Sunday, July 01, 2007 Express yourself By Jinggoy Salvador
IT'S the time of year when good friends are real.
Yes, you read that right. Somehow, somewhere in this planet someone will finally come into a realization that to achieve personal happiness and fulfillment he has to come in terms with himself. This might be the perfect time. Time to be real.
It's the Gay Pride time again. Step out into the streets and be proud! But for the rest of you, try stepping out of that closet you're hiding yourself in.
Doesn't it get stuffy inside that hiding place of yours after so many years... and tears? Celebrations are always best when we follow that adage: the more, the merrier.
Besides, who is best fit to help you in this new-found and apt life you're finally accepting? Your sistahs! Ok, and brothers as well. This emancipation will unbeleivably relieving for you. What's the point in suffering? Find your place and rejoice in your inner peace.
All around the world, the gay and lesbian out and roud festivities are currently on-going. They are taking to the streets, parading, having fun, fighting for their rights and more importantly, all expressing themselves.
These gathering have become popular that even the straights (term for the heterosexuals) are excited when this happens in their area. This doesn't come as a surprise because somewhere along the way, they must have met and enjoyed the company of a homosexual.
It's certainly a spice of life, even in a group, variety is good. At least you get to see the points of view of people that come in all shapes, sizes and orientation.
If there is a group that knows how to have fun, it must be the gays and lesbians. They have made a festivity out of this need to express themselves.
From parades to parties. However this are always mistaken as "just havin' a ball" time. There are still serious matters pushed behind this fun exterior.
Gays and lesbians are fighting for their rights, for equality.
In this society wherein this orientation is creeping too slow to be accepted, equality for rights offered to heterosexuals is worth fighting for. And these parades is just one way to be seen and heard.
Take for example in the first world nations. The gay couples are being offered the same benefits as the heterosexual couples in their places of work. Isn't that nice? I wish it would be the same in the third world nations... Wishful thinking. We need a lot of fixing before we can get to this issue.
On the lighter side, gay pride events are really exciting events to go to. I have parties in the streets of Malate. And I was lucky enough to have gone to Amsterdam in time for their festivity. The fluvial parade has become popular that from all over Europe, people do go to watch.
The burst of color and excitement fills the air on times like these. It somehow sparks the creativity of the participants, it’s a venue for self-expression.
And boy did I have fun!
It's a dream that we have a legit gay and lesbian celebration here in the city.
One that will have cause to fight for. Fun and good enough to dispel the image that these gatherings are for the screaming faggots only. There is more to homosexuality that be identified with the "baklang parlor" only with all due respect to them. They are the high-earners now and have finally attained the respect in this country now.
Well, how about next year? Would be great to see a good bunch of us parading down the streets of Davao spreading joy, spreading love.
I'm looking out my window now, those Christian extremists might be rallying at my front door now... expressing themselves. Dear God!
Trailblazing at 38
TODAY marks the 38th foundation day of Davao Doctors Hospital. Established in 1969 with a mission and vision of giving the best "Quality Health Care" to the community, this health institution has grown incessantly and upheld their commitment: patient's health, well-being and comfort comes first.
Celebrating this milestone, DDH is implementing their advocacy on "community first" with the simultaneous opening of the weeklong free clinic and the inauguration of the new Out Patient Department (OPD).
To offer the maximum comfort and quality time per patient, the free clinic is scheduled at one department per day. The OB-Gynecology Department opens the free clinic today, July 2, with and will give free pre-natal check-up, paps smear and wet sampling; Tuesday, July 3, the Department of Opthalmology- free eye check-up and refraction; Wednesday, July 4, the Dietary Department gives free counseling, diabetes and cholesterol screening and the Department of Internal Medicine will give free adult consultation; July 5, Thursday, the Department of Surgery will conduct their consultation and offer complimentary simple procedures to pre-screened patients; and on Friday, the Pediatrics Department will be attending to the children and give free immunization (BCG, DPT, OPV, and measles) for kids below age five.
Highlighting the weeklong 38th anniversary celebration of the Davao Doctors Hospital, the new hospital wing, Nursing Care Building, will be inaugurated on Friday, July 6.
This undertaking is in line with the hospital's expansion program to extend the best healthcare to more patients. The six-storey new addition will house the upgraded OB Ward and Pediatrics Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and the new Surgical Ward and Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU).
The new building boasts of 50 well-appointed patients' rooms that will include a mini bar and wi-fi services among others.
Once more, putting the patient’s welfare first and foremost arrived to the completion of another phase in the hospital infrastructure expansion, the acquisition of the top-of-the-line and latest medical equipments such as the Siemens Axiom Artis Cath Lab, the continuance in their advocacy on community health while keeping a workforce of competent and compassionate professionals.
Davao Doctors Hospital is keeping on with their plan to be the leading institution giving quality healthcare.
