When Trust Is Lost

From my previous posts, one can easily see that we hold my Mom’s surgical oncologist in high regard. After her operation a year ago, she was feeling depressed and she was not happy with the medical oncologist who was referred to us (I narrated about how we ended up going to her surgical oncologist instead in my previous post  “The Tale of Two Doctors”). This surgical oncologist impressed us especially my mother because he seemed really concerned about her condition. When my mother asked him if he could manage her chemo treatment, he readily agreed. Any misgivings we had about his not being a specialist in the field of medical oncology were forgotten because we saw my Mom begin to believe that she can get well. Because of this he will always have our deepest gratitude…our respect, however, is another matter.

Things happened one day in December that made us lose our respect for him.

What Defines Us…

In deference to my daughter’s wishes, I waited until the conclusion of their event before publishing this post and withheld the names of some of the people involved.

I sometimes help my kids do research when they have to stay in school late and they need some materials for their assignment. I would search the web for articles they might find useful and bookmark the sites so they can read them when they arrive…saves time and gives them more time for sleep.

This time my eldest daughter was the treasurer of the Committee in charge of getting the services of a lights and sounds provider. Per school policy they were required to get three quotations. The family of the secretary of their Committee happened to own a lights and sounds company. She volunteered to get a quotation from her father, so that left my daughter with two more suppliers to look for.

My daughter had already submitted a list of possible suppliers that she got from the weddings at work directory but nobody seemed interested in contacting any of them. That’s when she asked me to help her find two more so she can finish their Committee’s budget plan. She suggested the supplier of the CFAD event, Hues and Cues Lights and Audio. I searched the web and got the contact number of Hues and Cues for her. I visited the websites of the suppliers in the list she provided her group. I also read the ratings of their previous clients. That’s when I suggested Sensitivity Lights and Sounds since they seemed to be professional, well-loved by their clients and often-referred by some event organizers and bands.

Tuesday before the deadline, my daughter and the other Committee officers met with Hues and Cues after their class at around 7:30 pm. They were impressed with Joseph Matheu, the owner, but it was obvious to them that they cannot afford him. That meeting ended at 9:00 pm and since we believed it was too late for them to take public transportation, we offered to take the group to the office of Sensitivity Lights and Sounds in Roxas District.

They met with Juancho Fondevilla, the owner of Sensitivity Lights and Sounds. Their event was scheduled on a weekday which was considered a quiet day for event suppliers, so Juancho generously offered to provide them all their audio, lights and band requirements for just P20,000 even though he had earlier quoted P30,000 to my daughter on the phone. They also needed two LCD projectors (5,000 Lumens) and screens (10 x 14), two sets satellite stage with backboards, additional boards for the main stage for their Milan fashion show and drapes with hanging crystals and beads to replicate the elegance of a cruise ship dining hall chandelier. Juancho committed to provide these for an additional P45,000. They were given a huge discount by the owner in his desire to help the students and ensure the success of their event…correctly assuming that they had limited funds. Everybody seemed to be in high spirits after the meeting which ended at midnight.

Inutile PLDT

For the past few months we had been regularly awakened by prank calls at midnight and early mornings. We would hear the phone ringing in the living room while in bed. Of course, we would get up, thinking it might be an important call since nobody in his right mind would call somebody up at two o’clock in the morning just to say hi. But the caller at the other end would just listen quietly and wait for us to hang up. Then the prankster would call again and again. We would not answer the subsequent calls but it’s irritating because you can still hear the phone continuously ringing while you are desperately trying to sleep again.

Last night, my husband told him that we had caller id although it had been out of order for some time. After a few minutes my cellphone rang. There was a message saying, “O TAWAG NA!” That was his biggest mistake. We were able to get his number. When my husband called him back he just kept silent at the other end.

I reported the incident to PLDT and gave them his number. I learned that it was the number of a PLDT wireless phone that comes with a sim card. This Bryan Botacion, a PLDT customer representative, explained that they did not have the means to identify the owner of the account. I told him to just refer me to the proper department that was capable in handling such complaints. He answered that PLDT cannot do anything about my situation and if I was that bothered by the prank calls I can just report it to the police. THE NERVE!

I demanded to talk to his supervisor. I was put on hold for minutes until a certain Ramon Andres who claimed to be their team leader answered on the other end. I complained about the attitude of his member. I told him that it did not reflect well on PLDT since their response gives the impression that they are only after getting more new customers while they cannot be bothered in protecting their PAYING customers from those who abuse their service. It all boils down to MONEY and MORE PROFIT! This Ramon apologized and asked me to have a working caller id installed and monitor and record the calls I receive from the same number…and it was only then that PLDT can elevate my complaint to the concerned department. INUTILE!

It was a futile exercise! Since PLDT is so helpless and useless, I will publish here the phone number of that prank caller so people can call him and give him a dose of his own medicine! Please help me teach this bozo a lesson he won’t forget.

His number is : 774-2683

Answered Prayer…

As of today, my Mom’s CEA level is within the normal range. Of course, it’s too early to say that she is completely cured but we are so happy that she is responding well to the chemotherapy. It’s really fortunate that we changed doctors because her chemo sessions can only be described as a breeze. She does not suffer from any side effects. Likewise, she has also gained weight since her operation. Thank God! We hope that all goes well…no unexpected complications. She still has four more sessions to go. Then it will be a series of regular blood exams, colonoscopy and CT scan to make sure that the cancer has not recurred.

My Hero…

My Dad with Mara

The handsome man beside my eldest daughter is my father whom I love very much. I am so lucky to be his daughter! My Mom says that I take after him in temperament, which tickles me pink, although I would always pretend to protest. My Dad would also voice his objections but really anybody can see that we’re both flattered by Mom’s observation. That’s how we are, we joke around because we easily get embarrassed when conversations turn mushy or sentimental. That’s also one reason why I blog about my loved ones because I can write whatever I feel for them without embarrassing myself.

