Selfies as a 'born again' passion

Me at right with Terry Laabid, Fil-American Community of the Carolinas officer

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

I COULD unequivocally say that we have become witnesses to the growth of the online, wired “selfie” generation in the past few years.

Unless you've either been living under a rock or off the grid, you know what a selfie is. Nearly anyone young and old alike with a smartphone or social media accounts had at one time or the other took a photo of oneself and posted it online.

It is known in olden times as self-portraiture and thanks to technological advances, one need not be proficient with paintbrushes, ink pens or pencils since all it takes is one click from a smartphone to take a portrait of oneself.

This self-portraiture is born “again” and later you would understand why I described it so. Oxford Dictionary defines selfie as “a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.”

Take note of the following elements: oneself, smartphone and upload to a social media website.

Self-publication
“Selfies” have upended somewhat the features and rules of social communication by injecting some self-awareness and humor and showing how we behave in public. 

Ghing Vhoght 

At least for many, selfies show their best side to the world though it had also scraped that thinning line between the online and personal lives of social media users. 

While we still have some control over what we post and say, it still reflects a good part of our real lives.

Since I am a child of the past, selfies were something I took with a grain of salt. At times I smiled to myself at the idea of so many people taking selfies everywhere they are at the time and with everyone they happen to be with.

It wasn't until I was in a car and I forgot to take a book that I took out my smartphone and took a selfie. It is fun and sort of a self-publication of my own special moments. 

Joining the crowd
I thus joined the crowd so to speak. It was hard at first capturing myself especially with Ronnie who likes to join in on my selfies. I had to make a lot of adjustments whenever we pose together for selfies using my smartphone.

I have to look down or up, or just show one half of my face to get a better shot.
I don’t usually do the duck face, it's hard to do and I still have to study it. 

Maria Corazon Ducusin

In the words of my friend Ghing Vhoght who I think mastered the art of taking selfies, “it is only studying the best angle so we can take a good picture of ourselves.”

It is quite bizarre for me to learn that from self-portraits or selfies, it has evolved into a group or what Mary Grace Gaither calls multi-selfie. I find it more amazing to see how one can take photos of oneself and several other people using a smartphone camera. 

I admitted lately that I've taken pictures of myself when nobody is watching-- inside the car, waiting for an appointment and in other places where there's a nice background. 

Expression
I nearly broke my neck either looking up or down just to take these selfies. If it wasn't for my wry sense of humor, I'd be quitting it cold turkey. 

Parties are a certified hotspot for selfies, since anyone with a smartphone can take photos of themselves and upload it on their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest accounts.

Or they can wait for the proper time to post their selfies especially if they want to share it with the important people in their lives. I asked people why they take selfies, starting with my husband Ronnie.

Ronnie said he takes selfies because it's the in-thing to do these days. “And I am good looking man that's why,” he winked. No argument from me there.

Maria Corazon Ducusin also echoes Ronnie's sentiment, saying a selfie “is an expression of my everyday emotions.” “Like today I feel funny. Click. I feel good click!!. I feel beautiful..click!,” she said.

Self-art 
“And I always tell myself I’d better enjoy me and my selfies now because someday when I get old and wrinkly I'll sit down on my rocking chair and say., ...she is one good looking girl,” Maria said.

Maria usually posts selfies accompanied by positive thoughts so anyone who reads it would also feel good. She was the first among my circle here in Charlotte, North Carolina who punctuated her posts with “woohoo!” Who wouldn't find that contagious?

My daughter Honey and granddaughter Arianne Jaden Baisas

Another friend, Ghing Voght, started taking selfie pictures since last year when the “selfie movement just started.” Ghing said she always watches The Filipino Channel program “Showtime” and since then, she takes selfies for fun.

“I just followed them and it is nice since I can take the best selfie of myself.”

For Mary Grace Gaither, a mother of two, her selfies are a good outlet for self-expression and appreciation. Her favorite selfie is one with her hubby Steve and son Josh including  baby Stephanie that was taken last Easter. Stephanie was also looking at the camera, she said.

