Photos of Oplan Healthy Teeth 2011

Thank God no crying happened, not like last year.  Dental patients this year came prepared and well psyched  for pain.  *Haha.  Nevertheless, dentists and dental works freak me out.  But our patients loved this group of dental students who willingly rendered service for free.

A joint project of Generika Bahayang Pag-asa and

Emilio Aguinaldo College School of Dentistry.

Registration.

And, the early bird that grew and continues to thrive in the Pharmacy's backyard.

The Pharmacy's pantry, where I usually spend my days.  On regular days, this is where the staff and I hold meetings, have our lunch or relax during breaks.  But on days with medical missions, the place becomes packed with patients. 

The scene by the driveway.

Prophylaxis station.   

Tooth extraction station.

A special demo by the dean (my friend).

The feast  at 2pm.  Thanks for accommodating the extension. 

We ended at 1:30pm instead of 12 noon.

Thank you once again to my dear friend, Dean/Dr. Jun.  Your students are the greatest! :)  Til the next Dental Mission in 2012. 



OPLAN HEALTHY TEETH 2011

Last year, we had a blast even if kids cried.  Adults, on the other hand, were bold to withstand pain.

Tomorrow, here we go again.

We're ready.  And so are the patients.  An advance muchos gracias to the dental students of Emilio Aguinaldo College School of Dentistry and most especially to my dear "dean-dentist" friend for saying yes. As if I would accept NO for an answer.  *Haha! See ya!



Teeth, Numbers and Beads

Who would have thought that after so many years of building our lives apart and marking that niche in this vast world,  that semblance of a High School girl we once knew and shared all together still does exist. 

Christmas 2010.  Coffee-date at Mary Grace.

Not only did we spend our high school days together, we were once in our lives carpool-mates,  coffee-mates, seat-mates, apartment-mates. Name it, we've got it.  Except for the part when I and my-now-dentist friend (in white and green stripes) were requested to quit the pep squad from too much giggling, then headed by the friend in blue, we stuck it out as great friends.  No hard feelings.

Heartwarming menu cover of Mary Grace.

Contracts were back then drafted that stipulated the conditions of having reached the most number of boyfriends first.  The last in line, if my memory serves me right, reaps the grand prize.  I was never part of the deal and instead took on the the role of the witness. Better to play safe but I know I could have won. Lol!   Years after, the contract has long been forgotten (or deliberately ignored).  We have taken on different paths, but a path I believe that sort of intertwines most especially when needed ...

December 24 brunch.

...The husband of my dentist friend spearheaded the dental mission held at the Pharmacy summer of this year. He, by the way, is the dean of Emilio Aguinaldo's College of Dentistry and specializes in dental surgery.  Someone to rely on when the time comes.

There's the dean, as seen on the mirror.  Hahaha!

My pep squad friend, on the other hand, lives and breathes numbers.  An industry I abhor, but fell on my lap for 6 years of my career life.  But, I did survive...and eventually retired early and began living :)

Ergo, the story of the Pharmacy and my beads happened, which actually both involves a bit of financials and an on-the-side dental mission.  I admire both my friends for having chosen their respective fields, in which I am definitely not cut for. Neither "teeth" nor "numbers".  I'd rather be the jack-of-all-trades, with beading taking on the lead role.  And speaking of beads, my friends took a crack at it for the first time while at Mary Grace ...

Their expression is a giveaway, and we're just talking about how to knot here.  Obviously, another "knotting" session is needed. 

Despite the science, math and arts and crafts classes we took in high school together, it is absolutely a case of "to each his own".  We may excel in different fields, but it is the friendship we share that gives each of us a chance to immerse and diversify beyond what we are accustomed to.  Even just for a short while.

Maybe, I'll look into dentistry one of these days.  For now, I'll stick to beading.  Hahaha!

Mission Accomplished

I finally figured it out despite the denial stage I went through at the start of this year.  Weekends are absolutely non-bead days ..... and ..... beads and the pharmacy are interrelated.  That's a fact.  One cannot live without the other.  Beads transport me to la-la-la fairy tale land, while the Pharmacy is my REALITY.

Yesterday was the first ever dental mission organized by the Pharmacy.  During its planning stages, we anticipated -- scorching heat, children crying out loud, adults adamant about having their tooth extracted even with existing health concerns (like heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure), complaints from those who were not able to pre-register and probable complications after the activity.

Though we experienced a bit of crying ....

Crying twins while waiting for their Mom  having her tooth extracted.
The vital signs Pharmacy staff worked as babysitters too :) 

..... the activity turned out smooth and well-organized.  Good Job to the hardworking Pharmacy staff and Thanks to the Dean, Professors and Dental students of Emilio Aguinaldo College School of Dentistry who willingly extended a helping hand. 

I felt a different level of "high" after this half-day activity.  FULFILLMENT at the HIGHEST DEGREE.  The Pharmacy's purpose for doing such activities is short and simple:  Uplift the SPIRITS of our less fortunate brothers and sisters. 

Fact:  MILLIONS in the Philippines still remain unemployed and are in dire need of help -- financially, spiritually and physically.  Thus, our monthly medical mission is our little way of sharing the blessings.

Yesterday's MISSION, ACCOMPLISHED ... but definitely NOT OVER.

Album may be viewed from this LINK.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

First, thank you for the overwhelming response on yesterday's blog.  You know who you are ... and I know who you are and where you're from.  Thanks to sitemeter and google analytics -- wonder tools that I use  for cyber research. There's nothing to worry about.  Names don't show, just the location. So I pretty much assume. But if it does(?), your data is safe and well-secured.

If you have not had the chance to read yesterday's blog, feel free to visit and click this LINK.

Second, I have been home alone since yesterday.  J. Bond left for  a business trip, scheduled to return to Manila early morning tomorrow.  Upon arrival, he goes straight to the Pharmacy where he'll find me overseeing and acting like a dentist-wannabe for our Libreng Bunot (free tooth extraction).   This will be the first time the Pharmacy will be doing such activity and this gives me the thrill!  Thanks to my good, good, good dentist-since high school friend, Karl, and her professor-dentist husband, Jun, for extending a helping hand.

Third, When the cat is away, what do I do? ....  No doubt I use BOTH laptops :) One for the Pharmacy and the other for By Beaded Story.

and Fourth, addressed to my brother and aunt who were both briefly mentioned in this BLOG ....

Brother --  you enticed me to replace my jurassic laptop with something newer, modern and lighter.  I did! But I still keep the old one.  I find jurassic more functional.  The monitor is bigger.  haha!.

Tita -- you said over lunch yesterday that I am as "low-tech" as you are. Let's just say that there is a major need for you to already replace your 15-plus years ago computer with a cable-free laptop on which every single part is built into one.  There definitely won't be a ready answer from me for questions pertaining to cables and hook-ups.  Unless brother answers the long list.  But then again he's far far away.  Haha!

HAVE A HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!!!