It was not a very happy new year for me, though, because I had just said goodbye to something that I had learned to carry around in my mind and my heart. (And, believe it or not, caused me to lose 20 precious pounds!) It was difficult not to call up the Emergency Room to ask about all of you and how you all did after the new year. But certainly, life is like that.
At the outset, please allow me to say that I hold no grudges nor have I ever regretted the decision to take on the JRBGH leadership… even while my heart (which used to be majority “hospital mother”) is sad at the moment.
Thank you very much for the “Open Letter…” that you wrote. Can a heart enlarge non-physiologically, Doctor? My heart swelled with pride to know that there are among you who value my stay at the JRBGH. But, I had to caution myself… let the swelling stay in my chest… I did not want to be afflicted with emphysema of the brain… or symptoms to that effect.
But, even while I had decided to leave the JRBGH (where I was prepared to retire and die in… maybe not really “… die for…” as you said), I couldn’t help but try to point out a few things for you. It seems my leadership mode for the JRBGH hasn’t really been totally turned off.
Doki Rich, as soon as I arrived at the JRBGH a little over a year and 3 months ago, among other things, I made sure that we had a working Executive Committee (Execom) composed of the Division Heads and me. Please humor me by allowing me to explain why. Because I believed that everyone in the hospital needed to have a significant part in how we would run the hospital. We needed to allow every single person to be accountable not only to their immediate supervisors but to the hospital clientele, the people of Cagayan de Oro City: the main reason why we are. This meant that every week, the Execom met and discussed hospital concerns emanating from city hall, hospital management, personnel, patients and other stakeholders (DOH, media, the youth council, etc).
From these meetings, the Execom went to their Divisions to trickle down our thoughts and promote upstream run of issues. And once a month, we had a Hospital General Meeting to identify, air out and address concerns. (At this point, allow me to say thank you to everyone… those who supported what I tried to do: because they made my work easy and those who didn’t quite agree: because they kept me on my toes to try and be better.)
Why do I bring this up again? Because Doki-Rich, I want to point out that my leadership style called for the involvement of everyone and that such be properly implemented, too. I wanted to walk my talk. All of us needed to have a voice in how we run the hospital. All of us needed to know where we wanted to go. All of us needed to know our weaknesses. All of us needed to know our strengths. All of us needed to know our Vision and Mission: to be a tertiary hospital responsible for the health needs of Cagayan de Oro City. Thus, as your previous leader, I encourage you to continue to be responsible and accountable to yourself, the hospital and the people with regards what we are BEST in: the hospital care of Cagay-anons.
I do not intend for this to be a pitch for my return to the JRBGH. At this stage, I don’t think that’s best for our hospital. You were all witness to my experience there. My staying on will only mean that the JRBGH will not be able to get what it truly needs.
FOCUS instead on the Systems changes that can improve the services of the hospital: Fiscal autonomy or at least, retention of income and a revolving drug fund; Hiring of Resident doctors and augmentation of staff for expanded hospital operations; Review and modification of the procurement system; Training, training and more training for the staff (on clinical knowledge and values formation); and provision of appropriate benefits for personnel and staff. We need to open up our hospital to knowledge and technology that can markedly improve our services.
Doki Rich, our problem is not just money. It is a metanoia (is this the right word?) , on all levels. We need to take on our vision and mission. We need to live it and exert all our energies to “get there.” (as YOUR favorite President-elect aptly puts it. ) I hope we can “get there” without dealing with all these on a personal level.
While accolades and verbal or nonverbal support truly warms this ageing heart and adds to my treasure chest of fond memories to delve into during times of strife, I really should once more “lead” you away from this track. As I have said over and over again, no one is indispensable. Our systems should run; our services should be optimal whoever is at the helm.
Lastly, let me share with you this piece (attached file “national”) on why I think Nationalization of our Hospital is advantageous to all concerned. No one really asked for my opinion on this matter so please allow me to impose it on you. It is not a complete list, I am sure. It may not even be totally true as I did not consult with anybody on this. But, these are my personal ideas and if proven wrong, again, I shall humbly accept.
My warmest regards to you, Jovy and your beautiful family. Pa sobra pa diay: my personal and humble thanks to Jovy who selflessly turned over her hospital showcase. It shows what kind of hearts you have and where our hospital lies in your lives. And, while I have thanked you for this, let me say that one of the peaks of my stay at the JRBGH was having a website: ALL OUR VERY OWN! And this was because of you… May blessings upon blessings come upon you.
