KCAT CAN: Haiyan tragedy brings out the best in humanity

Haiyan tragedy brings out the best in humanity

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” – Charles Dickens

My friends and I decided not to push through with all our plans for our annual Christmas activities for kids in our place. It doesn’t seem right to ask for donations when we know there are a lot more people who need immediate help.

The news about Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) was really depressing.

KCAT CAN: Hearing Christmas bells in November

Hearing Christmas bells in November

It’s still 44 days before Christmas but my sister’s friend and co-audiologist Myra Capistrano rang the Christmas bells early for 60 children with hearing impairment.

With the help of her family, friends and the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust in U.K., they gave the kids the gift of hearing through hearing aids.

Sitting pretty: A hassle-free and comfortable travel with Lifelifters

Yesterday (November 3), I joined Talitha on their Medical Mission / Charity Event / Outreach Project (whatever you want to call it) at Jollibee in West Ave., QC. Good thing Neil of Lifelifters Transport Inc. offered me a free two-way ride with their van that is equipped with a wheelchair lift to any destination within Metro Manila. Cool right?

KCAT CAN: Meet my ‘SuperwoMOM’

Read:
Meet my ‘SuperwoMOM’

When my mom was diagnosed with Lupus in 2000, she never obliged us to take care of her or accompany on her checkups and activities because we were so young then. I never really understood what she was going through until I saw her enduring her suffering just to attend to my needs and accomplish all the paperwork for my upcoming surgery back then.

My mom, Madeliene Lopez Yarza or Madge is selfless. She never buys anything for herself unless it’s on a bargain. Whenever she has extra money, she would always prioritize our needs, and set aside her own. I would often tell her to take care of herself first. There were even times that I would refuse her help and demand that she attend to her needs first. But she still won’t and that would really break my heart.

I’m just amazed at how my mom, a sick person, can manage to take good care of another sick person, whether it’s me or anyone in our family. Even my close friends and relatives also felt her tender love and care. She is often in deep pain but she knows how to ease away our own pain. My mom is truly my inspiration. Here, I share her heart’s desire to hopefully inspire others.

KCAT CAN: Live your dreams

Live your dreams

‛We are the creator of our dreams – write it, draw it, color it and make it come to life!’

Kinda headache...GONE

I had a weird dream. It was raining non-stop and it's becoming stronger and stronger until there was an explosive sound. I closed my eyes and DECIDED to wake up upon opening my eyes. Yes, decided talaga. I often do it whenever I my dream gets irritating. Seryoso. Anyway, it was only 6:30 (or 6:40) AM and I'm still sleepy so I closed my eyes again, placed the tape back and went back to sleep. Tss. To be continued ang dream. It's still the non-stop rain outside our home. the sound of the raindrops is deafening as it gets stronger and stronger. The only thing I can hear is that irritating raindrops. Nakakabingi! Nakakairita! Eh di I woke up again. 9AM (or was that 8:30?) My head feels so heavy naman. Ang bigat bigat. Tulog nalang uli. Non-stop rain AGAIN!!!! And the whole house is moisting up this time.. Ayoko na nga! I finally woke up for real at 10AM with a heavy head and KINDA HEADACHE.

Heavy head w/c I call "kinda headache" often happens to me. Sanay na ko coz it disappears din naman after sometime.

But it's already gone a few minutes after I applied this (AS IN!):

Zenutrients Massage Oil

KCAT CAN: The gift of hearing (II)

The gift of hearing

A cochlear implant (CI) is a surgically implanted electronic device that can provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing. It can’t restore someone’s hearing nor cure deafness but for a person with hearing impairment and their family, CI is a life-changing device.

I too, have experienced a better quality of life after receiving my CI in 2008. I may still not understand speech or listen to music but the little sounds that I hear make the difference. It may just be a mere noise to most people but for me, it’s a blessing; it’s life.

Book launching for a cause: RealLife - stories of ordinary Filipinos with extraordinary lives

Last Thursday (September 26), Tita Dolly Palisada sent me a message on Facebook about the launching of her book. At first I thought she was inviting me just because I knew that she was working on a book. When she asked me to prepare a short speech, that's when I realized that my story is also included. WOW! She interviewed me for The News Today earlier this year but I didn't know that it was for her book as well.

Here it is: