Ka-Blog!

I’ve been complaining of a recurring backache no Alaxan capsule or gel could drive away.  (Sinungaling ka, Manny Pacquiao!)  Yesterday, I couldn’t take it any longer and finally did something about it.

            I drove to the Philippine Center for Traditional and Alternative Medicine or PCTAM a few blocks from one of my offices.  I’ve been there many times before but only to take relatives and friends who need acupuncturing.  This trip was for me.

            Acupuncturists par excellance Cha Vargas and Jigs Clamor weren’t there.  So I introduced myself to the desk.  It must have been a slow afternoon as there were no other patients.  The two staffs were glued to the Korean tele-novella on TV. After washing grime off my feet and taking off my shirt I plopped face down on one of the beds and got treated with ventosa and back massage pronto.

            First, air was heated inside bamboo cups and attached to my back.  I immediately felt my skin being sucked and stretched into the cups.  It’s supposed to take away cold air in between my skin and muscles. Okey, fat.  Ten cups stuck out of my broad back and I felt relieved right away.  I drifted in and out of sleep.  I would have snored all the way through it were it not for the harurot jeepneys with bayo sound set ups right outside the windows.

            After 15 minutes, the cups were taken off.   As each cup was being lifted, a hissing sound, not unlike an air brake, escaped from them.

            Then I was given a vigorous back rub with aromatic oil.  I felt my knotted muscles on my neck and back relax.  Even my buns were kneaded and with every press I wanted to rip one out but didn’t.  It must have felt good if I did.

            All too soon, the treatment was over.  I was asked to lie down for a while before getting up.  Sa totoo lang, I would have wanted to not get up and just spend the night there.

            For both procedures, I paid the grand sum P150.  This is peanuts compared to the P600 Angel Tesorero paid for my full spa treatment some years back and the P300 I paid for my recent foot spa.)  I suspect Jigs called the clinic up and told them to not charge me for the ventosa.  (Jigs, bagong hugas ang bus and you could use it all you want!)

            Driving to the CERV office, my body felt light and I felt bit drowsy.  My back pain is gone.  I haven’t felt this nice in a long while. I ate a huge dinner of pork sinigang after.

            I’d be doing this again very soon.  I wonder what to have next.  Teeth cleaning? Facial?  Liposuction?  Lobotomy?