RAFI receives two Quill Awards for its environmental advocacy

Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines was such a success that it became a blueprint for the Cebu local government's greening projects as well as the national government. This success was made because of good communication management by RAFI people.

It was no surprise that RAFI won a Quill Award: the Quill Award for communication management: economic, social and environmental development -- a testament that "RAFI has achieved that competitive edge in terms of pushing its program and advocacies forward through communication...", quoting RAFI's Integrated Development Executive Director Rowena Bandola-Alensonurin.

The Run 2 Plant for GREENIN Philippines (Generation, REdemption and Expansion of Natural resources INitiatives in the Philippines) was held last June 25, 2011 and was participated in by a total of  55,372 runners and "feeling" runners who collectively plant close to 240,000 native tree seedlings after a fun run held in various parts of Cebu province. These figures actually exceeded RAFI's expectations.

RAFI's Tree of the Month, a bi-monthly section that comes out in Freeman with the aim of educating the public on the various native tree species and encourage their propagation, is a finalist under the writing category of the communication skills division of the Quill Awards.

RAFI Executive Committee Chair Ma. Cristina Aboitiz, RAFI Chief Operating Officer Dominica Cua, RAFI Deputy Director for Operations Amaya Aboitiz, RAFI's Integrated Development Executive Director Rowena Bandola-Alensonurin and RAFI Communications Officer Haidee Palapar received the two awards during the 10th Philippine Quill Awards held last November 18, 2011 at Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila, Quezon City.

They were joined by Lucky Malicay, news editor of the Freeman.

Students, like RAFI let us educate others about forest conservation, reforestation or planting of native tree seedlings and caring for the environment. Let us support RAFI in this advocacy.

Diamond Suites and Residences in Cebu turns 1

Diamond Suites and Residences Cebu is one of the hotels which supported the Visayas Blogging Summit where some of the speakers stayed.

Last December 6, 2011, this hotel celebrated its first year anniversary with very nice music by a live band (I wish I knew the name of the band), good food and raffle prizes.

During the party, we even met a very friendly guest from Africa (the tall guy on the center).

Once again, thank you to Diamond Suites and Residences for supporting the organizers of the Visayas Blogging Summit.

Diamond Suites and Residences is located in Apitong corner Escario Street, within walking distance of Ayala Center Cebu. They have 102 modern guestrooms with high-speed internet access and many other amenities.

Visit their website for more details.

The Ciudad Project, Beneficial or Bad for Cebu?

Based on the video above, the planned Ciudad Project to be built in the BanTal Road looks promising.

A mall designed to look like Cebu many years ago. Security guards dressed like guardia sibil. Balut vendors, "dirty ice cream" vendors selling their products in the vicinity. Replicas of Cebu's historical sites. Museum featuring works of Cebuano artists. The usual things you see in a mall except for the appearance of old Cebu. More potential job openings.

But traffic appears to be a legitimate issue which the project planners plan to address by putting jeepney stops within the Ciudad and not in the BanTal road itself. The developers, Fifth Avenue Development Corp. claimed the local government do not need to spend for addressing this problem.

There are still many questions you probably want to ask. Like what happens to the Cebu Medical Society office and the ERUF in the area? How exactly will the traffic problem there be eased with the building of the Ciudad Project?

Today, December 2, there will a public hearing to decide whether an Environmental Compliance Certificate will be issued for the project developer to start the work. It will be at the Brgy. Apas, Lahug Gymn at 10 AM. You may want to raise issues or questions during the hearing.

You can do more with Globe Blackberry Social

BlackBerry is more than just the BlackBerry Messenger, or BBM since Globe Telecom has an innovative service for BlackBerry users allowing them to do more with their BlackBerry devices. 

Introducing... Globe BlackBerry Social, another breakthrough offer from Globe. It provides users unlimited access to their favorite social networking and instant messaging sites. Aside from access to the ever popular BBM, BlackBerry fanatics also get unlimited use of Facebook, Twitter and Instant Messaging with Globe BlackBerry Social. Cool! 

TV host Bianca Gonzalez and fashion icon Liz Uy can attest to how the service enables them to do more despite their busy schedules: guestings and hosting stints for Bianca, and pictorials and fashion shoots for Liz. Both manage to squeeze in some time with people who matter most thanks to Globe BlackBerry Social and the exciting services bundled with the offer. 

