Gerdie Notes - One Day At A Time

Been going around town with this drain bag on my right attached to my gall bladder.  I might be having this tail for another two weeks.  Yeah, it’s a bit of a discomfort but it sure doesn’t prevent me from doing my work.  So long as I don’t run I’m fine. 

Thanks for praying for me.  I think most of my energy these days comes from those prayers that wish I’d be strong and healthier.  Thanks so much.  I truly appreciate it.

God bless you!

This month of July hasn’t been good health-wise. I’ve been in and out of Medical City twice. I’ve been having these episodes of severe back pain that leads to fever. Up until recently, the episodes are getting more frequent.

Last week, I turned yellow and I had to stay in the hospital for 6 days. Not quite the kind of adventure am looking for but that’s just how it’s been lately. I’ve undergone CT scan and it seems that my bile duct is a bit constricted. Either that or there is a suspicion for tumor recurrence. God forbid.

I’m waiting for Dr. Ramon Santos-Ocampo’s go signal. He is an Interventional Radiologist. His part in my health is to inject an X-Ray contrast into my gall bladder to further study the cause of my bile flow obstruction.

If you remember me, please pray for me. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors as they continue to help me find ways to better my condition. God bless you!

My diet changed. Not drastically though but yes, I’m living a healthier lifestyle. That is, a change from healthy to healthier. Hahaha!

Now, I hardly drink coffee and I refrain from drinking soda. Actually, I shouldn’t drink them. Nope, not anymore. The soda is easier to give up. Coffee? I’m down to half a cup a day. That’s if I do drink it. I’ve almost completely given it up. Alcohol? Definitely a no-no.

Let’s see, what else? Junk. Definitely gotta get that out of my system. Red meat, I’ve given that up 99% of the time. Cheese. Waaahhhh… I have to limit that. Easy on the pizza now.

All these really came after the operation. I’ve been having back pains and fever episodes related to my gall bladder. Yup, believe it or not. My gall bladder which isn’t actually functioning like one is forcing me to go on a lo-fat diet.

Coffee and soda? Well, they’re acidic and they’re giving me a heartburn. Believe it or not. I used to drink a cup of coffee a day and it didn’t affect me a bit. But now? Whoa! Drinking half a cup is like drinking two cups! Maybe because my stomach was cleaned up? Toxins gone out of my system? I really don’t know but that’s what’s been happening.

Oh… chocolate. Yes. My favorite. Cadbury’s Milk Chocolate, Kisses, Symphony, Kitkat, Flat Tops. Name it. I’m just a choco addict. And now? Well, I could only have two bites. Tinee-bitty bites! Even at that, I’m having heartburn episodes. What’s this with chocolate?

Oh, I get it. Less coffee. Less chocolate. Ergo, less caffeine? Wow! Talk about taking out toxins from the body huh.

Well, should I or shouldn’t I give it up? I’m still thinking. Very hard! I’m trying to test my limit but it seems I could only have just an itty-bitty bite. Just one. Anymore than that, I’d be taking Dolset next and I don’t want to punish myself that way.

Gosh, isn’t there another kind of food I can give up in exchange for chocolate? Like ampalaya (bittermelon)!

So let’s see… Now, where’s that Choc-Nut?

I met up with John and his mother-in-law to be, Mrs. Lingling some three weeks ago to discuss John and Ma-an’s wedding details for December. I am to be their wedding photographer.

I had a lovely conversation with John and Mrs. Lingling over a cup of coffee. We discussed the details of their photographic needs for their wedding day and the possibility of doing an outdoor prenup. I showed them samples of on-site videos and a sample wedding photo album (11×14). Mrs. Lingling, being the representative of her daughter who is in the U.S., had several questions other than photo-related ones. She needed recommendations for make-up, entourage and other wedding essentials. I was more than happy to answer her queries.

During our initial meeting, we seemed to have hit a ‘connection’ that I noticed myself calling Mrs. Lingling, ‘mommy’ by the time we were done. John and I seemed to have felt that we were to be good friends by the time he and Ma-an get married. Continue Reading »

Actor Rudy (fondly called Da Boy) Fernandez succumb to cancer today at 6:15am. He battled periampullary cancer for two years.

I wasn’t really a fan of action films so I am not aware of all his movies. Admittedly though, I was a fan of his wife (a fine actress), Lorna Tolentino, in my teens. I would watch her movies, yes.

I became interested in Rudy’s life when I was informed (right after my own surgery) that he underwent a whipple procedure. That is when I learned that people who undergo this type of surgery have a three to five-year survival rate.

When I came home from the hospital, I researched on the kind of cancer that had stricken me. Ampullary Cancer. Days after, I saw Lorna Tolentino on GMA7’s Star Talk giving an update on Rudy’s condition. At that time, they had just arrived from the U.S. after Rudy’s treatment of Rexin-G. That is when I learned that Rudy was battling against periampullary cancer, similar to mine.

I immediately researched the internet on Rudy’s life and found out that he was diagnosed of cancer in 2006. He underwent surgery and had a successful whipple procedure. Everything was well and he even starred in two GMA7 tv shows after the operation. After a year, his cancer recurred and that’s when he started seeking out other procedures that would help him prolong his life, if not to cure him. I eventually learned that his oncologist is a friend of mine from Greenhills Christian Fellowship, Dr. Malu Tiambeng. She was the one who recommended Rexin-G as a from of treatment. Though it is a new clinical discovery, Rudy underwent the  treatment. Continue Reading »

Last March 1, 2008, I was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with having pancreatitis.  When the doctors put me to series of tests, they had found a what seemed to be stone, blocking my ampulla.  Thus the cause of the pancreatitis.  I was then scheduled to go through Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).  When Dr. Venancio Gloria probed my insides, the stone was nowhere to be found.  Instead, he had seen a tumor.  The biopsy result was malignant and so on March 10, I was informed by my doctor to have Ampullary Cancer.

I did go through surgery and they did a Whipple procedure to remove the tumor.  It took Dr. Sarmiento six and half hours to redesign my digestive system and by God’s grace, there was no metastasis.

Today, the rooftop scar left by the surgery is a reminder that God is good to me.  Yes, God is good all the time and the cancer, while it may be a preparation to ‘going home’ soon, is still a reminder of God being concerned about my life.

So, like John Piper, I do not want to waste it.  I have taken this from John Piper’s article.  We who have been afflicted by the big ‘C’ take our conditions differently.  It is my hope that this will help me get closer to Christ and not waste every minute of my life.

Don’t Waste Your Cancer

John Piper

I write this on the eve of prostate surgery. I believe in God’s power to heal—by miracle and by medicine. I believe it is right and good to pray for both kinds of healing. Cancer is not wasted when it is healed by God. He gets the glory and that is why cancer exists. So not to pray for healing may waste your cancer. But healing is not God’s plan for everyone. And there are many other ways to waste your cancer. I am praying for myself and for you that we will not waste this pain.

1. You will waste your cancer if you do not believe it is designed for you by God.

It will not do to say that God only uses our cancer but does not design it. What God permits, he permits for a reason. And that reason is his design. If God foresees molecular developments becoming cancer, he can stop it or not. If he does not, he has a purpose. Since he is infinitely wise, it is right to call this purpose a design. Satan is real and causes many pleasures and pains. But he is not ultimate. So when he strikes Job with boils (Job 2:7), Job attributes it ultimately to God (2:10) and the inspired writer agrees: “They . . . comforted him for all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him” (Job 42:11). If you don’t believe your cancer is designed for you by God, you will waste it. Continue Reading »

I just came back from a two-day getaway in Camarines Sur.  One of the events for this year’s Kaogma Festival is Hot Kids Star Quest 2008, a showdown of ten talented children.  The grand finals was held last Thursday, May 29.

This year’s theme is about the Legend of the Ibalons and how three villains damaged the province’s natural environment and hurt the people.  Of course, three heroes fought to protect the village people from devastation.   The theme was thought of, to teach children and their parents about environmental conservation and protection.

I had the opportunity to compose the music for most part of the show.  The opening number was a song written by Adriana Agcaoili (lyrics) and yours truly (music).  I arranged the music and it was sung by Sam Concepcion.

I didn’t have the chance to rehearse with Sam.  The schedule was too tight and so I just sent him a study guide and trusted he will learn it fast.  The kid is very talented and I was truly impressed when I heard him sing the opening song for the first time - during the show itself.  As a composer, it is really uplifting to hear a great talent sing my composition.  That is why I had goose bumps listening to Sam.

Of course, the kids were great and so were the casts.  I made sure I had my camera with me and took some shots. 

Oh, Nikki Gil was there too to perform towards the end of the show.

