DocFun's INCREDIBLE JUMPSHOTS OF ALL TIME - Levitation in the Next Level

This is the last jump for 2014 during the Christmas break at the roof deck of SM Aura using the Samsung Dome as the background.  The jump was made at high noon as the Christmas sun reflects it splendor making a more spectacular effect with floating grace and balance.

The jumpshot since time immemorial has been part of the history of photography but nothing compares to how much it has evolved since the advent of filmless digital photography and photo sharing culture over social cyber network.  Though I am almost into the half century mark, my body still has what it takes to express myself thru the jumpshot.  This blog features a collection of my different jump strokes thru the years.  The photo above is a jumpshot off the coast of White Beach Boracay, and I labelled this jump as "The Son of the Beach!"

      As  I consider myself as a cancer survivor, at first it was easy to get down in the dumps, to feel like giving up.  My condition led to depression and staying positive in the early months was a very big challenge for me.  But I realized that when I find myself struggling, writing became my source of encouragement.  This blog served as my avenue to rid myself of all the negativity inside me. I stumbled upon a quote by Cayla Mills’ “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.”  The jumpshot though meaningless to many is an achievement to an old chap like me.

Although all my jumpshots are favorites but I still narrow it down to the best.  This is still in Boracay specifically in Station 1 where some dude left it on the sand for me to have fun on.  I labelled this pic "Surfer's Up Dude!" lifted from the popular surfers' expression of "surf's up dude!".

This shot was taken in the north end of White Beach just off Friday's resort, so I tagged this pic as "Thank God It's Friday!

The best jumpshot can only be done in the company of friends.  This was taken in the early morning in Graceland, Lucban when we were having an exercise stroll along with my PCO (pollution contro officer) friends and co-officers in PCAPI-R4A (Pollution Control Association of the Phils.-Region IVA.  We were having a meeting in this resort estate courtesy of one of the officers.  I labelled this picture "Jumping with Grace!"

This shot was an attempt to imitate the logo of the NBA, I was'nt able to raise my left hand to the lay up position so I settled with the peg, "Shoebrand Logo Shot!".

This is a funny shot I made which I pegged, "Walking on Sunshine!"  Really funny indeed!

This is a simulated dash in the finish line so I pegged this pic as "Breasting the Tape".

I love this shot because of the symmetry it created with the road.  I therefore call this shot, "Highway Overpass!" honk-honk! ha ha ha ha!

  

 

Having to rent a private pool gives you an opportunity to do whatever you like instead of a public pool where you run the risk of injuring someone when you jump in the pool.  Jumping over water is great because you can very much execute difficult positions in mid-air before landing.  And since the landing is on water, an awkward position will surely create a big splash on the water which can be truly awesome indeed!  I peg this as the "SPREAD EAGLE" jump.

      This is a special effect shot where you create the effect on taking-off on water, flying in the air and landing on a dinghy in the pool.  With a momentum and body like mine. The dinghy was shoved so fast that in seconds, I was on the other side of the pool in an instance!  I peg this jump, "MIRACULOUS WATER JUMP!"

 This is "THE DREAMSCAPE" jumpshot I had taken during a faculty outing.  It was a gung-ho jump because I had only planned for the take-off and did not prepare for the landing.  I landed on my face very much how a plane crashes on the ground with nose first.  This terrific jump is one of my favorites.

  The "GANGNAM ON SAND" is a jump based on the current dance craze "Gangnam Style" by the Korean star PSY.  It was that kind of feeling that prevailed during that moment.

 The "FLIGHTLESS BIRD" jump was made off the cliffs of Bojeador in Ilocos Sur overlooking the sea.

 I call this jump "THE FLYING ZOMBIE OF BANGUI".  I was thinking I had the necessary lift to make the jump because of the many wind vanes around.

