Generics Awareness Month and World Pharmacists Day

Good morning, esteemed colleagues, healthcare professionals, valued partners, and honored guests.

It is a privilege to welcome you all as we gather for this meaningful, dual celebration: Generics Awareness Month and World Pharmacists Day.

September is a month dedicated to reinforcing our commitment to accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare for every patient. 

Generics Awareness Month "Kalusugan ng Bawat Pilipino  Generics ang Katuwang Mo" reminds us that health equity begins with choices that break down financial barriers. Safe, effective, and quality-tested generic medicines ensure that necessary treatments remain within reach for the communities we serve, without compromising clinical outcomes.

Today, we also take immense pride in honoring our pharmacists on World Pharmacists Day "Empowering Pharmacists for Healthier Futures". Pharmacists are the cornerstone of safe medication management, patient safety, and clinical stewardship. From carefully evaluating prescriptions and guiding patients on proper medication adherence to driving pharmacovigilance and bridging gaps in public health, your expertise ensures that medicine is not merely delivered, but delivered wisely and compassionately.

This joint celebration highlights a shared goal: placing patient-centered care at the heart of our health systems. When we couple accessible options with expert pharmaceutical guidance, we build a healthcare environment grounded in safety, trust, and resilience.

Thank you to our organizing team, guest speakers, and dedicated pharmacists for your steadfast service and commitment. May this gathering serve as an inspiring platform to share insights, strengthen partnerships, and reinforce our commitment to quality care for all.

Welcome, and happy Generics Awareness Month and World Pharmacists Day!  Because in VSMMC, Quality Generics and Pharmacy Services is our PRIDE! 

Medicine Week Research Contests 2026

Welcome Remarks: Medicine Week Research Contests

Distinguished members of the Executive Committee and Management Committee, respected department and section heads, esteemed guest judges, research officers, participants, and fellow healthcare professionals—a warm welcome to our Medicine Week Research Contests!

Today, as we gather to celebrate scientific inquiry, clinical excellence, and administrative innovation, we are witnessing the dynamic evolution of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) Research Institute. Research at VSMMC is no longer just an academic requirement—it is the bedrock of our clinical advancement, our institutional branding, and our commitment to public health.

As we kick off today’s competitions, I want to emphasize seven core pillars that define where we are, where we are going, and why your work matters so deeply to the future of our institution:

1. Clinical Research: Grounded in Rigorous Epidemiology

In our Research Podium, we continue to uphold the clinical and epidemiological foundations in which we were trained. From detailed case reports and cross-sectional designs to prospective cohorts and experimental studies, our researchers continue to build the evidence base needed to advance medicine.

2. Case Reports: Showcasing Specialty Care & Modern Healthcare Infrastructure

Our patient population provides a wealth of learning. Aligned with the Department of Health’s “UNA sa KALUSUGAN” branding, leading 18 Specialty Centers is no small task.

• We see remarkable advances in Neurosurgery—like seeing Lolo Zammy, once severely impaired by Parkinson’s, walk again.
• We take pride in our recognized Lung Center, Heart Center, Stroke Center, GI Center, Trauma Center, and Burn Unit.
• Today, during Medicine Week, we celebrate major leaps forward: the inauguration of our world-class Dental Department Clinic, advanced imaging modalities like our new MRI, and the historical first-ever inaugural Robotic Surgery led by our Cancer Center Head, Dr. Pherdes Galbo.

3. Best Practices: Documenting Innovations and Lived Experiences

We must learn to celebrate our wins. What feels like routine practice to us inside VSMMC is groundbreaking to others. Health facilities across the country frequently visit us to benchmark our practices—so much so that we half-jest about charging registration fees for "benchmarking tourism!"

