Conozco Pablo

As we grow older, our bodies and minds change in ways that can be both funny and annoying. Here are 10 signs that you are getting older. If you recognize some of them, welcome to the club! First, you may feel like a detective when you cannot find your glasses or phone. You look everywhere and later realize you were holding them the whole time. It feels like you have the power to make things disappear. Another sign is when your joints start making cracking sounds like an old wooden floor. You may make strange noises every time you sit down or stand up. It sounds like your body is making music that nobody enjoys. You may also notice that your memory is not as good as before. You might forget where your things were, what you ate for breakfast, or even someone’s name. It can feel like your memory only remembers embarrassing moments. Another sign of getting older is making references that younger people do not understand. You may talk about cassette tapes, rotary pho...

Health is that elusive state of being that we all strive for, yet never quite seem to reach. We all have our own definition of what it means to be healthy, whether it's the absence of illness or the ability to run a marathon without breaking a sweat. But the truth is, defining health is no easy feat. It's like trying to catch a greased pig - you can chase after it, but it always seems to slip away. So, let's take a lighthearted look at the complex nature of health and how we can try to define it. I have come to understand that determining who is healthy is not as simple as it may seem. The connection between norms and health is intricate, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. In my experience, health is not just about the absence of disease but also about meeting societal norms. For instance, a patient who presents with symptoms of depression and anxiety may be considered unhealthy, even though there is no physical ailment. This ...

In the demanding world of healthcare, the phrase "Push Yourself to Your Limits" takes on a profound meaning. Healthcare providers often find themselves navigating challenging circumstances that test their physical, emotional, and mental boundaries. In this article, we'll explore the hard experiences of healthcare providers, the advantages of pushing one's limits, and the potential disadvantages that come with this demanding profession. Healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, face a multitude of challenges that push them to their limits. Long and irregular working hours, exposure to infectious diseases, emotionally taxing patient cases, and the responsibility of making critical decisions are just a few of the hardships they encounter daily. Additionally, the ongoing pressure to stay updated with medical advancements and maintain high standards of care adds to their demanding workload. However, unknow...

In a world where life seems to be a never-ending race, a moment of respite is a precious gem. Enter "Pahiluna," a beautiful Cebuano word that embodies the essence of unwinding, letting go, and savoring the art of relaxation. It's like discovering a hidden treasure chest of tranquility in the midst of life's chaotic seas. This is the focus of this blogpost. First things first, let's demystify this word. Pahiluna isn't just a word; it's an experience, a state of mind, and a lifestyle all rolled into one. It's that moment when you throw your cares to the wind, kick back, and embrace the now. Pahiluna is the ultimate antidote to the relentless pace of modern life. Let's paint some vivid examples of Pahiluna in action. Imagine yourself on a pristine Cebu beach, your toes luxuriating in the soft sand, and a freshly cracked coconut in hand. As the sun gracefully dips below the horizon, you immerse yourself in Pahiluna, serenaded by the soothin...

As a health care worker for almost fifteen years, I have dealt with all kinds of people, patients, and colleagues from different cultural backgrounds. I have communicated with them in at least four different languages, and let me tell you, it has been a unique experience. I have been both in the academe and in clinical settings, dealing with both acute and non-acute patients. It has been a journey, but one thing I never thought I would struggle with the most is dealing with the ups and downs of daily patient interactions. Now, let me tell you something. Patient interactions require a lot from us, health care practitioners. It's not just about having knowledge and skills; we also need the right attitude. And let me tell you, attitude is personal and natural. You can't just learn it. I used to think I had the sufficient attitude, but I was wrong! Every time I interacted with my patients, a little part of me was either lost, numbed, or even confused. It was irritating ...

There are several aspects that I certainly have control over. These include intermittent fasting, my work schedule, monthly budget, shopping list, routines at home, and being "almost" alcohol-free. I drink alcohol very seldom but I tolerate it, but I do not see myself drinking as a habit in the future. This is the focus of this blogpost. Well, I have actually started late in drinking alcohol, but have never been hooked to it to be honest. There are times that I drank quite often than I did before, but I managed to keep it at a minimum again in a very short time. I have reflected on this why, and here are some of the reasons: No drinking buddy I never really had drinking buddies, because often I am satisfied either by being with my own company, or with selected group of people. I intend to socialize with people who talk a lot, such that I could learn something. Perhaps, I have not met individuals who I could do this, as well as give me sufficient learning through c...

The last two years have been characterized by restrictions that aim at reducing social mobility, thereby hoping for reduction of the possibility of sudden surge of infection cases. This has been purposeful to limit undue strain to the capacity of every country's health care system. As a health care practitioner, I would, ofcourse, support measures to lessen the burden of all those working in the health care sector by pushing for measures to further reduce mobility in the society. However, in the past few days, I have been trying to understand an alternative perspective. This is the focus of this blogpost. Listen to this. I think everyone has to delve into the difference between deontological and utilitarian approaches. Deontologicalism focuses on the means, that it should be justifiable and ethically correct regardless of the possible outcome. This is the perspective of those against restrictions. Limiting mobility in the society means increasing unemployment, isolation and increas...

