March 2008 Archives
People's Daily Online reports the full story today:
Two earthquakes measuring 5.7 and 5.8 degrees of Richter scale were reported in northern and central Philippines separately on Saturday, according to local television network GMA News. (fair usage quote)
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6383271.html
Two earthquakes measuring 5.7 and 5.8 degrees of Richter scale were reported in northern and central Philippines separately on Saturday, according to local television network GMA News. (fair usage quote)
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6383271.html
Bantayan Island, Philippines: a friend of mine on the Island has donated food for Kuji who is sick
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/40s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso400
A remarkable and unexpected act of kindness has happened the other day, when a foreign national living here came to visit me at my cottage while I was editing images of little Kuji in Photoshop, and I was explaining about how sick he was while at the same time being diagnosed as malnourished, etc. (see Kuji's other posts below)
During the visit I was explaining how I was trying to figure out how I could supply him with enough nutrition to slowly bring him out of a malnourished state, so that his body could better fight off the effects of his TB and asthma, and my friend was totally taken with all of Kuji's images I was showing him.
My friend soon excused himself, then returned about 10 minutes later and explained that he absolutely wanted to help this child, but also wanted to remain anonymous on the website (he didn't want others suddenly coming to him for money while he was here, should his name be used)
I told him no problem at all, and that he could do whatever he felt like doing for Kuji and his Family, and he then put P2,000 (a little over $40USD) into my hand, telling me to do what I needed to do with it, I was stunned...I had not expected anything like that; I thought maybe he wanted to buy a few medicines or something similar...)
He smiled a big smile, and the next day I drove up to my Doctors Office in Bantayan Town and asked if Kuji could drink the baby milk that so many other children take here on a daily basis, and my Doctor said absolutely YES - it would be perfect for him in the malnourished state he was in.
I then drove back into town and went straight to the local Pharmacy, and bought up as many boxes of AlactaGrow Milk as I could, and I came away with 18 boxes which is enough for little over a month, at 3 to 4 servings a day.
The boxes were packed into plastic bags and attached to my motorcycle, and I went off to see Kuji & Mama Helen's Family, and you should have seen all the smiles on their faces as I explained the story.
They really wanted to know who gave that much money for baby milk, and I told Kuji's Mother Jen & her mother Mama Helen that it was simply a friend of mine who saw Kuji's images on my laptop, decided to help him & didn't want any publicity about it:)
At least I can breathe easier for this month - and I wish I had more friends here like my friend from Europe who saw a need with a poor child who's sick, just by seeing my images of him.
Thank you my good friend - I'll keep your secret because I know you read my website, but you need to know that Kuji's Family loves you for being so kind to them for what you did!
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/40s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso400
A remarkable and unexpected act of kindness has happened the other day, when a foreign national living here came to visit me at my cottage while I was editing images of little Kuji in Photoshop, and I was explaining about how sick he was while at the same time being diagnosed as malnourished, etc. (see Kuji's other posts below)
During the visit I was explaining how I was trying to figure out how I could supply him with enough nutrition to slowly bring him out of a malnourished state, so that his body could better fight off the effects of his TB and asthma, and my friend was totally taken with all of Kuji's images I was showing him.
My friend soon excused himself, then returned about 10 minutes later and explained that he absolutely wanted to help this child, but also wanted to remain anonymous on the website (he didn't want others suddenly coming to him for money while he was here, should his name be used)
I told him no problem at all, and that he could do whatever he felt like doing for Kuji and his Family, and he then put P2,000 (a little over $40USD) into my hand, telling me to do what I needed to do with it, I was stunned...I had not expected anything like that; I thought maybe he wanted to buy a few medicines or something similar...)
He smiled a big smile, and the next day I drove up to my Doctors Office in Bantayan Town and asked if Kuji could drink the baby milk that so many other children take here on a daily basis, and my Doctor said absolutely YES - it would be perfect for him in the malnourished state he was in.
I then drove back into town and went straight to the local Pharmacy, and bought up as many boxes of AlactaGrow Milk as I could, and I came away with 18 boxes which is enough for little over a month, at 3 to 4 servings a day.
The boxes were packed into plastic bags and attached to my motorcycle, and I went off to see Kuji & Mama Helen's Family, and you should have seen all the smiles on their faces as I explained the story.
