A Message to Mom I

In the twenty three years of my life, I think I have never completely told you how important you are to me.   I want you to know that your existence to me is like water.  An essential need to my everyday.  And  though I do (literally) say that I love you, not only with words but with hugs and kisses as well, I feel that it is always insufficient.  That it will always be lacking.  I feel that no matter how many times I give my appreciation, it would never amount to the affection and dedication you gave me your whole life.   Was a hug enough for the warm meals you make every morning?  Or would a kiss take out the stress of staying up late to patch up my uniforms?  I slip by a lot of times without even saying the word "thank you"...and I am truly sorry for those times.  It's not that I don't appreciate you. I am just so grateful to you mom, beyond the countless words my mind can think off.

Remember when I was a kid?  We used to live in this big and lonely house.  For me, the world was the wide living room with the few furniture.  You were there, neatly sitting across the room from where I keep my robot toys and Tomy cars, diligently watching over me.  Mom, I bet you don't know, but in my memories you were a giant.  However, you were a gentle one.  I can remember how I used to look up to you knowing that I can never reach you.  So little and powerless. Then, you'll go and pick me up with your caressing hands to encase me in a warm embrace.  I felt really loved.

As I grew up, I was a little messed up.  I was arrogant and egocentric.  But you know, a kid will always have that phase at one point in their lives.   I am sorry for threatening to leave the house once.  Was it because of the dessert I loved very much?  I can't really remember what the cause was but I am fairly sure it was a childish reason.  I thank you for putting up with me and my rather difficult personality. Whenever I did something wrong, you would punish me but in kindness.  In Florante and Laura, I remember this line,"Pag-ibig anaki'y aking nakilala, di dapat palakhin ang bata sa saya."  You made sure not to spoil me for it will be far more cruel for you to do so.  Although, I still remember that ruler you used to spank me with in fear (Well, mostly it was lolo's belt that I remember in true fear), I look back at the memory with pride.  Mom, you loved me very much to be cruel at times that you need to.

During my awkward teenage years, how could I possibly forget about your warm welcoming of my adolescence.   I bet you worried a lot for me.  I know how reluctant you were in letting me out to the world. For you know how it works, you have raged your youth in it and found how scary the outside world would be.  But you respected my age and acknowledged my petty wisdom.  Slowly, you let me out of my castle to spread my little wings.  You helped me take that first step to independence and supported me in whatever decision I made.  I thank you mom!  I never would have pulled through today if you haven't allowed me so.

Now, as a young adult, you face yet another hurdle in motherhood.  I have expressed my intention to leave the house after saving up some money.  You must feel lonely just thinking about it.  Maybe that is why you always feel lonely...because you are thinking of the near future of me and Aiko leaving you. Please remain strong and courageous as you are!   Remember that we always love you even if we are far away.  From the day I was but a little baby inside your stomach, you have filled me with the seed of love that grew with every warm touch and kisses you gave me.  It will continue to grow and it shall bear fruit to every thing I do.  And perhaps yes, in moment's glance, I'll be planting seeds of love as well in your grandson's (or granddaughter's) heart just as you have with us.

Please continue to support me in everything!

I love you mom!  You're the best!  

A Look at the Red Cross First Aid Instructor Training

In the pursuit of personal development and self improvement, I have, once again, committed myself to volunteering.  This time around, I am dedicating my time to Red Cross's SmartStart Program for teaching multilingual individuals first aid.   It's been almost a year since Amelia Foster, my wonderful first aid instructor, directed me to this program and finally, things just fell into place. I was rather frustrated last summer when no news came from Red Cross.  Apparently, there were some funding issues last year so the SmartStart Program couldn't be executed.  Who could blame them really?  A thousand dollars ($1,000) worth of training for each volunteer was needed and if not enough money was allocated to the program then it won't run.

