cebu, the third time around

It’s never too late to write about a trip. Or at least show pictures and point others to the right direction.

When in Cebu:

1. Light a candle at the Basilica Minore Del Santo Nino (Osmena Blvd).

2. Check out Magellan’s Cross (across from Cebu City Hall just a short walk from the Basilica) and chat up the ladies.

3. Stop and smell the roses . . . sold at the market.

4. Say a prayer at Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and drop by the nearby Museum.

5. Walk to the Heritage of Cebu Monument in what used to be Plaza Parian.

6. Eat at STK Ta Bay! (Sugba Tula Kilaw). Try the Panga ng Tuna, the crabs and the baked scallops. (Orchid St, Capitol Site)

7. Visit UP in the Visayas - Cebu Campus. Wala lang. I’m making it a point to visit all the UP campuses. I went to UP Diliman, been to UP Manila, UP Baguio, UP Los Baños and the two campuses in Iloilo (Iloilo City and Tigbauan).

8. Spend some quiet time at the Apostolic Sisters of St. John walk up the Chinese Cemetery and marvel at the view of Cebu City below.

9. Visit Mactan Shrine and take a picture in front of Lapu-Lapu.

10. Buy pasalubong from the many shops there.

11. Chill at Ayala Mall. Have a cup at Bo's Coffee or get a sugar high from Leona's Cakes and Pastries.

12. Have dinner at Casa Verde. Brian’s Baby Back Ribs is to die for and the watermelon salad is good, too. (V. Ranudo Extension)

OR

Have dinner at Larsian while trying hard to forget about the smoke stinging your eyes and how too much barbecued food is carcinogenic. (Located near Fuente Osmeña and Chong Hua Hospital)

OR

If isaw, atay and barbecue is not your thing you can try Siomai sa Tisa along B. Rodriguez. Just around the corner from Larsian, you can order siomai to go or eat at the tables and chairs provided along the sidewalk. Come early, the siomai gets sold out very early in the evening.

(No pictures of the food. I wolfed them all down before I could even take a picture.)

tickets

Raring to go back on the road again.

want vs need

Things I WANT but don't NEED (right now)
1. Running shoes
There's a hole near the right toe of my current running shoes that almost lends credibility to my running efforts. Truth be told the hole is probably due more to poor shoe quality than the wear and tear of running. I think I'll postpone buying new shoes until I actually earn the mileage.









2. Earphones
The earphones that came with my iPod are almost 2 years old. More gray than white in color now it's exposed wirings have been taped over many times (with Micropore!). I can barely hear anything from the right earphone. I tend to compensate by increasing the volume which is probably bad for my left ear. I don't get to use them very often now since I have started running without music. However, I am looking forward to using them when I go on duty in the hospital. I'm over caffeinated and on an adrenalin high during my 24-hour hospital duties. When I do have to time for a nap I need to listen to soothing music that can lull me to sleep.

3. Laptop Sleeve
A nice laptop deserves a good laptop sleeve, one that allows me to just chuck the whole thing in my bag and not worry about damaging my laptop. My old sleeve is way too big for my (relatively) new laptop. It does not really offer that much protection. I need one that is light and fits like a glove.






4. ER Season 15 Box Set
Yes, DVDs of the full season 15. After going through season 1 to 14 since med school I'm determined to see the whole series to its end. I once considered going into Emergency Medicine but I decided I wanted more patient contact (and follow-up) than an ER stay of 24-48 hours can give.



5. Tree bookshelf
Just because it's so damn nice to look at. But I'll probably need a forest to shelve all of my books.

Tree Bookshelf from designer Shawn Soh.









Things I WANT and actually NEED
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 17th ed

I have the 16th ed all highlighted, bookmarked and covered with notations. That's not to say I have read the entire 2 volumes. I still need to get the updated 17th ed though. I actually have the pdf of the new edition but there's nothing like the feel and smell of a new book to inspire me to study.



Yup, that's all I really need right now (and maybe a little less rain so I can run).

goal updates

Too much has happened that I haven't been able to write about.

There's the week-long Cebu-CDO-Camiguin trip, my camera breaking down, the tan-lines and getting really, really dark during rainy season.

There's letting go of my laid-back lifestyle of work/vacation to go into unemployment, to feeling really stupid during pre-residency and then being accepted to another residency program.

There's momentarily losing sight of my running goals as rainy weather put a lid on my running for July and August, and coming home bone-tired during my pre-residency in September (I actually fall asleep on the commute home).

But I'm back now.

I'm getting used to running on a treadmill. I've set new running goals for October and am on the brink of achieving them. I am glad that all the walking (and commuting) I did for pre-residency kept my weight down. At least after a full month with no runs I won't have to concern myself about additional weight wreaking havoc to my knees.

I have plans for a last vacation before I start my residency training in December.

It's nice to have goals.

maraming salamat po

Whatever I write today will never be good enough. So I'm keeping it as simple as possible (but not simpler).

Rest In Peace President Corazon Aquino.

Maraming Salamat Po.