Since Duterte’s inauguration as President of the Philippines in 2016, the country has been bombarded by news about extrajudicial killings and human rights violations. Duterte himself, in a number of speeches, encouraged policemen and his allies to track and kill drug users and pushers. More recently, he has advocated lowering the age of criminal liability … Continue reading War on Drugs or War Against the Poor?
Thoughts
Thoughts on the ecology of policy development
The term ‘ecology’ literally means environment. For policy studies, it pertains to the environment under which a public policy is taken. My understanding is anchored on the idea that the environment from which a policy is generated and the environment to where it is intended to be transmitted and implemented are the same. In other … Continue reading Thoughts on the ecology of policy development
Pen Point 35
Issues with equity have influenced health care for many years. Equity, in the context of social health insurance such as the Philippines’ Philhealth, means access of the whole population to a package of health services by paying an affordable contribution, and sometimes no contribution at all (for senior citizens and indigents). Philhealth can improve access … Continue reading Pen Point 35
Top 8 things I learned this 2018
What an incredible year! Today, I'd like to share my highlights and top 8 life lessons this 2018. A lot happened this year. Some things did not happen the way I wanted them to be. But that's how life is. We are not always in control. The year 2018 opened opportunities that pushed me closer … Continue reading Top 8 things I learned this 2018
Today, I am thankful
Today, I am thankful. Today, I thank the Lord for His blessings. Blessings He has freely given without me asking. Today, I thank Neil for his patience, understanding and unending love. Love that goes beyond reason. Today, I thank my family for their continued support, guidance, and the values we share. Values that make-up the … Continue reading Today, I am thankful
Towards universal health coverage and sustainable development
Forty years after the landmark Alma-Ata Declaration, gross inequities in health status across socio-economic classes remain apparent in the Philippines. The implementation of primary health care (PHC), dubbed as the key to achieving “health for all”, is deemed insufficient and uneven within the country making universal health coverage (UHC) far from reality. On 25-26 October … Continue reading Towards universal health coverage and sustainable development
New beginning
More than just professional growth, it is the idea of bringing about relevant change in the nursing profession and the healthcare delivery system that primarily motivates me to pursue graduate studies. I have been working in the hospital for almost two years now and it has occurred to me that my experience as a bedside … Continue reading New beginning
TOXIC COMPANY
"1. Leaders tolerate a culture of fear and bullying Every mistake seems to be blamed on someone in the office, like unlimited rice that gets generously pass around." --We see this almost every day. Even a rational explanation won't do the job. At the end of the day, BEDSIDE nurse lagi ang may kasalanan. "2. … Continue reading TOXIC COMPANY
The war on bugs
In 1945, Sir Alexander Fleming, physician and researcher who discovered penicillin, warned that “the person playing with penicillin treatment is morally responsible for the death of the man who finally succumbs to infection with the penicillin-resistant organism.” Today, we are witnesses to Fleming’s prediction rapidly unfolding as a global reality and disaster. The introduction of … Continue reading The war on bugs
On the RSA…
UP shouldn't have control over your life decisions especially the career path you wish to take. Post-graduate studies are not considered RS. But as long as the RSA is fulfilled, I see no reason for UP to hold one's requirements to just to make sure that you're taking another health course. I find it unjust … Continue reading On the RSA…
Pens & Needles 