A Mandayan Poem

Bahay Kubo sa Banban 1995

Hain yang Kanak bāy?

Danny C. Sillada

Ga-hanap ako ng kanak bāy,

Pero hain sa yang kanak bāy?

Sang butay, sang subâ, sang lungsod,

Sang lawod yaga anod-anod?

Yang mga ompô ga-laong:

Yang bāy ta amā ng ba’ong

Bisan unān pa ngini ka duõm

Kit-an sa gihapon yang dawom!

Madaya man o mahilawod

Modag-sâ gihapon sang bungtod;

Hanapon mo man o dili,

Molotaw yang kinabuhi!

Kung hain man ako ya-gikan

Amo yang kanak piyag-panawan?

Ngadto sang tumoy ng kalibutan,

Yang pag-hanap ko way utlanan…

Pero hain sa yang kanak bāy:

Ya-anod, ya-dagsâ sang baybay?

‘Kung ikit-an mo da yang kanmo bāy,

Lang-a ako daw hain mosubay…’

Translation:

Where is my Home?

I’m searching for a home,

but where is my home?

In the mountains, planes and rivers,

drifting into the sea?

The town’s elders once said:

a home is like a coconut shell –

no matter how bleak it is inside

you’ll feel at home even in its darkness!

You may drift upstream or downstream,

you’ll always find an open shore;

searching or not searching,

life will always find a path to follow!

Whatever reason why I’m here,

is the same reason why I wander far-off?

Into the distant corners of the world,

my search for a home is endless…

But where is my home:

lost, drifted and washed ashore?

‘If you have already found your home,

please, tell me what trail to follow…’

Personally, this is one of my favorite poems. Not only because it was composed in my native tongue but also it reminds of me of the person very close to my heart- My MAMA. Wherever life takes me, Nobody can hinder me from following the path I have chosen.

another hectic week

Last week was a hell (exams, you know). and this week is going to be yet another hell. and YES!!

-exam was over
-my PCI(Practicing Clinical Instructor) Rotation is coming to its end
-case defense was finished
-PCI notebook is still in progress
-never mind..
at least, last week was a good weeeekkk.
Putting aside my medical books and hospital duties i went to a comedy show with some friends hoping to put some life in our decaying nursing lives. my 200php was all worth it.

I didn't go to school today not because it's Student's day but because I'm still finishing my PCI notebook, and I'm having difficulty of just doing it up. tomorrow's the seminar of the Group 4.. Good luck guys. still have so many things to catch up this week..huhu..

Reality check:
Gotta be doing a paper jog to make up for my absent this day!!
Pancreoticojejunostomy is the opening of the pancreatic duct and anastomosing it side to side in the jejunum

What is LOVE??..

A group of professional people posed this question to group of 4-to-8-year-olds: "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think ...

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn`t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That`s love." - Rebecca, age 8

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth." - Billy, age 4

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." - Chrissy, age 6

"Love is when someone hurts you. And you get so mad but you don`t yell at them because you know it would hurt their feelings." - Samantha, age 7

"Love is what makes you smile when you`re tired." - Terri, age 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." - Danny, age 7

"Love is what`s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." - Bobby, age 5

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate." - Nikka, age 6

"Love is hugging. Love is kissing. Love is saying no" - Patty, age 8

"When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you`re scared they won`t love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only do they still love you, they love you even more." - Matthew, age 7

"There are two kinds of love. Our love. God`s love. But God makes both kinds of them." - Jenny, age 8

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." -Noelle, age 7

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." - Tommy, age 6

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn`t scared anymore." - Cindy, age 8

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don`t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." - Clare, age 5

"Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken." - Elaine, age 5

"Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." - Chris, age 8

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." - Mary Ann, age 4

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." - Lauren, age 5

I let my big sister pick on me because my Mom says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her." - Bethany, age 4

"Love cards like Valentine`s cards say stuff on them that we`d like to say ourselves, but we wouldn`t be caught dead saying." - Mike, age 8

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." - Karen, age 7

"You really shouldn`t say `I love you` unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." - Jessica, age 8

"God could have said magic words to make the nails fall off the cross, but He didn`t. That`s love." - Max, age 5

once upon a student nurse's LIFE

SPC students sharing their clinical experiences, funny clinical experiences..hehe

student: excuse me, ma'am...mag-terminate na po ako ng IV.
CI: Okay...go ahead, you terminate yourself. Do it on your own.
student: huh? ma'am? ah...sige po... (*scratches head and walks away)

*********************

7-3 shift, endorsement time: Out base Hospital Ward
student nurse: good morning endorsements, Room 2**, john d****, in due to...(staff nurse interrupts..)
nurse: ay, ay sir, next patient na lang Em Je Ech(MGH-May Go Home) na na!! (hehe)
St. N: umm, yes mam (unsa daw??)

