The excitement stirred among radiologists by the formal announcement during the latter part of 2008, specifically during the joint annual convention of CT-MRISP and USP, of the venue for the 2009 CT-MRI teaching seminar Workshop, did not wane until this very day – BORACAY ISLAND! And who would not be hyped up by the mere thought of one of the world’s most sought paradise nestled in the Visayas; the sights, sound, sea and sands of Boracay will definitely drift one off of one’s day-to-day care.
Envisioned by the Board of Directors of the CT-MRISP, a leap to hold this yearly endeavor for the first time out of Luzon will be another milestone for the society. For such an event, there is no better place to bring the radiologist pack but to an equally big time place- the island haven of Boracay. The expected doubly difficult preparations for the Luzon-based organizers such as choosing the convention venue, transportations, accommodations, group travel bookings, materials and actual lecture day needs, were surprisingly hurdled in time for the occasion and with minimal to nil hassle to the participants and registrants. The designated course coordinators and their support staff deserved no less than laurels and thanks for all their unsung efforts and bringing success to this much-awaited affair.The three-day event happened on February 27-March 1, 2009. Initially slated two-weeks ealier, the change in the schedule due to unforeseen matters, did not dampen the gusto of the interested ones from joining the convention.
The faculty comprised of no less than Dr. Manuel Mejia (2008 CT-MRISP Teacher of the Year awardee and section head, body CTMRI of Asian Hospital and Medical Center and past president of the CT-MRISP and PCR ), Dr. Rafael Joson (2007 CT-MRISP Teacher of the Year awardee and section head of St. Luke’s Medical Center MRI and past president of CT-MRISP), Dr.Irma David-Kintanar ( Lead Neuroradiologist and section head of SLMC CT-Scan and presently the secretary of CTMRISP ) and Dr.Harold Tan (cardiovascular radiologist, Phil. Heart Center and The Medical City), plus GE Applications Specialists Mr.Lawrence Chia and Ms.Abbie Wong, overpowered the participants’ temptations of Boracay beaches to skip the convention’s sessions. The plenary hall atop the main building of the hotel were packed by the registrants. Topics, which included Aunt Minnies’ cases of the day by Dr. Mejia, Cardiac CTA by Dr. Tan, Cerebral Metastases by Dr.David-Kintanar, Imaging of the Knee by Dr.Joson and state-of-the art GE CT innovations by Mr. Chia and Ms Wong, once again accomplished what this teaching seminar is all about – to produce fellows updated and adept to the trends in CT-MRI imaging. The casualness of the ambiance –participants in their beach wears and casual dressing and the innate summer feel of the island venue- lead to an air of conducive interactive discussions and participations between the teachers and the audience.
The morning lecture proper and the afternoon workshops were indeed, another opportunity for in-depth learning about these sub-specialties of Radiology. Awarding of the “Radiologist of the Day” Aunt Minnie’s Cases winners was lead by Dr. Mejia, which included Dr. James Delos Reyes (UP-PGH), first prize; Dr. Jolly Jason Catibog ( UP-PGH), second prize; and Dr. Leizl Valerio( UP-PGH) and Dr.Concepcion Baldoz (QMMC), third prizes. The program schedule was followed with little time adjustments, but went through smoothly and productively. The 2009 Board of Directors of the CT-MRI Society comprised of Dr. Primo Laforteza, Dr.Cartrini Cruz, Dr.Irma Kintanar, Dr.Francis Villanueva, Dr. Mateo Ilano, Dr.Ronald Cervantes, Dr. Romanoff Sumilang, Dr. James Macalalad and Dr. Ruben Ramirez were all supportive and gracious enough to take time out and make efforts to make this momentous event a success. This was only the second day summed up.
Here went the rest of the fun of this convention. The first flight off Manila to Caticlan at 6:30 am of February 27, Friday, was almost filled up by the participants including Dr. Laforteza and Dr. Cruz, incumbent president and vice-president of the CT-MRISP, respectively. The smooth plane ride was unmindedly shaken by the mild bump during the Caticlan touchdown. The Boracay Holiday Resort Hotel’s staff, which provided the accommodations and convention venue, were waiting in the Caticlan airport to welcome the and facilitate the group’s transfer to the pier. Actually, it was in all a short trip, but the heightened thrill and restlessness made the wait disproportionately longer. It was only a little past-nine in the morning when the first group of the convention participants arrived in the island paradise. The rest of the participants will come on the second flight from Manila an hour and half later. The picturesque view of the sprawling white beach of Boracay added more fervor to the free-spirits. And to translate Dr. Laforteza’s thoughts after setting foot in the island’s fine beach, “So it is true!