  This is by far the best jumpshot I had and I called this 'THE WARLOCK!" Jumpshots make moments in our lives very memorable and fun to look back to.  So no matter how young or old you are, don't hesitate to take that historic jump because it will be etched forever in history and it harbor you no regrets because at one time in your life when you are still strong, you can say to everyone "I DID IT!" I MADE THE JUMP!" So my friends, don't waste the moment because the moment may not come back to you again. "JUMP FOR JOY!"

 

      This is the wackiest jump ever! The launch was a lateral take-off and unawaringly had my pockets out kinda like a pair of vestigial wings of a flightless bird.   I pegged this jump "The Flight of the Dodo"! ha ha ha ha! Truly an epic shot indeed!

BUCKETLIST ADVENTURES: CIRCUMNAVIGATING THE SIERRA MADRE RANGE VIA THE MARIFANTA HIGHWAY

   Knowing I have cancer really turned my life around. It was very difficult to accept at the start because of the many plans that I have for the future.  Eventually, I've learned to surrender myself to the will of the Lord and things get to be lighter after that.  I no longer get hung up on the hard times and the challenges. Then the idea of blogging my life story made me realize that somehow writing serves as a therapy to my mind and soul.  In this blog, I share my story by highlighting the victories. Because I believe triumphs and victories  will inspire, motivate, encourage other people afflicted with cancer to live their stories in a similar or even grander ways.

      The Sierra Madre Range as the name infers is the "mother of all ranges" in the entire Philippine archipelago.  It is indeed the longest mountain range with a length of 210 miles, found in the big island of Luzon and stretches from Cagayan province in the north up to Quezon province in the south. It is impossible to travel the entire length of the range by road because the mountains make it difficult the connect the various coastal roads that line up the eastern seaboard.  Because of these, one can approach the Sierra Madre in some of the eastern Luzon provinces.

 We began our ascent in the intersection of Marcos Highway and Sumulong Highway and continued along Marcos Highway going up to the first town of Cogeo.  As we passed along the first towns, the road was littered by makeshift stalls selling this odd and peculiar fruit where the seeds instead of being inside the fruit juts out like a sore thumb. This is the fruit locally known as "kasuy" or cashew with the scientific name of Anarcadium occidentale. One of my companion delighted at the sight of these enticing fruit bought the entire batch for us to eat throughout the entire journey.  The fruit has a blend of sweet acrid flavor.  A bite on it will send its juices running down the corners of your mouth while savoring on its flesh.

 We decided to use my Dad’s Honda City for this drive instead of my Toyota Vios because I didn’t have my car tuned up for this trip.  The entire trip was a breeze because of the tip top condition of the car and that this baby hadn’t had a long trip since it was bought years back.  I believe that this is its moment of glory.  The car was full because there were five of us but the car carried the weight well.

 The trip going up already gave us a breath taking view of the Sierra Madre Range.  It is a so-called range because of the many mountains connected to each other like each have similar geological features with each other.  With so many mountains, it would be difficult to know the names of each mountain we passed by.  Furthermore, you will really lose count on how mountains have we crossed.  The drive going up consists of countless twists and turns, numerous ups and downs, bridges, a few houses and villages, a radar tower and lots of trees.  Driving an automatic in this road interesting.  In the plains of Manila and Cavite, I often drive in cruise mode all the way, but when going up and down, you should be  wary of your speed because there is a need to shift to a lower mode when driving on an inclined slope.  Going uphill will make it more powerful during the climb.  On the other hand, going downhill shifting to low will provide the necessary engine brake to slow down the car.  In a way you become  manual driver instead of an automatic one.

 When one speaks of the Sierra Madre, one would often have the notion of it being a remote, rugged and dangerous place.  However, when we reached the highlands, there are communities thriving for a long time there especially in the highlands of Tanay, where we even encountered traffic during the Holy Week because of the huge volume of pilgrims paying homage to the largest image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Philippines which is located along  our path while passing Tanay.  We also passed by the road leading to Daraitan which was featured in one of the travel shows on TV as having one of the cleanest rivers in the Philippines.  After passing the town proper of upper Tanay, we proceeded further into the heart of the Sierra Mader into the next town of Infanta which is already part of Quezon province.