*********************

Out base Hospital Ward:
a student nurse (ambot taga asa) approached a head nursing student from SPC
St. Nurse: Mam pwede maghulam kadali ug MEMS drugguide..
SPCian: ai mam, MIMS imo pasabot?? (sabay hatag sa MIMS drugguide)
St. nurse: Yes mam, MEMS!!..(haha)

**********************
a watcher approached a nursing aide
watcher: mam asa dapit and St. L**** ward??
NA: ai ,mam naa pa sa taas nga floor..
Watcher: ai salamat nurse, ganiha pa man gud ko pangita
NA: ai mam dili ko nurse, NURSHEENG ED ko mam.. hehe

**********************

OR: the circulating nurse (a St. Nurse) is ready for instrument reporting..
St. N: excuse me doctors R******, E******* and L*******, first and initial counting of Sponges, Needles and Instruments is CORRECT (argh, di ba dapat COMPLETE??) hehe
there was silence....

**********************

ER rotation....
NGT insertion sa isang patient...NOD had a hard time inserting the NGT tube....
pt: unsa man na oi...gilok kau...
NOD:mam...kinahanglan jud ibutang ni..cge mam last na lng ni
(Inserting the NGT)
(CI instructing)
CI: mam, kung musulod si sir..TULON lng...aron mahuman daun!!

**********************

Endorsement by a St. Nurse staffing @ St. M**** ward.
St. Nurse: Patient *******, under the service of Dr. ******, with chief complaint of ??????, on DAT, VSq4, never VS (neuroVS)qh, I/O q shift.
Staff: Unsay Never VS???

**********************

(NOD INSERTING IV) (PAGKATAPOS)
(HE TOLD ME)SIR PAKIKUHA DAW UG SPLEN (AHAHAHA)
ME: HA MAAM?
NOD: SPLEN BA KANANG DRI GUD (WHILE POINTING AT THE PATIENTS ARM)
(AW SPLINT DIAY)

**********************

NOD:(ENDORSMENT) ON LOW SALT LOW PROTEN DIET

SO HINAY HINAY LANG TA SA BABOY UG SA CHEKEN!!!!

**********************

Student writes charting on ward notebuk: with IVF infusing well at right cephalic vein....etc.
CI: asa man diay na imung IV sir? dba sa ulo nah?


(ay, chaka na. asa daw ang cephalic vein?) oki. pagmata

barkada getaway

It's already quarter past one in the morning. almost everyone is quite asleep. the neighborhood is at peace. but me, KayC and June-anne are still very noisy. laughing and eating. Tatet just came by for some chit-chat and went home afterwards. He's just so tired. lol.

Earlier this evening, we roamed around the city aimlessly for like three hours with Tatet as our driver.lol. Our first stop was at Jack's Ridge. we looked for a place there to eat but we ended eating at my crib instead. i just bought lechon manok for 130 Php. after that we went to Matina shrine, stayed there for almost an hour and then back to downtown. we dropped by at McDo Ilustre. We ordered five Apple pies coupled with McFlurry all at my expense, and only to find out that I've spend 400Php in just four hours. Anyways, it was all worth it. I was with my high school classmates this day.

the exams was just done, and I could care less.

PS: Happy bday PAX (my college buddy)

whatta getaway

what a blastful day i had. the exam came to its end at last. it was but a waste of time.lol.

Happy birthday Drew!!

