UP Medics merges with UPCM Newsletter

By Arianne Agdamag

UP Medics, the official student publication of the UP College of Medicine has merged with the UPCM
College Newsletter. Beginning this January-March issue, there will only be one publication from the
student organization and from the Office of the Dean.
The merger is due to budget constraints and is subject to a 1 year trial period. The joint issue will be
released quarterly. The new set-up was initiated by Dean Alberto Roxas and Dr. Edward Wang, assistant
dean for student affairs, in cooperation with Dr. Angela Aguilar, moderator of UP Medics, Dr. Lorna Abad,
editor in chief of UPCM newsletter and Mika Villano, editor in chief of UP Medics.
Through the new publication, students and faculty will be more informed about activities and events of
the different student organizations, of the medicine student council, of the college and office of the dean
and of the different departments in PGH.

FEATURES

Election Blues
By Michael Chua Mo

I could not help but be a little skeptical of the upcoming May elections. It would be a mindless
exercise that will install the same old faces to office with no real hope of change. Inevitably, one would
suspect that the fault lies with the system.
The fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago has left democracy without an ideological competitor.
Discrediting communism however is not the same as validating democracy. Democracy is not without its
pitfall. At the core of the democracy is the belief in the right of self-determination. It is believed that
everyone acting in their own interest is the most effective way of pursuing the public good. As much as
the proponents of communism were naive in thinking that people would work without incentives
(“Communism—the effort to give all...what they need and to ask of each the best they can contribute.”-
W.E.B. Du Bois), the proponents of democracy also misunderstand human nature. The thought that
people can decide for themselves and secure the best possible outcome is overly optimistic.
Self-determination in a democracy is manifested best during elections. It is assumed that people
participating in a democracy are acting in their own interest. But the truth is we are easily moved by
various tools of persuasion. Most of the time, we are not really serving our own interest but the interest of
those who have successfully impressed themselves upon us. Think of demagogues (e.g. Hitler)- what is
called the government of the people is in fact too often the arbitrary power of such people.
Decisions in democracies are made through majorities. As such there is a tendency in democratic
governments to substitute public opinion for reason. Elected official beholden to their constituents may
pass or enforce legislations on the basis of popularity. Public opinion however is not always logical. The
public, as a whole, cannot be trusted in making short-term sacrifices for long-term gain. A government
that is too sensitive to the public’s opinion cannot be expected to make the painful but right decisions. The
state should be governed by reason and not by emotions or passions. The latter being the case in many
democracies.
Worse than elected officials too sensitive to public opinion are elected officials who don’t feel
beholden to their constituents. In this age of high expense campaigns, politicians feel more beholden to
donors who bankrolled their campaigns than to the electorate who voted them to position. Lobbying
groups representing groups with special interests have disproportionate amount of influence in setting
government policy- policies that may run in contrary to the best interest of the public.
The majority in a democracy can also exact the cruelest oppression against the minority. The minority
in a democracy can easily be sidelined and disenfranchised in the name of majority rule. The minority
may refer to another race or people belonging to another school of thought or religion. From the viewpoint
of the minority, democracy can be nothing but a dictatorship of the many over the few. In a 2009
referendum, the Swiss voted to ban the construction of new minarets in their country. That a peace-loving
people residing in a mature democracy can vote to strip the right of another people to practice their
religious beliefs is a shame and points to excesses in democracy.
 Aristotle warned us against the danger of democracy degenerating into mob rule. The 1986 EDSA
Revolution was significant in that it paved the way for the stunning non-violent change from dictatorship to
democracy in the country that later became the inspiration of other non-violent demonstrations in the
world. Bob Simon, the anchor of CBS News even went on to say, "We Americans like to think we taught
the Filipinos democracy. Well, tonight they are teaching the world." The succeeding pretenders (EDSA 2
and 3); however, were pale imitations of the Yellow Revolution. They were mere power grabs and
represented a defeat for due process enshrined in the constitution. EDSA 2 and 3 were not spontaneous
movements initiated in the grassroots like the one we saw in the 1986 Revolution; they were mere
instances when the mobs were harnessed by the nation’s political elite.
Despite the rants, I still agree with Winston Churchill sentiments when he said, “Democracy is the
worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried..” There are simply no
other alternatives. No form of government can match democracy’s capability for self-renewal. However,
for democracy to work for the public interest, institutions have to be strengthened. There must be
adequate check and balance between the executive and legislative branches of government. The
judiciary and the military should be made immune to political interference so as not to compromise their
role as vanguards of democracy. The problem of the poorly educated electorate that are too easy prey to
vote-buying schemes and cheap propaganda must be addressed. Laws must be passed to govern
campaign financing. Due process must be respected. A democracy could only be as strong as the
institutions that govern it.
Sadly, I have yet to hear a candidate who pledges to strengthen our democratic institutions. That
should be no surprise for weak institutions a weak rule of law allows the perpetuation of the status quo.

