End of the Year Report 2013 - 4th Quarter

And so this is the last quarter, will be off to downtown Dumaguete for some last minute buys. I guess Captain and Tenille's "Do That to Me One More Time"  in the background is enough motivation to finish my end of the year report.

UPCN will host the EAFONS 17th International Conference in Feb 2014, just some work with deans of CHED COEs and CODs (UERMMC, UST, Silliman U, St. Louis U, SPUM, SPUP, San Pedro College-Davao, Cebu Normal U) and ADPCN at the 2013 ADPCN October Conference.

My classmate Ate Elish visited from Canada. Many things were discussed during the meet-ups, one was raising funds for some good things. In pic are classmates (from L to R) UP-PGH's Dr. Gian Carpio, Ate Elish, CM MD-PhD stud MacMac, and Me.

Awake for work at 2:30 am during the PM GE Consultation Workshop in Tagaytay! In pic is Botanist and badminton friend Jasper (far left), Director of Sentro ng Wikang Pambansa Odessa, Me, Ma'am Nati of Bio Dept, Jen, Andrea of Dept of Behavioral Sciences, DPSM Guy, Carl of DSS, and CAMP College Sec Ms. Joyce .

I always have the habit of visiting my former bosses, being a workaholic has its perks. In pic NORSU CNDPAHS Dean and former Silliman U CN Dean Dr Dalisay Dumalag, Me, Midwifery Dept Head Ma'am Emmi, College of Law Dean Atty Pearl Estacion.

November was conference and workshop month for me. This was during the advanced course on ethics in research organized by the UPM- National Institutes of Health.

This one is on thesis writing and mentoring, organized by the National Graduate Office for the Health Sciences.  Dr. Ludy Tejero, is UPCN's incoming dean, currently sits as Head of the Research and Creative Writing Program of UPCN as well as NGOHS Director.

And this one is for Information Officers. Oh I'm glad that I'm quite techy. In pic are UP VP Popoy de Vera, CECSP Head Prof Merle Mejico, and UPM Chancellor Dr. Manuel Agulto.

And this is a forum on the use of the teleserye as a vehicle for social change. Oh yes, I go everywhere. In pic are writer Suzette Doctolero of MHL, Encantadia; Direk Joey Reyes, and Dr. Trinidad Osteria.

And to end my November, the 6th National Nursing Research Conference in Baguio City.

In pic are from top (L to R): Me, Jessa & Angela of Class 2013 (my research advisees who are also presenting), PJ, bottom row: Maan, TP Head Prof. Luz Dones, PNRSI Pres Dr. Caster Palaganas, CEU Dean and former PNA Pres Dr. Tita Barcelo, Not, and my student and future Bb Pilipinas Julie. These pics are hers. =)

December was about trips again. This was in Expo in Singapore. Nice place to shop, awesome products on sale!

Then went to Phnom Penh in Cambodia for their bridging program. We are helping them shift from Associate Degree to BSN as WHO Collaborating Center.

As I was travelling alone, I mostly did selfies except this one were I asked my tuktuk driver Tilo to take this shot. This one was in the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, it had striking similarities with the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Then dropped by Bangkok, had to do selfies because I was alone for this trip. They were ousting their Prime Minister so I preferred to stay indoors during daytime. Did I really have to qualify that it was during daytime?

And finally went HOME...to the City of Gentle People... Dumaguete City

Reunited with old friends who also went home. In pic are CPA and BSP's Ben2, Me, Metallurgical Engineers from UPD Manay and Dan2, and dear friend and RN Lan2. Manay and Ben2 were my classmates way back Elem days at St Paul College Dumaguete.

Former workmates (from L to R)  Dept of Agriculture's Ma'am Belai, Mr/s. Aranas, Ma'am Sue, NORSU university nurse Alex, Balikbayan Jai, Pharmacy Dept Head Mrs. Analiza Bais, NPA Clarabelle, Me, and Caryl. Most of us have already left NORSU for greener pastures and it's good to see them again.

And of course my family, or part of it. In bottom pic are from L to R: Me, my niece Dan2, my mom NORSU Director for EVOC and Continuing Ed & CIT Asst Dean Prof. Jessie Cecilia Leyva, my youngest brother JR who is in HS, and my dad Erwin (yes, all males in our family are named Erwin) who manages his sugar cane plantation and other farm animals during his spare time. My sisters are in the US and my elder brother is in Saudi. So I'm technically, the only adult offspring left here in our beloved country.

And there goes my 2013. I  lived the simple life. And I owe it to having enjoyed my childhood, thanks to my family. We didn't have much but my parents taught me to appreciate the little things around and  to work hard. And that's probably why I work hard while not getting too aggressive in reaching for the stars. After all, we are all passers by in this world, so live the life, enjoy, remove all the negative emotions, and make others feel happy. We only live once. For me, it is not the number of achievements that will measure how you lived your life, but the number of true friends you made in your lifetime. In my day to day work, I do not  treat work as a boring routine of toxicities, but rather an avenue to make friends. One can complain about almost everything in  the world, the traffic, workplace issues, corruption, the government, waiting time, lovelife and even the color of your skin, and  how unfair it can get, but hey, that is life. You either cope with it, or KYS and GTH.

And in as much as I don't look back and always move forward, goodbye 2013 and thank you for the memorable experiences. And most of all, I have to thank God for the peace of mind and the strength to endure this wonderful year called 2013.

-wi
P.S. I have to work hard for that 6-pack abs in 2014!