February 14, 2005
I was a child when I last visited the Philippines twenty years ago. I have vague memories of the mass of people from the airport in Manila to Tita’s house. This time the crowd was not as dense but my cousin Joel Carlos who met us at the airport showed his skill in maneuvering through the noisy and nerve-racking traffic. The streets were alive with cars, jeepneys, tricycles, jaywalkers and peddlers.
A week before and after the mission, we stayed with Tita Lor (Lorinda Carlos) in Paranaque. She threw a party so I had a chance to meet my relatives. A few times we had sumptuous dinners at Tito Rody (Carlos) who lives two minutes away. We had king crabs, large prawns, mussels, bangus, pancit, lechon, etc. Considering the variety of tasty Philippine cuisine, I'm amazed at how the folks maintain their slender figures.
I am grateful to Tita Mimi (Salazar) who took us to Divisoria to buy Capiz goods and to Silahis International in Intramuros, to Ate Ninni (Castro) and Ate Maridee (Carlos) who took us to the megamalls. And what I didn’t get to buy, I got as presents: a crocheted bandana and sungka from Ate Bingle (Dr. Victoria Ascue), the naked man holding a barrel from Cousin Nikka (Carlos), pj and other fancy clothes from Tita Ofie (Carlos) and Tita Cora (Castro) who traveled with Tito Andy from Malolos, a mahjong set with numbered tiles from Tita Lor and various other gifts, too many to mention.
After the mission, I had a great time hanging out with the volunteers at the 5-star Westin Hotel. Later, Mom’s friends, Drs. Romeo and .Ernesta Quintana, brought us to their home in UP Los Banos for a couple of days during which we visited the International Rice Research Institute with Dr. Ben Vergara, one of nine living National Scientists of the Philippines and author of the Farmer’s Primer on Growing Rice. Forty eight editions have been published in 40 languages in more than 20 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America which substantially increased global rice production. The Vergaras treated us at the Kamayan sa Palaisdaan where we had a seafood dinner before dessert of kutsinta, puto bumbong, etc. at their magnificent home. Mrs. Lina Vergara showed us the sprawling electrified miniature Christmas village she built.
I gained so many great memories, new-found friendships, and special gifts I don’t know where to begin to thank all relatives and friends. Even on our return trip, my cousin Kuya Parrish Carlos got our seats upgraded to business class which included the use of the lounge, free drinks and more food: arroz caldo, finger food, fresh mangoes and other fruits and pastries.
This trip was a tremendous experience for me both professionally and culturally. The chance to meet and build bonds with my relatives was a big bonus. I’ll do it again if the golden opportunity presents itself.
Monday, February 28, 2005
The 5th Medical Mission to Catanduanes
February 14, 2005; published in The Filipino Journal
I looked up nervously at the thin, dark 89-year-old woman as she sat down across the table from me. I was still a medical resident; I approached this mission with eagerness and trepidation. This room was a bustle of frenzied activity—crowds of Filipinos outside in the island heat, pressed up against the door to our makeshift waiting room/examining room. About 25 of the docs, nurses, and other volunteers on this mission moved around the group of patients lucky enough to be admitted in, taking brief histories, blood pressures, examining them in their chairs, then directing them to the lab, pharmacy, or consultants elsewhere in this hospital. There were 2 makeshift exam booths in the corners—where a small hospital gurney was separated from the room with a small divider. It was hot, only a couple fans helping to dissipate the heat of all the people milling about in this room that only hours earlier served as church for our daily morning mass. Periodically a volunteer would come by with refreshments—empanadas, bottled water, pan de sal, hopia, juice, assorted Filipino pastries.
Anong sakit po? I attempted in Tagalog, as I scanned her sheet of vital signs. The interpreter translated for me. “Her back hurts.” How long? 3-4 years. I continued to take a history of her complaints which were similar to many of the others’ I’d see—dizziness, weakness, cough, various pains, persistent rashes, bowel complaints sprinkled with the odd tuberculosis, ulcer. Compared to back home in Winnipeg, I saw more unusual infectious diseases and less depression and anxiety. As I examined her, I noticed how spry and hardy the elderly were here compared to the overweight frail in North America. I realized that these people’s health issues were a reflection of the difficult circumstances: chronic malnutrition, inconsistent care, piecemeal investigations and treatments. Here, I knew that if someone was sitting in front of me, it was probably a lot worse than he/she was saying—these people didn’t seek medical attention unless absolutely necessary, shared and used costly medications sparingly over years, and were generally dictated by the price/access of treatments rather than their necessity. Once I realized that these people would likely not see a physician/health care professional for a long time and the treatments/medications I could give them now were essentially all they’d have access to for who knows how long, I let my own insecurities fall to the wayside and dived into the huge work ahead of me. In the interest of seeing as many patients as possible during my short time on this mission, I had less time to spend with each patient.
