a gathering

tomorrow will be the 1st day of our annual national convention and once again, pediatricians all over the country will be gathering in one place to update themselves of the new trends/discoveries in our field. but we cannot deny that for some, it is a venue to see old friends and meet new ones. still for some, they come out here for the SHOPPING (translation: grappling for the numerous give-aways of drug companies)!

i was told by a senior colleague that it is not the case abroad. in national convention in the united states for example, the only things they give are pens and papers presumably for the participants to take notes and numerous journals and information sheets. only in the philippines will you find doctors arguing with who was first in the line or hear doctors reprimanding a collegue for failing to fall in line when they have been patiently waiting for hours just so they can get the bag given by Mead Johnson or the cute something given by Astra. you will not believe the acquaintances you will gain when going thru these long lines at the exhibit areas! more senior pediatricians asking a resident where she got the nice give away and could she please save a spot for her in the line. so funny but all so true!

there are times that i feel guilty when at the end of the day i realize that i didn't get to listen to a single lecture because i was busy falling in line at the exhibit area. but that is precisely the fun part! however, we should also not forget the real reason we are there - to learn something and have fun.