Letter to Secretary Enrique T. Ona

February 16, 2012

Dr. Enrique T. Ona

Secretary

Department of Health

Philippines

Dear Sir,

Good day!

This letter was supposed to be my letter complaint last year’s sluggish response of your provincial hospital as well as your community clinics. Since I hadn’t had the time to write immediately and I had doubts of whether should you have concern with your provincial area of responsibility, I did not let your office know soon. But since, a lot of things change lately as well as the new administration, and repeated incidents of bad governance on our provincial and municipal hospitals, I would greatly appreciate it if my complaint months ago will just be heard and responded by your office.

Last year, May 1; my brother has been bitten by a stray dog. We hurriedly went to a nearest hospital (a private one) to have him vaccinated. But we happen to cannot afford the anti-rabies vaccine then. As a good tax payer, we knew that a portion of those taxes are allotted for DOH. That’s is when we rushed to Polomolok Municipal Hospital where we were instructed that we must be receiving the vaccine from South Cotabato Provincial Hospital,  which is about 40km away from our remote place. Before travelling that far, we did tried to all the community health centres but responses we got are of either there is no available anti-rabies vaccine, there were no doctors to see us (since doctors are only available on a schedule which we understood but how can we get prescription and buy a vaccine at an amount can afford!). It was already late afternoon, so we decided to go to the Provincial Hospital the next day. But when we got there, we were only entertained by a nurse who promised us that a doctor will soon attend us which she explained all the doctors were on a meeting. We did spend our whole afternoon till 4pm and no doctor showed up!  We even missed our lunch and my brother who did not received any vaccine for over 24-hours already collapsed out of thirst, tiredness and hunger. We honestly have no extra money for food and as well transportation back home. The money we had was for the supposed cheaper vaccine shots the government offer. But he did not receive any! We were too desperate that day, we then went to a private clinic instead and had his 1^st shot. Our next problem was the succeeding shots. The provincial hospital nurse assured us that the next week we return, there will be available doctor to see us as well as cheaper vaccine. But sadly, same scenario happened, we were kept waiting from 8am till everyone in the hospital were gone. Since we have no enough money, we missed the 2^nd shots. We manage to produce the amount 2 weeks after the 1^st shot. What’s so disappointing is that we have friends who have easily received anti-rabies shots since they knew someone in the government. How about us? The ordinary taxpaying citizen who does not know anybody working at DOH? Money is so scarce that we decided to just let my brother be home at Manila instead. The money that was supposedly is paid for the 3^rd shot was use a fare going back to Manila (since he was only on vacation here). I borrowed money for my brother’s remaining anti-rabies vaccine shots to continue it at Manila. Because of the weeks missed for his shots, San Lorenzo Hospital doctors decided to repeat all the shots back to day 1. Which in our part is again a waste of time and burden in finding means? Luckily, at San Lorenzo Hospital, the amount I sent my brother for the remaining shots are enough to cover all 5 shots. Until now, I am still paying little by little the money I barrowed for the vaccine. I may not have barrowed that big amount if only your local offices and centres are systematic and responsible enough to take actions in cases like these. If San Lorenzo can be of so much efficient and timely, how come our government clinic s and hospitals here are not even concern of our financial and compassion needs? I am just wondering. I hope that you may further investigate and strengthen efforts regarding cases like these. You are a department that saves life. And emergencies like these must have timely response and has compassionate and considerate staffs.

I am truly hoping, that I may never hear the same complaint as I did and as well, as taking all life (like my brother’s life) with urgency and respect. I also hope that in the next months, more programs and literacy about rabies awareness as well as responsible keeping of pets must be implemented. My brother’s case is just one of the many incidents often neglected. 