The Boracay teaching seminar workshop has become a reality!” Waiting at the hotel’s poolside, were the organizing committee and ways and means staff lead by Dr. Francis Villanueva and Dr.Mateo Ilano. At the registration, participants were taken cared of by Dr. Emily Dizon, Dr. Jocelyn De Sola-Baltazar, Ms. Millie Custodio and Ms. Melanie Mystica,who came a day earlier to facilitate, distributing convention kits and room assignments.. The summery backpacks handed , which were a choice between apple-green and orange-tan wave printed ones, matched the jolly pouches distributed a few days earlier in Manila as plane e-ticket and itinerary holders.
The Documentation and Audio-Visual committee which includes Dr. Joseph Angeles, Dr.Jerome Mondala, Dr. Brenda Policarpio and Dr. Orlando Chan began their tasks by doing group and individual photo shoots with the seminar banner as the back drop for documentations. Each one was refreshed by the free-flowing welcome drinks from the hotel staff. Boracay Holiday Resort Hotel which was strategically situated in the Station 2 of the island was a stone’s throw away from the beach front, flea market or “talipapa” and the other business and dining establishments. The hotel lunch that followed and the rest of the meals included in the package ( 6 full meals in all- 2 lunches, 2 dinners and 2 breakfast), were ample and filling. The room accommodations were likewise fit to the taste of the participants. All these were the greatest package steal so far – workshop fee, 3-days & 2-nights board and lodging inclusive of meals and airfares for only P6,000.
Anything that happened beyond the above narrated convention proper was a free choice of the participants. Soon after the registration, the group headed to the beach and went places. With no time to waste, the beach call, aroma coming from the food restaurants , adventure packages and shopping mall were all answered with a resounding,”Yes!” The long stretch of the white beach from Station 1 to Station 3 is always a postcard view waiting to be frozen in a snap shot. Though some sea moss found their way to the beach in Station 1 and 2, the clarity of the water and the powdery sand in Station 3 is a treat to behold. The striped-fish visits and touch on one’s feet after shaking the sand beneath the water was an add-on to this tropical amusement. After an hour or two of being out in the sun, the cheeks blush despite the sun block cover, reflects the fire of happiness inside. The sun’s kiss, sea water’s warmth and the briny breeze has brought a welcome skin-deep burn. Simply lying and relaxing in the beach, at times with a friendly masseurs or masseuses soothing one’s back , time passes unmindedly. This is life!
The more adventurous ones went on and had banana boat rides, boating and island hopping trips, paraw or sailboat rides, and all-terrain vehicle rides. The last two quests will lead to discovery of the other beach fronts in Boracay- the Diniwid, Balinghai, Puntabunga,Puka, Ilig-iligan, Lapuz-lapuz, Bulabog, Tulubhan and Tambisaan. One worth further mention is the helmet-diving. After sailing out some hundred meters from the beach, the “diver” will be asked to lower down a steady ladder planted on the dive site until the water is chest deep. Then, the 25-kg closed-unit helmet will be place over one’s head, pressurized and then lower further down the ladder and walk down sea bed. Presto! One literally is diving with just this helmet in place. Fish feeding follows by swooshing bread bits around. School of lively colorful fishes, big and small, go ga-ga around you. Then, an underwater picture will be taken to complete your enjoyment. The Boracay dusk has its own splendor, just like the Manila Bay sunset. The interplay of blood colors and haze in their unique spectrum is meant to be enjoyed with special ones; protracted and comforting.
Magic comes with the setting sun, as the beach, after a blink, is now loaded with bars and resto extensions, food hawkers and drink stations. The scent of the grilled sea foods, pork chops and beef cuts admixed with cooked local delis makes one remember hunger from the blissful day’s wanders. Contrary to the usual restfulness of the night’s darkness, the night life of Boracay is another story. The bar sounds- both live and recorded, and mixed drinks and beer, complete the day’s pleasures. The dining places such as Aria, Friday’s and local buffets are really not-to-be missed gastronomic experience. The invites of the more popular watering holes such as Summer Place, Hey Jude, and Guilly’s islands cannot be turned-down. Dieting, self-control and sleep at this point, are not priorities.
For the first timers to this island, the experience was yet to be paralleled ; and for the second or more timers, the trip to Boracay was still unparalleled. Though the idealist will resent the corruption of the island’s innocence by commercialism, still the convenience of an affordable and reachable heaven like Boracay is like “turning-a-blind-eye” trade-off for its lost virginity. In the end, one can still not get enough of Boracay. Truly a place where one wishes time to standstill; one will lost count of minutes and hours in Boracay. If there happens to be a third day, no memory at all; clock-watching is never an option.
The next recall is the NAIA Terminal touchdown. Earth again. ‘Cannot wait for the next destination CTMRI teaching seminar workshop.