By Raïssa Robles
When Jette Po and her medical colleagues went to Samar last year to help victims of Typhoon Haiyan they were stunned by a realization. Most of the residents had never had any medical or dental treatment.
“Meeting people who have never seen a doctor in their entire life is something incredible for us,” Jette told me then as she narrated her experience in the aftermath of what we locally call Typhoon Yolanda.
“Yolanda was just an eye opener of how bad the health situation is in a lot of barangays and provinces. This is just a sample of what’s actually going on in the provinces,” she said.
As I write this, I cannot help but think of the late Senator Juan Flavier who started a movement for doctors from top medical schools to serve even for a while in the rural areas.
It was in this spirit that Jette – a dentist born in Manila – went to Samar on November 21, 2013 as part of a medical team of five doctors, a nurse and her. They tended to the residents of the most badly hit towns – Basey, Lawaan, Balanggiga and Giporlos.
L-R: Mia Atanacio, RN, Daphne-Dominique Villanueva, MD, Fatima Gansatao, MD, Tina Cruz, MD, Frances Vera Bernardino, MD, Jette Po, DMD, PhD, Cecilia Evangelista, MD
Jette recalled how the landscape changed from green to brown to black as they walked into a devastated town. “It was like you entered into a color film that became sepia.”
“And everyone just walked around with blank stares. None of the babies cried.” This was probably due to dehydration from lack of milk and water.
A sixty-year-old doctor, a veteran of medical missions to the poorest provinces, broke down for a moment at the scene of devastation.
“It was so hard.” More than 600 people stood in line, even in the rain, for a check-up.
“As a dentist I didn’t see a single patient without any cavity. I’m talking about broken down teeth, gum disease.”
“I suspected oral cancers – I don’t know how they are going to have those diagnosed,” said Jette, who took further studies in oral cancer at Hokkaido University.
She could not tell a male resident to have a further check-up. “They are dirt poor – how do I tell him he has cancer when he doesn’t even have any money to feed himself?”
* * * *
Typhoon Yolanda has actually uncovered the country’s secret shame.
In a land which boasts of at least 50 US dollar billionaires, most Filipinos are treated like throw-away people.
In a land where wealthy politicians accused of high crimes avoid jail cells by taking refuge in gleaming, luxurious, plush and state-of-the-art hospitals, very few beds are reserved for the vast majority who are poor.
The typhoon merely placed a spotlight on the vast inequity.
While Jette Po was in Samar, she spotted this vehicle passing by.
Let’s not move on until we correct this imbalance in a big way. It’s the only way to honor the thousands who died a year ago.
Julie says
Guys, please check out this FB page. Kadiri talaga!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204318017724263&set=a.2964026613404.2144201.1043775727&type=1
Pati medical mission para sa mga kababayan natin sa Visayas ginagamit ni Binay para sa pamumulitika nya! Doctors in my FB page are aghast.
Eto ang words ng isang MD FB-friend:
“Hi everyone! I’m a Doctor-to-the-Barrio (DTTB) assigned in Nueva Ecija. Binay (or at least his staff) has been conducting nationwide medical missions for the past few months. This particular photo was taken by a fellow DTTB in Negros.
Simple lang ang raket:
1. Binay camp ties up with suck-up mayor, offers some meds
2. Mayor makes the medical mission happen through the [unwilling] participation of the municipal health staff (usually 1 lang daw dala na MD ng Binay camp pero minsan daw wala talaga)
3. Binay takes the credit for a “job well done”
4. Move to the next LGU until 2016″
Grabeee!!!!!
Targrod says
parang noong nag-ondoy sa may cainta, ni hindi mo mararamdaman ang galaw ng mayor.
buti na lang natalo na siya.
sam says
Binay .. backout from dabate
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/11/14/vp-binay-backs-out-debate-vs-trillanes
—————————————————————————————————————-
Ito ang sinabi ni binay
—————————–
Ang dahilan ko, mga kababayan, ay dahil marami na akong naririnig. Na siya ay ganito, ako ay mahusay, ako ay debater, ako ay abogado, e sobra na ang mga salitang ganyan, na kumpirmadong sinabi niya. E ayoko naman po yung aking pagkakakila niyo sa akin, mga kababayan, ay mapang-api, mapagsamantala. Na itong isang tao ito ay alam mo naman kawawa, tanga o whatever, so pinagsamantalahan ko so tama na yun.
