By Muffet Dolar Villegas
May 11,2008
Mothers are God’s Love in Action
Why did God create mothers? I think God created mothers because she is God’s love in action.
A mother is always there when the whole world turns against you. Her shoulders are broad for you to lean on when you are sad. Her eyes see beyond what others see. You are the most beautiful creature in her sight. She listens to you with her heart. She dies to her wants and her rights so that you may have abundant, happy life, and yet she finds joy in doing it. A mother cries because God gave her tears to shed when life is hard. She doesn’t give up. She was born with conflicting emotions. Not to lose herself or to give you the best of life.
Every night and day she thought about you. She worries about your food, shelter, comfort and those whom you love. She wants to shield you from the storm, and chases the shadows away that threaten to dampen your day.
A mother knows that she’s not perfect, yet she struggles to be one. Her home is where her children find comfort and love. Her love is unconditional even if her children reject her. Her tomorrow depends on what she plants today.
Her touch can spell magic. It has healing powers. She disciplines, teaches. feeds her children but always with a loving touch. Her children emulate her, and she is the beacon in her home.
When she grows old, she is so blessed if she spends her last remaining days with her loved ones and not in the care of strangers. She’s not certain of tomorrow but she must go on loving.
No one was born into this world without a mother. If you are not a mother, you must have a mother. Mother’s day was proclaimed in the 1890 by Julia Ward Howe.
Mother’s day is celebrated in different days and months in different countries worldwide. The most popular mothers day celebration here in the Philippines is every second Sunday of May, which is today.
Your mother is God’s wonderful gift. She is only here today, and gone tomorrow.
Summer at Tambobo Bay
oil on canvas
Watercolors
$2.00 (handpainted notecards)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
LOVE UNLIMITED
A Journey through Cancer
By Muffet Dolar Villegas
May 4,2008
Overflowing Love
Today, I want to count my blessings. I’m not sure if you will agree with me. Cancer is not only about pain or dying. Cancer also means finding life’s meaning and experiencing God’s blessings. We rejoice in small things like free air, sun, rain, flowers, beetles, ants, birds, friends, smiling faces, and most of all, kind people. The best things in life are actually free. We appreciate the days that we are out of hospitals that we can walk and dance and climb stairs, cook, do our laundry, or do other things that some people see as mundane and ordinary. It may not be a terminal illness that you go through or maybe worse than that, yet in the deepest of valleys, God seems to lend a special ear for prayers and He sends the best of His people to care for us.
Beside me, I watch an ant in my garden, climbing a wall carrying a grain of rice bigger than its size and falling many times and for the nth time it reaches the top. I can identify with this poor fellow. Sometimes this journey is tough, but life is worth fighting for.
I was discharged yesterday from Silliman University Medical Center after a medical procedure inside the operating room. My uterus has thickened and needed immediate attention. I have postponed this admission for many reasons. One is its barely three months ago that I have been through a surgical procedure and I thought my brain will be fried with anesthesia, not to mention what they say about chemo brain. Another is work commitment and of course the expenses and inconvenience for my husband. But in all these, once more, blessings came after blessings.
My bible study group, a small gathering of women I share God’s word every Tuesday with Nerisse, brought me my third birthday cake this April. SUMC people are kind and compassionate and true to their callings to serve. I thank my doctors and nurses for being patient and kind, even if I gave them a hard time finding a sturdy vein for IV insertion. Dr. Corazon Uy and Dr. Carmelita Vera Cruz didn’t charge anything for their services. Dr. Walden Ursus was kind to put up with my paranoia.
How do we measure God’s love and faithfulness? In times like these when we need Him the most is the best time His blessings flow. God’s hand is not short that He can’t reach us. His line is never busy. He works 24/7. His power is never out, and He is never early nor too late.
A Journey
By Muffet Dolar Villegas
May 11,2008
By Muffet Dolar Villegas
May 4,2008
Overflowing Love
Today, I want to count my blessings. I’m not sure if you will agree with me. Cancer is not only about pain or dying. Cancer also means finding life’s meaning and experiencing God’s blessings. We rejoice in small things like free air, sun, rain, flowers, beetles, ants, birds, friends, smiling faces, and most of all, kind people. The best things in life are actually free. We appreciate the days that we are out of hospitals that we can walk and dance and climb stairs, cook, do our laundry, or do other things that some people see as mundane and ordinary. It may not be a terminal illness that you go through or maybe worse than that, yet in the deepest of valleys, God seems to lend a special ear for prayers and He sends the best of His people to care for us.
