FRUSTRATION

FRUSTRATION

I hate to think negatively but I am surrounded by many frustrations. I think I am a frustrated teacher. The urge to teach is so deeply ingrained in my system, always trying to find an outlet. Whenever I have a chance, and the occasion permits, I teach whether in a restaurant or inside the bus or at the malls. I felt very good whenever I have a chance to impart or share what I think is correct or right to any body that needs it.

I believe I am also a frustrated patriot. My Boy Scout instinct is always ready to be shared. I used to bring a tiny bottle with cotton buds soak in spirit of ammonia just in case anybody faints or collapses in any place where I also happens to be around. I am often misunderstood by people who do not know me.

What I really feel so revolting though is when I see wrongly displayed Filipino Flag whether on the wall of a big building or on top of a Veteran’s coffin. I am nauseated by parade of beauties with their escorts on the wrong side. But most especially I hate to see historically erroneous landmarks.

To give way to my obsessions I have a ready lecture on Love and Relationship that I always share to young boys and girls whenever I have time. I also have ready data about history and culture of my town ready to share to students, researchers and writers.

That way I keep myself busy while enjoying what I am doing. For a while I had a chance to teach in high school and in college. Those were my most enjoyable and memorable experiences more so when I meet former students telling good things about me.

But I am also a frustrated healer. Eaten by the system of routine medical practice I also indulged in the regular textbook approach in the treatment of ailments until I realized too late that I should have attended more thoroughly in the treatment of the person as a whole and not just the complaints. In the later part of my medical practice I did not follow the routine approach to suffering patients. I saw to it that I treat the person as a person and not only a sick part of his body. Before prescribing drugs left and right I always consider the possible side effects on the patients which usually are worse than the original complaints.

I am against heroic measures and dramatic treatment results if I know that in the end the wholeness of the patients is jeopardized.

As a consistent patriot, teacher and healer, I am greatly misunderstood. But I am not complaining, though I am greatly frustrated. But this kind of frustration never lured me into leaving my country. What is greatly lamentable is my being frustrated as a Filipino who is unable to do anything to correct the wrongs that many Filipinos are doing. Behind all these frustrations is a very special kind of victory that I can enjoy and be proud of for the rest of my life