Maica's Ongoing Love Affair with Pen and Paper

I haven't considered myself as a good writer until my end-of-term project got praises from my Communication Skills professor way back in college.  Well, who would have thought that the girl who barely got As on her high school compositions will be able to produce a praise-worthy book review by a professional writer?   Never in my dreams have I thought I will be considered as the best writer in my class.  It was surreal!

It has been six years since then but the memory is still crystal clear in my mind.  During that time, I discovered  my passion for writing.  I may not have gotten myself involved in writing at once but that love  was still in my heart.  I decided to focus on my studies that time but I have not left my passion behind.  I just set it aside for a while.

Well, the story does not end there.  As I've established my career as a Registered Nurse, I got the chance to blog and share a part of me to the world through my site http://gettingthere-angelle.blogspot.com/.  I've been  managing my site for 9 months already, constantly updating whenever I get the chance to write.  However, I wanted to explore the writer's world and got myself into a writing job instead.  

I've been a web content writer for 3 days already and although it pays not-so-well(I get P43.00 per a 500- word article), it makes me happy.  In fact, I can just smile whenever my mom and sister ask me how much I get compensated for all the writing I've done these past few days.  Crazy, right?   

I don't really want to give this job up for now because this is the first job I got hired for.  Imagine, I've been working like a carabao when I was volunteering my services as a nurse at a nearby hospital and I didn't get anything.  Plus, I've been spending some time with my blog for quite a while and I don't gain a cent for what I was doing.  Other than those, this job is very rewarding.  Since I started, I go to bed with a warmth in my heart, knowing that I've been able to beat my employer's deadline from time to time.   This job may be something I started out  of curiosity, but I never expeced that it will be this fulfilling.

Anyway, I got accepted by another writing company, which guarantees more monetary compensation, as a web content writer.  I'm not yet loaded with writing tasks but I'll do my best to write high quality articles.   I  want to learn how to  spend my time wisely.  I'll dedicate my free time to writing.

FYI, I don't intent to be the next J.K. Rowling or Nicholas Sparks as of today and although my dream is to be the next New York Times Bestselling Author someday, I am content with what I have right now.  I may have a couple of writing jobs and an upcoming nusing work(yes, one that is not 'voluntary!') which cannot pay me A LOT today, but I believe that every one must have humble beginnings.  Right now, I am a budding writer and a neophyte nurse but I won't allow myself to be stuck here.  I'll  be working hard and someday, I'll  be at my best.  Who knows, I might get a million worth of paycheck per article someday.

Lovelots, 

Maica Angelle

22 in 2011

Newsflash: As of March 2,2011, 12 midnight, I am officially 22 years old.  Yeah, the former chubby, cute girl who barely wore jeans has now turned another year older.  I am older, braver, wiser, and definitely more youthful(in my dreams).  I am finally 22 in 2011.  What a way to start the summer!

March 2, 2011 as I remember it...
(Wait, if it was summer already, why was it gloomy?)

What makes this birthday different from the previous ones I had?  Well, this is my homecoming birthday celebration.  Yeah, after spending fours years of college in Lipa City, Batangas, almost two years of review (for the local boards, IELTS- International English Language Testing System Exam and for the NCLEX- National Council for Licensure Examination) in the Metro, I am finally home.

20th Birthday at Flavors of China, Robinson's Lipa

21st birthday at Trinoma

The said occasion also served as our celebration for the success of our five-week training at the Philippine Heart Center, which is located in Quezon City.  It was a very refreshing, fun-filled and delicious date.  On March 2, 2011, Maica Angelle ate a lot.  What's wrong with that, huh?

Let me refresh the events that has transpired on my birthday.

5:00 a.m. - My cellphone alarmed.  I had to wake up early because of a French homework left undone.  I spent almost two hours translating a news article.  It was a mind-boggling way to start the day!

7:00 a.m.- I was done with the homework so I decided to check my phone, e-mail and facebook wall.  Frankly, I was overwhelmed when I saw a wall full of birthday greetings.  I never thought that lots of people will remember me and my twin sis on our birthday. It was surreal.

8:00 a.m.- French Class with Mara... It was a memorable one because it was raining so hard.  It's the one of the few rainy birthdays I've had in years.  May be its God's ways of showing His tears of happiness for the 22 fruitful years I've spent on this beautiful earth.

10:30 a.m.

• We've come home.  I spent the entire day chilling up at the house.  Mama and the rest were busy cooking.  I was also busy eating some goodies.  I pigged out and  it was kinda gross (Laugh out louds).