Bianca makes sure that she’s always equipped with a phone that can let her express herself and keep up with the pace of her lifestyle. Using her Globe BlackBerry Social plan, Bianca keeps friends and supporters close to her regardless of where she is or what she is doing. From sending an inspirational tweet to kick start the day, posting photos of her adventures and day-to-day activities on Facebook or chatting away with her brother JC Gonzalez and godson who are based in the United States.  

Globe BlackBerry Social also empowers style and fashion royalty Liz Uy to do more than what she can handle. Every item in Liz’s wardrobe is chosen with keen precision - and her mobile phone is no exception. Sleek, sexy and with curves in all the right places, her BlackBerry suits her to a ‘T’. As a familiar face in the social scene, Liz knows that she needs more out of her phone than just looks, and as any good stylist will tell you, picking the right accessories is key.

With Globe BlackBerry Social, Liz is always properly accessorized and powered up to keep her 160,000 loyal Twitter followers in the loop, ensuring that all of them are apprised of her latest fashion finds, events she is attending, and clients she is working with.

If you are also on the lookout for a mobile internet plan that can empower you to do more even with your busy lifestyle like Bianca and Liz, to say that Globe BlackBerry Social is the perfect service for you is an understatement. Globe BlackBerry Social gives users full and unlimited access to BBM, Facebook, Twitter and Instant Messaging anytime and anywhere at a cost that’s easy on the pocket - only P299 for 30 days. Text BB SOCIAL ON to 8888 to subscribe now.

For more information, please contact:

Yoly Crisanto

Head, Corporate Communications

Globe Telecom, Inc.

Tel No. (02) 7302627

Fax No. (02) 7393075

globe.corpcomm@gmail.com

Coffee Dream now on its 15th year

The above video is one of the many untold stories that happen in Coffee Dream.

Coffee Dream started out operating as a small kiosk at the 4th level in Ayala Center Cebu. But now it has grown to be one of the country's leading specialty coffee chain with a total of 36 branches not only in Cebu but nationwide thanks to the vision of its President and Founder Glenn Anthony O. Soco. Coffee Dream ventured into franchising in 2001. Currently it has 13 franchised outlets.

Coffee Dream is famous for its regular brews like Cafe Americano, Cappucino, Cafe Latte, Cafe Mocha and Chilled Blends which goes well with its delectable selection of cakes and pastries.Tsokolate, a traditional local recipe using fresh "tableya" is also a favorite. Recently, it has expanded its food selection by offering all day breakfast, sandwiches and pastas in some outlets.

For its 15th year anniversary, Coffee Dream launched the following:

1. Pick-a-prize promo – entitles customers to a freebie/privilege for a minimum purchase of 150 pesos. The customer will pick-a-prize and instantly gets a prize.
2. Capture your dream – an on-line photo contest where entries will be submitted and posted on-line through Coffee Dream’s Facebook fan page. The most creative photo showcasing Coffee Dream will win cash prizes and gift certificates.
3. Coffee Dream extends a 15% discount on a special featured Chilled Blend of the month.
4. Free re-fill of freshly brewed coffee from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. every 15th of every month.

A “Your Piso, My Dream” campaign will also be launched with the cancer-stricken children as the chosen beneficiaries.

With the continued evolution and pursuit for excellence, Coffee Dream aims to further expand its operations nationwide. By the end of 2011, it has opened and renovated a total of 10 stores. Coffee Dream targets to open a total of 7 new stores next year, 4 of which will be in Metro Manila. It estimates to cost 30 million pesos in additional capital. An upgraded commissary is currently being set-up at the central office and another commissary will be set-up in Metro Manila next year to service its branches in the area. The total capital expenditures for the next 3 years is estimated to be around 100 million pesos.

Glenn Soco’s dreams of purveying only the finest coffee to the local communities, sharing the Coffee Dream experience one homegrown cup at a time has gradually become a reality. And the Dream continues…

VBS Participants Going Crazy over Hero Sausages

During the Visayas Blogging Summit 2011 held in SM City Cebu Trade Hall One last November 26, participants were lining up to have a taste for Hero Hungarian Sausages. Well, it's no surprise because looking at it, one cannot resist taking a bite.