A picture of the Red Cross Lower Mainland Center in Burnaby, BC

We first engaged in the two days "standard" first aid course.  I took it last year with Amelia but Kenny, the head of the SmartStart program, said that it is better to take it to refresh our memory.  After all, we will be teaching the course itself, so, repeating all of the content would reinforce that knowledge to your brain.  the more you remember, the more accurate and detailed your lecture will be, right?  And, lo and behold!  The manikins we used during the first aid course.

Resusci Anne manikins

These are older dolls compared to the ones I first encountered when I took the Standard First Aid Course last year.  Amelia had those Anne dolls with a flashing light at the acromion end of the clavicle.  If the light is green, it means you're doing the compression at the right pace, depth and force.  However, if it is orange (or red?)  it means, you are either doing the compressions too fast or too slow, too light or too heavy.  But of course, those kinds of manikins are more expensive.  And as much as I know how Kenny would like to update the equipment for teaching first aid, she can't really spend money on that right now, considering the mishap that happened last year wherein the program wasn't able to run because of money restrictions.  Maybe in a few months or so, they will have a few of those manikins.  Or maybe they already have it but they just don't bring it out much.  Anyway, when you are in the field, it wouldn't matter if you used those more advanced manikins or not.  All that matters is how you will be able to deliver CPR immediately and as accurately as possible.  No flashing lights to tell you that you're doing it right or not.  Just the unconcious person in front of you, a lot of bystanders and your knowledge of first aid.

So aside from practicing the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), we also practiced almost all of the skills in the first aid hand book.  Bandaging and splinting took the longest!  We weren't able to finish on the first day and had to carry over the lower extremity splinting on the second day.   And it's also kind of funny how we were dismissed earlier on the second day, considering how we covered a lot more topics that day.  Maybe it's because there were fewer questions that day and a lot more floor work.  After all of the skills were done and Kenny was satisfied with what we were showing, we wrapped things up.

After care!

From left to right:  Irene, Mona, Me, Sun, Sam, Kenny and Silvia

I asked to take home a baby doll because I found it hard to give the baby breaths.  I wasn't satisfied with the practice I had and felt that I could improve if I practiced more at home.  Kenny was happy to lend us all the dolls!  Elie Mei practiced with me and pretended to be the baby's mother.  It made practice more fun!  The skills test went fine after that so I guess I have to thank my little sister for being in character for me.  From here on out though, I have to retain the knowledge I got and strive to improve the detail I put in practice.  That way, I could improve the content of my teaching.   I can't wait to share these magnificent life saving skills with other people.

The Baby Anne manikin I took home :)

Hoping to better myself along with Red Cross! 

Liminality

A poem on experiencing liminality brought about by disability

Liminality 
By Akemi

Alive but dead
Dead yet still breathing
Life has robbed me of its treasures
All that I was,
And all that I'll be
'tis no more

As the people join hands
To set the world in motion
I fell out of role
In the darkness of day
You see me..
With blind eyes

I ponder upon my reflection
Though I am whole, I am broken
My hands no longer craft
My feet no longer stride
The fiend cut deep
To rob even my soul

In dreams I embark on lost adventures
Of the life I never had
Of the life I've wished I had
Slumber away 'til my moving feet are reality
Dreams are all I need...
Dreams are all I need...

(May 18, 2012)

