Baguio’s sense of community at BGH-MC

BENCHWARMER
Ramon Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- The Baguio General Hospital called on the community it serves to lunch last Wednesday to mark its 108th year of growth as the top medical center of Northern Philippines.

Unlike the numerous charity cases its staff has been serving for over a century, the lunch was no freebie, with a plate pegged at P800. Still, the response was spontaneous. People from all walks of life came in droves, unmindful of having to inch their way through the auditorium. “Next time you ask the community to come, be sure to find a bigger hall,” a guest told Dr. Manny Factora, the medical center chief.

City mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. got 100 tickets he distributed to his staff at city hall. Some who couldn’t find time to come still bought tickets. Many of those who came didn’t even wait for the raffle for a chance to bring home a potted orchid in full bloom as prize.

“The sense of community is surely alive and well here; it reflects the quality of service that is the mark of this institution,” mused city administrator Peter Fianza. He was looking around, at familiar faces representative of vocations and persuasions, of the city’s nooks and crannies, and even beyond.

After all, many were born or healed at the hospital, or prayed in its chapel for deliverance of an ailing relative or friend. Others used to work there, like former center chief, Dr.Jesus del Prado, some retired surgeons, nurses and utility staff. Some were politicians, drug agents, lawyers, engineers, laborers and such who make a community complete.

After all, the funds raised, which Dr. Factora figured at P200,000, will be for medicine subsidy for 27 indigent patients each month under a program of the BGHMC Advisory Board. Last year, a total of 324 patients were assisted through the program, according to social worker Dolores Beniahan.

After all, it’s the launching of a landscaping project to turn the one-and-a-half frontage into a flower garden, as announced by lawyer Damaso Bangaot Jr., chair of the luncheon and member of the advisory board.

Bangaoet said the University of the Cordilleras has prepared the plans for the park based on models abroad, such as the Bouchard Gardens of Vancouver, Canada. The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio prepared the lunch. Vendors at the city orchidarium delivered the floral raffle prizes while the hospital staff, St. Louis University and others shared their music.

The donors’ list included Dr. Del Prado, Rose Bowl Restaurant, lawyer and police officer Isagani Nerez, lawyer Auronette Carbonell, Benito Tiong, former Rep. Bernardo Vergara, Belle Pena, The Manor of Camp John Hay, Sunshine Kodak Express, PHIC-CAR, Virginia Valencia, Gloria Jasa, Alou Meneses, lawyer Joseph Rulla, Christine Bautista, the University of Baguio, Rural Bank of Itogon and Undersecretary Josephine Dominguez. Other contributors may contact Dr. Factora or the advisory board.

In recent years, the major contributor was Baguio boy, Dr. Juan Flavier who, as then senator, initiated the upgrading of the hospital’s facilities, together with those of the Baguio City National High School and the Baguio Health Department.

At the inauguration of the Infectious Diseases Center, Flavier stressed it was one of the best he ever visited. “BGHMC blooms at 108 years,” noted journalist Nonnette Bennett who serves with the advisory board.
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Now that we’re at it (again), we offer two ways by which Baguio folks and whoever can give substance to their marking Valentine’s Day.

First, they can spend next Sunday evening at Le Fondue, at the second floor of the De Guia Building along Session Rd., listening to our folk and country musicians pay tribute to the late lead singer Mike Santos. Mike, who, for years, performed for free to raise funds for indigent patients, kicked the bucket last September. He left behind wife Juliet and Mika, their 14-year old daughter. Proceeds from the fund-raiser will be for the mother and child he left behind.

Second, they can ring up taxi driver Ernesto Viray at cellphone number 09168560455 or ask for directions to the room he’s renting with his two kids at DPS Barangay. Mark Anthony, this cabbie’s 12-year old son, just had a relapse after a two-year battle against Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The boy needs P14,500 for CT Scans on the chest and abdomen and another six cycles of chemotherapy at P9,300 per session. Mark Anthony, whose mother died when he was too young to have memories of her, dreams of one day flying an airplane. (e-mail: mondaxbench@yahoo.com for comments).