Unceremonious Unseating of UP PGH Director

By Raul Pangalangan (with permission)

First published on the Philippine Daily Inquirer on March 4, 2010

I AVOID writing about faculty intramurals in the University of the Philippines, preferring to talk instead
about the more benign politics of murders, massacres and wars. However, the recent unceremonious
ouster of a sitting hospital director smacks too much of Malacañang-style politics that writing about it,
come to think of it, is just like writing about President Macapagal-Arroyo.
On Dec. 18, 2009, the university’s Board of Regents appointed Dr. Jose Gonzales as the new director
of the UP Philippine General Hospital. I do not know Gonzales, have never met him, have never spoken
to him. I also do not claim to evaluate his qualifications or platform. I write solely about the sheer
brazenness of his ouster.
The university is governed by the 11-member BOR, consisting of two co-chairs (the Commission on
Higher Education chair and the UP president), two seats for Congress (one each from the House and
Senate), four organic members each chosen respectively by the faculty, students, staff and alumni
(“organic” in the Gramscian sense), and three non-organic members or as the Philippine Collegian loves
to call them, “the Malacañang appointees” (a four-letter word in Diliman’s lexicon, as you can imagine).
Gonzalez won by a 5-4 vote. He got the vote of all the four organic regents plus the tie-breaker by the
CHEd chair. ( FACULTY REGENT JUDY TAGUIWALO’S CORRECTION:THE VOTE WAS
ACTUALLY 6-5. MAR ROXAS VOTED FOR GONZALES THROUGH A LETTER SENT TO
THE CHAIR WHILE CYNTHIA VILLAR VOTED FOR ALFILER ALSO THROUGH A LETTER.
THIS IS ALLOWED IN THE 2008 UP CHARTER FOR THE TWO CONGRESSIONAL
REPRESENTATIVES IN THE BOR  .)
On Jan. 4, 2010, the first working day after the long Christmas holidays, the BOR officially announced
Gonzalez’s appointment. This is where the story starts to get exciting. The next day, at around noon, UP
president Emerlinda Roman announced that one of the non-organic regents, former Supreme Court
Justice Abraham Sarmiento, had filed a protest letter to strike out the vote of the student regent, Charisse
Bañez, on the ground that she did not enroll for the second semester. On that basis, Roman appointed an
officer-in-charge for PGH, which provoked opposition. On Jan. 7, the long-delayed formal appointment of
Gonzalez as PGH director was finally released and on that same day, he took his oath.
In its January meeting, the BOR upheld Sarmiento’s motion to declare the seat of the student regent
vacant and to nullify her vote in the earlier decisions. The organic regents walked out: faculty regent
professor Judy Taguiwalo, staff regent Clodualdo Cabrera, and Charisse. Alumni regent Alfredo Pascual,
president of the UP Alumni Association, did not participate in the vote.
In its February meeting, the BOR nullified the appointment of Gonzalez and elected Dr. Rolando
Domingo as the new PGH director.
To start with, why the tangled legal attempts to block Gonzalez? Why try to appoint an OIC when
there was no vacancy? How can the vote of a collegial body be set aside without a collegial decision, and
on the basis of a letter by one regent? Is there such a thing as a super-regent whose solitary vote
overrides those of his colleagues?
Gonzalez is entitled to hold office for the duration of his term. In the archaic language of the law of
public officers, the “termination of official relations” occurs only upon death or disability, retirement,
resignation, expiry of term of office, abandonment, abolition of office, recall or removal for cause. Not a
single ground is present in this case.
The entire ouster of Gonzalez was actually carried out by first ousting yet another person, Charisse
Bañez. Indeed Charisse wasn’t enrolled, but there are two important issues here. One, when her vote
was counted in favor of Gonzalez on Dec. 18, the BOR fully debated her enrollment issue (even asked
her to step out then) and decided that she could vote. I recall the joke during martial law. Marcos was
complaining: Filipinos are so demanding—I already let them vote, now they want their votes to be
counted! The BOR must respect its own decisions, and not reverse it only after they discovered that
Charisse voted for Gonzalez.
Two, Charisse has a pending application for residency as a student, which is routinely approved for
others but which has been kept hanging for Charisse who, not surprisingly, has been harassed by a
series of disciplinary cases filed for her activist work. Again, I do not know where she stands ideologically
—and I have my own criticisms of the dogmatic and doctrinaire—but the students have chosen her as
their regent and the school administration cannot frustrate the students’ choice by harassing her with
disciplinary cases.
Irony of ironies, it now turns out that the three Malacañang appointees all have expired appointments.
President Arroyo appointed them merely as “Acting Member, Board of Regents.” However, the
Administrative Code, Executive Order 292, provides that “in no case shall a temporary designation
exceed one year.” All three had exceeded one year. Sarmiento himself was appointed on Sept. 29, 2008.
They were all essentially impostors on Dec. 18, trying to oust the student regent who enjoyed an
authentic mandate.
The BOR has pooh-poohed that argument, saying that “acting” is different from “temporary.” In what
way, I ask? That is a cockamamie legal distinction. I ask the BOR: What is the difference between an
“acting” regent and a “temporary” regent? The “acting” designation is as temporary as it gets.
What I have chronicled here is familiar to us by now: the Machiavellian manipulation of technicalities
to justify just about anything and to maneuver events to get precisely the desired result. It is a mindset, a
way of life, that I identify with the Arroyo administration, and I am saddened when I see it practiced in a
university that has become a part of my life since I entered as a freshman 36 years ago.