1. Direction for this government health facility will be in line with the New Public Management System of the Health Sector.
a. The DOH is the authority in health systems
b. The DOH has the researches and projections on output that when put to use, will serve the best health interest of the populace of Cagayan de Oro City.
c. Rationalization of Health Resources based on Health Need for Cagayan de Oro City and Region X can be more fully studied and addressed.
2. The DOH has the budget for the Health Sector
a. A hospital under the DOH will have priority to its annual budget
b. The JRBGH need not compete with other services of the local government for its limited budget
c. The DOH has access to overseas funding agencies that regularly provides for the health sector and can direct some of these to the JRBGH
d. The LGU-run hospital will not need to constantly ask for a share in the national DOH budget for health; the JRBGH shall have a regular budget from DOH.
e. When properly managed with the appropriate directives, the JRBGH can further move towards sustainability with Corporatization and better fiscal management, thus providing for its own means to support advances and upgrading of facilities.
3. Continuing Education and training
a. DOH is the repository of brilliant minds in health: including training and education
b. DOH has regular training for its staff and personnel
c. Foreign-funded training coursed through the DOH will be available for the personnel of JRBGH
d. Services will be enhanced with training of the Administration, Nursing, Ancillary and Medical Staff of the Hospital
4. Hospital Services
a. All directives and orders of the DOH shall be implemented. These are guaranteed to provide optimum hospital health care for the patients.
b. Infrastructure completion can be factored into the short, medium and long-term plans of DOH for the JRBGH, hence completing the whole hospital as a Medical Center in probably 5-10 years.
c. Retention of Income can allow the hospital to continue to improve and add to its equipment complement to be able to provide the various basic and specialty hospital that is necessary in Cagayan de Oro.
d. A Revolving Drug Fund can be put into place immediately to correct the dearth of drugs and medicines. Emergency drugs shall then be always available for the hospital clientele.
e. Suppliers will not hesitate to negotiate with a re-nationalized hospital.
5. Personnel Benefits
a. DOH administrative orders shall provide the best milieu and work conditions for the staff of the JRBGH. Benefits shall be provided. The Magna Carta for Public Health Workers can be implemented.
b. National Qualification Standards and the Career Path for the Health Sector shall be implemented.
6. Others:
a. The hospital can continue to be named the J.R.Borja General Hospital and thus, hold on to the historical aspect of the hospital. It shall continue to be a City Hospital for Cagayan de Oro City but, more responsive to the City’s needs.
b. The JRBGH can be more involved in the Rationalization of Health Services for the City in particular and the whole region in general.
c. The JRBGH can be a more responsive Government Health Facility for Region X because an upgraded and properly managed hospital can provide the necessary tertiary health care while the Northern Mindanao Medical Center can be allowed to develop and provide Sub-specialty care. This will then mean that patients who need transplant surgery, advanced cardio-vascular and thoracic surgery, neuro-surgery and other services need not go to Cebu or Manila for such
DISADVANTAGES:
1. Ownership will not anymore rest with the local government of Cagayan de Oro City.
2. Hiring, Firing and management will be turned-over to the National Government.
This shot was taken at Cagayan de Oro’s newest bridge.
December 12th, 2008, the day you will witness the full moon to be the biggest and brightest this 2008. This is because the moon will be closer to earth than usual. It will be 221,559 miles (356,566 kilometers) away from the earth, the closest distance since March 1993.
We call this event perigee - that’s the closest distance a body gets to Earth during its elliptical orbit around our planet. When it is at its farthest, the moon is considered to be at apogee. [see image below]
By the way, this year’s apogee will be on December 26, when the moon will be 252,650 miles (406,601 kilometers) from Earth.
So watch out for the full moon tomorrow. It’ll be 30 percent brighter and 14 percent larger — the best time for skywatchers to enjoy the night! Best time to watch? The closest closest approach around 9:45 p.m. UT.
If you want to know when the next perigee be, here is a moon calculator (Lunar Perigee and Apogee Calculator) that will display the date, time, and distance of lunar perigees and apogees for a given year.
Watch the video from National Geographic. Also, visit National Geographic for some moon facts and the effects of the perigee on Earth’s tides.
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Get your cameras! The full moon for tonight December 12 2008 will be the biggest full moon in 15 years! The Full Moon for December 12 2008 will appear the largest in 15 years. The reason the full moon will appear that large is that its path from earth will place it closer tonight than anytime in the last 15 years.
