PNAA Celebrates Leadership, Friendship, and Service at the PNAA Conference in Colorado Springs

PNA Colorado members attending the Philippine Nurses Association of America conference and gala.

(From left to right: Victoria Obiniana Ayo (purple top), Leli Pedro, Carina Madriaga, Editha Pasion, Marilyn Doster, May Joyce Veritdo, Belinda Higa, Melissa Davis, Anelyn Miro, Janice Garzelazo, Heidi Wolfe, Jisebelle Oller-Tizon, Armi Earlam, Melba Canon, Jimmy Igarta, Jr., Edmon  Regachuelo, and Jonathan Craig Brillantes).

Members of the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA), PNA Colorado, and other chapters across the United States proudly joined Filipino American nurses from across the country for an inspiring PNAA conference featuring education, networking, leadership, celebration, and a memorable gala.

More than an event, the conference reminded us of what is possible when nurses come together. We build friendships, strengthen our professional voices, support our communities, and inspire the next generation of nurse leaders.

Help PNACO Grow by 15%

PNACO is welcoming new members, returning members, nursing students, and supporters. Our goal is to increase local membership by at least 15%. More members mean more hands to serve, more ideas to share, and a stronger, more influential organization.

Together, we can do more for Colorado’s Filipino American nurses and the communities we serve.

As the newly inducted Dr. Bob Gahol reminds us, let us lead with:

Passion. Purpose. Pride.

Join PNAA and PNACO—and become part of a professional family committed to leadership, service, culture, and connection.

Ready to join or renew your membership?

Visit the PNACO membership page.

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One of my few mentors, Arlita C. Pang of Texas, PNAA Ways & Means 2022-2026, who gave her time, talent, and resources generously

PNAA members celebrate friendship and service at the PNAA conference, even if they live miles apart.

Current, Marilyn Doster, and former PNACO leadership, along with PNAA and numerous auxiliary members and students, helped guide the conference with passion, purpose, and pride to amplify influence and IMPACT

Filipino American nurses and auxiliaries (seasoned, young, and in-between) connecting through the conference.

PNACO nurses connecting, learning, and strengthening their professional voices.

Two of the Past Presidents of PNACO

Some of us have to work, but these two sneaked in a day or two to show up for the conference.

Two of the highly educated Next Generation of Nurses. We need them.

New-ish Philippine Nurses Association of Colorado recruit took off her many hats for a second for this picture.

Seasoned nurses gather for an inspiring education day. 

Yes, continuing education for all. We can all use updates on evidence-based practices, protocols, and pilot studies that we can apply in our workplaces and organizations.

Common friends of PNACO members showed up and supported PNAA

Lots of sessions to celebrate, learn, and share with eah other

Some of us seasoned members have to watch (and not dance) so we can clap for the talented contestants like the "Philippine Nurses Association of Colorado  Hawaaii Five-O energetic dancers" and the Next-Gen talents.

Nurses Got Talent. It was great to see nurses outside of serious work having fun and entertaining their co-nurses. :)

Are you interested in the next annual conference in Hawaaii next year? Check PNAA Events often. 

Do you have the resources to donate to our non-profit group? Check PNAA Foundation.

Summer Gratefulness

 

The weather is so nice, I can just hang out on the patio all day.

• I'm so grateful for my laptop. I can take it anywhere I go, so I can work from the patio, the living room, or even my bed. But maybe I should not work on my bed.
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  I'm also grateful for my fake fountain. It's so relaxing to listen to the water running, even though I know it's not real.

• I'm grateful for my espresso maker's ease of use. It's so easy to make a perfect cup of espresso, even if I'm not a morning person. With it, I make the perfect cup of coffee every time. And I'm grateful for no-calorie leaf sweetener. It's the perfect way to sweeten my coffee without adding any calories.
• I'm grateful for days off. They give me a chance to relax and recharge. And I'm grateful for a good week at work. It's always nice to feel like I'm making a difference. This past week, there was zero death in the ICU.
• I'm grateful that the COVID vaccine is no longer required by the CDC because of the low risk. I am not anti-vaccine but I am grateful for the reasoning of no-requirement. It's one less thing to worry about and COVID is no longer that scary. I never thought I would write something like this back in 2020 and 2021.
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  I'm grateful for the farmer's market. It's a great place to get fresh, local produce. And I'm grateful for fresh vegetables. Fresh cherries and tomatoes. They're so good for you.
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  And finally, I'm grateful for my reusable woven basket. It helps me reduce waste and reuse. I'm trying to be more environmentally conscious, and this is one small way I can do that. Plus, it is strongly pushed by the state. Colorado is behind California on this but we are catching up.

