Michi Photostory

When I started working, Makati Medical Center is my go-to hospital if I need check-up or laboratory, para hindi na ko lalayo pa. After work, I just walked to the hospital before going home. Things changed when I resigned from my work and moved to South Luzon area. It took me almost a decade before going back to this hospital.

We frequent Makati Medical Center since last year because of my in-law’s confinement. I was surprised when I saw Makati Medical Center, ang laki na ng pinagbago niya. There are so many restaurants and food stalls where you can eat, drink or even buy take-outs or pasalubong if may dadalawin din kayo sa hospital. Parang St. Lukes BGC din pala siya na madami restaurants and ang problem mo lang is budget kung dito ka lagi kakain.

Read: St Lukes BGC Restaurants

Makati Medical Center Restaurants

Ground Floor

Cafe France
Dairy Queen
Cafe Mary Grace
Pizza Hut
Seattle’s Best

First Floor 

Burger King
Floating Island Restaurant
Krispy Kreme
Lavazza and Bakeshop

Second Floor 

Tapa King
Mini Stop

Third Floor 

Buco Loco
Go Salad
Dimsum ‘n Dumplings
Fruitas
Lulu Belle
Pancake House
Kitchen City Express
Country Style
El Nacho
Potato Corner
Turks
Wendy’s

Just this week, we went back to Makati Medical Center for my laboratory test. I need to undergo some test and unfortunately, wala siya sa probinsiya so we searched kung saan may ganoong test and Makati Medical Center is one of the choices.

We liked the service of Makati Medical Center, parang asikasong-asikaso ka talaga from the time you enter and until you leave the hospital. Nacocompare ko siya nung naoperahan si hubby sa St Lukes BGC, parang hindi naman ganun ang service. I’m not saying na hindi okay service sa St Lukes BGC kasi good naman experience namin, pero sobrang alaga nga lang sa Makati Med. You can settle your bills inside your room, hinahatid ka hanggang sakayan and pati pillows nga pinauuwi sayo.

Anyway, we were in the hospital as early as 7:30AM and I waited for 8AM so I can get approval from my HMO. But I was advised that I need to schedule my ultrasound first before they can process it. Ganun pala dito, in other hospitals kasi approval muna bago nila i-schedule or gagawin.

So I went to the laboratory to make an appointment, I don’t have a record yet so I have to register. At first, they are giving me next day schedule but I asked them if they can give me slot today and the staff asked me kung nakafasting na ba ko? And I said “Yes”. Fortunately, she gave me an 11AM slot, so more or less three hours of fasting pa.

Burger King

Imagine, hindi pa ko pwede kumain tapos ang mga nakapaligid sa akin puro kainan but I have no choice, ayaw ko na bumalik pa. So while waiting I went to Burger King to buy some snacks for my two boys. Nakikiamoy na lang ko ng food, pero at least pwede ako uminom ng water. In some test kasi pati water bawal uminom.

Floating Island Restaurant

After 3 hours of waiting, my labtest is done and I can finally eat. We had lunch at Floating Island Restaurant, a Filipino restaurant inside Makati Medical Center. Upon seated, they immediately gave us the menu, they have a lot of choices so I just looked for the Menu of the Day that I’ve seen outside. Meron dun blackboard where you can see the “Menu of the Day”.




We ordered Bangus Belly with Ampalaya over Rice P185+, Pininyahang Manok sa Gata over Rice P185+ and Pork BBQ with Garlic Fried Rice P195+. Food taste is good, each serving is more than enough to fill your stomach. Service is fast and good too.

Yesterday, I was doing my newsletter for my email subscribers and I noticed that I only posted one article about my Summer in Norway series. Anyare! Hehehe! So now, let me continue my series, I still have a few posts in my draft before I start the Iceland Trip series.

If you remember my post last month, we went to Svartholberget and because of that, we went home very late. So the following day, as expected I woke up late and I did my usual routine. I was a bit surprised when I did not see my mom in the living room and kitchen.

She always wakes up early for her morning devotion, so nagulat ako na hindi pa siya gising. In my mind, baka napagod sa lakad namin sa Svartholberget so I checked my emails, messages and blog while waiting for my son na magising. Then out of the blue, my stepdad called me and he said, my mom was in the hospital. I was shocked, akala ko natutulog lang sila.


He explained to me everything. I wake up my son so we can prepare for our hospital visit. We ate breakfast, took a bath and we’re waiting for my mom’s update so we can go to the hospital. While waiting, ang dami ko naiisip.

