potatocorner

Pictures from the Jed-i Master of Paintball

2005-10-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

UNDER WATER

2005-09-03T21:52:00.000-07:00

"I'm still stunned to think this place (new orleans) is covered with water for days now.I don't know what to think but listen this, that city is a VOODOO
capital of USA.Lots and lots of devoted voodoo practicing peeps. Other than a good looking hunk you are looking at a mississippi river in new orleans and a defective date at right lower corner. I visited this place to see the birthplace of my favorite music"""JAZZ""..

By the way I have a funny story..three years ago Tamarah had a field trip at NASA, Port Canaveral(120 miles away) When she went home around 7pm I asked her what did she learn..She said lots of stuff,,esp space,moon ect..but then she told me that they let them lined up just to shake hand withsome old men.. I asked her who are they..Tamarah said I don't know,but when I asked him" by the way who are you? The old man said NEIL ARMSTRONG" My mouth opened and shocked..My daughter shook hand to a living legend and she had no idea. Same thing happened to me years ago but it’s a different story..I was new in Cardiac Surgery/ Transplant ICU and its time to go home..but one of my fellow nurse told me not to go home yet coz Dr. De Bakey is coming to our unit( its 15 anniversary of heart transplant program) I told them SO!!!! I don't care it's time to go and I'm going..Months later I learned that he's one of the Grand daddy of heart surgery.And he did CABG on pres boris yeltsin of russia....Next time I'll tell you about Sampras and Andy Roddick." by Jed

VISIT OF THE VILLANUEVAS

2005-08-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

Lola Feli, Tito Dado and Bonbon came to visit us yesterday, August 28, 2005. They're only staying for a week.

SUCCESS STORY

2005-08-21T21:28:00.000-07:00

I just got a letter from TinTin. She mailed it to me on August 14. Enclosed is a New Zealand newsletter showing her on the photograph. Isn't that cool?

MY NEW BABY

2005-08-21T20:33:00.000-07:00

This is my new baby. My boyfriend's already jealous of it.
It's a shiny black Yamaha upright with 88 keys and 3 pedals. We bought it just a few days ago, on August 18. I wasn't asking for a new piano (although our old one, which I've been playing on for 18 years) has been sounding more and more metallic as of late. The old one was a Yupangco--a local version of Yamaha, and yet we were only able to sell it for 25K! (Imagine a piano being sold for 25K. That's just the price of a midlevel mobile phone!) Still, it was traded in for this new one, which I'm absolutely ecstatic with. It sounds gorgeous, with unbelievable sound and resonance. On the afternoon that it was delivered, I played for 4 hours straight, until my back, shoulders, and wrists were aching like hell. I've bought a lot of new pieces, and I'm planning to review my 7 years' classical training even for just a few months before I re-start residency.

FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER

2005-08-15T21:30:00.000-07:00

"Pictures were taken yesterday , the place is 168 km away from where I'm staying. It takes about 2 hours to get there by car. It's one of the famous glacier tourist spots here and the name is Franz Josef. It was recorded that every century the glacier retreats." - Tin

OUTSTANDING MOTHER OF THE YEAR

2005-08-15T21:12:00.000-07:00

Mahal the brown dachshund, with her eight puppies! Hurray!!!

PICTURES FROM THE AWARDING

2005-08-12T21:36:00.000-07:00

A SMALL WIN ON THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION

2005-08-12T20:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I accompanied my boyfriend to the the Rizal Hall of Malacanang Palace where he was given the Outstanding Writer/Reporter of the year award by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (with members such as the tragically stricken Vizconde and Cervantes families). Hosting the glittering, nationally televised ceremony (it was live on Channel 4; unfortunately, we only realized that after the affair was almost over) was Cory Quirino. Also there was Rosebud (who turned out to be friendly with my sweetheart, and even commented favorably on my appearance), and some other generals and personalities whose names I have already forgotten.

Guess who gave the award? It was President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself, resplendent in red and tall(er) in stiletto heels. This was one complication I did not expect, and it explained the tight security around the place. She looks exactly the way she does on television. It was pretty ironic the way she stood there and smilingly handed out plaques and trophies to the awardees, a lot of whom were working actively against her. I mean, VACC probably gave my BF that award because of all his articles regarding jueteng witnesses, and the anti-GMA stand of some prominent local bishops. In the end, GMA gave a rather long-winded speech regarding her administration and the state of the country, punctuated by expectant pauses and delayed applause.

We didn't stay for lunch. We had another engagement to cover: a Pfizer press conference at Makati Shangrila hotel regarding drug counterfeiting and Viagra. Hmm. Interesting combination. If you want to read about what I have to think about that, click here.

Unfortunately, you will not be able to find much about that affair on today's Inquirer except for a small footnote about PGMA saying some bull about juvenile delinquents. Trust her to steal the occasion by saying something controversial. Oh well, she will never replace the limelight in my headlines ;)

PICTURES TO FOLLOW!

