I watched the episode today of the The Biggest Loser: Pinoy Edition because I saw from a friend’s tweet that our mentor-consultants from my home hospital were featured for today’s edition. I am not a huge fan of Biggest Loser. In fact, I used to turn off the TV as soon as my recently-concluded favorite soap “Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin” plays the closing credits. I did see a few episodes before and saw how huge the contestants were. No kidding. My roommate told me how a friend’s friend auditioned for The Biggest Loser and was turned down because s/he was too “small” at 200 lbs! Imagine that? Seeing them today ten or so pounds lighter and looking more fabulous than ever was very heartwarming. I can only imagine how joyful they are to know they managed to shed those pounds they thought they wouldn’t be able to lose all their lives. To top it off, the doctors said they’re a lot healthier now medically-speaking. I really am very proud of them. Sometimes I see episodes where some of them almost faint if not lose it altogether because of their tasks but I bet they’re very happy to see the fruits of their hard labor. Although I’ve never had that problem regarding losing weight, I must say that apart from taking weight loss pills that work, a healthy diet and regular exercise plus the DETERMINATION to lose weight does the trick! Good job guys!

Watch today’s episode here.

As a ritual, I open my facebook page the first thing in the morning and this message from my friend, Tieza Santos pops out of my screen.

My best friend, along with 39 others bested almost 2,854 social entrepreneur applicants from all over the world for Echoing Green Fellowship 2011. She’ll be traveling to New York this May to face a panel of judges to present ChangeLab Enterprises Philippines’ PinaSarap Enterprise (More details here).

You know what’s cool? She represents the only organization from the Philippines who managed to reach the finals.

Funny how there’s a stark contrast between our lives. While my best friend is traveling halfway around the globe to change the world, I have my head buried in books and rummaging through old brother printers for my papercases to pass one of the biggest obstacles of my medical career.

I’m one very proud best friend right here. I’m absolutely happy with how far she has gone through all these years.

And oh, have I mentioned she’s getting married soon? Haha. Lucky girl.

More about Echoing Green Fellowship Finalists 2011 here.

Once again, St. Luke’s College of Medicine prides itself with the outcome of the February 2011 Physician Licensure Examination. It’s a 100% passing for first-time takers from Batch 2010! Hooray! To my friends, Dr. Allan Gamo, Dr. Apreel Noble, Dr. Christina Sio, Dr. Millicent Carino, Dr. Gabriel Zetazate, Dr. Melizza Villalon, Dr. Neil Apale, Dr. Fatima Juanday-Hernandez and Dr. Lester Chua, your victory is also ours. Congratulations! Hoping for the best in your careers!

On the other hand, all eyes are on us as we, SLCM Batch 2011, are about to face one of our life’s biggest challenges: The Comprehensive Exam. It’s a win or lose situation. No gray areas. This is really scary. So help me God.

Learn more about the results of the February 2011 Physician Licensure Examination from here.

In a span of two weeks, I shall be donning my newly-made intern’s uniform; but as of the moment, I am enjoying the slacker days of summer. Tomorrow in fact, I shall be on a beach trip with my family and Bee in Bolinao, Pangasinan. At the top of my list is to get a tan. Turns out that my sun exposure early this month in Pagudpud with my med school classmates was not enough to get me at least a shade darker than I originally am. So for the rest of tomorrow and on Sunday, I shall bask under the sun to welcome the cancer-inducing sun rays to get a tan. (of course with sunscreen!)

Anyway, I wanted to share with you this picture we took on our official last day of clerkship:

I look wasted but that was because I hardly had any sleep the previous night because we were toxic at the ER.  So now, let’s compare it to the picture we took on our first day:

The one with the most drastic change? JC! Thanks to proper diet and regular games of basketball, he did not have to undergo any weight loss surgery to shed those extra pounds. Nice one. I am so happy for him. =) As for me, I lost weight over those months we slaved in the hospital. Tsk. Must gain more this summer!

No. Efren “Bata” Reyes did not bring home another billiard cup, but, a different Efren did. The Filipino “pushcart educator”, Efren “Kuya F!” Peñaflorida Jr. was recently awarded “CNN Hero of the Year” for 2009 for his advocacy to bring education to out-of-school youth in slum areas of Cavite. His heartwarming and tear-jerking story of how a once out-of-school youth himself fought poverty, illiteracy and the influence of the ills of the society struggled to bring education and health-awareness to children in slum areas inspired millions around the globe to vote for him to name him CNN Hero of the Year. Kuya F! was given a standing ovation while the song “Hero” by Mariah Carey played at the background at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood last November 21.

“Thank you. Our planet is filled with heroes: young and old, rich and poor, men, women of different colors, shapes and sizes. We are one great tapestry. Each person has a hidden hero within. You just have to look inside you and search him in your heart and be the hero to the next ones in need. So to each and every person inside this theater, to those watching at home: the hero in you is waiting to be unleashed. Serve. Serve well. Serve others above yourself and be happy to serve. As I aways tell my co-volunteers at Dynamic Teen Company at Club 8586 Inc.: You are the change that you dream as I am the change that I dream and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be. Mabuhay!” Kuya F! delivered his “thank you” speech in between pauses. Watch the announcement of winner below (courtesy of CNN.com.)

Congrats to Efren Peñaflorida Jr. and to all the unsung heroes of everyday life. Mabuhay! =)

Thinking of volunteering? You don’t need gps to locate DTC, just click here for the vicinity map.