• I received this text message from Papa:

              "Happy Birthday! God Bless. :)"

• Mara had this meaningful message on my facebook wall:

               Bon Anniversaire ma cher souer jumelle! wishing you all the best!! :)
               Translate: Happy Birthday, my twin sister ;)

2:00 p.m.- I watched 'The Biggest Loser Asia Season 2' at the Diva Channel.  I'm really getting addicted to this show these days.

3:00 p.m.-  Papa and his 'alipores' a.k.a. body guards and driver came to visit.  He brought some ice cream and we started eating.  Mom prepared baked mac, pancit, puto, fruit salad, pizza, and chocolate cake.  It was a fun-filled afternoon.  We were finally reunited and it feels so good.

our Birthday feast

Papa starting the party with a bang!

my twin sister Mara grabbing her share of our birthday goodies

5:00 p.m.-  I attended the Holy Mass at the Cathedral with Mara.  It was our way of thanking God for giving us another year on this world.

at the Cathedral

Calapan City Cathedral

by the river beside Citimart

6:30 p.m.- I, together with my twin sister, stopped by at Citimart.

7:00 p.m.-  We got home at last!  I ate dinner.  I also gave Mara a present.

my birthday presents to my twin sister

When the big day has finally come to an end, I came to realize how many priceless treasures I have in my life today.  I may not have all the money and luxury in the world right now, but as long as I am surrounded by the people who love me, I must go on and live life to the utmost.

Hence, before ending this blog post, let me first share my fave stanza from a poem made by a very close friend on my birthday celebration:

As I woke up, the rain has approached my day,

I yawn and sit for a while, as I close my eyes and pray:

"Thank you God for this day, for this is a special one,

This was the day, twenty two years ago, a blessing to me has began."

All cheers for my upcoming 22nd year on this earth!  May it be filled with lots of hope, love, and opportunities for the future.

Lovelots,

Maica Angelle

Banner Photography

Into Your Veins

 What comes next after passing the boards, the oathtaking ceremony, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Exam, the National Council Licensure Examination review, volunteerism and the Cardio Pulmonary Nurse Training Program, really?  For me, the answer is simple: the Basic Intravenous Therapy Training.

Basic Intravenous Therapy Training conducted by the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital

Maica, the trainee

Well, after almost a year of passing the boards, we were finally able to undergo an Intravenous Therapy Training.  This took place at the Benedictine Monastery in Brgy. Salong, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.  It was a three-day basic program with didactics, return demonstrations, and duty.

the Calapan Bay as seen on the monastery

the cute bonsai tree

the Grace Park

The first day of training was all about the necessities of Intravenous Therapy.  We had a pre-test, and various lectures about the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system, the intravenous therapy itself and its complications, Total Parenteral Nutrition and the Nursing Responsibilities in Intravenous Therapy.  It was great that it was held at a quite, serene place, such as the Benedictine Nuns Monastery in my hometown.  Also, it was so refreshing that after a five-week training at a busy city, we are finally home doing the things we miss the most. We are, once again, working on a familiar place, mingling with the people we've missed.  It was a memorable day for me and my twin sister.

me and my co-trainees on our lunch break

have break, have a camera shot!

my trainee buds

The second day, however, was all about lectures, post test and demonstrations.  I can still remember that during the lecture, I was scheming through the pages of my manual because I nervous about the upcoming return demonstrations.  After the post test, we commenced with the twelve return demonstrations about inserting intravenous cannulas and the like.  At first, I was worried that I might not have prepared enough but in the end, I became too exhausted that I saw myself struggling towards the demos.  Imagine, we had to memorize 12 procedures, deal with 12 preceptors and recite while demonstrating those.  I was exhausted. afterwards.  I was so relieved at the end of the day that I was finally given the chance to breath, relax and rest.

our preceptors doing some demonstration

at a return demonstration station

our preceptors

The one-on-one intravenous insertions marks the third day of the course.  It was held at the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital. It was February 27, 2011, a working Sunday for all of us. We saw our colleagues and they were surprised to see us, knowing that we were away for a while because of our training.

In the one-on-one, my partner was my twin sister Mara.  I noticed that it was hard to insert the cannula on her because we had thin veins. Our preceptor even said that Mara's veins are better because those are bigger.  I am proud, though, that I made it in just one attempt.  Mara, however, had to do it twice on me.  It was so painful but I'm glad that she managed to insert the cannula in my veins.

The training doesn't end there.  We had to do it in actual situations.  As for me, I have not completed my cases yet but I'm optimistic that I'll get certified someday.  I may be a novice in intravenous insertion but I believe that someday, I'll be good.  All it takes is trust, hope, and faith.

at Grace Park

Lovelots,

Maica Angelle