Initially appeared on doktorko.com 1/2/2005.
Being relatively new to the US and still not having acquired a taste for the brash culture and bland diet, my long-term goal at the present is to return to the Philippines within the next 6-7 years (i.e. as long as my J1 Visa permits). Whenever i make this declaration, i can almost HEAR the older-timers (that is, those who have been here longer - not necessarily my elders) rolling their eyes. "Bakit pa?" they ask in disbelief. "Ano bang meron 'dun?" Then they proceed to the litany of why the US is better than the RP: everything is so convenient, the standard of living is higher, the air is cleaner, blah-blah-blah. Of course, these points always give me pause; on the surface, they appear to be correct. But upon deeper examination, the arguments are fairly easy to deconstruct. Consider:
1. Convenience. Here in the US, almost any thing can be bought at any place at any time. What you can't find at your local Walmart, Target, or Costco, you can certainly buy online. Convenient - to a point. However, back home, what could be more convenient than giving the helper or driver a list then coming home to find your pantry neatly stocked? Sounds coņo, definitely, but i think the convenience of having someone to do something for you (don't complain - this creates jobs, after all) beats the convenience of buying something YOURSELF any day.
2. Standard of living. True, people here seem to have more things. That, however, is the proverbial tip of the iceberg. As i soon found to my dismay, the reason why people here have so many nice and shiny things is that they are all in DEBT. They take out loans with exorbitant rates for big houses and cool cars; they revolve huge sums of debts on their credit cards to buy the cute mini-ipods... and spend the rest of their natural lives paying off the lenders. The standard of living is higher BECAUSE PEOPLE LIVE ABOVE THEIR MEANS. They like living it up despite the cost. I daresay that if they lived within their salary brackets, they would have fewer things - but then that would make them less American (i.e. less bling), and we can't have that. The US itself is deep in debt to the tune of almost a trillion dollars and keeps flushing money down the drain with such noble causes as the occupation of Iraq. One day the debtors will come to collect from the indebted - and everything will rip apart at the seams.
3. Clean air. If only what you couldn't see couldn't kill you - but even though there are fewer smoke belchers here, the overall pollution is higher. And this is a nationwide thing. True, the RP has a lot of smog and such, but that's only in Metro Manila.
I could go on and on with my OWN litany... but i won't. 'Nuff said that there are more things for me at home than here. So what's the point of training abroad? Well... money.
The whole point was to short-circuit the financial low point of going through residency and establishing a medical practice (a process that could take anywhere from 5-10 years). At roughly $38k a year, i make around 2 million pesos every 12 months. This is while working 70-80 hours a week with 30-hour calls. In the meantime, my Filipino counterparts earn minimum wage while being run into the ground with scutwork from consultants who seem to relish bashing their residents' egos at every opportunity. The better deal seems obvious.
The POINT? Well, the way i figure it, i have to make at least $100k before going back home. At that point, i will place the money in a bank (or an investement vehicle), and earn 50k pesos every month IN INTEREST. That's money begetting money while i sit ON MY ASS. If everything goes according to plan, this should happen before i'm 40.
Then WHAT? Well, that's only the beginning.
The Grand Dream, Part 2
Initially appeared on doktorko.com 1/4/2005.
Of course, crunching the numbers makes me look like a greedy SOB, but the money is not the endpoint; it is the means to an end.
Like Peter Parker, i believe that with great power comes great responsiblity. To whom much is given, much is required and all that blah. MDs have a lot: we are blessed with natural gifts such as intelligence (memorizing Harrison's), physical endurance (staying awake through 48-hour days), and mental toughness (absorbing a consultant's beration without crying or fainting). Many of us (myself included) even come from the top economic brackets of the population. Being ahead of the pack this much only means that more is required of us: we, the most fortunate, must help those who have less in life.
Truth be told, this is nigh-impossible in the Philippines, where the medical system is all screwed up. Having been sucked dry by the exorbitant medical school tuitions, we proceed to residency training where we earn just enough for daily jeepney rides and food at the cafeteria (which the hospitals charge us for even though we serve them as - essentially - slaves). Afterwards, we work in a private hospital where we pay a small fortune to "buy into" the practice (through purchase of stocks or rights to practice). That's when we buckle down to the real work: seeing a small number of patients a day who ask for discounts at every turn (implying that the "rich" doctor can afford to lose a peso here and there), sacrificing quality time with family and friends TO EARN A PITTANCE. Then some idiot politicos try to ram a malpractice bill penalizing doctors for committing any mistakes (including honest ones) through Congress so they can make big bucks through the malpractice insurance companies that they own.
Somewhere along the way, between trying to stay afloat and trying to earn a decent living for oneself and family, the desire to help one's fellow man gets lost. Survival is, after all, the primal instinct (procreation being the second primal instinct). And forced to choose between WORKING as a doctor to make money and PRACTICING as a doctor to help others, it's now wonder that the harassed MD most often chooses the former.
I COULD harp on how the government could give us more support, about how they could start investing in the intellectual capital that will someday turn our nation a profit. And well they should. But i was never one to look to somebody else to fix the problem. I came up with my own plan.
Consider: short-circuiting the whole process of trying to establish one's practice (like i detailed the last time). Consider again: earning an executive's salary on interest alone. The possibilities! You would be able to practice medicine without any regard for how much you were making. You would be able to charge indigents nothing and not feel remorse at not earning enough to pay your kid's next tuition. Any money made through the practice would be a bonus. Of course, this doesn't prevent you from charging rich people (and politicos) a premium, but that's beside the point.
THAT is the grand dream; to make a way for the medical practice to be selfless again. To not need to look at patients and see peso signs. To help the helpless and tend to those who have been otherwise abandoned. To become once again the noble healers that we were always destined to be.
Of course, crunching the numbers makes me look like a greedy SOB, but the money is not the endpoint; it is the means to an end.
Like Peter Parker, i believe that with great power comes great responsiblity. To whom much is given, much is required and all that blah. MDs have a lot: we are blessed with natural gifts such as intelligence (memorizing Harrison's), physical endurance (staying awake through 48-hour days), and mental toughness (absorbing a consultant's beration without crying or fainting). Many of us (myself included) even come from the top economic brackets of the population. Being ahead of the pack this much only means that more is required of us: we, the most fortunate, must help those who have less in life.