When we finally crossed the boundary between Tanay and Infanta , the number of dwellings slowly began to decrease and the appearance of the countryside began to become more rugged, the vegetation became thicker and the road became more hazardous as cliffs became steeper in angle and more danger signs for falling rocks became more frequent along the road.  There were no establishments for miles around until finally at 2,331 feet from sea level, we arrived at a roadside diner called Jariel’s Peak.  It turned out that this is the last stopover available for the rest of the way according to the owner.  It was a cozy log cabin located at the km94 marker with a picturesque view of the mountains, windy and cool breeze and a haven for motorbikers.  It offers a variety of attractions like bathing in the nearby waterfalls, pitching a tent for the overnight campers, trekking or simply strolling along the roadside while enjoying the view.

What's more about this biker's haven is the cheap and delicious food that they serve.  You can just look at the variety of mouth-watering dishes that they have here and it will really make you plan on visiting this place.

 What's surprising about this restobar up in the mountains is that they have a raffle contest for motorbikers and they even have the motorbike prizes on display.  This really shows that this place is indeed a biker's haven as shown by the different biker groups posters on the wall.  We had a fun time taking pictures while posing with the bikes.

After a hearty lunch we proceede towards Infanta and stopped whenever we encounter an exhilirating scenery and we took the opportunity to get a posterity shot of the beautiful view.

Along the way we keep noticing several boulders painted with advertisement of resorts in Infanta, Quezon.  We actually visited these resorts and found that they the typical low-cost nipa hut cottages resort where it has tendency to be overcrowded at this time of the year.

The remaining leg of the trip was all downhill but still winding.  We passed by a bridge where several vehicles were parked but we didn't stop to look.  When we reached our resort in Infanta, the resort owner told us that the place is where Pinlak Falls is located and it is the newest attraction frequented by Infanta residents.

In almost the entire length of the MARIFANTA highway, this river called the Agos runs alongside the highway although this is the point where the river closest to the road.  The Agos River is a less-known river that was once being considered as a site for a dam that will provide fresh water for Manila.  I think there are many oppositions to the plan but I learned that it will still proceed in the near future.  This river is also well known to Infanta residents as the culprit for the many loss of lives when flashfloods occur due to rains high up in the mountains of Tanay and the floods come rushing down towards the Pacific Ocen taking the Infanta residents by surprise.

 Finally, we reached the end of the MARIFANTA highway here at this roundabout where the Marifant intersects with the Real-Infanta road.  The next story will be our many adventures in these two coastal towns of the eastern seaboard.  This trip was really something that just cropped out without any plans.  When you physically challenged such as me, one often becomes spontaneous in many things and I believe that spontaneity is one of the things that makes life interesting. In closing this halftold story, I stumbled upon a quote from Joseph Campbell, “We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”

Dawn of the Big "C"

      Hello, people fondly call me by the monicker "DocFon", mainly because I'm a dentist by profession.  However, I prefer to be more of a specialist in fun and adventure and because of this my monicker slowly shifted to DocFun.  For those who do not know me yet, let me start by telling that I teach Biology in a prestigious university.  Being someone familiar with the functions of the human body, the news of being afflicted by one of the dreaded diseases of mankind suddenly shifted my physiology prowess into high gear.  This life-changing event will have a profound impact in my life added by another blockbuster WTF!-OMG! news when someone very close to me will be afflicted with the same problem.  Together we are facing this monster head-on on what seems to be will be the mother-of-all battles in our lifetime.