Respectfully Yours,

Rona Formoso

I am a dog Lover

The Dogs in my Life

Raph & cousin Tala on Jackpot's 2nd Chritsmas with us

I am a dog lover. In fact, I still remember the names of all the dogs I had. My first dog was pure a golden retriever whom I truly adore for 13 years before resting in peace is Bar. He was brought home by my aunt whom amazingly is a well behave pet and never nibbled a slipper or a shoe. After Bar, my aunt gave me another dog which is a breed of an authentic Askal (A common term for breed of Philippine dog which are of medium size, and has thin fur and are only usually in colours white, brown, black or a misture f the 3 colours). We named him Ram, in honour of Gringo Honasan’s movement.  I had no choice but to call the dog Ram because my uncle has high respect with the former military officer. Before Ram died, someone in our neighbour gave me a dog and I finally had the chance to name him. Since I was so frantic with the Rambo movie that time, of course I named him after the famous movie character. Then when I lived with my parents at Bulacan, my mama’s dog gave birth with 3 dogs and I totally asked for the most furry and adorable puppy. I then named him Alovera (used to be a famous shampoo brand), since her mom’s name is Shampoo and all the rest of Alovera’s siblings are also named from other shampoo brands, Palmolive and Sunsilk. I took a very long time before I had had another dog.

Then before I got pregnant, my hubbyness and I found a big-eyed, bald, stout and fat dog following us around. We looked for her owner for 2 days and even reported it to the nearest police stations around the place we found her. After few days, the dog’s fur grew longer than we expected and we finally realize it was a Shitzu breed then we decided to assumed ownership of her and started calling her Jackpot. Long before our son (Raph) came, we actually had a baby. We all gave her all the doggie stuff she needed: expensive shampoos and bath needs, dog food and supplements, pet vaccines and other dog vitamin boosters, and (oh boy can you believe it?!) cutie little clothes. Jackpot was a charm. She has been our dog for about 3 years but we lost her (or I really suspected someone stole her when we took a summer vacation at Manila). We did paired her to few shitzu breed dogs but all did not succeed in laying her down (hahaha, so way picky, she rather hang out with larger dogs whom all were too desperate to reach what should be reached hehehe). I actually grieved when Jackpot left us (maybe she wandered around new eligible pet owner, sob, sob). God, I missed Jackpot. I remember her bark every time she needs a pee or poop outside or her crazy censored act every time she feels so hot (lol. Creepy but missed).

After Jackpot, our former Pension house owner (which we rented for few months) gave a little Japanese Pitch puppy. The pension house caretaker insists in naming her Joross (after a newly rising Star circle Quest contestant’s name. But the real Joross was a guy, right?). Since the dog is a female, we name her Ruthie (after the name of my fave little smart kid at 7^th Heaven’s reruns).  Okay, I decide the name of our 2 dogs but my hubbyness thought for the name of our son’s very tedious name Imagine, our son has to take a board exam and he has to write on his given name: Raph Marcus Venicio. And that is only the first name; he has to write my maiden name and my hubby’s family name! Whew! Talking about tediousness in writing ones name. Since we move often, and now, we aren’t allowed to have pets on our apartment (but I wonder why our compound is filled with different pets?!) ‘till now, Ruthie stays with my in laws’ house together with 5 other dogs (oh, I think there are only 3 dogs which includes Ruthie in that count; the rest were either given away or had been dead for old age reasons). We wished Ruthie can bear more high quality Japanese pitch puppies(even the only possible breed link is a full-blooded askal); Ruthie still hasn’t bore one at her 5^th year of existence (beauty queen lang na statement eh hehehe). I guess good breeds are hard to produce (hehehe).

If God willing, we are able to own a place of our own, I would love to have another dog like Jackpot. Or perhaps like Douglas (the famous humongous dog at Baguio City) who can keep us company when our dearest son decides to study on far universities from home (though that time will be a decade or more from now, who knows).  After all, we can’t have a new one now; I have now paranoia about unexpected pet attack (might share you next time why I now fear dogs, not that I watch too much animal attack documentaries on cable. But the idea is freaking me out a bit).

Dogs are such fun company and never complains (if ever they did complain, they never bug so much you as man do). Truly dogs are man’s best friend. For now, we settled for a gold fish named Fishy (because Raph has asthma and a fish won’t cause any allergy). But sadly Fishy died last week; I’ll just buy new fish tomorrow, maybe a janitor fish or a fighting fish this time and name it... Guido – one of the character on Raph’s fave movie The Cars.