Ako ang naghamon at tinanggap naman niya pero sa pananalita niya… marami siyang salita, ito ang mga developments kaya tama na
—————————————————————————————————————————————————
If this is the true reason why Binay backout, I think Trillanes has been publicly saying that he is preparing for this event. But Binay response was that he will not backout.
baycas says
Ang Boy Sikwat…
Laging Hindi!
curveball says
Hindi ba nya naalala mga sinabi nya ng maghamon sya sa debate?
Hindi ba kapag ikaw ang naghamon ay dapat alam mo na kung paano talunin ang hinahamon mo? Pero kung ikaw ang naghamon at tinanggap ang hamon mo…
Ang susunod ay laban o pagtutuus na…
Pero ano ito?
Umurong ang naghahamon?
Na DUWAG!
At gusto pa nya maging president sa lagay na yan ha.
Nakakatawa at nakakainis!!!!
AngLagay says
@ Baycas
Iyan ang tinatawag na “ATRAS ABANTE.. ABANTE ATRAS…” Takbo at hindi kayang talunin ang kalaban.
Mabigat talagang kalaban ang LIEYER… talo na pinapalabas pang naaawa siya sa kalaban kaya umaatras. Sarap….B$T$KAN!
waray waray says
Galing talaga magpalusot. There is a tagalog saying na pag ayaw madaming dahilan.
vander anievas says
dinabi ko na noon pa na malabong maganap ang debate.
bluff lang iyon.
win siya kung umatras si trilla.
win pa rin siya kahit tinanggap ang hamon.
marami siyang twisted na dahilan.
win pa rin siya kahit umatras na sa laban.
dahil ayaw niyang apihin ang walang laban.
basta ang mahalaga, ang bulsa ay puno ng pera ng kaban.
bsp talaga.
laging hindi..
AngLagay says
Baka ang akala ng Vice President of the Philippine Republic at ng kanyang mga mouthpiece ay naglalaro sila ng POKER… mahina ang hawak na cards kaya panay ang BLUFF.
Ganito ba ang katangian hinahanap natin sa future president??? Kawawang pobresitong Juan dela Cruz.
jorge bernas says
@ sam,
Ok lang sana ang rason ni Binay na kaya siya umurong/umatras dahil ayaw niyang magiging kawawa si Sen. Trillanes pero sana sinabi niya na si Sen. Cayetano nalang para pantay ang laban kaso napakaliwanag na TAKOT MAPAHIYA DAHIL SA TINATAGONG ANOMALYA at HINDI MAIPALIWANAG NA KAYAMANAN GALING SA N- – – – – -?
No to Binay..
Sayang iboboto kopa naman sana itong si Binay kaso Atras Atras pala…
at walang isang salita. Sabi haharap sa senate hearing kong Mother Committee ang mag-iimbita at nang inimbita nang Mother Committee WALA din/Tameme/takot malusaw? No to Binay…
Nteng says
Did Jette Po asked what the local executives have done to call attention to this injustice?
I am surprised that they are not whining like Mayor Romualdez, even as Tacloban had already received its share of assistance.
raissa says
I dont know
moonie says
local executives are part of the government too. they’re entrusted with the welfare of people in the district and they have a budget for it..
yvonne says
JEJOMAR BINAY USED ABIGAIL BINAY AS HIS BUSINESS DUMMY
.
From the start, many people believe that Jejomar Cabauatan Binay was the real owner of JCB Farms just by the initials JCB alone.
And according to a GMA news report:
————————————————–
“Vice President Jejomar Binay no longer owns a piggery and flower farm in Rosario, Batangas as he had divested himself of the business after the 2010 elections, according to an Office of the Vice President-Media Affairs Division (MAD) statement released Monday.
Spokesperson and MAD head Joey Salgado explained that Binay had disposed of his interests in the farm – shares that were worth P400,000.00 in 1994.
“In 1994, the Vice President started a piggery business in Rosario, Batangas through a sole proprietorship under the name JCB Farms. JCB Farms is duly registered in the BIR–Rosario, Batangas office. JCB Farms is a mere lessee of a 9-hectare property in Rosario, Batangas,” Salgado said.
JCB Farms’ Leasehold Improvements were also duly reported in its annual audited financial statements and in the tax declarations duly filed with the appropriate local government unit.
According to Salgado, JCB Farms earned for the Vice President an additional net income of P44,350,921.88 from 1994 to 2010. The Vice President also paid taxes amounting to P15,889,581.83 during the said period.”
—————————————————
According to Salgado, Jejomar Binay owned JCB Farms as a sole proprietorship business. Really?
Or, is this another lie by the Binay camp?
