by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 2, 2022 | Ponderings
At a very young age, I formed a strong and healthy attachment to books. I cannot recall if our parents ever read stories to us, but I clearly recall the many times growing up when every single one of us in the family would be gathered in the living room, either lying down on the couch, curled up in a chair, sprawled on the floor — each with a book in hand and reading TOGETHER. Oftentimes, we would come up for air to share something interesting or funny that we read and everyone would put down their book to listen and comment. It was wonderful. Eventually, we would rotate books and everyone would get to relate.
While we read all types of books, both fictional and non-fictional, in general, we preferred reading fictional works. I remember when mom and dad gave us a whole set of Nancy Drew books. I don’t recall my exact age, but I would guess it was at around 10 years old. My sisters and I were so happy! It was the best Christmas gift ever! As we got older our parents allowed us to read different genres of books, much as TV shows and movies are screened for a specific audience today.
With my life being as hectic as it has been for the last couple of years, I haven’t had the chance to indulge myself in quite some time, until recently when circumstances have forced me to slow down and I finally thought about picking up a book instead of watching TV or playing online.
Books come in all forms … paperback, hardcover, electronic (digital), and we are into them ALL! Lately, I’ve found myself spending a lot of time on my tablet or on the iPad mini reading stories on Good Novel, on Amazon Kindle, on iBooks, or on Moonreader. Good Novel, specifically, has taken a lot of my money 😆 when I find myself caught up in a story with no bonus coins available to continue reading.
In the coming days or weeks, I will start posting my reviews of some of the stories I have read recently and the new authors I have come to love. 💖
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 17, 2022 | Public Service
I posted an article on how to get fast online approval for laboratory tests with MediCard in 2016 and since then (and especially when this pandemic started) I have been deluged by inquiries on a daily basis. I usually just redirect all inquiries to the Medicard website but the inquiries just won’t stop! Here is why:
As you can see the MediCard Online LOA tab that was indicated before is missing. I tried going into the button marked “I’m a Medicard Member” thinking the link must be there but to no avail. I clicked everywhere I possibly could and was met with zilch. I’m not a Medicard member and I was getting frustrated!
Why couldn’t Medicard just put the link right there?
I thought about it and I came up with the following possible answers:
- Because of the pandemic, people were panicking so they were getting LOA requests left and right for RT-PCR tests and antigen tests … more than they could handle
- They wanted their members to use the MACE app, available on the Appstore and Googleplay.
- They wanted their members to visit their social media accounts, such as the one on Facebook.
How do I request an LOA then?
I did a quick Google search using the keywords “Medicard LOA request” which led me to several infographics by Medicard on the topic. The most recent one is posted on September 24, 2021.
That infographic has ALL the information you will need TO DATE until a new one is issued. In a nutshell, you have two options: email or call directly.
So, to everyone who wants to know how to get a Medicard LOA, there’s your answer. If they stop working, do let me know and I will help you dig up the information again. In the meantime, stay healthy!
by Ginnie Faustino-Galgana | Jan 15, 2022 | Kasuy Chronicles
Since Esther isn’t home, the resident isolationists had the run of the house. This meant we were able to step out of our nooks and enter the main chamber of the cave that’s called our house.
This also meant that we were able to harass the fearsome felines.
Arya and Yema both kept yelling at us. We have no idea exactly why, but we do know it’s partly to get some love. Arya just rolled over and helped herself to the nearest hand. Yema demanded to be carried…twice.
Pogi alternated between the thrones at my door and at Kimi’s door to get some of his favorite scritches. He even tolerated being carried by me (such a soft floof!) and by Kimi (lying down on her lap while getting a tummy scratch).
Bacon got what he wanted — a full-body scratchfest ending in him playing dead twisted on the floor (his favorite position).
Only Adele was wary. She kept running around and even had hissy fits against Arya and Yema. Aragon was safely tucked away in the dirty kitchen.
After all that, I had to catch my breath. The isolationist hoomans are both basically symptom-free except for the occasional shortness of breath and the need to clear our throats often. I felt my lymph nodes on the neck and they’re still palpable.
by Ginnie Faustino-Galgana | Jan 15, 2022 | Kasuy Chronicles
I FINALLY got a schedule for my RT-PCR Test. Monday is D-Day (or should I say S-Day?). That’s 10 days after my first symptoms.
The weird thing is: I submitted the for both Kimi and me BUT they forgot about Kimi. Hopefully, she gets tested on Tuesday.
by Ginnie Faustino-Galgana | Jan 14, 2022 | Kasuy Chronicles
It seems that my appeal to be heard was heard but I didn’t quite get the results I needed. Well, you see, ayuda arrived in the form of meds, food, and face masks from local politicians. Thank po! (Special thanks to Lysette Guarte Caruz, I know this was partly you.)