Truth be told, this is nigh-impossible in the Philippines, where the medical system is all screwed up. Having been sucked dry by the exorbitant medical school tuitions, we proceed to residency training where we earn just enough for daily jeepney rides and food at the cafeteria (which the hospitals charge us for even though we serve them as - essentially - slaves). Afterwards, we work in a private hospital where we pay a small fortune to "buy into" the practice (through purchase of stocks or rights to practice). That's when we buckle down to the real work: seeing a small number of patients a day who ask for discounts at every turn (implying that the "rich" doctor can afford to lose a peso here and there), sacrificing quality time with family and friends TO EARN A PITTANCE. Then some idiot politicos try to ram a malpractice bill penalizing doctors for committing any mistakes (including honest ones) through Congress so they can make big bucks through the malpractice insurance companies that they own.
Somewhere along the way, between trying to stay afloat and trying to earn a decent living for oneself and family, the desire to help one's fellow man gets lost. Survival is, after all, the primal instinct (procreation being the second primal instinct). And forced to choose between WORKING as a doctor to make money and PRACTICING as a doctor to help others, it's now wonder that the harassed MD most often chooses the former.
I COULD harp on how the government could give us more support, about how they could start investing in the intellectual capital that will someday turn our nation a profit. And well they should. But i was never one to look to somebody else to fix the problem. I came up with my own plan.
Consider: short-circuiting the whole process of trying to establish one's practice (like i detailed the last time). Consider again: earning an executive's salary on interest alone. The possibilities! You would be able to practice medicine without any regard for how much you were making. You would be able to charge indigents nothing and not feel remorse at not earning enough to pay your kid's next tuition. Any money made through the practice would be a bonus. Of course, this doesn't prevent you from charging rich people (and politicos) a premium, but that's beside the point.
THAT is the grand dream; to make a way for the medical practice to be selfless again. To not need to look at patients and see peso signs. To help the helpless and tend to those who have been otherwise abandoned. To become once again the noble healers that we were always destined to be.
Deconstructions, 1
Initially appeared on doktorko.com 1/10/2005.
This is a post that circulated around the web early last year. It's been belabored to death on other forums already, but i'd like to put in my two cents' worth. Analysis to follow. Enjoy!
'The Philippines is a nation of starstruck ignoramuses'
by Don Pedero
Philippine Star 29 October 2000
Last July 23, I wrote about Nasty (short for Anastacio), a balikbayan from Los Angeles, who, while vacationing in Manila, had nothing to say but negative comments about the Philippines and the Filipinos. The article elicited a deluge of comments from our readers. Though some agreed with his curt observations, most were enraged at the repulsive way he acted and whined.
For me, he was the classic epitome of the "crow perched on a carabao," thinking and acting nauseatingly superior just because he has become an American citizen, inequitably comparing everything here to how they are in the first world. I was particularly irked by his repulsive "know it all" attitude and peeved no end by his irritating Waray-American twang.
Those who have not read that article may access philstar.com and click archives, then select July 23 and click Lifestyle. The article is entitled "Little Brown Americans." As a backgrounder, here is an excerpt:
The next day, I took them on a little city tour and accompanied them to do extra shopping at the duty-free shop. They were to leave two days later for their respective provinces (Randy is from Pampanga, Nasty, from Samar).
"God, ang dilem-dilem naman ditow (it is so dark here)!" screamed Nasty in his characteristic Taglish slang, "At ang inet-inet pa (and so warm)!
* * *
All throughout the day, Nasty complained about everything. He griped that all Filipinos he encountered were dense and inefficient (I hope that didn't include me!); that the traffic was horrendous and drivers "drove like they were late for their funerals"; that the pollution from the smoke-belching vehicles was irritating his dainty, surgically-pinched nose.
He was disgusted that water closets didn't work; horrified that there was no toilet paper in public toilets ("God, how do you people do it?" he bewailed); petrified by street children begging while soaking wet in the rain ("Where are the parents of these kids?" he nagged).
He moaned about the proliferation of slums, people crossing the superhighways ("There should be underground or overhead walkways for pedestrians!" he demanded), the potholes on the streets, the disgusting garbage and filth all over the city, and the annoying floods! And all these he observed in just one day!
Weeks after the publication of the article, I took Nasty's silence to mean that of contempt and anger. I must admit that I didn't care because I was really turned off by his arrogance. The good news is, Nasty has finally decided to break his silence and give us his side, loaded with a big piece of his mind. The bad news is, he hits more sensitive chords and it stings.
* * *
Nasty's E-Mail
Dear Dero,
My Zen master says, "Never fight fire with fire." So, I sat in a lotus position, imbibed the ethereal qualities of cool mountain water and stoically resisted the temptation of answering back to defend myself in rebuttal of your article. I kept quiet while you and your readers had a charlatan holiday, dissecting and fanning sarcasm on my every comment about your country and your people.
I am not mad at you for writing that piece. I was never upset at any point, even after your readers from all over the world e-mailed in their two-cents' worth. In fact, I found it rather amusing and carnival-like.
I even felt happy that people still came to the defense of your Philippines!
If you noticed, I now refer to the Philippines and Filipinos as your country and your people. Every time I went back there for vacation, my Filipino-ness always took the better of me (blame those damn green mangoes smothered with bagoong!) and made me forget that I am, in all reality, what you aptly called a "Little Brown American." I have come to terms with my own identity- I am, after all, an American citizen carrying an American passport!
What precipitated my quick decision to sever my ties with your country (aside from your ***** of an article) were the Abu Sayyaf abductions (que barbaridad!), the Payatas-like downslide of the peso (eat your hearts out, I earn sweet American dollars!), the "devoid of conscience" graft and corruption in your government (this has gone on for the longest time-how shameful!), and lately, the stupid "Juetengate" and juicy but enraging "Boracay" mansion gossips. With all these, who would be proud to be a Filipino? Besides, to tell you frankly, those Erap jokes are no longer funny- they are pass?and leave a bad taste in the mouth and heart. No Apology If I sounded brash and insensitive with the way I threw my comments, well, I cannot do any-thing about that because that is the way I am, and I offer no apology. Here, in America, you have to tell it like it is or you'll never be taken seriously. I have learned to drop my "Pinoy sugarcoating" because out here, you get nothing done if you are meek and sweet and pa-api. Hindi puwede mag-Anita Linda dito!
When I commented about your pollution, street children mendicants, slums,potholes, toilets that don't work, garbage, floods, and most of all, the Pinoys' chronic lack of discipline, I was merely putting into words what I saw. I can't blame your being blind about your country's situation.
