By Ginyn Noble
Having countless hours spent in language courses, it would be frankly inapt for us to commit sins against the simplest grammar and sentence construction rules repeatedly. Especially as nurses who interact with various people during our work, we, in the College of Nursing, must have speaking skills that are competent enough for the privilege of carrying the University’s and the College’s name. These are simple yet stern reminders from all of us in the NJ staff.
INCORRECT: did not/didn’t + past form of the verb (as in didn’t had, didn’t wanted, did not formed)
WHY: redundant past
CORRECT: did not/didn’t + base form of the verb (as in didn’t have, didn’t want, did not form)
Example: Because she didn’t observe the patient’s heart rate during potassium chloride IV push, the patient with cardiovascular disease in the CCU expired.
INCORRECT: irregardless
WHY: “double negative” (ir- and -less)
CORRECT: regardless
Example: In an ideal setting, there is a need to identify the patient every time before administering medications, regardless if you are already familiar with the patient.
Remember, Thomasian nurses, proficiency is imbued in competence, one of our core values. Be proficient; be competent; be a true Thomasian.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Eyeing on e-Health: Nursing in the Computer Age
By Jennika Simbillo
“Just as the Public Health Nursing bag is a tool in Community Health Nursing, a notebook or an iPad with Community Health Informatics Tracking System will be next tool in fostering healthcare among Filipino communities.” – University of the Philippines-National Telehealth Center
Intensifying the vision of being future nurses in the profession, senior students of University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing organized and attended a colloquium entitled, A Seminar on Health Informatics: Putting Health in the Hands of the People, last August 11 held at the St. Martin de Porres (Medicine) Cinematorium, St. Martin de Porres Building. The University of the Philippines-National Telehealth Center (UP-NThC) was invited for the whole-day event, organized by Sections 2, 4, 7, 8 and 9 in line with the Nursing Management course.
e-Health, Telehealth and Health Informatics
According to Alvin B. Marcelo, M.D., Director of NThC, Telehealth and Health Informatics are sub-domains of e-Health, which is under Global Health. Telehealth involves communication between two points, while Health Informatics comprises decision support systems, surveillance systems and electronic records. Dr. Marcelo stated, “This is actually a seminar on e-Health,” not solely on Health Informatics.
Health Informatics was introduced in Asia Pacific countries, including Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, through Professor Richard Scott of the University of Calgary. The Philippine standards were proposed by Dr. Marcelo through a letter to the Department of Health (DOH), but it was ignored on the first scheme. The current recognized standards include the International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD10), a World Health Organization (WHO) standard for diagnoses. The NThC team affirmed that the “most successful standard in this generation is the internet.”
An overview of the NThC programs and projects, collectively dubbed as One Network for e-Health or simply OneHEALTH, were elucidated by Alex I. Gavino, M.D., coordinator of NThC. Since health is inaccessible in our country, they established the said program “to improve the health of Filipinos through the optimal use of information and telecommunications technology.”
The PHN bag replaced with an iPad
Dominantly, health information management is “slow because it is complex.” Some reasons why some institutions do not shift to electronic medical records (EMR) include the HIS’s expensive cost, the diverse models of EMRs, and the reluctance of senior health professionals. As a solution, NThC introduced the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), the Community Health Information Tracking System (CHITS), Open Medical Records System (OpenMRS), and iPath. “Use FOSS-based HIS while your staff nurses go through the learning process,” Dr. Marcelo said. “It requires customization and you can hire anyone you wish to maintain your system.”
Noel A. Bañez, R.N., coordinator for Primary Health Care Informatics and CHITS, stressed that CHITS is the emergence of Community Health Nursing (CHN) and Nursing Informatics. It would “close the loop” by empowering the community to analyze their data. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum 14 series of 2009 describes that the Nursing Informatics course should have a “laboratory session provided for practice application,” especially that CHITS was designed for government health centers. “Say goodbye to the brown envelopes,” Mr. Bañez said.
CBA project coordinator and OpenMRS trainer Jonathan D. Galingan, M.D. enumerates the advantages of OpenMRS: free, web-based, JAVA-based, modular, forms-based and scalar. Developed by Regenstrief Institute Inc. and partners in health in 2004, OpenMRS is used for 30 years in 20 countries including South Africa, Haiti, China, and the US. This is “to create self-reliant implementation networks within resource-constrained environment.”
Started in University of Basel in Switzerland for Telepathology, iPath is a system which is similar to the famous social network Facebook. Paul Nimrod B. Firaza, M.D., showed the iPath page which allows users to comment and upload pictures on existing cases. He reminded that Ethical Principles apply in the utilization of the system because everyone can freely react to the cases and at times, it becomes a window for chatting. Dr. Firaza quoted St. Thomas Aquinas: “All the efforts of the human mind cannot exhaust the essence of a single fly.”
Mapping for health was underlined by chemical engineer Wayne Dell L. Manuel of NThC. He gave the 1854 Broad Street Cholera Outbreak as an example to show the importance of geographical information systems in health, and demonstrated online tools such as Google Map Maker and Open Street Map. Points of references in maps include satellites, images of municipal halls, churches, schools and hospitals.
Isidor F. Cardenas, R.N., a UST College of Nursing graduate and a 2nd Generation Telehealth Nurse, highlighted that “Telehealth is adjunct, not a replacement, to traditional healthcare.” He explained that the Philippines’ geographical division, the tight budget, brain drain, and the surplus of nurses may lead to the surfacing of Telehealth Nursing. There are 60,000 new registered nurses per year and these nurses may end up not practicing their profession. “Telehealth is the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long distance clinical health care,” Mr. Cardenas declared. “[One is] still [practicing] the nursing roles.” He presented the fact that “7 out of 10 die without even seeing a health practitioner.” There is really no oversupply of nurses in the Philippines since they seemingly are trained for export only. Telehealth Nursing positively provides new avenues for nurses.
Nursing Informatics is younger than Telehealth Nursing, and a specialization of the former is yet to be implemented in our country with the blessing of the Board of Nursing (BON). Dr. Marcelo finally said to the seniors, “You can listen to us the whole day, but it’s better if you download [the systems] and use them for your benefit.”
A Dangerously Fun Book
By James Louis Bayot
There have been many once popular social networking sites that have come and gone, such as Multiply, Plurk, MySpace, and last but definitely not least, Friendster. But when this social networking site came, it revolutionized the definition of the words “social networking”. Being the first of its kind, its state-of-the-art systems and innovations made other sites seem obsolete. However, with great popularity comes great controversy, as many ethicists and computer experts have been questioning its rather shaky privacy settings. I’m pretty sure you know what this site is. I’m even positively certain that you have an account on this site. Well, if you still haven’t got it yet, let me give you a clue: it’s a “book”! Oh all right, since it’s as obvious as daylight already, I’m going to say it now – it’s no other than my favorite space in cyberspace, Facebook!