Beside me, I watch an ant in my garden, climbing a wall carrying a grain of rice bigger than its size and falling many times and for the nth time it reaches the top. I can identify with this poor fellow. Sometimes this journey is tough, but life is worth fighting for.
I was discharged yesterday from Silliman University Medical Center after a medical procedure inside the operating room. My uterus has thickened and needed immediate attention. I have postponed this admission for many reasons. One is its barely three months ago that I have been through a surgical procedure and I thought my brain will be fried with anesthesia, not to mention what they say about chemo brain. Another is work commitment and of course the expenses and inconvenience for my husband. But in all these, once more, blessings came after blessings.
My bible study group, a small gathering of women I share God’s word every Tuesday with Nerisse, brought me my third birthday cake this April. SUMC people are kind and compassionate and true to their callings to serve. I thank my doctors and nurses for being patient and kind, even if I gave them a hard time finding a sturdy vein for IV insertion. Dr. Corazon Uy and Dr. Carmelita Vera Cruz didn’t charge anything for their services. Dr. Walden Ursus was kind to put up with my paranoia.
How do we measure God’s love and faithfulness? In times like these when we need Him the most is the best time His blessings flow. God’s hand is not short that He can’t reach us. His line is never busy. He works 24/7. His power is never out, and He is never early nor too late.
A Journey
By Muffet Dolar Villegas
May 11,2008
COMPLIMENT
A Journey Through Cancer
By Muffet Dolar Villegas
April 27,2008
A KISS THROUGH A VEIL
“A compliment is like a kiss through a veil”
-Victor Hugo
“I like your hair,” That was the usual compliment I received when I was wearing wigs during the bald period of cancer treatment. I got a hang of it and I tried wearing different kinds of wigs everyday until I got people confused with what kind of hair I really had. It was fun receiving compliments at the same time I forgot the negative feeling of losing my precious hair. It has been two years now that my hair came back.
How do you feel when you receive a compliment? Compliment is as powerful as cash. Paying people a compliment appears to trigger the same reward center in the brain as paying them cash, according to Japanese researchers last Wednesday.
“We found out that these seemingly different kinds of rewards-a good reputation versus money are biologically coded by the same neural structure, the striatum,” according to Dr. Norihiro Sadato of the Japanese National Institute for Psychological Sciences in Okazaki, Japan.
His team studied 19 healthy people using brain imaging technique known as Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging or FMRI. One set of people were made to play a gambling game which one of the cards will yield a payout. And the other set of people were told that strangers will evaluate them based on information and a video they have made.
Their reactions were monitored including those who thought the strangers paid them a compliment.
These two kinds of rewards triggered activity in the area of the brain which is reward related.
Compliments are powerful and amazing. We can change people’s feelings from bad to better and from better to best. We have the power to make them smile and see the world differently. Kind words can strengthen relationships.
We can’t help feeling happy as we give people honest and sincere compliments. Even if others feel uncomfortable in receiving compliments, giving them a sincere praise can make a difference.
If we are not used to accepting compliments, we can start by saying a simple “Thank you.”
Today, countless individuals are walking down the streets of life with a problem or a heavy heart. They cannot see the flowers or hear the birds. They have been battered by storms and ugly words. Their doors are locked by bitterness and hate. The world is full of strangers. But we have a chance to unlock it and spread colors like the rainbow.
Everyone deserves a compliment. If we have nothing to give like money or time, a compliment or a smile can change the world. Our God equipped us to be encouragers. Give that gift today.
By Muffet Dolar Villegas
April 27,2008
A KISS THROUGH A VEIL
“A compliment is like a kiss through a veil”
-Victor Hugo
“I like your hair,” That was the usual compliment I received when I was wearing wigs during the bald period of cancer treatment. I got a hang of it and I tried wearing different kinds of wigs everyday until I got people confused with what kind of hair I really had. It was fun receiving compliments at the same time I forgot the negative feeling of losing my precious hair. It has been two years now that my hair came back.
How do you feel when you receive a compliment? Compliment is as powerful as cash. Paying people a compliment appears to trigger the same reward center in the brain as paying them cash, according to Japanese researchers last Wednesday.