They really wanted to know who gave that much money for baby milk, and I told Kuji's Mother Jen & her mother Mama Helen that it was simply a friend of mine who saw Kuji's images on my laptop, decided to help him & didn't want any publicity about it:)
At least I can breathe easier for this month - and I wish I had more friends here like my friend from Europe who saw a need with a poor child who's sick, just by seeing my images of him.
Thank you my good friend - I'll keep your secret because I know you read my website, but you need to know that Kuji's Family loves you for being so kind to them for what you did!
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Bantayan Island, Philippines: this morning's sunrise; March 27, 2008 - 5:16am
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/50s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso200
My ears aren't hurting as much but my throat's still sore and I've been burning myself out, so I'm taking a sick day or 2 and not running around so much; I'm trying to heal up.
Was up at 4am; didn't sleep very well - so I was editing images by 4:30am and went down the street to shoot the sunrise today.
Bantayan Island, Philippines: March 23, 2008; Easter Sunday sunrise - 5:20am
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/125s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso800
Adding insult to injury, the person I sent to do my Visa extension was turned away & refused today by Cebu Immigration, so I've got to get off the Island either tomorrow or Monday to go into Cebu and sort it all out myself.
My good friend Kevin Weir is returning to the Island on April 5th and everyone here is excited to see him again, and I'm sure he'll be shooting more images with Lisa & LetLet's Family, as well as shooting here also.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/50s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso200
My ears aren't hurting as much but my throat's still sore and I've been burning myself out, so I'm taking a sick day or 2 and not running around so much; I'm trying to heal up.
Was up at 4am; didn't sleep very well - so I was editing images by 4:30am and went down the street to shoot the sunrise today.
Bantayan Island, Philippines: March 23, 2008; Easter Sunday sunrise - 5:20am
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/125s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso800
Adding insult to injury, the person I sent to do my Visa extension was turned away & refused today by Cebu Immigration, so I've got to get off the Island either tomorrow or Monday to go into Cebu and sort it all out myself.
My good friend Kevin Weir is returning to the Island on April 5th and everyone here is excited to see him again, and I'm sure he'll be shooting more images with Lisa & LetLet's Family, as well as shooting here also.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Bantayan Island, Philippines: Kuji photographed at home on Good Friday - 10:10am
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/320s f/3.5 at 14.0mm iso200
Now its' me who's got to find the strength to get up to Dr. Batayola's office in Bantayan Town - I woke up this morning with a burning sore throat, a burning ear ache and my body aches all over; I feel very weak.
When I'm like this here, driving the motorcycle is a chore, and it's a 25 minute ride up the highway to Bantayan Town Plaza - but I'll have to go later and see what medicines the Dr. prescribes for me; maybe he'll give me some antibiotics.
Last week when I was there talking with the Dr. about little Kuji and about getting the local medical clinic open for him to get his anti TB meds, he mentioned CRS/Catholic Relief Services in the USA, and stated last year CRS sent over 30 boxes of medicines to Bantayan Island including loads of anti TB meds - and the Dr. really wants to see that happen again this year, and has asked me to look them up online and email them; filling them in on what we're trying to do here to get Kuji well.
More later, and Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/320s f/3.5 at 14.0mm iso200
Now its' me who's got to find the strength to get up to Dr. Batayola's office in Bantayan Town - I woke up this morning with a burning sore throat, a burning ear ache and my body aches all over; I feel very weak.
When I'm like this here, driving the motorcycle is a chore, and it's a 25 minute ride up the highway to Bantayan Town Plaza - but I'll have to go later and see what medicines the Dr. prescribes for me; maybe he'll give me some antibiotics.
Last week when I was there talking with the Dr. about little Kuji and about getting the local medical clinic open for him to get his anti TB meds, he mentioned CRS/Catholic Relief Services in the USA, and stated last year CRS sent over 30 boxes of medicines to Bantayan Island including loads of anti TB meds - and the Dr. really wants to see that happen again this year, and has asked me to look them up online and email them; filling them in on what we're trying to do here to get Kuji well.
More later, and Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Bantayan Island, Philippines: Kuji photographed at home with Jen his Mother at 4:39pm
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/00s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400
One of my favorite photographs of little Kuji, who's been quite sick recently (more in the posts below)
I've been off line & had to stay elsewhere with friends on the Island over the Holy Weekend, as my cottage was pre-sold last year, for this past Holy Week weekend.
Best guesses are there's over 100,000 Holy Week visitors on the Island, last Thursday through today, over & above the Island's small population.
