Saint Patrick’s Fiesta 2023, March 17 SEMFA - South EastMan Filipino Association Cultural Event, March 15

From page 1 proposed legislation on the Magna Carta for Public Health Care Workers and Philippine Nursing Act, both of which aim to provide more benefits and ensure the welfare of medical professionals.

During the meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Healthcare Sector group at Malacañan Palace Wednesday, the President also asked the Commission on Higher Education

(CHED) for concrete steps to keep Filipino nurses working in the country.

“We have to be clever about the healthcare manpower. Our nurses are the best, buong mundo na ang kalaban natin dito (and we are up against the rest of the world),” Marcos said, referring to nurses migrating to other countries where pay is higher.

“Lahat ng nakakausap kong President, Prime Minister, ang hinihingi (All the Presidents and Prime Ministers that I have talked to are asking for) more nurses from the Philippines,” he added.

In response to the President, CHED Chairperson Prospero de Vera III said it is already carrying out interventions to address the shortage, which include retooling board non-passers, adopting nursing curriculum with exit credentials, redirecting nonpracticing nurses and conducting exchange programs with other countries.

“Under the nursing curriculum with exit credentials, students could have several options: exit at the end of Level I or II, obtain the certificate or diploma in Nursing, or choose to continue and finish the four-year nursing program to become a registered nurse,” De Vera reported to the PSAC Health Sector group.

De Vera said CHED is also working on a flexible short-term masteral program to address the lack of instructors in nursing and medical schools.

Among those who attended the PSAC meeting include Sabin

Aboitiz, Strategic convenor president and CEO of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc.; Paolo Maximo Borromeo, Healthcare lead president and CEO of Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc; Fr. Nicanor Austriaco Jr., Healthcare Sector Member and FilipinoAmerican molecular biologist; and Dr. Nicanor Montoya, Healthcare Sector Member and CEO of Medicard Philippines, Inc.

By Filane Mikee Cervantes, PNA

Dahil ayaw mong makasakit ng damdamin ng umutang sa iyo ay iniisip mong mabuti ang gagamitin mong salita sa paniningil. Kailangan kang maging ma-respeto, magalang at tunog mabait ang paniningil. Bukod dito ay isasa-alang-alang mo ang petsa ng paniningil. Panahon ba ito ng bayaran ng upa sa bahay, tubig, hydro, etc?

Anong oras ba kailangang magtext? Baka naman natutulog pa ang umutang at nakakahiya naman sa kaniya na gisingin mo sa isang text ng paniningil. Hiyang-hiya ka sa umutang sa ’yo. Ikaw na ang nagpautang. Ikaw pa ang nahihiya. Sounds familiar ba, ika mo?

Going back months or years ago ay mabait sa iyong nagmessage ang umutang sa iyo at kinumusta ka. Isang messenger notification ang nakita mo at may smiley icon pa. Masaya ang tunog ng mensahe. “Kumusta na po Kuya?” Ang pangungumustang ito ay mauuwi sa maikling kuwento na susundan ng pagbabahagi ng problema at ang ultimatum na mensahe ay “baka naman.” Kapag bumanat na ng “baka naman” ang mensahe ay alam mo na ang ibig nitong sabihin. Mangungutang lang pala kaya ka naalala.

Kapag naipadala mo na ang pera ay magpapasalamat sa iyo ang umutang na may pangakong “huwag kang mag-alala.” Ikaw naman ay tiwala dahil naawa ka at