I've been working here for over a year now. And I really like it here.
What can I say? I'm a simple girl, satisfied with the feeling of seeing green all around me, feeling the natural provincial smog-free breeze, and loving the feeling of a small community knowing everybody.
When I passed the boards, I know I didn't want to go straight to residency training. I know my passion for travel, so I looked for job openings in places away from Manila. As it turns out, I got a call from Dr. Sayapal in December if I could start on January 2011. And that's how I began.
Lubang Island is a small island located north of mainland Occidental Mindoro... which is why every time I say that I work in Mindoro, for some reason they associate this with Puerto Galera, and mainland Mindoro. I have to explain it's a different island, and travel in between is hard because you have to go to Calatagan and Batangas piers first.
Anyway, how do you get here? There are generally two ways to get there: (1) 6-hour ferry ride and (2) 3-hour boat ride. The schedule of the ferry Nikki travels once a week, except during the summer where it can travel twice a week. The ferry docks in Pier 12 in Manila, traveling usually at around 10 AM. From Manila to Lubang, it travels during Fridays. (It used to be Saturdays, but they moved it.) From Lubang back to Manila, it travels during Sundays. Fare costs PhP 650-700/one-wayThat's the easy way. There's a harder and complicated way, but it has more flexibility in schedule. You have to travel to Calatagan Pier, and from there, catch the 400-capacity boat God's Grace to Lubang. It travels usually at 12 NN, Mon-Thu-Sat from Calatagan to Lubang, while it travels back to Calatagan on Tue-Fri-Sun. Fare costs PhP 500/one-way.
Reasons why I like it here:
1. Peaceful and quiet - every one knows every one so there's not much mauling (except usually when people get drunk) and crime rate.
2. Friendly - people are really friendly and helpful, they know who are the new-bies when they first enter the island. My friend Julie came to visit "me" but she goes to the bayan all-alone, without any agenda. She just borrowed a bicycle from one of my co-workers. And yet, she spends the whole mid-morning to afternoon there. She told me, people just approached her, knowing that she's new. They invited her for lunch, and even invited her to stay overnight! Haha
3. Primary hospital - from the first assessment, I can tell if the patient needs further evaluation and management, and if can be referred to Manila. So from the start, I explain the limitation of the facilities and medicines here, and at least explain up to what we can do. (Hmm, therefore leading to less malpractice issues.)
4. Less expenses - since I live in the hospital, I have free food and lodging. There's not much to buy here because there's not much commercial establishments. Oh right, my family's favorite pasalubong is lobster which only costs PhP 300-350/kg, which is really cheap! I try to take home every duty, but sometimes it depends on the season and the wind.
5. Internet - is super fast! I used to download one TV series in a couple of hours. I usually finish and catch up on my TV series while I'm on duty.
6. Benign - except for Monday (where the OPD is a lot because the local health center is closed), it's a generally benign duty. Love it! That's why I can catch up on my TV series, writing and blogging (haha!), and whatever things I may need to be reflecting about (haha as if! with the internet, there's already lots of temptations to do other things)
Reasons why I don't like it here:
1. Ferry schedule - because of the ferry schedule, two weekends are covered! There is also one-day allotted for traveling (actually two days, because it's a two-way trip). Because of this, even though it's only a one-week duty, 9 days is gone from your month (two days for traveling, and basically 1 free day in Lubang to roam around). There goes my traveling schedule...
2. I'm getting fat here! - I just can't go jogging here because there are dogs around, which they say don't bite, but whatever! They bark and they scare me! Hehe Plus since there are no commercial establishments here, one of their possible past times is cooking, and there are lots of food here! Especially during fiesta, where there's this habit of going from one house to the next, eating never-ending meals! Grabe... And their fiestas happen almost every month. (It's probably also another reason why a lot of them has high uric acid and cholesterol...)
3. Risk for being stranded - Since this is a separate island away from the mainland, there is a risk of being stranded, especially when the boat or the ferry didn't make it because of the wind or the water. When that happens, the doctor who's supposed to replace you cannot come, and you're forced to go on duty for another week... Actually, I think that's an advantage, because it's cheaper (in traveling expenses) if you go on duty for two straight weeks. (My longest duty was three straight weeks.) Since it's benign, you're not really tired. But okay, sometimes I get homesick and I miss not talking with them. If you get stranded, and went on duty for two weeks, at least you don't have to go on duty for another month. Because basically, the requirement is 7-days-duty per month. So, if you had 14-days, then you just advanced your duty for the next month.
I've been on duty a lot. I had experience a lot of fiestas here (so I know it can be fattening!). And when it's fiesta, people all over are very neighborly! Their houses.. are just open!
I will miss Lubang, that's for sure! I haven't been able to tour it yet! Maybe next time I come back, I will just be a visitor, so I am free to tour around and see its natural beauty... My friends who have been here (Tasha, Julie, and Lyka) all agree that it's a very peaceful and friendly island. Julie and Lyka has been able to tour some of it more than I was able to!
Thanks Lubang for showing me such great hospitality!