There are others who said that taking selfies are either narcissistic, attention seekers who crave public attention to maintain their self-esteem. Ronnie disagrees, saying that selfies is a form of self-art.

Self confidence issues
Then there are others who said taking selfies does help boost self-esteem and self-confidence and I agree with them. 

Even if you’re not willing to admit it, we all (to some degree) have self-confidence issues and, for some people, posting a selfie is a great way of getting over that low esteem and that's normal. 

The need to feel good is a valid issue and what better way to boost it than  through a selfie.

I also agree that to some extent, taking selfies isn't the healthiest thing to do and one should be careful not to overdo do it to make himself/herself feel better. Sometimes we need others to validate our actions.

Somebody said we need selfies as food for our self-esteem. But I say we just live in a different time when technology is impacting our lives in so many ways. 

Lynn Lorenzo Polk has this to say: ”We didn't have the technology then that we have now.” To each his own, but one shouldn't overdo selfies because it becomes an obsession which is unhealthy. 

Improved version
Polk said she doesn't take selfies but she isn't opposed to it. But taking selfies goes back to the time of artist Vincent Van Gogh, who painted more than 30 self-portraits some of which are said to be his most important works of art.

So you see the selfies of today are just an improved version of the original selfie portraits of Van Gogh except that we do it with our smartphones and monopods in hand instead of paint brushes.

Thus selfies are a “born again passion” enhanced only by technology. For me, I think selfies should be treated like other photos one takes which is intended to capture special moments that anyone would like to share with the world.

Other do it because they want to feel good about themselves while others are bored. Whatever their reason, I think the season for selfies is here to stay. I quote Lynn Lorenzo-Polk who said that “sometimes it's a once in a lifetime moment and one can't help but take a selfie.”

So what can you say about the selfie? Post your thoughts.  For more links read this and this. In the meantime, excuse me, I'm going to take a selfie.

Mary Grace Gaither and her husband with their family

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas.

Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.

You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)

Fond memories of the feast of St. Augustine

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

EVERY town and city in the Philippines has a fiesta of its own in whatever time of the year and in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental in northern Mindanao, it falls on Aug. 28.

On that date, Cagayan de Oro marks the feast day of St. Augustine after the Recoletos made it the city’s patron saint in 1674. Fiestas always bring out the best in us and depending on the local government unit, the celebration always improves every year.

As I was writing this piece, it dawned on me that I’m not the only one who’s grown nostalgic about the Cagayan de Oro fiesta. From all across the world, there are Kagay-anons who also reminisce about the city’s fiesta celebration.

From Gwendolyn”Wendy” Ramos-Garcia, the daughter of lawyer Pureza Ramos, the Cagayan de Oro fiesta reminded her of the time when she would always get a new dress for the occasion.

Wendy, who’s based in Union City, California and very much active at the Kagay-anon International also said  she “looks forward to the procession in honor of St. Augustine.”

Heavenly

“And best of all, the delicious fiesta fare at the house of Tito Angel and Tita Dory Chaves,” she said. A former president of the Cagayanons of Northern California, her husband Peter is now on his third term as its president.

Florida-based Susan Cepeda-Burkhard (who of course would forget the Cepeda Studio?) said she always remembers the “abundance of delicious native food such as lechon and many more” as something she always looks forward to.

Burkhard said she misses the colorful parade and the family gatherings and hanging out with friends. The last Cagayan de Oro City fiesta she attended was 23 years ago.

Marilyn Rago-Mabillin, now based in Pinole, California, recounts the time she was a choir member of the St. Augustine Cathedral since 11 years old.

“The appearance of Archbishop Hayes in public by celebrating the high Mass was so heavenly and the presence of most  (if not all) priests from all parts of the archdiocese coming to say Mass with him was so hair raising and this does not count the seminarians sitting in the front rows. And some of them joined us in the choir. Young as I was I already had crushes and one of them was a seminarian,” she said.

Blessings

Sandra Badon-Alms, formerly of the Cagayan de Oro City Information Office has this to say: “I missed my involvement in city fiesta activities, merry-making and praising God for all the blessings He gave the city for the entire year.”