ALL ABOUT JED MACASAET

2005-08-10T01:03:00.000-07:00

1. What time is it? 0030

2. Name as it appears on birth certificate: Jed P. Macasaet.

3. nickname: kempee(pero mas pogi ako,matangkad pa)

4. Piercings: 0

5. Eye color: Dark Brown

6. Place of birth: St.Anthony, Roxas City( thanks to Dr. Londres)

7. Have you ever been to California? Yes

8. Favorite food: Japanese, Italian , my cooking(what ever it is)

9. Have you ever been toilet papering? No

10. Love someone/ something so much it made you cry? Yes, My Dad...

11. Been in a car accident? Yup, several times, all of them minor

12. Croutons or Bacon Bits? BB

13. Favorite day of the week? Day off

14. Favorite restaurant? Hooters

15. Favorite flower? Do I have to say it?!!!!

16. Favorite sport to watch? Basketball, football(american)

17. Favorite drink? starbucks....used to be beer and any kinds of alcohol( rubbing alc. not included)

18. Favorite ice cream: LACTOSE INTOLERANCE

19. Disney or Warner Bros.? Disney

20. Favorite fast food restaurant? KFC,Krispy Kreme

21. What color is your bedroom carpet? light brown

22. How many times did you fail your driver test? NADA

23. Before this, who did you get your last email from? Joey

24. What you do most often when you are bored? Blog, history channel,military ch.,animal ch., (NO PLAYBOY CH.....BAWAL)

25. What is your bedtime? 3-5 AM

26. Who will respond to this email the quickest? NO IDEA

27. Who is the person you sent this to that is least likely to respond? JOVIE..ALWAYS B.Z.

28. Favorite TV shows: above mentioned

29. Last person you went out to dinner with: THE WIFE

30. Ford or Chevy? CHEVY

31. What are you listening to right now? not into music right now, but I prefer jazz

32. What is your favorite color? Purple, pink

33. lake, ocean or river? All of them!

34. How many tattoos do you have? none

35. Time you finished this email? 0045

36. Have you ever run out of gas? no

37. Cats or dogs? dogs but I love chicks more..not hen ha!!!

ABOUT DOCTOR BAKED POTATO

2005-08-08T19:58:00.000-07:00

Hi all.....How much do we actually know about our friends? This is a questionnaire to get to know each other better.Read the comments below about your friend and then make sure you read the instructions at the bottom.Have fun.

1. What time is it? 11 A.M.
2. Name as it appears on birth certificate: Irene P. Villanueva
3. Nickname: Nang-Nang(family)/Renz (friends)
4. Piercings: 2.
5. Eye color: Dark Brown
6. Place of birth: UST Hospital, Manila
7. Have you ever been to California? Yes
8. Favorite food: Japanese, Italian
9. Have you ever been toilet papering? (FYI - this is covering items with toilet paper like your house, car, friend etc) No
10. Love someone/ something so much it made you cry? Yes
11. Been in a car accident? Yup, several times, all of them minor
12. Croutons or Bacon Bits? Croutons
13. Favorite day of the week? Saturday
14. Favorite restaurant? Madami. Jap restaurants. Avenetos.
15. Favorite flower? Lily of the Valley
16. Favorite sport to watch? Basketball
17. Favorite drink? Gatorade
18. Favorite ice cream: Strawberry
19. Disney or Warner Bros.? Disney
20. Favorite fast food restaurant? KFC
21. What color is your bedroom carpet? I'm asthmatic ;)
22. How many times did you fail your driver test? I've never taken it
23. Before this, who did you get your last email from? Jed Macasaet
24. What you do most often when you are bored? Blog, Read, Watch DVD's
25. What is your bedtime? After midnight, always
26. Who will respond to this email the quickest? Si Jed, dapat!!
27. Who is the person you sent this to that is least likely to respond? si Carla, kasi busy siya ;)
28. Favorite TV shows: Dati CSI , X-files, Smallville, 24...don't watch na eh
29. Last person you went out to dinner with: BF
30. Ford or Chevy? Ford
31. What are you listening to right now? Nina: "Love Moves in Mysterious Ways"
32. What is your favorite color? Purple
33. lake, ocean or river? All of them!
34. How many tattoos do you have? none
35. Time you finished this email? 11:10 a.m.
36. Have you ever run out of gas? nope
37. Cats or dogs? Dogs: Zooty, a Spitz mix; and Meiji, a black dappled dachshund

Return directions: I am calling on all those people who read this blog to answer it and send it back to me through my email so I can post it! Jed, Manang Jolyn, Carly, etcetera!! Ang mahuli, law-ay ;P