However, informal visits are not enough. These best practices must be formally documented, researched, and published to elevate VSMMC’s credibility as an apex end-referral tertiary hospital. To support this, last August we invited Dr. Enrique Oracion to guide 28 participants across all hospital units through qualitative and mixed-methods research. All 28 submitted compelling concept notes on crucial topics:

• Infection prevention and control compliance
• The lived experiences of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy
• The frontline experiences of VSMMC employees during disaster response
• Dental caries and orthodontic evaluations in pediatric patients

4. Pitch to Policy: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice

For three years, the Research Institute lamented our unmet target of five adopted policies. While we could create an enabling environment for research, policy development remained beyond our control. When we appealed to our research officers, they candidly shared that they simply didn't know how to draft policy.

We took action. Following an initial workshop with the DOH Health Policy Development and Planning Bureau—which yielded successes like presenting Dr. Jane Gargaritano’s Nutrition Risk Screening Policy to the EXECOM to prevent refeeding syndrome—we escalated our training this year. We invited Dr. Ana Cuizon from UP Cebu to train 35 participants on the policy cycle, policy brief preparation, and advocacy paper drafting.

"We start where we are, we do what we can, and we use what we have."

Today, 5 of those 35 trainees will present their 3-minute policy pitches directly to members of our EXECOM and ManCom.

5. Health Policy Systems Research (HPSRI) & "Reverse Research"

Just yesterday, I was at the 21st National Health Research Forum for Action in Manila, where the VSMMC Research Institute was officially recognized as a member of the Philippine Network for Health Policy and Systems Research (PN4HPSR).

This marks our evolution from Translation of Research into Policy (TRIP)—where we try to turn existing studies into policies—toward Reverse Research Pitching. In this model, policymakers, department heads, and stakeholders pitch the actual operational gaps and problems they face, commissioning our researchers to find evidence-based solutions that have an immediate policy impact.

6. The V-HIVE Hub: Catalyzing Innovation

We also highlight our VSMMC Innovation Hub—V-HIVE—which supports our hospital innovators across six flagship research programs:

1. Nutrition Research Program
2. Disaster Risk Reduction Management Research Program
3. HIV Research
4. Digital Health
5. Biomedical Devices
6. Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR)

7. Looking Ahead: Host of the 12th CVHRC in May

All of today's efforts serve as crucial preparation. VSMMC will serve as the host hospital for the 12th Central Visayas Health Research and Innovation Conference this coming May. The case reports, research papers, policy pitches, and best practice documentations we refine today will showcase to the entire region how VSMMC leads in health research and innovation.

Closing

Behind every study, paper, and policy pitch today is a dedicated support system. The VSMMC Research Institute remains committed to providing an enabling environment—offering technical assistance for protocol development, statistical and technical reviews, grant application guidance, and full implementation support.

To our presenters and researchers competing today: thank you for your passion, your hard work, and your dedication to transforming patient care into institutional knowledge.

Good luck to all contestants, and I officially welcome you to the Medicine Week Research Contests!

Transforming Research into Impact: Workshop on Policy Briefing and Policy Adoption

Distinguished guests, department heads, researchers, and colleagues—good morning and welcome to the Policy Development Training Workshop!

Today marks a crucial step in fulfilling the true purpose of our academic work. Every year, incredible effort goes into completing research manuscripts, but too often, those findings end up collecting dust on the shelves of the VSMMC Research Institute. It is time to change that narrative. Our goal today is to ensure that every completed study moves past the bookshelf and into action—transforming hard data into policy development and tangible program improvements.

We are privileged to have Dr. Ana Leah Cuizon with us to guide this transition. She will walk us through:

 * The fundamentals of the policy planning process.

 * The different forms of policy frameworks.

 * Practical strategies to translate raw research into enforceable policies that advance evidence-based healthcare.

Take today’s workshop seriously and give it your absolute best. The policy briefs you craft during this session will serve as your official entries for the upcoming Medicine Week 3-Minute Policy Pitch before the Executive Committee (EXECOM) and Management Committee (ManCom). This is your platform to directly influence how our hospital operates.

The VSMMC Research Institute remains committed to providing an enabling environment where your research can thrive and create real-world impact. Enjoy the workshop, engage with the process, and let us work together to elevate patient care.

