What Happened in 2012?

By: Ma. Cristina Lao

The year 2012 is the most controversial year of all time. Nostradamus, an expert in Judicial Astrology, predicted that earth will be struck with a comet and will end on December 21, 2012. The Mayans, Incans, and the Egyptians also indicated that the apocalypse will also occur at the same time.

Most people are skeptical about it but a little worried. News reports also revealed that around a thousand people in China and other parts of the world are creating panic and really getting ready and are preparing for a possible disaster. The good news is, it's not true. So, what really happened in 2012? Well, here's the real heartbreaking events that happened this year.

January 13, 2012: Similar to Titanic, a cruise ship Costa Concordia slammed into a rock and capsizes off the Italian Coast. Around 11 people died and 22 remain missing.

February 11, 2012: Pop superstar Whitney Houston Dies at age 48. The cause of her death was not revealed. The world mourned the loss of their favorite pop singing sensation of all-time.

March 2, 2012: Tornadoes hit 17 U.S. states that killed 27 people and injured hundreds.

April 11, 2012: North Korea attempted to launch a ballistic missile into orbit but blows up just seconds after the launch.

May 26, 2012: Thirty-two innocent children were killed in Syria after government troops attacked the village of Houla.  Syrian President Assad, however, blamed terrorists to be responsible for the attack.

June 3, 2012: A plane crashed in Nigeria that killed all 153 passengers and unknown number of people on the ground.

July 7, 2012: A massive flood hit Russia that killed 107 people.

August 5, 2012: A plutonium-powered rover named Curiosity successfully lands on Mars.

September 9, 2012: A lightning started wildfires in Washington State, USA.

October 29, 2012: Hurricane Sandy hits New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

November 1, 2012: China presented a new proposal to end the conflict in Syria.

December 15, 2012: An American madman killed 27 people including 20 children in an elementary school in Connecticut U.S.A.

Dec. 21, 2012: End of the world.... A hoax.

My American Stepfather

 

 

A Father's Past

My papa always tried to be as open about his past and his previous family. He had 3 children, two boys and one girl. His wife was a red hair, and they were high school sweethearts, she was his first girlfriend. He never told me why he left his family for us, but I knew he was very guilty and hurting inside. His father worked as a miner, which was the main business in West Virginia during his childhood. His mother loved him so much, she sent us magazines of West Virginia every month until it stopped when she passed away in the late 80's. He didn't like to work as a miner like his dad, so he decided to be listed in the U.S. Air force as an airplane mechanic and technician.

Franklin D. Peek was a retired Sergeant in the U.S. Air force. He was from West Virginia, USA, and was married with three children and had a wife named Barbara. I was told by my mom that he migrated in the Philippines way back in the 1970's before I was born. They met in the late 70's and decided to live together. I was still 3 years old when I saw my stepfather, whom I respected as a father until his last days.

My Mother's Story

 

My mother was still 16 when she worked as a clerk in Golden Dragon Hotel in Butuan City, Philippines. The owner of this hotel was a Chinese man who got married with her aunt. Her parents were not rich so they cannot afford to send her to school. With 13 siblings, it would be hard to send everyone to school. Most of her siblings worked in the farm. It did not discouraged her to continue her studies as she was school scholar while maintaining high marks in every subject. One day, there was this big event in school a special "Valentines Day" party. All the young girls lined up and waited for their prince charming. My mother was sitting down as she was in-charge of the attendance. Then suddenly this handsome guy caught her attention. He was sort of staring at her at a distance. Then suddenly he approached her and said he wanted to ask a girl for a dance. She said pick any girl you like from that line. He said,  "No, I only want to dance with you. Is that okay?" Well, their love story started from there. That was how my real parents met. It sounds like a good love story, but it was not as good as it seems.

 

 

To be continued...



 

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

My Farewell Party

By: Ma. Cristina Lao, October 25, 2011

 

This was my farewell party taken a few days before I went back to the Philippines. It don't look like a party at all but we sort of got together to eat. It was a pleasure knowing the best doctors and nurses that I've encountered in my life. The Syrian and Egyptian doctors trusted me with their patients and was very friendly and never failed to share their opinions & knowledge with me.

 

I'm so thankful to be given the chance to work with the best Arab male nurses. They were always there to help me in times of need. They are very helpful people and very respectful. Because of this, I admit that I am more comfortable working with them than the Filipino male nurses.

Check out the Filipino dish. We have the pancit, macaroni salad, chicken with vegetables, chocolate cake and lumpia. The Arab nurses and Syrian doctors also liked it.