Genbu Kaiden finally ends

This is totally unrelated to occupational therapy but I felt that I really REALLY needed to blog about it.  Since the year 2007, I have been diligently reading Yuu Watase's Fushigi Yuugi Genbu Kaiden.  Anime fan or not, you may be familiar with Fuushigi Yuugi.  Well, this is the story of the first ever maiden who entered the book of the four gods - two hundred years before Tamahome and Miaka's love story set into motion.  Truthfully, I had doubts before reading it for two nonsensical reasons (now that I look back to it). One, I haven't exactly read the past work of Yuu Watase although I have watched the anime Fushigi Yuugi.  And you know, not to demean Miaka's story but I just grew out of that "too cheesy" stuff (and the reverse harem factor).  So I kind of expected it to be with the same feel as the last one.  Boy, was I wrong.  Second reason, I knew it was tragedy.  I didn't want to read it knowing it was going to end in Takiko dying.  Tragedies stick to me until I sublimate it into something like what I am doing right now.   Otherwise, I'm going to think of it for days!  But I'm glad I did decide to click that first chapter.  One chapter was all it took and I knew I just had to finish this manga.  It didn't help when suddenly Watase decided to put it on hiatus in 2008).  All of us waited for almost five years.  FIVE YEARS!!!  That felt like forever!  I mean come on, with the 2012 apocalypse ringing back in 2010, I was thinking, "There is no way the world is going to end before I know what is going to happen in Genbu Kaiden!" And yes, Watase-sensei didn't fail us.

A love this pure deserves to have a happy ending

Five years for this fulfilling ending

Took my two favorite pages, which by the way, still makes me cry when I read them. Kudos to Genbu Kaiden Love who scanlated the whole series!  Without your hardwork, I never would have known Uruki and Takiko's pure love. 

Unofficial Guide to CAOT Application for IEOTs

Since I got here in Canada, a lot of my friends have been asking about how to apply to for the National Occupational Therapy Certification Exam and so I decided to make a detailed post about it.  Just a reminder to you guys that this procedure is for World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) accredited schools; however, you are very free to read it if you would like.

BASIC WEBSITES
First and foremost, let's go over the basic websites to access the information you need in your endeavor.  I have to say, it took quite some self assertion to tie up the loose strings in this puzzle. Listed below are the websites with a simple description and the basic knowledge you can get from them:

1.  Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

The first thing you'll see when you click the link above

The prime of them all!  Everything and anything you need to know about applying starts from here.  The steps you must take in applying is detailed there.  You can find both the application process for the WFOT accredited and the Non-WFOT in this website.  However, you can easily get lost in this website as there are a lot it covers and it is in your discretion to filter what you need to read from what you don't.  I spent hours trying to filter those stuff but don't worry, I have a smart advice about browsing the site.  So, upon entering "CAOT Central".  That blue rectangle up there in the main picture, the site will open up with this:

CAOT Central page

So, what I want you to do is ignore all other tabs aside from the one that has a red arrow pointing to it.  Once you have clicked that, the page should look something like this:

The IEOT page in the CAOT website

Okay, this time you must take your time to read and understand just what an IEOT is.  From my point of view, the explanation is as plain as day so there is really no need to divulge on its meaning.  In the next websites that you will check, the term IEOT will be a standard.  At this point however, you must note whether you come from a WFOT accredited school or not because the path you take for application is totally different as IEOTs.  So, from there you have two choices to follow.  One is to just click the eligibility requirements page I have provided here for both WFOT accredited and Non-WFOT accredited schools or you follow the other path I will provide. For the second path, you must click the National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE) link found on at the bottom of the first division of the site. You will be redirected to this:

The NOTCE page from the "Students" tab

From here, you must click the link that the red arrow is pointing.  This page frequently changes so this might not be the one you'll see if you're going to visit the site again in November.  However, I believe that the link to the "eligibility requirements" is always there.  After clicking the link, you will be redirected to the "International Graduates" page that is also located on the first division of the page.  From there, you'll you can easily follow the steps in applying.

2. Internationally Educated Occupational Therapist Portal

This website is specially made for IEOTs like us.  It is a great site that simplifies the things you need to go over for your overall transition of practice here in Canada.  See that encircled icons below?  Those are the things you need to go through and if you get lost during browsing (because the pages will redirect you to other websites), you just need to go back here and click on what you have yet to cover.

IEOT Portal main page

The greatest thing I love about this website is the "Success Stories" page.  I really recommend that you take time to watch their videos there.  They really give you a glimpse of what to expect in applying and in practicing occupational therapy here in Canada. And of course, they give out really handy tips.