Well, it appears that Abigail Binay was fronting as the owner of JCB Farms to hide Jejomar’s enormous wealth. So why would Jejomar Binay admit now that he was its former owner?
Palusot, that’s why. Now that the SBRC is investigating Jejomar’s unexplained wealth, he is desperate to come out with a palusot. And what better palusot to give them than to claim ownership of JCB Farms which allegedly contributed to his enormous wealth.
This ploy by the Binay camp would have worked had it not been for an obscure case that they probably have forgotten about.
In a case filed in 2004 by Kiram J. Salihan, a former security guard with JCB Farms, for illegal dismissal, underpayment of salaries/wages, 13th month pay and separation pay with the National Labor Commission (NLC) whose decision was later appealed to the Court of Appeals, the case was filed against JCB Farms and/or Abigail Binay.
Both the NLC and Court of Appeals (CA-G.R. SP NO. 105622) recognize Abigail Binay as the owner of the sole proprietorship JCB Farms. Jejomar Binay’s name did not appear in the records of the case. Highly unusual and irregular for a single proprietorship company to omit his name if Jejomar was the owner on record, wouldn’t you think?
Did Jejomar Binay used Abigail as his dummy to hide his ownership of JCB Farms, making it appear that Abigail was the owner on record to hide his unexplained wealth?
Was Jejomar Binay only admiting ownership of JCB Farms in a flimsy effort to justify partly his unexplained wealth by claiming JCB provided him with an additional income of P44,350,921 from 1994 to 2010? Or, is it another of his litany of palusot?
Was Abigail the real owner of JCB Farms as is implied in the NLC and CA records?
If Jejomar Binay was the owner of JCB Farms, as he was forced to admit, didn’t he illegally use Abigail Binay as his dummy?
What would you say to this, Senators Cayetano and Trillanes?
duquemarino says
Ha ha ha I like this VP office nomenclature: O Vice-President -MAD (Office of the vice President – Media Affairs Division.
Mad na mad talaga.
duquemarino says
How about Ping Lacson’s revelation that the Romualdez’ of Tacloban are “financing” the rallyists against PNoy?
vander anievas says
mahirap bang paniwalaan?
jorge bernas says
@ duquenarino,
Tama po kayo dahil ang laking gastos ang inabot nang rally na yon saka ang mga banners nila ay bago at malalaki at may libre hatid sundong masasakyan pa at palagay ko ay may mga kaabwat pa na tumulong sa gastosin…
moonie says
it’s not surprising imelda marcos and her son bong marcos ay nag-epal sa tacloban, padasal-dasal pa. I saw on t.v. bong marcos seated next to mayor romualdez when mayor was in a talking frenzy stirring up the media. ping lacson’s diatribe na tumanggap ang tacloban ng fair share of aid had hit a raw nerve.
it was in bong marcos’ best interest, boost his chances of being next president if mayor romuladez goes on the attack and try to lessen PNoy’s standing. the rent-a-crowd was suddenly there too, facing the media and waving fresh banners newly made.
yes, jorge, nagtataka rin ako, where did they get the money for the banners kung talagang naghihirap sila at halos walang kinakain? hindi garutay ang mga damit nila. they looked well fed at ni walang isa ang naka-paa. are they even from tacloban? bet, these are the same people na tumaggap ng ctp and soon moving into new houses built with yolanda’s aid money.
vander anievas says
hmmm.
i’m getting interested.
hidi kaya galing sa MM ang mga nag-rally?
praktisado sa mm ang mga bbotantes con jacot.
at kung magkakaroon ng biyaya mula sa mandarambong na pamilaya.
madaling imobilize.
dami pa nilang nakasubing dugas.
Isalexus says
Oh well– another sob story from the Philippines. Not surprising though, considering that they produce so much people they can suffer like flies and there are more Filipinos coming! So what are the good people in the church sez about this? God will provide? How about – The church will provide for a change!?!?
Johnny Lin says
Latest News
Nancy Binay asks critics to spare their children
According to Nancy of of their children was in school and overheard somebody pointing to the child and said, ” that is the grandcjild of VP Binay, the thief”
Nancy is invoking pitiful emotions when being the oldest child ofJojo, she was was young she should have told her father and her mother to sop stealin from Makat to spare ther futufegrandchildren from humiliation nd shame.
Nancy became facilitator of unexplained wealth in h family and only she realizes that stealing hurts and shameful.
people telling to their children that their family is a bunch of thieves are actually doing sonething good for the children by teaching them good manners and right conduct that crime doesnot pay, Binay family instilled on their children.