It's been hectic packing up, moving out, living out of a bag, shooting all over the place this past weekend but having no where to set up the 24" monitor to get into Photoshop and begin editing images, etc.
I'll be back in my cottage tomorrow and will have the time to get into the Holy Week files and get them edited & posted, etc.
Kuji's got a low grade fever since yesterday, and the Clinic is STILL closed - and on Tuesday Dr. Batayola and I will begin going up the chain of Command to see if we can't get this Clinic open for Kuji & Jenna and get them into the program that will give him his anti TB medicines for no cost.
Happy Easter Everyone,
PJAMES
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/00s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400
One of my favorite photographs of little Kuji, who's been quite sick recently (more in the posts below)
I've been off line & had to stay elsewhere with friends on the Island over the Holy Weekend, as my cottage was pre-sold last year, for this past Holy Week weekend.
Best guesses are there's over 100,000 Holy Week visitors on the Island, last Thursday through today, over & above the Island's small population.
It's been hectic packing up, moving out, living out of a bag, shooting all over the place this past weekend but having no where to set up the 24" monitor to get into Photoshop and begin editing images, etc.
I'll be back in my cottage tomorrow and will have the time to get into the Holy Week files and get them edited & posted, etc.
Kuji's got a low grade fever since yesterday, and the Clinic is STILL closed - and on Tuesday Dr. Batayola and I will begin going up the chain of Command to see if we can't get this Clinic open for Kuji & Jenna and get them into the program that will give him his anti TB medicines for no cost.
Happy Easter Everyone,
PJAMES
LONDON - The fight against the global tuberculosis epidemic has slowed to a crawl, the World Health Organization
said in a report Monday. The worldwide rate of TB infection has been
declining for several years. But between 2005 and 2006, the rate of new
cases fell by less than 1 percent, far less than the annual decrease of
5 to 7 percent sought by health officials.
[fair usage quote]
yahoo news reports the entire story below:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080317/ap_on_he_me/who_tb_report;_ylt=AiPmM5xwLPD.iMXB7LdU5DaKOrgF
[fair usage quote]
yahoo news reports the entire story below:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080317/ap_on_he_me/who_tb_report;_ylt=AiPmM5xwLPD.iMXB7LdU5DaKOrgF
Bantayan Island, Philippines: March 16, 2008 - Kuji photographed at home, 4:07pm
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/320s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso100
I'm frustrated this past week, as the local Medical Clinic has been closed the past few days here, and I have not been able to get Kuji any of his medicines.
It's Holy Week here now, and that means there are over 50,000 (some say 100,000) people descending upon this tiny Island today through Sunday, overloading resources and creating an unbelievable mess for those who live here; and snarling the small roads with massively undisciplined driving and all the dangers that go with non-stop partying & driving.
I'm going to get back on the small highway here tomorrow, to make the 20 minute trip up to Bantayan Town to Dr. Batayola's Office, to ask for more medicines for Kuji, and to find out who we've got to ask to get the Clinic open for this sick child's medicines in accordance with the program that will get him 4 to 6 months of treatment/meds at no cost to his indigent Family.
Kuji & his Family are still hangin' in there.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/320s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso100
I'm frustrated this past week, as the local Medical Clinic has been closed the past few days here, and I have not been able to get Kuji any of his medicines.
It's Holy Week here now, and that means there are over 50,000 (some say 100,000) people descending upon this tiny Island today through Sunday, overloading resources and creating an unbelievable mess for those who live here; and snarling the small roads with massively undisciplined driving and all the dangers that go with non-stop partying & driving.
I'm going to get back on the small highway here tomorrow, to make the 20 minute trip up to Bantayan Town to Dr. Batayola's Office, to ask for more medicines for Kuji, and to find out who we've got to ask to get the Clinic open for this sick child's medicines in accordance with the program that will get him 4 to 6 months of treatment/meds at no cost to his indigent Family.
Kuji & his Family are still hangin' in there.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Bantayan Island, Philippines: Feb.9, 2008 - Kuji photographed at home during the cold weather here last month.
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/20s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso800
Things are happening here - we have a little hope now.
Yesterday I took Jen & Kuji over to the small Clinic here, on Dr. Batayola's recommendation, and it was closed - we try again today.
The Dr. has contacted the Clinic and will be quietly insisting that Kuji be given his medicines for his asthma & TB free of charge, in accordance with the program that supplies meds & treatment to indigent patients here - but he's told me that's easier said than done, and that we need to be persistent about it.