“We found out that these seemingly different kinds of rewards-a good reputation versus money are biologically coded by the same neural structure, the striatum,” according to Dr. Norihiro Sadato of the Japanese National Institute for Psychological Sciences in Okazaki, Japan.
His team studied 19 healthy people using brain imaging technique known as Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging or FMRI. One set of people were made to play a gambling game which one of the cards will yield a payout. And the other set of people were told that strangers will evaluate them based on information and a video they have made.
Their reactions were monitored including those who thought the strangers paid them a compliment.
These two kinds of rewards triggered activity in the area of the brain which is reward related.
Compliments are powerful and amazing. We can change people’s feelings from bad to better and from better to best. We have the power to make them smile and see the world differently. Kind words can strengthen relationships.
We can’t help feeling happy as we give people honest and sincere compliments. Even if others feel uncomfortable in receiving compliments, giving them a sincere praise can make a difference.
If we are not used to accepting compliments, we can start by saying a simple “Thank you.”
Today, countless individuals are walking down the streets of life with a problem or a heavy heart. They cannot see the flowers or hear the birds. They have been battered by storms and ugly words. Their doors are locked by bitterness and hate. The world is full of strangers. But we have a chance to unlock it and spread colors like the rainbow.
Everyone deserves a compliment. If we have nothing to give like money or time, a compliment or a smile can change the world. Our God equipped us to be encouragers. Give that gift today.
TRUST
A Journey through Cancer
By Muffet Dolar Villegas
April 20,2008
TRUST
I always thought that when we go to hospitals, we are safe and we are in the hands of trusted professionals. Even if I spend a lot of time in hospitals, I have not experienced anything that I should complain about.
But I was sad about the latest scandal involving a patient who was victimized by unscrupulous individuals and abuse of freedom of the press. He was caught on a video while an intricate medical procedure was being done to him inside a hospital and was shown in the internet for anyone to see without his consent, and eventually in any form of possible medium. It could have been less embarrassing if it was treated professionally by others.. To top it all, the media had a heyday showing it again and again on television.
We have this maddening habit of sensationalism or yellow journalism. We can go on and on talking and stressing issues until they become stressors. (who says that our freedom of the press under the present administration is limited?) Anyone can write or videotape anything about anybody under the sun, defamation, degradation, breaking people’s lives and reputations, reducing people as mere caricatures of themselves. We complain that we don’t have the freedom of the press and yet we can reduce our presidents and leaders into anything we like them to be and yet we are still here. Others feel that it is not right for other countries or nationalities to criticize our leaders or our fellowmen, but it is right if we are doing it.
Whom are we kidding? Whom are we laughing about? Are we anything different from these people who became helpless victims of their trusted individuals and institutions? Don’t they have emotions, families, sleepless nights, nightmares to deal with? They too are humans. They hurt the same way we hurt. Torture can come in many forms. Psychological and emotional battering is sometimes worse than the physical nightmare.
The question is, whom can we trust now? Some medical procedures done in the hospitals are intimidating to patients, yet they are necessary to detect early cancers. Standard colonoscopy which is commonly used here in the Philippines is a procedure wherein a camera is inserted through the rectum, allowing the doctor to see and remove any growths. Patients are usually sedated.
But thanks to researchers, a newly developed virtual colonoscopy, also known as CT colonography is less intimidating. Patients are asked to hold their breath for 10 to 20 seconds while computed tomography(CT) images of the colon are being taken.
Physicians hope that this kind of colorectal screening can encourage people of average risk to be screened at 50 or those who have greater risk to have cancer even earlier than 50 years old. “Colorectal cancer remains a leading cause of cancer- related death because patients are reluctant to be screened,” said Elizabeth MacFarland, M.D., associate professor of radiology at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Washington University.
Unlike the standard colonoscopy, which shows only the inside of the colon, Virtual colonoscopy depicts the surrounding areas too.
Colon cancer can be prevented through proper screening among men and women.
Early detection may save your life.
To be fair, there are many medical practitioners and medical institutions in our country that are highly respectable and credible even if they are not perfect. Let us not lose our trust because of one bad incident. Lessons can be learned. But sometimes others choose the hard way.