Sandra, (Sandy to friends) now resides with husband Jack and her family in Long Island,  New York.

Miguela Saldua-Grant who worked at the Musni and Arcol Law Office before coming here in Charlotte, North Carolina, also shared that she looked forward to the parades, beauty pageants and other activities.

“Medyo taud-taud na pong wala nako kauli ug wala nako ka witness sa latest (It’s been sometime since I went home and I haven’t witnessed the latest) events,” she said.

Miguela, who’s  very active in church activities here at St. Matthews is also reminded of the high Mass. She said even if the St. Augustine Cathedral is full, she manages to always get inside.

Sunday best

Senny Macas-Trippe of Washington State, who used to work at the St. Augustine Cathedral also said she always remembers the Cagayan de Oro City fiesta as the time for honoring the city’s patron saint.

“The story I was told as a kid was how St. Augustine guarded the city along Cagayan de Oro river from its enemies. It is a time where all people (in different religion) unite for a day,” she said.

For me, I always look forward to the Cagayan de Oro City fiesta back when I was a little girl of the neighboring Tagoloan town in Misamis Oriental, northern Mindanao.

I used to count the days leading to the fiesta because it would mean I can ride on the jeepney with my father as driver. My father was the driver of Iyo Tilo Emano and I would be on the front seat in my Sunday’s best with my Nanay (mother).

Then Nanay would go to Cogon market and purchase some clothes at Ludenas while I watch the parade with lollipop in hand. I can remember watching movies either at Lyric theater afterwards or at Nations theater in another year.

Spiritual

Cagayan de Oro City changed overnight when I began work in the local media and I remembered reporting all the month-long city fiesta activities in my radio and TV program.

Most of the fiesta activities back then would be held at the Amphitheater or would start there like the civic-military parade, drum and bugle corps which added color to the celebration.

It is nice to see the students clad in their uniforms joining the parade but I think some of them don’t’ like it because it’s usually warm even if they don’t openly complain about it.

The passage of time changed the way I look at fiesta celebrations now and it made me realize that it is the spiritual aspect that’s more important though you can always balance both the spiritual and secular celebrations.

I’ve been attending the nine days novena Mass no matter busy I got and I also attend the Holy Mass during the fiesta when all bishops and priests in the diocese act as the main celebrant.

Marilyn Mabillin says even the priests outside Cagayan de Oro take time to join with the faithful in celebrating the feast of St. Augustine because on that day, there is plenty of food for people to partake at in the convent.

I really miss the feast of St. Augustine and so on behalf of Kagay-anons who now live abroad, I greet the residents of Cagayan de Oro a Happy Fiesta. Viva San Agustin!

(All Cagayan de Oro City fiesta photos are by Gardee Pacalioga. Check out his  Facebook page here.)

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas.
Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.


You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)

Farewell Manong Agustin

Manong Agustin with family

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Manong (A term of endearment to relatives and elderly friends equivalent to sir) Agustin Pungtod, whom I considered a “trailblazer” in Melecia Homes, Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental, northern Mindanao Philippines, was laid to rest last Thursday and I regret not saying goodbye personally to my friend. 

I remembered his pot belly, grey hair, receding hairline, old looking teeth and wrinkled smile with lively eyes. Always on top of the situation, Manong Agustin was a successful father if we based it on how his children are today.

My friendship with him was my sheltering tree in that life at Melecia. He should have been 77 years old in Aug. 28. His family originally came from Basilan province and I guess they transferred in Cagayan de Oro City 20 years ago. 

That's why when I talked about the armed conflict in Mindanao back in my broadcaster days he has a lot to share with me, since Basilan is one of the flashpoints of that conflict.

At first I was pleased to see the picture of “Manong” on Facebook on the news page. I told myself “wow he is on Facebook.”  Then the second time I looked at the image posted there were two angels, one atop and the other one below, with the flowers and backdrop white.

What struck me were the words “In loving memory of late Nong Agustin Pungtod.” It was a  moment of realization for me seeing that my friend was dead. It could not be, I told myself, he was strong physically and spiritually.  

