stressball

I’m studying for the USMLE Step 1, a very important exam.  All I need is a clear head.  But all I hear is nagging.  About my weight.  It’s true, I do have a problem controlling my food intake.  But I don’t need to hear somebody tell me about it every day.  I don’t like having to share a bed with someone who doesn’t respect my personal space.  I don’t like the my times of weakness during these stressful times.  I hate that I don’t have my own money because I don’t earn.  I don’t hear one bit of kindness from you, not a compliment.  I hate that you shush me when I sing as if I have a horrible voice.  I hate that you make me feel ungrateful when all I do is for you and everybody else.  Give me a reason to enjoy your company.  Tough love is love, but darn it hurts so bad.

If you think I failed you so much, then let me just walk away and let me face my problems on my own.  If you’re not gonna cheer me on then just leave.  If you’re gonna make me hate myself enough to wake up in the morning with a frown on my face…

Then let’s just not talk at all.

You are so insensitive about my feelings that I had to write all of my frustrations down in a blog instead of talking to you because I know you won’t listen.  All the world saw what I feel in this blog.  All except you.  Why do you spend time with me at all if you’re just gonna criticize me like I am going to make a mistake by just breathing?

Great, you made me hate myself for hating you.  I want to be close to you but you keep on doing things that make me regret trying to be nice.

I don’t know why I even tried.

personal space

We all need personal space don’t we?  Personal space keeps me alive and sane.  Invade it and I go crazy.  I don’t mind hanging out with people.  Some say that I am even open about what I do with myself.  But when people start telling me what to do all the time especially when it’s about what I do with my life and my own body then that’s stepping over the line.  People don’t tell me what to write on my blog.  Because it is also my personal space.  I keep things honest without hurting other people in the process.

Sometimes I just wanna be alone.

I am human, I long for companionship.  But I also love quiet moments.  And I love the power of turning on my speakers in full blast and singing without anybody shushing me.

Right now I do not have personal space at all.  Dammit I don’t even have my own bed.

I love studying in the library.  You know why?  Not because I am alone there, because trust me, people will come.  But because when I am in the library I am there, with people around me, but with nobody telling me to do stuff.  It’s like in the library I have a bubble.

Even in my old dorm, where I lived with 3 other people we each have our own bubble.  We talk to each other once in a while, we even go out together.  But we all have our personal schedules that we stick by.

I am not perfect. I need to shape up.  But all I need is encouragement.

WRONG: “You should walk later! Your getting too fat!”

RIGHT: “Good job on eating just half a cup of rice this lunch time. Maybe you should walk later so you can burn more calories!”

MORE WRONG: “Maybe surgery is your only hope.”

Now that’s just giving up on my abilities altogether.

I need a reminder that I am still capable of taking care of myself.  If I am not, then I guess I can’t be trusted in taking care of other people and quit medicine altogether.

I need to get a job.

I need to earn my own money.

I need to earn money to support my family.

I need a place of my own.

I need my personal space back.

new season

Sorry guys, no more sad/funny internship stories from me!  As most of you know I passed the Philippine Boards and I am now studying for the USMLE (United States MEdical Licensure Exam) Step 1, which contains 1st year and 2nd year subjects.  I’ve been on vacation for months and now I am back to studying everyday.  My exam is in 2 months.  It’s been hard going back to reading the books, good thing my classmate gave me some videos which are definitely easier to study.  I’m beginning to like living in the US.  I miss my friends and relatives a lot, but because of the internet, I get to talk to them at least once a week.  So who knows what will happen in this new season?

Review: Art’s Cream Gallery

What guides us in choosing our favorite food and restaurants? Our senses. A food that looks inedible, no matter how delicious it may really be, will not reach our palates. All of our senses must be convinced, or else we will not be able to enjoy the meal adequately.

In my unending search for delicious delicacies, I spotted a new oasis which sprouted in the middle of Robinson’s Place Midtown at Ermita, Manila. Properly named, Art’s Cream Gallery, not only does it provide mouth watering meals, but it provides food for the eyes as well. Art’s Cream Gallery specializes in my favorite dessert: ice cream! It’s ice cream is made by its sister company, Fiorgelato.

The ice cream café provides an atmosphere that makes you think that you are in a spa or a real oasis, with its Japanese inspired umbrellas over the red and black sleek styled sofas, tables, and chairs. They style is very minimalistic, which makes the ice cream stand out even more.

butter cookies and raspberry

Take a gander at the mouth watering display of ice cream, which is not placed in the usual circular style containers. The ice cream looks so good that you hesitate to destroy it by eating it. Luckily the ice cream never runs out, so you can keep on enjoying staring at these luscious treats! Not only are the ice cream displayed like artworks, but they are also served as artworks. Designer Ice cream, shall we say.

Gelato on cone

Now I have placed so much hype on how the ice cream and the place look, but let’s get down to what’s really important – Is it delicious? If I have to rate it, then it is a perfect 10/10. I only tasted their popular flavors, Tiramisu and Vanilla with chocolate syrup, but I think they are more than enough for me.

tiramisu for me!

vanilla with choco fudge... framed beauty

Let me just say that while the cream was melting in my mouth all I could think of was “This is what heaven must taste like!” Hands down, this is one of the best tasting ice cream ever!