Good news for these participants, Hero Sausages offer MSG-free, preservative-free, 100% pure meat sausages. The company behind it is HeroDeli Food founded in December 2005. Hero is actually open to wholesale and distributorship under Hero Great Bites brand and franchising under Hero Sausages brand.

Speaking of Hero sausages, I just learned that they offer different types of sausages like bratwurst, frankfurters, italian garlic to name some. They also have a wide variety of meat selections including pork, chicken, tuna to exotic meats like lamb and crocodile meat. It is the first to offer DUNDEE Croc Sausages which come in 2 variants -- Hungarian and Australian Cheese.

DUNDEE meat are supplied by Coral Agri-Venture Farm, Inc (CAFI) which is HACCP and GMP certified with a AAA-grade slaughterhouse for the highest-quality standards of meat processing. It is the only farm in the Philippines that is certified to process crocodile meat.

CAFI in collaboration with HeroDeli Food Inc. in October 2010 came up with DUNDEE Croc Sausages that are filled with pure farm-bred crocodile meat, completely MSG-free, preservative-free and extender- free sausages.

CONTACT INFORMATION

HeroDeli Food Inc.
67 Banlat Road Tandang Sora Quezon City 1116
T/F 355-5343; T 355-4165; 0922-888-3636

www.facebook.com/herosausages
www.herogreatbitesweb.multiply.com

50 things to do during sem break

by: Dr. Henry L. Yu

1. Go swimming or sunbathing.

2. Read books, magazines, news clippings, etc.

3. Listen to songs that will recapture the memories of yesteryear.

4. Watch the late night TV shows.

5. Do an early Christmas window shopping for friends and loved ones.

6. Connect to friends through email.

7. Text your friends some jokes or thoughts that will make them LOL.

8. Have a food binge with your former barkada.

9. Avail of the 50-70% Sales Promo.

10. Go nature tripping.

11. Wear those outfits that which you haven't worn for the longest time.

12. Assort things in your drawer.

13. Stay idle and lazy for a day.

14. Have a leisure breakfast.

15. Catch up with friends whom you haven't gotten in touch with for quite sometime.

Call for Entries in RAFI's blogging contest

Want to have the chance to win P25,000 while promoting inspiring stories and work of recognized development workers in the Visayas and Mindanao in your blog?

Then join the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated (RAFI) Triennial Awards Blogging Contest.

It is open to bloggers aged 13 to 35 years old

Quoting RAFI's Press Release:

The contest highlights the RAFI Triennial Awards and its awardees and finalists. Guided by the theme, “Shaping the big picture of change”, entrants are expected to do background research on the lives and works of RAFI Triennial awardees and finalists nearest their area.

The RAFI Triennial Awards is an awards program of RAFI given every three years to recognize the philanthropic, humanitarian, and holistic efforts of individuals and institutions in the Visayas and Mindanao in enhancing the quality of life of the communities they serve. It is now on its 5th run with conferment of awards in 2012.

To join the RAFI Triennial Awards Blogging Contest, individuals should register through www.rafi.org.ph. Entrants must have an existing and updated blog for at least six months. 

All blog entries must be original and written in English, with a minimum of 1,000 words and maximum of 4,000 words. Entries should not have been entered or won in previous competitions. Writers must at the end of their blogs indicate, "This is an official entry to the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Triennial Awards Blogging Contest." and include a link to the RAFI website.

The criteria for judging include 50 percent for content (originality and alignment to the theme and research value) and 50 percent for writing style or composition (including technicalities).

A contest participant is allowed a maximum of three blogs that feature different awardees and finalists.

After posting their entries on their blogs, entrants should email application form, URL of the blog post, and electronic copy of at least one valid ID to ellen.red@rafi.org.ph with the subject header: Entry to the RAFI Triennial Awards Blogging Contest.

Entrants must ensure that their blogs are accessible until winners are declared in January 2012.

The blogging contest started last Sept. 30. Deadline for the submission of blog entries is Dec. 15, 2011.

Prizes are as follows:

• First prize: P25,000
• Second prize: P20,000
• Third prize: P15,000
• All entries of winners and finalists will be consolidated and published in a book.

Visit www.rafi.org.ph. for more informtion on the RAGI Triennial Awards.