I was saddened to know that I won't be able to see him alive again when I come home this year.  He was dear to me, as you know, and I’ll always remember how much fun we had talking when I would consult him on issues I discussed on radio and TV.  

As I mentioned, he's a neighbor and friend back in the days when I was still living in Melecia Homes Subdivision in barangay (village) Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro. 

I called Agustin Pungtod “Manong” while to others he was Tatay or Papang (Father). Whatever names you call him, according to friend Senny Trippe, he was vibrant and full of life. 

We came to Melecia Homes about the same time. We were the original residents in the subdivision when it had no trees at all and there were no neighboring subdivisions at all.

The road so bad that no jeepneys would ply the route.  Melecia Homes is located on top of Macasandig  before Taguanao. 

It is the subdivision where, as Manong would say, you can pass by heaven and one can see barangay Balulang on the other side of the river.

Aside from Manong Agustin, my other neighbors include my good friend Beth Baclig, the Bual family, the Macas and the Mabaos. I also had as my neighbor the parents of singer Mark Bautista. Not to forget of course Oscar Caina and Jay Valleser.

Manong Agustin had seven children with his eldest son passing away ahead of him. All of his children are successful and one of them Bebotte married to Nening   is very active in the Couples for Christ. 

It is his daughter, one of the twins Marivic (Avic) who is based in London that I maintained my correspondence all these years.

In a message, Marivic told me about Manong's death. “Sudden death ma'am he just complained of tummy and back ache...then he died at at the (hospital) ....after a few hours.”

The house of his son is the biggest in Melecia Homes subdivision yet Manong remained humble and became the father to all other kids in the subdivision. The successes of his kids didn't make him arrogant which is rare these days. 

He doesn't live in a big house since they’ve got a property over at barangay Taguanao and he lives alone there, maintaining a piggery located two kilometers from Melecia Homes which kept him healthy. 

Every day he would collect leftovers from houses where he left “a pail or can” so he can bring them as food for his pigs. When he's at Melecia Homes, he and I would talk about the topics I talked about in my radio and TV programs.

He was my reporter pf sorts on events both mundane or otherwise in the community and would tell me about issues and topics discussed on rival radio stations.

There were times I asked him about personal matters and there were times he would just get a hammer and fix some broken fence especially near his “sudlanan sa bahog (piggery).”

I heard that he was asked by his family to stop what he was doing but looking back I think that only made his life worth living especially after he became a widower.

Sometimes our conversations ran too long and I would tell him it's time for me to work and he would oblige by leaving. Little did I know that he was at the waiting shed and we would talk some more. He won't leave me until I rode the passenger jeepney or hitched a ride with my friends.

That was the time also when passenger jeepneys plying the route of Taguanao Melecia were scarce because the roads were so bad. 

Senny Macas-Treppi, who's also based in the US had this to say about Manong. “I would always remember Papang as the most cheerful person in Melecia.....almost every morning when I was off to work I would always pass by him as greets me with a big smile on his face,” Senny said.

Senny told me that Manong was fond of telling stories of his life and his children. “Every Mass, I could still remember his singing voice, full of praise as he joined others in the choir,” Senny added.

To Manong Agustin, may you keep the angels and the Lord happy with your singing and your stories of your life's adventures here on Earth. 

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas.

Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.


You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)

Saving for a rainy day

Me in blue blouse (top right) with friends

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

DO I have to keep my piggy bank or coin bank in the house or just dispose of it? This is my dilemma and my story.  

I'm really into savings but but I think my friends Ranni Cammarano nee Deloso, Jesette Kelly and Joan Lightle are igniting ideas on my sometimes loaded brain. 

For those of you who haven't read my stories the last few days I have been posting about my granddaughter Susane Lorette who got sick with dengue in the Philippines. 

For those reading this blog  and unfamiliar with “dengue”, it's a kind of illness caused by the bite of an aedes egypti mosquito. It already claimed many lives in Third World countries like the Philippines and will continue to do so until a cure and vaccine is found.

