Celebrating World Bloggers' Day: Why it's more fun in blogging and social media

It's true. It's more fun in blogging and social media.

When I just learned about my polycystic kidney disease (PKD) -- when I was just newly-diagnosed, I was often depressed. But blogging and social media changed that.

When I joined blogging, I met new friends outside my usual circle. They were not medically-oriented people. They were mostly younger than me. And they turned out to be friends worth keeping. It's ironic that an online activity such as blogging has led me to having more friends offline. Money opportunities came. Learning opportunities as well.

I learned more of social media thru blogging. I was able to use Facebook and Twitter for my advocacies. Socil media has helped manage my class. With blogging and social media, I was able to attend events I was not able to attend when I was not yet a blogger.

I became more familiar with the places to go, the nice food to eat, the hotels to stay on, the nice cell phones. The experience was indeed fun yet educational. Heck I was forgetting already that I have this PKD.

Together with maintenance medications and lifestyle modifications, my venture into blogging and social media coincided with the period that I have relative lesser complaints regarding my PKD.

So, yes it's more fun in blogging and social media.

And even if blogging and social media can be made into an alternative source of income, I make it a point to remember not to lose the fun part of blogging and social media.

As the world celebrates World Bloggers' Day 2012, let's have fun. Let us celebrate being a blogger. For once, let us forget the serious stuff even for a day and enjoy the moment.

We at Cebu Bloggers Society will be celebrating this day culminated by a General Assembly on May 5 at the a Cebu business hotel where we will rekindle friendship and camaraderie with other members and meet new ones. This will be followed by an afterparty at the Amnezia Super Club for a night of dancing and singing.

Join us online on May 2. Share, tweet, pin and show the world why there's more fun in blogging and social media. Drop by and say hi in the World Bloggers Day Official Fan Page, tweet at the Cebu Bloggers Society Twitter Page and make your online presence felt.

And to show your appreciation to your favorite blogs, nominate your favorite blogs NOW at Tatt Awards!

Happy World Bloggers' Day!

Thank you, Mom by Procter and Gamble

In a previous article, I gave a tribute to my mom. Incidentally, my brother was also involved in a nice project which also gave tribute to moms. It is in the form of a touching tribute to moms of Olympic athletes. As many of us know, the Olympics is near. These Olympic athletes have their moms to thank for.

Below is the said video. If you like it, kindly share the video or send a message of thanks to  http://www.facebook.com/thankyoumom.

A Reminder for Doctors during the Oath Taking of New Physicians April 2012

The following is the content of the response made during the Oath Taking of New Physicians (last April 1, 2012) by one of the incoming batch of physicians from Cebu who happens to be also a priest and a good friend of mine....Rev. Fr. and now Dr. Alfonso Suico, CSsR. 

One day, Peter and John went to the temple area to pray. There they were met by a crippled man who was begging. Peter said to the man, “Look at us.” The crippled beggar then raised his hand hoping to get alms. But Peter said, “We neither have gold nor silver but this do we have. In the name of Jesus Christ stand up and walk.” The beggar then stood up and walked.

To the distinguished members of the Board of Medicine, headed by Dr. Jose Cueto Jr., representatives from the PRC, officers of the PMA and CMS, parents and families of the new doctors, administrators and deans of the different medical institutions, our mentors from school and the review centers (esp. CDB), my confreres in the Redemptorists, my colleagues in the medical profession, friends, good evening.

It is with joy that we gather this evening for this oath taking ceremony. As what they say, this marks the end of a long and challenging education to the medical profession as it also marks the beginning of our lives as physicians. I stand here not on my own, but in the name of everyone who took the recent medical board exam in February 2012. For those who successfully passed the exam and those of our friends who tried and gave their very best but are not here. They too deserve our salutes for the best efforts they have shown. In a special way, we congratulate Dr. Jon Karl Velasco who successfully made it to the Top 2. To me he is a batch mate, a colleague and a friend. My sincerest congratulations to us all, especially after that difficult exam.

The task asked of me was to give a response. As I reflected on what I will share with you, I am reminded of that biblical pericope or passage I’ve mentioned earlier: the visit of Peter and John to the temple. You see, John and Peter came to the temple to pray. Both have been filled with the gifts of the Spirit yet coming to the temple now, they were met by a crippled man, a sick man. Having no gold nor silver, they shared the only thing they have – the gift to heal. Like Peter and John, we may not have gold nor silver but we have been given the capacity – the gift to heal. And it is this that we must share to others.

I often hear during graduation ceremonies and other occasions where there are speakers who would encourage their young listeners to go and achieve much in life. Go as high as you can. Excel in your careers. I believe that they are right of course. But to me, you can go as high and achieve and excel as much as you can but never must you compromise your moral principles. Medicine is not only a career, it’s not only a profession. First and foremost it is a vocation to serve. And to serve those who are in most need of care: the sick, the dying, the handicapped, the poor. It is a vocation to do our share in healing a broken world.

Many of us would watch TV shows about doctors: House, Grey’s Anatomy Nip/ Tuck, ER, Scrubs, when I was a kid there was Doogie Howser MD… but my earliest recollection of what a doctor is like was my mother. Before she had a stroke she was a physician. Instead of pursuing sub-specializations, she decided to go into government service. Even before she did so, I could still remember how we would be waken-up late at night because our neighbour’s child is sick, or somebody was terribly ill, she wouldn’t complain instead would get up and attend to their needs, even doing house calls at 3 o’clock in the morning to our neighbors who couldn’t afford even to buy paracetamol. Ever since I was a child, that was already the image of a physician that has stayed with me.