Press Release: Groupon Philippines Lends Online Platform to Support HIV Awareness

MANILA-- Groupon Philippines (www.groupon.ph) will feature an unprecedented online deal on September 11, 2011 to support The Love Yourself Project, which aims to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines through education and counselling.

The deal, which will go live on 9/11, will raise the ‘9-1-1’ emergency signal on the staggering rise of HIV cases in the Philippines. According to a July report from the Department of Health -National Epidemiology Center, the Philippines is in the brink of an epidemic-level spread of HIV. July 2011 registered 204 newly-diagnosed HIV cases, the highest logged in a single month, and a 56% increase compared to the same period last year. The Philippines is 1 of only 7 countries worldwide where HIV cases are increasing.

The deal will allow anyone with internet access to donate to the cause either through a P100 cash donation, a P400 donation which comes with a free Love Yourself t-shirt, and a P1000 donation that entitles Groupon holders to the Love Yourself photo-shoot on September 24, complete with a pre-shoot styling session and a free Love Yourself t-shirt. The deal will run from September 11 and end on September 13.

Frenzy condoms also agreed to match each Groupon sold with an in-kind donation of condoms, which will be distributed during The Love Yourself Project’s various outreach, testing and counselling sessions.

The deal is Groupon’s inaugural G-Team deal outside North America. Groupon was born out of collective action and fundraising platform The Point in 2008, and later channelled its philanthropic roots into the launch of G-Team. While Groupon enables shoppers to discover the best their city has to offer, G-Team further connects consumers to their cities by spotlighting local organizations. Facilitating support through the collective action-by-tipping point model that Groupon pioneered, G-Team campaigns are designed around an organization’s specific need, like fundraising to create school supply kits, but only ‘go live’ if a certain number of people agree to participate. There is no cost for mission-driven organizations to participate in G-Team and all proceeds directly benefit the featured cause. This innovative approach to fundraising has raised more than PhP12M for various organizations.

“We are excited to employ the ‘people power’ model of Groupon’s G-Team to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines,” said Ronivin Garcia Pagtakhan, CEO/President of The Love Yourself Project. “We are honored to be the first organization featured by The G-Team in the Philippines.”

To avail of this deal, just log on to www.groupon.ph at 12 noon on September 11, 20011, and follow the instructions. While there is no cap for the P100 donation, quantities are limited for the t-shirts and photo-shoot sessions.

About Groupon

Groupon, launched in November 2008 in Chicago, features a daily deal on the best stuff to do, eat, see and buy in 45 countries around the world. Groupon uses collective buying power to offer huge discounts and provide a win-win for business and consumers, delivering more than 1,000 daily deals globally. To subscribe for the best deals in your city, visit www.groupon.ph.

About The Love Yourself Project

The Love Yourself Project aims to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among the youth and key affected population in the Philippines, primarily through education and counselling. It is the first project by the VINN Advocacy group, which was founded by Twitter Shorty Awards Nurse of The Year Awardee Ronivin (Vinn) Garcia Pagtakhan. The Love Yourself Project is supported by popular TV personality Boy Abunda (United Nations Population Fund spokesperson), Rep. Rissa Hontiveros (Akbayan), and actors Paulo Avelino and Rocco Nacino.

Contacts

Groupon Philippines
Richmond Ezer Escolar, Chief Marketing Officer

0917-5698463; richmond@groupon.ph

The Love Yourself Project

Chris Lagman, External Affairs Officer

chris@loveyourself.ph

AN OPEN LETTER TO CIM CLASS 2010

To my dear fellow doctors and colleagues,

 

Congratulations to all of you for passing the August 2011 medical board exam. Thank you for bringing honor to CIM in continuing to propagate the name and living up to the legend of our alma mater. This is indeed one such great achievement - a pride of kith and kin – mom and dad, brothers and sisters, lolo and lola, uncles and aunties, cousins, as well as teachers, classmates, friends and all the significant others. 

At this point in time, I’m sure you are at a crossroad, facing the challenges of what lies ahead. Yes, the feeling of having passed the medical board exam is indeed indescribably exciting as it is overwhelmingly exhilarating for you to jump with joy because, at long last, you will now have the license to practice medicine, with an M.D. after your name. I’m sure too that a series of thanksgiving parties will be tendered and congratulatory ads will occupy not a few pages of the newspapers. Indeed, this is one great moment that calls for a celebration like no other.