Senator Nancy is shedding crocodile tears which she herself is guilty of fostering.
Johnny Lin says
Binay Latest News
Nancy Binay asks critics to spare their children
According to Nancy one of their children was in school and overheard somebody pointing to the child and said, ” that is the grandchild of VP Binay, the thief”
Nancy is invoking pitiful emotions when she should have done, being the oldest child ofJojo, long time ago while she was young telling her father and her mother to stop stealing from Makati to spare their future grandchildren from humiliation and shame.
Nancy became facilitator of unexplained wealth in the family, enjoyed the illicit proceeds and only now she realizes that being shamed from stealing hurts.
people telling their children that their family is a bunch of thieves are actually doing something good for the children by teaching them good manners and right conduct that crime doesnot pay, Binay family failed instilling on the minds of their children.
Senator Nancy is shedding crocodile tears which she herself is guilty of fostering.
he he he!
moonie says
thief! thief! and the patriach, binay, has not stood his ground and cleared their so thief! thief! sila ngayon.
of course nancy can take her children off school, and have them home schooled. with the money her family have stolen from the nation, she can even afford to build private school in their hacienda in batangas and hire teachers exclusively to teach her brood. or, she can do what bong marcos has done: send the kids overseas to study. kaso lang, baka hindi sila makapasar sa entrance exam duon dahil hindi matalino, and to make matter worse, hindi pwedeng bilhin yong pwesto sa eskwela.
duquemarino says
“Spare the rod and spoil the child.”
kalakala says
talaga ang kawawa ay ang mga inosenteng bata. kagaya ni gma. kalilibing lang ng kanyang 13 yrs old na apo dala sa libingan ang hiyang dulot ng kanyang lolo’t lola mga tiyuhin at iba pang miembro ng pamilya.
vander anievas says
yun ang kaparusahan sa mga ganid na puno.
ang sanga at bunga ay mababahiran ng ipinunlang pangalan.
hindi ko yata kayang maawa sa mga magnanakaw.
Johnny Lin says
13 months old
moonie says
1st born yata ni luli arroyo-bernas, dead due to congenital heart failure. what comes to mind was what happened long ago in ancient egypt. god smite the 1st born of the land, pharaoh’s first born included.
sykes says
this health problem worsened when local hospitals were devolved and ended up under the control of LGUs.
medicines are in scant supply or worse, non-existent in hospital pharmacies. they are kept hidden until the time comes for the congressman or governor or mayor would hold a medical/dental mission.
hospital staff like the chief of hospital are beholden to local politicos, some are even related to them since the politicians now have the appointing power. it makes it easier to fake receipts and steal money meant for medicines.
these are a few of the reasons why doctors and other hospital workers hate Aquilino Pimentel for the LGU Code. the law politicized their profession and they were forced to kowtow to local politicos.
the CCT program is helping the poor get medical help. with their Philhealth membership, those who are aware of its use would go to private hospitals for medical care. they don’t trust gov’t-run hospitals at all. i actually overheard one paying Philhealth member lament that the CCT beneficiaries get preferential treatment at a private hospital compared to them.
i think what needs to be done is more information drive and a detailed explanation in every barangay where there are indigent Philhealth members because some of them are still wary of going to hospitals thinking that they have to pay. one Philhealth member didn’t want to go to the hospital because she wrongly thought that the free medical coverage was only for three days of hospital stay!
things have to be explained to them clearly and in their local dialect.
sykes says
DOH -run health centers have medicines. the problem there is that some are fakes especially those for TB treatment. FDA and DOH should make a random check to make sure rhe medicines being given are genuine.
i’m not sure how widedpread the problem is with fake drugs in rural health centers.
vander anievas says
saan pa naman magmumula ang mga yun?
di ba sa bumibili rin?
saan o kanino nila binili?
budget po ba ng doh ang ipinambili?
sykes says
i think the meds for the DOTS program are from DOH so the ones responsible of buying these TB meds are either unaware they are being supplied with fake drugs or they are in cahoots with the supplier
leona says
Make a surprise/random check, and be surprised that injectable medicines are SALT WATER!
hahaha
leona says
Go, random check but BRING A BIG BLACK BAG…the medicines are FLY-BY-NIGHT! You need to BAG where to THROW ‘EM!
hahaha
sykes says
distilled water naman ata. at least that’s what they use on problematic patients since dh2o hurts when injected . kaya wag magwala sa ospital baka yan ang i-inject sa yo :)