Happy New Year

This is the last day of the year and I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have supported us in all of our endeavors. Surely we would have not reached this far without the support of our friends.

To all of our instructors, coordinators and most especially our participants.... Thank You! from the bottom of my heart. I wish you a Happy New Year and more blessings to come for this year ahead.

Before I close this post, I would like to add this another milestone in the history of our training. If you have been following my training blog, I am sure that you are familiar that I and the team have been conducting training in Visayas and Mindanao areas.

I am very glad that before the year closed, we were able to reach Luzon as well! Our very first training conducted in Luzon was in Naga City, Camarines Sur dated November 30 to December 2, 2010. It was participated to by different nurses in the are reaching to more than 60 participants. I am proud to say that it was another great success. The picture on the right shows Leo and Chao upon reaching Naga Airport. We arrive in Naga City one day ahead of schedule which definitely gave us time to tour around the city. Well, riding from the plane, the excitement already started, we were able to view the Mayon Volcano as well as several volcanoes in the area. But of course the most famous of all is Mayon considering that it is considered to have the perfect cone. Chao was able to get a picture of it from the plane window. The only thing is that some clouds have covered the tip of the volcano. It could have been a perfect picture without the clouds. (see picture on right side)

We were also able to visit one of their tourist attraction and Leo positioned on the big signboard for posterity... The place has been visited by people even from other countries. Operated by the provincial government it offers a wide variety of activities. But the most popular among all is the wakeboarding. In fact celebrities in our country often visit the area for fun and competition. It also has several rooms for accommodation. Simply a great way to have fun and relaxation. A big swimming pool is also available and of course , a restaurant is in the place to provide you different choices of food if you get hungry as you enjoy and have fun....

Okay then, as a closing post, Thank you for all the support.... May you have a wonderful new year celebration and may the coming year be more wonderful and prosperous for everyone...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas Greetings

Warm Greetings to everyone as we celebrate this season of joy. May the spirit of season bring joy and happiness in each and everyone's heart.

Merry Christmas to One and ALL!!!

How To Cook a Crab

This is the size of the crabs in Surigao City. Shortly after our lecture in Tandag, Surigao Del Sur, we proceeded to Surigao City for a short stop over. Our coordinator Albert was kind enough to invite us to his house and treat us with their special style of cooking crabs...

I have documented the whole preparation, just in case you might want to try it out. Of course the main ingredient is the crab. See the picture... if ever you want to choose a good crab, make sure its still alive. Also, choose the one which is quite hard on the bottom. Obviously the top is solid but the bottom part of the crab should be hard. This will tell you that the crab is fat.. Please do not include my buddy Leo on the ingredient.

The rest of the ingredients are on the right side picture. It includes malunggay, squash, some chilis. I cannot remember the other leaf on the right side but practically you could just see the picture and try to identify the leaf. You also need to prepare coconut milk. Make sure its a young coconut. In our local dialect, we call it "butong" and from there you make a milk out of it.. locally known as "tuno". From there you are all set....


The crabs are cleaned and basically half cooked. No water necessary. Just place it on the casserole. Once its halfway cook take it out. And stuff it with the "butong" that are shreded. Once done place the crab back in the casserole and pour the tuno together with the rest of the ingredients. I am sorry if I am not really good at cooking but perhaps the pictures will explain the it all...








Check out the dish! Everyone is invited.....



There you have it... The Crab according to "Albert" Really an amazing way of cooking the crab. The soup was also very delicious and with the malunggay on the sideline, its also nutritious.


Well allow me to thank Jade the wife of Albert for the accommodation and the warm welcome..


That's all for now, have to go... bon apeti!

BLS Goes 4 Years!

Many may have not known this but our training center has just reached another milestone. Just recently I remembered that we have already reached 4 years.

We have been approved by ECSI as an accredited training center last October of 2006. As the years pass by, we have continued to conduct trainings and have widened our reached. From Visayas to Mindanao and later this month will be going to Luzon.

I would like to thank everyone for their support. To all instructors, keep up the good work.. to all our coordinators, thank you for the patronage and to all our participants... thank your for your trust.

We hope to continue serving you and share with you the art of saving lives.... Happy 4th Year to all of us!


On the sideline:

Well, considering that its our 4th years, my buddy Leo and I have been scouting for a BLS muse. hahaha, just kidding. During the course of the training, there were some participants who pose for picture taking. So perhaps it would be great to post them here. Maybe you could help me out in choosing the best candidate for our BLS muse, just in time for our 4th year celebration.....











