I am one of those who is experiencing perimenopausal symptoms. It’s a little disgusting because, after all these years your body is telling you, hey there is going to be changes, I hope change for the better and not for the worst.

Perimenopause is the transition years before your actual menopausal period ( when your menstruation stopped coming every month). The main cause of these changes is the diminution of what makes us a woman, our precious hormones, estrogen and progesterone.

Some changes that I have experienced are menstrual period changes, hot flushes, reduced stamina, mood swings and irritability.

Of all these changes, the hot flashes are so unpleasant . After taking a shower in the morning, there is sort of a bad feeling or an aura I cannot understand, I had to pause and sit in front of an electric fan even if I am in an air conditioned room. Hot flushes would come my way and profuse sweating follows.

This has been my dilemma every morning after I had my shower. During the night even in an air-conditioned room, my profuse sweating would awaken me and eventually disturbed my sleep.

I can do nothing this is bound to happen. No woman is exempted.

On October 1 – 3, 2009, 400 PACCD physician dermatologists members  from all over the Philippines will converge at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City for their 6th Annual Convention of PACCD. This year’s theme “Dermatology Crossover” will have activities such as pre-convention hands-on workshops, plenary lectures, research paper presentation, case presentations and discussions of current medical issues.

Schedule of Activities :

October 1, 2009                

Pre-convention workshop (exclusively for PACCD members) ,

De Ocampo Medical Center , Nagtahan Sta Mesa Manila

                Topics: Botox, Endopeel,and PRP

                                Chemical Peel and Fillers

                                Ultrasonic Cavitation System for Fat Reduction

                                Lecture Demonstration On First Aid and Basic Life Support

October 2, 3  ,2009     

Plenary Lectures

SMX Convention Center

               Topics:  Nephrology, Gynecology, Oncology, Psychiatry, Endocrinology,

                               Rheumatology, Veneriology and Dermatology

                                Cosmetic Dermatology

                               Research and Case Presentations

                               Implications of Integrated PMA Acts and Physicians Act in the Practice of                                                              Dermatology

The PACCD Mission

·         To provide the community quality service on Dermatology…Quality, Professionalism Service – all at affordable cost.

·         To professionalize the training of dermatology and make it readily \accessible to qualified doctors who wish to pursue specialization in this field.

·         To ensure the long-term objectives of training are epitomized in the satisfaction of patients while committing to the highest standards of practicing the profession.

·         To create lasting and mutually beneficent relationships with all members through efficient and personalized service.

·         We are a Society aggressively dedicated to the pursuit of a better Quality of life for all members and patients.

The Philippine Academy of Clinical and Cosmetic Dermatology, rising to the challenge of a professional and competent dermatology practice. Hail To the organizers of the PACCD 6^th annual convention!

For more registration details of the PACCD convention, visit their website at http://www.paccd.org.ph email: paccd_2003@yahoo.com.

“Asia’s Titanic”

The MV Dona Paz Tragedy at National Geographic Channel

The MV Dona Paz sea tragedy, as the “Asia’s Titanic” will be shown at National Geographic Channel on August 25, 8:00 PM and with a the replay on August 26, 2009 at 4:00 AM and 9:00 AM.

It the first ever Filipino-produced National Geographic documentary, directed by a Filipino Yam Laranas .

This full-length documentary is about one of the world’s worst peacetime maritime disaster, MV Doña Paz , a passenger vessel bound for Manila that collided with an oil tanker, MT Vector last December 1987, just five days before Christmas. It was estimated that about 5,000 passengers perished in the said sea tragedy and only 24 persons were survivors.

At least five of the survivors recounted their ordeal during the sea tragedy, how they survive the tragedy and the meaning it imprinted in their lives.

Kudos to the team behind the making of “Asia’s  Titanic”.

• In 6 year period (2003 – 2009) there were more than half a million                  (530, 988) nursing board examinees in the Philippines
• In 2008 alone there, there were 153, 108 nursing board examinees, graduates of Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
• The June 2008 NLE had  the biggest number of examinees (88,649)
• It was only in June 2003 and December 2005, that the passing rate reached more than 50 per cent
• The lowest passing rate was in December 2006 (40.10 %) and June 2006     (41.23 %) which was the leakage marred NLE exam.
• More than fifty percent (53 %) of nursing board examinees in a 6-year period (2003-2009), have not passed the nursing licensure examinations.

On Aug 18 and 19 , 2009, a lot of these passers will troop to the SMX convention center  for the much awaited Oath Taking ceremony.

I have been involved in teaching nursing students for the past 4 years and I was always telling them that out of 10 students, only 4 or 5 of them would pass.

Who will be among their group, it’s up to them. It is how focus and determine

 you are to pass the NLE.

The Philippine Nurses Association Building is located at 1663 F.T Benitez St, Malate Manila

If you are From Monumento or any LRT route ,Take the LRT Line 1

• Alight at Pedro Gil Station,
• You will see the Petron Gas Station and from there take a jeep with the sign board Sta Ana or Paco.
• But If you are with your friends , you can actually walk in going to PNA, cross the street and you’ll see Red Ribbon
• You will pass by Red Ribbon, walk through, until you see another stop light and Petron Station
• Pass the Petron station is F Benitez Street , turn righ,t walk , pass by the Iglesia ni Cristo church
• Next to INC is the PNA building with the signboard Pambansang Samahan ng Mga Nurse ng Pilipinas

If from Makati or Guadalupe Area

• Take the Guadalupe- Tulay – Paco jeeps and alight directly at F. Benitez street. remember it has a stop light and Petron Station.
• FX cars are available also that ply the route going to Robinsons Place Manila, alight at Pedro Gil St and walk.

From Morayta or Espana Area

• You can take LRT again to reach Pedro Gil or ride a jeep with signboard Pasay taft and alight at Pedro Gil Station

NOTE: The PNA is only open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

“Yes, i could have done all those things that win wide acclaim, exiting as grandly as any president could wish. But while my power as president ends in 1992, my responsibility as a Filipino for the well-being of my country goes beyond it to my grave. A great part of that responsibility is to do the best I can today, according to my best lights, while I have the power to do it.

I hope that history will judge me as favorably as our people still regard me, because, as God is my witness, I honestly did the best I could. No more can be asked of any man.

Maraming Salamat at Paalam.”

Prayer  for A Happy Death by Cory Aquino 2004

Almighty God, most merciful Father
You alone know the time
You alone know the hour
You alone know the moment
When I shall breathe my last.

So, remind me each day,
most loving Father
To be the best that I can be.
To be humble, to be kind,
To be patient, to be true.
To embrace what is good,
To reject what is evil,
To adore only You.

When the final moment does come
Let not my loved ones grieve for long.
Let them comfort each other
And let them know
how much happiness
They brought into my life.
Let them pray for me,
As I will continue to pray for them,
Hoping that they will always pray
for each other.

Let them know that they made possible
Whatever good I offered to our world.
And let them realize that our separation
Is just for a short while
As we prepare for our reunion in eternity.

Our Father in heaven,
You alone are my hope.
You alone are my salvation.
Thank you for your unconditional love, Amen.

 Tita Cory, you have changed our lives, you have been a good model for us mothers,

caring for your husband , family  and caring for a nation in turmoil.

Thank you Tita Cory, you will live in our hearts forever.