One for all

What kinds of ice cream styles can you expect from Art’s Cream Gallery? Well, there is the I Love You ice cream dedicated to couples and there is the Blooms, ice cream decorated with sugar roses for romance at any time of the year. My personal fave which I would like to try on my trip back there is the One for All, which is various ice cream flavors placed in a gigantic martini glass. I think it is best shared with a great set of friends

Gelato on Drama Blooms

Art’s Cream Gallery also serves cakes, coffee, and pasta for those who want a warm up before diving into the ice cream experience.

chocolate cake

sandwich overflowing

PAsta goodness

When it comes to price, Art’s Cream Gallery is fair. 3 scoops of ice cream for 100 pesos? I think it is definitely worth it.

If you need a place of relaxation after a day’s worth of shopping, don’t go to the spa. Give your diet a break and try Art’s Cream Gallery. ^_^

Note:

Thanks a bunch to Mr. Noel Castro, Store Manager of Art’s cream gallery, for taking the time to answer my questions and for providing me with great pictures for this review. ^_^

waiting for my rocket to come (not the song)

You may be wondering why I haven’t posted a new article since that infamous day when I dislocated my knee…  Well, if you are wondering what happened, I underwent 10 sessions of physical rehabilitation and now I am able to flex and extend my left knee fully.  I still have problems walking up the stairs with my busted knee but I can get up one step at a time with my right leg domineering over the other…

But the real reason why I haven’t written anything is because I have been busy this last month preparing and finally taking the Philippine Medical Board exam.  Is it a big deal?  YES you innocent passerby, it is a BIG DEAL… I left my real home in the province to stay with my friend who is also a medical student.  The board exams were held for 4 days on 2 on a saturday and 2 on a sunday… Last Sunday was the last exam, and although it made me sigh in relief, the tension has not faded at all.  According to random people, the list of passers will be posted on National Newspapers and their online counterparts by tomorrow or Thursday.  I don’t even know if I could rejoice or kill myself by tomorrow.  I am literally hanging by a thread here.

I don’t know if it’s a sign of desperation, but we heard tons of superstitions before we took the test.  I decided to apply some of them.

1. Wear red underwear – I didn’t do this, but I did notice a lot of the interns wore red shirts while taking the exam.

2. When you finish the last exam don’t look back.  Just pass your paper and leave… And give a little kick at the door – This I DID do.

3. Break the pencil you used after the exam – Done!

4. My friend Dave had a different belief with the pencil.  He said that if he fails (which won’t happen!) he is gonna break it.  If he passes, he is gonna pass the pencil to somebody else – Good idea!  But I broke mine since it was the first superstition I heard.

I know, I know it may seem ridiculous, but hey, I can’t do anything about the exam anymore, the least I can do is do all those things and PRAY.  And pray we did as well.  The day after the exam, my co-board taker, Maan, her sister Macyl, and I, went on Vicita Iglesia, as advised by their mom.  We went to 7 different churches all over Manila!  Something I have never done in my entire life.  I am sure my mom is gonna be happy I did this.

San Agustin Church

our first stop

This church is found inside the old city of Intramuros.  If I am not mistaken, my high school class went on a field trip here once.  And my paternal grandparents had their golden anniversary here.  I really wanted to go inside but when we arrived the church was closed.  We said our silent prayers and went on our way.

Manila Cathedral

beautiful on the outside

marvelous inside

The Manila Cathedral is also found in Intramuros.  Fortunately we were able to go inside.  There were probably more foreigners going in and out of that place than Filipinos.  I felt like I was in a totally different country.

Binondo Church

Beauty amidst the hussle and bustle

the first candle lit

We weren’t able to find the place were we can light candles at Manila Cathedral, but we did find a place at Binondo Church… I pass by this church all the time when my mom and I go on our occasional Divisoria trips, but I have never been in there.  Now I can say that I have.

St. Anthony de Padua

in the narrow streets near Taft Avenue

We wanted to go to our church in De La Salle, but because it was a holiday, we didn’t keep our hopes up of getting in there.  Instead we went to this church.  Unfortunately it was also closed.  But there was a statue of Mary on the side were one of the vendors said that we can light a candle.  Instead of the usual red candles we found in Binondo, here in St. Anthony, they were selling candles with different colors, each signifying the kind of things we are wishing or praying for.  We each took a pink candle, which signified success.  Then we lit the other colors:

Red for Love

Blue for Health

Green for Business/Money matters

Yellow for Strong Spirituality

Purple for High Power

Orange for Attraction

see the different colored candles? all ours!

Church of Sto. Domingo

sto. domingo

more beautiful stained glass

Monastery of St. Claire

st. claire

This place has an odd tradition.  If you want the sisters to pray for you, the donation that they want for it is not money, but EGGS.  Right outside you will find vendors selling eggs by the dozen or half dozen.  We went to this church before the exams, and now we are back for our second trip.

fountain... give us hope!

We also threw some coins in the fountain and made a wish… Anything… anything to make us pass!!! ^_^

Jesuit Church in Ateneo de Manila

Ateneo, ateneo... whoaa...

Hahaha… they teased me a lot about this… Ateneo is, as they say, our RIVAL school.  Being a La Salle borne individual, I never thought that I would actually set foot in that place.  But hey come on, am I gonna let a little rivalry get in the way?  It’s not as if I was entering a non-Catholic church.  Plus, everybody knows that I am a green blooded person ^^ I played along with the teasing and pretended that I was burning as we were passing through the gates of Ateneo… hehehe… I know you’d do it if you were me ^^ This church is also called “the Spaceship” because… well… it looks like one!

holy water fountain

And that was the end of our trip.  The results of the exams haven’t come out yet, although some say that it’ll be out by TOMORROW! ^_^ I am scared, excited, and going crazy… With all that studying, and praying, I can confidently say that I have done my part.