By Muffet Dolar Villegas
April 20,2008
TRUST
I always thought that when we go to hospitals, we are safe and we are in the hands of trusted professionals. Even if I spend a lot of time in hospitals, I have not experienced anything that I should complain about.
But I was sad about the latest scandal involving a patient who was victimized by unscrupulous individuals and abuse of freedom of the press. He was caught on a video while an intricate medical procedure was being done to him inside a hospital and was shown in the internet for anyone to see without his consent, and eventually in any form of possible medium. It could have been less embarrassing if it was treated professionally by others.. To top it all, the media had a heyday showing it again and again on television.
We have this maddening habit of sensationalism or yellow journalism. We can go on and on talking and stressing issues until they become stressors. (who says that our freedom of the press under the present administration is limited?) Anyone can write or videotape anything about anybody under the sun, defamation, degradation, breaking people’s lives and reputations, reducing people as mere caricatures of themselves. We complain that we don’t have the freedom of the press and yet we can reduce our presidents and leaders into anything we like them to be and yet we are still here. Others feel that it is not right for other countries or nationalities to criticize our leaders or our fellowmen, but it is right if we are doing it.
Whom are we kidding? Whom are we laughing about? Are we anything different from these people who became helpless victims of their trusted individuals and institutions? Don’t they have emotions, families, sleepless nights, nightmares to deal with? They too are humans. They hurt the same way we hurt. Torture can come in many forms. Psychological and emotional battering is sometimes worse than the physical nightmare.
The question is, whom can we trust now? Some medical procedures done in the hospitals are intimidating to patients, yet they are necessary to detect early cancers. Standard colonoscopy which is commonly used here in the Philippines is a procedure wherein a camera is inserted through the rectum, allowing the doctor to see and remove any growths. Patients are usually sedated.
But thanks to researchers, a newly developed virtual colonoscopy, also known as CT colonography is less intimidating. Patients are asked to hold their breath for 10 to 20 seconds while computed tomography(CT) images of the colon are being taken.
Physicians hope that this kind of colorectal screening can encourage people of average risk to be screened at 50 or those who have greater risk to have cancer even earlier than 50 years old. “Colorectal cancer remains a leading cause of cancer- related death because patients are reluctant to be screened,” said Elizabeth MacFarland, M.D., associate professor of radiology at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Washington University.
Unlike the standard colonoscopy, which shows only the inside of the colon, Virtual colonoscopy depicts the surrounding areas too.
Colon cancer can be prevented through proper screening among men and women.
Early detection may save your life.
To be fair, there are many medical practitioners and medical institutions in our country that are highly respectable and credible even if they are not perfect. Let us not lose our trust because of one bad incident. Lessons can be learned. But sometimes others choose the hard way.
CANCER SUPPORT GROUP
A Journey through Cancer
By Muffet Dolar Villegas
APRIL 12,2008
FLAME OF HOPE
Every long journey begins with a single step.
A timely move of creating a cancer support group for Negros Oriental Cancer warriors or victors has been launched yesterday, Saturday April 12, 2008 at the Provincial Health Administration Building at 8 am.
Cancer survivors and those who are still undergoing treatment for cancer from different towns, cities of the province joined the formal launching which opened with a fun run earlier and motorcade from the Provincial Health Office Compound going to Silliman Avenue and proceeded to the M.F. Perdices , Colon, Real and finally returned to the previous location.
The province of Negros Oriental, headed by Gov. Emilio Macias 11.M.D., the Department of Health , Region V11, Bantay Banay Network and Bike for Life Negros Oriental joined together in launching the Negros Oriental Cancer Support Group at the Provincial Health Office Compound.
Dr. Betty Calderon- Talaver, an Oncologist from Cebu whose roots came from Negros Oriental, talked about the topic, “There is More to Life after the Diagnosis”. She stressed the importance of the will to live for every cancer victim. She emphasized that support from their medical doctors, family and the community is equally important for survival.
Filomena Sy, another breast cancer survivor who is the Vice President for Cebu Cancer Fight, a support group for cancer in Cebu said that the government can help more by giving affordable medicines for cancer patients to help them in financial aspects. It was also mentioned that other countries like India, medicines are cheaper to help the poor fight diseases. There is a plea for the government to allocate funds for medicines, instead of giving more importance to other projects.
