Our prayers to Tita Cory
Former President Corazon C. Aquino has been diagnosed with colon cancer. We can only pray that she would be able to conquer this greatest challenge to her life. Her chemotherapy was supposed to begin today. I’m no stranger to this type of cancer because my aunt Tita Soledad Avila succumbed to colon cancer back in the 80s. But two decades of cancer research, I understand from endocrinologists that this type of cancer is more treatable now than 20years ago. That I take Physilium, a coconut fiber, everyday is my way of trying to avert this type of cancer.
What I can’t understand is why is the Aquino family is keeping mum regarding what stage of cancer Tita Cory having. Tita Cory was always in the forefront of many political rallies demanding transparency in government officials, but while I may agree that she is now a private person, as she no longer has any position in government, her role as the giant killer against the monolith of the conjugal Marcos dictatorship means that she belongs to the Filipino people. Hence, the Aquino family ought to be transparent about their mother’s cancer and what stage it is now.
There is no doubt that when we get a disturbing report like a life-threatening disease, it will always bring us down; after all, life is indeed too short. Call it timely that my good friend Mr. Robert “Bob” Gothong sent me an email about a man who had a few months to live and what advice he would give people if he is asked to give a lecture on this topic. I suggest that you open to http://www.glumbert.com/media/lastadvice and see this show where Oprah was just one in the audience. It was really heartwarming and very motivating to hear from one who is about to go to the next life.
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What’s up with the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA)? This nurse organization has apparently asked the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to remove the “New” course for “Practical Nursing” because it would mislead students into thinking that it would qualify them for work in hospitals abroad. What I know is that, the
Last November 2004, I featured a show on Practical Nursing on Straight from the Sky with Mr. Gregory Howard, the President of the Practical Nursing Association of America (PNAA). It was the first time I heard of this new course, which apparently was being pushed by many Federal States in the
My simple understanding is that one can become a practical nurse by taking shorter courses so that they can immediately be fielded to where they are needed. There is no question that to be a Registered Nurse is what we should push for our students, especially with those families who can afford to pay the four years of college to become a nurse. I should know, my second daughter graduated from Cebu Doctor’s University (CDU) last year, but believe me, because we didn’t take any shortcuts, she’s still here in Cebu despite her recently passing the NCLEX exams.
The stark reality in the
What we need from groups like the Philippine Nursing Association (PNA) is an open mind. Perhaps the PNA is reacting negatively to this threat owing to their “special links” with certain Nursing schools. But like it or not, it is not that easy even if you’re already a Registered Nurse to enter and get a job in the
This issue reminds me again of what CHED did during the time of Mona Balisno, who wanted to remove nursing from all government schools because we are merely producing nurses for foreign countries. Such negative thoughts are the fruits of an over-jealous mind. We need all sorts of nurses. Even in a squad of soldiers, they all can’t be sergeants. Like LPNs, most will have to be privates.
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