Even though it has already reached a household name status, Facebook started as a small website in Harvard written by Michael Zuckerberg called Facemash, which served as a site to decide who’s “hot or not” within the university. However, the administration shut the site down a few days later and he was charged of breach of security and invasion of privacy. The charges were dropped later on. After the incident, in January 2004, he was inspired to launch a site called thefacebook.com, a site whose membership was only limited to students of Harvard. Later on, he was joined by business prospect Eduardo Saverin, programmer David Moskovitz, graphic artist Andrew McCollum, and Chris Hughes to promote the site. After that, it expanded to most universities in United States and Canada. Then, the word “the” from thefacebook.com was then dropped after the domain name facebook.com was bought for $200,000. On September 26, 2006, Facebook was opened to everyone who is above 13 years old and has an e-mail address. That, ladies and gentlemen, was how everything began.
Now, with more or less 500 million users, Facebook has easily become a worldwide phenomenon. Well, I can’t really blame these people (myself included) to be so enthralled with this network. After all, Facebook has a lot of handsomely innovative features that sets it apart from others. Some of its remarkable features are: a bar on top that allows you to express what’s on your mind and share links that you find interesting, a news stream that allows you to be updated with your friends’ posts, a tagging system, a chat box, a comment and like system, lightning-fast notifications, an easily threaded messaging system, and last but not the least, the wide range of applications that would fit the taste of almost everyone.
One will definitely enjoy their virtual stay in Facebook and might actually find it hard to leave. Surely, Facebook is one good way of just being yourself, putting your dreams into play, and enjoying the company of others in a common network while relaxing at home.
The internet is a dangerous place, and Facebook is no exception. There are people who will pester you, send you threats, and worse – steal information from you, whether in the form of photographs, data, or both. You can never be too sure; it’s a good thing Facebook has advanced privacy settings that can filter to whom you’d allow to view your page, wall and on the internet. The best part of it is that you can control what your friends can see. One friend may be able to view a certain picture while the other cannot. There’s even a setting that protects you from being found using Facebook’s search bar. This means you can actually have fun while being protected, just like wearing a seatbelt while cruising in a Ferrari.
Facebook sure sounds too good to be true with its many enjoyable features and a seemingly secure and almost labyrinthine privacy settings, does it not? However, there have been many issues arising regarding the safety of using Facebook. First, the fact that you don’t know who’s viewing your profile is already a danger posed to the users, as there could be a stalker amidst their friends’ list, and that’s the least of the problems. Second, there have been reports that Facebook allegedly claiming that whatever is uploaded in the site becomes a property of Facebook, something many users have clamored against. Third, Facebook is being used by the C.I.A. to gather data from everyone (don’t laugh, it could be true). Well, that’s just a thought. Lastly, data from 170 million users was gathered and then posted on the internet in torrent form by a man named Ron Bowes, and this man called the ease of accessibility in information as “a scary private issue”. Well, you might say “it’s just useless data. I’m not even a celebrity”, but you can be a victim of identity theft. Someone can use your data, do crimes and get away with it, while you get the blame. The lesson here is that you should be careful on whatever you post or write if you don’t want to wake up with the police at your doorstep for something you don’t even remember doing.
There’s really nothing wrong with surfing the information superhighway and visiting Facebook to get a little kick or two with your friends. But it never hurts to be careful on what you write, upload, or tag, lest you want to go to school one day and notice that the whole batch, or even the college, is looking at you with ridicule, or even worse – anger. So remember, what you do in Facebook actually matters even though it’s just a social networking site, because you can never erase the fact that it’s social.
References:
http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/29/technology/Facebook_profiles_leaked/index.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDAgjGWjgSA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook
Banana Heart Summer: A Book Review
By Bettina Jean E. Rayos del Sol
Title: Banana Heart Summer
Author: Merlinda Bobis
Publisher: Anvil Publishing House
Date Published: May 20, 2008
Details: Paperback, 308 pages
To those who are into loving and eating, this book is for you. Exquisitely written and richly imagined, Banana Heart Summer is a touching tale of a young girl’s zest for life. It is a memoir to all mothers and daughters around the world, a tribute to friendship, kinship, culture and community. This masterpiece is truly an original work—a novel that reads like poetry and combines metaphors that appeal to both the intellect and imagination. The lush and poetic words will captivate you as the tastes, smells and sounds leap off the pages and surround you—the sizzle of turon, the piquant aroma of shrimp paste, the glimpse of colorful halo-halo… Everything just seems so alive—a real feast for the senses.
At the center of this tale is Nenita’s hunger for life and everything in it: food, friendship, success, love. Set in the early 1960s, this is the story of twelve-year-old Nenita finding happiness in the unlikeliest of places. Everything started when she began to cook for the lovely Miss VV, the most beautiful woman in their small town in Bicol. While growing up, she made new friends, became more hopeful, and learned the secrets and intricacies of adult life. Along the way, she savored a remarkable journey of self-discovery, sharing her recipes for all to enjoy.
The book weaves food and life in one fascinating narrative ripe with metaphors. It serves up compassion and tenderness in great portions while still capturing the intensity of love and hunger in its sentences. Food was constantly used to compare life situations that the characters go through in the novel. It makes you look at love and life with a different perspective, putting cooking and life parallel to one another. This is a story of strength and positivity even after years of trials and setbacks. Nenita’s tale may break your heart but at the same time, it will leave you admiring her for never allowing herself to wallow in self-pity. She manages to see the beauty around her in spite of the pain and ugliness of the poverty-stricken world she lives in. It's as if the beauty is more vibrant because of the pain, just as the sensation of taste is enhanced by hunger.
What makes the novel uniquely Filipino is its gastronomical complexion alongside other important elements in the average Filipino’s life—family, food, friendship and culture. Indeed, it is impossible for the reader to escape the fantastic narratives on food. It is a ubiquitous presence throughout Banana Heart Summer and plays an important cultural and psychological role. Love and food are two sides of the same coin of life, as depicted by the story. Although simple, the book reaffirms the passion and perseverance of the Filipinos in the face of life’s many challenges.
At times, it is the simple things that we tend to overlook yet these are the things that are the most meaningful and touching. This book is a great reminder that the important things in life need not be material. Happiness can be found in the simplest of events. The charming, brave, and loyal Nenita teaches us all these lessons in this straightforward story that captivates the heart and soul.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Merlinda Bobis, a Thomasian alumna, is an award-winning poet, playwright, novelist, dancer, visual artist, stage and radio performer both in the Philippines and Australia. Among the awards she received are the Steel Rudd Award for the Best Published Collection of Australian Short Stories, the Judges' Choice Award and the Philippine National Book Award for White Turtle and The Kissing, the Golden Book Award for Banana Heart Summer, and the Philippine Balagtas Award, a lifetime achievement award for her fiction and poetry in English, Filipino and Bicol. Her plays have been performed in Australia, the Philippines, France, China, Thailand and the Slovak Republic. She resides in Australia and teaches Creative Writing in the University of Wollongong.
