Filipinos are noted for our bayanihan spirit. Innate in every Filipino to get involved and be part in something noteworthy. Everyone would say, even only to himself, “tutulong ako…” (I will help) in every sort of endeavor. “Tutulong ako…” in carrying a house across the street to be relocated to a safer ground. “Tutulong ako…” in building a community project – waiting shed, chapel, daycare centers, etc. “Tutulong ako…” in the distribution of food and clothing in every disaster – earthquake, flood, fire, etc. This time, everyone is called to say “Tutulong ako sa pasyenteng Pilipino” (I will help the Filipino patients).
In the face of continuing migration of Filipino health professionals abroad, the challenge is to empower individuals in protecting the lives of their families and encourage all organizations, agencies and all sectors of society to cooperate in the delivery of health services. The “Tulong ko sa pasyenteng Pilipino” (Helping Filipino Patients) is geared towards the achievement of this challenge.
"Tulong ko sa pasyenteng Pilipino"
It is a personalize help of a Filipino “… sa pasyenteng Pilipino”. Whatever it is that a Filipino may have, he could share it and say “ito ang tulong ko…” Men, women, young and old of every tongue and tribe could say in one voice . . .
“Tutulong ako sa pasyenteng Pilipino”.
Every Filipino, in one way or another, has something that could be of help to a patient – his time, his talent or his treasure. A smoker, for instance, could set aside a peso to buy one tablet of paracetamol for a patient with fever or headache, than to buy a stick of cigarette. A by-stander could spare an hour to accompany a lonely patient in the hospital than count jeepneys passing by or play cards and get drunk. Better still, anyone could join a humanitarian mission in remote communities to extend basic health information.
