Airness

A letter to the editor of the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine recently explained the epidemiology of the current A (H1N1) pandemic in relation to international air travel.  The study analyzed flight patterns, especially the destinations of travelers from Mexico.  It showed that countries which are the common destinations, like the US and Canada, are also those which have the large number of cases of A (H1N1) virus infection.

In conclusion, studies of air travel patterns can help us predict where the next epidemic will take place so we can set anticipatory measures.  Life in this globalized and connected world now has certainly become easier but also scarier, because diseases now are more easily spread.

Little steps to my dream…

 

 

 

My brand new job!

Bagoong Club

I missed dining out with my Hon in restaurants we’ve never been to.  When we got the chance to go to the Morato area in QC, where a lot of new restaurants have sprouted, we made sure to visit Bagoong Club, a quaint restaurant that looks more like a house than a resto.  The target: special bagoong-inspired dishes.  For lunch, we chose to partake of their Bagoong Club combination–with grilled and fried pork in addicting bagoong paste.  The ambiance is rustic, and several photos displayed on the walls suggest its celebrity appeal–with many famous personalities having dined there already.

Will surely go back to Bagoog Club to try out their other stuff.

Transformed Movie

 

Watched the sequel to the famous robot movie franchise of Michael Bay.  The movie is fast-paced, with lots of action going on, and testosterone!  The plot can he hardly recognized, if it has any, and the transformation of the robots cannot be appreciated because of too much close-ups and rotating cameras, which makes the whole viewing experience dizzying and nauseating.  Watching it in IMAX didn’t contribute to the appreciation.  Good thing the tickets we got are only for free.

And the story is mushier and the lines of the stars and robots are much “cornier” than in the first movie.  Which makes me wanting to go back to watching the first movie to bring back the glory of the Transformers which I have grown up loving as a child, even before the movie ends.

H1N1 News

The media is still abuzz with A (H1N1) news, especially when it recently reported the first Filipino mortality PROBABLY due to it.  Metro Manila has been declared to have a LOW-LEVEL community outbreak.  Many more, even politicians, are becoming more concerned with how the virus rapidly spreads and how the DOH responds to this health problem, even criticizing the department for downplaying the calibre of this virus; thus creating confusion among people.  Should they be alarmed or should they be complacent?  But I believe the middle ground should be the case.  People should be concerned of it and actively take charge of their health to avoid getting it.  Thus, boosting one’s immune system and personal hygiene are king in these times of flu.  Let’s start singing “Happy birthday!”  and repeat as we wash our hands.

At this point, there is no telling when H1N1 would cease to be in the limelight.

The Biggest Career Shift

From private to government, my career will have its biggest turnaround ever.  With my newly earned MPH, I have decided to chart a Public Health career to realize my personal vision of working for international health organizations.  A lot of considerations came into the decision process–financial, family, etc. but taking this first step seems to be the most sensible thing to do now at this point of my life.  Momentum, youth, and soon-to-be-lost personal freedom are on my side now so I decided to take this calculated risk.  “No guts, no glory!”

Adjustments into the new system I’m entering create some sort of anxiety for me.  But with the good Lord with me always, I will pass all trials that will come my way.

Pandemic

And so the WHO already sounded the A (H1N1) pandemic alarm bell after transmissions of the disease had proven to be more widespread and more people are being infected.  This creates further alarm and panic among people all over the world.    After 40 years, another influenza pandemic is again in the midst of mankind.  This challenges the preparedness and readiness of the world to deal with a new virus whose characteristics up to now remain to be elucidated.  We know how rapidly it can be transmitted; but how virulent the virus is is the more important thing to consider. 

What the public needs now is proper information on prevention and control measures to be safe.  We should all get our acts together to contain and control this pandemic lest it threaten our economy and worse our existence.

iPhone VS Pre

Apple has just launched its new iPhone 3GS series.  With faster speed and video capability, it is supposed to trample upon the nearest competition thus far, the Palm Pre, which on the other hand is touted as Palm’s redemptive factor, to secure its niche in the PDA business.  What’s more, Apple has lowered the price of the new iPhone’s predecessor by a hundred dollars.  This is a tech war that’s cool and exciting to witness in the next few weeks.

Mind-blowing Decision

Things went fine and great recently as prayed for, but the prospect of doing something that’s really close to one’s heart came to mind repeatedly, causing an avalance of ideas that might spell my future.  A career transition is on the horizon as I ponder endlessly of what can be, after my MPH.  To stay in my current job, with no signs of personal growth but with fairly OK financial returns, or to enter government service to jumpstart my public health career but with minimal income.  The answer to this needs serious introspection and deep prayers.

Lord, please make me your instrument.  Please help me decide on what you want for me.  On what it is that will give me real fulfilment and happiness.  On what it is that I need to do to bring you greater glory.

RONALD P. LAW, M.D., M.P.H.

Judgment day has come!  I passed our Comprehensive Exam for MPH!  After 2 years of juggling work and studies, after 6 weeks of toiling in the field, and after less than a week of review, I made it!  This signifies the start of my career in Public Health, more than having a valid reason to have another 3 initials attached to my name.

Praise God!  He blesses me so much these days.  Hope this will continue…On my part, I will do my best to get His signs and plan my future according to his grand design.