IN TIMES OF DIFFICULTY, A SHOW OF COHESIVENESS

Last weekend’s tragic disaster in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan City and Dumaguete came unexpectedly in a week when the whole nation is preparing for a supposedly joyous and busy holiday. The massive devastation caused a thousand lives to perish, hundreds still missing, properties completely destroyed, thousands displaced, lives in disarray, children separated from parents and emotional shock and trauma. Seeing the pictures of the disaster is just like looking in a surreal landscape ones sees only in weird paintings. So heartbreaking is the sight of over-crowded evacuation centers with children and their families sleeping on the cement floor, waterless and foodless with children getting sicker everyday. A lot more unbearable sights to behold…

But in the midst of this major calamity springs the best in the Filipinos-willingness to offer their help. It is very heart-warming indeed to see the whole nation responding to aid our unfortunate countrymen-people from all walks of life and status.

Our mother society, through its Board of Trustees, upon the recommendation of the President, immediately released Php100,000 for the PPS Northern Mindanao Chapter to help our colleagues in the area in their relief activities. Financial support was also given to the six pediatricians whose properties were completely destroyed. Yours truly, as your president, had been in constant communication with the two chapter presidents since Sunday morning. Up to this time, they are regularly reporting to me on their present activities, problems and concerns. The Southern Tagalog, Western Visayas and Cebu Central Visayas chapters voluntarily offered their help to the local chapter in Mindanao. The PPS Diamond Jubilee Committee also unselfishly offered help. Individual members from the local PPS chapter offered to conduct clinics in evacuation centers to help the sick children-our members from Bukidnon, Butuan, Pagadian, Marawi and other areas are coming to help. The Disaster Management team from the area, fresh from their training at the PPS-AAP course, had the chance to apply what they had recently learned. Aside from clinics, I requested the team to offer professional know-how and expertise to local health authorities in handling medical problems like control of diarrheal diseases, respiratory infections, waste management and sanitation-the main problems in disasters. The task is so formidable and even fearsome! We could only do a small fraction of the big task ahead. But everybody came to help.

Out of adversities always comes a good thing. In our Society’s case, the show of concern for others, willingness to offer help, however small it may be, compassion and humaneness, being responsive to the needs of others and most of all, a show of cohesiveness and unity.

To my dear colleagues at PPS, thanks to all of you and let us all keep this fire burning!

Genesis C. Rivera, MD.

President,

Philippine Pediatric Society, Inc.

DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION      -     FEBRUARY 28, 2012

WRITTEN EXAMINATION                                      -     MARCH 21, 2012

ORAL EXAMINATION                                             -     MARCH 23, 2012

ORAL EXAMINATION                                             -     MARCH 25, 2012

DOWNLOAD: ELECTION CODE