Richard Gordon: The STRONG Red Crosser (Standing Tough, Reaching Out, Nurturing Genuinely)
by Ginyn A. Noble and Charmaine M. Parado
It was in the fateful twenty-fourth of July that the red-loving eagle-slash-maroon* immersed in the vicinities within the centuries-old walls of the historical university along España. Philippine National Red Cross Chair and Chief Executive Officer Hon. Richard Gordon visited UST to grace the quadricentennial UST-Red Cross Youth Council general assembly and induction of officers that warm Saturday afternoon.
Among all the positions Gordon has occupied, his much loved would probably his oldest one, as a Red Crosser. Having his mother, a Gold Humanitarian Cross and Pearl S. Buck award recipient, as his main imbiber of public service and voluntarism, Gordon has been part of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) and Red Crescent movement for forty years already. He has been elected chair of the PNRC since 1986. Since then, he has cultivated an environment of immediacy, justice and continuous development in the organization by aptly implementing several projects of integral causes and rightfully adhering to the institution’s missions and visions.
The Man in Red to the Rescue
Helping has always been the main principle of the Red Cross and Gordon has stayed true to this through leading numerous relief, rescue and rehabilitation operations of the PNRC – and “numerous” is not mere semantics. It would seem as though this man in the red vest (or the red polo shirt even) was always in action in every tragedy that struck the country, might it have been land, air or sea.
As per disaster response and management, Gordon led the evacuation of the residents that were to be affected before the eruption of the Pinatubo in 1991 and the many eruptions of the Mayon. He was also among if not the first to respond to ULTRA-Wowowee stampede by organizing help desks and recovery of bodies. He also managed the rescuing of those trapped in collapsed buildings that were brought about by earthquakes and bombings (such as the Valentines day bombing and the Glorietta blast).
With people as his main object of help, he advocated the freeing of those kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf, especially the 3 workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and countless OFWs that were involved with various conflicts here and abroad. He also initiated the Fruits of Hope project in 2007 which aimed to bring dignified development of the fishermen and farmers in Sulu, Basilan and other parts of Mindanao that are notorious for being war zones through better compensation for their work. Another project that took effect in Mindanao is “Build Homes, Build Hope” in 2008 wherein houses (destroyed during the peak of the clash between the AFP and the rebels in the area) were rebuilt as a uniting community effort of both the Christians and Muslims in Kolambugan and Kauswagan (Lanao del Norte). Because health is one of the main concerns of the Red Cross, Gordon led the health response of the PNRC to those affected by the food poisoning in Bohol (2005) and typhoid outbreak in Laguna (2008).
The PNRC, under his leadership, were also able to help the loved ones of the passengers of the tragically sunken MV Asuncion (1987) and the more recent MV Princess of the Stars (2008). The organ was also active in the relief operations after the several super typhoons such as Didang, Frank (Fengshen), Milenyo, Reming, Senyang, Pepeng and Ondoy. Being not limited to helping the Filipino citizens, PNRC also gave assistance to the victims of the Asian tsunami and the victims of Hurricane Katrina under Gordon’s leadership. These and a whole lot more are ample evidences why Gordon truly embodies the Red Cross leader role.
The Visionary with Coinciding Action
Not limiting himself to plain response to those in need, Gordon also made possible innovation-geared PNRC projects. The Millennium Fund, started in year 2000, acquired from corporate donors a million-peso contribution each year for five years. This fund-raiser has subsidized a PNRC rescue truck equipped with air bags that are capable of hauling loads of debris and pneumatic pliers to break down crumpled structures and rescue victims trapped under collapsed structures. Initiated in 2006, Red Cross 143 (I Love You Red Cross) intends to train 43 volunteers lead by one team leader in disaster management, health and welfare operations/programs and voluntary blood donation drives and advocacies for their respective community. Through this, thousands of 143 volunteers are now active in these missions of the program. The Asian Regional Disaster Training and Logistics Center, through the prompting of Gordon, sponsored the first ASEAN Disaster Management Workshop Seminar (Manila, 1999) to promote readiness in facing calamities and mass emergencies. Gordon, as PNRC chair and CEO, also funded several of emergency response vehicles (ambulances, fire trucks and first aid motorcycles), blood service facilities and new round-the-clock Operation Center equipment. These and more ensures up-to-date sufficiency and efficiency of the services offered by the organization.
The Internationally Acclaimed Leader
Because of his valiant public service efforts and voluntarism, he has been recognized both locally and internationally. Among the honors granted to him were the PNRC Gold Humanitarian Award (2007) for outstanding volunteer efforts in alleviating human suffering, the PNRC Silver Humanitarian Award (2001) and the Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon Peace Award (PNRC, 1991). He was also regarded The Outstanding Filipino of 1996 by the Philippine Jaycees, one of the 1994 50 Young Leaders of Asia honored by Asahi Shimbun (one of Japan’s premier newspapers), and one of the Great Asians for the Future by Asiaweek.
The Nursing Journal asked him what would be the top qualities a leader should possess. Intelligence, communication skills and strength were his top 3. He also stressed the importance of his four Ps: Predict, Plan, Practice and Political Will. As an addition, he said, “The only pressure I allow is [when what pressures me is deciding on] what is best for the common good.” After which, he gave advice on how to handle pressure: “Pressure must be practiced everyday. Learn to take pressure – that’s part of the game. Put a game face on when you’re a professional. Pag galit ka, galit ka. When you’re happy, you’re happy. If you want to cry, cry. Or else, you will implode.”
Feared by some, loved and respected by many – that’s Dick Gordon. He may be a man unapproachable for some because of his superficially fierce façade, but his Red Cross family who know him even beyond that surface begs for that view to differ. He really has this soft spot for helping. However, he still is strong, in every sense of the word – Standing Tough amidst adversities, Reaching Out to his fellowmen in times of need and Nurturing community voluntarism and timely response in the Philippines Genuinely.
The Nursing Journal was given a chance to have a short interview with Mr. Richard Gordon in his dinner-campus press conference after his partaking in the RCYC event. Here is the brief but very inspirational interview that we were able to have with him.
NJ: The UST Red Cross exhibited years of voluntarism. What can you say about it?
Gordon: It’s very good, but you haven’t done your best performance yet… That’s why first, we’ll organize you [so you can reach your goal.] What is your goal? You want the UST Red Cross to play a particular role in the Quadricentennial [celebration] in 2011. You will have different departments. Doctors, nurses, [volunteers]: everybody [will have] a role.
NJ: In an ideal setting, there would be one first aider per family. Are there any formal plans to reach this goal [aside from the Red Cross 143]?
Gordon: That is a slogan; it’s empty. But if we can get all 44,000 students of UST to learn first aid, it’s done ‘di ba?