Like you, 32 years ago, I was also at a crossroad after passing the medical board exam, not knowing what lay ahead. Would I have my residency training in Cebu or Manila or the U.S.? What field of specialization would I go into? So many questions. So many challenges. 

After all that has been said and done, be it as it may, at the end of the day, there’s only one thing we all should be or try to become: PHYSICIANS WITH A HEART.  

 

Congratulations once again. I join you in this penultimate joy of passing the medical board exam. To God be the glory and honor. Forevermore.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

Henry L. Yu, M.D.

Dr. Henry Yu is a writer-contributor for a local newspaper and is a CIM alumnus and faculty member. 

Velezian Alumni Event Alert: General Assembly for Medtech Alumni

Velezians Inc. and Velez College Medical Technologists Alumni Association (VMTAA) cordially invites Velez College Medical Technology Alumni to a General Assembly with Scientific Lecture on July 9, 2011 from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at the Cebu Institute of Medicine Amphitheater 1.

There will be NO registration fees.

The Scientific Lecture will be on Tumor Markers by Dr. Ellie May B. Villegas.

There will also be an Election of Officers which will be crucial since the Global Velezian Medtech Class Reunion in Cebu City will be held early next year around the month of January.

There is an ongoing poll on the date when the said reunion will be held in Cebu at Velez College BSMT Facebook group page.

CIM SSC Officers for Schoolyear 2011-2012

As Cebu Institute of Medicine (CIM) prepares to host this schoolyear's APMC Annual Convention, the new set of CIM SSC Officers will be very important.

Announcing their new set of Student Council officers:

• President: Joseph Brian Costiniano
• Vice-President: Francis Tulod
• Secretary: Kara A. Mendoza
• Treasurer: Jo Anne Liao
• Public Relations Officer: Ricca Cortes
• Year Representatives:
• First Year: Bea Calderon
• Second Year: Jose Orlanda
• Third Year: Maximo Arnado Jr.

Congratulations! The students are counting on you to do a good job.

Chicken to the Max with Max's Chicken All-You-Can

Due to the clamor for this promo, Max's Restaurant is bringing back its Chicken All-You-Can Promo in Cebu from June 10 to July 10, 2011 from 6 PM to 10 PM for P199. Fried chicken lovers out there can satisfy their craving for their "sarap-to-the-bones" chicken that comes with an ice-cold glass of any Pepsi product drink which can be upgraded to bottomless drink for only P28. All that remains to be ordered is the rice.

We were fortunate enough to experience the Chicken All-You-Can promo complete with a dance performance by Max's SM Cebu employees to signal the start of the promo. Every 6 PM, a similar show-stopping performance will highlight the start of the promo each day.

Then, it was Chicken to the Max when and where one could have all the chicken he can consume. "Makabuang!"

As a bonus, Max's is also giving away P20 coupons for every P200 spent during the Promo. The coupon can be used to buy any Max's products within a year after issuance such as the assorted polvoron and the other sweet delicacies and pastries of Max's.

You can log on to Max's website and Max's Facebook fan page and be a member of their Fan page.

Students, if you are looking for a different eat-all-you-can, you may try Max's which is proudly Filipino.

Max's Restaurant has branches in Cebu at the 3rd Floor of SM City Cebu as well as in the Ayala Center Cebu.

Factors to Consider in Choosing A Medical School

It is known that choosing a medical school is a difficult decision to make as there are many factors to be considered. Many would ask what are the important factors that should be considered in choosing a medical school?

One such factor to be considered is the reputation of the medical school. How are the graduates of a prospective school doing in their respective field or specialty? Are they also getting accepted as residents or trainees in prestigious hospitals or institutions? What is the performance of its graduates overall in the physician licensure or board exams? Does the school have a high passing percentage in these board exams? What is the medical school ranking in the board exams? What are the top medical schools in terms of board exam performance? What is the reputation of the school in terms of research? Information regarding board exam performance of recent years can easily be searched in the web while information regarding research can be obtained in the websites of the respective medical schools. It is also suggested to research other information from other independent sources.