Wearing the Abaya

 

Abha Nursing Office Lounge; October 2011

The abaya is a robe-like garment worn by women in Saudi Arabia. I did not expect to wear this type of dress ever in my life. I was thinking that we can wear anything in the Kingdom as long as we don't expose our body. It was not what I was expecting. Every woman is required to wear the same kind of clothing and the color is all black. All the Arab men also wears the same white ankle-length garment with long sleeves similar to a robe. Well, imagine a world of black and white. It's not that I don't like it. I respect their culture but it's weird because it feels like I am living in a black and white world. I was also assigned in the mountain part of the Kingdom wherein I cannot see green grass. Every thing in the area looks pale and dry. Well, I miss my country. Though it's a third world country, everything seems so colorful and free.

Looking Back at APH

By Ma. Cristina Lao on Sunday, August 14, 2011 at 2:58pm ·

The bell rang very early tonight for work. It's Ramadan so the drivers are always in a hurry to catch their meal. In the hospital I can see the empty beds. I really wish it would be a calm night. For the first 2 hours of our duty we were doing the routine tasks and bonding with my colleagues; revealing scandals behind the closed curtains. A scandal that concerns love, lust or deception, whichever it is. I can never forget such vulgarity. I have never felt so discouraged with my own race, until now.

Miss Josie told me she will miss me, as her tears started to show. I told her not to waste her tears, and just be happy for my freedom from this country. The Emergency Room is like the jungle. If you are not strong, you will not survive. I advised her to be strong in mind and in heart. Then suddenly it started to rain people. People of all ages. Why aren't they sleeping at this time? How can I give quality nursing care if I am always in a hurry to attend another patient? Is life all about rushing and finishing a task or is it about making a difference in this world? Well, I still want to make sure that my patients are comfortable and pain free during my care.

Anyway, I was running here and there until I realized its already morning. I can feel the rumbling of my stomach as I craved for coffee and bread. Miss Honey prepared our coffee and bread at the last minute, so it was a refreshment at least.  We have to go home unable to clean all the rooms before the next shift arrives. I felt bad for not finishing everything perfectly. I hope it would be better tonight.

Honasan Island in Leyte: The Amazing Island Getaway

Honasan Island is an isolated small island in the Philippines surrounded by the ocean and sea life. Honasan is taken from the Visayan dialect "honas" meaning low tide.  It is a secluded place where we could enjoy the corals, fishes and just relax under the sun.  My Honasan experience goes way back a decade ago, when a newlywed couple Panyang and Manuel in Maasin Leyte was very hospitable to give me a pump boat ride offshore to this small island. From Maasin beach, it took us an hour to reach the secret getaway of which not so many people knew about.  Panyang and her husband wanted me to enjoy my vacation in Maasin, Leyte. That is how hospitable the Maasinhon’s are.

During the travel, I’ve never seen so many fish, star fish and sea horse of different colors in my entire life. Well, the ocean was so blue, tranquil and heavenly. I vividly remember that day; the early morning sun was rising up the shore. It was low tide then. When we arrived to the small island, the water was knee deep and you can see the white sand below the crystal waters. Panyang’s husband was able to catch a fish using a knife with his bare hands. And Panyang was like a Princess when he handed her this big fish.

Unexpectedly, the three of us had the time of our lives eating fresh fish and sea urchins. So, sea urchins can be eaten? Surprisingly, yes! It tastes really good too. At 7 o’clock in the morning we were eating what we needed to have a full stomach.  It feels like a sanctuary.  The fish in the area were like looking straight at my face and didn’t even swim away. The middle aged couple said it was their secret place. They were really very friendly people. They were like angels to me. It was truly an unforgettable experience. I went home with a sea horse as a souvenir.

Away From Home

I remember kneeling for HIM at the altar, praying, to reach one goal. Give me this one chance Lord, to overcome self  worth, not only for myself but for my family. 'Til the day came He answered my prayers and off I went. My heart ached as if a force is trying to pull it off my chest as I was about to experience a new challenging life in Saudi Arabia.

I met two friends at the journey. They will become my new family a thousand miles away from home. I struggled painstakingly to understand new beliefs, cultures, and  people of so opposite ways. I learned to speak and read their language. I gained to upgrade my skills and become a much stronger, and fenceful person. It's like being in the jungle,  " This is survival of the fittest."  I miss my old self. The sympathetic listener I used to be, the one with a soft heart.

This new year, I am a step ahead of the ladder in my career, than last year. My countdown begins. I will be free in 2011. I want to go home and hug the love of my life. It would be one of the happiest time of my life.