It was quite a treat not only for the tourists but most of all,  for the people of Camarines Sur.  They do have ‘hot kids’ in town.

I remember when I was young, my mom would hold birthday parties for me. Nice new birthday dress, shoes, fancy birthday cake and friends and relatives to celebrate with me. So, I learned that once a person turns a year older, one must celebrate. Why? For another year added to one’s life, I thought.

Years have passed and I spent those birthdays either with a big party with friends and family or a small gathering amongst closest friends. Again, for another year added to one’s life. When I became a Christian, I added blessings and good health to the reasons why I celebrate my birthday. Thanking God for the year that has passed.

Today… it’s more special than the previous birthdays. Well, of course, thanking God for His presence in my life all these years. Even for those years I didn’t care whether He was in my life or not yet He was there, watching and caring. However, my recent health crisis opened my eyes to a deeper reason to thank God for this day. I not only thank Him for the years He has given me but I thank Him most specially for the years He will give me.

Yes, I am much concerned about my next years whether they be few or plenty. Is it because I am begging for more time to be with family and friends? Is it because I still haven’t roamed the world - something I really had wanted to do since I was young? Perhaps I think it’s because I haven’t maximized my talents/skills to reach that peak I’m aiming for? It could really be any of those reasons but though those are wishes I hoped to be granted, this time they come secondary to what I am earnestly desiring for.

I used to think that I am so healthy I would reach my seventies and only acquire perhaps athritis as the utmost illness I could ever have in my lifetime. Gosh was I terribly wrong. With Ampullary Cancer as part of my biography, I now am aware that should I reach a golden age of seventy, it will be because the Lord is amazingly gracious to me.

So I look forward now. I thank God for the days, months and years He will give me because each day He extends in my life is a chance to ‘work out my salvation‘. Why so? It’s simply because I am more aware now that anytime, the Lord may call me home. Thanks to cancer, my mortality is now more evident.

Did I think I’d live in this earth forever? Even if that was up to me, I still wouldn’t choose to stay here. I will look forward to heaven - walking in streets of gold and praising my Saviour all day long. Besides, the bible tells me that I am not a citizen of this world! Thank God!

So while I’m still here on earth, God is still giving me that opportunity to prepare for eternity. He is giving me the chance to ‘store up for myself treasures in heaven‘. I am experiencing the privilege of preparing for my eternal future. That’s how good God is to me. It is my fervent hope that when it’s time to go home, angels will clap and celebrate. Trumpets will be heard and I will feel the streets of heaven tremble when I hear my God’s voice saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

I thank God He didnt’ take me on pancreatitis. I thank God I didn’t die on previous accidents. Cancer is a blessing in disguise. I pray that as I look at my surgical scars, I will be reminded that like John Piper, I do not waste my cancer. I pray that as the Lord extends my life, I will use each day to glorify Him. I pray that as I share my life with you, the Lord’s signature will seal my story. I hope that you will be blessed as I share my lessons learned from the greatest Teacher.

Be blessed, friends. He is not only concerned about me. He is equally mindful of you! The more days He adds to your life, the more chances He gives you to get to know Him deeper. This is indeed a special day to thank the good Lord for!!! Everyday is a day the Lord has made for me and for you!

Today indeed is a special birthday! Thank You Lord.

I always love to listen or sing old hymns. One of my favorites is Great Is Thy Faithfulness written by Thomas Chisholm. Before he died in 1960, he wrote:

My income has never been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. But I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care which have filled me with astonishing gratefulness.

In my life, I too, have many occasions to share, displaying God’s unfailing faithfulness. That is why, I have noticed myself feeling this pinch in my heart whenever I sing these lines found in the refrain:

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Sometimes, I find myself crying because I always remember God’s faithfulness to me. To this very day, He has come forth for me and I am truly humbled by His steadfastness.

For one thing, I have really seen God’s provision of friends in my life. When I lived in Boston, first time away from home, He provided a Filipino community who to this day is my ‘family’ in the US. Even when I came back to the Philippines, He provided new friends in church whom I can grow with. No matter where I am and through the tests of time, the bonds of friendship never crumbled. They still are family to me. In Canada, God did the same. I am much cared for by my friend Marides and her mom, who treats me like her own. He has also brought back childhood friends through high school classmates who are like long lost family members. What a blessing!