- ganun kahimbing tulog ko at hindi ko namalayan na umalis sila ng bahay.
- kahapon lang naglalakad pa kami sa Svartholberget and mukhang okay naman.
- we’re supposed to have family lunch that day so canceled na.
- bakit ang tagal ng update.
- bakit mag-isa lang mom ko sa hospital

I don’t understand why we’re at home and we need to wait for my mom’s update. I thought my stepdad will just get something at home and we will go back to the hospital right away. Kaya nagmadali kami ng anak ko magprepare. My mom is in the hospital so we should be there.

Well, Philippines and Norway are different when it comes to hospitals. You don’t need to accompany your family member to the hospital. When my mom was not feeling well, dinala siya ng stepdad ko to the nearest hospital in the wee small hours, he was informed that my mom needs to go to another hospital for more labtests. The hospital is more or less 1 hour and 30 minutes away from our place. So my stepdad went home and we waited for an update if my mom goes home or needs confinement.


Ang tagal ng paghihintay, nagbreakfast, naglunch at nagmerienda na kami. Finally, while eating our merienda, my mom called so off we went to the hospital. The doctor advised my mom to stay in the hospital for more tests so we need to bring her clothes. Actually, on our way out, my mom messaged me na kahit hindi na daw kami pumunta sa hospital kasi mapapagod lang kami but I did not listen, we wanted to see her. Nagmamadali kami so we won’t miss the Ferry.

We need to ride the boat for 30 minutes and from the port, one hour drive to St. Olavs Hospital in Orkanger. Though Ørland has its own hospital, there are times that they send the patient to Orkanger or Trondheim if they need advanced tests or operations.


This is a public hospital so free lahat. The hospital is not that big if I will compare it to our hospitals here in the Philippines. My mom stays in a semi-private room so may kashare siya. We did not stay long because we need to catch the Ferry boat.


My mom was in the hospital from Saturday to Wednesday. We only visited her once, akala ko nga babalik pa kami before my stepdad goes back to work. Pero hindi rin, so my mom was in the hospital, my stepdad went back to work and my son and I were just at home waiting for my mom.

After 5 days, my mom finally went home via taxi. She underwent a lot of labtests and thank God okay naman ang test results. But since she still feels dizzy, she was advised to rest for few days, do some walking and light exercise and no driving yet. And because of that, ilang araw kami naglalakad sa Bruholmen.

Watch the video here.

At first, nawiwirduhan na wala kami sa hospital when my mom was confined. But my mom told me that when my aunt was terminally ill, they were not allowed to stay in the hospital room too. They reserved a room in a hotel where they can stay for few days.

Now, how I wish we have the same hospital in the Philippines when you don’t need to worry, when you don’t need to file a leave, when you don’t need to be absent in school and when you are at peace that is someone is taking care of your family. You don’t need to be in the hospital kasi may nurse nga naman.

Almost two weeks ago, while we were studying, my son was complaining about his itchy back and he asked me to scratch his back. I slightly scratched his back and put some baby powder. I asked him, what happened to his back and he said, maybe ant bites. I saw few red bumps on his hand and legs too, napaisip pa ko kung san nakagat ng ants. Nag-garden ba sila? 

Then the following day, while we’re studying, I saw the red bumps again on his body and I asked my son, kung ano ba ginagawa nila sa school? San ba siya nagpupunta at bakit may mga rashes siya sa katawan. He said, sa room lang daw sila. I was a little bit worried because it doesn’t look like an ant bite and nakikita ko lang siya sa hapon and dumadami sa gabi. I gave him an antihistamine. I started searching the internet because I was really clueless. 

When we woke up, I did not see the red bumps anymore so he went to school. When he got home and we started studying his lessons, I saw red bumps again and he kept on sneezing, as in non-stop na naluluha na siya. After dinner, I gave him an antihistamine. I was in panic mode already because the red bumps were all over his face and body. From Wednesday, padami siya ng padami. I messaged my husband about this but because of the time difference, he was not answering. I messaged my friend and she said, it happened to her son too and she even rushed her son to the ER. She advised me to monitor my son and just call her if I need to go to the hospital.


I could not sleep because I was observing the red bumps. I kept on asking my son kung hindi ba siya hirap huminga. He has colds too, so paranoid ko baka hirap huminga. My husband messaged me na baka “hives” daw. I started searching the internet because I really have no idea kung bakit nagkaroon siya. We ate bistik tagalog, tocino, daing na bangus and adobong chicken for that week. 

The following day, I did not see the red bumps but I told my son that we would go to the hospital. My son was worried, “How can we go to the hospital?” daw. My husband was not home so we had no choice but to commute. I know how to go to the Asian Hospital but the problem is, I don’t know how can I go home. Yes, that is my dilemma, di ko alam san sasakyan pauwi. I asked my friend for directions, kung san ba terminal ng jeep.