Now let's see if my buddy Leo can beat those pictures... Hahahaha!. Well, don't get me wrong. They are all friends and participants of our training. Once again... see you on my next post...

Happy 4 years..... Basic Lifesaving Solutions!

We Bring Safety Closer To You!

The View From Afar - Tandag to Surigao City

Well, I believe you have read from my previous post that we have conducted training in Tandag, Surigao Del Sur. From there we have to go to Surigao City to ride a boat heading back to Cebu.

As we traveled down the road, I took some pictures along the way as the views are really wonderful. As what I have been told, the road to Surigao City is not that good. But the views along the way were awesome.



How I wish I had a better camera. I could have captured better pictures. Well, I am just using the camera on my phone. Perhaps, I should start saving so I could buy myself a DSLR camera.

Upon arrival at Surigao City, our coordinator in the area the Team Leader of Rescue 44 asked me to drop by his house. The boat for Cebu will depart by 7 pm and we arrive in the city by 1 pm. We still have ample time to relax and he promised to cook a great crab menu especially for us... Well, I will definitely take a step by step picture on how its done... Watch out on my next post...

The Tandag Surigao Del Sur Experience

Date Log: October 21-23, 2010

OUR TRAINING VENUE AND ACCOMMODATION


After our course in Davao City, we proceeded to Tandag, Surigao del Sur. We arrive late in the evening so we were not able to look at the view. But as I woke up early morning... I was really fascinated by the place... I fall in love with what I saw...

This is the veranda of the resort and from this point of view, I could see that this would be perfect place for my morning coffee.





From the opposite standpoint, I could see the whole resort. Definitely a perfect place to just sit down and relax. I almost forget that I still have a lecture to handle.







The restaurant of the resort is also very nice. As I look at the menu, I find many different dishes and the rates are reasonable enough. Well, I still have three days to try them out. So there is no hurry.






The resort is also the venue for our three day training. The place is called Shacene. I failed to ask the reason why its called Shacene. Anyway, this is our humble abode for the 3 day training.





OUR TRAINING PARTICIPANTS




We have a total of 45 participants during the seminar composed of registered nurses. The whole program was sponsored by the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) Tandag Chapter. What is so great about the training is that the officers of the association were also there during the training and no less than the President of the PNA give the Welcome Address.


Special Moments

After our training we were invited by the group to go to another resort and enjoy a couple of drinks and foods. It so happens that one of the participants owns a private resort in the area. She happens to be the daughter of the Mayor of Tandag and we had some sort of "salo salo" party.



My buddy and I also enjoyed a couple of beer in the veranda as we watch the evening pass by. See also the lights on the background. I believe this is their version of the boulevard. Well, such a beautiful training indeed. As I have said, I fall in love with the place. Its quite, relaxing and very much enjoyable. Life moves so slowly here and yet you are very much satisfied.....

Perhaps you might be interested to see this things in the area. I have heard that there a lot of these and are very much cheap. I'm talking about this antique looking furniture. Perhaps if you pass by Tandag, it would be worthwhile to check on them.




Well that's it for now... were heading back to Cebu via Surigao City. We intend to stay a few hours in the city. Our friend and coordinator in the area invited us for dinner at his place. His gonna prepare a special dish for us. So check it out on my next blog. I will also take some pictures on our 5 hour trip from Tandag to Surigao. I heard that its gonna be a rough ride since the road is under repair... lets see what happens next.. See you then...

Back In Davao Once Again

Date Log: October 18-20, 2010

We are back in Davao City once again. This is our 2nd course for this month. This time the venue was in another place considering that the total number of participants have reached to more than 60 person. The coordinator has to find a bigger place to hold the seminar. Well, the venue was Precious Kidz Hall.

We also stayed in a different hotel. This time its the Tower Inn Hotel. The hotel is quite good and affordable. Though It would have been great to go back to our previous hotel but it would be great to try something new. Besides the hotel is just near the new venue of training.

As you may all know, ours is not only for work but for vacation as well. I took some time to jog along the peoples park. Its very interesting since the park is really huge and its in the center of the city. Unlike some other parks were it is so crowded, this park is really awesome. I enjoyed the view as well as exercised myself. Have to shed some sweat most especially that I have accumulated a lot of fats from the previous trip here.