Kelan po ako makakakuha ng swab test?
So while we were checking out the goods and taking the obligatory photo, the resident sentient clouds took advantage and zoomed into my room. The guilty party includes Pogi, Arya, and Yema. The only reason Bacon didn’t go was that he was deep in cat dreams. All three went straight under my bed.
I cannot emphasize enough how much more breath you lose when you are already short of breath and you have to stoop down on the cold floor to coax some curious felines.
Thankfully, the cats have a magic word in this house. The mere mention of the word “fish” sends them scampering towards the source of the magic word. This time, however, Ester had to say the magic word several times before it became effective. Could it be that the magic word is losing potency?
The first to succumb to the call of the magic word was Pogi, but he didn’t run out, he merely sauntered out, like he was so sure he’d get whatever the magic was offering. Next was Arya, but only after I trained the flashlight on her under the bed. She sprinted. Yema didn’t want to go out at first. I lit the flashlight on her and she just stared right back at me, probably wondering why I was out of breath. When I motioned to go to her, that was when she finally walked out. She just walked out. I think the fearsome felines here need retraining on the magic word.
by Ginnie Faustino-Galgana | Jan 14, 2022 | Kasuy Chronicles
While I know that the LGU is dealing with a surge, my efforts to get a swab since Sunday have been frustrating. I hope Pasig City Public Information Office will have an answer soon. I also reached out to Konsi Maro Martires – #KMM and even he is at the mercy of the response from CESU. Aabot pa kaya sa sakit ko ang swab? Mayor Vico Sotto baka naman po?
It’s day 7, and right now, there are barely any symptoms aside from the colds and occasional dry cough, punctuated by the bouts with asthma and some skirmishes down my throat — just itches, especially when it’s dry. I’m halfway through my quarantine period.
In the meantime, the resident sentient clouds are still on a vigil, but they are now torn between my cave of recuperation and Kimi’s hideout since we’re both under quarantine. Pogi tends to run towards the door when we open them. He goes on the stool and gets his scritches. Bacon saunters — he takes his sweet time on the approach but will take the chance to zoom in once he’s close enough. Yema takes advantage of the attention we give the other cats and tries to sneak in. Every now and then, Pogi swipes at her and she stops in her tracks. Arya walks closer and just starts screaming at us. Adele just stays in one of the boxes watching the rest try to breach the threshold. All in all, it’s a game of patintero with them.
by Ginnie Faustino-Galgana | Jan 13, 2022 | Kasuy Chronicles
Is it really a good morning when you wake up to the loud argument going on next door? She’s been at it for more than an hour, berating someone on the phone. As always, why can’t she do it away from the window?
Ate Gurl is speaking in quick Visaya so I can’t really catch why she is angry this time. It seems that someone has done something she considers stupid and should have done something else instead. Towards the end of her loooong call, she started laughing, so I guess their issue was resolved. Good for them.
In the meantime, it’s too late for me to go back to sleep.
Down my throat, the skirmishes have subsided (yey Difflam even if your strawberry flavor tastes awful). There are only a few acts of terror going on — a few itches every now and then. I’m also still coughing but no more phlegm. I hope my salabat honeymansi mix will do the trick. In the meantime, I’m croaking now instead of squeaking.
Now to deal with dysmenorrhea… #whenitrainsitpours
Right outside my door, the sentient clouds are still on vigil. Pogi asks for scritches to which I oblige because my fluffy sentinel is too cute and I need him to do his job keeping Yema from crossing the threshold. When his throne is occupied by my food tray, he stays on the small stool on the side. Today, he greeted me with meows and it seemed he had a lot to say.
by Ginnie Faustino-Galgana | Jan 12, 2022 | Kasuy Chronicles
Quite a few friends raved about “suob” (steam inhalation). And for good reason– the practice does clear up air passages. Following their instructions, I had my daughter do that, and I did it too.
There is another benefit to this practice: clearing up your face’s pores. Here are the steps:
- boil some water (3-5 cups would suffice)
- note: it should be a rolling boil
- Add a dollop of Vicks and mix (you can smell its minty freshness)
- Set the pot on a stable sturdy surface
- Get a big towel or a blanket
- Remove your glasses (if any)
- Remove the pot’s cover
- Bend over the pot with the blanket/towel covering you and pot
- Inhale deeply and let the steam enter your nostrils to help relieve clogged nose
- Inhale deeply and let the steam enter your mouth for sore throat
- Do #8-11 for about 10 minutes
- Expect to sweat
- Once done, wash your face, preferably with a facial scrub
- Apply facial mask and keep it on for 15-20 minutes
- Remove the facial mask but do not wash off the facial mask residue
My results:
The throat is no longer a nuclear war, but there are still some skirmishes going on in there. My nose is clear. The face needs washing LOL.
