My Despedida Party

One month before I left for the US, I had two horrible incidents with patients (who felt as if they owned me just because they were paying for my services), which made me decide that that day would be my last day on duty at RG Medical Clinic in Makati (especially that I had not been in good terms with the owner's son). The rest of the weeks I had been going on duty at the hospital near my house in Bulacan.

About two days before my departure, two of my friends made some alibi for me to go to Makati and meet them. Although I was reluctant, I gave in. Never did it occur to me that they were conspiring to bring me there because the RG owner (which happened to be my uncle, a surgeon-family physician) was planning on throwing a despedida party. Needless to say, that bridged the widening gap between him and me. Although I admit that it was not fully resolved to this day.

The following are photos during the despedida party.

   
These were taken at the RG Medical Clinic where I worked as a family physician.
They made a banner greeting me and wishing me safety in my trip and luck in my new life.

And these were taken at the RGO Diagnostic Center, where I worked as pre-employment medical examiner
both for local and overseas employment for some time.

   
When Quality System became a requirement for the maritime industry and the DOH, I also worked as RGO's Quality Assurance Manager. I trained for the position, and later facilitated the acquisition of the ISO certification......

   
Here Dra. Tay is awarding me a certificate of recognition for that endeavor...
On the right photo shows my uncle in red-orange shirt, with my mom (his sister) and another uncle beside him. On my left is my first son Patrick, who stands beside my uncle's wife (wearing blue dress).

   
It was a new restaurant but I could not remember the name of it! I gobbled up foods that I thought I would see least in my would-be home -- Squid! Thanks to my uncle for the wonderful feast.