By Tedler D. Depaynos, MD
The male elderly patient had a difficulty of ambulating despite his bamboo cane. He is suffering from severe Osteoarthritis which is common to elderlies because it is a “wear and tear” disease. Upon interview by his MD he volunteered to relate his “bad experience” which made him very stressed which according to him worsened his painful lower extremities.
He inherited a hectare of lot where, during his stronger days, he had been planting “sayote”. Because of the terrain and the returns were sometimes not worth the hard labor, he stopped it for quite some time and ventured into other businesses. He had been paying the yearly taxes regularly however despite the fact that he failed to visit it for years because they settled in his wife’s province.
It was early this year that he was surprised to receive a 3rd subpoena from a local court ordering him to appear to testify that the title of his lot was lost and a buyer was requesting the court to issue a new one in his name. It made him flush and felt his blood pressure elevated because he never lost the title and he never sold his lot! He had to suddenly go over his topsy –turvy records and had to rush the following early dawn because the court hearing was supposed to be in the morning. He must not miss it because it was already his 3rd subpoena! The court might already order the issuance of the new title in the buyer’s name because he missed the first 2 hearings. He never received the earlier subpoenas.
He was just on time because his case was about to begin. When the alleged buyer’s lawyer saw him entering the court room, he just shouted to the judge that the title was already found and the case closed.
The elderly owner was still standing confused and when he tried to approach the lawyer who incidentally appeared familiar and the alleged buyer whom he met several times before with bottles of SMB, they just suddenly disappeared. Riding back home and until now, he can never imagine how those two could do that to him. To think that they are supposed to be friends!
Because the patient appeared very stressful in relating his case, the MD asked him if he consulted a lawyer to also charge them in court. The patient replied that he did not because it may cause a more stressful experience. He was confident that they will eventually encounter a sadder experience that would make them regret what they did or what they are doing. He was also hoping that their bad traits would not be inherited by their children.
The MD made no comment and just prescribed him some anti-arthritic meds and advised him to relax so his limping may be reduced.
BAGUIO RED CROSS CHAPTER
During the last board meeting of the Philippine National Red Cross, Baguio City Chapter, it was noted that the Chapter made good not only in the services that it was mandated to do but also in the financial aspect. The organization mainly thrives on donations and some fund raising activities. Although last year’s target was around 20.5 million pesos, it was able to raise 85.42% of it or a deficit from their quota of around 3 million pesos. The expenses however that it incurred was around 15 million so that there was an excess or savings of around 2.5 million pesos that could be used to expand their services the following fiscal year. It was a very good year for the Chapter and the new Board of Directors are aspiring to do better this year. Ms. Annie Tamayo, the local administrator was with all smiles.
Incidentally, the meeting was held at the Pooten Resorts located in Asin, Tuba, Benguet. It was sponsored by the owner, Atty. Richard Stone Pooten, who incidentally is now the new treasurer of the Chapter. President Atty. Erding Balajadia and Vice President Dennis Sy were re-elected to the same positions.**