MACASAET FAMILY PICTURES

2005-08-08T18:46:00.000-07:00

ALL ABOUT CHRISTINE DIONGCO

2005-08-07T22:01:00.000-07:00

Hi all.....How much do we actually know about our friends? Thisis a questionnaire to get to know each other better.Read the comments below about your friend and thenmake sure you read the instructions at the bottom.Have fun.
1. What time is it? 4:39pm monday
2. Name as it appears on birth certificate: Christine P Diongco
3. Nickname: Tin-tin
4. Piercing's: 25.
5. Eye color: Dark Brown
6. Place of birth: Roxas City Phils
7. Have you ever been to California? Yes
8. Favorite food: Asian, Japanese (don't like vegies
9. Have you ever been toilet papering? (FYI - this is covering items with toilet paper like your house, car, friend etc) No
10. Love someone/ something so much it made you cry? Yes, heaps of times
11. Been in a car accident? Thank God, no!
12. Croutons or Bacon Bits? Both!
13. Favorite day of the week? Thank God its Friday!!!
14. Favorite restaurant? basta may buffet
15. Favorite flower? Anthorium
16. Favorite sport to watch? NONE
17. Favorite drink? Nestea Lemon Iced Tea
18. Favorite ice cream: Chocolate
19. Disney or Warner Bros.? Both
20. Favorite fast food restaurant? Burger King and Checkers in Tampa Florida!!
21. What color is your bedroom carpet? cream
22. How many times did you fail your driver test? In New Zealand once for the practical exam
23. Before this, who did you get your last email from? Rhodora Valencia
24. What you do most often when you are bored? Internet, watch tv
25. What is your bedtime? 930 pm
26. Who will respond to this email the quickest? Kung nauna ako kay Rhodora ,siya ang mauuna since siya ang nag email sakin nito di ko alam busy kasi silang lahat
27. Who is the person you sent this to that is least likely to respond? si Gemma28. Favorite TV shows: Home & Away, Desperate Housewives , CSI , McLeods Daughters, Coro St. Shortlang St etc..dami eh
29. Last person you went out to dinner with: bday party last saturday
30. Ford or Chevy? Kung nanalo ako sa lotto Chevy
31. What are you listening to right now? Regine V.
32. What is your favorite color? Pink
33. lake, ocean or river? i hate any body of water di ako marunong lumangoy kasi!!! hehehe
34. How many tattoos do you have? none
35. Time you finished this email? 448pm(tagal ko kasi nasa work ako eh..)
36. Have you ever run out of gas? nope
37. Cats or dogs? Dogs = my fave 3 shih tzu dogs in laguna

Return directions: Now, here is what you are supposeto do...Please do not spoil the fun. Copy (notforward) this entire email and paste it onto a newemail that you will send.. Change all of the answersso that they apply to you. Then send this to a wholebunch of people you know INCLUDING the person whosent it to you . The theory is that you will learnmany little known facts about those who you know.Remember to send it back to the person who sent it.

TATITS

2005-08-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

A rather delayed picture of Tita Tess when she came over to visit us last July. This was taken at the food court in Robinson's Galleria. We mostly hung around the flea markets and boughts some pants and blouses.

TINY

2005-08-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

Hi! My name is Tiny. I am Mahal's daughter. I am a pure dachshund. My godparents are Philip and Tita Tess. I am just 3 weeks old, and am as big as your hand. I have 7 other brothers and sisters. I'm so adorable, don't you agree?

CHATTING ACROSS THE CONTINENTS

2005-08-07T00:31:00.000-07:00

Hello people! First of all, thanks to those who took the time to congratulate Toto. He laughed when I told him that so many people from around the world were singing his praises, even the complete strangers. Just keep those emails/comments/tags coming!!

Just spent an enjoyable hour talking to Tin. We talked about all sorts of stuff, from shopping, to losing weight, to bleep! (semi-censored girltalk!!), to the beautiful places that she's been to. What made it all the more enjoyable was the fact that she has a working webcam. Unfortunately, I don't have one yet(I'm going to pore over my digicam later to see if it has that function), so she couldn't see me. We, however (me, Mom, Dad, Kathy) could see her perfectly.

So guys, please get a Yahoo email and Yahoo Messenger account so we can talk to each other this way. You don't need a webcam; that's like a perk, nice but unnecessary. What's important is that we'll be able to chat real-time. That would be even better than exchanging long emails (Manong Jed is particularly good at this; he sends really long, lovely letters).

That's all for now. If you want to read my most recent post, a true story about a very bad doctor who overcharged his patient by almost 200% (which I entered in a Medblogger's contest called Grand Rounds), go to http://doctorpotato.blogdrive.com. Don't forget to tag me/leave a comment if you do pass by. Take care!!

The Stark Beauty of New Zealand

2005-08-06T23:53:00.000-07:00

This breathtaking scenery was taken

just steps away from Tin-Tin's home. Lucky girl!!

THE FAMILY!!

2005-08-06T23:39:00.000-07:00

The extended

French Fry Family!!

Manong Jed, Tin, and Manang Jolyn

2005-08-06T23:28:00.000-07:00

Ang gaganda at gagwapo talaga ng mga Potato!!!! Crush ng bayan!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER!!!

