Editorial - October 2024 - JKW Medical & Wellness Center: Yet Another Fruit of Quiambao Model of Development

JKW Medical & Wellness Center: Yet Another Fruit of 'Quiambao Model of Development'

What are the odds that a tertiary hospital would one day be built in a faraway agricultural town in Pangasinan? I'd say, nil. Probably not even in a hundred years.

But that's exactly what happened October 18, 2024 in lowly Brgy. Asin (or is that Brgy. Ligue?), this town.

When we in my little LGU circle heard about the story of this hospital, we couldn't help but be deeply moved. As we understand it, it was built in memory of Julius Kindangen Quiambao, Dr. Cezar Quiambao’s (Bayambang town’s former mayor) firstborn who has gone ahead a few years ago. This hospital was not among the grand projects planned by him during his administration, but after some delay, the Julius K. Quiambao Medical and Wellness Center was indeed inaugurated on that day, graced no less by the presence of First Lady Marie Louise ‘Liza’ Araneta-Marcos, among other dignitaries (national, regional, provincial, municipal, barangay) from the private and public sector.

There are so many things that are equally astonishing in the background story of this hospital. It was built within only less than three years – a rate that is very fast in comparison to standard government projects, labyrinthine procurement procedures and all. It was also 100% privately funded under Julius' name, instead of the usual way most big hospitals are built, that is through either PPP or a collaboration among several players or investors in the private sector.

Lastly, we were told that nobody in this town, not even Dr. Quiambao himself, would have ever thought that a hospital like this would be built this fast and be funded that way in a town like Bayambang in such a year as this.

This story is, in the vernacular, "nakakapanindig balahibo." In spiritual terms, it is no less than a miracle story, a story of grace. Let us therefore thank God that we have reached this day seeing with our very own eyes how things that are previously thought to be impossible can be possible if we have good intentions, and if we seize a rare opportunity to be of help to a lot of people.

Although the circumstances around why it was built was unfortunate, it is a great comfort to know that this tribute to a beloved son is something that Julius Quiambao himself would have approved. He may have been gone, but his legacy of doing good and being kindhearted to all will be same spirit that will surely animate the operations of this new health institution in Region I.

As a former mayor, Dr. Quiambao has had a lot of big projects to his name, but this one project “hits different” the most, as a favorite phrase nowadays goes, because it is concerned with back-to-basics, life-and-death matters.

This latest achievement illustrates anew what we would like to call the “Quiambao model of development.” If we may recall, Quiambao came to power in the most unlikely way, bringing with him a visionary, transformative style of leadership that he had honed in the global corporate world. As a successful businessman based in Indonesia, he had the choice of being content with what he had achieved in life by spending the rest of his days playing golf at the Wack-Wack Country Club with his buddies. But instead, he dared to take the risk by throwing his hat in the crazy political arena in the Philippines just so that he would be able to give back to his hometown, in his own terms.

We all heard the story of how hesitantly he came to power: Even though he had never entertained it in his mind, even though it was never a part of his plan and ambition, he was forced to run in the local elections of 2016 because he got fed up with how his hometown was being run at the time. As he would put it much, much later in his term, "Maganda pala kapag nabubuwisit ang isang Cezar Quiambao. Biglang nagkakaroon ng proyekto. Ang mga problema, bigla na lang nasosolusyunan.”

We are glad, however, that this time, JKQ MWC was not built out of annoyance or wrath, but out of love, by choosing to turn personal loss and grief into something meaningful.

We can say that through this hospital, Julius Quiambao did not suffer in vain. As this hospital becomes God's instrument in healing our much-deprived kababayans, may the pain left by his absence in the Quiambao household be healed in time as well.

At this point, we ardently wish that Dr. Quiambao’s stupendous rise to power be known by all, especially those with the means to change our countryside with such lightning speed with which he has changed Bayambang, in ways that no one has done before.

If we may, we thus call on the rest of our Filipino expatriates who have sizeable resources waiting to be tapped to do as Dr. Quiambao did. May they consider the option of going back and making a difference by serving their own hometowns. May they consider the Quiambao model: By transferring their headquarters to their old hometowns, it is easy to imagine how their taxes alone could serve as an economic windfall that could pump-prime local economies and create drastic change -- real change -- in the lives of our people in the provinces.

We need more patriotic Filipinos like Dr. Quiambao as partners of local governments in pushing the envelope in socioeconomic development, especially in the area of healthcare. Let us all find creative ways in how to make our nation move forward towards greatness, one project like this at a time. It wouldn't hurt if it's just as lightning fast as the rise of JKQ MHW.