Kay dinhi sa Sotto, kalidad nga serbisyo atong garbo!

Foundations to Frontlines

2026 PIDSOG Annual Convention

Fellowship, singing and dancing with co-fellows

 

Qualitative and Mixed Methods Reaearch Training Workshop

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our qualitative and mixed methods research design training workshop!

First of all, we acknowledge the presence of our OIC Medical Center Chief anf Chief Medical Professional Staff II Dr Reynette Ligaray who so graciously travelled to Sarrosa to be with us this morning.  Thank you po mam!

Second of all, welcome back to Cebu Dr Enrique  Oracion, you have become an honorary member of the VRI as one of our health research mentors.  Thank you for graciously accepting our invitation (and call for help) for this hand-holding protected time for research.

Third of all, I would personally like to thank Mr Reo Fritz Guinipaan for patiently waking me up this morning so I wont be late to welcome our facilitators and research champions. Pag tinanong ako ng "para kanino ka gumigising, alam nyo na po ang sagot jan..."

​We are so glad to have our research champions here today. Thank you for saying YES to research! Let’s keep things simple and straight to the point: research shouldn't feel like a heavy burden or a complicated maze. Our goal is to make the lived experience of doing research a pleasant, engaging, and truly enjoyable journey.

​Through the VSMMC Research Institute (VRI), we are committed to building an enabling environment for research —giving you the right tools, proper support, and a clear path to document our best practices and evaluate the real impact of our programs.

​Over the next two days, let's learn together, collaborate, and bring out the stories behind our hospital’s hard work. Equal parts rigor and enjoyment, because dinhi sa Sotto, kalidad nga serbisyo among garbo!

​Welcome, and let’s make these two days count!

VSMMC-Kyoto University Collaboration

 

Beyond Barriers: Celebrating Fortitude and Excellence

True public service proves its worth during hard times. When resources run low and pressure goes up, real leaders show their true value. They do not quit. They work hard to help the public. 

Why Crisis Tests Service

Stress shows flaws: Weak systems break fast when a crisis hits.
Leaders step up: Good public workers find creative ways to help people.
Trust is built: People remember who helped them when things were bad. 

Key Signs of True Service

Fair help: Giving aid to those who need it most, not just those who ask loudest.
Open truth: Telling the public the real facts without hiding bad news.
Smart use of tools: Making small budgets stretch to cover urgent needs.
Hard work: Working long hours to fix problems on the ground. 

PUSO. Sa bagong Pilipinas, bawat buhay mahalaga!

DANGAL. Ethical clarity when nobody else is watching.  Fortitude to stand tall to perform your duty when crisis strikes.  What prevents turning performance to paralysis. What earns the trust of Filipino people.

GALING.  Excellence that shatters technical limits. Refusal to accept mediocrity.

National Hospital Week in Bohol 2026

 I had always promised my Lola Sising that I would be a good girl!

Bohol Bee Farm may be far from the convenience of city life but they serve a mean salad with fresh greens and microgreens and colorful flowers.

Ms Chona wakes me up early with "wakey wakey Ms Koala..." so instead of a slow morning, we had a hearty breakfast of unique concoctions like cassava fries, squash bread and homemade ham.

Governance toolbox - our annual learning development intervention.

SCALE WHAT WORKS AND STOP WHAT DOESN’T!

 parking this here, when inspirational messages hit a spot!

INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE

2^nd Quarter Maternal-Perinatal Statistics Conference

July 16, 2026 | 9:00AM | VSMMC Auditorium

·       THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CENTRAL VISAYAS CENTER FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT,

·       THE DEPARTMENT OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY OF VICENTE SOTTO MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER LED BY DR. MARY BETH NICHELLE DE LOS SANTOS,

·       REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR PARTNER HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE FACILITIES,

·       COLLEAGUES, GUESTS, FRIENDS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD MORNING.

·       WE GATHER NOT AS SPECTATORS OF NUMBERS BUT AS STEWARDS OF LIVES.