Clearer nasal passage. Less sore throat. Clear pores. San ka an? LOL
Update:
A few hours after the beauty treatment, the skirmishes in my throat have escalated to civil war levels. The bombings have started again. I’m hoping the Difflam with quell it for tonight.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 12, 2022 | Work Tips
So, you’re planning to work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) as a nurse or doctor? That’s an excellent choice as the country is known for its thriving medical industry. However, with the many hospitals and clinics in the KSA, it might be a struggle to know where to start applying. Luckily, TrueProfile.io, a platform that provides Filipino healthcare professionals around the world with the tools they need to secure a lucrative career abroad, shares some useful avenues that will lead you to legitimate job opportunities.
Through the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
The Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is the government agency that is responsible for monitoring and supervising overseas recruitment and manning agencies in the Philippines. Through the POEA website (https://www.poea.gov.ph/cgi-bin/JobVacancies/jobsByCty.asp), Filipino health workers can find a host of available job positions in their preferred country, together with the name of the recruitment agency. Once they find a job suitable for them, they can go back to the POEA portal and look for the agency via https://poea.gov.ph/cgi-bin/aglist.asp to get their necessary information to submit job applications.
Through TrueProfile.io
You can also opt to find coveted healthcare roles in Saudi Arabia with TrueProfile.io Jobs, the latest addition to the blockchain-powered career platform for healthcare workers where they access and apply for coveted global healthcare roles from leading healthcare employers and recruiters quickly and easily.
Simultaneously, you must collect all the basic requirements which include either a 1×1 or 2×2 ID picture, NSO-authenticated Birth Certificate, resume, college diploma, transcript of records, marriage contract (if applicable), NBI clearance, passport (valid for at least six months), as well as license and certifications. They must also apply for a working visa to Saudi Arabia once the job is offered by the employer.
All these documents must be verified, which they can easily do with the help of TrueProfile.io. By signing up to become a member, TrueProfile.io offers its members a number of career solutions including a free digital CV that can be shared with employers, regulators, and recruiters and can also be showcased on social media.
For interested applicants, simply create an account on TrueProfile (https://member.trueprofile.io/register), build a myTrueProfile page which is an online CV that can be viewed by employers and recruiters. Members can apply for jobs directly, get help with licensing services, and can also set their contact settings to the ‘Recommended’ option in order to attract new career opportunities.
To know more, visit https://www.trueprofile.io/
About TrueProfile.io
TrueProfile.io works with employers and international job applicants to enhance human resource processes through a fully digital, on-demand Primary Source Verification (PSV) solution. TrueProfile.io removes the friction of ever-repetitive background checks and replaces it with a broadly accepted standard that connects applicants with employers in a secured and trusted environment. We do this by using cutting-edge blockchain technology to securely verify applicant qualifications for prospective employers. The PSV process ensures that all of the candidates’ credentials are authentic and issued by an accredited institution.
TrueProfile.io is part of the DataFlow Group, a leading global provider of specialized PSV solutions, background screening, and immigration compliance services. Headquartered in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), the DataFlow Group has been delivering PSV services to regulators and governments in Asia and Europe since 2006.
by Ginnie Faustino-Galgana | Jan 12, 2022 | Kasuy Chronicles
The resident incapacitated tandem is now bonafide members of the new contemplative order of Omicron. Our vocal cords are currently malfunctioning. So I guess it is a good thing that technology affords us to be expressive by text and chat and squeaks. My throat is still a war zone, suffice it to say.
The sentient clouds did not know how to deal with my squeaking though. When I opened my door to get my food. FatBacon ran towards my door, paused, and rocked back and forth not knowing how to interpret my squeaky “No, baby boy.” and the sight of my door’s gate. He just gave me a quizzical look, puzzled at the odd noise I was making. FiestyArya watched the whole thing with the same confused look, her head tilted to one side and a paw suspended halfway up.
Now, I miss my sexy bedroom voice.
Sometime later, Pogi reclaimed his throne near my door. The fluffball greeted me with a sad meow and extended a paw. I gave him a quick scrootch before he got distracted by YemaNaMakulit who tried to rush into my cave through the gate (she’s small enough to fit through). My loyal fluffball took notice and promptly pawed her into stopping. I wish I could hug him to thank him. Pogi is now my Fluffy Sentinel.
Down my throat, the skirmishes have subsided (yey Difflam even if your strawberry flavor tastes awful). There are only a few acts of terror going on — a few itches every now and then. I’m also still coughing but no more phlegm. I hope my salabat honeymansi mix will do the trick. In the meantime, I’m croaking now instead of squeaking.
The 
You can also opt to find coveted healthcare roles in Saudi Arabia with 
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