      Life was easier back then before the dawn of the Big C.  There were the usual ups and downs that one has to hurdle.  I was just beginning to move on from a breakup of the century, but was already weathering a barrage of ailments brought about by work, family, personal problems, love - you name it I got it, ranging from a troublesome kidney that keeps on producing and passing on stones, a sudden attack of hyperstension that brought me to the emergency room, discovering a heartburn hiding behind a false heart attack, a herniated disk in one of my lumbar vertebrae resulting from an accidental fall at home but never got noticed because no one cared at that moment. It left me bedridden for a week.  Most of all, the pot-belly around my waist that's been there for years and refuses to melt away despite all tenacious attempts to get rid of it.  But stubborn as I am, I proudly stood up amidst all these trials - a battle-scarred combatant and continue on with life's challenges. 

      If I would assume when the Big C came crashing down on me, it must have been triggered during my brief stint as an Overseas Filipino Worker in Qatar.  Life was difficult overseas when you don't get to eat native Filipino food on your dining table.  Everything and everyone was moving fast that eating is just not as important as the money you worked hard to earn.  Much of the foods that I buy in the grocery are instant noodles made in India.  In the Philippines, there had been health concerns being pointed on these food products which many claims have potentials to be cancer-causing and that's why much of the advertisements at home emphasizes the "no artificial preservatives" of NAPA in their products.  However, struggling in a foreign land with strange foods and with little budget doesn't provide me with the luxury of choosing and buying better and healthier food options.

      My problem started as a urinary tract infection that doesn't seem to resolve.  Initially, my nephrologist when conducting a systematic assessment of my condition begins by ordering a complete blood count, urinalysis and kidney profile. If there are indications that stones may be the culprit behind the persistent pain and infection, an ultrasound of the kidney-ureter-bladder will be ordered next.  If the pain is intolerable, I will be advised to be confined in the hospital for an intravenous pyelogram of my urinary system.  At the end of all these tests, all results will yield negative for obstructions and constrictions.  And with the pain medications and antibiotics given, I will be released from confinement with a diagnosis that the stones may have passed out unawaringly.  I just scratch my head with uncertainty and just went home.
      The rush to the hospital everytime I had a painful episode on my left lower flank somehow became more frequent and everytime they will always do the routine tests and everytime it will come out negative.  It was in the summer of 2010 that after repeated ultrasound tests were conducted and it still yielded negative did the doctors decide to recommend a CT Stonogram of my kidney.  Finally, the monotony of tests was broken and a new test was done on me to look deeper into the problem that has been bothering my kidney for several years.  Little did I know that this test would change my life forever and redirect all my plans for the future.

 

After having been released from confinement, I returned to the hospital the week after to get the results of the stonogram.  I wasn't worrying about anything at all when I took the results with me and immediately consulted with my nephrologist.  I started to read the findings and afterwards proceeded to reading the interpretation.  There was a little bit of uneasiness when I read the interpretation for the first time.  However, being unfamiliar to the characterization of the disease thru Ct scan, I was a little bit  uncertain what it means.   It read ad follows:  "An isodense, lobulated, non-enhancing soft tissue attenuating lesion is noted in the left interpolar region measuring 3.26 x 4.40 cm with a CT number of +21 on non-contrast and +26 on contrast study."

      When it was finally my turn to see the nephrologist, I innocently handed him over the CT scan results and he began reading it.  His face suddenly changed with a little worried expression and he slowly and carefully described it to me.  "Your CT scan stonogram reveals that you have lesion on your left kidney which might indicate a complex cysts versus a neoplasm.  I asked the doctor what it means.  However he held back on his response.  Instead he went on to write on his prescription form a referral.  He then proceeded to advise me to see a urologist, a surgeon specializing on the urinary system.  I realized that this is no longer a simple case of urinary tract infection but a bigger problem, something that I have not yet contemplated on.  Being familiar with the physiology of the human body, it dawned on me that this might be the beginning of a grueling journey towards the greatest challenge of my life. The one person dearest to me was the first to receive the news followed by my colleagues in school.  Everyone was surprised by the sad news but everyone was optimistic that I will be able to surpass this problem and survive it all.  I agreed with them although with a little bit reservation.  The next step now is to see an able urologist.