My Zen master says, "One cannot easily see the dirt in one's eye." I am sure though that you are aware of those sordid details, but have grown accustomed to them (like most Manile?s have). All the complaints I aired may have hurt your pride but what I wanted you to realize is this: The things I pointed out are all symptoms of a failing, falling nation!
Suffering A National Karma?
Could yours be a country cursed with a huge national karmic debt? It could be payback time, you know. Look back into your history, look deep inside your hearts-what could you have done as a nation to deserve this fiasco you are in today?
What you are faced with didn't just happen overnight-it developed and grew into a monster in the course of time. Deeply imbedded in the psyche of the Filipino is the amalgamation of the characters and events that have impacted your lives - Dona Victorina, Dona Concepcion, poor Sisa as well the other hilarious and tragic characters of Dr. Jose Rizal... Stonehill...the notorious gangsters immortalized by your Filipino movies like Asiong Salonga (hmmm!), et al...the killers in your (I thought they'd never end!) massacre movies...those cheap, appalling titles of your movies...those staged "religious miracles" that your naive masses believed...family men with pushy queridas (mistresses)...your crooked politicians, undependable police officers and greedy customs collectors...your bribe-hungry court judges...Imeldific, gloriously smiling and crying at the same time, bejeweled. (How very Fellini!)
What you are is the sum total of your history, your heritage and culture,your education, the crap that your press sensationalizes, the bad icons that your movies glorify, the artificial values your advertising extols, the bad examples your leaders and role models project. What you feed your country's mind is what it becomes. You have become the ugly monster that you've created. You are now crying all the tears your sickeningly sentimental movies wailed out for years and years! Your Biggest Fault If there is one thing that comes to mind, I think your biggest fault would be your individual greed. "Ako muna!" seems to be the national mantra. The trouble is, very few people think for the common good in a deplorable "to each his own kurakot" festival. Coupled by your crab mentality of pushing down others, this can be fatal. You think barangay, not national. Hello, everybody else around the world is thinking global! Europe is unshackling her national boundaries while you are building fences around your nipa huts.
Do yourselves a favor and look at your nation as a ship. All of you are in it and it is sinking! Realize your oneness-what hurts your brother hurts you, too. Think about the future of your children and the succeeding generations, and do something about it quick before your poor little banca plunges forever into the irretrievable depths of despair.
Star-Struck Nation
You are a nation of star-struck ignoramuses. You are easily awed by your movie stars who are usually nothing but uneducated, aquiline-nosed and light-skinned ******** picked up from some gutter somewhere. I have seen what these artistas illusionadas can get away with. They just flash their capped-tooth smiles and policemen let them get away with traffic violations; they bat their false eyelashes and customs officers impose no duty on their suspicious balikbayan boxes.
Worst of all, with the Filipino movie industry taking a nosedive, hordes of actors and show personalities went into politics. It is, as they say, the next best "racket"-there is more money to be made in the politicking business than in show business! (And what is this I hear that in the coming elections, more are jumping into the arena? Mag-hara-kiri na kayo!) How can you expect these comedians and actors, who only know how to take directions from their directors, to direct your nation? For them,politics will just be an "act". No big surprise here, for they are mere actors with no original scripts to speak, no original visions to share. So what can you expect but a government that is a comedy of errors. Serves you and your star- struck nation right!
My Zen master says, "Give unto Caesar what is due to Caesar, but keep Charlie Chaplin on the silver screen to make us laugh." To survive, you must teach your citizenry to say no to three things - no to drugs, no to stealing and graft and corruption, and no to artistas in politics. I hope you've learned your lesson by now. (Yours is the only country where Mexican soap stars are received like royalty in the presidential palace. How shoddy! God forbid-Fernando Carrillo might end up being your next president. At least he has great abs and doesn't wobble like a penguin when he walks!)
For those artistas who honestly believe that they can make a positive difference in the Filipino masses' life, they must first study law, business and public administration, and immerse themselves in the life and passion of Mother Teresa. Politics is not an art for dilettante artistas to dabble in. It is called "Political Science," hello?!
Educate Your Masses
Educate the masses - especially your electorate. What you need is an intelligent vote aside from, of course, intelligent candidates. The University of San Carlos in Cebu City, founded in 1595, and the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, established in 1611, are the oldest universities in Asia, and are even older than Harvard. But the standard of Pinoy education has deteriorated so much that the Philippines ranks among the poorest in the educational hierarchy of Asia.
Education, education, education-that's what you need in this age of information, information, information.
If all your social, religious and political sectors don't sit down now and decide to take the Right Way, the Philippines and your children's children will be grand losers in the worldwide rush to the future. Education is one sure way to salvation. Teach what is right, good, beautiful and beneficial.
Downplay all negativity if you cannot eliminate it altogether.
The Ideal President
I've got news for you. (As if you didn't already know.) No matter whom you put up there as your leader or president, it will be the same banana. Even a holy man can turn into another J. E. (Judas Escariot) for a few pieces of silver. Kumpares, alalays, relatives and cronies will encrust like flies and maggots on his cordon sanitaire. And it will be the same despicable "Sa amin na 'to!" hullabaloo all over again.
Take an advice from Aling Epang: "Pumili ng matanda, mayaman, mabait, at madaling mamatay." Get a president who is old - so that he is full of wisdom, rich - so he won't need to steal more money, goodhearted - so he will render heartfelt service to his people, and is in the sunset of his life - so that he will think of nothing but gaining good points to present when he meets his Creator. And may I add: At iisa lang ang pamilya! This is, of course, asking for the moon. Just pray fervently for an intelligent leader with a pure heart who genuinely loves the common tao!
Magpakatotoo Kayo! Wake up and look at the real you. Enough with looking at your reflection in glorious, self-embellishing mirrors. The tropical sun can play tricks, you know. Do not wait for darkness to fall before you take that much-needed long, hard look at your real situation. Magpakatotoo kayo, ano? This isn't a wake-up call-it is the final alarm!
Save the ship while you still can. Don't wait till your people have no more dreams left to hang on to, no more hope to sustain their broken spirits. I came home, spent my penny-pinched savings so that even in the minutest way I could help your bruised economy. Your politicians sit on their fat,farting butts and get balatos (kuno!) in the millions. Receivers are as guilty as the givers. Now, tell me, who is really nasty?
I Have Made My Decision; So Should You.