My Dad is a quiet man. He is not a demonstrative person nor is he vocal about his feelings but one can never doubt how much he loves his family. I remember the time in college when I told him about being harassed when I got off the jeepney by a bum. He did not say anything but the next day, I was surprised to see him waiting for me at the jeepney stop. He did this every school day until I graduated from college.

Mommy’s Day in the Park…

We celebrated my baby’s 14th birthday in Enchanted Kingdom last Saturday with some of my siblings and their families. My husband has high blood pressure so it was up to poor me to accompany my three kids in the challenging rides…at least to me. lol

It was midday and really hot when we arrived so we decided to visit the attractions with air conditioning first. We went to the 4D Discovery Theater where we had lots of fun. We looked oh so fashionable in our 3D glasses. While watching the comedy pirate movie starring Leslie Nielsen, one can see the swinging arms of the kids trying to touch the pictures that seemed to appear before their eyes. Besides the usual 3D effects, we were showered with droplets of water and blows of cold air several times which had the house breaking into guffaws of laughter every now and then.

Then we went to Rialto where the Sponge Bob movie was being shown. We still enjoyed it but after the 4D Discovery Theater it was a step down. I think it would have been more effective if they had shown a horror or scifi movie. At least, it would provide a different thrill from the comedy we just finished watching.

Enjoying the Log Jam

Outside, we were just in time to catch the opening act of the European divers. Slapstick funny but just as effective. I led my kids in joining the applause and chants egging the divers to go higher. There was picture taking with the performers afterwards but my kids were so impatient to go to the Jungle Outpost area.

I could not delay the dreaded rides anymore. My first challenge was the Log Jam. I do not know who shouted louder every time we went down the slopes because I could not hear a thing since  I, too, was wailing. They wanted a repeat but the coward in me begged off. My heart can only take so much! So off the three went and, my husband and I just satisfied ourselves by watching from the bridge. My kids promised each other that they would smile for the camera but it seems my Kyla forgot about the promise! She told us later that shouting was her way of getting rid of her jitters.

I’m A Sucker…

Yes, I’m a sucker for romantic movies! I’ve watched My Bestfriend’s Wedding a dozen times. I collect DVDs of Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan starrers, movies like the Bridges of Madison County, The Notebook, Pretty Woman, The Lake House, If Only, The American President, Dave, Forever Young, When Harry Met Sally, Sabrina, Ever After (my favorite of favorites), While You Were Sleeping (where I became an instant Bill Pullman fan), Hope Floats, Serendipity, Notting Hill, The Parent Trap, and so many more even Reese Witherspoon’s Legally Blonde 1 and 2. I just love The King and I,  South Pacific, An Affair to Remember…movies my kids did not know existed! lol

What does that make me? Shallow? A hopeless romantic? A kid at heart (unfortunately not in body, lol)? A masochist since some of these movies admittedly make me very sad? I don’t really know. Maybe a psychologist can do better…

Life Is A Gift…

I always text my Mom’s doctor a day before her chemo therapy to make sure of the time schedule. There were times before when her session had been moved from morning to afternoon because of emergency operations or meetings with hospital administrators. Her doctor would always reply immediately except for this one time two weeks ago when he replied at nine o’clock in the evening. I learned the next day that he had operated on a twenty-one year old lad who tried to commit suicide by drinking liquid sosa (a chemical used to clear clogged drains) for twelve hours. The solution had burned his esophagus and stomach so badly that they had to be removed, thus, his small intestine was connected directly to the base of his mouth.

I’ve seen this in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not and it’s not a very pretty way to live. The guy narrated that he had to eat every two hours since he no longer had the capacity to store food. He was also susceptible to choking so he had to make sure that food is broken into very small pieces before swallowing.

So Tactless…

Last Monday, my parents together with my father’s siblings and nieces went to Bacolor to attend Mass at the San Isidro Labrador Chapel. They do this annually every May 15 (San Isidro’s feast day and town fiesta). However this year they went early because they wanted to escape the festivities and the crowd.

Our relatives were surprised to see Mom looking quite fit despite her ailment. My Mom’s not shy about her cancer so she told them all about her chemo treatment and her tests which showed that her CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) count had significantly went down from 23 to 11. Everyone should be happy about that, right? But no this tactless and insensitive uncle of mine had to make this comment in front of my Mom and cousin who had lupus, “Bakit kapag may pera ang tao, malubha na ang sakit, buhay pa rin!” Whaaaat? Can’t you just be happy about my mother’s and cousin’s good fortune. You wonder why another relative refuses to receive visitors after learning that she had colon cancer, there’s your answer…it’s because of people like YOU!

My Mom just laughed and said that God had something to do with it. She told me that she was not offended but I am and if I ever see this uncle of mine, I would do my best to let him know how much his tactless comment hurt me!

The Joy Children Bring…

Three Reasons Why I Love Life

Mother’s Day started just like any ordinary day. My husband and I had breakfast while my kids were all asleep. Their cousins were staying here and they spent all night and dawn talking and playing (or so I thought).

We had dinner at my parent’s house since it was also their 48th wedding anniversary. Right after the meal, the children shepherded everybody to our house (we live in a small compound with my parents and youngest sister). The house was in darkness. I knew they had something planned but I thought it was some program for their grandparent’s anniversary.

When we entered the door, they turned on the lights and a shower of confetti greeted us mommies. We were told to sit in front of the TV. My daughters made two special AVPs for us mothers featuring our not so flattering pictures. Payback-time indeed!