So I look at it as the Mission we are on now; to be quietly persistent about trying to save this beautiful child's life.
Mission number 2 is to slowly bring him out of a malnourished state to stave off Hospitalization over the course of the year, and this is where I positively need the help of my friends who are reading these posts...any help at all would contribute significantly to Kuji's health and well being.
God Bless, and Thank You for reading today,
PJAMES
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/20s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso800
Things are happening here - we have a little hope now.
Yesterday I took Jen & Kuji over to the small Clinic here, on Dr. Batayola's recommendation, and it was closed - we try again today.
The Dr. has contacted the Clinic and will be quietly insisting that Kuji be given his medicines for his asthma & TB free of charge, in accordance with the program that supplies meds & treatment to indigent patients here - but he's told me that's easier said than done, and that we need to be persistent about it.
So I look at it as the Mission we are on now; to be quietly persistent about trying to save this beautiful child's life.
Mission number 2 is to slowly bring him out of a malnourished state to stave off Hospitalization over the course of the year, and this is where I positively need the help of my friends who are reading these posts...any help at all would contribute significantly to Kuji's health and well being.
God Bless, and Thank You for reading today,
PJAMES
Bantayan Island, Philippines: March 5, 2008 - Kuji & his Mother Jen photographed at home, 4:39pm
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/100s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400
A thousand Thank Yous to Dr. Batayola in Bantayan Town for seeing little Kuji on short notice a few days ago; I just simply rose up to his office on my motorcycle & gave him the info. on Kuji, and he told me to bring him in immediately.
Dr. Batayola didn't charge me for the exam, and I paid for 3 days worth of medicines, with the Doctor contributing 3 more days of meds this past weekend, until we can get together to see about getting Kuji into a program here on the Island where he can obtain his necessary meds gratis for the next 4 months, or for however long he needs them.
There's also the huge issue of Kuji being diagnosed as malnourished, and both of these issues are probably going to turn into a long term problem, as there's 8 children in Mama Helen's Family, and although they do seem to have a bit more food available to them than same time last year (specifically eggs), it's spread over the entire Family, and unless I'm able to procure a Food Sponsor for the Family, little Kuji and the other children won't be able to overcome being malnourished here anytime soon.
If anyone would like to help Jen/Kuji/Mama Helen's Family in terms of supplying better food to them, please contact me as soon as possible - this child needs serious help, as the next step is hospitalization if he is not able to recover on his own, with more nourishment & medicines.
I was thinking over this past weekend - if I had not noticed Kuji's lung issues, or if I had not made this trip back to Philippines this year, what would have ended up happening to little Kuji months from now, with the progression of asthma PLUS TB?
Many Thanks for reading today - God Bless.
PJAMES
ps: just so everyone's on the same page as to Kuji's present situation - Kuji's father is a young Filipino, who left Jen when Kuji just before his 1st. Birthday - he has not had any contact with his son, nor has he made any effort to send any support monies, not even a single Peso for Kuji's needs.
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/100s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400
A thousand Thank Yous to Dr. Batayola in Bantayan Town for seeing little Kuji on short notice a few days ago; I just simply rose up to his office on my motorcycle & gave him the info. on Kuji, and he told me to bring him in immediately.
Dr. Batayola didn't charge me for the exam, and I paid for 3 days worth of medicines, with the Doctor contributing 3 more days of meds this past weekend, until we can get together to see about getting Kuji into a program here on the Island where he can obtain his necessary meds gratis for the next 4 months, or for however long he needs them.
There's also the huge issue of Kuji being diagnosed as malnourished, and both of these issues are probably going to turn into a long term problem, as there's 8 children in Mama Helen's Family, and although they do seem to have a bit more food available to them than same time last year (specifically eggs), it's spread over the entire Family, and unless I'm able to procure a Food Sponsor for the Family, little Kuji and the other children won't be able to overcome being malnourished here anytime soon.
If anyone would like to help Jen/Kuji/Mama Helen's Family in terms of supplying better food to them, please contact me as soon as possible - this child needs serious help, as the next step is hospitalization if he is not able to recover on his own, with more nourishment & medicines.
I was thinking over this past weekend - if I had not noticed Kuji's lung issues, or if I had not made this trip back to Philippines this year, what would have ended up happening to little Kuji months from now, with the progression of asthma PLUS TB?
Many Thanks for reading today - God Bless.