My Zen master says, "Life is all about decisions, not choices." I have made a decision which I know will be very hard for me to keep- You will never hear from me again (not in this vein) and I will not even think of visiting or buwisiting your Manila ever. This is my way of letting you know that I have given up on you. Bahala na kayo! Only you can help yourselves because at the stage you are in, nobody would want to help you. My Zen master says, "You have to fall to learn to rise again." How much lower do you want to go?
Anyway, regarding the Philippines as a tourist destination, you have a lot of cleaning up and face-lifting to do before foreigners would dare go to your islands again. The Abu Sayyaf episode has done your tourism industry more damage than you could ever imagine, and it will take a long time before the world forgets. (By the way, your tourism projects are lusterless and have no global impact. If you want real business, spruce up your infrastructure and do aggressive marketing on the World Wide Web!)
Of course, I would gladly reverse my decision if someone offered me exclusive lordship over lotto, bingo, jueteng, pintakasi and the jai alai.Think about it: this will be to your advantage because I never give tong or blood commission to anyone! (If only your president used the millions he received from those gambling lords to build homes for the masses, you wouldn't have any more squatters. Huling hirit: defrost those Marcos billions, pay off some debt, place the rest in high-yield investments, feed your hungry, and spread bounty and joy to every Filipino! Are you stupid or what? - That's your money sucked from the blood of your people!)
I have made my decision, now make yours. I would hate for the day to come when I'd have to say, "I told you so!" Good luck! (You need it.)
An ex-Filipino,
J. Anastasio "Nasty"
P. S. My Zen master says, "Vox populi is not always the voice of God."
P. P. S. Come over to L.A and I'll show you a great time!
P. P. P. S. Our friend Randy says hello! We will be going to Vancouver to feast our eyes on the colors of autumn. Wish you could join us.
P. P. P. P. S. The new Miss America, Angela Perez Baraquio, is of Filipino ancestry. Dero, her parents hail from Pangasinan just like you! But keep in mind that she is an American (in case some wise fools over there claim her to be Filipino like they always do whenever someone becomes successful).
Wait for the girl to say it- don't put words in her mouth!
P. P. P. P. P. S. Mabuhay kayo (SANA)!
P. P. P. P. P. P. S. Sa totoo lang, MAGDUSA KAYONG LAHAT! (Don't you just love my Waray-Kano accent?) He-he-he!
- Same
* * *
My Short Reply
Dear Nasty,
Thanks for your e-mail. I swear you sort of stole the words from right under my tongue. Now, I am utterly speechless.
Send my regards to Randy. Wishing you the best!
This is a post that circulated around the web early last year. It's been belabored to death on other forums already, but i'd like to put in my two cents' worth. Analysis to follow. Enjoy!
'The Philippines is a nation of starstruck ignoramuses'
by Don Pedero
Philippine Star 29 October 2000
Last July 23, I wrote about Nasty (short for Anastacio), a balikbayan from Los Angeles, who, while vacationing in Manila, had nothing to say but negative comments about the Philippines and the Filipinos. The article elicited a deluge of comments from our readers. Though some agreed with his curt observations, most were enraged at the repulsive way he acted and whined.
For me, he was the classic epitome of the "crow perched on a carabao," thinking and acting nauseatingly superior just because he has become an American citizen, inequitably comparing everything here to how they are in the first world. I was particularly irked by his repulsive "know it all" attitude and peeved no end by his irritating Waray-American twang.
Those who have not read that article may access philstar.com and click archives, then select July 23 and click Lifestyle. The article is entitled "Little Brown Americans." As a backgrounder, here is an excerpt:
The next day, I took them on a little city tour and accompanied them to do extra shopping at the duty-free shop. They were to leave two days later for their respective provinces (Randy is from Pampanga, Nasty, from Samar).
"God, ang dilem-dilem naman ditow (it is so dark here)!" screamed Nasty in his characteristic Taglish slang, "At ang inet-inet pa (and so warm)!
* * *
All throughout the day, Nasty complained about everything. He griped that all Filipinos he encountered were dense and inefficient (I hope that didn't include me!); that the traffic was horrendous and drivers "drove like they were late for their funerals"; that the pollution from the smoke-belching vehicles was irritating his dainty, surgically-pinched nose.
He was disgusted that water closets didn't work; horrified that there was no toilet paper in public toilets ("God, how do you people do it?" he bewailed); petrified by street children begging while soaking wet in the rain ("Where are the parents of these kids?" he nagged).
He moaned about the proliferation of slums, people crossing the superhighways ("There should be underground or overhead walkways for pedestrians!" he demanded), the potholes on the streets, the disgusting garbage and filth all over the city, and the annoying floods! And all these he observed in just one day!
Weeks after the publication of the article, I took Nasty's silence to mean that of contempt and anger. I must admit that I didn't care because I was really turned off by his arrogance. The good news is, Nasty has finally decided to break his silence and give us his side, loaded with a big piece of his mind. The bad news is, he hits more sensitive chords and it stings.
* * *
Nasty's E-Mail
Dear Dero,
My Zen master says, "Never fight fire with fire." So, I sat in a lotus position, imbibed the ethereal qualities of cool mountain water and stoically resisted the temptation of answering back to defend myself in rebuttal of your article. I kept quiet while you and your readers had a charlatan holiday, dissecting and fanning sarcasm on my every comment about your country and your people.
I am not mad at you for writing that piece. I was never upset at any point, even after your readers from all over the world e-mailed in their two-cents' worth. In fact, I found it rather amusing and carnival-like.
I even felt happy that people still came to the defense of your Philippines!
If you noticed, I now refer to the Philippines and Filipinos as your country and your people. Every time I went back there for vacation, my Filipino-ness always took the better of me (blame those damn green mangoes smothered with bagoong!) and made me forget that I am, in all reality, what you aptly called a "Little Brown American." I have come to terms with my own identity- I am, after all, an American citizen carrying an American passport!
What precipitated my quick decision to sever my ties with your country (aside from your ***** of an article) were the Abu Sayyaf abductions (que barbaridad!), the Payatas-like downslide of the peso (eat your hearts out, I earn sweet American dollars!), the "devoid of conscience" graft and corruption in your government (this has gone on for the longest time-how shameful!), and lately, the stupid "Juetengate" and juicy but enraging "Boracay" mansion gossips. With all these, who would be proud to be a Filipino? Besides, to tell you frankly, those Erap jokes are no longer funny- they are pass?and leave a bad taste in the mouth and heart. No Apology If I sounded brash and insensitive with the way I threw my comments, well, I cannot do any-thing about that because that is the way I am, and I offer no apology. Here, in America, you have to tell it like it is or you'll never be taken seriously. I have learned to drop my "Pinoy sugarcoating" because out here, you get nothing done if you are meek and sweet and pa-api. Hindi puwede mag-Anita Linda dito!