3. Citizenship and Immigration Canada

As you may have read already from the learned from the second website I have listed, it is compulsory to emigrate to Canada. As far as I know, you need to have a permanent resident status or you have papers in process for getting into Canada to apply for the exam. In this website, you'll find it easier to navigate.  My tip is to know what type of application you want and then search the tabs located at the upper side of the main page.

See how friendly the site is?  You'll know more when you navigate through it

Let's put a little depth on what to search so that you won't get lost in the site.   If you have at least two (2) years of experience in the occupational therapy field, you can apply for the "Skilled Workers and Professionals".  The downside of this is I think you have to have an arranged employment contract.  Another important matter that may limit this choice is that the government of Canada is cutting down on getting skilled workers and professionals to migrate.  I do not really know why but that is the last I have heard.  You might want to go check the website time and again to get updates. My family and I went through the "Provincial Nominee" process.  You might want to check that out as well.

Other  Important Websites 

Aside from those three basic websites, you will need to decide on what PROVINCE to practice in.  Deciding on where to practice at this early stage is essential because there are some differences in "registering" for practice per province.  Let's say in the Western parts of Canada like The College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia, the language requirement is English.  However, in the Eastern parts like in College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, the better choice of language is French.  I believe that there are also provinces that do not allow temporary practice without a license and there are those many who allow it if you are already eligible for the exam.  Check out this page to know see the list of provincial regulators.


CONTACTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE

Now that you know the basic information, it is time to contact people.  At this point, there are two important people you must contact - the Exam Services Administrator in CAOT and one staff from the provincial registry (the registrar I think).  You can also e-mail them in their general mailing address that is exam@caot.ca for CAOT and again, your preferred provincial regulator.  For those interested in British Columbia, mail this address info@cotbc.org.  They will reply to you in one business day. Yes, that fast.

So, after knowing who to contact, you must learn on how to contact them.  Although you are going to contact them, you must do it with finesse.  Be sure to address them properly and as how they would like it.  For example, when Mr. Ryan Govern, the Exam Services Administrator of CAOT, replies to you and said that you can address him as Ryan, you do so.  Otherwise, you will be culturally inappropriate.  However, if he does not permit you so, you will remain calling him as Mr. Ryan.  Subsequently, you must construct the body of the letter in an organized manner.   Ideas and questions expressed clearly will get an answer with the same transparency or at least I believe so.  Of course don't forget to introduce yourself before you actually ask a question.  Lastly, sign with your whole name and your title.  If you need help in articulating yourself in writing, you better start learning now because having that skill gives you an edge.  Mr. Ryan McGovern will ask you to construct a cover letter to accompany your application form.  And you will also need to construct cover letters when you apply for jobs.  Actually, you write cover letters here for almost everything!

Also another option is to call CAOT and the provincial regulator to ask your questions but I think e-mailing is as good.  Better perhaps!  Because you can browse through it again.


DOCUMENTS NEEDED

For the documents you need, I am pretty sure it is almost everything I got from my school.  I ordered a lot of documents!  And honestly, I can't remember their descriptions but I'll try hard to list them down.  Here is the list:

1. Diploma
2. Transcript of Records
3. Certificate of Internship
4. Course Syllabus (with description)
5. Certification that the school is WFOT accredited
6. Certification of Graduation
7. Certification of Completion (?)  - hmmm...I'm not sure about this
8. Other certificates (e.g. academic scholar certificate, dean's lister certificate, etc.) although I don't think this matters much

Okay, so after contacting Mr. Ryan on applying and you have sent the application, you will need to have the documents above reviewed.  A year before, you need to pass it to BCIT but now they made it easier.  They recruited the World Education Services (WES) to assess the documents.  You can also find the WES link in CAOT.  The required assessment is the basic document by document credential report.  Other documents I have missed in the list may be listed there when you browse through the application.