This mission, the 5th Medical, Surgical, and Dental Mission of the Catanduanes International Association, lasted from January 10-14th, 2005 in the town of Virac. We saw a total of 4892 patients from all 11 towns of the province of Catanduanes. 1146 more patients were registered but not seen for lack of time and resources. Mission volunteers from Canada, the United States and the Philippines registered 1283 patients on general consultations and another 1184 pediatric cases. The balance of the 4892 indigent patients who went to the Eastern Bicol Medical Center during the five-day mission are as follows: 187 Internal Medicine cases, 19 Obstetrics-Gynecology case, 93 Gastroenterology cases, 153 Ophthalmology cases, 310 Refraction cases, 58 Physical Therapy cases, 120 Minor Surgery cases, 76 Major Surgery cases, 500 Dental cases, and 909 Laboratory/X-ray cases. The medical mission, which also brought drugs and medicines, filled a total of 3084 prescriptions and gave vitamins to 168 patients and families. Of the 76 major surgeries, including cataracts, nearly half (33) cases were of excision procedures. The 109 Canadian and American volunteers were reinforced by 68 local Filipino volunteers, including 9 doctors and other medical professionals. The Canadian Volunteers included: Aida Buendia RN, Roger Buendia, Amy Chantengco, RN, Abito Collantes, Maxima Collantes, Pablo Garcia, Jr., Eric Hill, Sharon Hill, RN, Sharon Homer, Dr. Denise Koh, Dr. Jose Cresente Madrilejos, Dr. Mary Madrilejos, Amado Mendoza, Consuelo Mendoza, Marcelino Mendoza, Dr. Raymond Padua, Dr. Rudy Padua, Evelyn Padua, Lulu Regimbal RN, Kim Reimer, Delia Saavedra, Luis Saavedra, Amy Sangalang, Felix Sangalang, Necita Tejerero, Carmelita Tolledo, Leo Tolledo, Victorina Tualla, Conrado Tualla, Marcelo Tualla, Conrado Tualla, Jr. The Winnipeg group of volunteers was,organized by Consuelo and Amado Mendoza Sr. The community showed gratitude by hosting festive parties with wonderful local delicacies in our honour. We got to taste such goodies as buko juice, tikbol, gabe gabe, lechon, tilapia, fresh mangoes, guava, pineapple, jackfruit, dinuguan, pili nuts.
I learned and felt so many things during this mission: the sadness that there were so many who couldn’t be seen, the frustration that a lot of what I prescribed/advised would only last a short while with little to no follow-up, the fear that I couldn’t and would never be able to do enough, the appreciation and guilt for what we have in North America. I was angry at the difficult circumstances Filipinos had to face. But I was also proud of my vibrant culture, the steadfastness and strength of my forebears, the kindness and generosity of Filipinos. The mission solidified my love for a country I had never really known, but whose influences were enmeshed in my daily life in Canada growing up. Not only was this mission an excellent experience for my medical education it was an important step in my journey to understanding my roots.
I looked up nervously at the thin, dark 89-year-old woman as she sat down across the table from me. I was still a medical resident; I approached this mission with eagerness and trepidation. This room was a bustle of frenzied activity—crowds of Filipinos outside in the island heat, pressed up against the door to our makeshift waiting room/examining room. About 25 of the docs, nurses, and other volunteers on this mission moved around the group of patients lucky enough to be admitted in, taking brief histories, blood pressures, examining them in their chairs, then directing them to the lab, pharmacy, or consultants elsewhere in this hospital. There were 2 makeshift exam booths in the corners—where a small hospital gurney was separated from the room with a small divider. It was hot, only a couple fans helping to dissipate the heat of all the people milling about in this room that only hours earlier served as church for our daily morning mass. Periodically a volunteer would come by with refreshments—empanadas, bottled water, pan de sal, hopia, juice, assorted Filipino pastries.