·       EVERY DATA POINT ON OUR DASHBOARDS REPRESENTS A MOTHER WHOSE FUTURE CAN BE DIFFERENT, A NEWBORN WHOSE FIRST BREATH CAN BE SAFER.

·       WHEN WE TREAT STATISTICS AS STORIES AND CHARTS AS CALLS TO ACTION, WE TURN MEASUREMENT INTO MOMENTUM.

·       LEADERS IN PERINATAL QUALITY HAVE REMINDED US THAT PROGRESS DEPENDS ON THREE THINGS: RIGOROUS DATA, STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS, AND RAPID TRANSLATION OF EVIDENCE INTO PRACTICE.

·       THESE ARE NOT ABSTRACT IDEALS — THEY ARE THE PRACTICAL LEVERS THAT MOVE MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY CURVES DOWNWARD.

·       RECENT GATHERINGS IN OUR FIELD HAVE EMPHASIZED NAVIGATING FORWARD THROUGH DATA-DRIVEN INNOVATION AND COLLECTIVE ACTION TO SCALE PROVEN INTERVENTIONS.

·       SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW?

·       MEASURE WITH PURPOSE.

·       LET EVERY INDICATOR WE TRACK BE TIED TO AN INTERVENTION WE CAN IMPLEMENT, EVALUATE, AND IMPROVE.

·       SHARE WITH HUMILITY.

·       OPEN DATA AND SHARED LEARNING ACCELERATE SOLUTIONS; YOUR LESSONS LEARNED ARE SOMEONE ELSE’S BREAKTHROUGH.

·       ACT WITH URGENCY.

·       EVIDENCE WITHOUT IMPLEMENTATION IS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY; SCALE WHAT WORKS AND STOP WHAT DOESN’T.

·       WE ALSO FACE HARD REALITIES: CONSTRAINED FINANCING, WORKFORCE STRAIN, AND PERSISTENT INEQUITIES THAT SHAPE OUTCOMES LONG BEFORE A WOMAN REACHES A CLINIC.

·       THE GLOBAL CONVERSATION HAS SHIFTED FROM COMMITMENTS TO IMPLEMENTATION, URGING STRONGER DOMESTIC INVESTMENT AND PRACTICAL, CONTEXT‑SENSITIVE SOLUTIONS.

·       OUR STATISTICS MUST THEREFORE INFORM POLICY AND FINANCING DECISIONS AS MUCH AS CLINICAL PRACTICE.

·       TODAY, LET US CHALLENGE ONE ANOTHER TO MAKE THREE CONCRETE PROMISES:

·       ONE DATASET WE WILL CLEAN AND PUBLISH THIS QUARTER SO PARTNERS CAN ACT ON IT.

·       ONE COLLABORATION WE WILL START OR DEEPEN—WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, DATA SCIENTISTS, OR POLICYMAKERS—TO TRANSLATE NUMBERS INTO PROGRAMS.

·       ONE SMALL, MEASURABLE CHANGE WE WILL TEST IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS AND REPORT BACK AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

·       IF WE KEEP THESE PROMISES, OUR NEXT CONFERENCE WILL BE DIFFERENT NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE SLIDES, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE FEWER PREVENTABLE TRAGEDIES.

·       LET OUR WORK BE DEFINED BY THE LIVES IMPROVED, NOT THE PAGES OF OUR REPORTS.

·       IN CLOSING: LET US BE BRAVE WITH OUR DATA, GENEROUS WITH OUR LEARNING, AND RELENTLESS IN OUR FOLLOW‑THROUGH.

·       WE HAVE THE TOOLS, THE EVIDENCE, AND THE SHARED WILL—NOW LET US CONVERT STATISTICS INTO SUSTAINED, EQUITABLE SURVIVAL AND THRIVING FOR MOTHERS AND NEWBORNS.

·       WE ARE ALWAYS STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN THIS ROOM BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN OUR COLLECTIVE STRENGTH.