2005-08-04T20:33:00.000-07:00

Hey, guess what??? Toto--that's Paolo Villanueva, UST third-year medical student--was 14th in his batch on his first year, and 10th in his batch on his second year! His grade so far is 89 (the Magna Cum Laude cut-off is 88.5). Doesn't he rock??? I'm so proud!! The funny thing is, he's actually disappointed!! I think he just needs some congratulations. Email him at toto_v13@yahoo.com for some personal back-clapping. He deserves it, don't you think??

BIG DADDY

2005-08-03T18:38:00.000-07:00

"Princess is coping pretty well. But sometime she can't decide to where to sleep to at night.She sleep on our bed. But mostly she slept at Tamarah's room. I got four spoiled rotten kids now..I can't help it, i'm a sucker!! Aren't they lucky?? Tamarah said she own the van, Timothy said he own the other car and Toby the house..My golly I own nothing now..But for sure i own their love."

Jed emailed this to me. Hehe, hello there Jed. He and his kids are some of the most ardent readers of this blog, and the most frequent contributors, too. I wanted to transfer this message somehow, but I didn't want to change the spirit of the email, so I just copied it word for word. Isn't it sweet? His family sure is lucky. By the way, Jed, thanks for that informative email about counting dog years. I'll use that in my other blog.

I wish we could be so intimate with our pets too, but unfortunately, 3/4 of the family is asthmatic and just plain allergic to everything. Most of the time, the poor doggies have to stay outside.

CANINE CAPERS

2005-08-02T16:49:00.000-07:00

Philip and Tita Tess's brown dachshund Mahal--actually, the real owners are just asking them to take care of her while they're away--gave birth to her litter last week: a whopping eight puppies! That's a lot of little ones for a small dog, but they had already half-expected it because of her overly distended abdomen, which was already trailing the ground. Philip couldn't believe it. Tita Tess was with us at the time, and she kept getting delirious text messages from him saying that Mahal wouldn't stop giving birth! They're going to get one of the puppies for free. Well, Mahal's oldest son Bugtong (Boogie for short) will have some company now.

On other fronts...

We have a dog named Zooty, borne of Tita Tess's dog Charlotte. She would be about...1 year and four months, or something like that. I seem to remember that one year for a human is equievalent to seven years for a dog. Well, it that's so, that would make Zooty an adolescent, wouldn't it?

Anyway, Kathy and the guys here had her mated yesterday. It was very simple--they just let our neigbor's Japanese Spitz (Zooty herself is part Spitz) in the gate while Zooty was tied up. It was the first time that she'd ever been mated, and she didn't like it. She cried pitifully all throughout and afterwards.

I don't know much about dogs, so I'm not sure if one year and four months is old enough for that. To me, Zooty still looks like a pup. Well, at least she's better now. And if she does get pregnant, that's better still.

That's all for now! Maybe Jed can tell us how Princess is, and how she's coping up with her new environment.

More Pictures from Tin-Tin's travels

2005-07-27T16:07:00.000-07:00

Hehe...I guess a post can only handle so many pictures. I tried cramming them all in one post, but they wouldn't come out anymore. So...here, once more, are pictures from Christine Diongco, as she traveled through Australia and the United States (Los Angeles with Carla, New York with her mom, Florida with Jed) with her own hard-earned money.

2005-07-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

The newest addition to Jed's family. Princess! I don't know what breed of dog she is. Maybe my cousin can enlighten us about that? Hmm...she looks a little disgruntled...I guess she wasn't having a very good day at the time. But I'm sure she's perfectly happy where she is now. Congratulations for finding a nice family, Princess!

PS: According to Kuya Jed, she's long-coat chihuahua, 2 years old, almost 4 lbs. Very cute!

Tin-Tin's travels

2005-07-26T20:12:00.000-07:00

Well, here are the much awaited pictures from Tin-Tin's travels around Los Angeles, New York, Florida, and Sydney Australia. You can also check out more samples at her friendster page. Enjoy!

2005-06-20T00:28:00.001-07:00

Tim, Toby and Tamarah, Jed's "spoiled rotten" kids, according to their dad, heheh. Cute!

2005-06-20T00:28:00.000-07:00

Tamarah

2005-06-20T00:27:00.001-07:00

Toby

2005-06-20T00:27:00.000-07:00

Tim

2005-06-20T00:25:00.001-07:00

Petrified Iguana

2005-06-20T00:25:00.000-07:00

Dragon egg

2005-06-20T00:24:00.000-07:00

Purple Dragon

2005-06-20T00:23:00.000-07:00

Carousel

2005-06-20T00:22:00.000-07:00

Biplane

DADDY'S DAY 2005

2005-06-19T20:26:00.000-07:00

This is just a small tribute to one of the best dads in the business, known as Daddy (or any one of its goofier variations) to us, or Manoy Rene/Tito Rene to others. He has spent his life sharing his blessings with others, especially those who are less fortunate than himself. That is the mark of a great man: to be able to look beyond one's wants so you can attend to another's needs. Just ask the hundreds who have benefited from his boundless generosity. So many people out there possess so much, but don't have the inclination to give. Dad is truly one of a kind. Good thing there's such a thing as Father's day so we can show him our appreciation and gratitude.

