Retrenched father returns to work

School vacation starts

This morning Ross advised that he had been recalled to his usual printing work; that the summer school vacation had started for his children, and that his 13-year-old son Kristofer was due to graduate ceremonially from primary school on April 2.

Politician sponsors genital mutilation campaign

Ross also advised that an advertisement at the Better Living subdivision near the family home was publicising a free mass circumcision session in the area, sponsored by a politician. Ross wished he had a camera to take photographs.

It remains to be seen what effect the genital mutilation campaign will have on Ross's family and especially on Kristofer.

In the Philippines, dorsal incision of boys' prepuces - an alteration known as tuli - has long been customary. Uncut high school boys are frequently subjected to severe social pressure until they conform.

Traditionally the mutilation has been performed by men without medical training but over recent decades it has also been performed by medical and paramedical practitioners.

Over the last decade, some medical authorities in the Philippines have been opposing the routine cutting. The most notable of these is Dr Reynaldo Joson, a surgeon at the Ospital Ng Maynila.

Image via Wikipedia

Several years ago, Ross visited the hospital. He was unable to meet Dr Joson, but reported later, with some excitement, that there were signs posted prominently around the hospital saying tuli is painful and unnecessary.

Research by a psychology graduate among 3,500 high school boys in the province of Batangas revealed that 70% of boys cut by non-medical operators and 50% of those done in medical settings showed definite signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

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Details of text messages exchanged with Ross , 08:17-08:27 a.m. GMT+08, are shown below.

Ross: Gud morning Bern. I'm back to work; kids [are] on summer vacation, just at home. Kristofer['s] graduation [will be on] April 2. He only wish[es for] ice cream.

I saw political ads at Better Living [subdivision] near our place: it says free "TULI" painless handog pasasalamat Mula Kay: name of politician. I hope I have d camera to take picture.

Bern: Hello Ross! It's lucky you caught me online! Thank God you're back to work! Life is very difficult for me. Tina went to PGH yesterday and is still waiting there today.

I wish so much I could help your family to celebrate your children's school success but my financial situation is extremely difficult now.

Ross: Yes, Bern, I understand you. I hope I [will be] able to help you; texted you to let you know what's happening. Just wanna say hi. We're OK. I wish my job will continue. Thanks, Ross.

Bern: Thanks for that Ross. I hope I'm not interrupting your work right now. Thanks for the information about the Tuli campaign. The surgery is painful and unnecessary.

College girl's skin lesion healed following surgery: father seeks help again

Fernando (10:38:13): Hi, how are you now? Hope you're OK. About Rhea-Fe: she is good condition and also operation is perfect. We are here in my house. I am a candidate as a councilor in our Brgy. 2 at Kalye Pogi. Thanks a lot to your help my family.

Bern (10:45:28): Fernando! It's so good to hear from you at last, and especially good to hear that Rhea-Fe is in good condition and the operation perfect!

Fernando (10:51:12): Thanks very much Bern. [I] was running a candidate as a councilor this coming Oct 29 barangay election.

Bern (10:55:40): Yes, congratulations! You have wide experience of life so I'm sure you'd make a good councilor. I hope you win and also receive a good regular salary for it.

Fernando (11:06:50): Thanks and hope you have a good health and 19 of Oct starting of campaigning so I need your help in a meantime; it's me, Poe*.

Bern (11:09:34): So it's a 10-day election campaign? I worry when you say you need my help because I suffer from great financial stresses now.

Fernando (11:16:56): It's OK, I [am] just asking to you if you give me help a good for us. I am going to Comelec** now to file my candidacy. Thanks Bern.

Bern (11:18:23): My best wishes go with you. Fernando, Jov's wife Tina from Kalayaan is begging help today. She has fever and no antibiotics.

Bern (11:19:37): Jov's younger brother Mel is also begging urgently for help from Magdapio. He has no work and no money but wants to buy cellphone loads to sell again.

Bern (11:20:50): I just spent AU$600 to pay for an elderly lady to fly to her daughter's funeral and I must spend another $700 or more to register my car immediately.

Fernando (11:28:01): Well thanks again and hope you're always in good health and condition course I knew you have given help here in Pagsanjan especially [to] Jov's family. Rubee-Fer asking when did you come back in Phil[ippines].

Bern (11:29:58): Oh, I wish I could return soon but I just don't see how it's possible for some time. My health is not bad, all things considered, but I suffer many stresses.

Fernando (11:32:44): Regards to you, Rubee-Fer say love you, ninong [godfather]. Take care of yourself. I know you're going older. Thanks, gud a.m.