• I'm grateful for my laptop's battery life. It's long enough that I can work for hours without having to worry about it dying.
• I'm grateful for a good week at work with grateful patients, family, and co-workers. It's nice to know that my hard work is appreciated.

 I know I'm lucky to have all of these things in my life. I'm so grateful for them all.

Got blog? Join the grateful blog team here.

Relationships Gratitude List

Velvet dog exemplifies, "Wag more, bark less," to me. Human translation, "Voice gratitude and compliment more, complain less."

What a great time to list of gratitude about relationships but the Sunday before Valentine's Day week. I had one bad day out of the past 7 days. And although that one day is just a moment of my life that keeps popping into my mind, I have many more and longer lists to be thankful for. Here are my ten things of thankful for. These questions are from Ten Things of Thankful and & Summit Pathways.

1. Are you thankful you have someone to call your valentine? Yes, and he cooked some healthy meals with me this weekend good for our diet and yummy too. We had crustless pizza and zucchini lasagna.
2. What aspects of your city or neighborhood are you grateful for? Generally quiet. There are birds flying around the backyard trees today.
3. Who is someone that really listens when you talk, and how does that affect you? My husband and co-workers are at work. I had one difficult day and some actually sat down with me and talk to me with their full attention however busy it was in the hospital.
4. How many of your basic needs do you not have to worry about meeting today? Oh my God, food. Good shelter. Good environment with no earthquakes.
5. What’s the best thing about your home, and have you taken the time to enjoy it recently? The fireplace, every day, and tonight while watching the Super Bowl Sunday 2023. "Baby, it's cold . . . outside."
6. Have you had a chance to help someone recently, and how did that make you feel? Yes. My nursing volunteer team donated money to Uplift International to put new smiles on five children with cleft palate in the Philippines, literally to mend their faces. :)
7. What’s something you look forward to in the future? A spiritual and professional retreat for healthcare workers I am helping organize. We are going to the tropics away from the cold.
8. What’s an aspect of your physical health that you feel grateful for? Cancer free for 11 years now.
9. What relationships are you grateful for? My relationships with my children. My daughter just visited me yesterday. My relationship with my pets, friends, and co-workers. My heart literally smiles when I see them.
10. What made you smile today? My sister is at home sick but feeling a bit better today.

Watching these two dogs playdate in my home is entertaining. They make me smile.

It makes me feel good to eat home-cooked meals putting our healthy-ish tweaks into them according to doctor-recommended foods and cooking styles.

I am grateful we can buy the ingredients to include in our home-cooked meals.

I feel honored to be a part of this nursing volunteering group helping the community in Colorado and children in need in the Philippines born with cleft palate.

What are you proud of or thankful for?

Bowling for a Cause by PNACO

 

This is a fundraising effort of the Philippine Nurses Association of Colorado, a non-profit organization.

Looking Back Last Month and Beyond

I revisited this blog after many months of abandonment. Somebody had to check it. It is still here. I had been occupied with work, family, and volunteer nursing activities. In my little free time, I admit, I tried and did escape to the tropics. I am thankful for that that because back home in beautiful Colorado, the red rocks had been covered with snow. It has been a cold, white winter. There is beauty in it, somehow. Cold, simple, and pure.

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My stevia plant died after I have not watered it enough for many days too often. I have the backup, no-care-needed sweetener in a herb-like container. It does the job to sweeten my drink.

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I had been drinking more hot drinks lately. More, I mean twice a day. This cappuccino from home is as good as some famous coffee shops. Paul and I invested in a small frother and cappuccino for home.

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I have been cooking more at home, as both my husband's and my blood pressure were higher than we want. We are lessening our sodium intake. Here I added some kale to our breakfast. It is delicious--husband approved. I was trying to stretch our last few eggs here :).

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I added some meat and vegetable from a simple, ready-to-cook (heat-up) dinner. The kit has enough sauce and flavor in it that the whole dish is still very flavorful. Another quick, easy, and somewhat healthy meal I was able to cook after a long day of hospital work. The cooked chicken added is a real-time saver too.

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To celebrate Chinese New Year, I thought we should have something red. The husband suggested lobster. It is a special occasion so we splurged a little. I added some corn. 

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Here he is enjoying our dinner. 

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Farmstand from Lettuce Grow

This hydroponic planter does not disappoint. It gives me greens all year long for almost three years now. 

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I changed the template, fonts, color, and some images of this blog. Most links from previous years are still here. Come to think of it, I still use many of the same things and recommend them. 