Gordon further elaborates: All these goals are nice. Can you imagine 44 first aiders in every baranggay? But the 44 in every baranggay, they don’t do anything. That’s why I put up a command control center. If there is a disaster, Ill call in the leaders and they will deploy their people.
NJ: One specialty in Nursing is Community Health, so what are the improvements in that field do your think are very crucial presently and in the years to come? How could the Red Cross be involved in this area?
Gordon: One thing about [the] Community Health [sector] is that they have to contain boutique diseases like SARS, HIV – these are dangerous diseases that affect a big part of the population. These have killed 60 million back in the 70s. Suppose your neighbor is affected with bird flu, what will you do?…You inform the Red Cross!
* Richard Gordon is a Bachelor of the Arts major History and Government yielded by the Ateneo de Manila University and is a lawyer produced by the University of the Philippines College of Law.
It was in the fateful twenty-fourth of July that the red-loving eagle-slash-maroon* immersed in the vicinities within the centuries-old walls of the historical university along España. Philippine National Red Cross Chair and Chief Executive Officer Hon. Richard Gordon visited UST to grace the quadricentennial UST-Red Cross Youth Council general assembly and induction of officers that warm Saturday afternoon.
Among all the positions Gordon has occupied, his much loved would probably his oldest one, as a Red Crosser. Having his mother, a Gold Humanitarian Cross and Pearl S. Buck award recipient, as his main imbiber of public service and voluntarism, Gordon has been part of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) and Red Crescent movement for forty years already. He has been elected chair of the PNRC since 1986. Since then, he has cultivated an environment of immediacy, justice and continuous development in the organization by aptly implementing several projects of integral causes and rightfully adhering to the institution’s missions and visions.
The Man in Red to the Rescue
Helping has always been the main principle of the Red Cross and Gordon has stayed true to this through leading numerous relief, rescue and rehabilitation operations of the PNRC – and “numerous” is not mere semantics. It would seem as though this man in the red vest (or the red polo shirt even) was always in action in every tragedy that struck the country, might it have been land, air or sea.
As per disaster response and management, Gordon led the evacuation of the residents that were to be affected before the eruption of the Pinatubo in 1991 and the many eruptions of the Mayon. He was also among if not the first to respond to ULTRA-Wowowee stampede by organizing help desks and recovery of bodies. He also managed the rescuing of those trapped in collapsed buildings that were brought about by earthquakes and bombings (such as the Valentines day bombing and the Glorietta blast).
With people as his main object of help, he advocated the freeing of those kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf, especially the 3 workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and countless OFWs that were involved with various conflicts here and abroad. He also initiated the Fruits of Hope project in 2007 which aimed to bring dignified development of the fishermen and farmers in Sulu, Basilan and other parts of Mindanao that are notorious for being war zones through better compensation for their work. Another project that took effect in Mindanao is “Build Homes, Build Hope” in 2008 wherein houses (destroyed during the peak of the clash between the AFP and the rebels in the area) were rebuilt as a uniting community effort of both the Christians and Muslims in Kolambugan and Kauswagan (Lanao del Norte). Because health is one of the main concerns of the Red Cross, Gordon led the health response of the PNRC to those affected by the food poisoning in Bohol (2005) and typhoid outbreak in Laguna (2008).
The PNRC, under his leadership, were also able to help the loved ones of the passengers of the tragically sunken MV Asuncion (1987) and the more recent MV Princess of the Stars (2008). The organ was also active in the relief operations after the several super typhoons such as Didang, Frank (Fengshen), Milenyo, Reming, Senyang, Pepeng and Ondoy. Being not limited to helping the Filipino citizens, PNRC also gave assistance to the victims of the Asian tsunami and the victims of Hurricane Katrina under Gordon’s leadership. These and a whole lot more are ample evidences why Gordon truly embodies the Red Cross leader role.
The Visionary with Coinciding Action
Not limiting himself to plain response to those in need, Gordon also made possible innovation-geared PNRC projects. The Millennium Fund, started in year 2000, acquired from corporate donors a million-peso contribution each year for five years. This fund-raiser has subsidized a PNRC rescue truck equipped with air bags that are capable of hauling loads of debris and pneumatic pliers to break down crumpled structures and rescue victims trapped under collapsed structures. Initiated in 2006, Red Cross 143 (I Love You Red Cross) intends to train 43 volunteers lead by one team leader in disaster management, health and welfare operations/programs and voluntary blood donation drives and advocacies for their respective community. Through this, thousands of 143 volunteers are now active in these missions of the program. The Asian Regional Disaster Training and Logistics Center, through the prompting of Gordon, sponsored the first ASEAN Disaster Management Workshop Seminar (Manila, 1999) to promote readiness in facing calamities and mass emergencies. Gordon, as PNRC chair and CEO, also funded several of emergency response vehicles (ambulances, fire trucks and first aid motorcycles), blood service facilities and new round-the-clock Operation Center equipment. These and more ensures up-to-date sufficiency and efficiency of the services offered by the organization.
The Internationally Acclaimed Leader
Because of his valiant public service efforts and voluntarism, he has been recognized both locally and internationally. Among the honors granted to him were the PNRC Gold Humanitarian Award (2007) for outstanding volunteer efforts in alleviating human suffering, the PNRC Silver Humanitarian Award (2001) and the Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon Peace Award (PNRC, 1991). He was also regarded The Outstanding Filipino of 1996 by the Philippine Jaycees, one of the 1994 50 Young Leaders of Asia honored by Asahi Shimbun (one of Japan’s premier newspapers), and one of the Great Asians for the Future by Asiaweek.
The Nursing Journal asked him what would be the top qualities a leader should possess. Intelligence, communication skills and strength were his top 3. He also stressed the importance of his four Ps: Predict, Plan, Practice and Political Will. As an addition, he said, “The only pressure I allow is [when what pressures me is deciding on] what is best for the common good.” After which, he gave advice on how to handle pressure: “Pressure must be practiced everyday. Learn to take pressure – that’s part of the game. Put a game face on when you’re a professional. Pag galit ka, galit ka. When you’re happy, you’re happy. If you want to cry, cry. Or else, you will implode.”
Feared by some, loved and respected by many – that’s Dick Gordon. He may be a man unapproachable for some because of his superficially fierce façade, but his Red Cross family who know him even beyond that surface begs for that view to differ. He really has this soft spot for helping. However, he still is strong, in every sense of the word – Standing Tough amidst adversities, Reaching Out to his fellowmen in times of need and Nurturing community voluntarism and timely response in the Philippines Genuinely.
The Nursing Journal was given a chance to have a short interview with Mr. Richard Gordon in his dinner-campus press conference after his partaking in the RCYC event. Here is the brief but very inspirational interview that we were able to have with him.
NJ: The UST Red Cross exhibited years of voluntarism. What can you say about it?