RESOLUTION OF THE COLLEGE COUNCIL OF THE UP COLLEGE OF MEDICINE ON THE

APPOINTMENT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE PHILIPPINE GENERAL HOSPITAL UNIVERSITY OF
THE PHILIPPINES MANILA

Whereas the University of the Philippines Board of Regents in its 1252 nd meeting on December 18,
2009, appointed Dr. Jose Castillo Gonzales as Director, Philippine General Hospital, University of the
Philippines Manila from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012;
Whereas Dr Jose Gonzales took his oath of office as Director of Philippine General Hospital,
University of the Philippines Manila before the BOR Chair on December 21, 2009 and before the UP
Manila Chancellor on January 7, 2010;
Whereas Dr. Jose Gonzales has already served as PGH director and has performed responsibly
since January 4, 2010 with honor, integrity and transparency;
Whereas under Civil Service Laws, Dr. Jose Gonzales can only be removed as PGH Director for due
cause;
 Whereas the removal of Dr. Jose Gonzales as PGH Director is unjust and arbitrary, he should
therefore continue to perform his duties and functions as Director of PGH for the welfare of the Filipino
people;
Whereas the College Council of the UP College of Medicine upholds Academic Freedom, human
rights, due processes and the protection of its constituents under the Civil Service Law;
We, the members of the College Council of the UP College of Medicine resolve, as it is hereby
resolved:
That we recognize and support Dr. Jose Gonzalez as the duly appointed UP PGH director from
January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012 in accordance with his original appointment.
Approved on the 2nd day of March 2010 at the Class 64 lecture room, UP College of Medicine, 547
Pedro Gil St, Ermita, Manila.

As of April 13, 2010 2:30pm : The University Council of UP Manila resolved to uphold the UP College of
Medicine College Council resolution upholding Dr. Jose Gonzales as PGH Director. Chancellor Arcadio
wants to conduct a referendum on the matter. 

