by Telly G. Ocampo
These old familiar faces
Seeing Ted Failon on cignal TV from Monday to Friday at his time slot is a welcome treat for me. He started his career in Tacloban and I remember those times in Tacloban when I was younger and when I was very engrossed on many things: my teaching profession, the parents teachers guardians association for my children, my active involvement with PICPA (Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants), my “class” outside school every Saturday – the Christian Life in the Spirit seminar, and the Christian Family Movement (CFM). Added to all these was the brewing restlessness that led to the bloodless EDSA revolution. We had to buy all the national dailies as we were always hungry for the latest news including Ninoy’s assassination.
PRTV 12, the television station of Cocoy Romualdez could not be relied upon on the yellow revolution in Manila at that time. But the local TV network gave us Flor De Luna with Janice De Belen, Dindo Fernando and Rene Boy. This also included the local news of Leyte, Samar and Ormoc. Ted Failon was young, then – an announcer whose national fame was brought about by the MV Doña Paz tragedy.
MV Doña Paz was that boat that sank on its way to Manila after it collided with the tanker M/V Victor. That happened few days before Christmas. The vessel was overloaded and according to the news account, there were 4 persons seated and occupying each cot. What with people wanting to spend the holidays in Manila. The day to day account of the incident was anchored then by the young Ted Failon from the Tacloban side. That was one of the pathways of Ted to his fame with ABS-CBN in Manila.
It was a fact that years later – after the MV Doña Paz tragedy, and, of course, after the EDSA event, Ted Failon soared to greater heights in the Manila TV network of ABS-CBN. Then, he became a congressman in Leyte and served for one term as he did not file for reelection. Seeing him on TV now is remembering those halcyon days in Tacloban.
Another face reminds us of the “barrio breeze” presenting another story. Remember Dr. Juan Flavier of the “Lets DOH it” fame? He occupied the Secretary of Health post during the EDSA SEASON and became a columnist in the Philippine Star with his “Barrio Breeze”. He was also famous for his “Doctor to the barrios” program paving ways for health service to be availale to the common tao in the barangay. He was a doctor in practice and in spirit.
His was a practice for integrative medicine – folk traditions and science based. It was during his time when herbal medicine was introduced plus the generic medicine presented by Dr. Galvez during the Cory Aquino presidency.
The practice of the father, then, is carried on at present by his son, Dr. Junjie Flavier. The latter, too, is on television continuing the legacy of the father – still as a doctor to the barrios and well loved by the community.
This calls to mind, the center for medical sciences of the University of the Philippines in Palo Leyte. It is a curriculum based on the need of the countryside: a ladder type of a curriculum – 1st phase is that of a midwife; 2nd is a nurse and the 3rd is medicine proper. This is really a hands on type of training.
The students are iskolar ng bayan nga maayo gyud ang pagkahashas. The values inculcated in the iskolar provide exemplary service to the community.
One thing good in this type of curriculum is you have your diploma for every step of the ladder and you can have ur license for each step. After finishing your course and passing the licensure examination, you have to pay back the community in terms of your services.
Exemplary service anchored on compassion is the need of the present times from the medical frontliners.
It is in this context that I say: Come 2022, let’s exercise our sacred right to choose the servant leaders to govern the nation.