Anong sakit po? I attempted in Tagalog, as I scanned her sheet of vital signs. The interpreter translated for me. “Her back hurts.” How long? 3-4 years. I continued to take a history of her complaints which were similar to many of the others’ I’d see—dizziness, weakness, cough, various pains, persistent rashes, bowel complaints sprinkled with the odd tuberculosis, ulcer. Compared to back home in Winnipeg, I saw more unusual infectious diseases and less depression and anxiety. As I examined her, I noticed how spry and hardy the elderly were here compared to the overweight frail in North America. I realized that these people’s health issues were a reflection of the difficult circumstances: chronic malnutrition, inconsistent care, piecemeal investigations and treatments. Here, I knew that if someone was sitting in front of me, it was probably a lot worse than he/she was saying—these people didn’t seek medical attention unless absolutely necessary, shared and used costly medications sparingly over years, and were generally dictated by the price/access of treatments rather than their necessity. Once I realized that these people would likely not see a physician/health care professional for a long time and the treatments/medications I could give them now were essentially all they’d have access to for who knows how long, I let my own insecurities fall to the wayside and dived into the huge work ahead of me. In the interest of seeing as many patients as possible during my short time on this mission, I had less time to spend with each patient.
This mission, the 5th Medical, Surgical, and Dental Mission of the Catanduanes International Association, lasted from January 10-14th, 2005 in the town of Virac. We saw a total of 4892 patients from all 11 towns of the province of Catanduanes. 1146 more patients were registered but not seen for lack of time and resources. Mission volunteers from Canada, the United States and the Philippines registered 1283 patients on general consultations and another 1184 pediatric cases. The balance of the 4892 indigent patients who went to the Eastern Bicol Medical Center during the five-day mission are as follows: 187 Internal Medicine cases, 19 Obstetrics-Gynecology case, 93 Gastroenterology cases, 153 Ophthalmology cases, 310 Refraction cases, 58 Physical Therapy cases, 120 Minor Surgery cases, 76 Major Surgery cases, 500 Dental cases, and 909 Laboratory/X-ray cases. The medical mission, which also brought drugs and medicines, filled a total of 3084 prescriptions and gave vitamins to 168 patients and families. Of the 76 major surgeries, including cataracts, nearly half (33) cases were of excision procedures. The 109 Canadian and American volunteers were reinforced by 68 local Filipino volunteers, including 9 doctors and other medical professionals. The Canadian Volunteers included: Aida Buendia RN, Roger Buendia, Amy Chantengco, RN, Abito Collantes, Maxima Collantes, Pablo Garcia, Jr., Eric Hill, Sharon Hill, RN, Sharon Homer, Dr. Denise Koh, Dr. Jose Cresente Madrilejos, Dr. Mary Madrilejos, Amado Mendoza, Consuelo Mendoza, Marcelino Mendoza, Dr. Raymond Padua, Dr. Rudy Padua, Evelyn Padua, Lulu Regimbal RN, Kim Reimer, Delia Saavedra, Luis Saavedra, Amy Sangalang, Felix Sangalang, Necita Tejerero, Carmelita Tolledo, Leo Tolledo, Victorina Tualla, Conrado Tualla, Marcelo Tualla, Conrado Tualla, Jr. The Winnipeg group of volunteers was,organized by Consuelo and Amado Mendoza Sr. The community showed gratitude by hosting festive parties with wonderful local delicacies in our honour. We got to taste such goodies as buko juice, tikbol, gabe gabe, lechon, tilapia, fresh mangoes, guava, pineapple, jackfruit, dinuguan, pili nuts.
I learned and felt so many things during this mission: the sadness that there were so many who couldn’t be seen, the frustration that a lot of what I prescribed/advised would only last a short while with little to no follow-up, the fear that I couldn’t and would never be able to do enough, the appreciation and guilt for what we have in North America. I was angry at the difficult circumstances Filipinos had to face. But I was also proud of my vibrant culture, the steadfastness and strength of my forebears, the kindness and generosity of Filipinos. The mission solidified my love for a country I had never really known, but whose influences were enmeshed in my daily life in Canada growing up. Not only was this mission an excellent experience for my medical education it was an important step in my journey to understanding my roots.
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