Gordon: It’s very good, but you haven’t done your best performance yet… That’s why first, we’ll organize you [so you can reach your goal.] What is your goal? You want the UST Red Cross to play a particular role in the Quadricentennial [celebration] in 2011. You will have different departments. Doctors, nurses, [volunteers]: everybody [will have] a role.
NJ: In an ideal setting, there would be one first aider per family. Are there any formal plans to reach this goal [aside from the Red Cross 143]?
Gordon: That is a slogan; it’s empty. But if we can get all 44,000 students of UST to learn first aid, it’s done ‘di ba?
Gordon further elaborates: All these goals are nice. Can you imagine 44 first aiders in every baranggay? But the 44 in every baranggay, they don’t do anything. That’s why I put up a command control center. If there is a disaster, Ill call in the leaders and they will deploy their people.
NJ: One specialty in Nursing is Community Health, so what are the improvements in that field do your think are very crucial presently and in the years to come? How could the Red Cross be involved in this area?
Gordon: One thing about [the] Community Health [sector] is that they have to contain boutique diseases like SARS, HIV – these are dangerous diseases that affect a big part of the population. These have killed 60 million back in the 70s. Suppose your neighbor is affected with bird flu, what will you do?…You inform the Red Cross!
* Richard Gordon is a Bachelor of the Arts major History and Government yielded by the Ateneo de Manila University and is a lawyer produced by the University of the Philippines College of Law.
The Third Side of the Coin: Making the Right Choices
By Marielle Siy
Proving that there is much more than what meets the eye, public speaker and author Mr. Francis J. Kong gave a talk entitled, Winners and Losers: Your Choice of Success at the Medicine Cinematorium of the St. Martin de Porres building last July 23, 2010.
Welcome… to the World of the Unemployed
Perhaps it is already an undisputed fact that the glorious acapella rendition of Amazing Grace by Charlene Tabora (IV-9) is incomparable to other past impromptu performances within the four corners of the medicine building. Using this example, Mr. Kong segued into a smooth transition which proved to be the starting point of the talk’s introduction: “Ang galing ng taong marunong mag-improvise eh. Napansin ko nakahanda na lahat, pagkatapos ayaw umandar yung pirated DVD…and then she sang out, acapella—and turned out to be better. Ganun po ang buhay. You have everything planned out and then suddenly [other countries have closed their doors to] nurses.” As he engaged the audience with his intuitive prowess, Mr. Kong loosened up the atmosphere with good-humored jokes and anecdotes. The response was enthusiastic and immediate; clearly no one was doing the half-conscious naps anymore. So the talk began.
“HABIT ‘yan!”
“These people today—are the products of the choices they make from day to day”, he continued, “Ladies and gentlemen, the thoughts you think, the choices you make, the decisions you take, the actions you do today will define the kinds of life you would have tomorrow.” Carefully enunciating point by point, Mr. Kong tackled timely subjects involving everything from the current situation of nursing unemployment down to the rampant issue of undisciplined jaywalkers crossing the littered streets of the metropolis. By pointing out the relevance and explaining the inner dynamics currently embedded in the Filipino psyche, Mr. Kong adeptly explained the role of the Filipino’s deeply ingrained cultural habits to the hindrance of success despite our country’s advantageous position in terms of natural and human resources. He further stresses this point by citing the difference between the Philippines, which is still a third world country, and Singapore, which, despite its lack of natural resources, is now able to stand as a first world country with a booming economy to match.
An Eagle that Soars Alone
By now, the seniors who have attended the seminar have most probably learned by heart the four points that remain at the central core of his message. These are: (1) Be a lifelong learner, (2) Your attitude is more important than your skills, (3) Be true to yourself, and (4) Be in control. While cleverly peppering these points with funny dialogues and significant examples, Mr. Kong was still able to drive his point home by constantly interacting with his audience and discussing relevant issues that typically plague college students in different facets of life such as relationships, academics, and attitude towards life. In providing insights about life, success and meaningful living, he said, “We always pay for the choices we make. You are free to make your own choices. Nobody can stop you from making them, but you are unfree to escape the consequences”.
“You gotta be real. Magpakatotoo ka. Don’t force yourself to be somebody you’re not meant to be”, he further explores. There was certain honesty in his tone and voice that, for the past hour, the audience’s attention has remained perceptively unwavering. It was in this light of shared experiences that he continued to share his synthesized version of lessons in life derived from personal experience. In the latter part of the seminar, he went on to discuss the importance of forgiveness and moving forward: “When you go out there and you start working, there will be people who will hurt you. There will be people who will disappoint you. But if you keep holding on to that hurt, you’ll never be able to move forward. No one can move forward unless the eyes are taken away from the rearview mirror.” He goes on to tackle the subject of realizing your uniqueness and following your dreams: “[This is now] the struggle: If you want to be excellent in what you do, you are like an eagle—because an eagle soars high. But the challenge is [that] the eagle soars alone. Those who can’t fly high, there are many; and they’re loud and noisy…and they want to try to pull the eagle down […]” Ending on a positive note, Mr. Kong presented two short videos that undoubtedly tugged at the heartstrings of many, therefore providing a perfect conclusion to the two and a half hour talk for that afternoon.
The program was organized by the NCBS with advisers Mr. Gian Torres, RN, MAN and Mrs. Ma. Victoria Bongar, RN with Dane Gustilo and Bianca Lopez as the hosts who moderated the event. After the talk, Assistant Dean Mrs. Susan Maravilla, RN, MAN shared her experiences in relation to having the courage to triumph over the fear of living and making mistakes: “Just when you think you cannot do it, do it. Opportunity may only knock once, so don’t be afraid to grab it. You may not always succeed, but at least you did you best, no regrets. ‘Life is what we make of it,’ according to Mr. Kong,” she said, showing off her autographed copy of Mr. Kong’s book. It became apparent that these lessons were not for the young alone; instead, it seemed to span different perceptions, thoughts and experiences. The talk had become a success.
Knowing, Learning, Doing. These are just some of the things that have left a deep impression on me and to many others who have listened to him that day. Somehow, I couldn’t help thinking what would’ve happened if the students weren’t enforced to attend this seminar (a euphemistic way of saying four times make-up duty for the seniors), but I think it’d be safe to say they surely would have missed out on something truly great… plus the extra time in the hospital ward, of course.
A Short Interview with Mr. Francis J. Kong
NJ: How did you find the nursing community here?
FK: Very dynamic, very intelligent, very interesting, very talented.
NJ: What makes this seminar different from others you have conducted?
FK: [Even] at the very start, everybody’s very responsive. You know when people say that a speaker is very inspiring, one thing they fail to understand is speakers, like me, we derive our energy and inspiration from the crowd.
NJ: What’s your message to the nursing community?