Perhaps you heard about intermittent fasting before, but have you really understood how it could work? Well, it is simple as alternately being in a long fasting state with a periods when one is allowed to eat. It may sound difficult. I could say it is both easy and challenging, given that I have engaged myself into intermittent fasting almost daily for over two years now. In this blogpost, I will share my personal experience about intermittent fasting. 1. It is not a diet. It is not a diet, wherein one starves out oneself to attain weight loss. That is not the primary purpose of intermittent fasting, rather it is inducing sufficient stress to the body to be in a healthy "survival mode." One could actually eat whatever one likes during the non-fasting period. However, the first thing I noticed when I started fasting is that I got full easily during the first meal, such that I eat a little thereafter. So instead of eating three full meals, I gradually reduced it two...

It has been almost two months after the lockdowns have started in relation to the Corona virus pandemic. As of now, the pandemic has not been resolved yet, since there are no vaccines available to combat the virus. However, in Oslo, Norway where I live, as of the moment, there are significant positive changes brought about by the strict measures recommended by the Norwegian health authorities. The measures may not be perfectly implemented, but what is important is as how our lives have been affected by it. This blogpost will tackle on this matter. Appreciating the essentials. There is a contrast between needs and wants. First and foremost, I realized as a nurse, I have an essential work for the society. I ofcourse knew about this from the start, but the Corona virus pandemic has made me realized that those profession that remained in time are the most that matters. When we are hungry and thirsty, we need to get food and water. When we get sick, we need someone who could take care of us...

At the time of this writing, I am already 32 years old. I can say there are a lot of expectations for me to do and accomplish at my age, given the standards from my Filipino background and current influences from the country I live right now. I think it is a privilege to see the world through these two perspectives. Thus, I will attempt to summarize the forty things everyone should know before turning 30. 1. Your body is a reflection of who you are. Take care of it. 🚴‍♂️ You also decide what to do with it.  2. Sleep is as important as food. But once you feel rested, do as much you can. You can not just sleep as much as you can. 3. The things we own affect how others treat us. Keep those people who treat you well when you had less in life. 4. You can feel down, but somehow choose few people to express your feelings. 5. Do not decide when you are too happy, sad or angry. At this time, you are blind and partial. Reflect and learn to reflect everyday. 6. Lear...

Recently, my attention was caught by a viral post that claims American Psychiatric Association (APA) confirming taking selfies as a disorder. The articles even named the abnormality as "selfitis". This pushed me to conduct my search and I found out in the website of APA even has no search results for either "selfie" or "selfitis". This means that the circulating published articles are technically not true. However, in this blogpost, I will try to find deeper perspective of the "selfie" trend for I myself is sometimes guilty of posting multiple pictures of myself in very similar poses in social media, either in Facebook, Instagram, Google plus or any platform. A 10-point summary will be attempted in this article to shed light on taking selfies. 1. Selfies are not really acts of capturing a personal experience, but a cry for self-recognition. It is a basic need of everyone for one's self-worth be acknowledged. People take chances for others t...

It was just about 24 hours ago when I had surgery in Oslo University Hospital. I really did not expect things to unfold very quick, leaving me surprised and unprepared. Generally, I can say no one wants to get sick, especially when one is in a foreign land. However, there are things I learned from my sick experience, which are worth-sharing to others as well. My sickness After ten days of returning from the Philippines, I noticed I had some fresh lower gastrointestinal bleeding, which is coupled with severe throbbing pain and high fever. Due to symptoms, it resulted for me not to move well and has affected the way I do tasks at work. So, I was forced by my sister to ask medical help. Treatment First, we went to the nearest Emergency Room where a so-called legevakt will address my condition. A legevakt is a doctor, who an individual can approach in acute and emergency situations. On the other hand, all taxpayers have their own fastlege or regular physicians for consultations and for...

Smoking has been considered one of the most dangerous lifestyle health risk factors. It has been proven to contribute to the incidence of cancer, cardiac, respiratory and metabolic disorders. In spite of the extensive education campaign against smoking habits, it remains to be a health threat to ant country regardless of culture, religion and origin. In this post, a discussion is provided not to reiterate the harmful effects of smoking, but this focuses on the geo-cultural and gender influences on smoking. Although based on data, about 37% of the male population and approximately 7% of the female population. This translates to more than one out of three males and one in thirteen females are smokers. The research is based on prevalence of smoking. It is the percentage of individuals ages 15 and over who smoke any form of tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, and excluding smokeless tobacco. Data include daily and non-daily smoking. The list of the top 20 count...