When I commented about your pollution, street children mendicants, slums,potholes, toilets that don't work, garbage, floods, and most of all, the Pinoys' chronic lack of discipline, I was merely putting into words what I saw. I can't blame your being blind about your country's situation.
My Zen master says, "One cannot easily see the dirt in one's eye." I am sure though that you are aware of those sordid details, but have grown accustomed to them (like most Manile?s have). All the complaints I aired may have hurt your pride but what I wanted you to realize is this: The things I pointed out are all symptoms of a failing, falling nation!
Suffering A National Karma?
Could yours be a country cursed with a huge national karmic debt? It could be payback time, you know. Look back into your history, look deep inside your hearts-what could you have done as a nation to deserve this fiasco you are in today?
What you are faced with didn't just happen overnight-it developed and grew into a monster in the course of time. Deeply imbedded in the psyche of the Filipino is the amalgamation of the characters and events that have impacted your lives - Dona Victorina, Dona Concepcion, poor Sisa as well the other hilarious and tragic characters of Dr. Jose Rizal... Stonehill...the notorious gangsters immortalized by your Filipino movies like Asiong Salonga (hmmm!), et al...the killers in your (I thought they'd never end!) massacre movies...those cheap, appalling titles of your movies...those staged "religious miracles" that your naive masses believed...family men with pushy queridas (mistresses)...your crooked politicians, undependable police officers and greedy customs collectors...your bribe-hungry court judges...Imeldific, gloriously smiling and crying at the same time, bejeweled. (How very Fellini!)
What you are is the sum total of your history, your heritage and culture,your education, the crap that your press sensationalizes, the bad icons that your movies glorify, the artificial values your advertising extols, the bad examples your leaders and role models project. What you feed your country's mind is what it becomes. You have become the ugly monster that you've created. You are now crying all the tears your sickeningly sentimental movies wailed out for years and years! Your Biggest Fault If there is one thing that comes to mind, I think your biggest fault would be your individual greed. "Ako muna!" seems to be the national mantra. The trouble is, very few people think for the common good in a deplorable "to each his own kurakot" festival. Coupled by your crab mentality of pushing down others, this can be fatal. You think barangay, not national. Hello, everybody else around the world is thinking global! Europe is unshackling her national boundaries while you are building fences around your nipa huts.
Do yourselves a favor and look at your nation as a ship. All of you are in it and it is sinking! Realize your oneness-what hurts your brother hurts you, too. Think about the future of your children and the succeeding generations, and do something about it quick before your poor little banca plunges forever into the irretrievable depths of despair.
Star-Struck Nation
You are a nation of star-struck ignoramuses. You are easily awed by your movie stars who are usually nothing but uneducated, aquiline-nosed and light-skinned ******** picked up from some gutter somewhere. I have seen what these artistas illusionadas can get away with. They just flash their capped-tooth smiles and policemen let them get away with traffic violations; they bat their false eyelashes and customs officers impose no duty on their suspicious balikbayan boxes.
Worst of all, with the Filipino movie industry taking a nosedive, hordes of actors and show personalities went into politics. It is, as they say, the next best "racket"-there is more money to be made in the politicking business than in show business! (And what is this I hear that in the coming elections, more are jumping into the arena? Mag-hara-kiri na kayo!) How can you expect these comedians and actors, who only know how to take directions from their directors, to direct your nation? For them,politics will just be an "act". No big surprise here, for they are mere actors with no original scripts to speak, no original visions to share. So what can you expect but a government that is a comedy of errors. Serves you and your star- struck nation right!
My Zen master says, "Give unto Caesar what is due to Caesar, but keep Charlie Chaplin on the silver screen to make us laugh." To survive, you must teach your citizenry to say no to three things - no to drugs, no to stealing and graft and corruption, and no to artistas in politics. I hope you've learned your lesson by now. (Yours is the only country where Mexican soap stars are received like royalty in the presidential palace. How shoddy! God forbid-Fernando Carrillo might end up being your next president. At least he has great abs and doesn't wobble like a penguin when he walks!)
For those artistas who honestly believe that they can make a positive difference in the Filipino masses' life, they must first study law, business and public administration, and immerse themselves in the life and passion of Mother Teresa. Politics is not an art for dilettante artistas to dabble in. It is called "Political Science," hello?!
Educate Your Masses
Educate the masses - especially your electorate. What you need is an intelligent vote aside from, of course, intelligent candidates. The University of San Carlos in Cebu City, founded in 1595, and the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, established in 1611, are the oldest universities in Asia, and are even older than Harvard. But the standard of Pinoy education has deteriorated so much that the Philippines ranks among the poorest in the educational hierarchy of Asia.
Education, education, education-that's what you need in this age of information, information, information.
If all your social, religious and political sectors don't sit down now and decide to take the Right Way, the Philippines and your children's children will be grand losers in the worldwide rush to the future. Education is one sure way to salvation. Teach what is right, good, beautiful and beneficial.
Downplay all negativity if you cannot eliminate it altogether.
The Ideal President
I've got news for you. (As if you didn't already know.) No matter whom you put up there as your leader or president, it will be the same banana. Even a holy man can turn into another J. E. (Judas Escariot) for a few pieces of silver. Kumpares, alalays, relatives and cronies will encrust like flies and maggots on his cordon sanitaire. And it will be the same despicable "Sa amin na 'to!" hullabaloo all over again.
Take an advice from Aling Epang: "Pumili ng matanda, mayaman, mabait, at madaling mamatay." Get a president who is old - so that he is full of wisdom, rich - so he won't need to steal more money, goodhearted - so he will render heartfelt service to his people, and is in the sunset of his life - so that he will think of nothing but gaining good points to present when he meets his Creator. And may I add: At iisa lang ang pamilya! This is, of course, asking for the moon. Just pray fervently for an intelligent leader with a pure heart who genuinely loves the common tao!
Magpakatotoo Kayo! Wake up and look at the real you. Enough with looking at your reflection in glorious, self-embellishing mirrors. The tropical sun can play tricks, you know. Do not wait for darkness to fall before you take that much-needed long, hard look at your real situation. Magpakatotoo kayo, ano? This isn't a wake-up call-it is the final alarm!