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I reviewed the about page. It reminded me of why I started this blog. This is a therapy blog for me. I hope I can inspire others, and in a few ways, teach others what not to do, maybe :). 

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Do not be lazy, Carin. 
Make time for journaling, blogging, or writing.
Let yourself be surrounded by positive people.

 

Bye 2021, Let Us Do Better 2022

I have been meaning to write, but the energy I am lacking--for during my days off work, all I want to do is throw my body on the couch and stay there for hours, often sleeping overnight there too. It is hard to get myself to climb the stairs to the cozier bed. I kept waking up to toss and turn, thinking I should be on my feet, maybe to go upstairs in the bedroom, or to the kitchen to do the dishes, or do laundry, or sort the mail--to lessen the clutter in the house. Even the indoor plants are now showing signs of neglect from me. The leaves look brownish and hang down low, almost like the plants outside the house in this winter season--brittle and dry. I thank my supportive partner in life, my supportive husband who literally picks up the slack and keeps our living space a home.

I thank my family, my grandkids especially. I smile as I watch them enjoying some simple things in life. They can keep themselves occupied with child's play from the discounted Christmas party games I bought when we celebrated the day after Xmas. (I worked Xmas, New Year, and the eves before). Aren't after-season sales great? We got "Pin the Snowman carrot nose," and a "Snowball-dart" board. Josiah, my 2-year old grandson, jumps for joy every time he throws the gel ball in the bull's eye target.

At work, I feel grateful for the core staff who choose to stay and work with the teams in the hospital. We are the minority while most staff are traveling professionals (nurses and respiratory therapists). I feel grateful for the staff who maintains their calm. It is hard to keep our heads up high and smile beneath our personal protective equipment. 

We lost many patients, and two in my family within a month. My patience and resiliency are being stretched to the limits. How much more can I endure? My compassion is wearing thin and I have to remind myself, I am still lucky that I have the knowledge, resources, and support to do what is right most of the time. I am grateful for all those blessings.

Salamat.

Happy Place

We have quite a few nurses leaving the intensive care unit to relocate, change job positions, or work in neighboring hospitals for more money and/or a different environment. Many, I think, are searching for that happy place, like any other place except where they are currently. For now, my husband and I take some moments as able, to getaway. The anticipation, planning, actual vacationing, and memories of good experiences get us by. We are lucky enough to have the strength and resources to do this. Saving for it, doing tasks that are not always our favorite, and making sacrifices all help to make our happy place within reach (or one flight away).

We visited Kauai. The beaches are clean with fish easy to watch and enjoy. The air is refreshing, the ambiance peaceful.

Even the full moon is beautiful. The reflection on the water makes the area so bright.

This tree from a garden is so unique. It looks almost unreal. 

I am thankful for the good times we had.

Volunteer

Hey. We are a small group of nurses volunteering in Colorado called PNACO. Our group is non-for-profit for the state and United States. We have grouped all over the US and in the Philippines benefitting local communities. 

Our next fundraising is BINGO online via zoom best used with a computer. Join us! Let me know if you want to join under comments.

New Year 2021 Gratitude

Welcome to my first post in the New Year 2021. Most of my off days are still spent indoors. It is cold outside. 39 degrees in Colorado. With still some social distancing, I still have many things to be grateful for this second wave of COVID.

• A family member was hospitalized in December but released in early January in better health.
• The COVID population in my hospital is low.
• I completed my 2/2 COVID immunization. It is something to be thankful for being in Tier 1A as I work in the intensive care unit.
• A working fireplace to sit close to - at home.
• A pedicure service for me and my daughter (and a cheese grater for callus removal *laughing out loud*)
• Chair massager at home to go home to after a long day at work.
• My family loves the chair, even little Josiah who is not even two.
• Funny Josiah whatever he does. He eats like a dog with a spoon and fork in his hands. Who needs those spoons and forks? They are just props.
• Kiddie masks fitting Josiah. He does not mind much wearing it. For many things, kids are easier to train.

• Zen time painting cards for a cause (to support some COVID families). My nursing group is starting this project to sell for our fundraising.
• My coworkers still in the fight defending our patients from COVID.
• Ventilators.
• Trimmer to cut my husband's hair. He let me! 
• YouTube for hair trimming instructions. Shhh
• Cupcakes too good to eat. I ate the pearl-like thingies anyway. Delish.
• Chesla the Tesla my husband gifted me. 4 days a week I am on the road for two hours so the self-driving feature on the highway helps a lot and decreases my stress driving.
• Audiobooks to listen to while on the road.