Dad, YOU ROCK!!

2005-06-19T20:19:00.000-07:00

Daddy surveying the operating field

2005-06-19T20:17:00.000-07:00

Inside Mang Nelson's chest cavity

2005-06-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

The Impostor and the Internist

2005-06-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

The Ninja and the Impostor

HEART OF THE MATTER

2005-06-19T20:06:00.000-07:00

My dad has touched our driver's heart. Literally.
Our driver's name is Nelson Vasquez. He is in his midsixties. He's had high blood pressure for nearly two decades now, and like most other patients, he only takes his medications when he has symptoms. Not everyday, as he's supposed to. Fifteen years ago, he started experiencing chest pains, but he didn't tell anyone about them, not even his wife. By the time he started working for us more than five years ago, they were occurring a few times a week, especially during exertion. We bought him medication, both for his hypertension and the angina, but he took them sporadically. A few weeks ago, the chest pains started occurring everyday, with greater intensity and much less provocation. He finally became so frightened that he asked my dad, a heart surgeon, to cure him.
My dad immediately took him to the hospital for a stress test, which proved positive. Then dad slated him for angiography, which revealed four-vessel coronary artery disease. That meant that four of the vessels that supplied his heart were critically occluded. He could suffer a heart attack any time, with a greater than fifty-percent chance of dying on the spot.
The only treatment which can prevent multiple-vessel heart disease is an open-heart surgery called a CABG, or Coronary Artery Bypass Graft. It is a complex surgery, and in private hospitals, can cost upwards of half a million pesos. There was no way Nelson could pay for the operation on his own, even with the aid of Social Services. My dad submitted his case to the charity division of Philippine Heart Center, and confined him at the ICU anyway, paying for the medication, room rate, and miscellaneous fees out of his own pocket.
On May 20, 2005 at five in the afternoon, Mang Nelson finally went under the knife. My dad was the chief surgeon, partnered by co-surgeon Dr. Garcia; both of them senior consultants and section chiefs. They were assisted by two TCVS fellows, one of them the chief fellow. Monitoring the patient's vital signs were an anesthesiologist and three anesthesia residents. A cardiology fellow hovered around the scene, alert for complications. Two nurses flitted around.
My brother, my boyfriend, and I were also there to observe the proceedings. My brother scrubbed so he could take part in the surgery; I would have scrubbed too, except that there were already too many people jostling each other in the operative field. Instead, my boyfriend and I walked around and watched over their shoulders, trying not to trip over anything.
The entire operation was an exercise in cooperation and coordination. Mang Nelson, intubated and unconscious, was incised in two places simultaneously: on the anteromedial length of his left leg to harvest his Greater Saphenous vein, and over his midsternal area to expose the heart. My dad worked on the leg, with my brother assisting him, while Dr. Garcia operated the small electronic saw to drill through Mang Nelson's sternum and expose his chest cavity. Once the ribs had been retracted, you could see the pulsating heart, yellow in places due to visceral fat, and the spongy black-flecked lungs on either side, inflating and deflating in time to the patient's respirations. At this point, Dr. Garcia called my brother over, and invited him to touch Mang Nelson's heart. Toto did so tenderly, reverently, and seemed comically surprised that something so small could beat so strongly. The organ seemed to want to leap right out of his fingers, resisting his grip.
Dr. Garcia then started dissecting the underside of the sternum, searching for the Left Internal Mammary Artery. This is a major blood vessel, so it would be connected to the most important of the occluded coronary arteries, the Left Anterior Descending Artery that supplies a large portion of the heart. When my dad finished harvesting the Greater Saphenous vein and ligating its tributaries, he and his partner set to work sewing on the grafts to the coronary arteries. In principle, their task was simple. The vein, divided neatly in several sections, would serve as the bypasses. They just had to connect one end of the graft to a coronary artery before its point of occlusion, and the other end of the graft to the same coronary after the occlusion. Logical. Only they would be working with grafts the size of spaghetti, and thread thinner than human hair. That was why all the doctors were outfitted with loupes with about 2.5 magnification, each instrument costing upwards of a hundred thousand pesos each.
There was another problem. How you can you do such delicate work when the heart is still beating? Simple. You stop it from beating. My dad and his partner rerouted all of Mang Nelson's blood to a Heart and Lung Machine, which would circulate and oxygenate his blood for him. Then they injected a cardioplegic--an agent to stop the heart from beating--and filled the chest cavity with icy saline in order to further slow down his metabolism. Within seconds, Mang Nelson had flatlined. His lungs stopped inflating. His heart ceased any kind of coordinated movement and just sort of squirmed there. If not for the Heart and Lung machine, he would be dead.
They spent the next several hours sewing, like over-educated, highly-paid seamstresses concentrating on an intricate bit of embroidery. It takes a great deal of skill, hand-eye coordination, and experience to be able to do such work. Probably not one in ten million people would have either the ability or the dedication.
Finally, they were done. They routed Mang Nelson's blood back into his heart and put the Heart and Lung Machine on standby. My brother got to hold the defibrillators that shocked the heart back to beating regularly again. Mang Nelson's vital signs returned, stable and reassuring. There was a period of waiting in case of complications, but the time flowed by without mishap. The fellows began the tedious job of sewing everything back together again, while my dad monitored them. The operation was an unqualified success. It had been smooth sailing all the way.
Mang Nelson stayed in the Surgical ICU for three days before transferring back to the regular ward. There have been no complications of any kind. He's eating now, and even walking around. He'll probably be home next week, and back to work in six months. Yet in those six months when he probably won't be doing anything but recuperating, dad still plans to give him his monthly salary, just so Mang Nelson can continue putting his kid through college.
I wonder if he'll ever realize how great a debt he owes to my dad, and not just in financial terms. If he'd been unemployed at the time, he would have probably just suffered a quick and quiet heart attack somewhere, and died before ever receiving any treatment. Even if he'd been employed, but with some other family with no pull and no immediate access to a medical facility, he still could have been neglected. And even if he'd been employed by a family with a physician for a member, who says that that physician would have helped him as much as my dad would have?
Mang Nelson is certainly lucky to have my dad for his employer. And I'm certainly lucky to have such a great guy for my Dad.
--for my Dad, my Hero. Happy Father's day!! :)--