Save the ship while you still can. Don't wait till your people have no more dreams left to hang on to, no more hope to sustain their broken spirits. I came home, spent my penny-pinched savings so that even in the minutest way I could help your bruised economy. Your politicians sit on their fat,farting butts and get balatos (kuno!) in the millions. Receivers are as guilty as the givers. Now, tell me, who is really nasty?
I Have Made My Decision; So Should You.
My Zen master says, "Life is all about decisions, not choices." I have made a decision which I know will be very hard for me to keep- You will never hear from me again (not in this vein) and I will not even think of visiting or buwisiting your Manila ever. This is my way of letting you know that I have given up on you. Bahala na kayo! Only you can help yourselves because at the stage you are in, nobody would want to help you. My Zen master says, "You have to fall to learn to rise again." How much lower do you want to go?
Anyway, regarding the Philippines as a tourist destination, you have a lot of cleaning up and face-lifting to do before foreigners would dare go to your islands again. The Abu Sayyaf episode has done your tourism industry more damage than you could ever imagine, and it will take a long time before the world forgets. (By the way, your tourism projects are lusterless and have no global impact. If you want real business, spruce up your infrastructure and do aggressive marketing on the World Wide Web!)
Of course, I would gladly reverse my decision if someone offered me exclusive lordship over lotto, bingo, jueteng, pintakasi and the jai alai.Think about it: this will be to your advantage because I never give tong or blood commission to anyone! (If only your president used the millions he received from those gambling lords to build homes for the masses, you wouldn't have any more squatters. Huling hirit: defrost those Marcos billions, pay off some debt, place the rest in high-yield investments, feed your hungry, and spread bounty and joy to every Filipino! Are you stupid or what? - That's your money sucked from the blood of your people!)
I have made my decision, now make yours. I would hate for the day to come when I'd have to say, "I told you so!" Good luck! (You need it.)
An ex-Filipino,
J. Anastasio "Nasty"
P. S. My Zen master says, "Vox populi is not always the voice of God."
P. P. S. Come over to L.A and I'll show you a great time!
P. P. P. S. Our friend Randy says hello! We will be going to Vancouver to feast our eyes on the colors of autumn. Wish you could join us.
P. P. P. P. S. The new Miss America, Angela Perez Baraquio, is of Filipino ancestry. Dero, her parents hail from Pangasinan just like you! But keep in mind that she is an American (in case some wise fools over there claim her to be Filipino like they always do whenever someone becomes successful).
Wait for the girl to say it- don't put words in her mouth!
P. P. P. P. P. S. Mabuhay kayo (SANA)!
P. P. P. P. P. P. S. Sa totoo lang, MAGDUSA KAYONG LAHAT! (Don't you just love my Waray-Kano accent?) He-he-he!
- Same
* * *
My Short Reply
Dear Nasty,
Thanks for your e-mail. I swear you sort of stole the words from right under my tongue. Now, I am utterly speechless.
Send my regards to Randy. Wishing you the best!
On Gmail
Initially appeared on doktorko.com 1/18/2005.
I was never really one to hop on the bandwagon. My cellphone was always three models behind the current craze, i never played any MMOG (starcraft doesn't count), and i adamantly refused to open a friendster or myspace account on the grounds that it was too "bakya." I had heard about gmail before and had an inkling that it was "the next big thing," but i never had any interest in finding out more because it seemed like just another fad. Imagine - people paying thousands of dollars on ebay to get a gmail account?! Almost as crazy as thousands of dollars for the Virgin-Mary-Grilled-Cheese-Sandwich, but not quite.
Anyway - my kuya sent me a gmail invite the other day, and having nothing better to do, i googled it (hmmm - is google turning into the new microsoft?) and found some reviews raving about the program. Which i though was weird; email is such a basic thing - how much tweaking can people do, and how great can it actually be? Out of curiosity, i decided to follow the link and open my own account.
Now, i most definitely will not be raving about how great gmail is, because 1. i'm not the raving type, and 2. i'm not being paid. What i will say is this: it's the fastest web-based email that i've used ever, bar-none; i had been using mail.com for a while, and while it gave me a doctor.com address and was decently fast, the speed is nothing compared to gmail (think PC-XT vs. pentium 4). While the GUI will need more work in the days to come (it's still in beta, after all), it is very functional and probably has near-infinite possibilities for the power user. 1gb worth of storage space, multiple ways to file your mail, and the ability to follow threads by subject and sender - pretty amazing stuff. Seems like nothing, but like one review i read said, once you start using it, you won't know how you got along without it.
I was never really one to hop on the bandwagon. My cellphone was always three models behind the current craze, i never played any MMOG (starcraft doesn't count), and i adamantly refused to open a friendster or myspace account on the grounds that it was too "bakya." I had heard about gmail before and had an inkling that it was "the next big thing," but i never had any interest in finding out more because it seemed like just another fad. Imagine - people paying thousands of dollars on ebay to get a gmail account?! Almost as crazy as thousands of dollars for the Virgin-Mary-Grilled-Cheese-Sandwich, but not quite.
Anyway - my kuya sent me a gmail invite the other day, and having nothing better to do, i googled it (hmmm - is google turning into the new microsoft?) and found some reviews raving about the program. Which i though was weird; email is such a basic thing - how much tweaking can people do, and how great can it actually be? Out of curiosity, i decided to follow the link and open my own account.
Now, i most definitely will not be raving about how great gmail is, because 1. i'm not the raving type, and 2. i'm not being paid. What i will say is this: it's the fastest web-based email that i've used ever, bar-none; i had been using mail.com for a while, and while it gave me a doctor.com address and was decently fast, the speed is nothing compared to gmail (think PC-XT vs. pentium 4). While the GUI will need more work in the days to come (it's still in beta, after all), it is very functional and probably has near-infinite possibilities for the power user. 1gb worth of storage space, multiple ways to file your mail, and the ability to follow threads by subject and sender - pretty amazing stuff. Seems like nothing, but like one review i read said, once you start using it, you won't know how you got along without it.
Check My Lifestyle - Please!
Initially appeared on doktorko.com 3/5/2005.