Until then it will continue to become a source of anxiety for families like my own, despite an assurance from the medical community that a vaccine will be ready next year. 

Far from home
Excuse me but I've heard that announcement a decade ago. In fact, I begin to suspect that the mosquitoes have partnered with the pharmaceutical industry to make dengue a profitable venture for both of them.

But to go back to my piggy bank story—it's when one of your own becomes sick and medical bills pile up that you begin to draw on the support of relatives and friends to keep you afloat when you're far from home as in my case.

These curious friends of mine checked if I'm still okay, being worried and all and invited me to a picnic in the house of Ranni. 

Yulie Amara Armstrong was there too while Nelisa Beth Perez Kremer who is now at Roanoke, VA and Dorena Reynolds were absent at the time. Dorena was working, I was told. 

So we met and I updated them on Susane's condition and they commiserated with me. Our conversation drifted to the custom of savings among Filipinos, trait passed from generation to generation.

Extra change
Everyone in the room agreed that savings is good for the rainy days. I subscribed to that virtue especially these times that I am now in the US because there's an  abundance of loose change in the house. 

Then out of nowhere I told them I have this “alkansiya” or piggy bank, a glass container with a seal where I place all my extra change.

The container has all the pennies, cents, quarters and dollars that were change from Ronnie whenever we dine out or shop for groceries whenever he uses credit or debit cards.

Many times I would look at my money and count them so I can wait when it is filled to capacity so I can buy something nice for myself at Belk or Kohls.

I recalled to my friends that when the container is almost full, there would be a message from home about an emergency and my piggy bank would be used to solve that need.

Penny saved, penny earned
Jesette asked me why I continue to use a piggy bank as if I'm a relic, a throwback to ancient financial history. I asked her, what's so questionable about using a bank? A penny saved is a penny earned. 

She then told me, why not save the money in a bank? Duh, that was obvious. But I cannot go to a bank everyday and deposit loose change. Jesette said the money should be placed in an open container. 

“Uncover it and set your piggy bank free,” she said. Ranni and Janni agreed. “It should be opened,” Joan said. 

All three said money would find a way for it to be used. I got a sense of deja vu, remembering what they said to a saying I heard in the past. 

I told their story to Beth Perez Kremer who not only agreed but told me not to use the glass piggy bank again. Being the Internet junkie that I am, I searched for piggy bank in Google and found this link on Mythbuster. 

The site said there's nothing wrong with saving money in a piggy bank, it all depends on what kind of container is used. The author recommended porcelain for a piggy bank.

The writer also said one should use feng shiu in knowing where to place the piggy bank. I don't know what direction my piggy bank is facing so I am blank when determining if it brings me good or bad luck.

Personally, I believe in saving money in whatever way you can so there's no harm in saving money in a piggy bank. What do you readers think? Please feel free to comment.

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas. Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.

You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)

Prayers for my Little Susie

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

The past few days have been rough for my family here in Charlotte, North Carolina in the US and in my hometown of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental in northern Mindanao, Philippines. 

I chose to keep silent for the first few days  and privately pleaded to friends to launch a prayer brigade for my granddaughter Susane Lorette Palmes or Little Susie. 

Susane, who's named after me, contracted dengue and landed at the intensive care unit of Sabal Hospital in nearby Cagayan de Oro City, also in Misamis Oriental, northern Mindanao, Philippines. 

Pardon my ignorance but the initial reports I received were that infection set in on her brain resulting to seizure and in my frantic search for answers, I went to Google. I thought then that Susane had high fever and her platelets went down, which are the usual symptoms of dengue.

For a child I think the normal complete blood count (CBC) count is 150 and her platelets  went down to 16 last Friday.

White veil
Now Susane is still in the ICU for constant monitoring of her vital signs. In my previous article I talked about dengue and today, I want to talk about the power of prayers and how Susane's plight brought me closer to God.

I wanted to share what I experienced last Monday, July 14. On that day, I wanted to hear Mass but I don't have a ride. 