An Open Letter to the Graduates of CIM Class 2011

I am publishing today an open letter by my fellow faculty in Cebu Institute of Medicine (CIM) Batch 2011 who will graduate this afternoon. Like him, I think the rest of the CIM Faculty wish you all well as you go to the next stage of your profession. It reads:

April 26, 2011

To all my dear students of CIM Class 2011:

Today, I wish you all the best as you celebrate this significant milestone in your life as medical students of the Cebu Institute of Medicine, the school that made us all what we are today.  

As you look back to your medical student days at CIM, give time to pause and ponder and realize that it is only in looking back that we come to appreciate and put value to what we have gone through, to what we have done, to what we have achieved, and be happy about it.

Be one as you look back to the agony and ecstasy of the medical student life, the trials and tribulations, the challenges, the joy, the fun, and those seasons in the sun. But most of all, thank God Almighty for giving you the privilege of finally finishing your M.D. degree. To God be the glory.

Congratulations to all of you as you graduate. I join you in this celebration of a lifetime. Godspeed.


Sincerely yours,

Henry L. Yu, M.D.


****
I would like to add to this letter, my wish for these graduates.


I wish for them to stay humble and grounded. Respect your colleagues in the hospital including nurses, medical technologists, nursing aides and all other staff. Being a doctor does not give you a right to treat others like they are not professionals. The doctor and other health professionals form a team.


Do not stop studying and learning. It doesn't mean that you are a doctor that you know everything. You can learn even from patients and from other health professionals around you. Keep on reading, stay up to date with medical knowledge.
Grab every learning opportunity. Go with the consultants during rounds. Learn from the rounds. Interact with patients. 


With that said, grab every opportunity where you can assess the patient yourself and do not rely on text message descriptions of others. Look at it as developing your clinical eye. Be a hands-on trainee.


And lastly, continue to pray to the Lord for guidance. For He is the Healer and the source of all and we are just His instruments.


Happy Graduation and congratulations!


Cebu MD

Preparation Required for Graduate School

Enrolling in graduate school should not be done by impulse for it requires preparation.

Graduate schooling will eat some time so one has to make sure he would be able to devote time not only for the classes but also time to attend to the demands of the course. This is especially true for those with jobs or a family.

In graduate school, the pace is much faster as it is assumed that the student already knows the basics of what he or she is mastering. Expect also research work.

Financially, one also has to be prepared because at this stage, it is not already the parents who are paying for your tuition but most likely the student himself or herself.

Graduate schools have different requirements. There are required entrance exams or admissions test.

Business school admission committees (especially in the United States) for example, require applicants to take a GMAT or Graduate Management Admissions Test. Unlike other tests, one cannot skip on a difficult problem and just decide to return to that difficult item after answering the easy ones. It is therefore recommended for a student to have GMAT Practice Tests before taking the real thing.

For medical schools, the counterpart is the MCAT or Medical College Admissions Test, a standardized exam designed to measure one's aptitude for a future medical career. In the Philippines, the NMAT (National Medical Admissions Test) acts as an NMAT and certain Philippine medical schools set varying cutoff requirements in order to be admitted to their respective schools.

Law Schools have the LSAT, Dental Schools the DAT and other Graduate schools have the GRE or Graduate Record Exam.

Be sure to inquire about what exams are required in the graduate course that you are taking.

You might decide to take review courses or take practice tests as mentioned. These tests may be provided by various organizations or review schools to help ensure success in taking these major or elite tests.

Expect also for interviews to be conducted on you by the graduate school officials. The prospective student must be able to calm his nerves while going through this process.

If you really are determined to undergo graduate studies for a brighter future and you are really prepared, I don't see any reason why you should fear going through these entrance tests and other entry requirements. Good luck!

Bantayan Breakthrough this Summer 2011

For many students, its vacation time. Usually during summer, friends or barkadas look for the perfect place for adventure. Just dipping in a pool or plain swimming in the beach will not suffice for them. Well, you may never believe it but 14 activities and the perfect summer getaway awaits you in Bantayan Breakthrough brought to you by Globe Telecom and the Cebu Mountaineering Alliance in partnership with Stage Time Productions and the Business Incubators.

It will be on April 20-24 and all of the activities can be experienced 4 days straight for P1500 pesos only at Rommel's Beach, Bantayan Island.. See above poster for contact numbers regarding your tickets and other details.

CBSi is an official media partner of Bantayan Breakthrough.