This week the BIR announced that it would conduct "lifestyle checks" on MDs working in the top hospitals in the RP. In other words, it wants to ferret out those who under-declare their incomes in order to generate bigger profits that will fund their posh lifestyles. Here are a few links (apologies; you'll have to cut and paste onto your browser):
http://news.inq7.net/opinion/index.php?index=4&story;_id=27352
http://news.inq7.net/opinion/index.php?index=1&story;_id=27349
Don't you just love it when people defend themselves by pointing fingers? It almost sounds like Bin Laden claiming innocence because Hitler killed more people. IMHO, doing so is tragic and just downright stupid. "Why doesn't the BIR look at big business, politicos, and other professions?" [paraphrased] - whines one MD. Well, isn't the proof of innocence the best defense? We love it when congressmen are investigated - because we just KNOW that they're dishonest. Corollary: if we OURSELVES are clean, law-abiding citizens, why should we loathe showing our books to the authorities? It boggles the mind.
Since when has fiscal transparency become unjust? Some MDs are now crying foul, gnashing their teeth, and protesting at the top of their lungs about how doctors are being demonized. The malpractice bill was the first salvo, they claim; this will be the death blow.
Frankly, this is LIGHT YEARS away from that idiotic malpractice bill, which implies that many (if not most or even all) doctors are loose cannons - incompetent, half-trained buffoons just waiting for the proper opportunity to kill their patients. Now THAT is dangerous, simply because it undermines and second-guesses doctors' abilities and makes clinical judgement subject to unfair and misinformed scrutiny by laypersons. Doctors' competence should be judged by their professional peers (i.e. those who understand the real issues involved) - period. All doctors make mistakes but not all mistakes should be penalized.
In contrast, lifestyle checks do not call competence into question, but rather INTEGRITY. Given all the heat our profession has been under recently, i would have thought that we doctors would be falling all over ourselves at the chance to prove our honesty - not fighting tooth and nail to keep our sources of wealth hidden and therefore questionable. I have no qualms about anyone questioning MY integrity (although i admit that it would throw me off at first), because i know that it will remain untarnished through any investigation. But these people who refuse... Jeez, WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?!
Someone claimed that this would lead to the eventual demise (i.e. serve as "the fatal blow") of the profession in the RP. And why, pray tell, is that? Because prospective MDs know that they WON'T be able to make a DISHONEST living??? I sincerely hope that's not what you meant, kind sir, because if it is, then it says more about you than it does about the profession. True, young minds DO need inspiration, but wouldn't it be MORE inspiring to show that we are law-abiding citizens who have merely been unfairly singled out? Wouldn't it be better to show the whole world that we have NOTHING to hide? That we have only been unfairly and unjustly accused of wrong?
Having the medical profession acquiesce to the lifestyle check opens the door to the investigation of other professions (if the doctors can do it, why can't the lawyers? or the actors? or even - gasp! - the politicians?). It lets the tax evaders know that they can't keep hiding forever. It gives us doctors a chance to lead the way, to show that we are not as haughty as other people think. More importantly, it blasts through the stereotype of rich people not wanting to be accountable, and restores confidence that we have - despite some claims to the contrary - always been (and always will be) a noble profession. If not the noblest.
And refusing to be fiscally transparent? THAT would be the fatal blow.
WORST of all, it would be self-inflicted.
This week the BIR announced that it would conduct "lifestyle checks" on MDs working in the top hospitals in the RP. In other words, it wants to ferret out those who under-declare their incomes in order to generate bigger profits that will fund their posh lifestyles. Here are a few links (apologies; you'll have to cut and paste onto your browser):
http://news.inq7.net/opinion/index.php?index=4&story;_id=27352
http://news.inq7.net/opinion/index.php?index=1&story;_id=27349
Don't you just love it when people defend themselves by pointing fingers? It almost sounds like Bin Laden claiming innocence because Hitler killed more people. IMHO, doing so is tragic and just downright stupid. "Why doesn't the BIR look at big business, politicos, and other professions?" [paraphrased] - whines one MD. Well, isn't the proof of innocence the best defense? We love it when congressmen are investigated - because we just KNOW that they're dishonest. Corollary: if we OURSELVES are clean, law-abiding citizens, why should we loathe showing our books to the authorities? It boggles the mind.
Since when has fiscal transparency become unjust? Some MDs are now crying foul, gnashing their teeth, and protesting at the top of their lungs about how doctors are being demonized. The malpractice bill was the first salvo, they claim; this will be the death blow.
Frankly, this is LIGHT YEARS away from that idiotic malpractice bill, which implies that many (if not most or even all) doctors are loose cannons - incompetent, half-trained buffoons just waiting for the proper opportunity to kill their patients. Now THAT is dangerous, simply because it undermines and second-guesses doctors' abilities and makes clinical judgement subject to unfair and misinformed scrutiny by laypersons. Doctors' competence should be judged by their professional peers (i.e. those who understand the real issues involved) - period. All doctors make mistakes but not all mistakes should be penalized.
In contrast, lifestyle checks do not call competence into question, but rather INTEGRITY. Given all the heat our profession has been under recently, i would have thought that we doctors would be falling all over ourselves at the chance to prove our honesty - not fighting tooth and nail to keep our sources of wealth hidden and therefore questionable. I have no qualms about anyone questioning MY integrity (although i admit that it would throw me off at first), because i know that it will remain untarnished through any investigation. But these people who refuse... Jeez, WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?!
Someone claimed that this would lead to the eventual demise (i.e. serve as "the fatal blow") of the profession in the RP. And why, pray tell, is that? Because prospective MDs know that they WON'T be able to make a DISHONEST living??? I sincerely hope that's not what you meant, kind sir, because if it is, then it says more about you than it does about the profession. True, young minds DO need inspiration, but wouldn't it be MORE inspiring to show that we are law-abiding citizens who have merely been unfairly singled out? Wouldn't it be better to show the whole world that we have NOTHING to hide? That we have only been unfairly and unjustly accused of wrong?
Having the medical profession acquiesce to the lifestyle check opens the door to the investigation of other professions (if the doctors can do it, why can't the lawyers? or the actors? or even - gasp! - the politicians?). It lets the tax evaders know that they can't keep hiding forever. It gives us doctors a chance to lead the way, to show that we are not as haughty as other people think. More importantly, it blasts through the stereotype of rich people not wanting to be accountable, and restores confidence that we have - despite some claims to the contrary - always been (and always will be) a noble profession. If not the noblest.
And refusing to be fiscally transparent? THAT would be the fatal blow.
WORST of all, it would be self-inflicted.
Healing
Initially appeared on doktorko.com 3/12/2005.
