Second Chances - amy b. sazon

 Musings by maxyzine

Recently, I was on queue with many other patients in the receiving area of my Internist. While seated and waiting for our respective turns, we could hear the doctor and patient conversation in the inner room.

The current patient said, “Doc, I have become very forgetful.”

People outside just can’t help reacting to that with a smile and side glances; me included.

She continued, “There were times that I couldn’t remember what route to take to get home. I was a teller and recently, I tried to take an employment exam but when the timer stopped; I saw that my answer sheet had a lot of blanks. I couldn’t remember how to solve some computation problems. Those were peanuts to me before. It made me cry and decided to just leave the room.”

By this time, I felt a pinch in my heart and became intrigued because the patient didn’t even strike me as someone who is already in her forties; too early for Alzheimer’s or Dementia.

The Doctor replied, “I’m going to refer you to a Neurologist. Maybe, a certain part of your brain got affected when you had the stroke.”

I was stunned and felt ashamed by my reaction and I’m sorry.

God, I deserved that jolt!

Thank you for giving me a “clean” second chance.

Feb. 2016

Nito Bracelets by Lumads

Remember the face of this lass because she is going to be a great business woman someday. 

A Charming Matigsalug Lass

This Matigsalug girl has a good business acumen and this early she already knows Marketing 101.

Upon parking our van at this cozy diner at Buda-Davao City, four children hurried near the van door. Each one trying to outdo another in getting my attention to buy some handcrafted "Nito" bracelets as token to friends back home. (Nito is a kind of forest vine found growing abundantly in the mountains of Buda and neighboring areas.) I opened the door and told them in vernacular, "No thanks, I am just from the city".  Then the children dashed to meet another car which had just arrived and parked a few meters from us.

 Only this charming Matigsalug girl with that ring full of Nito bracelets stayed and waited for me to step-out of the van. And when I did, I noticed that she glanced at my legs. She moved closer to me and flashed that sweet smile of hers. The girl raised her ring of native bracelets to entice me to thumb through these and said in her soft voice, "Mam, please buy some of my Nito anklets.  They prevent varicose."

Surely, that punchline got me! :)

Locating Father Franco Uras - Don Bosco Living Hope Center for Integral Human Development of Indigenous Youth - Buda, Marilog District, Davao

First landmark: Buda National High School

 April 5, 2015 - Easter Sunday

We have long been planning and salivating to taste Father Franco's organic pizza/s and also wanting to take home some of  "Padre Ninno's gourmet" products in olive oil.

Since we are already within the vicinity, we decided to make a go for it. Even though how vague the directions we got from the internet and from the people in the area (+/- 10 kms from exact location, nobody could really tell the exact location).  It took us quite sometime to locate the place of Father Franco Uras, S.D.B.  He is also the Founder of Don Bosco Living Hope Center for Integral Human Development of Indigenous Youth.

We missed the location by 8 kms on our first pass going to Bukidnon and decided to go back towards Seagull Mountain Resort. On our second pass, we hit the right spot.  We were really meant to be there!  With quickened strides we went straight to Father's kitchen to order some pizza and  to get our hands and teeth on these heavenly treat. No regrets whatsoever.

This prompted me to write where to find this little treasure of authentic Italian and organic pizza because I know a lot of you out there would like to sit a while and take a break on the road just like us.

Directions:

From Davao going to Bukidnon, you will first pass-by Seagull Mountain Resort.  Along the way, you will come across La Toscana Pizza Parlor.  Sorry to say that this is not the one.  Drive on for that original Italian Pizza of Father Franco. On the left side of the highway, you will pass upon the landmark - Buda National High School.  Slow down now because about 50 meters from this school is Don Bosco Living Hope Center (still on the left side of the highway). This is the place where you can order the authentic organic pizza of Father Franco. This is the boundary of Davao City and Tawas. 

If you are coming from Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon areas going to Davao, Don Bosco Living Hope Center is situated on the right side of the  highway. When you see "Tawas" on businesses' signboard, you may want to slowdown and start watching for this building. (photo below)

Don Bosco Living Hope Center. This is how the building looks like from the highway.

This is the driveway.

"Padre Ninno's gourmet" products in olive oil.

Herbed Tuna Pizza

Going....going....gone.... Burp! :)

Organic Mushroom Pizza

Dining Area - They have four tables for visitors.

Green house for tomatoes.  Harvested and processed for the pizza, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil - bottled, etc. This structure is beside the main building and is also visible from the highway.