I told myself I can walk from Oakhurst to St. Mark Street and my phone rang and on the other end was my husband Ronnie. He said “Babe do you want to go to church?” I was shocked I nearly fell on the floor. I told him yes, I want go church.

I was lucky since the nine o' clock Mass had yet to start. After Mass I went to the Perpetual Adoration Chapel also at St. Mark Street. 

I stayed there for about an hour and when I went inside I saw a corner which looks like a store to me that houses religious relics, rosaries, prayer books, religious jewelry and in one corner, a white veil. 

Speechless
Talking to myself again, I said “I want to have a veil but I don’t have money in my pocketbook.” With a heavy heart, I left the chapel and went straight to the waiting car. 

When I was in the car Ronnie handed me a small plastic package with blue markings printed with the word “traditions: gifts for a life of faith.”  Inside was a lace Veil 36 triangular veil.

I was speechless and I was thankful when thinking about it. 

On receiving the veil, I felt the cold air on the nape of my neck and the hair on my skin stood on end. 

I believe, as many people do that things happen for a reason.  Some may call it synchronicity. Others call it luck but I call it miracles.

Prayer brigade
When I received news about Susane, I immediately contacted Consuelo “Sueng” Sabio,  a friend of mine back in the Philippines who heads the Women for Christ (WFC) of which I am a member and asked her to pray for Little Susie. 

I can only imagine she gathered the women for Christ and started the prayer brigade. She also informed me that she would contact Benie Sy of Alpha Tukod. 

I messaged Fr. Stephen Abao Olario who immediately responded to my request. Here at North Carolina I wrote Rev. Cielo Bueno Kramer in Greensboro who also prayed for my request and Susan Claire Wild of St. Mark Catholic Church who is our leader in the Rosary Makers group and asked them to mobilize a prayer brigade that would storm the heavens with petitions for divine healing. 

I also asked my sister-in-law Cheryle Dennis and her husband Bill. I knew they had a Bible study last Wednesday and they started with their prayers too. JS and Peggy Reid, a good friend of Ron also asked Susane's complete name so they can pray for her. 

I was going crazy that I talked to strangers and asked prayers. Family friend Dana and Ramon Pensado called from Texas and with their mother prayed with me over the phone. 

Pleaded
She spoke in rapid Spanish during her prayers which I understood a little like the term “poquito” as she asked God to heal Little Susie.

I was restless and anxious for three days especially when there is a blackout of information from home. My instincts later proved right when I was informed later that Susane's family were all at the ICU because she had a seizure and the infection reportedly set in on her brain.

This was the time when I talked to God as if He was just beside me; I implored and pleaded my case to Him. On reading the Bible, I came upon Psalm 28, A Prayer for Help, Psalm 27, a Prayer for Praise, Luke 8 and other readings.

Then His Eminence Cagayan Archdiocese Bishop Antonio Ledesma answered my message asking him to pray and that really lifted my weariness and frustration.

In that past few days, I spent time kneeling on my altar, reciting the rosary so many times and calling on all the saints; St. Joseph, St. Jude, St. Anne, St. Hatiri and Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.

Poor soul 
I was depressed and worried as it  broke my heart because I couldn't tell my daughter GG about the condition of her daughter. 

She is still flying home from Charlotte, North Carolina to Cagayan de Oro and didn't know that her baby was at the ICU. Ron and I decided not to tell her since told me GG flew alone and telling her about her daughter won't do any good. 

What made it worse was that GG was stuck in China due to Typhoon Glenda (international name Rassuman) in Manila, Philippines. The waiting for news on Susane was too much for my poor soul.

What gave me strength is my faith and friends praying for us and Ronnie who did not leave my side and cared for my needs even if he was recovering from his own illness and had to postpone his doctor's appointments.

There were other special friends surrounding me; Jesette Jomuad Kelly who visited me and brought food, Grace Gaither who like Jesette spent time listening to my stories and heartaches and lifted my spirits and Beth Kremer who also checked up on me when she noticed I haven't been on Facebook.

Recovery
I am fortunate to have these people in my life and to other friends who probably were praying or wondering why they didn't hear anything from me. 