Even financially, God releases His blessings in the nick of time. My mother once told me, “God is never too early, never too late. He is just right on time.” Many times the Lord proved this to me and up until last week, He surprised me again with His faithfulness. I think the key is ‘to believe’ that He will be there when I really ‘need’ it. Whatever that ‘it’ is. Last week, it was financial blessing and I still couldn’t get over the fact that He came forth for me! Oh it’s not because of anything I have done but because being faithful is true to His character. That’s Who God is - Faithful.

I searched You Tube for a touching performance of this hymn. And I found one. I hope you will be blessed by this song and I hope that you will always cherish the time when you too, experience God’s faithfulness in your life. Be blessed!!!

In other words, I worked last night. Yup! The first after my major operation.

A few days before I was to be operated on, I got a call from Ms. Lian Garcia, Executive Producer for Tasya Fantasya. She informed me that I was to score the new Sunday afternoon show for GMA7 Television Network. Unfortunately, I couldn’t score the pilot episode and begged if I could come in on episode 3. Thank God, Ms. Lian approved of it.

I remember telling Monique Lopez of Post Ads about the new show and she said, “Girl, you’ve got something to look forward to. Don’t you get it? The Lord is telling you that everything will be alright because He’s letting you know that you’ve got a new show to work on right after your operation.” True. Isn’t God amazing? He does have His way of comforting me and giving me hope. I had something to look forward to.

I really would have wanted to start on episode 3 but last Monday, I got a text message from Shasha Buyao, Post-Production Supervisor for Tasya, asking if I’d like to come in on episode 2. Getting bored at home, I challenged myself to start this week. So, I was scheduled to work at 8pm last night. Yup, that’s how post-production is. We really can’t choose our working hours. However, I did express that I couldn’t work during the wee hours of the morning. Not anymore. As much as possible, I really need a good night’s rest. Besides, it’s been only a month since the operation. I may actually be pushing myself too hard.

Well, being the workaholic me, I was excited to go back to work. So last night, I was at GMA7 right on time for my scoring sched. But… as usual, something goes wrong when you least expect it. Video editing didn’t start on time and so my scoring sched was moved almost two hours behind. Hmmm… so what else is new? I am. I’m not the usual Gerdie who could stay up late and work long hours. Not yet, I should say. However, I needed to work on the material and finish it… period.

I had hoped to finish at 1am if I had started on time. Unfortunately, the episode required all these magical effects and it really consumed time. It was almost 1am and I was only half done. I was feeling hungry but I knew I couldn’t eat much. I had my usual Sky Flakes to munch on and a bottle of water to keep me awake and energized ( I really couldn’t eat much anyway). My wound was starting to hurt and so did my back. Then 2am came and almost done. My back ache was worsening. I said to myself, “You can do it. You’re almost there. Just a few more minutes and you’ll be done.”

Finally, I finished at half past 2am. Wow! What a relief. I knew God gave me the energy to work on the show. Just enough energy till I finish my work because as soon as I did, I knew I wanted to hit the sack. My back was ready for my orthopedic bed.

Tasya Fantasya stars Yasmine Kurdy who portrays a simple sales assistant in an optical shop. She discovers this magical set of eyeglasses which transforms her into a beautiful lady everytime she wears it. It also takes her to different fantasy adventures which really makes the story interesting.

I like my work as music/sound editor for these kinds of shows - fantasy adventures. It’s a challenge I always welcome. Yes it does take longer hours to work on but I like how my creativity wakes up with these kinds of projects. I believe that projects as interesting as Tasya Fantasya are fun to do.

Though my wound was hurting and my back was almost giving up on me, my interest in making my work ’sound’ good was just way up there. The spirit was indeed willing but the body was getting weak. But you know what? I thank God for my work last night. He has really given me that needed strength and creativity. The energy I had was enough till the nick of time. I really couldn’t have made it if God wasn’t with me all the way.

So while Tasya was having her Fantasya, God was giving me my ‘unang kasa’ (first shot). And I should say, God prepared my body for it. Yes it’s been only a month and I’m still in the recovery period but God is really doing an amazing thing with me and my body. Thank God He’s with me in this adventure of a lifetime!

If you’ve got time on a Sunday afternoon, around 3pm, tune in to GMA7. Enjoy watching Tasya Fantasya and whenever you hear the music score and sound effects, be reminded that it’s God working through me. After all, there is indeed an adventure going on behind the scenes.