FATHER'S DAY 2005

2005-06-19T19:58:00.000-07:00

This is just a small tribute to one of the best fathers in the business, known as Daddy to us, and Tito Rene or Manoy Rene to others. He has truly spent his life trying to share his blessings with those he loves, especially those who are less fortunate than himself. That, I think, is the mark of a truly great man; for a person to be able to overlook his wants so he can attend to another's needs. Just ask the hundreds who have benefited from his generosity. We know of so many people out there who possess so much but don't have the inclination to give or share. Dad is truly one of a kind. Good thing there's such a thing as father's day so we can give him the recognition and appreciation that he deserves.

We also took the opportunity on June 19 to celebrate Kathy's birthday, which is on June 20. No longer a teenager, she is now a young lady at 20 years of age! How time flies!

2005-06-19T19:57:00.000-07:00

Daddy's day!

2005-06-19T19:56:00.000-07:00

Potato girlets--NangNang, KatKat and Bing

2005-06-19T19:55:00.000-07:00

Potatoes at Don Henrico's to celebrate Kathy's twentieth birthday

Paula's birthday

2005-06-19T19:42:00.000-07:00

Last June 18, 2005, Paula Bernadine Potato-de Guzman celebrated her seventh birthday at our house. Her real birthday is on June 16, by the way. Apparently, there is a Tagalog supersitition that you should have an extravagant party on your seventh birthday to ward off illnesses!

It was a children's party, but well had a good time, primarily because of Tita Bernie's and Tito Pab's excruciating preparations. The backyard was gaily decked in pink and white, with balloons inflated by the proud parents themselves, and awnings were even installed in case of rain. The theme was Disney princesses, and figures of Ariel, Belle, Aurora, Jasmine, and Cinderella were plastered everywhere--plus, of course, pictures of Paula, dressed as a princess herself, complete with a cute tiara. The food was plentiful and delicious. There were two clowns to provide entertainment--and they were actually funny!--and even a young contortionist thrown in to add variety. There were dance numbers, games, and intriguing magic tricks. Paula danced most engagingly, and my only regret is that I can't post the movie clip on this blog for everyone to see.

All in all, it was a great party. Let us just hope that the superstition isn't just a superstition this time, so that Paula can remain healthy and happy till the end of her days. :)

2005-06-18T19:58:00.000-07:00

The Potato-de Guzman family

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Contortionist act

2005-06-18T19:55:00.000-07:00

Blowing the candle

2005-06-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

Potato generation

2005-06-18T19:51:00.000-07:00

Potatos with a singit

2005-06-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

Assorted Potatos

Manang Jolyn's family

2005-06-18T19:46:00.000-07:00

Okay here are some long-awaited photos from Manang Jolyn. Isn't her son cute? Kuya Joey isn't all that bad either, hehehe. They sent me another batch; I'll upload them soon, just as soon as I finish downloading them to my PC. I'm seriously considering DSL already to speed things up. Anyway enjoy!

2005-06-13T19:05:00.000-07:00

Cute couple

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Cute

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Mag-ina

2005-06-13T19:02:00.000-07:00

Manang Jolyn's family

COMMENTS?

