Weekend Holiday in Davao

 

A Well-Deserved Davao Escape: Science, Friendship, and Feasting

Few things match the sense of relief and quiet triumph that follows the conclusion of a high-stakes academic competition. After the intensity of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) Southern Mindanao Interesting Case Report Contest, transitioning directly into a weekend staycation in Davao City felt less like a mere holiday and more like a necessary reset for the mind and spirit. Davao, with its blend of urban ease, rich agricultural abundance, and warm coastal hospitality, proved to be the ideal backdrop to unwind, celebrate, and reconnect.

The heart of any memorable staycation lies in the people with whom it is shared. Spending these three unhurried days alongside my seniors offered a wonderful shift in dynamic—away from the structured hierarchy of hospital corridors and academic deliberations into an atmosphere of genuine camaraderie and shared stories. Equally grounding was the time spent catching up with my best friend and my godson. Watching my godson’s bright curiosity and listening to his laughter provided a refreshing reminder of life’s simple joys outside the demands of medicine, while catching up with a lifelong friend felt like returning to a familiar, comforting anchor.

Of course, no journey to Davao is complete without indulging in its legendary culinary identity. Our days were marked by unforgettable feasts, starting with plates of sweet, succulent crabs cooked to perfection—a messily delicious tradition that encouraged long, casual conversations over shared tables. Between meals, we feasted on Davao’s famous bounties of fresh fruits: creamy durian, sweet mangosteens, marang, and pomelos, each bite offering a taste of the region’s rich soil and tropical sun.

Looking back, those three days were a perfect harmony of accomplishment and respite. Balancing academic pursuit with the warmth of mentorship, deep friendship, and family bonds—all set against the backdrop of Davao’s vibrant food culture—made for an extraordinarily delightful retreat. It was a gentle reminder that while clinical scholarly work sharpens the mind, it is the shared meals, quiet laughter, and cherished relationships that truly nourish the soul.

Central Vusayas Consortium on Health Research and Development

 Just like a class reunion, meetings with members of working committees of the CVCHRD are pleasant at the very least and genuinely enjoyable at best.

DOH-certified HIV Counselors

Good morning, team, and welcome to this vital training on HIV Counseling and Testing.

​Today, you are acquiring more than just a new skill set—you are stepping into a profound responsibility. As representatives carrying the name of the Department of Health, your work directly reflects our collective commitment to public health, human dignity, and compassionate service.

​As a return on this investment in your training, our expectation is clear: we need you to serve actively and help drive HIV case finding so we can finally END the HIV epidemic.

​Through this training, you will master the core pillars of HIV counseling and testing:

​Correct Results: Delivering accurate, reliable testing with precision and professional rigor.

​Confidentiality: Maintaining strict privacy to build an unbreakable foundation of trust with every patient.

​Consent: Respecting autonomy and ensuring every patient is fully informed and willing.

​Counseling: Offering non-judgmental, compassionate guidance before and after every test.

​Connection to Care: Ensuring no patient who tests reactive walks away alone, but is immediately linked to lifesaving treatment and support.

​You will leave here with the tools. You will leave here with the skills. But tools and skills alone are not enough—you must bring the HEART for Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV). Empathy is your most powerful asset when standing beside someone receiving a reactive result.

​Arthur Ashe famously said, "Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can."

​Look at where we are right now. Among all HIV testing modalities, inpatient HIV screening is second only to index testing in yield and impact. Every single day, we have direct access to patients across our hospital wards. We have the exact opportunity Arthur Ashe spoke of right in front of us.

​Help us implement opt-out HIV screening for inpatients. By making HIV testing a routine, standard part of inpatient care, we break down barriers, normalize testing, and actively dismantling the stigma and discrimination that still surround PLHIV.

​HIV does not discriminate—and neither should we.

​Let us lead with skill, serve with integrity, and care with heart. Together, let’s make an AIDS-free generation a reality. Thank you, and let’s make this training count!