Each one of us may have his or her own image of what a doctor is like. Yet, regardless of what it is, let us always be reminded that we are there to serve others not just ourselves. As physicians we are called to heal persons not merely curing diseases. And I speak not only to us, new doctors, but I speak to all doctors who are here. 

This is the pledge that we are making today. This pledge which we say is not a mere formality, it is a promise and we do it knowing we have the capacity to do so in responding to its demands. Years from now, when many will have become specialists and successful in their own right, I pray that you will always bring this reminder with you. 

Lastly, our love and gratitude must be expressed to the persons who have helped us through medical school, internship and the board exams. To our parents and families, friends and sponsors, our schools, hospitals, residents, consultants, nurses, staff, friends in school and everyone we express our innermost, heartfelt gratitude. 

Personally I would like to thank my confreres, my alma mater – CIM and my friend and mentor Dr. Toom and my CDB family, as I dedicate this achievement to my family who are far away especially my sick mother who for me is the best doctor in the world. 

We may not have gold nor silver, but we have something we can share with others: our time, our talents, our abilities, ourselves. That way we may truly become instruments of healing a broken world.

Alfonso P. Suico, Jr. MD

Trying to learn the Running Essentials with Skechers

Getting many invites for running events has inspired me to really engage myself into the running sport with my wife. Around three times a week, me and my wife run either in the Abellana Sports Complex oval or at the Fuente Osmena circle. Now I am beginning to really enjoy it. It is a good bonding moment for me and my wife and it is a good exercise that burns calories.

My next target now is to gradually increase my endurance so I could run at relatively longer distances. This March 25, we will be joining the Globe Run4Home, a run for charity and to prepare for that and future runs, I plan to attend a running "seminar" of sorts. You should, too.

This coming March 24, 2012, Skechers will be bringing over multi-awarded runner/ultra-marathoner Michelle Estuar to the Ayala Center Cebu Activity Center from 4::00 to 7:00 PM to teach aspiring runners in Cebu the RUNNING ESSENTIALS to improve the way newbie runners train to prepare for a run.

RUNNING ESSENTIALS, I was told, is part of Skechers Fitness' advocacy to promote Mid-Foot Strike, proper running techniques, and a healthy lifestyle. It will cover topics such as Stretching, Leg & Foot Technique, Hydration & Nutrition, and more. These are exactly the things me and my wife should learn about running.


Interested to join? Register now at 0905-3905883. This is for FREE. 


Come in your Running Attire and wear your running shoes. During the following day at the Globe Run4Home event, look for the Skechers booth because I think they will be offering something interesting that day.


I can't wait!

Greatness Starts @Home Indeed: A Tribute to Mom

I believe that experiences during childhood at home have a great impact in what one will become someday.

My mom died 30 years ago at a young age due to kidney failure when I was eight years old but she has a great influence on me until now.

My mom

She had Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a genetic disorder characterized by numerous cysts in both kidneys which may cause hematuria (blood in the urine) episodes of back pain, flank pain and abdominal pain. 

Polycystic Kidney (Figure courtesy of  NIDDK).

I was told by my father that when I was born, my mom had only one kidney left (after an operation removing the other one) which also had cysts. She frequently had fever and pain perhaps because of recurrent urinary tract infection. But despite the difficult condition she is in, all I can remember is her love and dedication to teaching her children, without any complaints.

Despite the pain and the stress she might be in, knowing she had "bad" kidneys, she was a hands-on mother to me. She accompanied me in field trips, brought me to school, sat me in her lap as she taught me the ABCs and the DoReMi's while assisting me in my homework. We also enjoyed watching Ernie and Bert at Sesame Street together.

Her efforts were not wasted. I was a consistent honor student during her time and even way past her demise, I was high school valedictorian and medical school scholar.

The image of her always by my side as a mother and a teacher at home lingered on.

Fast forward to the present...

I now have a Masters Degree in Health Professions Education which made me better equipped in my teaching profession.

UP Manila Chancellor Arcadio handing me my diploma for my Masters

Yes, I am now myself an educator and it all started at home. 

Following my mother who never got tired of teaching me at home, I became a medical doctor who loves to  guide future medical students despite also having PKD myself. 

I also educate my readers online spreading PKD and public health awareness as a blogger from the comforts of home.

Thanks to my mom, I appreciated the value of teaching early. Thanks to her, I got to love teaching.

And thanks to my mom, I now get to enjoy my greatest moment of achievement  --- witnessing the beginning of greatness of others, my former students as they become successful doctors.

And it all started with the greatness of someone at home --- MY MOM.

If you have a story to share regarding your greatest moment of achievement, then write a blog post about it and submit the link as a comment to the Greatness Starts@Home Blogging Contest Page by Globe Tattoo and get the chance to win great prizes including Samsung Champ phones and Samsung Galaxy Tabs. On the same page, details regarding the contest as well as the criteria for judging are indicated. Stories will be featured on the official Globe Tattoo Facebook page the day after submission. Contest will run from February 25 to March 17, 2012.