Bern (11:34:37): Hey, don't remind me I'm growing older! Age is only a number (I wish!). I'm so glad that someone and especially Rubee-Fer loves me! My love to her also!

Fernando (11:39:40): Yes I know only a number getting older not in your body. Rubee getting taller and beauty. She is graduating now at her grade six elementary she wish you come back soon.

Bern (11:42:08): Well, children getting taller and more beautiful, that's a bit different! But please pardon me now, I'm being called urgently to merienda [snack] with a visitor!

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*Poe: a nickname derived from the movie star Fernando Poe.
 

**Comelec: Comission on Elections.

Ulyot's wife gives birth to a daughter by Caesarian section

October 06

Tina (22:52:08): Ulyot now just got married a month ago, he was working [as] a salesman in Centro department store in Sta. Cruz.

Bern (22:55:46): I see. A few days ago I was looking at photographs of Ulyot, taken when he was quite a small boy, early in April 1994, I think - more than 13 years ago.

Mel (23:10:23): Good evening. Ulyot texted me his wife born a baby girl this 5 p.m., the baby is OK but his wife is not bcoz sesarian [caesarean]. Sad to say they need big money I guess. LOVE. [Text received October 07 at 09:50 GMT+10.]

October 07

Bern (09:55:00): Good morning Mel. Congratulations to Ulyot and his wife. It's good to hear they have a healthy daughter but I hope life's not too difficult for the mother and father.

Drunken man Jovs on violent rampage, wife says

Texts received online at 18:12 GMT+10

Tina (04:56:47): Gud a.m., how are you! If you ask me, we're now in big family problem, I cry in whole nite. I know it's not good to mention it to you, coz it [is] personal but you're part of my life, we have fight here, big scandal, Jov was drunk in Magdapio dat why I and little Bern follow him, to bring him at home, from Pagsanjan we're ride in motor [cycle] single [i.e. without a sidecar].

I thought it's our last moment, coz everyone see us, asking him to fight him, till we got home, when we got home everyone at home asking to fight him, even Lito and Roderic, even in police near da house he did not listen, dat why I call to Nanay Josie [his mother] to be here, but husband of Anagel came to bring him at home in Magdapio coz no one can stop him.

Tina (05:08:04): Jovs [is] now in da house in Magdapio with some bruises coz he hit himself, he handle a piece of iron and hit in different part of d house. We're so scare[d], also little Bern. I'm now suffer so much pain in my operation, I felt it [the incision] will be open again. Bern, please, give me your advice, I really need to continue dis relationship, he hit me in head, even I carry little Bern. He touch my head and push it [against] da wall.

Hospital staff extremely busy; patient's benefactor waits for feedback

Bern (12:19:16): Hi Tina. On Thursday I requested that a doctor e-mail me urgently about your medical situation. I'm still waiting. [Yahoo Messenger: "Tina will receive your messages on a mobile device."]

Tina (13:33:23): Gud a.m., I will, sorry if dey not response on [i.e. to] you right away, coz dey was so busy in operating room, like yesterday we're been waiting from 8 a.m. till 3 p.m. Then dey [went] back right away in [to the] OR*, [they came out] just to give me discharge order [Received online via Yahoo at 15:17:41 GMT+10].

*OR: Operating Room.

Mission Impossible: surgery scheduled but blood and money unavailable

Tina (21:59:35): Bern gud p.m., I'm now on da way going home, coz I need to [have] prepared 12 bag of blood, and my schedule of surgery will be on Thursday. I don't have enough budget, dat why we decide to go home, we will [be] admit[ted] again on Tuesday [Received online via Yahoo Messenger at 22:52:10 GMT+10].

Bern (23:00:51): Hello Tina, thanks for your texts. Please recall I want an e-mail explanation from a doctor. I have still not received one. [Yahoo Messenger: "Tina will receive your messages on a mobile device."]

Haematologist advises severely ill patient to find 12 blood donations

Tina (31/05/2007 20:00:12): Bern gud pm, HEMA doktora* visit[ed] me dis p.m., advice me to have lab. test tomorrow a.m., then [I] need to [have] prepared 12 donor, 6 bags [of blood], before operation then 6 bags after operation on Thursday next week, coz my platelet count yesterday was only 30. Tina.

*doktora: female doctor.

Sick woman worries about how family can survive

Tina (01:14:33): Bern gud evening, sorry if disturb you! It's so hard to have slept, coz of so much worried, I have now new bruises in my forearm and legs, in dis case I'm worried in platelet transfusion in my near operation.

Tina (01:17:48): I'm worried to Liza, she goes to Alabang today, to get d 2 child and bring it here. I'm worried how we can survive, if Liza don't have work and Roderic was sick, its back on my responsibility again.