Speech of Mayor NJQ at the JKQMWC Inauguration

 

MNJQ’S SPEECH

JKQMWC INAUGURATION

October 18, 2024; 8:00AM; JKQMWC

 

(acknowledgement of dignitaries)

 

Masantos a cabuasuan ed sicayon amin.

Naimbag nga bigat kadakayo amin.

Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.

Good morning to each and everyone.

 

A gift to the Bayambangueños and the entire Pangasinan, the Julius K. Quiambao Medical and Wellness Center honors our son, Julius, and his legacy of bettering lives and uplifting communities. 

Today, we are not only making history in advancing our healthcare system by providing top-notch services and medical equipment. We are also delivering an even valuable purpose and that is giving hope to the people.

Many families have been broken by poverty. And poverty, as we know it, is exhausting. It is dream- and hope-crushing. It is the real sickness that weakens and kills so many people. And it is heartbreaking when you see your loved ones suffer and not be able to do anything about it because of lack of money and because you are poor. This is why we started our banner program, ang Rebolusyon Laban sa Kahirapan in the year 2018. And since then, we have committed ourselves to help each and every Bayambangueño break free from the chains of poverty by creating more opportunities and bringing the government closer to the people.

Today, as I stand here among you, my heart is full and I feel grateful because we are fulfilling yet another promise to our town through the establishment of JKQ Medical and Wellness Center. Sa pagkakatatag ng institusyong ito, binibigyan natin ng panibagong inspirasyon at pag-asa ang ating mga kababayan. We are giving them a reason to look forward to a bright future because finally, every Bayambangueño and Pangasinense will now be able to afford quality and advanced medical care.

In one famous episode of Grey’s Anatomy, a well-loved medical drama television series, Meredith Grey delivered an iconic line that resonated not only among medical practitioners but to people from all walks of life. She said, “People can be broken but any surgeon knows that what’s broken can be mended, what’s hurt can be healed. And no matter how dark it gets, the sun is going to rise again.”

As public servants, this is our mission – to help in mending what is broken and damaged in our society, to heal not just the physical wounds of a person but even those that our eyes can’t see but our hearts can feel. To stand with our people in times of darkness and lead them towards a better, a kinder, and brighter future.

Many lives will depend upon our hands and we will be responsible for their future. So let us make a difference in people's lives by using these hands to foster empathy, compassion, and solidarity amongst people. Magtulungan tayo upang maipanalo ang Rebolusyon Laban sa Kahirapan.

 

Maraming salamat po at muli, magandang umaga po sa ating lahat. To God be all the highest glory.

 

 

 

Speech of Dr. Cezar T. Quiambao during the Inauguration of Julius K. Quiambao Medical & Wellness Center

To our First Lady, Liza Marcos-Araneta

My wife, Municipal Mayor Niña Jose-Quiambao

Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa

Governor Ramon V. Guico III,

Medical Director, Dr. Dave C. Gamboa

Hospital Administrator, Dr. Estrella Quiambao-Glorioso,

Chief Legal Officer, Atty. Arnel C. Glorioso

The rest of our local officials, other distinguished guests, people of Bayambang, our friends from the media, mga kababayan...

Good morning!

Thank you everyone for coming to this event.

I would like to thank especially our First Lady, Liza Marcos-Araneta, for taking time off from her busy schedule, just to be with us today. Maraming salamat po sa inyong pagsuporta, sa lahat po ng tulong na ibinibigay ninyo ni President Bongbong Marcos sa ating administrasyon at sa ating mga kababayang Bayambangueño. Marami pong development projects ang ating iniimplementa ngayon dahil sa suporta ng ating mahal na Presidente at First Lady.

As you probably know by now, this is one project that I never expected to make. While it is true that I have helped build a hospital in Guam before, I myself never thought that it would be possible to do the same thing right in my hometown. Maybe somewhere else, in a big city, but not in Bayambang.

But as things happened, here we are today, doing something we thought to be impossible, and in just a span of how many years.

It is true that this hospital came about because of deep personal loss. But today, I am so happy that my son's sudden, unexpected passing was not in vain. We are witnessing today something that we only dreamed about before when he was still alive: a hospital for our people. I just never thought that it would be built someday right here in my hometown.

God's ways are indeed not our ways. Siguro what we can do now is just be grateful that this happened at all.  Let us accept that "God writes straight using crooked lines," as the old saying goes. We are merely His instruments, perhaps to show how much He loves the people of Bayambang and the people of Pangasinan.

It is good that I listened to Him, that I allowed God to influence what was on my heart and mind at the time.