2005-06-10T00:44:00.000-07:00

Hi guys! In the interests of keeping MY interest in maintaining this blog, PLEASE add your comments or email me the stuff that you want me to post. At least then I'll know that someone else besides me is looking at this thing! :) Thanks!

CHRISTMASTIME AT ROXAS

2005-05-30T17:59:00.000-07:00

Okay these are old pictures...old meaning December 2004, but to all of you guys who've been out of the country, I guess this is pretty recent already. I hear that most of these lights were contributed by Mar Roxas. Aren't they pretty?

2005-05-29T22:57:00.000-07:00

The Cathedral

2005-05-29T22:56:00.000-07:00

Trees with lanterns

2005-05-29T22:55:00.000-07:00

Christmas lights along the avenue

BIRTHDAY BASH

2005-05-29T22:02:00.000-07:00

This is just a delayed addition to the picture gallery--some pictures of my 26th birthday party, held at home. Lola Fely, Tito Melo, and Bonbon came for the occasion, as did Gary, Dino and Maqui. we had a great old time drinking and singing off-key.

2005-05-29T21:58:00.000-07:00

Bet you can't guess my favorite color

2005-05-29T21:55:00.000-07:00

Me with the Villanuevas and Toto's friends

2005-05-29T21:54:00.000-07:00

Villanueva, De Guzman and Bensurto families

Wedding anniversary-cum-Birthday party-cum-House blessing party

2005-05-29T21:08:00.000-07:00

How about that for hitting three birds with one stone? Mom threw a party for eighty people last May 29, 2005 to celebrate their 27th wedding anniversary, Toto's 23rd birthday, and our house blessing. For a while there, we had caterer problems when the food arrived WAY too early at 1 in the afternoon (dinner was scheduled at seven--duh, who ever arrives on time here in the Philippines?), and was about half the amount promised. Mom went ballistic, I can tell you that. She's used to throwing large parties, and knows quality service. Fortunately, the caterer hastily rectified matters (I guess it was a blessing in disguise that they arrived too early after all--they had time to cook more food); however, the inevitable result of all that food warming in the heat resulted: some of the gelatin nearly went bad. Bummer. I ate some of it myself, though I'm still feeling fine, so I guess it didn't go bad all the way. Fortunately, the rest of the ulam tasted great. Lesson for the day, though: always go for a tried-and-tested caterer when you're expecting a lot of people! That was mom's first time with that particular one. Anyway, the party was a success, and mom got her wish: that it wouldn't rain until 10 in the evening! She and my brother never made it to Sta.Clara with her basketful of eggs due to car problems, but I guess Our Lady heard her anyway. Thank you! Enjoy the pictures! By the way, special mention to Mike and Anne Ignacio...nice to see you!

2005-05-29T21:05:00.000-07:00

Attaaaack!!!

2005-05-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

Mommy with officemates

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Mommy and me with her officemates at SSS

2005-05-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

Mommy with Auntie Ana and family, with Aunt Melanie

2005-05-29T20:59:00.000-07:00

Mommy with the Bermejos, the Ignacios, and a fellow Potato

2005-05-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

Toto and friends Dale, Carlo, Lou, Castro, Ralph and girlfriend. Happy 23rd birthday baby brother!

2005-05-29T20:57:00.000-07:00

Mike, Tita Bernie, Paula, Dino, Maqui and her baby

2005-05-29T20:55:00.000-07:00

Young Potatos and Ignacios galore

HOUSE BLESSING

2005-05-29T20:39:00.000-07:00

Haaay...finally! No more carpenters wandering around hammering at everything, no more painters taking their sweet time whitewashing the trellis as if it were the Mona Lisa, no more concrete blocks threatening to fall and cripple our poor speckled dachshund Meiji! Our house renovation is finally done, after a staggering one year and three months. What started out as a simple garage and backyard morphed into three bathrooms, three rooms, an outdoor sala, a grotto, and even a stage for videoke nights! My dad should have been an architect, because he was the one who dreamt up the whole thing. Anyway, he's done now (I hope). I mean, isn't that what the house blessing is supposed to celebrate? Anyway, here's to the new house...and finally, some peace and quiet around here!

2005-05-29T20:38:00.000-07:00

At the Front door with Father, Mama Cu, Daddy, and Mommy. The others are somewhere in the back, I couldn't get everyone in the picture. Hey, pity me instead, the hapless photographer!

2005-05-29T20:34:00.000-07:00

Blessing the back...yard? Whatever.

2005-05-29T20:32:00.000-07:00

Hehe, I may be the official photographer, but I'm still not going up there! To the third floor; the ancillary library and Kathy's bedroom

2005-05-29T20:27:00.000-07:00

Father blessing the library and gym

2005-05-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

The final prayer by the dining room

2005-05-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

Mommy scattering blessed coins at the living room for prosperity

2005-05-29T20:22:00.000-07:00

Paula happily gathering up the blessed coins

2005-05-29T20:02:00.000-07:00

Manong Jed's wife Liza and kids. There's
Tamarah 12yo,
Timothy 9yo,
and Thomas" TOBY" 3yo

2005-05-29T20:00:00.000-07:00

Manong Jed and his kids.