 Anyway, the doctor examined my son and he asked me kung ano kinain namin. He said, my son has “Urticaria”. So my husband was correct when he said, baka hives. The doctor prescribed me a new “antihistamine” and he said, to avoid eating foods with preservatives. In my son’s case, feeling namin yung tocino ang dahilan. So I told him, bawal muna ang tocino sa lunch niya. He likes tocino and lechon macau kasi sa baon. My son will take the medicine twice a day for seven days and tomorrow is the last day of intake. So far, after two days of taking the antihistamine, wala na siya red bumps.

According to Wikipedia, hives or urticaria is a kind of skin rash with red, raised itchy bumps. It can occur as a result of allergic reaction to a medication, food, insect bites, cold temperature, or psychological stress. 

Before going home, my son and I ate at Shakey’s. Napagod at nagutom kami sa biyahe. Matagal pa paghihintay namin na mapuno ang jeep kaysa sa travel. My son kept on saying “Mommy, ang tagal” or “I’m so bored” (repeat for the nth time). He wanted to go home na and hindi umaalis ang jeep. Imagine, more than an hour kami sa terminal ng jeep. Waah! 



Anyway, we ordered a Bunch of Lunch and Pannacotta. The presentation is not nice, ang layo niya sa picture. Tunaw na nung serve sa amin and the taste is just ok. It is not worth it for P115.

My husband has a family reunion in Pangasinan last December 27 so he decided to go to Sagada after the reunion. He booked December 28 onwards but he canceled it because he learned that there is number coding scheme in Baguio so we cannot travel on that day. 

And because of that, we were not able to experience the Sagada Bonfire Festival. We extended our stay in the province and had a day trip in Lingayen, Pangasinan. 

Read: Day Trip in Lingayen Pangasinan

The following day, we left before 5AM and had a quick breakfast at Cafe by the Ruins in Baguio. We left immediately because travel time from Baguio to Sagada is 5 to 6 hours. My son and I took bonamine to avoid motion sickness, fastened our seat belt and prayed for our safe trip to Sagada. 



I’m afraid of heights, but it did not stop me from appreciating the beauty of the scenic views. All I can say is amazing, I’ve seen fog, rainbow, green mountains and rice terraces are everywhere. I did my best to take some videos and photos on our way to Sagada, just in case you are wondering if it is safe to drive or to bring your own car in Sagada. Check the video of Hanselma Highway here.





We saw the Highest Point landmark in Atok but we could not park. (insert sad face) We continued our journey, then we saw Amgaleyguey View Deck, can you see the roads? We’re traveling at the side of the Cordillera Mountain Range, bangin kung bangin. 



After several hours of driving, I felt relieved when I saw the Sagada Town Proper, finally we reached our destination. But we have no idea that our lodge is far from the town proper, as in ang layo niya and the road is under construction pa. Good luck sa kotse! 



Read: Sagada Bilza Lodge

We just left our baggage and off we went to the town proper. We registered at Sagada Municipal Tourist Information Center, paid P35 each for environmental fee. Always bring your receipt or take a photo of it because they will check that in every tourist spot that you will visit.



It was already late so we did not book any tour but we asked the lady in the tourist center for orange picking activity but she said, ubos na daw ang orange since Monday (December 26). Waah! 



We ate late lunch at Masferre Country Inn & Restaurant. We liked the food here, sayang lang we were not able to taste their desserts. When we went back last December 31, they were closed during lunch time. They were busy preparing for New Year’s Eve Buffet.

I did not have itinerary or map when we went to Sagada and I asked for brochures or map but they did not have any. Lesson learned, be prepared and print a map. 

Sagada Parking Area

Sagada Hospital

We visited St Mary Virgin Church, we parked our car here for P50. We did not stay long because we wanted to rest na.



Day 2 Echo Valley Walking Tour and Sumaguing Cave
Day 3 Sagada Pottery and Lake Danum
Day 4 Goodbye Sagada
Sagada Bilza LodgeWhere to Eat in Sagada

Almost a month ago my husband underwent Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy at St. Lukes BGC. One thing that worries me is, “Where are we going to eat?”, we all know that hospital food is known for bland taste. If they have restaurants, options are very limited. I don’t want to go out anymore because I’m not familiar with BGC area. 

But my husband assured me that it will not be a problem, “hindi ka magugutom, ang daming kainan dun” True enough when we went there, there are so many restaurants at the ground floor. Budget ko pala ang mamomoblema, hehehe!