The moon will also be at its highest height in the sky tonight for the entire year.
Differences of how the moon will appear depends on which country you are in. But overall, this will be the closest the moon gets to earth again until November 14, 2016.
HAY BUHAY AMERICA TALAGA
A friend named “Maeng Ni” posted this.
Lahat ng sinabi niya nakakatuwa at totoo…
Akala ng mga tao na nasa Pilipinas kapag nasa America ka akala nila madami ka ng pera. Ang totoo, madami kang utang, dahil credit card lahat ang gamit mo sa pagbili mo ng mga gamit mo. Kailangan mo gumamit ng credit card para magka-credit history ka, kase pag hindi ka umutang o wala kang utang, hindi ka pagkakatiwalaan ng mga kano . Pag wala kang credit card, ibig sabihin wala kang kapasidad magbayad.
Akala nila mayaman ka na kase may kotse ka na. Ang totoo, kapag hindi ka bumili ng kotse sa America
maglalakad ka ng milya-milya sa ilalim ng init ng araw o kaya sa snow. Walang jeepney, tricycle o padyak sa America ..
Akala nila masarap ang buhay dito sa America . Ang totoo, puro ka trabaho kase pag di ka nagtrabaho, wala kang pangbayad ng bills mo sa kotse, credit card, ilaw, tubig, insurance, bahay at iba pa. Hindi ka na pwedeng tumambay sa kapitbahay kase busy din sila
maghanap buhay pangbayad ng bills nila.
Akala nila masaya ka kase nagpadala ka ng picture mo sa Disneyland, Seaworld, Six Flags, Universal Studios at iba pang attractions. Ang totoo, kailangan mo ngumiti kase nagbayad ka ng $70+ para makarating ka dun, kailangan mo na naman ang 10 hours na sweldo mong pinangbayad sa ticket.
Akala nila malaki na ang kinikita mo kase dolyar na sweldo mo. Ang totoo, malaki pagpinalit mo ng peso, pero dolyar din ang gastos mo sa America. Ibig sabihin ang dolyar mong kinita sa presyong dolyar mo din gagastusin.
Ang P15.00 na sardinas sa Pilipinas $1.00 sa America , ang isang pakete ng sigarilyo sa pilipinas P40.00, sa
America $ 6.50, ang upa mo sa bahay na P10,000 sa Pilipinas, sa America $1,000++.
Akala nila buhay milyonaryo ka na kase ang ganda ng bahay at kotse mo. Ang totoo milyon ang utang mo. Ang bago mong kotse 5 taon mong huhulugan.
Ang bahay 30 taon mong huhulugan. Ibig sabihin, alipin ka ng bahay at kotse mo.
Madaming naghahangad na makarating sa America . Lalo na mga nurses, mahirap maging normal na manggagawa sa Pilipinas. Madalas pagod ka sa trabaho. Pag dating ng sweldo mo, kulang pa sa pagkain mo. Pero ganun din sa ibang bansa katulad ng America .
Hindi ibig sabihin dolyar na ang sweldo mo, yayaman ka na, kailangan mo ding magbanat ng buto para mabuhay ka sa ibang bansa. Isang malaking sakripisyo ang pag alis mo sa bansang
pinagsilangan at malungkot iwanan ang mga mahal mo sa buhay.Hindi pinupulot ang pera dito o pinipitas. Hindi ako naninira ng pangarap, gusto ko lang buksan ang bintana ng katotohanan.
Akala ng mga tao na nasa Pilipinas kapag nasa Saudi ka akala nila madami ka ng pera ng langis. Ang tutuo, madami kang utang, dahil credit card lahat ang gamit mo sa pagbili mo ng mga gamit mo. Kailangan mo gumamit ng credit card Kasi naubus na ang cash pinadala sa pinas,
kase pag hindi ka nagpadala, iisipin nila nakalimutan mo na sila.
Akala nila mayaman ka at marami kang pera kasi buwan-buwan libo-libo padala mo walang palya at kapag pumalya iisipin nila baka nagbisyo ka na o may sinusustentuhang iba. Hindi nila alam food allowance na lang ang natitira sayo at pag kinulang pa umuutang pa at lista muna sa malapit na bakala.