What about the food? Well here is something new...if you have tried JO's Chicken or Mang Inasal, then you should try out Penongs. Judging from what I have seen, people here prefer Penongs. If you do not come early in the evening, then you're gonna have to wait a little while for a vacant table. But no problem. if you could see, they have some chairs outside for those on the waiting list. Their specialty is Chicken. But they also serve different kinds of dishes from pork, beef, and many other stuffs. Well the price is also very affordable and the rice is unlimited.

For those that who likes some Balbacua whatever time of the day, then you might want to try Bulcachong.. it is cooked like balbacua but its from the meat of a Carabao. The meat is soft and the soup is sticky... a little bit hot and spicy too... certainly great if you want to take out some hangover after a drink or just simply want to try something exotic.

After our training on the third day, we proceeded to the Davao Terminal to catch a bus for Tandag, Surigao Del Sur... Unfortunately there are only two trips for Tandag in the evening and the first trip will depart at 6:30 pm. This will arrive Tandag by 4am. The other trip was by a V-Hire Van. Scheduled to leave by 10 pm. Obviously it would to late for us once we arrive in Tandag. Good thing I was able to find a good contact for a private van.. so we did proceed to Tandag via our owned hired van with just me and my team on board...


Watch for my next post as I bring you a glimpse of Tandag... Shortly after arriving at the area... I fell in love with the place already.... see you then!

The City Of Friendship- Cagayan De Oro City

Date Log: October 15-17, 2010

I arrive in Cagayan De Oro City way ahead of my team. Shortly after the lecture in Davao, I made went back to Cebu City to check on some important matter and proceeded to Cagayan De Oro City via Cebu Pacific Airlines.

The lecture was conducted at the Capitol University Medical City. Prior to starting our course, I was escorted by our coordinator for a courtesy call to the Head Nurse of the Hospital.

More than 40 participants joined our training. Most of them were employees and volunteers of the Capitol University Medical City. As usual, the training was great and all of those who joined were very much satisfied with the training.

Well, our work would not be complete without a short vacation... so we proceeded to the Divisoria. Its a great things since during Fridays and Saturdays, the area is filled with foods from barbecues to different dishes. You will surely have something for your appetite.

Food trip once again!

Next stop is Davao City Once Again.....

The Safe City Of Davao

Date Log: Oct 12-14

8 am - We proceeded to Butuan City Terminal for our trip to Davao City. We boarded the Bachelor Express and at around 8:50 am, the Bus departed left the terminal heading for the destination. I had a short conversation with the driver prior to departure and was told that the trip would be around 7 hours considering that we will be stopping on some terminals along the area.

As the bus rushed out from the city of Butuan, I could already see the green scenery along the side. I know its gonna be along trip but, the ride is very much comfortable and the view is very much relaxing.

The great thing is there isn't much passengers on the bus so we could freely use any available chairs on the bus.

We arrive at around 4 pm in the afternoon and were greeted by the friendly reception of the Galleria Hotel in the heart of the City. This is the second time that we have stayed in this hotel and are very much familiar with the place already. The hotel has been operating for 13 years already. It has a small swimming pool in the ground floor and a restaurant just beside the pool.

After a very restful evening, we are very much ready for our course.But of course, my day would not start without a cup of coffee.. So I woke up early and ordered brewed coffee from the restaurant. Great to start the day with some information about whats happening all around. Well, this is life, truly a working vacation. On the background is the far end of the pool. Its not that big but it's definitely great to dip in most especially if you want to work out some muscles or just plainly want to relax.

Once again the venue was in Brokenshire College Bahay Alumni Building. The building is located inside the compound of Brokenshire College. As we arrive at the site, a big streamer caught my attention....

On left is the Bahay Alumni Building where our First aid and Health Care Provider CPR course was held. A total of 53 participants joined our training and it was again another successful event so and so that the coordinator informed us that another group is ready for another round of training. Well, it looks like were going back to Davao once again......


But just before leaving the City of Davao, we visited our favorite dining place once again. The "Glamour" (eat all you crab) restaurant. It just a few meters from Galeria Hotel and all we need to do is walk to the area. It was great that there was still some tables and chairs available when we arrive considering that when we first went to the place, we were on the waiting list....

The restaurant does not offer just crab but a variety of different dishes. But of course the star of the table is my favorite dish... Just take a look at the picture below and you will find out why....


Perhaps i should do more exercise... someone told me to be careful with my blood pressure. Well, I guess I need to look for a good place to jog... Anyway, see you all on my next post as we travel to the city of Friendship... Cagayan De Oro City....