Last week i took care of a morose, elderly male with T12 paraplegia from a spinal tumor as well as FAR ADVANCED Coronary Artery Disease. Seriously - all his major coronaries were pretty much scarred up, with precious little more than trickles of blood squeezing through. Obviously, he needed a Bypass. Problem was, he didn't want it.
Fine; he's old and high-risk anyway. Maximize medical management, tweak his other systems, and send him home. So i went to his room and went through the usual rigmarole.
Any more chest pain? No.
How about shortness of breath? No.
Belly pain? Nausea? Vomiting? No. No. No.
And so on and so forth.
I don't know what possessed me, but after running through a full review of systems, i just looked at him and quietly asked: Well, how are you doing overall? How do you feel?
Deep sigh. Not... too good.
And just like that, he broke down. Apparently, he had lost his parents at a young age. Later on, his wife died. Last November, his daughter passed away. Everyone he ever loved had been systematically taken away with no rhyme or reason.
His eyes watered over but his voice remained firm; this was a man who was used to keeping his pain to himself.
Silence. Then i say: i'm sorry. You probably don't know me from Adam.
Another sigh. It's just that no one's ever asked me how i FEEL.
Well eventually, i got the name of a close friend of his who just happened to work in the Heart Center, extracted her number from the operator, called her up, and asked her to please come up to see him. She happily agreed.
Later that night, when i dropped by to check up on him, he was GLOWING - blocked arteries and all.
We changed over the next day, so i never knew how his situation turned out. In all probability, he got a couple of prescriptions and went home to wait for the Big One.
In the final analysis though, it doesn't even matter. Because even though we didn't fix his coronaries, i'm sure we fixed his heart.
Last week i took care of a morose, elderly male with T12 paraplegia from a spinal tumor as well as FAR ADVANCED Coronary Artery Disease. Seriously - all his major coronaries were pretty much scarred up, with precious little more than trickles of blood squeezing through. Obviously, he needed a Bypass. Problem was, he didn't want it.
Fine; he's old and high-risk anyway. Maximize medical management, tweak his other systems, and send him home. So i went to his room and went through the usual rigmarole.
Any more chest pain? No.
How about shortness of breath? No.
Belly pain? Nausea? Vomiting? No. No. No.
And so on and so forth.
I don't know what possessed me, but after running through a full review of systems, i just looked at him and quietly asked: Well, how are you doing overall? How do you feel?
Deep sigh. Not... too good.
And just like that, he broke down. Apparently, he had lost his parents at a young age. Later on, his wife died. Last November, his daughter passed away. Everyone he ever loved had been systematically taken away with no rhyme or reason.
His eyes watered over but his voice remained firm; this was a man who was used to keeping his pain to himself.
Silence. Then i say: i'm sorry. You probably don't know me from Adam.
Another sigh. It's just that no one's ever asked me how i FEEL.
Well eventually, i got the name of a close friend of his who just happened to work in the Heart Center, extracted her number from the operator, called her up, and asked her to please come up to see him. She happily agreed.
Later that night, when i dropped by to check up on him, he was GLOWING - blocked arteries and all.
We changed over the next day, so i never knew how his situation turned out. In all probability, he got a couple of prescriptions and went home to wait for the Big One.
In the final analysis though, it doesn't even matter. Because even though we didn't fix his coronaries, i'm sure we fixed his heart.
First World Medicine
Initially appeared on doktorko.com 3/12/2005.
Three patients on my list:
1. A middle-aged male who came in because of an INTENTIONAL multiple drug overdose; had Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome, was admitted to the ICU, underwent continuous hemodialysis for a more than a week, now SIGNIFICANTLY improved. We're setting him up for outpatient rehab, but from the look of things, he'll probably get back on junk right after discharge. Incidentally, he slaps his mom around when she won't give him money for drugs.
2. A middle-aged male who killed his liver with beer, STILL doesn't want to quit drinking despite having end-stage liver disease, came in with ascites, who ALSO has hepatorenal syndrome. Now we're talking about transhepatic shunts, million-dollar medicines, dialysis, and maybe even a liver transplant just to keep him alive.
3. An elderly female who has end-stage emphysema, continues to smoke DESPITE all medical advice to the contrary, COMPLAINS that because she isn't getting the right treatment, she isn't getting better. She wants all the free samples, and home oxygen so she can keep on doing what she wants at home.
What's wrong with this picture? Call me a cynic, but i've seen too many people DIE back home for lack of enough money to buy even FIRST-GENERATION (i.e. low-level) antibiotics. Organ transplants, regular dialysis sessions, and STAT interventions were things we only read about in books. Here, i see people doing the dumbest things because they know that their FIRST-RATE medical system has a safety net for people JUST LIKE THEM.
Where is the justice? What is the point of moving heaven and earth just to keep these "people" alive? They made their choices and made their lives a living hell. If that's what they want, maybe we should just let them BURN.
Sometimes it takes a superhuman effort NOT to get jaded.
Three patients on my list:
1. A middle-aged male who came in because of an INTENTIONAL multiple drug overdose; had Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome, was admitted to the ICU, underwent continuous hemodialysis for a more than a week, now SIGNIFICANTLY improved. We're setting him up for outpatient rehab, but from the look of things, he'll probably get back on junk right after discharge. Incidentally, he slaps his mom around when she won't give him money for drugs.
2. A middle-aged male who killed his liver with beer, STILL doesn't want to quit drinking despite having end-stage liver disease, came in with ascites, who ALSO has hepatorenal syndrome. Now we're talking about transhepatic shunts, million-dollar medicines, dialysis, and maybe even a liver transplant just to keep him alive.
3. An elderly female who has end-stage emphysema, continues to smoke DESPITE all medical advice to the contrary, COMPLAINS that because she isn't getting the right treatment, she isn't getting better. She wants all the free samples, and home oxygen so she can keep on doing what she wants at home.
What's wrong with this picture? Call me a cynic, but i've seen too many people DIE back home for lack of enough money to buy even FIRST-GENERATION (i.e. low-level) antibiotics. Organ transplants, regular dialysis sessions, and STAT interventions were things we only read about in books. Here, i see people doing the dumbest things because they know that their FIRST-RATE medical system has a safety net for people JUST LIKE THEM.
Where is the justice? What is the point of moving heaven and earth just to keep these "people" alive? They made their choices and made their lives a living hell. If that's what they want, maybe we should just let them BURN.
Sometimes it takes a superhuman effort NOT to get jaded.
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