Bizu 
Cafe Via Mare 
Dairy Queen 
Market on 5th Avenue by Chef Florabel 
Mary Grace 
Pizza Hut 
Starbucks 
The Lobby Cafe 



For our fist meal, we chose Market on 5th Avenue By Chef Florabel. If you remember my post, they have a branch in Asian Hospital too, but the name is “The Cafeteria by Chef Florabel”.   



The ‘’On The Grill” meal range from P175 to P275, it includes plain rice or garlic rice. We ordered Pork Barbeque P180 and Pork Sisig with Egg P175. We take-out the food because my husband was alone in the room, additional P10 each for take-out order. 



The following day, I ordered Liempo P175 and Pork Barbeque P180 again, yes hindi favorite ng anak ko ang BBQ, hehehe!. I was surprised to see the food container, iba na. (naubos?) 

BBQ not in the photo

On the third day, we tried Cafe Via Mare for our lunch, we ordered Vigan Longganisa P325 + Extra Rice. I was planning to go back for our merienda because I wanted to try their puto bumbong and bibingka but my husband texted me na pwede na kami mag-out. 



We also bought Blizzard at Dairy Queen, as promised to my son.

St.Lukes Medical Center
32nd Street Bonifacio Global City
Taguig City

Some people were busy looking for resorts or hotels to spend their long weekend last week while I was busy checking the room rates of St Lukes BGC. Check the rates here. 

My husband underwent Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy so we had hospital staycation last week. I will share the story on a separate post, for now let me share with you our experience in St Lukes BGC. 

I was thankful because my son has no classes last Friday so he was not absent. After his school, off we went to the hospital last February 4 as advised by the doctor, the operation is February 5 at 7AM so we need to be there, the day before. There are some preparations that need to follow like fasting at 11 PM. 

Admission Office 



After we parked the car, we went straight to the Admission office. Just get your number and wait for your turn. The staff gave us the folder with Philhealth forms, reminders and patient/visitor guide. Don’t forget to inform them about your parking ticket, the charge is P50 flat rate per day for in patient. 

Regular Private Room 

Then we were ushered to our room. We’re supposed to get the Small Private Room but it was not available so we settled in Regular Private Room. I was surprised because the room is big, I’ve been in different hospitals before and so far this is the biggest room that I’ve seen (regular private). 



The room has a bed, TV, DVD, fridge with a water bottle, telephone, cabinet, side table, couch, safety deposit box, hangers and slippers. 



The Admission Kit includes toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, face towel, glass, and spoon and fork. 



The bathroom has one towel too. 



Checking the facilities and amenities of St Lukes BGC, there is no doubt that it is also called a hospital hotel. My son even said, “mommy, this is like a hotel”. He doesn’t feel that we are in the hospital because he is so comfortable with our stay. Well, hotel rate din naman kasi ang rooms nila. Hehehe!

Food

Salmon for dinner

I’ve been reading good reviews about their food and I agree with the reviews, gourmet ang food nila. I’ve stayed in different hospitals and ito lang yung time na I was looking forward to hospital food. As if ako yung patient noh! Hehehe!

Breakfast

While my husband was in the operating room, we were eating his meal, “Food for Companion”. You don’t have to go out if you need to buy food because there are so many restaurants at the ground floor. 



Expect your meals to be delivered to your room at

Breakfast 6:30 - 7:30 AM
Lunch      11:30 - 12:30 PM
Dinner     6:00 - 7:00 PM

Service

My husband is the one who chose this hospital and so far we’re all satisfied with the service, from parking, admission office, doctors, nurses and other hospital staffs. 

Since I was staying in the room, I’ve been calling the O.R. to check my husband. After my husband’s operation, they called to inform me that my husband’s was already transferred to Recovery Room and when they will transfer my husband’s back to our room.



If you need anything, just press the button and someone will go to your room to attend your needs. 

The staffs are going in your room to inform you or if they need information like the staff from Infection Control. They even ask you if you need anything before going out. We requested for a medical certificate. 

With regard to billing, they were the one who process everything and they just gave me the papers that I need to settle. I attached our CF1 (Philhealth Form). One thing I like, I can pay the bill on the same floor, imagine kung baba pa ko sa lobby di ba, e nasa 11th floor kami. 

Note: Free wifi

We went home last February 6, so it was 3 days and 2 nights stay in the hospital. The rate of St Lukes Global City is not really budget friendly but if the service and food are good, I think it is still worth it. Kung may health card naman, why not.

The hospital food is known to be bland so whenever we’re confined in the hospital or if we are going to have check-ups, it seems that you are on diet because you don’t enjoy the food. 

Most of the time we eat somewhere before going to hospital but last month when my son had check-up at pedia-dentist, we decided to eat in the hospital just to make sure that we won’t be late. 