The Making of the Faculty Medical Arts Building (FMAB)

By Maria Patricia Tanchuling

UP. PGH. FMAB. Three entities that hardly seemed to fit together in one name, much less as one
living, breathing institution. Soon, however, the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital
Faculty Medical Arts Building will become a reality as the PGH website news recently bannered, “UPM-
PGH Faculty Medical Arts Building (FMAB) Project: It’s a go!”
Talks of a Faculty Medical Arts Building have been making the rounds for quite some time now, but
nothing was ever definite. Proposals and approvals of such projects made the news a few years back, but
as far as the PGH community was concerned, a UP-PGH FMAB was all just wishful talk, and at best,
glorious plans. The groundbreaking ceremonies held last November 25 jolted everyone out of their cynical
stupor as it finally heralded the definite start of the project. Since the UP-PGH public has been busy with
their own business, details of the FMAB proposal and subsequent approval seemingly passing unnoticed.
With the project now definitely under way, it’s about time we found out more about this new development
on campus.

The History
It was only in June of 2009, coinciding with UP’s 101 st foundation week, that UP signed a 25-year least
contract with the Daniel Mercado Medical Center (DMMC), authorizing the latter to convert, rehabilitate,
develop and operate the UPM-PGH FMAB. The approved FMAB referred to the old PGH Dispensary
along Taft Avenue that formerly served as the PGH Charity Outpatient Department from 1911 to 1989,
when the current OPD Building along Padre Faura first opened. Since the Old Dispensary ceased
operations in April 1989, the facility alternately became a temporary relocation area for dormitories and
old medical records, but by and large became idle property.
Fast forward to 1995, when the UP Board of Regents approved the conversion of the former
Outpatient Department into a medical arts building through the joint efforts of then UPM Chancellor Perla
Santos Ocampo and PGH Director Antonio Montalban. The project would have to wait another ten years
until, in 2005, when the Board of Regents approved the concept paper of the "Lease with Conversion,
Rehabilitation, Development and Operation of the PGH Dispensary Building as the UPM-PGH Faculty
Medical Arts Building". This was under the administration of then UPM Chancellor Marita Reyes and PGH
Director Carmelo Alfiler.
As envisioned in the approved proposal, the FMAB would, among others, “(1) generate additional
resources to supplement PGH's budget allocation for hospital operations from the national government;
(2) provide affordable, accessible high-quality, competent, comprehensive, integrated and humane health
care services to ambulatory pay patient clientele of PGH; (3) provide a centralized teaching, training, and
research-related facility for the faculty, trainees and relevant staff; (4) strengthen the geographic practice
of profession among faculty members; (5) provide a faculty incentive package of affordable clinic spaces
and income opportunities to UPM faculty in order to augment the faculty's regular compensation package
from the University; (6) promote faculty retention and career development, (7) strengthen the distinction
of UPM as the National Health Sciences Center, and; (8) serve as an essential component of a strong
National University Hospital.”

The Partner/Lessee
The Daniel O. Mercado Medical Center is a tertiary hospital in Tanauan City, Batangas that was founded
as the Mercado Clinic in 1957 by Dr. Daniel O. Mercado. An alumnus on the UP College of Medicine
(Batch ’52), Dr. Mercado envisioned his hospital to be one of the best in the CALABARZON region. At
present, the DMMC is a 100-bed and full-service facility that aspires to rival other hospitals in the area
with state-of-the-art medical, surgical, diagnostic, and therapeutic facilities. It has nearly 100 physicians in
21 specialties on-call, a number of them alumni of the UP-PGH. In addition to the Medical Center, the
DMMC also has a Medical Plaza-Medical Arts Building and only recently, opened the DMMC Institute of
Heath Sciences. The Institute presently offers Baccalaureate programs in the fields of Nursing Education,
Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Radiologic Technology.
The DMMC became UPM-PGH's new partner in the FMAB development in early 2009, following
almost four years of bidding presided over by a Special Bids and Awards Committee created by
Chancellor Ramon Arcadio, led by Dean Yolanda Robles, and a Technical Working Group headed by Dr.
Federico Cruz.