FK: You’re gonna be meeting a lot of challenges along the way, but sometimes there is a need to know where you came from. For example, if you’re going through one way and everything seems to be blocking you, try to remember where you came from. The fact is there are thousands who want to study in [the] UST School of Nursing yet only a few of them are admitted every year. That in itself makes you understand that you are special. You’re not part of the major group. So there must be something in you that you can use. Whether it’s in nursing or not, those qualities will have to come out and then use them. […] don’t be afraid to take challenges and never allow idleness to creep up on you. Every single moment should be used to invest on activities that will add value to your success goal.
Getting to Know an Alumnus: Isidor Cardenas, RN
By Gillian Nicole S. Bernal
The advancement of technology has reached various milestones and most of these are involved in the medical field, especially in the aspect of health care. One of the recent emergence of medical innovations in the Philippines is Telehealth Nursing. Coincidentally, we are privileged to have our very own Thomasian nurse as one of the member of the pioneer Telehealth Nursing company in the Philippines.
Mr. Isidor F. Cardenas, alumnus from batch 2009, is currently the NCR Project Coordinator and Senior Telehealth Nurse of the National Telehealth Center and is also one of the founding members and interim treasurer of the Philippine Nursing Informatics Association. He was one of the people who organized the recently conducted seminar on Health Informatics with the theme: “Putting Health in the Hands of the People” with the University of Santo Tomas - College of Nursing, in partnership with the University of the Philippines Manila National Telehealth Center. But what led him to venture into this profession?
On Nursing
Isidor F. Cardenas, Isidor or “Sid” is the youngest of four children. All of his siblings were graduates of Philippine Science High School and University of the Philippines Diliman. Sid was the only exception, graduating with Honors at St. Mary’s College QC before joining the University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing last 2005. As a young man, he regards himself as a ‘jack of all trades, but master of none’. He joined the debate team, became the Opinion Editor for his high school’s paper, played basketball as a point forward, created the class website, played video games, all while keeping his grades in check (most of the time). However, Sid never focused on one skill which resulted into a dilemma with regards to which course he should take in college. He ended up at the UST-CON because he wanted to add a health care professional in his family… and because his girlfriend was taking up Nursing.
“Nahihiya rin ako sa parents ko kasi laging ang laki ng tuition ko compared sa mga kapatid ko. Nag-nursing ako para maalagaan ko rin sila since medyo matanda na rin sila ngayon. Natanggap ako sa Nursing, pero yung girlfriend ko naman yung hindi nakapasok. Pero nag-shift din siya sa Nursing after one year in Biology…sayang lang hindi kami sabay.”
College Highs and Lows
During his first years in our college, he sensed that his peers are really the cream of the crop of his generation; and that it was an honor and a privilege to be included with them. However, he also felt the horror of having to ‘compete’ with the best of the best in order to pass the dreaded cut-off. Nevertheless, he was able to find time to play basketball and the ever popular DotA with his friends. He balanced fun and academics, and as proof, he was part of the Dean’s List for the two semesters.
“I treated DotA as a reward for a job well done academically…and mas mura siya kaysa kumain…DotA diet ba. Pero pangit pag puro DotA lang…dapat good grades rin para GG (good game)!”
When his second year in Nursing started, Sid had to face various hurdles. One of which was when he was transferred to a different section. He had to start trying to fit-in again in a class where groups were already forged the earlier year. To make matters worse, he was doomed to be seated at the last row for the rest of his college days.
“Masaya nung first year kasi first row ako…ang daling makinig, yung ambient noise ng ibang tao di ako masyadong affected. Pero ‘pag nasa likod ka, ang hirap makita ang slides! There are times na ‘di ko rin marinig yung lecture. Minsan iniisip ko na lang na mag-Indian seat sa harap e… parang sa high school lang. Tapos kaliwete pa ako, ang hirap mag-sulat kapag aisle ang katabi mo haha. Malaking adjustment period yung second year.”
His favorite moments in the college include the class of the always witty Sir Hibek, along with the challenges and “Aaaaah gets ko na! ahahaha!” moments in Mrs. Escolar-Chua’s Medical-Surgical Nursing. His favorite RLE experiences include his multiple shifts in the Neuro-Surgical Ward with the ever-understanding Sir Cuadra, and the CHN adventures with the energetic Sir Sumile. He also enjoyed doing various presentations, wacky music videos and commercials with his RLE during their 3rd year and 4th year days.
“Yung mga ka-RLE ko kasi jam-packed sa mga dean’s lister, kaya gusto nila laging bongga ang presentations. Nung 4th year bawat video presentation namin dapat may music video pa sa dulo, para kwela. Ha ha! Nakakapagod gawin yun pero masaya naman, puro tawanan.”
Becoming a Telehealth Nurse
Although he liked playing computer games, his interests did not immediately point him to practice Health Informatics. He was not spared from the dilemma of some 32,000 newly registered nurses who took the June 2009 Nursing Licensure Exams who had difficulty getting employed.
“Grabe yung hirap sa paghahanap ng job openings noon. Although ‘di ko na sinubukang maghanap. Binabalita sa akin ng mga ka-RLE ko na walang mga vacancies sa mga hospital.”
He then discovered the field of Nursing Informatics, which was said to be in great demand abroad. He tried to search for schools offering Master’s in Nursing Informatics, however only the University of the Philippines Manila was offering a somewhat related program.
“UP Manila lang yung nahanap kong may Master’s of Science in Health Informatics. May dalawang specialization pa yun – Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics lang at walang Nursing Informatics per se. Pero, it was better than doing nothing. I wanted to ask them if nurses can take up this program, are Computer Science units required, etc. But I wasn’t able to get adequate information from them. So, I decided to attend one of their trainings to get a chance to meet some of the professors who teach MSHI. It turns out, si Dr. Alvin Marcelo ang head ng MSHI at siya rin and Director ng National Telehealth Center. Buti na lang may dala akong resume. So, I gave it to them and instead of pursuing my Master’s, I ended up working for the National Telehealth Center.”
Advice to Students
Sid said that being a Thomasian has helped him a lot in his work ethic. “Iba ang upbringing ng UST - sanay sa hirap.” As for Nursing specifically, Sid mentioned that the faculty is “very nurturing and is very approachable. You can seek advice for anything, even beyond academics”.
Sid has mentioned a lot of advice for the nursing students:
“Don’t get caught up in maintaining your grades to the point that you end up cheating. If hindi ka DL, it doesn’t mean na ‘di ka magaling. And mind you, it’s the other way around as well. Grades aren’t the only basis in being a great nurse.”
“Take your RLE duty seriously. Although it may be difficult to quantify and translate your hardships into a numerical grade, your experience during those duty days are priceless… make the most out of them!”
“Lastly, expand your horizons when looking for a job. Don’t limit yourself to staff nursing positions. Try looking for a job that integrates Nursing with another thing you enjoy doing. Good luck on your Board Exams!”