·       WE UNDERTAKE THESE ENDEAVORS SUCH AS TODAY KAY DINHI SA SOTTO, KALIDAD NGA SERBISYO, AMONG GARBO.

·       THANK YOU AND PLEASE ENJOY THE REST OF THE DAY.

PATH TO ZERO: Harmonizing Triple Elimination Strategies for HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis

 

Training on Technical Review

Today marks a vital step forward in strengthening our institutional research ecosystem. Technical review is not just an administrative milestone—it is the bedrock of scientific integrity, clinical safety, and impactful health policy.

To fully equip our board, this comprehensive workshop will cover a rigorous and diverse lineup of methodologies and essentials. Over the course of this training, we will dive into:

Core Study Designs: Epidemiological studies, experimental research, case reports, and the intricacies of qualitative and mixed methods.

Evidence Synthesis: The systematic approaches of meta-analyses and systematic reviews.

Operational Foundations: Advanced sampling designs, robust data collection, and rigorous data analysis.

Governance & Integrity: Ethics in health research and the foundational principles of effective research technical review itself.

The ultimate goal of this extensive curriculum is to cultivate an enabling environment for research to thrive. By sharpening our collective lens, we ensure that every protocol emerging from our institution is scientifically sound, ethically grounded, and ready to transform healthcare delivery.

Let us embark on this learning experience with a shared vision of excellence. Because here at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, we hold ourselves to the highest standards—kay dinhi sa Sotto, kalidad nga serbisyo among garbo!

Once again, a warm welcome to you all, and let us have a productive and insightful training workshop!

Turning DATA into Deliverables

​

Quarterly Maternal Perinatal Statistics (QMPS)

VSMMC Auditorium

​Colleagues, partners in health, and fellow champions for mothers and babies, good afternoon.

​As we bring today's Quarterly Maternal Perinatal Statistics conference to a close, I want to ground us in why we gathered here in the VSMMC Auditorium. We are not here simply to look at slides, analyze charts, or file away numbers.

​Behind every single data point we discussed today is a mother’s life, a family’s future, and a baby’s first breath.

​To truly move the needle and achieve our ultimate goal—reducing maternal, neonatal, and perinatal mortalities here in Cebu and the wider Central Visayas region—we must transition from passive observation to decisive action. Starting today, our approach shifts to a rigorous three-step framework:

​Our Three-Step Commitment

1.  Bravely Publish One Consolidated Data Set

Immediate

We will no longer keep our findings in silos. We commit to bravely publishing one unified, transparent data set. True progress begins with radical clinical honesty. By laying bare our actual numbers, we invite accountability and build a clear baseline for intervention.

2.  Strategically Execute One Unified Action Plan

Next 30 Days

We will design and implement a highly focused action plan specifically targeted to address the systemic and clinical gaps we identified today. This plan will outline clear responsibilities, practical clinical pathways, and direct interventions.

3.  Deliver One Platform Accomplishment Report

At Day 90

Ninety days from now, we will document and present a formal accomplishment report. This will not be a report of intentions, but a hard-data record of tangible results, tracking exactly what changed because of our actions.

Completing the Circle of Care

​Data is only as powerful as the area it represents. To save every mother and child, we must see the whole picture.

​We extend an urgent and open invitation to our partners across the healthcare ecosystem to complete this circle of maternal and neonatal data in Central Visayas:

​Our Provincial and City Health Officers: To bridge hospital outcomes with community-level primary care.

​The POGS Representatives of Private Hospitals: To ensure that private sector clinical realities are integrated with public sector efforts.

​The Midwives Association: Whose members stand on the absolute front lines of maternal health, witnessing the first signs of complication.

​The Department of Health (DOH): We look forward to having our DOH representatives at the table to share their data and provide the high-level guidance necessary to align our regional interventions.