I also thanked Angie Emery and David Edwards who would check on me and my family. Karen and Lisa Ron’s daughter also checked on the condition of Little Susie. I also thank Fr. Jay Lituanas for his prayers for my Little Susie's recovery.Big thanks also to Peter Mojica for understanding GG's unplanned leaving Zayne. I don't want to miss the remark of my dear Zayne who told GG
"Don't worry GG Tating would be okay and you come back and play with me." 

I began to realize again that faith in God is the last resort in times of danger, struggles and in just about any hopeless situation. He's the One through whom all things were made and in whom all things live and move and have their being. 

God is the greatest doctor and nothing is impossible with him. I think and realize now that the personal relationship I have with Him is like that between friends, only that He does all the listening and I have to cultivate my responses to Him. 

By the way, I forgot to mention that I registered in most of the online prayer groups who were not Catholic but still accommodated me without knowing my religion. After all. we believe in one God. 

Again my thanks to all of my friends and to people who prayed for the miracle of faith and the recovery of Little Susie.

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas. Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.

You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)

When will dengue be prevented?

My granddaughter Susane Lorette Palmes

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

When will that dengue vaccine be available in the Philippines?

I ask this because the past few days have been rough for my family in Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental in northern Mindanao, Philippines and for me here in Charlotte, North Carolina in the US.

You see my granddaughter Susane Lorette Palmes was hospitalized after she had high fever and the results of her complete blood count (CBC) test showed that her platelet was low. The doctor's diagnosis was she had dengue.

Based on my online research, dengue is the leading cause of childhood hospitalizations in the Philippines. In Sept. 2011, the disease caused 285 deaths of children between one and nine years of age.

Hospital costs drain the pockets of the family, not to mention the anxiety which hangs over their heads like the proverbial Damocles sword.

Stable condition

I chose to keep quiet while Susane's mother GG flew from Charlotte to Cagayan de Oro. We decided not to inform her that her eight-year-old little Susie (she is named after me) was at the intensive care unit at Sabal Hospital.

On the fourth day after the fever subsided, Susane's seizures started and the doctors discovered that infection set in on the part of the brain that they call the emphalilities.

Susane is now in stable condition and I thank the Lord for all the prayers our family received from all over the world.

In particular, I would like to thank Mary Grace Gaither and Jesette Kelly for their prayers, which of course would be the next topic I'd talk about. In these difficult times, only faith as big as a mulberry tree can assuage one's anxieties and fears.

But I digress. Let me talk about dengue; as you know already it's an illness caused by the bite of a mosquito which causes high fever and low platelet count, among other symptoms. For a complete list of symptoms on dengue here is the link.

These dengue-carrying mosquitoes are becoming bolder and brazen in my hometown of Tagoloan.

Photo taken from Wikipedia

In my mind's eye, I can see them laughing at the so-called “4 o' clock habit” program of the government that consists of spraying chemicals on breeding grounds for dengue, which usually are those with stagnant water in them.

Top priority

While cleaning one's surroundings helps, you can't do anything about the other homes closer to you whose occupants may not be so concerned about cleaning their own backyard.

Mosquitoes fly anywhere they want to go. If there's a war on dengue, the mosquitoes appear to be winning and the humans are caught flat footed.

Eliminating dengue should be a top priority alongside the government's campaign against corruption and it's not political because we are fighting mosquitoes.

In the course of my media work in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental in northern Mindanao, Philippines, I knew how treacherous this illness is.

Quite a few succumbed and until now I am appalled that no vaccination or immunization was discovered by our authorities.

Research

I'll focus on on the epidemiology of dengue in children, the present surveillance systems and the Philippine government's efforts to stop these pernicious dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

The introduction of a vaccine will be essential to control the spread of infection that can harm and kill both children and adults. We heard a vaccine that would be available in 2015, but I‘ve heard that 10 years ago.

I wrote about my grandson Christian Mejorada who also contracted dengue. By the way both Susane and Christian are students of St. Mary’s Academy of Tagoloan town and there've been reports that a number of students also contracted dengue.