There are few options in Asian Hospital food court so I was surprised to see The Cafeteria by Chef Florabel, hmmm may bago kainan. My husband ordered Ensaladang Talong P75 + Rice P35, Pork BBQ Meal P185 and Country Style Liempo P175. 

The foods are not bland but I cannot say that it is affordable because I know that you can order meals in fastfood with drinks and the price is still cheaper. Softdrinks in can pa lang is P50 na e. But this is a good option if you don’t want to go out in the hospital anymore just to buy food. 

Update: March 2016

We ate here before my son's eye check-up and I noticed that they have the same menu lang pala sa Market on 5th Avenue in St. Lukes BGC. My son ordered his favorite Pork BBQ P185 and I tried the Porkchop with Egg P185.



The Cafeteria by Chef Florabel 
Asian Hospital and Medical Center 
Civic Dr, Alabang, Muntinlupa

I received my son’s Annual Physical Examination (School) last November and there was a note that we need to see an ophthalmologist. I immediately asked my friend for the contact number of their pedia-ophtha because I knew that it was not easy to get a schedule. There is only a limited number of pedia-ophtha here in the Philippines.

My husband called and the earliest we got is December 22, 2015. So aside from preparing for the holiday last year, we’re so busy going to the hospital, I mentioned before that we went to pedia-dentist last December 18.

When I saw the result of my son’s APE, I felt sad because I knew that he needed to wear eyeglasses and he was only 7 years old. Wearing eyeglasses is not easy because you have to take care of them and it might limit you to do some activities.

Fast forward to our check-up, the first step was this. You have to look at the picture inside the machine.

Next, the doctor called us, I gave the result of APE and he checked my son. He let my son read the letters. There was a time when we were repeating the instruction of the doctor because my son was not reading the letters. We thought that he was not listening to the doctor so we had to repeat it but the sad truth is, he can’t see the letters, that is why he’s not saying anything.


My husband was so silent at that time because he couldn’t accept the fact that there is something wrong with my son. At his age, my husband has 20/20 vision while my son needs to wear eyeglasses.

Then we went out for some tests, the assistant dropped liquid in my son’s eyes to relax the eyes, one drop in each eye. Three times yun, I’m not sure kung every 15 minutes. Then check up again in this machine.

My son had his first dental check-up last July 2014, he was already 5 years old when we were able to convince him to go to the dentist clinic and have oral prophylaxis. Last June 2015, we went back to the clinic again for our scheduled cleaning. The dentist informed me that my son has no permanent teeth yet and advised me to have an x-ray if by 8 years old wala pa rin permanent teeth.

November came and my son gave me his “Annual Dental Examination” result in school. I’ve read that there is no tooth decay, no cavities and there are already two permanent teeth. Then I just kept the paper without checking my son’s teeth.

After few days, I noticed the two permanent teeth of my son, I was surprised because the two teeth are at the back of his milk teeth. Then I began to worry about his teeth so I told my husband to schedule an appointment for a Pediatric dentist and the earliest we got is December 18. So after his Christmas Party, we went to Asian Hospital for his scheduled appointment. It was our first time with pedia dentist, the last two visits kasi sa dentist lang.


A pediatric dentist is dedicated to the oral health of kids from infancy up to the teenage years. Pedia-dentist provides comprehensive oral health care which includes risk assessment, diagnosis of oral conditions, preventive dental care, counseling, treatment and many more. They are not ordinary dentist so they know how to examine and treat kids that will make them comfortable.

I really noticed the difference between the dentist and pedia dentist, the way they talk, handle and treat my son. Mabait and mas mahaba ang patience nila talaga sa bata. First, she interviewed my son, she asked a few questions then she checked my son’s teeth. She assessed and informed us about my son’s teeth.

She said that we need to remove the two front milk teeth to give way to the permanent teeth or else hindi magiging maayos yung tubo. But she is giving us one-month pa para hindi mahirap tanggalin. As of last month kasi super intact pa yung milk teeth. Normally, the milk teeth will just fall out on their own. She told my son to wiggle the two front teeth every day.

Then she cleaned my son’s teeth, she was teaching my son how to brush the teeth properly, my counting pa each side of the teeth. After cleaning, she put fluoride and advised us do not eat and drink for 1 hour and do not brush the teeth before bedtime (one night only) para maabsorb yung fluoride.

Lastly, my son chose his prize for being a good kid, he chose a balloon. Hehehe! And because this is not the usual dentist the fee is not cheap, I almost fainted when I learned that I need to pay P1950 for cleaning + fluoride treatment. Hehehe!