Think about it
Lull after a storm
By Jun Velasco
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
FLASH! Our friend, UPang-Phinma comptroller Gloria Tutanes called up to report that an alumnus, Mark Melo Vidal, placed 9th in the recent board for nurses. She added that eight “first takers,” all of 86, were on the Top 20. Congrats to Dean Teresa Fajardo and President Chito Salazar.
* * * *
Laoag City-based journalist friend Samuel A. Bangloy, 69, died of cardiac arrest last Tuesday.
A former Region 1 director of the Department of Public Information, Sammy had the funny habit of reading his newly composed poems to this writer over the phone.
One of former Secretary Tatad’s prodigious writers in the Martial Law years, Sammy was the guru of mediamen in Ilocos Norte; a walking encyclopedia, incisive radio commentator, Malacanang speechwriter and our own spokesman in the Federation of Provincial Press Clubs of the Philippines. We are sending his bereaved wife, the former Claire Balicanta, and family our profound sympathy and prayers for the eternal repose of his soul.
* * * *
In Dagupan, top coffee shop conversation piece is the 3-month preventive suspension slapped on Region 1 Medical Center chief Joseph Roland O. Mejia starting June 23.
Hardly had we read a copy of his suspension order than streamers and tarpaulins appeared last Wednesday around the hospital premises that said “Thank you President Aquino for lifting the suspension order.”
We marvel at the speed with which Mejia got the order staying the suspension order, but for how long, we have no idea.
Months earlier the Center became the cynosure of eyes because of unimpeachable reports that a modern 11-story building will soon rise in its Arellano premises as part of Mejia’s envisaged modernization program.
Even before that, with Mejia at the helm, the public has been seeing a metamorphosis of sorts from what the center used to be—a typical government hospital complete with those well-known dull assortments—to a shining facility that could rival the most modern private medical centers in Metro Manila.
If the local folk are all praises to what Gov. Amado Espino Jr. is doing to government hospitals, they are equally impressed with Roland Mejia’s mantra giving R1MC a corporate image.
Visitors who’ve had the fortune of setting foot on its modern offices swear it’s their first “corporate experience” and leave the premises with a fine memory of a world-class facility.
In one of our interviews following Pacebook’s vote for him as outstanding Pangasinan achiever, Mejia said more than the fine infrastructure he was bringing to the center, he has been hiring highly competent doctors, consultants and hospital workers who will do justice to its moniker as a modern medical center.
One wonders though how he could infuse modern concepts—probably observed in his schooling at Harvard—into a local facility.
One of Mejia’s known traits are creativity and a vibrant spirit. He refuses to be stagnated by parochial interests, or attitude that often clashes with the conventional who are fearful of facing novel challenges head-on.
The almost completed R1MC’s drug rehab center in barangay Bonuan Binloc has amazed supervisors and visitors with its idyllic, aesthetic look.
Mejia says “it’s modern outlook in rehab work that will give it a powerful caring entity.”
Due to deadline pressure, we could only estimate Mejia’s concern on his suspension whose timing might jeopardize the big goals he has been working hard night and day to make President Aquino and Secretary Ona and the Northern Luzon folk proud.
At press time, all we could get about the suspension—and its lifting—is Mejia’s modest triumph of a “stayed suspension” order pending evaluation of its merit by the DoH’s probe body. A press statement that we were able to secure quotes Mejia as hoping the ongoing probe will “ferret out the truth” and “clear my name” and further praying Secretary Ona will be objective in his decision.”
Let’s pray that justice descend on the matter soon.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
