Under Construction
[Because that's the state of my life]22/M MNL, PHL | Medical Intern at UP-PGH | Future [Chef / Physician / Dad]
[Lego Lover] [Music Maniac] [TV Junkie] #sixseasonsandamovie!
Kimmy Dora and The Temple of Kiyeme (2012) dir. Joyce Bernal
So I watched this with my close friends tonight. This and the preceding dinner with my closest, best med friends, had been sustaining me since yesterday and most of today. With all of us being separated by our different rotations our little rendezvous tonight was much needed and detoxifying. I’m just so grateful to have these people in my life right now.
I can’t really say much about the film itself, except that though I’ll always be a fan of Eugene Domingo’s comedic antics, the film was weird and pretty disappointing. The film was less funny than it’s predecessor, for one, plus the plot got way weird midway. The movie’s kind of a cross of a terrible Pinoy comedy/horror flick and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Let’s keep it at that. Overall, 4/10 stars from me.
So enough of the movie. After it, I got home, talked and cleared things up with my roommate I’ve been avoiding for like ages, then I went out to grab a beer at Oarhouse. Perfect way to end my day.
Well not exactly, since I have to start on my papers like, now.
Something I Miss About Manila: Oarhouse Pub
The Oarhouse in Malate has a very homey and accommodating air to it. It’s where I find myself after either particularly toxic or the most ordinary of days; either with friends or alone; just to unwind and have a beer or two.
We shall meet again come June!
Has officially started. Yesterday was my last day in Manila as well as the last day I’m going to see most of my friends from school, having collected most of my clothes and books to take home to Bulacan after our ‘fake’ graduation for our ‘fake’ degree. God knows when I’d be seeing Manila again.
I just wanted to say that the summer heat is freakin’ killing me and my drive to do something or anything that doesn’t remotely involve my bed, my laptop or my internet connection. Like how I blame this same summer heat for making me so sleepy this morning that I wasn’t able to attend my class’ circumcision mission in Pasay. Tssss.
One thing I sorely miss though (apart from my friends) are my favorite hangout places. (Yup, that includes PGH.) If I get extremely bored I actually might sneak a weekend off and make my way back to Manila and just… lounge. At Caffeina, my favorite coffee shop, reading a non-academic book. And perhaps a beer at The Oarhouse for a nightcap.
Yesterday was quite the busy day; somewhat exhausting, but nothing less than enjoyable.
The day began with me as a volunteer to Mission Circumcision, a tuli mission sponsored by my class for young boys from our four less-privileged community partners in Pasay City. As one of my class’ members with more experience with the surgical procedure, I was picked to be one of the first to perform it. I had been attending these missions since first year Intarmed, and I must say I have progressively garnered the proper skills and the confidence required. Though as much as I would’ve wanted to operate on more kids yesterday, limitations with time and number of patients allowed us all only one boy each. Nevertheless, the experience was still as fulfilling as every time I get to immerse in the community, relating with the community workers and getting a glimpse of simple urban life. Plus, the “surgery high”, as always, was the icing on the cake.
After a very hearty lunch care of the barangay health workers, some of us were due in the afternoon for Fly For L.I.F.E., a kite-flying activity arranged by my org as part of our partnership with Leukemic Indigents Fund Endowment, Inc., a non-stock non-profit organization involved in providing financial and psychosocial support for children afflicted with the disease. The entire afternoon was truly heartwarming, seeing my friends enjoying themselves while bonding with and giving joy to the kids.
I don’t even know if it’s really called a pub, but I call it as is because it has a bar and it’s a nice place to hang out after one’s busy day, just as what I envision a pub would be. I’ve never been in any other pub sans The Oarhouse, so I wouldn’t know better on what makes a pub and what doesn’t. Maybe I get my idea of a pub from watching too much American TV shows like How I Met Your Mother, Friends and Grey’s Anatomy, which kinda says something of how much a lazy slob/couch potato I am.
Anyway, as I was saying, The Oarhouse is closed for Easter and the Araw ng Kagitingan holidays, which verily sucks because I was really looking forward to having a drink with one of my closest med friends, just to release my pent-up desperation and frustration at my incapacity to concentrate on studying for next week’s exams. It was just recently when I realized beer is my best anxiolytic, which is cooler and cheaper than prescription benzodiazepines and antidepressants. Which brings me to the topic, I really need to have myself checked; I may be an undiagnosed case of an anxiety disorder, in addition to my self-diagnosis of ADHD and OCD. And now I’m getting really tangential, so there.
In other news though, I got to give my fifteen-month old nephew a bath today. It was my first time giving anyone a bath, really, and it felt fine. More than fine, actually, I realized I’m getting more conscious in involving myself in more adult stuff these days, like taking care of nephews and cooking family meals, and going to pubs and quiz nights and stuff. That’s in addition to the doctor-y stuff I do in clinics every day. I guess this really is it, growing up and living adulthood is indeed inevitable, despite me feeling inadequate and immature most of these days.
There’s too much in mind to process these days. My mind is blowing into bits.
Oarhouse is this pub in Bocobo St. in Malate near UPCM and where I live that I’ve been frequenting recently with a friend. Never had I expected then that I was the pub-going type, but having gone a lot quite recently, I see now the appeal. It’s quite low-key on the outside but inviting once you’ve entered; its laid-back, homey ambiance and its offerings of liquor a calming retreat for your typical hard worker looking to unwind. (Photo courtesy of Ben Razon, from here.)