The advancement of technology has reached various milestones and most of these are involved in the medical field, especially in the aspect of health care. One of the recent emergence of medical innovations in the Philippines is Telehealth Nursing. Coincidentally, we are privileged to have our very own Thomasian nurse as one of the member of the pioneer Telehealth Nursing company in the Philippines.
Mr. Isidor F. Cardenas, alumnus from batch 2009, is currently the NCR Project Coordinator and Senior Telehealth Nurse of the National Telehealth Center and is also one of the founding members and interim treasurer of the Philippine Nursing Informatics Association. He was one of the people who organized the recently conducted seminar on Health Informatics with the theme: “Putting Health in the Hands of the People” with the University of Santo Tomas - College of Nursing, in partnership with the University of the Philippines Manila National Telehealth Center. But what led him to venture into this profession?
On Nursing
Isidor F. Cardenas, Isidor or “Sid” is the youngest of four children. All of his siblings were graduates of Philippine Science High School and University of the Philippines Diliman. Sid was the only exception, graduating with Honors at St. Mary’s College QC before joining the University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing last 2005. As a young man, he regards himself as a ‘jack of all trades, but master of none’. He joined the debate team, became the Opinion Editor for his high school’s paper, played basketball as a point forward, created the class website, played video games, all while keeping his grades in check (most of the time). However, Sid never focused on one skill which resulted into a dilemma with regards to which course he should take in college. He ended up at the UST-CON because he wanted to add a health care professional in his family… and because his girlfriend was taking up Nursing.
“Nahihiya rin ako sa parents ko kasi laging ang laki ng tuition ko compared sa mga kapatid ko. Nag-nursing ako para maalagaan ko rin sila since medyo matanda na rin sila ngayon. Natanggap ako sa Nursing, pero yung girlfriend ko naman yung hindi nakapasok. Pero nag-shift din siya sa Nursing after one year in Biology…sayang lang hindi kami sabay.”
College Highs and Lows
During his first years in our college, he sensed that his peers are really the cream of the crop of his generation; and that it was an honor and a privilege to be included with them. However, he also felt the horror of having to ‘compete’ with the best of the best in order to pass the dreaded cut-off. Nevertheless, he was able to find time to play basketball and the ever popular DotA with his friends. He balanced fun and academics, and as proof, he was part of the Dean’s List for the two semesters.
“I treated DotA as a reward for a job well done academically…and mas mura siya kaysa kumain…DotA diet ba. Pero pangit pag puro DotA lang…dapat good grades rin para GG (good game)!”
When his second year in Nursing started, Sid had to face various hurdles. One of which was when he was transferred to a different section. He had to start trying to fit-in again in a class where groups were already forged the earlier year. To make matters worse, he was doomed to be seated at the last row for the rest of his college days.
“Masaya nung first year kasi first row ako…ang daling makinig, yung ambient noise ng ibang tao di ako masyadong affected. Pero ‘pag nasa likod ka, ang hirap makita ang slides! There are times na ‘di ko rin marinig yung lecture. Minsan iniisip ko na lang na mag-Indian seat sa harap e… parang sa high school lang. Tapos kaliwete pa ako, ang hirap mag-sulat kapag aisle ang katabi mo haha. Malaking adjustment period yung second year.”
His favorite moments in the college include the class of the always witty Sir Hibek, along with the challenges and “Aaaaah gets ko na! ahahaha!” moments in Mrs. Escolar-Chua’s Medical-Surgical Nursing. His favorite RLE experiences include his multiple shifts in the Neuro-Surgical Ward with the ever-understanding Sir Cuadra, and the CHN adventures with the energetic Sir Sumile. He also enjoyed doing various presentations, wacky music videos and commercials with his RLE during their 3rd year and 4th year days.
“Yung mga ka-RLE ko kasi jam-packed sa mga dean’s lister, kaya gusto nila laging bongga ang presentations. Nung 4th year bawat video presentation namin dapat may music video pa sa dulo, para kwela. Ha ha! Nakakapagod gawin yun pero masaya naman, puro tawanan.”
Becoming a Telehealth Nurse
Although he liked playing computer games, his interests did not immediately point him to practice Health Informatics. He was not spared from the dilemma of some 32,000 newly registered nurses who took the June 2009 Nursing Licensure Exams who had difficulty getting employed.
“Grabe yung hirap sa paghahanap ng job openings noon. Although ‘di ko na sinubukang maghanap. Binabalita sa akin ng mga ka-RLE ko na walang mga vacancies sa mga hospital.”
He then discovered the field of Nursing Informatics, which was said to be in great demand abroad. He tried to search for schools offering Master’s in Nursing Informatics, however only the University of the Philippines Manila was offering a somewhat related program.
“UP Manila lang yung nahanap kong may Master’s of Science in Health Informatics. May dalawang specialization pa yun – Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics lang at walang Nursing Informatics per se. Pero, it was better than doing nothing. I wanted to ask them if nurses can take up this program, are Computer Science units required, etc. But I wasn’t able to get adequate information from them. So, I decided to attend one of their trainings to get a chance to meet some of the professors who teach MSHI. It turns out, si Dr. Alvin Marcelo ang head ng MSHI at siya rin and Director ng National Telehealth Center. Buti na lang may dala akong resume. So, I gave it to them and instead of pursuing my Master’s, I ended up working for the National Telehealth Center.”
Advice to Students
Sid said that being a Thomasian has helped him a lot in his work ethic. “Iba ang upbringing ng UST - sanay sa hirap.” As for Nursing specifically, Sid mentioned that the faculty is “very nurturing and is very approachable. You can seek advice for anything, even beyond academics”.
Sid has mentioned a lot of advice for the nursing students:
“Don’t get caught up in maintaining your grades to the point that you end up cheating. If hindi ka DL, it doesn’t mean na ‘di ka magaling. And mind you, it’s the other way around as well. Grades aren’t the only basis in being a great nurse.”
“Take your RLE duty seriously. Although it may be difficult to quantify and translate your hardships into a numerical grade, your experience during those duty days are priceless… make the most out of them!”
“Lastly, expand your horizons when looking for a job. Don’t limit yourself to staff nursing positions. Try looking for a job that integrates Nursing with another thing you enjoy doing. Good luck on your Board Exams!”
Called by Nature: An Interview with the New Mister and Miss Nursing Nature Ambassadors
By James Bayot & Bianca Nicole Cervania
Last August 13 was a great day full of celebration, not only for the students of the UST College of Nursing, but for Mother Nature as well. It was a day dedicated to all things clean and green. Several fun-filled activities gave a refreshing break and smiles to the students, faculty and staff alike. The said event also raised the awareness of everyone regarding various environmental issues happening around us. Among those activities, perhaps the most highly-anticipated one was “The Search for Mister and Miss Nursing Nature Ambassador”.
