Doc Ahmad Hajiri

“Tell me about yourself.” Our professor asked us before beginning our case discussions. My group mates started by telling their names and then their future careers (future Neurologist, Surgeon, Medical Oncologist, etc.) until it reached my turn. I was still unsure what “specialty” I will go into, so I just answered the question with what I can think of best: “I am Ahmad from Sulu. I love to travel and do photography. My dream one day is to publish my novels.” “Oh, I have been to Sulu a lot of times,” said our professor who is a practicing surgical oncologist in PGH, “my last trip there though was in 1996.” “Ma sha Allah, really sir? That’s nice sir! What did you do there, sir?” “We stayed and volunteered in IPHO-Sulu. Did a lot of charity services doing surgeries for free.” H mentioned names of some Tausug surgeons back then, some I knew by name some I don’t. I was somehow elated to find out that another great physician have visited my dear homeland before. “It was...

Nagbustak na isab sin dum limabay yaun.  Makusug in bustak bat najugjug in bay namu' kailu. Laung sin kaybanan ha gimba, laung sin kaybanan ha Brigade sin Marines.  Way pa agun miyabut hangka-adlaw in haylaya puasa, awn na magtuy nagbustak. Mayta na baha' in hula' ini? b Misan bulan puasa wayruun nila ra liyappas, masi-masi ra in paghilu-hala' nila. Hambuuk adlaw awn nagbustak didtu ha tungud public hospital, ha waiting shed, ha guwa’. Maynaat pa kunu’ yadtu sung na pagsusuwd sin kabataan pa iskul. Awn nahalul duwa atawa tuw. Awn pa agi bata’-bata’ kunu’ sung paiskul in hambuuk nalapay. Agi isab sin kaibanan, nawafat da kunu’ kailu in hambuuk, amun timitindug-tindug ha lugal-lugal yadtu. In kainu-inuhan isab sin mga tau, angay-angay isab in lugal yaun kiyalawaan pulis-sundalu ha adlaw yadtu. Laung ha gimuwa’ news ha National TV in target kunu’ pabustakan in mga marines sundalu pasal masuuk man yaun ha campo nila. In nagpabustak kunu “Abus” na isab. In tau ra...

Assalamu Alaykum! (Peace be upon you!) A few days from now and the tragic incident in Mamasapano, Maguindanao will reach it's first month (which coincides with the EDSA revolution anniversary). A lot of things already happened. Things came out from a "shock to all", to a "word war in the internet", to "teledramas and privilege speeches" and now to "twists and turns". And only God knows where we are heading after it reach one month, and perhaps beyond. Really, I am supposed to stay silent about this. As may have been manifested by the days of delay of publishing "Medschool-related" posts here in this blog. I just can't seem to publish my medschool adventures while these things are happening. And I still cannot decide whether to post something about the 'incident' or not. Breaking the silence I never really wanted to post about sensitive issues like what I usually do years back. I have learned my fair share ...

Bismillah. I don't have anything noteworthy to say about the issue on the recent Pork-Barrel Scam. In fact, there are still a lot of things I don't understand about this issue (and I don't have much time to read about all the stuff about them ><) But being able to observe what happened this morning was something worth talking about. Honestly I was amazed how a great number of people can organize themselves and raise their sentiments to their government in a seemingly peaceful way. It what they now known as the "Million People March". A streetchild observes the students passing by, joining the Million People March I never planned in joining the rally in the first place. I was still too sleepy that morning and I still have hundreds of readings to do for the next exam (or so I pretend that I am actually reading them)... With my newly brewed coffee in my hand my phone rang, and it was from a classmate, asking me if I will join the "march...