| Diamonds in the Rough: Royal Treatment |
| March 18,2009 |
DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH: ROYAL TREATMENT
[Dr. Vietrez Panganiban-David Abella’s column,
Catanduanes Tribune, March 18, 2009]
I had forgotten when was the last time I had visited the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. Perhaps 10 years ago, or more, so much so that the many changes are hard to miss. For one, the Phi Kappa Mu tambayan has been moved to a different location, now nearer to the Philippine General Hospital compound (the old one gave way to a new building). The walkway from the main building to the big lecture rooms (called BSLR, or Basic Sciences Lecture Room-East and West, which were the main classrooms of the first and second year medical proper students, respectively), which we used to call the Medicine Walk, is now a metal and tin structure, with big glass-encased bulletin boards. The one we had was of rotting wood and rusty GI sheets, with a small bulletin board dedicated to our class, Class ’91. This was the board where we posted announcements, memos and pictures of group outings and other social occasions which punctuated our very academic life.
Brods of Phi Kappa Mu, the search organizers, brought us to the office of the Dean of the College, Dr. Alberto Roxas, a colo-rectal surgeon who had been one of my surgical consultants in the College. In all of my 7 years in the College, there was never an opportunity to step into the Office of the Dean. And here I was, in an official courtesy call! My mother, Ethel, who accompanied me, was beaming the whole time. Had I ever made her this proud? Perhaps when I passed the PSHS qualifying exams? Or when I made it to Intarmed? Or when I passed the medical boards? Or my diplomate exams? Those were indeed milestones in my medical life, but none of them was marked by such pomp and pageantry, as was being given to me as one of the Awardees of the Diamonds in the Rough Search for Outstanding Doctor in the Community Setting. (But now I recall my wedding day, and how that had made her happy, very happy. This is probably the reason why she has been recently posting pictures of that occasion on her Face Book pages.)
Aside from Dean Roxas, we also met with the College Secretary, Dr. Tonette Esteban-Habana, just two years ahead of me in medical school, Intarmed ’89. We also met Dr. Abundio Balgos, who had also been my Physiology Professor, now Consultant with the Department of Internal Medicine. We found out about the Tele-Health program of the College, aimed at providing the expertise of medical specialists to communities that lack them. This is a recent thrust: to respond to the needs of the far-flung areas, not just by sending out its students, but as an institution. It was a warm homecoming.
Before this, we had met with the Chancellor of UP Manila, Dr. Ramon Arcadio. He was also one of my professors in Pediatrics, and had also been Dean of the College. Dr. Carmelo Alfiler, Director of PGH, also received us warmly, updating us on the recent tie-up of PGH, branded “Tatak PGH,” with different regional medical centers in a continuing effort to help improve medical care in the countryside. Under his watch, PGH strengthened its foothold as the premier hospital for the Filipinos, upgrading its equipment and improving services.
Then we proceeded to the Manila City Hall to meet Honorable Alfredo Lim, Mayor. What started out as a routine courtesy call became a momentous occasion, as Mayor Lim decided to present each of us awardees the symbolic key to the City of Manila, with photo ops at the historic and massive Bulwagan ni Rajah Sulayman. He also gave us a copy of his biography by Nick Joaquin, even taking time to write out a dedication.
Dinner was tendered by Dr. Jose “Jogon” Gonzales, respected cardio-thoracic surgeon, also a Phi brod. He had also been one of surgical consultants at PGH, who later became Chairman of the Department of Surgery. Dr. Edgardo Ortiz, pediatric cardiologist, present Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics in PGH, was also there. That day, the pre-awarding, ended late at 10 p.m. Then I had to wake up early the next day at 2 a.m. to answer some questions which the PR consultant of the search, Ms. Jingjing Romero, had drafted. This would be part of the press kit to be given to the media partners of the search, ABS-CBN and Salamat Dok, as well as the Philippine Star.
By 8 a.m., after a brief nap, a quick shower, and a leisurely breakfast, my mom and I, together with the other awardees, Dr. Afdal Kunting, his wife (who is a medical student) and his only daughter, Azzizza, and Dr. Mennie Cabacang, and our medical student coordinators, JF and Jayson, went on an official Manila tour. Although I had studied in Manila for 5 years during my medical school proper, I did not really have the opportunity to see the sights of the city. Two years ago, my husband, Rene, and I, had taken our children around Rizal Park and Intramuros as part of their education in Philippine history and culture. But it was refreshing to see Manila from the eyes of tourists, and we reveled anew in a retelling of Philippine history, in the Light and Sound Show in Intramuros. This is the nationalistic version, with our Spanish colonial masters exposed for what they are and what they did to permanently mar our self-image as a people. We saw Fort Santiago and the memorabilia of Jose Rizal, our national hero, and followed his footsteps in his last walk to Bagumbayan, to die as a martyr for our country.
Of course, a tour is not complete without food, and we had our Filipino buffet lunch at Barbara’s, a very quaint restaurant situated in a remodeled Spanish-era bahay na bato, complete with authentic antique furniture and fixtures and the requisite foreign tourists. After the sumptuous meal, we made our way around the San Agustin Church museum. Though I had been inside the church for several weddings, I did not know that it was attached to a palatial convento. For a paltry P 100.00 entrance fee, one sees a visual summary of 500 years under Spanish colonizers: icons of various saints and images of our Lord Jesus Christ and Mother Mary, the massive crypt housing the bones of Agustinian priests and historical figures (we saw that of Juan Luna, famous painter of Spolarium, and brother of General Antonio Luna), a hall filled with Chinese porcelain jars, paintings of Agustinian churches throughout the archipelago, and religious books . It would probably take a whole day just to take in all the details and the information. I plan to return to this museum with my children, but only after I have reviewed Philippine history, because my children would surely have questions!
Then we went back to our hotel for a short rest before the interviews with the press people and the much-awaited awarding ceremonies!