Thank God, our exam in MS was over. It was a bit difficult, but I managed to answer all of the questions, far-out questions though.lol. After the exam, I went to Andrew's crib with my classmates and barkadas for a birthday treat by drew. we just ate and ate, and laugh and laugh until we have nothing to ate and laugh. lol. I particularly ate voraciously on lechon(roasted pig) and Pinoy style spaghetti. Of course who wouldn't love those. lol

After the heavy dinner session, I played poker with the rest of the gang. And mind you, it was my first time to play poker, and I just fell in love with it. lol. We all just enjoyed Drew's b-day. the rest was all but fun and fun. Well, I'm looking forward for another poker session.lol

Reality reality:
still have to study Christian Ethics and Asian Civilization for tomorrow's exam.

expect the unexpected

Let's say, I'm both elated and frustrated.

elated
We just finished our first day of exams, and it was all worth it. The Rizal exam was a very, very, very easy one, far more than what i expected it to be difficult ( I was like, HUWhhHHat??, is this an exam or what?.lol). Thank God I did not dwell much on reviewing it early this morning.

frustrated
The exam in Seminar in Nursing proved to be a nose bleeding one, not only that, it was time consuming that I almost fall asleep halfway in answering those mind boggling questions ( I like, HHUWhhTtt??,can somebody help me??). I thought I was ready for it. I hate it. I was like guessing the whole period and staring flat in the questionnaire.

One more frustrating thing, our Prof just showed to us our class standing grade in Seminar and oh my oh my, I only accumulated 76 percent. Wa kakaya. haay. very frustrating. anyways, I need to review for tomorrow's exam- It's gonna be Medical-Surgical Nursing.

Well, i just called this a day. move on. bad for me that I rationalized from the back of my mind..sige lang, there's always a next time!!

it's examination time, ( not this time please)

i woke up early this morning because i have to review on my midterm exams. my anxiety is already escalating from mild to moderate. the exam is scheduled this afternoon, but i am not ready, huhu. i should have reviewed yesterday but because of laziness, i just glued myself in front of my PC busy doing nothing.

The subjects are Seminar in Nursing covering Cardiovascular disorders, Respiratory disorders, Gastro-intestinal disorders, and Perception and Coordination topics (oh my, oh my. i am just scanning the books and photocopies i have and i don't know if they'll stuck in my brain at all) and Rizal covering 18 chapters (which i barely read) lol. i hope i can make it. lol.

College Retreat

Our section (BSN 4Q) just had the retreat last Nov 19-21, 2007 and it was really a great experience for me especially that l learned so much from my self. One of my memorable moments was when we were task to do our self Consciousness examination. That moment had a big impact to me.

And of course, who would not be excited for the letters. Lots and lots of letters. Lol. Receiving letters from unexpected people is just a big compliment knowing that they see the real ME. My liver just got enlarged (hepatomegaly)... haha.. Thanks for the letter guys, it means a lot to me.ooopps, let me share some excerpts from those letters that really made me hmmmm cry, and SMILE.. haha...

-...kuya john, happy retreat sa iyo, one step closer to graduation na lang.. KATHY (YFC execom)

-...thank you for being nice to me, be a good boy always.. CHING (my classmate)

-...hello to my big brother sa execom..beh, kuya, i se a good leader in you..kaya lang minsan ma-feel ko ya na dali lang naga-init imo ulo..hehe .God bless po sa future nyo..HONEY (YFC execom)

-...you are always an inspiration for me and for all the members. i honor you for being always active, for being hardworking and for being patient with others in the service of our God.. i always thank the Lord God that i met great people in the EXECOM (of YFC)..ADIEL M. (YFC Execom)

-...hehehehe, kamusta ang rotation? You’re very approachable and friendly. smile always.. SHA (kasama ko sa St. Mary's Ward na Head nursing)

-...congrats sa retreat..anyway, thank you kay wala pa ka na amnesia, you still recognize my face sa campus-stay happy, calm and relax..MONAY (my PCI in Primary Nursing)

-...hope daghan ka la learn sa retreat..He'll never leave you, 100% sure..JESTON (YFC member)

-...I’m really proud of you, i know you can make it..AUBREY (Classmate and YFC Execom)

-...ei bro, lamat for introducing YFC into me...continue what you are doing..CHOI (Classmate and YFC super-member)

-...sorry for the times when I’m not in the mood, ma taasan teka ug boses, makasab-an teka, soorry jud..slamat sa anan jan...JILL (classmate and YFC execom)

-...remember that no matter how life struggles bring, you always have HIM and me down here..te ANGEL (sis in YFC)

