm was the most gorgeous-looking blonde. The pair were insanely jealous and tackled Wilbur later that evening.
"How come you've got such a beautiful woman?" they demanded.
"I dunno," said Wilbur, "and I'm certainly not complaining. The thing I don't understand is that every time we have sex, she rolls over and mutters to herself, "Damn income taxes!"**************
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"Guess what," he said, "I've found the question you'll have to answer tomorrow night. It is: 'What are the three main parts of the male anatomy?' And the answer is: 'The head, the heart and the penis.' All you do is to say that and we've won 100,000 dollars! So remember: head, heart, penis."
The wife eventually dozed off but kept waking up in the night, unable to remember the answer. Her husband reminded her: head, heart, penis. But when she woke up in the morning, she had forgotten it again. So he reminded her: head, heart, penis.
Come the evening and she appeared on the show. The tension built up as the quiz-master asked her: "For 100,000 dollars, what are the three main parts of the male anatomy? You have ten seconds in which to answer."
"Er, the head."
"Very good. Six seconds."
"Um, the heart."
"Excellent. Four seconds."
"Oh, er, oh, darn. My husband drilled it into me last night and I had it on the tip of my tongue this morning…."
"That's close enough! You've won 100,000 dollars!"*************
"Well, doctor," said the man, "for breakfast I have two pool balls - one yellow, one purple. For lunch I have two more pool balls - a blue and a white. And for dinner I have two reds and two blacks."
"I'm not surprised you're not well," said the doctor. "You're not having enough greens." *******************
Tomorrow Is Never Promised
by:Marie Belen C. Flores-Rosales MD MPH cim’70
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Note: The kids' pictures above are those of the grandchildren of Alex Rodriguez, M.D. Class 1973. Alex is so proud of them. I would be too if I have such beautiful grandchildren.
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An
Appreciation