The Nursing Journal decided to ask a few questions to get to know our 2010 Mister Nursing Nature Ambassador Juan Carlos Miguel Camacho and Miss Nursing Nature Ambassador Cristine Lim better.
NJ: What made you decide to join the pageant?
MC: At first, I was forced to join this contest because our class doesn’t have a representative [for] the said activity. But during the whole process, it made me realize that I have a big responsibility in taking care of our environment, and joining the pageant opened an opportunity for me to do what is expected of me.
CL: Initially, there’s a sort of coercive power. (laughs) Kidding. I didn’t really have plans of joining but then Mike Manera [former Mr. Nursing Nature Ambassador] approached me and said, “Oh ikaw na sali namin sa Ms. Nursing Nature”. Tapos ako naman parang “Ano? Hindi naman ako sumasali sa ganyan, sa mga pageant.” …but eventually, I just told myself that I’m going to join not for the pageant per se but for the job of being a nursing nature ambassador. Because the pageant per se is just a one night thing but more than that I felt becoming a nature ambassador gives you greater responsibilities. Since I have friends that are staffers, I guess it’s [going to] be easy [anyway].
NJ: Were there any special preparations that you did for the pageant?
MC: Actually, none, because as the class president and one of the chairpersons of the seminar about nursing informatics, I have a lot of things to do which hindered me to prepare for the pageant. I just want to have fun, that’s all.
CL: (laughs) Actually, I asked Xandra Magallona to teach me how to walk really good because that’s my biggest dilemma. That’s the first thing I thought. Then me and Ariane, we also searched the net about pertinent issues regarding the environment. Then someone also suggested for me to look for a nice quote then I just said that it will just come out of me if ever. Then the costume – that’s definitely the most toxic part.
NJ: What were you feeling while you were onstage, while the pageant was going on?
MC: Very nervous! It’s like I really don’t know what to do. But when I heard the roar of the crowd, it empowered me to do the best that I could.
CL: During the competition I was anxious and excited. Honestly, I really don’t know what to expect because I don’t really join pageants. This one is something different. But then, I just thought of it as a challenge instead. Something new and that I wanted to explore. I met a lot of friends as well and I’m happy about that. I was excited how it will turn out because after all the preparations, I want the event to be really successful. And it’s a good thing that I really enjoyed it and it became really memorable.
NJ: Aside from becoming more aware of the environmental issues around the world, what else did you learn from joining?
MC: I became aware that I can do something outside the box, meaning I can do things beyond my limits.
CL: I learned to take risks and overcome my fears because I’m usually the type of person who plays safe and doesn’t go out of the comfort zone. The pageant made me overcome that. I also learned to be more confident and patient because the pageant was really demanding in terms of time, efforts etc. Good thing I have supportive friends who helped me all throughout the way and I’m really thankful for it. It’s actually a class effort.
NJ: Are you able to adopt the things you have learned in the pageant in your daily lifestyle?
MC: “Semi-yes?” Because like what I’ve said, I want to become a role model to everyone, but it’s very hard to change your lifestyle abruptly. Right now, I’m trying my best to do the necessary things by doing small things, like not using styro, throwing trash in the right places, and the like.
CL: Yes of course. The pageant even made me become more passionate because even before the pageant, I was already an advocate of the styro-free campaign. I really try to refrain from using styro-products especially now that I know I have bigger responsibilities. Being the nursing ambassador, I have to practice what I preach and I take that as a challenge.
NJ: As a student-nurse, how do you think can caring for the environment be integrated in Nursing Education?
MC: I have learned in Bioethics the principle of stewardship. It stated that we are merely stewards of God’s gifts, and one of God’s gifts is nature, therefore I believe that we should take care of it.
CL: We, as nurses, future nurses, caring is the core of our profession. So I think if we can take care of our patients, take measures to assure their comfort and safety, what more to mother nature to whom we owe a lot, right? Kasi naman, ‘di ba lahat binigay na satin lahat, lagi nalang tayo ang pakabig. And now it’s time to give something back. I think that caring for nature is already integrated in our profession because caring for Mother Nature means being sensitive to her needs. If we can be sensitive towards the needs of our patients, then we need to be sensitive towards the needs of our dear mother nature as well.
NJ: What environmental issues in our college, in your opinion, needs to be addressed?
MC: Proper segregation of trash. Despite all the proper signs posted in the garbage cans, there are still a lot of nursing students who don’t put trash in the right places. We always take this for granted without knowing that these small things, when combined, are a great threat to Mother Nature.
CL: First and foremost, the waste segregation. I think the trash cans should all be properly labeled. And I guess I have to be an advocate of good personal hygiene as well. Those personal [stuff] we’re using, we have to dispose it properly. I want to raise people’s awareness as well.
NJ: What do you think are your new responsibilities now that you are Mr. or Ms. Nursing Nature Ambassador?
MC: Actually, my responsibilities, even before, are just the same, because you don’t need to have a title to be responsible with the environment. We are all Nature Ambassadors, so therefore we should do our part in taking care of nature.
CL: I think we have to start with little things. Migs and I need to be the initiators of change because there are already projects about the environment. It’s just that students are not that aware of it. So it’s time for us to make a move and initiate change. I even talked to Sir Gian once and he said that if I really want to level up, then perhaps I can approach establishments like Jollibee and make an appeal to start serving their foods not in a styro-container anymore. Then if it will be feasible to make one store, then I guess others will follow eventually. This will really be a big help.
NJ: How do you think can you influence the people around you to take care of Mother Nature in their own little way?
MC: Like what I have answered in the final question [in the pageant], I will become a role model to everyone.
CL: I think I am proud to say that even when I’m just beginning the term, there are already people around me who support my advocacies. After winning, every time I go out with my RLE group, we no longer eat at styros or use straws. It even makes me more proud that even when I’m not with them, they’re still doing it. And it’s already a huge thing. Then at class, every time someone comes in and brings a styro with them, they say sorry immediately even if I’m not saying anything. Then they’ll promise never to bring one again then I’ll just smile. I think it’s going to be best if the change will come from within them because it will be more profound.
NJ: Any message to the people of the UST College of Nursing?
MC: Basically, you don’t rely on other people to take care of the environment. Rely on yourself, because we all share the same responsibilities in taking care of Mother Nature. Being the Mister Nursing Nature Ambassador of 2010 doesn’t mean that I should be the only one doing actions, but rather, I am just a source of inspiration and empowerment to everyone.
CL: We made an envirommercial entitled “The Permissive and the Abusive”. I want them to reflect on that and think whether all their lives they have been the permissive or the abusive ones. All of us have had our fair share of Mother Nature’s resources, and all this time we’ve only been on the receiving end. I think it’s about time that we give her something back. Let’s not be the permissive or the abusive, but be the proactive.
Take Migs’ and Cristine’s advice. You don’t need their titles; being responsible Thomasian student nurses are enough. Be ambassadors of natures yourselves.
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