-...WOW!!! Retreat na jud ninyo!!!..talagang blessed ako kasi i met you..hahaha..you're so magaling, magaling, magaling..i really look up to you..keep on inspiring people with your wisdom..CHARM (Medtech stud, friend and YFC member)

-...what you've shown me is simply the best!!.Rhyan C (BSN 4C, YFC and bro)

-...john parang kelan lang na yagraduate kita sa ng High school. I’m happy that the closeness is still there.. Idol takaw..KIM (high school classmate and friend)

-...It is you who had witness it all!!..JEZEL (classmate, YFC execom PARTNER)

-...i am looking forward to more of your directive skills on the remaining days of your semester in SPC..JANMARK (BSN 3rd year, YFC exeCOm)

-...you must not stay on the same level of being there..gorw..change..become.. Transform.. CONCHA (classmate, friend, service partner and YFC execom)

-...salamat sa tanan john..sa thesis..love you john.. KATH (classmate and group mate sa THESIS)

The Call of Limocon, A MandayaTragedy by Danny C. Sillada

The Call of Limocon
By Danny C. Sillada

When the limocon hoots that morning, Misak, a Mandaya warrior, did not heed to its call; instead, he was obstinate to continue his strenuous journey through the thick forests of Compostela Valley, the neighboring region of eastern Davao, part of the major island of southern Philippines in Mindanao.
“Ayao sa cay itin magpanao”, said the mother of Misak persuading him not to go because of an impending danger ahead of him as forewarned by the limocon.
“Way tuo-tuo doon, kung yang kanak Madayao mawã lamang na way dugo na modanak…” a stubborn response of Misak to his mother saying that the omen is meaningless if his beloved Madayao was on the verge of being taken away; only death could stop him from protecting his Mandaya princess from his fierce rival named Kalele.
The limocon, known as the bird of omen, plays a vital role in shaping the lives and beliefs of the native Mandaya. It could foretell danger with its short rhythmic, repetitive sound that diminishes slowly and then followed by the same resonance. When it hoots in front of the person, an impending danger is waiting ahead. If the hoot is coming from the right, the person is in danger of being attacked by the enemies; however, if it hoots from the left, it is a good omen.
Misak, known as the fiercest bagani (Mandaya warrior) in his village was defiant of the warning, as he arrogantly thought that he is the master of his life – the master of all his adventures and journeys.
Anxious of Misak’s stubborn quest, his grandmother named Mal-an, the baylana or high priestess of the village, performed the panawagtawag ritual in order to drive away the busaw (evil spirit) in the course of the bagani’s passage through the forests and rivers. She beheaded three white chickens and sprinkled the blood toward the direction of Misak’s trail leading to the Compostela Valley.
"Lumapos kaw; ya tapos kaw; di kaw mauno…" (You will succeed; you will finish; nothing bad will happen to you.), chanted Mal-an as she performed the panawagtawag dance with the native villagers taking part in the ritual.
Despite his betrothal to Madayao, a Mandaya princess and daughter of Chieftain Bagusa of the Kamay-an tribe, Misak had a sinister plan that was incubated by his extreme jealousy over Kalele, a rival bagani and son of Chieftain Lumanig of the Compostela tribe. His animosity toward Kalele was heightened when the latter continued to woo his princess despite their anticipated marriage on the sixth full moon of the year. And, this time, Misak is going to hunt Kalele the traditional way and plan to parade his cut off head in the La Fortuna village.
Head-hunting was already forbidden since in the 1960s among the tribal villages in the eastern region of Davao, but Misak continued to flout the new Mandaya law, which he thought was influenced by the American Maryknoll missionaries, who Christianized his village in the late 1950s. However, despite his hidden enmity, he still maintained his respect for the Americans, as he thought that the white skinned missionaries were descendants of the Mandaya good gods, the father and son named Mansilatan and Badla.
Meanwhile, after a day and a half travel through the mountains and rivers of La Fortuna, Misak finally arrived at the border, a plateau where the Kamay-an village is located, flanked by the two tribal territories, the La Fortuna Mountain and the Compostela Valley.
From a distance, Misak could see the cluster of nipa houses billowing with smoke, a sign of an impending festivity and tribal ritual in the evening. His blood suddenly surged when he saw the batos (guard) of Kalele sauntering around the Kamay-an village; he was convinced that his rival won’t stop pursuing his beloved’s heart.
That evening, the Kamay-an tribe prepared a small festivity with bayok [3] ritual for their guests Chieftain Lumanig, his son and the baganis from the Compostela tribe. The bayok (antiphonal hymns) is a customary Mandaya practice, which is usually held at night. Both the guests and the hosts would sing their journeys and life experiences amid the bonfire, and they would take their turn in the ritual either by singing or by chanting their respective stories.
However, in the middle of the ritual, the raging Misak in a trance-like state suddenly emerged, waving and flailing his kampilan, and tried to seize Kalele by his neck. But the baganis of the Compostela tribe were quick to respond, held Misak behind his back and took the sword from his hand. The unexpected presence of Misak stunned Madayao, and before the princess could speak up a single word, Kalele, who was clutching his kayam, instantaneously plunged the metal spear like a flash of lightning into the stomach of Misak.
Everyone in the village was horrified when they saw the scarlet blood oozing from the La Fortuna warrior and then, the bagani steadily crumbled on the ground wheezing with hollowed breathe. Fretful and frightened, the Mandaya princess dashed off to the side of her fallen Misak, her tears dripping copiously on his ebbing face, their eyes met as though their hearts were tearing into pieces.
Deafening silence followed!
And then, little by little, amid the petrified faces of the villagers, rose the gripping song of despair by the princess: “Sayod kaw, na ikaw lamang yang kanak kinabuhi, Kung ikaw mopanao, wâ day kapuslanan na ako mabuhi…” (“You know that you are the only meaning of my life, but now that you are leaving, I have no more reason to live…” )
Her frail arms wrapped around the flaccid body of Misak; the lament of her bayok continued until the breathing of her beloved warrior converged with the tranquil resonance of the night…
Then, in an instance, the princess took the kayam from the stomach of Misak and plunged the spear deeply into her heart!
The fifth full moon had just ascended from the silhouettes of nebulous clouds; the song of the limocon echoed once again from the mountains and rivers of the Kamay-an village.