Overdue Gratitude

Hello, hello. I am here after two months. I have been meaning to write my gratitude but did not get myself to sit down and actually type and post it. My daughter turned 21, an adult but still young at heart and spirit. She is my forever baby and youngest and smallest. 

We celebrated 2020 style, just me and her in Estes. We stayed in a condo with a nice view. The place was by the stream and the water was not all frozen yet. We could hear the water flowing with its relaxing nature sound. We walked outdoors in with the cold breeze. Surprise, surprise, we were the only ones outdoors. The masks, I must admit, felt good to wear as our breath, at least, bouncing back on our face felt warm.

Paul and I celebrated our two-months anniversary in a neighboring state and ordered takes-outs. We hang out (in?) ate, drank, and talked. The drive was beautiful passing by packs of rams unsuspecting of the cars passing by.

We finally got our professional wedding (and video) shots. They are all beautiful in my eyes. The memories are even more beautiful and the photos are great reminders.

I got my first of two COVID-19 vaccines. I have never been so excited about a shot in my life for myself. But here I am, forced to sit down a day after. I have chills, fatigue, and left arm pain worse than after getting a flu shot. Whatever I am feeling, it is still better than getting sick from the gruesome COVID like my patients suffer from. 

It's Fall 2020

I have so many reasons to be thankful

I am now married to Paul

Without a ball

We pull

A simple ceremony before the fall

And this weekend we borrowed my grandson

Who is now Paul's (also) grandson

Little Josiah gladly welcomed

Grandpa Paul without a question

He was such a delight

Easy to excite

With kisses, rides, bubble bath, and chocolate

But he got so active, we thought we had triplets

After that, Paul and I have decided

Milk chocolate drink? We should have skipped it

Because little grandson (and grandparents) 

Would be better without it

Oh after the wedding, we had small get-togethers

To celebrate after in good times and weather

We entertained friends, we barbequed together

And maintained a safe distance

As our health truly matters

My friends' son, so chatty 

Bragging about his stuff

He was showing me his airplane, scorpion, and other stuff

Oh, I have to tell you

I just got elected

As president-elect in a nursing organization

Where 11 years I invested

Nursing service volunteer work

Where I am needed

We did the inauguration via Zoom

When in the past we did this celebration

In a special destination

With a big production

But my team learned to do it online

And the organization turned out more than fine

We had a beautiful inauguration

The best for the time

To end this post, I had to look

For every autumn - ish picture from every recent nook

Here's my wedding cord

When we tied the knot,

A hotel shot where we booked,

From a casual shot, I took,

 the bouquet I used,

A coffee mug we chose

To go with our wedding cake

That's oh, so good

There's a shot from our last breakfast

Two days after the wedding

And the last pic was the time

To the altar, we were walking

That is all folks

Thanks for reading. 

Happy Independence Day, USA

Happy Independence Day, USA. We have no official fireworks celebration this year due to physical distancing. I am thankful, just the same, living in this country, with its wealth and freedom. Of course, no country is perfect. The USA still has a lot of promise, and I want to contribute to its fulfillment and the peaceful fix, however small.

Here's my gratitude list.

• Toddler, Josiah, and Alayna are sporting their red and blue outfit on the 4th of July. For them, it's another day of play, enjoying the outdoors.

• I continue to enjoy my patio garden, small and manageable for me. I haven't bought a bouquet of flowers for weeks.

• I am thankful for the bees and butterflies in my new home. I didn't know that these insects play an active role in pollinating. Maybe I will have pumpkins this year and not just pumpkin flowers.
• My vegetable scraps are growing tall, at least, a centimeter a day. The picture is a 5-day old picture with goldfish in the bottom-feeding the plants continuously with organic fertilizer. :) They're fun to watch while I'm doing the dishes.
• I continue to have new tomato and eggplant flowers.
• My herbs are happily producing many leaves. I just picked some cucumber, parsley, sage, mint, basil, and cilantro.
• I have some netting around my vegetables. So far, I don't have uninvited creatures feasting on my patio garden leaves. I see squirrels and birds, but they don't go near my plants.
• Spin wheels and scare-owls seem to do the trick on keeping some creatures away.
• Paul's and my energy to work morning and afternoon yesterday, pruning and weeding. We filled ten lawn bags.
• Garbage day today!

• My new workspace with less clutter where I blog, do homework, and bills :(
• Paul and I frequently eat out in the backyard. It's several "steps" away from eating from restaurants. We redefined the meaning of eating out.
• The mature trees around the backyard replace camping for now.
• Debriefing at work post-busy-COVID times. It feels good talking about our past struggles as front liners, our feelings, what we liked about the workflow, what worked, and how we can improve.
• COVID census in the hospital continues to shrink.