Routes
Who has the spirit of Hippocrates?
The Ilonggos, particularly the beneficiaries of the Philippine Medical Association "Medical Mission for Typhoon Frank," are very grateful directly to Mr. Efraim Genuino, chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Dr. Roland Uy, governor of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) Iloilo Chapter, Dr. Henry Tupas, president of the Iloilo Medical Society (IMS). Chairman Genuino provided the medicines. Dr. Tupas and Dr. Uy provided the medical practitioners.
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Late in the afternoon of Saturday, June 28, 2008, almost all were then preoccupied with the wrecks of Typhoon Frank. There was no electricity, so there was no TV. I wanted to listen to Iloilo news and chanced on the "transistor radio" an interview on a medical mission to Iloilo, Aklan and Antique. It was DZRH direct from Manila.
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Anchorman Rey Sibayan (apologies if I got an incorrect spelling) was interviewing Dr. Mike Aragon. The doctor, I learned, is the chairman for the Committee on Media Affairs of the PMA.
"I have a sentiment for Iloilo. That is the place where I come from, "said Aragon. "Tuesday, July 2, from eight in the morning until we shall have extended medical and dental services to all who will be there. There are representatives from the Philippine Dental Association. Jaro Plaza covered gym."
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The Jaro Plaza covered gym was a main evacuation center. It temporarily housed 109 families. I wanted to see the faces in the PMA, which I knew airs the "PMA Jazz Hour" over DWBR- FM from six to seven every Sunday evening.
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I used to frequent the Jaro Plaza. It is right across the Jaro Cathedral compound where the office of the Candle Light (a publication where I used to be an active staff and where I wish I were an active staff again now) is. I met Jonas (Bellosillo) , the barangay captain of Simon-Ledesma and a leader of the barangay captains of Jaro.
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With the thousands of Ilonggos in the background who were there early in the morning, Dr. Aragon was interviewed by broadcast media icon Dr. Joe Taruc of DZRH through telephone. Dr. Aragon said that the PMA had several simultaneous mobile clinics in the badly hit municipalities of Janiuay, Zarraga, Dumangas, Tigbauan, Oton, Pavia Guimbal, Mina, and Sta. Barbara and the PMA wanted to implement the advocacy to give health empowerment to the Filipino to prepare the nation for development.
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At the Jaro gym,I asked Jaro Barangay Police leader Wincel Roxas if he can help me find Dr. Mike Aragon. I saw Iloilo-based specialists Dr. Melbert Divinagracia and Dr. Delma Franco. These doctors could have earned several thousand pesos if they spent their time in their private clinics. But they were there, obviously, for generosity and social responsibility.
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Recently, there are critiques from the regional health department who assailed the "lack of observance of policy" by the PMA. In this case, policy was diminutive compared to contingency. The prompt action of the PMA was equivalent to a judgment call. I agree with the comment of Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico and Iloilo Fourth District Congressman Ferjenel Biron aired on national radio that the government now is not very efficient in the relief operations and the private sector is doing better. I suggest that Suplico and Biron use the term "pasaway" to refer to these government people.
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What the PMA did was plain humanism. The PMA was fair. It was not discriminatory.
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Here, I am not trying to make an exchange for the sampler CD of the "PMA Jazz Hour" Dr. Aragon offered. Haha! In the CD, Atty Martin Pison was session guest conga player. The Pisons are from Iloilo City .They are the known original owners of majority of the prime parcels of land on both sides of the Benigno Aquino Avenue commonly known as the Diversion Road.
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There are always exceptions to the rule. And to those who are trying to tame the already tame PMA. Being humane may precede and supersede minimal or even insignificant or inconsequential policy. What the PMA did was respond to the need of the poor who needed it ASAP, and the PMA did it at the right place and at the right time. The PMA had the spirit of Hippocrates?