The Doctor in the Family

Bolet, as we call him, started chasing his dream of becoming a doctor in one of the better medical schools in Manila. But just like any other ordinary students, he had his share of struggles right from the get-go. The struggles just mounted as he goes on with med school. Next thing he knew was that he’s out from that school and needed to decide on whether to continue pursuing his dream or call it a quit.

As much as the whole family was devastated, there was no one more upset than him. He knows he was not the most intellectually gifted in the family, but his determination to succeed makes him a front-runner. Hence, without skipping a beat, he chose to pursue his dream. And after so much deliberations, the family decided, with his concurrence, that he take his schooling to the province. Considering that his five other siblings are studying or practicing their profession in the Metro, his going home to our province to study medicine is one big sacrifice. We jokingly call him ‘barbariotic’.

Many say that med school, just like law school, is like a jealous mistress who requires a lot of your attention and time. This saying starts to become gospel truth as time went by. Let me explain why. Bolet was the biggest eater in the family and he usually finishes our leftovers when we dine outside. Since his med school, we always miss him when we eat outside as no one would finish our leftovers. He loves basketball as much as I do, but because of med school, he piles up DNPs (did not play) when we play the game. Sadly for me, there’s no one I would beat when he’s not around. The family is at its happiest when we are complete during the holidays, but (no) thanks to med school we celebrated several Christmas and New Year without him.

But if you ask me, med school is not just like a jealous mistress. It appears that med school is also an abusive mistress, depriving you of sleep and draining all your finances. During the rare times that he was with us, he would be squeezing in a much needed nap to recharge for another 24-hour or even 36-hour duty. And in those few moments we have him outside, he would bring his humongous (and pricey) medical books, hundred-page slide printouts, or compiled medical cue cards.

Add to these the daily quizzes and all those scientific terms that you need not just understand but must memorize, I have to admit, med school is more difficult than law school. Law students, fight me later.

There are few times when Bolet was all drained up and about to give up, good thing his second to none determination kicks in. He goes on to tell us all that he wants to become a doctor really bad and he will become one. He doesn’t want to fail our parents, who invested a lot in his schooling, and doesn’t want to see us, his siblings, as professionals, while he is there sulking all his life for not pursuing his only dream. He was as firm as a rock – he promised us he will become a doctor. Against all odds, he finished med school and the licensure exam is up next.

Unlike the Bar Exams, medical board examinees are not pampered by the school as there are no centralized operations to take on the needs of the examinees. They are not even housed in a lavish hotel during the days before the exams. That’s more reason for us to give Bolet our all-out support.

When he was reviewing for the board exam, he was guided by his girlfriend who passed the said exam just last year. That’s the time I saw his already top-notch determination took another step forward. I knew right there and then that he will deliver on his promise. He did deliver.

In a family of eight, four of whom are lawyers, becoming the first licensed MD has to be the greatest achievement and blessing of the family. Now that you are a licensed doctor, go out there and save lives, but start with our parents who are growing weary but accomplished and happily.

Congrats and God speed, Dr. Luis Victor P. Cachapero!