Pag may okasyon sa pinas birthday, fiesta, anniversary, pasko, new year, at iba pa, padala ka agad panghanda sarap ng kainan nila, di nila alam ikaw tiyaga sa budget meal, kapsa, noodles o de lata at itlog na nakakabutlig na ng balat, hay naku!
Akala ni Tatay, Nanay, Ate, Kuya, anak, mga pamangkin at iba pa namumulot ka ng pera sa Saudi kada may problema text kaagad, kumusta sa una sa bandang huli kelangan ng ng pera! Hay naku…nakaka-alergic na ang text sa roaming puro gastos…minsan padala ka pa ng load! Load mo nga utang pa Pana! Hay naku bakit ba nauso pa yan dagdag gastos lang talaga at pag di ka pa reply aawayin ka pa!
Akala nila masarap maging OFW at tinatawag na bagong bayani….naku mas masarap pa yong nasa pinas na sa katas ni bagong bayani ay syang umaani! Utang sa Saudi lalong dumarami.
Akala nila masarap sa Saudi di nila alam di ka na nga makauwi kasi roundtrip tiket kina-cash pa mapadala lang at ibayad sa utang.
Akala nila sosyal ka na kulay ng buhok mo uso pa at naka-highlight pa, di nila alam buhok mo namumuti na sa stress at problema at pag minalas pa nalalagas pa!
Akala nila masarap sa Saudi kasi pag-uwi mo mestiso ka, maputi at mamula-mula ang balat mo, di nila alam babad ka sa opisina at kulong sa bahay mo dahil no choice ka, mga kapit bahay mo di mo kaano-ano, walang paki-alaman at kung lalabas ka sunog ang balat mo, init ng araw sobra!
Akala nila mayaman ka na kase may kotse ka na. Di nila alam hulugan pa ito!
Ang totoo, kapag hindi ka bumili ng kotse sa saudi
maglalakad ka ng milya-milya sa ilalim ng init ng araw o kaya sa winter na kasama ang asawa mong naka abaya at nakatarha.. O kaya naman tiyaga kang mag –abang ng Saptco o Coaster na ubod ng babaho ng mga pasahero at pagbaba mo amoy putok ka na rin, grabe! Walang jeepney, tricycle o padyak sa saudi .. madami mga pakistani, Bangladesh na driver na ubod ng baho. Pag minalas ka arabo na taxi driver na rapist pa!
Akala nila masarap ang buhay dito sa saudi . Ang totoo, puro ka trabaho kase pag di ka nagtrabaho,terminat ed ka gagawan ka ng kwento ng kapwa mo pilipino!. Hindi ka na pwedeng tumambay sa kapitbahay kase baka mamotawa ka pag kasama mo ang syota mo pero madami pading matatalinong matsing ang nakakalusot nagpapagawa ng fake na papel para kunwari kasal, ah letse mga imoral!!
Akala nila masaya ka kase nagpadala ka ng picture mo sa Redsand, hidden valley, faisaliah mall, riyadh zoo, corniche, obhur at iba
pang attractions. Ang totoo, kailangan mo ngumiti kase minsan minsan ka lang makakapicture bawal kasi basta basta kumuha ng picture dito makukulong ka.
Akala nila malaki na ang kinikita mo kase riyal na sweldo mo.. Ang totoo, medyo malaki pagpinalit mo ng peso, pero riyal din ang gastos mo sa saudi. Ibig sabihin ang riyal mong kinita sa presyong riyal mo din gagastusin.
Ang P15.00 na sardinas sa Pilipinas SAR3.00 sa Saudi , ang isang pakete ng sigarilyo sa pilipinas P40.00, sa Saudi SAR 6.50, alangan namang puro cafeteria food ang kakainin mo aba mamatay ka sa highblood o hepa nyan kasi nga umaapaw na sa mantika madumi pa! Mga kadiri , kaya lang pag naubusan ka ng pera no choice you have to take the risk .
Akala nila buhay milyonaryo ka na kase ang ganda ng bahay at kotse mo.nag pa-lypo kay calayan at nagparetoke kay vicky belo, Ang totoo nag loan ka lang sa saab,samba o Riyadh bank na huhulugan mo ng limang taon. Ibig sabihin, alipin ka ng bahay at kotse mo at ng luho mo at ng bansang ito !!kasi nga magloan ba naman dahil sa luho bwahahaha!