It has been said that “tawa-tawa”, a type of herb known in India as Euphorbia hirta, helped many in curing or at least slowing down dengue.

Photo taken from Wikipedia

In fact, my family followed this and we also tried “male” papaya leaves chopped finely as well as apple and durian.

I've read somewhere that there was research made on this but I just assumed that it was discontinued due to inadequate finding, which means nobody is pushing for this.

Vaccine

Statistics show that dengue can be fatal when left untreated. 

My question is how come if tawa tawa and the other plants and fruits I mentioned can help cure dengue, then why is the Department of Health or the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) not prioritizing research on this?

Why are we wasting government money for other projects that are only exploited by politicians and elective public officials for self-promotion? Why not dedicate public funds to find a vaccine or a cure for dengue?

How many years must we wait before the vaccine and treatment become available in the Philippines?

In the meantime I suggest that a dialogue be held between the parents and the administrators of St. Mary's Academy with the help of Tagoloan town officials so that ways and means can be implemented to eradicate these dengue-carrying mosquitoes so the children can be spared from the deadly dengue.

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas. Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.

You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)

Tales of the rain (acacia) trees

by Susan Palmes-Dennis 

The river at the side where the house of “Nang” (a Filipino term for female elder) Estela Pangca and the power cable of the Cagayan Electric Co. (Cepalco) are situated now in my hometown of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental in northern Mindanao, Philippines used to be occupied by acacia trees (rain trees) many years ago. 

This same area is close to where the house of “Nong” (a Filipino term for male elders) Nato Sanches stood. There was also an acacia tree that serves as a giant “green umbrella” to the washers doing their laundry just below the culverts of “Nong” Toto Nacasabog. 

The acacia trees were so big and there were no landslides at the time. The old roots simply clung beneath the green earth, soaking up the rainwater. There was no river dike back then.

I messaged Air Force General Gerry Paduganan to check up on my old hometown because he was also raised there beside the river. 

“There were about three on the street going to the river that fell down when the culvert and hollow block business of “Tiyo” (uncle) Dolfo moved on the area. There's another tree near where the house of Estela Pangca, daughter of Iyo Bentong now stands,” Paduganan said.

That time the acacia tree was already old as seen in its deeply entrenched roots I saw as a child and later as an adult. 

Back then, I heard stories about the acacia trees being home to “engkanto (enchanted spirits)” or “diwata (fairies).” 

These spirits either bring blessings or curses on those who do good or harm to the forests and mountains. There were also stories about “white ladies” living near the acacia trees. 

The story was so real to my mind that I remembered uttering “tabi apo (excuse me)”  every time I pass by the trees at noon or night time.

Tabi apo is a term of respect to whoever resides in the tree so that good vibes would be passed on the passerby. As kids we were told not to be noisy near the tree.

On Saturdays whenever I get up early to do the laundry, I would have this eerie feeling when I reach that area that creeps up on the back of my neck. 

That feeling of dread was confirmed when I heard reports that a daughter of one of the neighbors was believed to be caught alive by the spirits. 

The elders of the community decided to head to the forest and implore the spirits to return the girl.

The girl was fair-skinned and beautiful and the residents believed she had been adopted by the spirits.

I was young that time but I joined the group that camped near the acacia trees. We made noises for so many nights but the girl never turned up. 

The family then transferred to the city. I don’t want to name them as they are close to the family.  At the time, I felt then that the acacia trees were the companions of the river, as if they are constantly communicating to each other. 

That incident only cemented my fear of the trees. It was only when I began to form my own opinion and looked back to what happened that I realized that the girl may have drowned in the river.

But to my young mind then, I believed that there may be some truth to the rumors that the Tagoloan river claims a life every year.

On the other hand, if only we can respect the trees like we did before we can help each other in protecting and preserving them for our own protection and those of future generations. I can only ask, are the acacia trees of my childhood still there? (Photos by Jong Casino and Elma Egama Gamones)

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas. Visit and read her website at www.susanpalmes-dennis.simplesite.com. Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.


You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)