Various cancer survivors like Mitos Tugade Nepomoceno, Celeste Cata-al, Mary Angeles Pinero M.D. and Hazel Ricablanca gave their encouraging testimonies in their journey through the battle of cancer.
The newly formed group has elected a new set of officers. They are Chelsea Cacaldo M.D., President; Judith Vailoces, Vice Pres., Ma. Celeste Cata-al, Secretary; Maria Salud Kho, M.D.,Treasurer; Muffet Villegas, as PRO; and Wevina Fuentes M.D. as Auditor.
Chairmen on Committees are Ely Villapando,M.D.,Medical Director, Ma. Salud Kho M.D for Finance; with co- chair Mary Angeles Pinero M.D.; Membership and Follow up Jeanette Villarubia; Caregiving, Phoebe Tan; Nutrition, Rosevilla Russel; Prayer, Counseling and Healing, Rev. Andrew Villegas and Mary Angeles Pinero M.D.
Eday and Jeanette Villarubia made everything possible through their efforts to make every participant well taken cared of during the event.
The support group which consists of cancer survivors, their families and medical practitioners are looking forward to organize more activities that can help cancer patients. This important move can bring awareness, prevention, guidance and financial help to those concerned.
Everyday, I find meaning and purpose for cancer that was allowed in my life. All of us in that beautifully created spacious room situated at the third floor of the provincial health building was finding our own place as the Master Planner unfolds His plan before us.
By Muffet Dolar Villegas
APRIL 12,2008
FLAME OF HOPE
Every long journey begins with a single step.
A timely move of creating a cancer support group for Negros Oriental Cancer warriors or victors has been launched yesterday, Saturday April 12, 2008 at the Provincial Health Administration Building at 8 am.
Cancer survivors and those who are still undergoing treatment for cancer from different towns, cities of the province joined the formal launching which opened with a fun run earlier and motorcade from the Provincial Health Office Compound going to Silliman Avenue and proceeded to the M.F. Perdices , Colon, Real and finally returned to the previous location.
The province of Negros Oriental, headed by Gov. Emilio Macias 11.M.D., the Department of Health , Region V11, Bantay Banay Network and Bike for Life Negros Oriental joined together in launching the Negros Oriental Cancer Support Group at the Provincial Health Office Compound.
Dr. Betty Calderon- Talaver, an Oncologist from Cebu whose roots came from Negros Oriental, talked about the topic, “There is More to Life after the Diagnosis”. She stressed the importance of the will to live for every cancer victim. She emphasized that support from their medical doctors, family and the community is equally important for survival.
Filomena Sy, another breast cancer survivor who is the Vice President for Cebu Cancer Fight, a support group for cancer in Cebu said that the government can help more by giving affordable medicines for cancer patients to help them in financial aspects. It was also mentioned that other countries like India, medicines are cheaper to help the poor fight diseases. There is a plea for the government to allocate funds for medicines, instead of giving more importance to other projects.
Various cancer survivors like Mitos Tugade Nepomoceno, Celeste Cata-al, Mary Angeles Pinero M.D. and Hazel Ricablanca gave their encouraging testimonies in their journey through the battle of cancer.
The newly formed group has elected a new set of officers. They are Chelsea Cacaldo M.D., President; Judith Vailoces, Vice Pres., Ma. Celeste Cata-al, Secretary; Maria Salud Kho, M.D.,Treasurer; Muffet Villegas, as PRO; and Wevina Fuentes M.D. as Auditor.
Chairmen on Committees are Ely Villapando,M.D.,Medical Director, Ma. Salud Kho M.D for Finance; with co- chair Mary Angeles Pinero M.D.; Membership and Follow up Jeanette Villarubia; Caregiving, Phoebe Tan; Nutrition, Rosevilla Russel; Prayer, Counseling and Healing, Rev. Andrew Villegas and Mary Angeles Pinero M.D.
Eday and Jeanette Villarubia made everything possible through their efforts to make every participant well taken cared of during the event.
The support group which consists of cancer survivors, their families and medical practitioners are looking forward to organize more activities that can help cancer patients. This important move can bring awareness, prevention, guidance and financial help to those concerned.
Everyday, I find meaning and purpose for cancer that was allowed in my life. All of us in that beautifully created spacious room situated at the third floor of the provincial health building was finding our own place as the Master Planner unfolds His plan before us.
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