Catching up with friends, art and this thing called living.
#2023Wrapped
I only wrote 11 posts in 2023. As I write mostly to reflect on my experiences and to remember better (aka immediate recall improves long-term retention), I’m a bit worried I’ll look back to my 2023 and think only a blur of it. Hopefully not.
I’ve had some pretty good trips in 2023 — I ticked off Cambodia from my bucket list, revisited Thailand, finally stepped foot on Mindanao (via Davao), and stayed at The Farm at San Benito for the first time (an experience that has probably permanently changed my Instagram ad algorithm; I’ve been receiving sponsored posts from so many different wellness centers in the PH —it’s exciting).
And through it all, I’ve been going through the ups and downs of second year residency. There are some things I doubt I’ll forget. My experiences as a General Medicine rotator would be one for the books, though I’ve forgotten maybe 50-60% of the clinical management points I learned at the time. Now that I’m back in (pay/private) inpatient management, I’ve been digging up my notes from last January and February.
Things never get any easier, but we should only get better and wiser as the months go by. Cheers.
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Some things I was too tired to write about —being the Ambulatory ER organic resident last October, or transitioning as the OPD team leader last November (it was a hectic month that saw me go home past 6PM for several days). I’ve written some things down, cried a bit (internally), laughed a lot. I completely restructured my health-related landing page for this blog, though it’s still a work in progress.
Visit For Patients and Partners in Care here.
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It’s still a toss-up… I don’t like acute care, but I’m also not fond of inpatient care. Give me promotive and preventive health any day.
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This particular blog post has been sitting in my drafts since October 2023, reworked until I could finally post it before I move on with the rest of 2024. So before the rest of the year begins, here it is.
(It’s always the first day of the rest of your life).
Back to the Books – MIBF 2023
I added several more books to my already cramped and also non-existent bookshelf. The desire to genuinely call myself “a reader” is stronger this year than the last. Maybe a good half of the books I’ve bought this year are gathering dust, but some have been really exciting investments. Or maybe it’s time to buy a Kindle? My sister’s a fan.
Read: Big Bad Wolf Books 2023 (A Reprise)
I particularly recommend the following:
- Dead Balagtas Tomo I: Mga Sayaw ng Dagat at Lupa by Emiliana Kampilan – this award-winning graphic novel is a masterpiece in modern Filipino storytelling. Though I did get this from Big Bad Wolf and not MIBF 2023. I hope to all literary gods that the next volumes end up getting published.
- Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War by Mike Johnson – This limited edition series is just clean fun, marrying two franchises that involve the weird things in space. It won’t win any awards for character development, but the story is well-paced, with the events providing a good appetizer for either fans of the series.
I started reading Carl Sagan’s Cosmos, though it’s not as stirring as some of the other non-fictional popular science books I’ve read. The lack of a strong human element is probably to blame.
While I parked that for a break, I’ve also been reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman –a book I bought after falling for a store-opening promo at the new Fullybooked x Kinokuniya store. It’s been good so far, though that’s just expected from this author. Then I’ll probably give Dead Boy Detectives a crack (right before their new Netflix series airs!).
Read: Jari’s Review of A Brief History of Medicine on GoodReads
Of all types of novels and narrative fiction, I think I really like graphic novels the best. At least speaking for my current self. They give the same visual treat as movies, but with the pacing entirely within my control. Plus one for introspection (as a consumer in a capitalist society etc).
P.S. And that’s why I now have Haikyu!! chapter 45 and Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 0 manga on my shelf. Lord help my bank account.
Coffee, Sunday Market and a bit of Shinrin-yoku
When you don’t have time to celebrate birthdays, you settle on a random in-between date and cram everything you possibly can on that one day. This happened way back in October, but I think coffee dates and forest walks are good any time of the year.
Featuring: the Legazpi Sunday Market, The Curator Coffee & Cocktails, The Little Free Library (in a TARDIS box), and Panco Cafe. Plus some definition of forest bathing in the middle of the city.
10/10, would recommend… any cafe, as long as the company’s good!
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M graduated from residency this December so [a] I’m so so so proud of you!!! Both for making it through the last decade of service and learning, and also for dodging the bullet that was chief residency of the pediatrics department. You deserve to rest and rest really well back home.
But also [b] I’m gonna miss you!!!!!!!!! Now who can I bully to treat me dinner and also coffee from Barista Blends… how will I sustain my lifestyle… I’m just kidding but also not kidding please still visit me this year and let’s go travel.
Hamilton in Manila
Some other dream of mine, in an alternate universe: to be the kind of woman who says “brava!!!” in ballets, and who enjoys musicals every other season. For now– Hamilton.
Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda is an award-winning musical originally staged in Broadway. The show made its Asian premiere with its international cast (featuring Jason Arrow* in the titular role, DeAundre’ Woods as Burr, Rachelle Ann Go as Eliza, and David Park as Lafayette) last September. The cast that we saw was great, especially Arrow’s acting and vocals as Hamilton, though some performances in particular made me wish for the original Broadway cast.
*Jason Arrow vibes so much like one of our consultants???
The set design, production quality and costume all blend together to elevate the story –genuinely thrilled by the experience. To see live what we’ve only previously seen through the 2020 musical film release is an actual privilege. Thank you Raph for the treat; I still owe you a dinner. Or two dinners now.
(And an additional thanks to my Joe for covering for me as a duty, haha!).
Don’t ask me to pick a favorite musical number, because it would change by the hour. But comfortably in my top ten are: Wait For It, My Shot, Satisfied, and probably the Room Where it Happens.
This list now changes every other weekend, depending on what I’ve heard last on my Spotify / YouTube Music list, so…
To more musicals (and ballets) this 2024! I’ve been on the fence if I actually want to watch Miss Saigon this March. Probably PETA’s One More Chance featuring Ben&Ben for something new. I’m challenging myself to see any show abroad if schedule and my wallet permit.
Open for recommendations of what else to watch! Maybe a contemporary dance show?
ManilArt 2023: The National Art Fair
Last year also marked the first time I visited ManilArt, tagged the longest-running visual arts fair in the Philippines. The collection, hosted in SMX Aura Convention Center, features contemporary works from both big and new names in the national art scene.
I’m pretty sure I went out the night before I visited the exhibit… so there’s a scarcity in photos and deep thoughts. I don’t remember drinking but why did I feel hungover. But these are my favorites.
(Because life is coffee.)
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(For the golden touch).
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The curation is fairly small –and so not as overwhelming as ArtPH every year– but with good variety; there were a couple more works and artists I saved on my phone (and heart).
Read Here: August in Art 2023
If my heart yearns to bring home some pieces for myself, even if they hit the several million pesos range —that’s between me and my 10-year goal planner.
Staycation in Manila – Century Park Hotel
I think if I can go on a “getaway weekend” every month or so, I’d be happy. Thankful for the chance to reconnect with Jeca and Marianne. It’s been a hundred years since college, but some things don’t change.
Except now we have the budget to actually go somewhere, instead of just bunk over someone’s condo, haha!
P.S. I actually did end up going to so many “staycations” or hotel stays last 2023… probably at least 10? Almost enough for once per month, which is kind of crazy and maybe just unnecessary at this point. Haha.
Wellness at The Farm at San Benito
Another getaway weekend that sits comfortably in my top ten experiences for the year 2023. Thankful for the privilege to stay at The Farm at San Benito with my family.
Read Here: 28 – Weekend at The Farm and lunch at 1120 House
From the Bay Area to Bali (in Batangas)
Keeping friendships in adulthood requires more intentional planning. With everyone going their separate ways after medical school, it’s a miracle we actually get together every once in awhile.
We’re hoping for a bit more consistency this 2024, but we did pretty good with short bursts of intense meetups last 2023. At least we already have a galentine’s night out semi-planned…
We spent most of the night in the Manila Bay area, from an early dinner in Ayala (I think) to drinks in Okada. There are apparently a million things to do in Ayala Malls —like there’s mini-golf, bowling, an indoor skating rink, and tufting???— so the few hours we had were not enough in hindsight.
Then a couple of weeks later we found ourselves in Cintai Corito’s Garden, one of the cutest Bali-inspired resorts I’ve been to. It’s only a couple of hours away from Manila, and the whole place embodies my life’s dream to retire in a mountainside zen home. Thank you Xtine for the treat!
The resort was so quiet (it felt like we were the only ones there). Our nonsensical conversations probably echoed throughout the whole place. I could do with less hills and stair-climbing though.
To 2024
It’s crazy to think that the first month of 2024 is almost over. Did time always go this fast, or is the fleeting nature of life a function of age?
I have several goals this year, most of which are mundane and possibly boring. I got myself a new credit card and bought an updated phone; I flew to Seoul two weeks ago and took an annual residency exam on zoom while wearing my thermals. (It was very cold in our hotel room).
In 2021, I wrote my post-pandemic travel bucket list: it included Seoul (done), New York (hopefully next year), Bangkok (done), Angkor Wat (also done), and Madrid (probably in 2025 or later). I’m manifesting another one for this year: I want to go drink Vietnamese coffee in Vietnam. And also Japan or Seoul again, but this time with my residency batch.
But in all honesty I just want to keep my peace; to take care of myself and my family in a world constantly in danger; to meet my friends gladly and without worries. To learn and grow as a physician without sacrificing my values; to sip a good cup of coffee with a captivating book; to have my breath taken away by a poem or by an art piece or by the really beautiful smile of any person, my person.
Here’s to 2024.
jari m 
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