Madaming naghahangad na makarating sa Saudi. Lalo na mga nurses at mga medsec at eto pa pati cleaners, mahirap maging normal na manggagawa sa Pilipinas. Madalas pagod ka sa trabaho. Pag dating ng sweldo mo, kulang pa sa pagkain mo. Pero ganun
din sa ibang bansa katulad lalo na kaya sa Saudi wala kang outlet ng stress mo !kasi madaming bawal!!! .
Hindi ibig sabihin riyal na ang sweldo mo, yayaman ka na, kailangan mo ding magbanat ng buto para mabuhay ka sa ibang bansa.
Isang malaking sakripisyo ang pag alis mo sa bansang pinagsilangan at malungkot iwanan ang mga mahal mo sa buhay.Hindi pinupulot ang pera dito o pinipitas o iniigib. Hindi ako naninira ng pangarap, gusto ko lang buksan ang bintana ng katotohanan.
Mahirap mangibang bayan…sino ba ang may kasalanan na iwan sariling bayan?
Manilbihan sa dayuhan at malayo sa pamilya ay may kahirapan.
Hangga’t may pinay DH na nangingibang bayan na simbolo ng ating kahirapan, kawawang bayan ni Juan patuloy na mapag-iiwanan.
Kaya Juan iwan ka ng pera para sayo, para sa kinabukasan mo!
Hereunder is the letter-appeal of the Coalition of Chambers of Commerce
and Industry Associations of Northern mindanao to
Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
COALITION OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
Northern Mindanao
AN APPEAL TO THE PRESIDENT
14 October 2008
H.E. PRESIDENT
GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
Malacanang, Manila
Your Excellency,
With all humility we come to your Excellency on a matter of survival for our business. In the last three (3) consecutive years, our Revenue District in Cagayan de oro was consistently recognized as most Outstanding, among the country’s top three (3) in tax collection. This clearly demonstrates our cooperation with the Bureau of Internal revenue in nation-building through the payment of correct taxes.
However, the cooperation and tax consciousness of our members have been abused by the BIR Regional Director of Region XVI when he formed a Special Task Force composed of the Regional Special Investigation Division (SID) and issued hundreds of Letters of Authority (LAs) and Mission Orders (MOs) to conduct tax examinations on the heels of the annual tax audit by the Revenue District Officers (RDOs). The Regional Director has issued a barrage of LAs and MOs, repeated subpoenas duces tecum with undue procedural haste, giving no reasonable opportunity to our members to comply before the Regional Director imposes arbitrary and oppressive “assessments”.
Correspondingly, we most humbly appeal to you, Madam President, for the following corrective measures:
* the reassignment of Dir. Mustapha M. Gandarosa as Regional Director of BIR Region XVI, to another Region or to the National Office;
* retain the regular tax audit by the RDOs concerned on an annual basis and set the on-going series of tax examinations of the BIR regional Task Force, and accordingly, recall the tax “assessments” thereunder.
To demonstrate the depth and extent of our suffering under these oppressive tax examinations and “assessments”, our members will be constrained to stage simultaneous BUSINESS SHUTDOWN (SARA PROTESTA) initially on October 18, 2008 (Saturday).
Madam President, please help us survive, even under the looming world financial crisis.
Thank you ver much.
Sincerely Yours,
Mr. Efren T. Uy
President
Misamis Oriental Filipino-Chinese
Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Rodolfo L. Menes
President
Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce
and Industry foundation, Inc.
Quinciano H. Lui
President
Cagayan de Oro Filipino-Chinese
Chamber of Commerce
Rogelio Lim
President
Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Industries
Mr. Yang Jian Xin
President
Philippine Chinese Chamber
of Commerce- Misamis OrientalChapter
Pershing Tanqueto
President
Ozamis City Filipino-Chinese
Chamber of Commerce
Antonio F. Chua
President
Bukidnon Filipino-Chinese Chamber
of Commerce and Industry
Nelia Lee
President
Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association
Elvira D. Tan
Regional Governor
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
The “Sara Protesta” has been moved to October 21, 2008 (Tuesday)
Welcome to www.CagayandeOroBlog.com . This is a new and unique photo blog directory of Cagayan de Oro City. I hope you are as excited as we are about all of the improvements we’re making to CagayandeOroBlog.com!. We will try to update and post new photo everyday..
It was not a very happy new year for me, though, because I had just said goodbye to something that I had learned to carry around in my mind and my heart. (And, believe it or not, caused me to lose 20 precious pounds!) It was difficult not to call up the Emergency Room to ask about all of you and how you all did after the new year. But certainly, life is like that.