The Terms
The estimated minimum rental rate is P1,000,000 per month (net of all taxes), subject to an increase of
10% per annum, commencing on the 6th year of the term of the lease. The approved period of lease is 25
years, exclusive of an 18-month rent-free period beginning on the date of signing of contract, within which
period the lessee must perform, comply with and complete all the works for the conversion, rehabilitation
and development of the FMAB. The contract may be renewed for a maximum period of five years. Under
the Terms of Reference, DMMC shall lease the building from UP-PGH and sub-lease the clinic spaces to
accredited PGH consultants. Unlike private hospital policy, there will be no need for the consultant to buy
stocks to practice or buy/advance lease of clinics. UP, however, will have the prerogative to decide which
establishments will be allowed to rent space in the FMAB. The DMMC, meanwhile, will receive all
earnings from space and clinic rental.
A resolution by the BOR in 2005 mandates that the “administration of FMAB be undertaken by a
Management Team with UPM-PGH taking care of the clinical part (providing exclusively the physicians
and other health care professionals and exercising control and supervision over credentialing, peer
review and other medical affairs) and DMMC the non-clinical and fiscal operations.” In addition, the
project entails the “lease of clinical spaces to twelve (12) departments/special services (singly or in
conjunction with other groups) and four (4) concessions --- pharmacy, laboratories, radiology and
business sector.” Under the said contract, the DMMC is allowed to manage and operate the concession
areas.
According to Dr. Edwin Mercado, DMMC President and CEO, the first phase of development is the
rehabilitation of common areas and installation of necessary physical facilities, the second is the
construction of some 12 departmental/group practice clinic spaces, and the third, the operationalization of
concession areas. Rehabilitation and development will include improvement of common areas, installation
of elevators, generator set, water supply, and computerization system. These developments must
conform to the National Historical Institute and National University Hospital requirements. 
The Terms of Agreement specifies that the creation of an FMAB Management Team (FMT) -
composed of four members from UPM-PGH and three from the DMMC - who shall oversee the project
and report to the PGH Director and the UPM Chancellor. At present, the members are: (UPM-PGH) Drs.
Noel Lawas (chair), Dr. Melfred Hernandez (secretary), Dr. Edward Tordesillas and Dr, Edward Wang;
and (DMMC) Dr. Edwin Mercado, Mr. Zosimo Malabanan and Dr. Jose Tecson (COO).

The Issues
As with every new development proposed within the UP system, a debate over its pros and con ensues.
A main advantage cited by the proponents of the FMAB is the benefit of PGH consultant staff having a
very proximate and convenient location for seeing pay outpatients, teaching students and trainees, and
conducting relevant researches, while at the same time offering their services to the majority of indigent
patients who are the primary beneficiaries of PGH.
In the contract signing ceremony, UP President Emerlinda Roman recognized the FMAB project as a
means whereby UP can strengthen the distinction of UPM and PGH as the National Health Sciences
Center and as the National University Hospital, respectively. In addition, Dr Melfred Hernandez
(coordinator for PGH Flagship projects) describes the FMAB Project as a pioneering activity of the
university designed as (1) a retention and incentive program for the faculty members of UPM and PGH,
(2) a source of additional income for PGH’s budgetary needs, and (3) an additional venue for teaching of
students/trainees and for research.
Immediate past Director of the PGH Dr. Carmelo Alfiler agrees that the realization of the FMAB will
definitely augment the income of UPM-PGH faculty, and in addition, will enable PGH to offer a wider
range of comprehensive ambulatory patient services and teaching opportunities covering both the charity
and paying areas.
On the other hand, some detrimental effects have been raised by the All U.P. Workers Union
(AUPWU), a public-sector union of all rank-and-file administrative employees of the University of the
Philippines and the Philippine General Hospital. One of their major points of contention is the impending
entry of privately-run laboratory, pharmacy, radiology services as well as other business concessionaires
with the approved FMAB. While they “support the expanded and efficient operation of PGH laboratory
pharmacy, radiologic, endoscopic, laparoscopic, arthroscopic and other diagnostic services in order to
serve the needs of the FMAB, the PGH and of the Filipino people”, the said union fears that the
introduction of private entities offering the same services “not only imperils the long term viability of PGH
services but the operation of the whole hospital itself”. According to the Union’s position paper, “These
services that are intended to be privatized at the FMAB are the heart and soul of hospital operations. It is
therefore unthinkable that the University and the PGH would allow the operation of private entities right
inside its own compound that will directly compete on its own laboratory, pharmacy and other services. ”
They propose that instead of allowing privately-run competitors to operate in the FMAB, the PGH
Administration should expand and improve its own services to meet the increased patient needs that will
come along with the opening of the FMAB. They maintain that, after all, PGH data has shown that its
laboratory and pharmacy services are consistently the top two revenue generating units and as such,
contribute much to ease hospital expenses.
PGH annual reports put the earnings of the PGH pharmacy at P60-70M/year and more than
P200M/year from laboratory and other diagnostic procedures. The AUPWU argues that while standing to
earn P1M/month from the DMMC, PGH stands to continually lose a significant part of its earnings from
pharmacy and laboratories to private entities, until such time that the PGH will not be able to withstand
the competition and close shop. This is especially likely to happen in the case of the approved FMAB,
considering that the rent of DMMC of prime commercial space from PGH at P1M/month is very cheap
compared to prevailing rental rates in the area.
Another dissenting voice is Dr. Gene Nisperos, vice-chairperson of the NGO Health Alliance for
Democracy. He fears that sine the FMAB will be offering private services which the PGH already currently
offers, the government may eventually may abandon its obligation of improving PGH’s medical
equipment.
Another issue brought up by the Workers’ Union is the fact that privatization of health services in
other countries have brought about higher cost and very poor access for lower income population.
According to their position paper, initial microprivatization of government hospitals can only lead to the
eventual takeover and monopoly of private corporations as government services will not be able to
compete.
UP President Emerlinda Roman counters that medicine prices in the FMAB will be higher than that of
the PGH pharmacy, ensuring that patients will still opt to patronize the PGH pharmacy. Also, if the
laboratory and diagnostic equipment in PGH breaks down, charity patients can avail themselves of
services at the FMAB, but at the same rates that PGH charity patients usually pay.