2005-05-29T19:55:00.000-07:00

More Macasaet pictures. By the way, they live in Tampa, Florida, about 60 miles from Orlando according to Manong Jed

2005-05-29T19:53:00.000-07:00

Cats from the West

2005-05-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

Manong Jed's kids

POTATO NEWSBITS

2005-05-17T20:14:00.000-07:00

Well...not actually news. But we actually got to hear from Manang Jolyn, who's been out of circulation for a while. She said hi to me and Toto through mom. If anyone wants to e-mail her, her address is jdecarl1@verizon.net . I also told her to visit this blog. I hope that she does. I heard that she and Manong Jed recently sent Mama Cu and Papa Cu some stuff from the States! Isn't that sweet?

It's really nice when the people abroad don't forget us back here.

Now we haven't heard from TinTin ust yet, but she did give mom her email address. It's tindiongco@yahoo.com, so just contact her through there. I hear that she's a New Zealand citizen now! Gollee! Does that mean she's officially a denizen of the Lord of the Rings Universe?? :) How exciting!

Which reminds me, Carla's email address is biancacarla@yahoo.com. She's the only one I've been writing to with any kind of regularity. She and Tita Tess are putting up a boutique, using Philip's former room at the house on Magallanes street! Talk about a business venture! I think the idea is that Carla will send home the merchandise, and Tita Tess will mind the store. I don't think they've got a name for the place yet. Potato Butik? Potatocorner too, like this blog?? :) The possibilities are fun and endless. Any suggestions people? I'm excited about the place already. I can't wait to sashay down there and browse.

Speaking of Philip, what's happening with him? His sister Kathy is still here with us, taking summer classes. She'll be in fourth year nursing at Perpetual come June. She lost some weight and is definitely shaping up into one beautiful, world-class diva! Tita Baby, you would be proud.

Kirsten is taking up nursing too, I think. I'll check that one out. Haven't seen her in a while.

Milet, I hear, is now Editor in Chief of her school paper! Okay, I'll mosy down the details of that one as well. But I don't doubt it at all. That lady is one mean writing machine. Check out her friendster page.

How can I not mention my own baby brother? Toto, of course, is reaping some top grades in UST Medicine. He'll be in third year by June. Expect another exemplary doctor in the family!

As for me...well, to all of you who don't know yet, I have a new boyfriend! Yup, we've only been together a few months. His name is Christian V. Esguerra, and he's a reporter at the Philippine Daily Inquirer. His present beat is at Health and Religion (how appropriate! :), so if you happen to subscribe to the PDI, glance at the the first few pages. His name is often to be found gracing the bylines of the headlines, he's that good! I'll post a picture of us--sorry, can't help myself, I'm just so tickled.

I can't think of anything else right now. Again, just email me at doctor_potato@yahoo.com if you want to say or post anything.

Anyway, that's all for now. Let's hope to hear from these guys. Stay tuned!

2005-05-17T02:10:00.000-07:00

"Just watch me, I'm gonna clean this table...whoops, forgot to hit the white ball there..."

2005-05-17T02:08:00.000-07:00

Heyyy! We both have no hair!!

2005-05-17T02:06:00.000-07:00

Bagets group

2005-05-17T02:05:00.000-07:00

Candid shot

2005-05-17T02:03:00.000-07:00

At Tita Sonia's

2005-05-17T00:53:00.000-07:00

Here's another picture of Carla with relatives in the States, also from her friendster site :)

2005-05-17T00:47:00.000-07:00

Ok so to all of you people there hungry for news about Carly here's a pic that I downloaded from her friendster page. Hope she doesn't mind, it's for family consumption anyway! Hope you come home soon!

2005-05-17T00:18:00.000-07:00

ITO ang totoong potato corner hehehe

2005-05-17T00:15:00.000-07:00

Mga tomador! Yung lalaki jang nakablue sa pinakaharap di na makatigil sa kakatawa

THE AMERICAN IDOL CONTESTANTS

2005-05-17T00:12:00.000-07:00

Imagine singing TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART...without resorting to falsetto! Maaskad man gid imo tutunlan!

Doubling as a Personals Ad

2005-05-17T00:09:00.000-07:00

Hey who's that cute artistahing guy in the right foreground wearing a blue shirt?!

It's Gary, or the one and only Attorney Potato Junior!!! Okay you sighing female population out there, this guy is officially looking for girls (preferably younger and pretty--if you want to know his age, take the number he gives you and add five years). So come one and come all! E-mail me if you want his number hehe.

2005-05-16T21:09:00.000-07:00

This is just a very nice picture of my very own Mother Potato...ang ganda diba?