PJAMES
ps: just so everyone's on the same page as to Kuji's present situation - Kuji's father is a young Filipino, who left Jen when Kuji just before his 1st. Birthday - he has not had any contact with his son, nor has he made any effort to send any support monies, not even a single Peso for Kuji's needs.
Bantayan Island, Philippines: March 5, 2008 - Jenna's son Kuji photographed at home after his first Doctor visit ever.
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/100s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400
I had noticed little Kuji had a lot of congestion in his lungs during the preceding days, and figuring it was maybe a cold, etc. I suggested he visit my doctor in Bantayan Town.
When we got to Dr. Batayola's office, he told me the good news is that he's got Asthma.
...and the bad news is that he's got Tuberculosis.
Needless to say, I was completely stunned.
Kuji had never ever seen a doctor, and he was wonderful during his very first visit; he's a strong little boy.
Dr. Batayola also diagnosed him as being malnourished, and prescribed an appetite stimulant for Kuji; but with the little food the Family has on hand each day, this situation is personally very depressing for me, as a Family friend and advocate.
More later, and please keep little Kuji in your thoughts and prayers.
Good Sunday morning to you all,
PJAMES
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/100s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400
I had noticed little Kuji had a lot of congestion in his lungs during the preceding days, and figuring it was maybe a cold, etc. I suggested he visit my doctor in Bantayan Town.
When we got to Dr. Batayola's office, he told me the good news is that he's got Asthma.
...and the bad news is that he's got Tuberculosis.
Needless to say, I was completely stunned.
Kuji had never ever seen a doctor, and he was wonderful during his very first visit; he's a strong little boy.
Dr. Batayola also diagnosed him as being malnourished, and prescribed an appetite stimulant for Kuji; but with the little food the Family has on hand each day, this situation is personally very depressing for me, as a Family friend and advocate.
More later, and please keep little Kuji in your thoughts and prayers.
Good Sunday morning to you all,
PJAMES
Bantayan Island, Philippines: a weird candy cane Sea Troll Baby on the shores of Madridejos - 1:32pm
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/1600s f/4 at 14.0mm iso100
I don't know what to make of the weather here lately - a few days of sunshine, then dark skies/no rain, but also very high winds no matter what the weather that stir up the seas and hence the boats coming & going are canceled, rescheduled - and every so often one gets clearance to take off and then has to serpentine the 1 hour route to avoid the waves, creating a 3 hour trip to the mainland.
I had just got back after taking Mama Helen's daughter Jen and her son Kuji to my doctors office in Bantayan Town (Kuji had some bad congestion in his lungs I'd noticed the night before), and it was a stressful visit for me; he's very sick - so I took a ride up to Madridejos at the top of Bantayan Island afterward to decompress, and was struck by one of the weirdest things I'd seen: the candy cane Sea-Troll Baby smoking a butt.
Weird sights to go with the weird weather here.
More on little Kuji tomorrow.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
yahoo news Philippines: strong winds, flooding & disaster aid
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/1600s f/4 at 14.0mm iso100
I don't know what to make of the weather here lately - a few days of sunshine, then dark skies/no rain, but also very high winds no matter what the weather that stir up the seas and hence the boats coming & going are canceled, rescheduled - and every so often one gets clearance to take off and then has to serpentine the 1 hour route to avoid the waves, creating a 3 hour trip to the mainland.
I had just got back after taking Mama Helen's daughter Jen and her son Kuji to my doctors office in Bantayan Town (Kuji had some bad congestion in his lungs I'd noticed the night before), and it was a stressful visit for me; he's very sick - so I took a ride up to Madridejos at the top of Bantayan Island afterward to decompress, and was struck by one of the weirdest things I'd seen: the candy cane Sea-Troll Baby smoking a butt.
Weird sights to go with the weird weather here.
More on little Kuji tomorrow.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
yahoo news Philippines: strong winds, flooding & disaster aid
Bantayan Island, Philippines: My friend Bill takes his meds for dirty cuts on his legs - 12:41pm
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/800s f/6.3 at 14.0mm iso100
I brought my friend Bill from the USA up to Dr. Batayola's office in Bantayan Town the other day, after he was jogging on the beach and had tripped over a rock, carving up his legs & feet in a bloody mess.
I asked Bill how he cleaned it out and he told me he'd just used some alcohol, water and nothing else.
