Tulabut: State of the Patients

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

NANAY BABY is a doctor.

Yep, Governor Lilia Pineda could be a doctor herself.
What made me say that? Some three weeks ago, I discussed with her the condition of my mother-in-law who was then in an ICU of one of the local hospitals. But unlike the reason for her admission in January this year (massive stroke), she was taken there for what medical practitioners call as being “cold and clammy,” with her low potassium and high blood sugar levels. This fatal combination rendered her weak and literally cold.

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There was more to the deteriorating physical manifestations and unpleasant laboratory results. In her first few hours at the hospital, she bled profusely with her stool and an endoscopy was scheduled.

At that point and in a phone call I got from Nanay, she already expressed suspicion that something could be wrong somewhere in her colon. And as it turned out, indeed, there was an inflamed and irritated portion in her lower intestines (it is called Ulcerative Colitis which is rare among us Filipinos).

That was discovered by doctors attending her through colonoscopy that immediately followed the first procedure. While doctors (and us, her family) had to see that for themselves through expensive equipment, Nanay foreknew what her problem was.

Doesn’t that make Nanay a doctor in her own right?

Right after her State of the Province Address two days ago, the governor asked me how my mother-in-law was doing, and in all earnestness (read: gratitude), I told her that her suspicion was right all along as it had become a reality. It was a diagnosis cum prognosis of sorts.

And I could never agree more with her when she said in a jested reply, “Doctor ku, Noel”.

With the hundreds (if not thousands) that seek her help for medical attention daily, Governor Pineda has become more than just familiar with symptoms and actual illnesses. There is more to it than her extension of medical assistance.
She has indeed become a doctor to the sick and their families.

While her mere presence at the Capitol is already an assurance that some form of financial help could be availed of, her true value lies in her untiring dedication and commitment to help the sick whether she is in or out of public office, whether she is a governor or not.

Just like a doctor indeed, helping the sick get through the day is more than her own (Hippocratic) oath. It is her source of fulfillment. It is her life.

*****

It seems that Provincial Environment Officer Art Punzalan has been acceded to by his field staff finally. After several months of request, the “KALAM No. 5” sand and gravel checkpoint along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Mamatitang is no longer there. Thank you, Art.

Thing is, somebody has taken its place. While the bahay kubo which used to house the collectors has disappeared, there seems to be another group that has taken that same site. This means that the same problem of destruction of pavement by overloaded trucks and traffic still exists.

If this new collector is that of Barangay Mamatitang for yet another so-called “passway fees”, then, that is another illegal collection in broad daylight! Art, who heads the office that is mandated to generate revenues through quarry, himself declares that the collection of passway fees is not legal.

And there are at least three others of these illegal collection points that I see in my daily routes to Clark and back. They are in 1. Poblacion (either in front of Our Lady of Grace Parish or in front of Fer Pawn Shop at the Sta. Ines-Clark Intersection) 2. Right outside Mabalacat Gate (which also causes traffic) 3. At the entry point of NLEx in Sta. Ines, right under the Mabalacat Arc. THE ATTENTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS NEEDED HERE.
As to the sand and gravel check point for Mabalacat LGU at the former municipal hall, the collection booth has yet to be removed. Municipal Administrator Rosano Pacquia has committed that its relocation shall be moved within this week and that it is a “priority”. It should be, as the pavement of MacArthur Highway right in front of that check point is worse than the craters of the moon. More often than not, I am asked the question “don’t Mabalacat officials (Mayor, Vice Mayor, Sangguniang Bayan, Municipal Administrator, etc) pass by that spot?
Coming from Xevera (a few kilometers north of this check point) where they regularly meet at the new municipal building has been transferred, the answer to that question is YES!

Probably the right questions are: Don’t they get to see that for themselves? Don’t they get inconvenienced themselves by traffic and potholes caused by it? The answer is YES too.

Why won’t they do something about it after all the destruction? I leave the answer to them and my readers.