Our family doctor, Dr. Ric Pascasio left us so soon! This is both a shock and a surprise, though not a pleasant one. I thought all along that he'd outlive us, knowing him being so relaxed and simply taking life in stride.
Whenever we visited him, I often tell him to take good care of himself. "Walang iwanan, Doc, ha?", I recall saying that to him again the last time we visited. I'm glad I brought him my homemade pudding along with other snacks. He just smiled. Oftentimes he'd say not to blame him for taking care of us well that we may live beyond our 90's like his other patients.
When Jim experienced a prolonged tummy issue at the turn of the millennium and the hospital seemed unable to pinpoint what's ailing him in spite several tests, my former boss urged us to see Dr. Ric Pascasio, who eventually became our family doctor.
Immediately he assured Jim that he can help him, he stopped Jim from taking the eight medicines that the hospital prescribed and told him to take a pill of probiotics that stabilized the tummy and worked pretty much the same but more than what Yakult can do. He didn't believe in altering the course of nature, instead he practiced bringing back the natural function of the body so it can heal itself.
At the end of that first visit he promised Jim:
"I am your doctor and I will be responsible for your health, you can call me anytime day and night ". True to his word, whenever we called, he would prescribe medicine on the phone.
One time that I called to consult about Jim's condition, he said, "I knew you'd call today, how are you?", I'm not surprised for he was gifted with keen intuition, so he can feel my vibes.
"Not so good doc, I'm having this sore throat, I feel like I'm going to get sick", I replied.
"I thought so, I can hear it in your voice, you can take this capsule, three times a day".
I'm sure that Jim and I are just among the thousands of people who felt physically, psychologically and emotionally relieved by this great Doctor. He can see what's wrong through our eyes; thus there's no need to undergo the routine tests of X-ray, ultrasound or even MRI, unless you want to double-check.
He always took time to share his anecdotes to relax his patients even when many were waiting for their turn outside his office. He used to talk lengthily to his patients at odd hours in Australia, Japan, Canada and in the US, and that was before the advent of skype, FaceTime, viber when overseas call is not cheap.
He never ran out of stories, sometimes he would turn on his component and sing-a-long "Hello, Dolly", I believe it remained his favorite from his stint as a singer at Bayside, the famous nightclub in his prime. He encourages everyone to dance and sway, feel the rhythm and just get lost in the melody to keep the entire body in sync.
You have to know this password: "PPD" for "Pinaka-Poging Doctor" (the most handsome doctor) so the guards at the village gate will let you in. All tricycle drivers in their village get free consultations. When he prescribes medicine, he will give the most practical one and would refer patients for laboratory test at a clinic that charges reasonably. Such is Dr. Ric Pascasio, a jolly fellow, compassionate, with simple taste but with exceptional talent to treat the sick. He will always be fondly remembered.
I say everybody is going to heaven and leaving us since just last week, another buddy of Jim also passed away , a health buff who runs marathons. At this phase in our lives, we readily get news that a former colleague or a friend is seriously ill or have passed. Sometimes it is depressing.
The recent passing of Dr. Ric Pascasio, the shock we experienced when we heard the sudden passing of congressman Roilo Golez, Jim's former classmate and friend as well as Jim's buddy, Ed from Petron somehow made me all the more aware that life is short. BTW, MY family is still mourning the passing of my sister-in-law (wife of my eldest brother), we just marked her 40th day this week while we are still recovering from the loss of our compadre, the father-in-law of my older daughter who also passed a few months ago.
Such is the order of nature, it is inevitable, only the timing that is not known to us. That is the very reason I always tell myself to live in the moment; urging me more than ever to throw myself into it and live it to the fullest for as long as it lasts. And there is always that hope that maybe it won't end so soon.
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