Having went through a scratched mosquito bite that got infected with sand/dirt on the beach last year (my foot then began to turn black, with throbbing toothache type pain) - I told him with a smile "...I'm taking you to my doctor's office - you didn't use Betadine - it may be infected already, and you DO NOT want a dirty cut infected here...boats getting off the Island in this weather are hard to come by in an emergency, if one needs to get treated in a large Cebu City Hospital on the mainland for a seriously infected cut."
I convinced Bill to let me take him, right then & there.
Bill smiled & rode on the back of the motorcycle up to the open air Dr's office, and the good Dr. took care of him, pronto.
Last year after my foot incident, the Dr. told me "...if it were 100 years ago, I'd probably have to take your foot off at the ankle after gangrene begins to set in - and if you waited another day I'd probably have to take your leg off at the knee..."
Bill's taking his antibiotics in the above image; he shouldn't have a problem now.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/800s f/6.3 at 14.0mm iso100
I brought my friend Bill from the USA up to Dr. Batayola's office in Bantayan Town the other day, after he was jogging on the beach and had tripped over a rock, carving up his legs & feet in a bloody mess.
I asked Bill how he cleaned it out and he told me he'd just used some alcohol, water and nothing else.
Having went through a scratched mosquito bite that got infected with sand/dirt on the beach last year (my foot then began to turn black, with throbbing toothache type pain) - I told him with a smile "...I'm taking you to my doctor's office - you didn't use Betadine - it may be infected already, and you DO NOT want a dirty cut infected here...boats getting off the Island in this weather are hard to come by in an emergency, if one needs to get treated in a large Cebu City Hospital on the mainland for a seriously infected cut."
I convinced Bill to let me take him, right then & there.
Bill smiled & rode on the back of the motorcycle up to the open air Dr's office, and the good Dr. took care of him, pronto.
Last year after my foot incident, the Dr. told me "...if it were 100 years ago, I'd probably have to take your foot off at the ankle after gangrene begins to set in - and if you waited another day I'd probably have to take your leg off at the knee..."
Bill's taking his antibiotics in the above image; he shouldn't have a problem now.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Feb. 27, 2008: Bantayan Island, Philippines - shot during the storms, the Floating Bar drifts in the distance.
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/1000s f/5.6 at 54.0mm iso100
My good friend Heinrick from Sweden who owns The Floating Bar on Bantayan Island photographed above in a rain storm, still managed to have customers there - and with good reason.
Aside from cold beer etc. his staff cooks great food there too (great breakfasts, burgers, burritos etc.) and I'd like to thank him for his warm hospitality; he's always been very good to me.
I've never been into beer, but I love getting a meal there when I can.
Internet's been very spotty here during the recent weather, and there's been a run on candles during the brownout, but I've got 3 SureFire flashlights with me with plenty of CR123 lithium batteries, so I've had plenty of light.
I use their LED lights every night here in Philippines, and absolutely recommend them for all travelers, as they're the brightest, most reliable & strongest things going, with very long run times.
Being weather sealed for harsh environments, my SureFires are my constant companions here.
...a few nights ago during the storms I was talking to 2 British guests here on Bantayan - one of whom was British Navy RET and a competition shooter who also uses SF weapons lights; his buddy was amazed at the light my LED's put out, and asked me for their website URL, then asked "...so how long have you worked for SureFire?"
We had a good laugh; I don't work for them - but I swear by them every day here in good weather & bad.
www.surefire.com
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/1000s f/5.6 at 54.0mm iso100
My good friend Heinrick from Sweden who owns The Floating Bar on Bantayan Island photographed above in a rain storm, still managed to have customers there - and with good reason.
Aside from cold beer etc. his staff cooks great food there too (great breakfasts, burgers, burritos etc.) and I'd like to thank him for his warm hospitality; he's always been very good to me.
I've never been into beer, but I love getting a meal there when I can.
Internet's been very spotty here during the recent weather, and there's been a run on candles during the brownout, but I've got 3 SureFire flashlights with me with plenty of CR123 lithium batteries, so I've had plenty of light.
I use their LED lights every night here in Philippines, and absolutely recommend them for all travelers, as they're the brightest, most reliable & strongest things going, with very long run times.
Being weather sealed for harsh environments, my SureFires are my constant companions here.
...a few nights ago during the storms I was talking to 2 British guests here on Bantayan - one of whom was British Navy RET and a competition shooter who also uses SF weapons lights; his buddy was amazed at the light my LED's put out, and asked me for their website URL, then asked "...so how long have you worked for SureFire?"
We had a good laugh; I don't work for them - but I swear by them every day here in good weather & bad.
www.surefire.com