March 2011 Medtech Board Exam: 2 Cebuanos top 1 and 2

In the latest Board exams for medical technologists in the Philippines, two brought pride to their schools in Cebu.

They are (top one) Jose Louie Remotigue of Southwestern University with a rating of 89.69% and (top two) Rayna Abendan of Cebu Doctors' University with a rating of 87.80%.

They led a field of 498 out of 806 examinees who passed the Medical Technology Licensure Exam taken last week.

Scheduled Summer Trainings in UP Manila 2011

Various departments in University of the Philippines, College of Public Health (UPM-CPH) are offering training and postgraduate courses this summer 2011.

Performance of Cebu medical schools in the February 2011 Boards

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced that 655 out of 1,230 (53.25%) passed the Physician  Licensure Examination given this February 2011 after four (4) working days from the last day of examinations.


Seventeen (17) Cebu Institute of Medicine graduates took the exam and all of them passed (100%) continuing their run of perfect passing percentage. 


Cebu Doctors which notably is also having the PBL type of curriculum, had a 78.57% (11/14) passing rate with one of their examinees in the top 8. She is Cristine Aurestella Descallar who got a rating of 84.58%.


Combining University of the Visayas and Gullas College of Medicine results (assuming they are referring to the same medical school), their passing rate was determined to be 33.33% (20/60).


Meanwhile Southwestern University College of Medicine had a rate of 49.18% (30/61).

Quality Control: An analysis of the Velezian Med Tech - Yesterday, Today and the Future

This is a piece made by a fellow Velez College medical technology alumnus Keith Andrew Chan which I first read in the Velez College BSMT grads Facebook group which I decided to re-post with the author's permission of course. This is in response to a challenge question posed by Mr. Deogracias Delfin of what quality control means.

Velez Medtech grads: Suggestions needed for reunion plans

Dear Velez Medical Technology graduates from all over the world:

As you may have already known, our Facebook group is up and about and 926 people as of this moment have responded to the call to come together in the said online group to reminisce the good old times and renew friendships and foster camaraderie.

Plans have been hatched regarding a grand reunion -- one in the United States and one in the Philippines but the most appropriate venue and time has not been decided yet.

The S Wars: Velez MT Grad Poll -Which is the Best S Group?

In my medtech school alma mater Velez College, there are these S groups that will determine groupings for Sunday duties. These are the same groupings for sports fests and other matters.

In the newly-built Velez College BSMT grads Facebook group, you would notice posts of graduates declaring that their S group is the best.

I know for a fact that 4S is the best (haha!). Well, this is my blog so I can say it really and there is nothing much one can do about it but sige na nga. Once and for all. Let's put it to rest. Velez College BS Medical Technology graduates everywhere in the globe, which is the best S group?

It's Great to be in SLU Baguio!

I was sent by my school to attend the 21st Annual Convention of the Philippine Academic Society for Microbiology and Parasitology this year to participate in the initial steps for the standardization of laboratory manuals in Microbiology and Parasitology in Philippine medical schools and allied health sciences.

The event was hosted by the St. Louis University of Baguio City headed by the Dean of its College of Medicine, Dr. John Dumantay.

It was an unforgettable experience.

I got to experience firsthand and for the first time, a temperature cooler than the coolest air-con temperature I was in.

Of course, the delegates did their job fulfilling the objectives of the convention.

It's About Time: OJT Nurses Training Fees to be Investigated

It is a known fact that new nurses (with no actual work experience yet) in the Philippines apply for on-the-job training (OJT) in hospitals. Instead of being paid for work, these registered nurses are even the ones paying the hospitals where they "work". And because work experience is required especially for those aspiring to work abroad in the future, the said nurses are forced to comply and pay thousands of pesos for a certain number of months.

This issue has been brought to public consciousness with the help of many nurses' organizations including the "Ang Nars". It's president said, "Nurses should not be made to pay for work rendered in hospitals."

Good news. The Philippine Senate has taken notice and is now set to investigate the alleged exploitation of nurses who are undergoing on-the-job training (OJT) in hospitals according to Senator Pia Cayetano, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.

Senate Resolution No.166, seeks to look into reports of registered nurses and nursing graduates on OJT who are made to pay for their training, work experience, and certification, instead of being hired as regular hospital staff.

Looking forward to a positive result out of this measure.