​Looking Forward: Concrete Next Steps

​We are not waiting to take action. We have two crucial milestones marked on our calendar:

​1. Preeclampsia Postgraduate Course & Workshop (October 22, 2026)

​Hypertensive complications of pregnancy remain one of our most formidable adversaries. This October, we will host a specialized postgraduate course and workshop dedicated entirely to managing preeclampsia. This clinical training will equip our doctors and midwives with the latest evidence-based protocols to intervene early and prevent avoidable tragedies.

​2. The Next QMPS (October 16, 2026)

​We will reconvene right here in the VSMMC Auditorium on October 16 for our next Quarterly Maternal Perinatal Statistics review. On that day, we will look at the direct impact of our 90-day progress report, evaluate our interventions, and welcome our expanded circle of partners.

​Thank you for your tireless dedication, your clinical excellence, and your refusal to accept preventable losses. Let’s bring this data to life, execute our plans, and work hand-in-hand.

​Let’s do this and save our mothers and babies!

Remembrance

These past few nights I've been dreaming of dead people: my paternal grandmother driving me around, my father driving me to New York harbor...

I am suddenly reminiscent of the 30-minute long phone calls with my seniors Dr Helen Amorin and Dr Kristina Dosdos, as I accidentally came across greeting cards that I received from them a few years back.  I took pictures so that I preserve the memory of their touching inspirational messages.

Behold the beautiful handwriting of Dr Helen Amorin.

See the artistic calligraphy of Dr Kristina Dosdos

Bakit maraming tao ayaw sa iyo?

Real talk lang...

 https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CocUD954n/

Ang taong may purpose mahirap hilahin pababa...

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1B71yfzwhX/

You dont always need to share your side of the story...

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17tLZcfAz2/

Reimagining Patient Satisfaction in a Digital Era

I had to ask AI for help with this #HealthXPH topic because I am absolutely exhausted after a day of testing patients for HIV today at Argao.  Counselling can be quite draining, but I hope the patients appreciate the effort we put in.  Tonight I wanted to discuss about SATISFACTION.

The topic of Patient Satisfaction is a gold mine because it sits right at the intersection of clinical outcomes, digital health, and the Filipino patient experience.  In healthcare, satisfaction isn't just about "service with a smile"; it’s a critical metric for adherence and health literacy. 

​🏥 Theme: Reimagining Patient Satisfaction in a Digital Era

T1.  How do we define patient satisfaction both from the patient side and the healthcare provider side?

​​Defining Satisfaction in the Local Context.  Is "Patient Satisfaction" the same as "Patient Experience"? In the Philippines, how much do cultural factors like malasakit (compassion) and pakikisama (getting along) outweigh technical efficiency in a patient's satisfaction score?

​The Healthcare Worker’s Side (Provider Satisfaction).  We often talk about the patient, but can we have satisfied patients if we have burnt-out clinicians? How do we balance the "Customer is Always Right" mentality with the well-being of doctors and nurses?

​T2.  What is the Role of Technology in Patient Satisfaction?

​Does the shift to telemedicine and health apps increase or decrease satisfaction for the Filipino patient?

​Pros: Less travel time, quicker access.

​Cons: The "digital divide" and the loss of physical touch/connection.

T3.  How do we measure patient satisfaction in terms of what truly matters to both patients and health care providers?

​​The "Pandesal" Analogy: We could compare healthcare satisfaction to a local bakery—it’s not just about the bread (the medicine), but the warmth of the service and the accessibility of the shop.

Measuring What Matters.  Are traditional surveys (like Likert scales) effective in our setting, or do we need more narrative-driven feedback? How can we use Social Media (like #HealthXPH itself) to capture the real sentiment of the community?  Share one "Green Flag" (positive sign) that immediately makes them feel satisfied with a healthcare encounter.

Quarterly Maternal-Perinatal Statistics

We've been at this for 10 years.  It's time to look into the impact of our quarterly activities if it reduced maternal mortality and morbidity or if mothers and babies are simply dying elsewhere.

 

HIV Treatment Hubs

It is always nice to see fellow advocates of PLHIVs and 

With luminary Dr Elfleda Hernandez guiding us.