Happy eating and it is for a good cause too!  Father Franco Uras runs Don Bosco Living Hope Center for Integral Human Development of Indigenous Youth on charity and augmented by whatever income generated from pizza sales and Padre Ninno Gourmet products.  Kindly eat more pizza and buy more bottled gourmet products in olive oil.  You will certainly not regret visiting this place.  To date, Pizza is only P250.  Very cheap indeed!

Please don't forget to drop-by when you are in the area. :)

Davao's Solid Waste Management by July 1, 2011

I was able to attend our village's briefing regarding Philippine Republic Act 9003 which is the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 - Segregation at Source.  For your reference,  I would like to share to you the three (3) important sections stipulated therein.

Section 10.  Role of LGUs in Solid Waste Management - Pursuant to the relevant provisions of R.A. No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code, the LGUs shall be primarily responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this Act within their respective jurisdictions.  Segregation and collection of solid waste shall be conducted at the barangay level specifically for biodegradable, compostable and reusable wastes: Provided, that the collection of non-recyclable material and special wastes shall be the responsibility of hte municipality or city.

Section 21.  Mandatory Segregation of Solid Wastes - The LGUs shall evaluate alternative roles for the public and private sectors in providing collection services, type of collection systems, that best meet their needs: Provided, that segregation of wastes shall primarily be conducted at the source, to include household, institutional, industrial, commercial and agricultural sources.  Provided further, that wastes shall be segregated into the categories provided in Section 22 of this Act.

Section 22.  Requirement for the Segregation and Storage of Solid Waste - The following shall be the minimum standards and requirements for segregation and storage of solid waste pending collection:

a) There shall be separate container for each type of waste from all sources: Provided, that in the case of bulky waste, it will suffice that the same be collected and placed in a separate designated area; and

b) the solid waste container depending on its use shall be properly marked or identified for on-site collection as "compostable", "non-recyclable", "recyclable" or "special waste", or any other classification as may be determined by the Commission.

Furthermore, "an easier to understand" guideline which was translated in Filipino was also given to the participants.

Pamamaraan sa Pagsasaayos ng ating Basura

Step 1  Magkaroon ng hiwalay na lalagyan (plastic, bag, plastic container, sako, atbp.) para sa iba't ibang uri ng basura sa loob ng inyong tirahan o tanggapan. (Sec. 21 & 22, RA 9003)

Step 2  Nabubulok - Ipunin at ilagay sa balde, lata o plastic container at iba pang lalagyan na may takip.  I-kompost sa sariling bakuran. 

• Balat ng prutas, gulay at itlog.
• Hasang, bituka at buto ng isda.
• Panis na pagkain.
• Bagaso.
• Damo, Dahon, atbp    

Step 3  Recyclable - Ihiwalay ang mga basurang pwedeng gamitin uli o binibili ng mga junkshop at recycler tulad ng:

• Papel at Cardboard - karton, dyaryo, magasin, papel sa opisina at sa eskwelahan.
• Plastic - PET bottle (sisidlan ng mineral water), plastic na sisidlan ng ice cream, shampoo, toyo, suka, itlog, noodles at iba pa.
• PVC - Plastic cups
• Glass (bote at bubug)
• Goma
• Metal - lata ng gatas, juice, softdrinks at iba pa. Aluminum, bronze, bakal, copper, brass, steel at iba pa.
• Batterya ng sasakyan
• Printer Ink Cartridge

Step 4 - Ang mga nahiwalay na papel, karton, plastik, bakal, bote at iba pang narerecycle ay dalhin sa junkshop, buy-back center o material recovery facility (MRF).

Step 5 - Ang mga nahiwalay na mga basurang di-nabubulok na hindi marerecycle, mapapakinabangan o maipagbibili (sachet, pouch, pakete at iba pang plastic wrappers; punit na plastic bags, cellophane at styrofoam containers; basag na ceramics; diaper at sanitary napkin; punit-punit na basahan at tela, punit na bag at iba pa) ay dalhin at ilagay sa mobile garbage bins.

In other words, I have learned in this briefing that - only those items in Step 5 can be dumped in the mobile garbage bins for garbage truck collection, otherwise, if you are caught by your barangay leaders throwing compostable materials and/or recyclables - you will be penalized accordingly. (Penalty may include fines, jail term, community service, whichever is applicable).

By the way, by July 1, 2011 - garbage trucks will no longer enter subdivisions or villages.  It will be your responsibility to throw your garbage at your village's/barangay's designated dumping area between 6:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m. only.  Again, penalty awaits for those not following the time frame.

So beware and be aware my friends and neighbors.

Happy Sorting to all !