DOH Cordillera games, pageant winners bared

By Erwin Batnag

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Winners in the recent 3rd Dept. of Health inter-agency friendship games here at the capital town were cited in the event hosted by Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital.

Provincial administrator Amador P. Batay-an who delivered the message of Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr., urged participating health agencies to make the event a venue to strengthen their relations and solidarity as health providers through sports competitions.

The governor reminded participants to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship and to consider sports as a tool for self-discipline. 

During the opening program, guest speaker DOH-CAR regional director Dr. Amelita M. Pangilinan led the oath of sportsmanship.

In her message, Dr. Pangilinan cited the government’s efforts in addressing health concerns in the country through health programs and policies as evidenced by the significant increase in the DOH’s expenditures in the last three years.

Other guests who further inspired the participating health providers through their respective messages were lawyer Cyphrine Maxcel Y. Dalog, chief of staff of Office of Congressional Representative and Dr. Eduardo B. Caplito, LHMRH medical center chief.

Participating agencies in games were LHMRH (Bauko, Mountain Province), Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (Baguio City), Far North Luzon General Hospital and Training Institute (Quirino, Luna, Apayao), Conner District Hospital (Conner, Apayao), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth- CAR) and DOH- CAR Regional Office.

Meanwhile, DOH-CAR emerged as champion in the dance-exercise while Conner DH and BGHMC emerged as second and third place, respectively.

The Mr. and Ms. Friendship Game 2019 was also held wherein ladies and gentlemen from DOH-retained hospitals and attached agencies showcased not just beauty and wit but also good practices in their  agencies.

Leon C. Saleo-an, Jr. (Nurse II) of LHMRH and a native of Bontoc was crowned Mr. Friendship Game 2019 while Ms. Grace Hope Bello (Medical Officer III) of BGHMC and who hails from Baguio City was Ms. Friendship Game 2019.

Chorale and folk-dance competitions were also held simultaneously with the pageant. Group, individual and indigenous games were as well played as part of the three-day event.

As a result, the LHMRH emerged as the overall champion for garnering 357 points and the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center was only 2 points shy from the winner with 355 total points. Meanwhile, the DOH-CAR regional office comes third with 217 points and was followed by PhilHealth-CAR, Conner District Hospital and Far North Luzon General Hospital and Teaching Center.