* * * * * * *

As of the contract signing last June 18, 2009, about 279 PGH consultants have already signed up for
clinic spaces. They have organized themselves into an FMAB Association to facilitate transactions with
the FMAB Management Tea. Following the association’s elections in May 2009, the founding officers are
Dr. Serafin Hilvano (president), Dr. Ildefonso Chan (vice-president), Dr. Michael Tee (secretary), and Dr.
Johanna Patricia Cañal (Treasurer).
The facility is projected to be in full operation by January 2011.

LITERARY

Overheard at the College

OB Resident: The fellow you’ll be meeting today at the colposcopy unit is Dr. Dy-Echo.
Student: Ha? Dee Enchong?

*OB Resident to patient: ‘Wag kang sumigaw, walang point. Wala kang point.
“Sobrang takot lang talaga ako na ‘pag pasok ko…’di ko maintindihan."
— ICC, on performing an internal exam
“Bench nga tong suot ko o. Diba pang-masa yun?"
— ICC, justifying his so-called bantay outfit for Patient Contact Exposure in Pediatrics
Girl #1: Anong amoy ‘yan?
Girl #2: Lysol?
Girl #1: Ah yung odorless?
Girl #2: ???!!

Girl: Uy, sa Jessica Soho, ankylosing spondylitis.

Boy: HAHAHAHAHAHA. Hindi ba metabolic syndrome?
Girl: Sira ulo, hindi SI Jessica. SA Jessica.
Boy: Hahahahaha! Sorry!!!
Girl: Bastos ka.

by LJK Gobenciong, JN Protasio, J Quijano

the (dis)order of the day 

we drink
we dance
we fall.
we never grow old.
the sun has risen
and renewed us. 
we drink
we dance
we fall.
we will get it all.
the sun has set
and blinded us. 
we drink
we dance
we fall.
we get back what we give
a hundredfold.
the sun is at its peak,
it burns.

by Marla De Castro
Forgotten, discarded,
Memento of the past
Like falling leaves following Autumn's wake
A salute to days gone by
Summer's pride. 
Soft light, shadow-forming
Closed eyes, clenched fist, breath released
No regret found here but maybe,
Just maybe,
A bit of sorrow, tinged with a sigh. 
Who sets the boundaries
Of what is real and unreal
Of what is thought of only and exists in the mind
And what is tangible, felt by the hands
Where does the memory of you reside? 
Discordant, shapeless,
No sense nor rhyme
Plucking you out of my head is near impossible
Much like finding meaning
In this silly poem of mine.

Anonymous

Afternoon Reverie

Laughter bubbles amid the clacking machinery

As children walk home, on the raw grass.
The sunbeams filter through the leaves, then my lashes,
And deliciously trace warm patterns on my face
to distant arpeggios.

I spread my rumpled skirt gently,

Careful not to disturb the stillness
in the air.
In my heart.

by Victoria Grace Dimacali