HOLCIM Cement Plant tour and exposure

at the machinery part


left wing of the cement




topmost


me, melai and our tour guide

at the operational unit

with the tour guide

topmost right part of the plant

the defense

Yesterday was a very exhausting day, really a very exhausting day. I came to school almost late because of a heavy traffic along Bacaca Road. when i reached school, I had to hurry and get the photocopied shifting exam at 'Nang Tere(based in our school). I almost stumbled when I reached the PG building stairs, buti na lang, i was able to hold on the wall. I just laugh out loud (yeah, literally, and with my self). I was hurrying because I thought that I'm gonna be late. But when I got at our room, Mam Marcelino was not yet around. I was too excited. LOL. well, only a few of my students and my co-PCI, Mark was on the room. we started late in the defense, and we ended late also at lunch.

At lunch break, i have to go back home and finish my Christian Ethics write up. after that I hurried back to school for the hanging defense of my students. i was expecting that we will end up early at our scheduled time. but our CI had to stretch it for like tow hours. so we ended at 6PM, (a minute before our school rang for the angelus).

When I got home, I was so stressed out and i have to steal a nap. but it wasn't a nap because i slept for 5 hours straight. I really don't know. maybe I'm mentally strained.

busy doing nothing

I just thought of writing something with sense at this moment, but I just can't think of something good. my hands just can't stop from moving. LOL.

Maybe, I better share what have I gone through this day. My day was spend with nothing but a day with boring stuffs. I was really anticipating for this day because our students is going to have their case defense, but it just turned out to be one big library work.

Our CI (clinical instructor) suddenly called up telling me that the defense is canceled. I was ecstatic of course because that would mean a break for me and to my students. Too bad, our CI shrugged us to go to the library instead of going home. Imagine, jailing ourselves in the lib for almost 6 hours. LOL. that made me go insane.

let's get started

Hi peeps, I'm just new here. i just got interested of joining this blogging site plainly for these five reasons:

1. share my daily experience
2. develop my writing skills
3. meet exciting people
4. make this as a habit
5. lose my weight (maybe this would help me forget to eat more)


It's been months already that I thought of making a blog site for myself, but because of my busy busy schedules, i could barely realize it. but now, I am here at last. I'm pretty sure I'll be enjoying this one.