Yesterday, I had my first stress test. That is, a treadmill stress test for those with hypertension or heart concerns. It was not stressful though. The hospital staff were nice and friendly and I enjoyed the time with the doctor and the nurse. They even allowed my wife to watch and take some snapshots as they tried to wear me out on the treadmill haha!  It was actually a test on my heart condition. I also had an ECG and 2D Echo. These were all requested by my cardiologist when she found out that my last visit to her was last January of last year.

And just this morning, I had another blood test. I hope to get all the results tomorrow and hopefully present all these data for my cardiologist’s analysis. I actually feel good at this time but I just thought that I just need to have a checkup after the passing of some time. It was a good opportunity to have my heart checked since I was already in the hospital anyway when I had my nose checked.

Oh well, I’ve never been hospitalized in my life. But as I become a senior citizen in a few months, I guess physical checkups are becoming a more important thing to do which during my younger days I hated to do. But I’m always thankful that the Lord has given us life and love to enjoy with him, with our families and friends and with everybody. Enjoy life for as long as God has given us life to enjoy. In Christ, we live and move and have our being.

Several days ago, I had my first ever CT scan done on my head. I never expected to have one but that was what the doctor recommended. My wife actually had her first ever CT scan done on her head as well when she slipped on the floor and the back of her head hit the edge of the first stair tread. Thankfully, the result was good. She had 5 stitches. That was about a year or so ago I guess.

For some two months now, I somehow lost my sense of smell and taste. It developed gradually until I can no longer smell even the strongest of odors. That was my complaint when I went to the doctor.

The EENT doctor checked deep inside my nose with a long instrument that can see inside my nostrils. He probed both nostrils. He called the procedure as endoscopy. It was my first time to experience having an instrument inserted into my nose. The doctor was good at it. I did not feel any pain at all. Just a bit of annoyance knowing that something foreign was deep inside my nose. After that, he showed me in his computer what he saw. It was like a movie getting inside both my nostrils haha!

The doctor said things seemed to look good but he wanted to be sure. He recommended a CT scan. He wanted to eliminate his suspicion that I may have suffered a stroke. Before the CT scan, I had a blood test and some liquid was inserted into my veins which was needed for the CT scan I was told. That liquid made me feel bad after about 8 hours. To make a long story short, the results showed that I did not have a stroke.

I still can’t smell nor taste and I’m taking a lot of medications to hopefully clear my sinus of whatever is blocking my sense of smell. The doctor said I now have sinusitis and it’s my first time to have this kind of sickness. Hopefully, I’ll get well soon. I’m getting old—a reminder that in Christ we live and move and have our being. Thank you Lord for the life and love you allow us to enjoy now and in the future.

This morning, as I was driving, I saw a man placed a baby in the seat of his tricycle. I was quite worried because I believe there was no seatbelt at all. Then he just went his way as if it was just a normal thing that he usually does. It really got me worried so I drove slowly as I passed by him.

I got one comment on Facebook that this is nothing compared to what she usually sees in Thailand. People there just let their little baby hang on tight behind them as they drive their motorbikes. Quite shocking. I’m sure westerners would really be shocked and scared.

Street Hazards

In the Philippines, there are so many vehicles that don’t have lights nor reflectors at night. These are real street hazards. I’ve had several near accidents over the years with vehicles like this. Hmm…

On the lighter side, I also noticed that this man’s tricycle has a crude bottle lamp for “night driving” hahaha! Once in a while, I see those in the Philippines. “Only in the Philippines.” I also learned from one commenter on Facebook that it’s called a “batotoy” in Tagalog. Interesting.

Last December, my sister and her husband were on vacation and we drove to Makati for a lunch date with hometown friends. Due to the usual traffic congestion in the area, I never really go there unless I have to. Having lived in the province for a long time now, I avoid going to Metro Manila as much as possible haha!

I haven’t been to Ayala Avenue for many years and it was interesting to see that so many tall buildings have already mushroomed in the area. During my younger years, I worked in Ayala Avenue as well as in Paseo de Roxas for some ten years from 1975 to 1985. I was then working as an architectural draftsman.

During those days, it was never allowed for buildings to go higher than 13 floors like the Sarmiento Building in Ayala which is one of the oldest buildings in the area. I worked there for about 2 years before our office moved to a new building which we designed and constructed in Paseo de Roxas—the Corinthian Plaza. I also worked at the Manila Bank’s head office in their Architectural & Engineering Group in Ayala for about 3 years before I entered full-time ministry.

I was glad to pass by and see those two buildings where I used to work in Ayala last December. These two buildings are now dwarfed by very tall buildings all around it. Makati has really changed a lot—and the traffic jam was terrible.