THE COST

Costs will be tearjerking, I tell you.  Once your application is approved, it will cost you an immediate 500 CDN . 200 CDN for your language assessment and 120+ CDN for the credential assessment.  Add to that the money you need to get all of the documents you need in your school. One thing you need is a credit card to make payment handy but a cheque would do nicely as well.  You just need to make sure it gets to Canada safely.  If you intend to use a cheque, please do not, DO NOT send it through ordinary mail.  Send it via couriers (if they allow it).


There are a lot of information to digest, I know.  And perhaps with all of the meticulous process you need to go through, you will be discouraged.  However, I assure you that Canada is a great country to go to.  The people are willing to help you as long as you don't give up on them.   I suggest giving it a try before letting the idea go.  After all, you will only go as far as you think you'll go.

Edukasyon ko Inang Bayan, kaya mo pa bang tustusan?

Ngayong gabi, nasadlak ako sa kalungkutan ng marinig ko ang pagpapakamatay ng isang labing-anim na taong gulang na estudyante mula sa University of the Philippines - Manila (UP-Manila).  Freshman siya ng dating kolehiyo ni Aiko, parehas na Behavioral Sciences ang kurso.  Pinakita siya sa akin ng kapatid ko sa iilang Facebook pictures na naka-share sa page ng kolehiyo nila. Marahan siyang nagkwento.  Madalas na tumitingin ang kapatid ko ng mga pictures ng underclassmen niya at palaging sumusulyap sa landas na hindi niya tinahak. Natatandaan niya daw na representative si Kristel ng mga freshman sa isang aktibidad ng kolehiyo. Nabanggit niya nga minsan, sa aking paggunita, na madami daw siyang gustong "i-bully" sa mga first years.  Tulad daw ng mga ginawa sa kanila noong isang semestre niyang pag-aral sa UP.  At heto daw, hindi siya makapaniwala na merong nagpakamatay sa kinasasabikan niyang mga underclassmen. Dahil sa kahirapan ng buhay.  "Paano kung nandun ako?", tanong niya sa akin habang nagpipigil ng luha.  Wala akong naisagot.

Si Kristel ay panganay sa limang magkakapatid.  Taxi driver ang trabaho ng ama at simpleng maybahay lamang ang ina.  Isa lamang siya sa maraming kabataan ngayon sa Pilipinas na naghahangad ng edukasyon ngunit nahahadlangan ito ng kahirapan.  Nitong nakaraang dalawang dekada, hindi makakaila na lubhang bumaba ang budget ng gobyerno sa edukasyon sa kabila ng mga pangako nila na pagtutuunan ito ng pansin. Ang unang naalala ko nung dekada nobenta ay ang pag-allocate ng budget sa iba't-ibang sektor ng gobyerno para ilagay sa "pork barrel".   Isa ang kagawaran ng edukasyon sa kinuhanan ng pera upang mapuno ang kaban ng mga kongresista.  At sinong makakalimot sa milyones na tinanggal ng administrasyong Arroyo sa PUP?  Isa yan sa mga ibinato ni PNoy sa nakalipas na administrasyon at kakatwa na isinambalik niya sa pamumuno niya ngayon.  Mas malala pa nga kung ikukumpara dahil isang bilyon mahigit ang tinanggal niya sa edukasyon at kalusugan nitong taong 2010.  Sa dami ng mga kinaltas ng gobyerno, lumipad ang halaga ng edukasyong hirap na ngang abutin ng mahihirap.  

