Lay Forum on X-Linked Dystonia Parkinsonism (XDP or “Lubag”)
Today’s activity: lay forum with the Department of Neurosciences on X-Linked Dystonia Parkinsonism (XDP), locally known as “lubag” – an inherited condition affecting males with ancestry from Panay island in the Philippines. It was interesting that while my colleagues were at the midyear national convention for Rehabilitation Medicine in Roxas City on Panay island this […]
Graduation, again! Lukan Doctors this time.
Second graduation rites in less than a week, this time at the St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine-William H. Quasha Memorial. Graduates shift their beret tassels from right to left to signify their new status, then ascend the stage to receive their hood and diplomas from school administration (in contrast – see previous post: […]
Dare to be XXV at Tanaw (Graduation)
University of the Philippines College of Medicine Recognition Rites (aka. the “college graduation” as opposed to the “university graduation” which happened earlier, for all the graduating students from University of the Philippines Manila campus). Faculty from all departments marched into the auditorium; my colleagues from Rehabilitation Medicine came in with the clinical departments. I got […]
University of the Philippines College of Music Dean Mauricia D. Borromeo, 1939-2025
My piano teacher (my last lesson was in 1993 or 1994 but I still consider her my piano teacher) passed away yesterday from a recurrence of breast cancer. I went to the first night of her wake tonight, where her family, friends, colleagues and students gathered to celebrate her life. As musicians, it was but […]
July 2025: Adventures in Academia, USA Edition
A productive (but tiring) trip to the USA. Whew! Conference #1 of 2: (Please don’t) Break a Leg: an Introduction to Performing Arts Medicine. Ran a little over time because I asked the audience to stretch after sitting through 60 minutes of lectures from other people. But they needed it! Grateful for the opportunity to […]
Dancing the Afternoon Away with Experiential Learning and Wellness
Our Philippine General Hospital Department of Rehabilitation Medicine did some experiential learning last Friday, coupling two short talks on dance with ballroom dancing. We started with a talk from physiatrist and lifelong dancer Dr. Ria Panis, who brought her dance + medicine expertise with an introduction to dance medicine. I followed this with a “rehearsal” […]
High Voltage, High Stakes: Neurosciences Grand Rounds (Adult Neurology)
This past Wednesday, June 18, 2025, I had the privilege of being one of the reactors at Adult Neurology’s Grand Rounds. Our Ward 5 neighbors invited me to talk about the rehabilitation considerations in the not-very-common condition of spinal cord injury due to electrical injury. The neurologists presented the case of a billboard installer whose […]
Ginhawa + Awit = Ginhawit: Singing Therapy and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
After months of planning, yesterday we had the first session of what singer and medical doctor Leslie Diaz (“Doc Les”) has dubbed “Ginhawit” – using singing as a means for pulmonary rehabilitation. He combined the Filipino words “ginhawa” (comfort, relief) and “awit” (song) to come up with this witty title. According to the American National […]
Vital Signs: Philippine Short Stories on Healing
I attended a special book launch today – editors Ronnie E. Baticulon, MD and Marjorie Evasco, PhD put together this carefully curated anthology of Philippine short stories on healing under the auspices of Milflores Publishing. After the usual short speeches by the authors, publisher and University of the Philippines Manila administration folks, we heard two […]
Injury Prevention at Artists En Pointe Dance Studio
Third in a series: today Dr. Ria Mikhaella Panis and I visited Artists En Pointe Dance Studio once again in Alabang, Muntinlupa for the much anticipated talk on Injury Prevention, after January’s Nutrition for Dancers and February’s Dance Anatomy presentations. BRAVA Doc Ria, for delivering a comprehensive but very easy to understand presentation via hybrid […]
