By Eva C. Visperas

 

THERE are some people who, even in just a brief encounter, leave a lasting impression. Dr. Minguita Padilla is one of those people.

I first met her during the 2022 campaign season. Back then, she was running for the Senate, and I was among those who believed in her candidacy. Her grasp of the Philippines’ most pressing healthcare issues was  — and still is — unmatched. I voted for her in that election, hopeful that someone of her intellect and integrity would have a place in the Senate.

She didn’t win. And perhaps that shows one of the persistent flaws in our political system — that we so often elect the most popular, not necessarily the most qualified.

Fast forward to April 14, 2025. I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Padilla again — this time not as a senatorial hopeful, but as the second nominee of the Barangay Health and Wellness (BHW) Party-list. We gathered at the President’s Hotel in Lingayen, with radio station managers from Pangasinan.

It was my second time hearing her articulate her vision for a healthier Philippines, and her message has remained consistent: That real change must begin at the grassroots. That barangay health workers — our health frontliners in the farthest reaches of the country — deserve better recognition, training, and support.

You see, Dr. Padilla isn’t your typical political figure. She’s not driven by dynastic ties or showbiz charisma. She’s a doctor, a reformist, and a tireless advocate. As an ophthalmologist, she founded and leads the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines. But her mission clearly extends beyond eye care. She is deeply invested in making healthcare truly universal — accessible, equitable, and rooted in community.

When she speaks about health reform, it’s not in vague platitudes. She talks specifics — about using AI to bring health consultations to remote barangays, about equipping barangay health workers to do more than just take blood pressure, about plugging holes in PhilHealth and stopping the misuse of billions of pesos that could have gone to actual patient care.

And unlike others who suddenly remember healthcare when it’s time to campaign, Dr. Padilla has spent more than 35 years in the trenches — serving patients, pushing for reforms, and building institutions

Her candidacy under the BHW Party List is not a fallback, it’s a strategic move. It signals a shift from running on national popularity to championing sectoral representation. And in my opinion, that’s exactly what we need more of in Congress — people who understand the sectors they represent, people who have worked the ground and know where the real problems lie.

So many party-list nominees are chosen not for their qualifications or track record, but because of their name recall. This has reduced what was once an idealistic sectoral representation system into a numbers game. Dr. Padilla’s involvement in the BHW Party List is a refreshing break from that.

She recognizes that barangay health workers are the true lifeline of our healthcare system. They are the ones who show up in typhoon-flooded barangays, who know every pregnant mother in the community, and who hold the hands of our elderly when hospitals are miles away. And yet, they’re often underpaid, undertrained, and undervalued. Dr. Padilla wants to change that — not with slogans, but with policies and budget allocations.

What struck me most during our recent meeting was how she framed the issue: “Ang kalusugan ng barangay ay kalusugan ng bayan.” The health of the barangay is the health of the nation. It’s such a simple, powerful truth. One we often forget in our obsession with big hospitals and city-based healthcare.

As voters, we are often distracted by spectacle. We forget that Congress isn’t a stage for grandstanding — it’s a workplace. And we need people like Dr. Padilla there: principled, experienced, and relentlessly driven by a mission to serve.

The 2025 elections offer us another chance. This time, perhaps we can choose not only the popular, but also the capable. Not just the loud, but also the wise.

Dr. Padilla has already spent decades healing individuals. Maybe it’s time we let her help heal the system.

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