Isa sa mga naunang artikulo na lumabas tungkol sa trahedya mula sa The Manila Collegian

Natatakot ako para sa mga kapwa ko Pilipino, lalong lalo na para sa mga kabataan.  Tila ba unti-unti nilang ginagawang mang mang ang mga sumusunod na henerasyon.  Tumatarik ang tatsulok at ang edukasyon na dapat ay karapatan ng bawat isa ay nagiging pribilehiyo.  Mayayaman na lamang ang nakakatamasa ng disenteng edukasyon at ang mga sadlak sa hirap ay nagkukumahog sa maliliit na silid-aralan.  Nasa awa na tayo ng mga oligarko sapagkat hawak nila ang utak ng kabataan. Nitong nakaraang dekada, meron nang mga artikulo at iilang mga aktibista ang pumuna sa pamamaraan nila.  Natatandaan niyo pa ba ang "Study now, pay later" program noong 90s? Isang mabuting programa na ginagawang paraan ng mga oligarko para maibulsa ang pera ng masa.  Halos isang daang estudyante din ang nabigyan ng umano'y "loan" ang hindi masingil ng Commission of Audit (COA).  Naglaho na parang mga multo. Ha! Tapos sa tuwing may mga problemang darating (tulad ng kay Kristel) ay pinaiikot lamang nila tayo sa mga hintuturo nilang di matigil sa pagturo.  Sinisisi ng gobyerno ang UP-Manila ngunit sila ang tunay na may hawak ng kapangyarihan upang mabago ito.  Madaling magtaas ng tuition ngunit hindi madaling ibaba.  Madaling magsibak ng estudyante kaysa sa gumawa ng paraan upang makatapos sila.  Yupian na nga talaga ang UP kung ganun.

Tila nga malayo-layo pa ang tatahakin natin para maabot ang Pilipinas na ipinaglaban noon ng ating mga ninuno.  Ayokong matulad ang mga Pilipino kay Boxer (ng Animal Farm) na buong buhay nagkayod para sa demokrasyang hindi totoo at namatay ng hindi namulat sa katotohanan. Masipag at matiyaga ang mga Pilipino at di hamak na may potensyal upang harapin ang mundo.  Huwag tayong magbulag-bulagan at magbingi-bingihan sa isyung ito! Edukasyon ang susi sa pag-ahon mula sa kahirapan kaya huwag tayong pumayag na tanggalin ito sa ating mga anak. Sabay sabay nating pasanin ang bigat ng buhay na kinitil ng mga oligarko at ipaglaban ang nararapat.

Imahe ng kasipagan at tiyaga

Sa ngayon, ang pagtustos ko sa dalawang bata mula sa World Vision ang tanging magagawa ko upang makatulong sa sitwasyon.  Maraming tumutulong sa atin mula sa iba't-ibang bansa kaya't tulungan din natin ang isa't-isa.  MERONG PAG-ASA ANG PILIPINAS!  

Isang World Vision sponsored child dati, Order of Lakandula and CNN Hero

 Sana ay makita ko ring magtagumpay sina Clarence at Lyka sa buhay.  Sa ngayon, hahayaan ko muna silang maging bata.

OTepp First Week

As I am currently in line for the November 2013 National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination here in Canada, I have decided to enroll in a program funded by CAOT called OTepp.   It is a program ran by the McMaster University in Ontario that assists internationally educated and returning occupational therapists integrate into the Canadian practice.  It consists of five (5) modules that started this January 2013 up until June, just before the July examination. I was a little late to register because of the status of my papers so I joined in the third module.

Interested in the program?  Click the link

We are currently studying evidence -based practice in which we are taught how to critically appraise articles to be used in practice.  In a virtual classroom!  I am so fascinated by this new experience that I can hardly contain my smile every start of the session. (Not that they could see my ridiculous smile though)  It really surprised me as well just how many Filipinos were engaged in the program.  And yes, it is perhaps one of the main reasons why I am happy with the classes.  Hearing a familiar accent calms me down and it reassures me (somehow) that we are one in the same.  We are seeking help to re-enter the world of occupational therapy.  Striving hard to re-ignite the flames of passion for the profession in a highly unfamiliar setting.

 Truly, support groups like this for internationally educated health care professionals like us is truly a blessing!      Can't imagine starting from nowhere.  Next week, I'll be posting about the process I underwent to apply for eligiblity to CAOT.