Maraming salamat sa ating Panginoon dahil ang sobrang lungkot at sakit sa pagkawala ni Julius noon ay pinalitan niya ngayong araw ng nag-uumapaw na ligaya. Maraming salamat din sa iyo, Julius, for guiding us here.

My son's dream is now a reality. Julius's spirit lives on in this hospital. May this hospital be an instrument of life for many people, an instrument of saving many lives. May it also serve as a window of opportunity for the medical, health, and wellness practitioners.

I am confident that JKQ MWC will even jumpstart the medical tourism sector in our province and region. Medical and wellness tourism has a high chance of succeeding in our country because, from the perspective of tourists from First World countries,  we have relatively affordable healthcare services, highly skilled medical professionals, and a reputation for specialized treatments.  I believe this hospital is positioned to benefit from these positive trends.

May the opening of the Julius K. Quiambao Medical and Wellness Center bring a new dawn for healthcare in Pangasinan.

Muli, maraming salamat po sa inyong suporta.

 

Turbaan Songs - Bayambang version

 Turbaan Songs

 

Akar ak lan akar

Arawi lan dalin

Katanga-tangay ko et

Abong a di salming

Balitok so takayan

Sampulado’y dingding

Bangon, bangon ka la inaro

Bangon, bangon ka la inaro

Ta wadya ak lan pinablim.

 

No Tuwan Inarom Ak

 

No tuwan inarom ak

Ya inutel ed pusom

Iyasulan mo ak pa siri’y

Inumen kon danom

Agko labay ta’y

Inasol ed bubon

No ag ingen sata’y

Pinespes ed pusom.

 

No asiim ko’y inarok

Ya akareteng? ed siak

Samsambuten mo’y

Manamayo’d satan

No say matam tan say matak

So makapantelekan

Inawa’y pagew kon

Aga nasabsabaan.

 

Iyanapan mo ak pa siri’y

Tambal na ermen ko

Dalayap ya poypoy

Anggapo’y akseng to

Bayawas ya aluto

Angapo’y bukel to

Niog ya malangwer

Wala la’y pala to

 

No Say Inarok et Agko Gabay

 

No say inarok ed agko gabay

Parukulen ko ed paway

Padangan ko ed puta'y wasay

Panulusen ko’y agilay-gilay

 

No say inarok et maninagem

Pakanen ko met na genggeng

Piyan magano ya umpatey

Nasalatan met la’y sananey

 

No say inarok et gabay ko la

Parukulen ko ed kama

Padangan ko’d ensaimada

Panulusen ko ya di burda.

 

 

No kumon agi ta

Limon kan kakanen

Agta ka gatgaten

Agta ka akmunen

Iyan ta ka'd nguro'y dilak

Ya pantulin-tulinen.

 

Balo ya linmesa

Gunigo'y pagew ko

Deralen to'y isip

Kalakal ko'y aburido

Siplog ka pan dagem 

Ta wala'y ipawit ko

Iliw ko'd inarok

Suldong na bilay ko

Say pusok so mannangnangis

Lapu'd ginawam

Inkaindan mo ak 

Ya agko anta'y nansengegan

No bilbilang inaro ta

Siak met la so lingwanan

Say pusok so mannangnangis

Lapu'd ginawam. 

Lyrics: Pusok so Mannangnangis

The folk song "Pusok so Mannangnangis" is said to be originally from Bayambang.

Balo ya linmesa

Gunigo'y pagew ko

Deralen to'y isip

Kalakal ko'y aburido

Siplog ka pan dagem 

Ta walay ipawit ko

Iliw kod inarok

Suldong na bilay ko

Say pusok so mannangnangis

Lapud ginawam

Inkaindan mo ak 

Ya agko anta'y nansengegan

No bilbilang inaro ta

Siak met la so lingwanan

Say pusok so mannangnangis

Lapud ginawam. 

MONDAY REPORT – OCTOBER 21, 2024

 

MONDAY REPORT – OCTOBER 21, 2024

 

[INTRO]

 

NEWSCASTER 1: Magandang Monday morning, Bayambang! Ako po si Mayor Niña Jose-Quiambao mula sa Mayor's Office.

 

NEWSCASTER 2: At ako naman po si Atty. Rodelynn Rajini S. Vidad mula sa Administrator's Office.

 

NEWSCASTER 1: Narito na ang buong puwersa ng LGU-Bayambang...

 

NEWSCASTER 2: Maghahatid sa inyo ng mga maiinit at napapanahong balita...

 

SABAY KAYO: Ito ang….BayambangueNews!

 

***

 

[SALITAN NA KAYO RITO]

 

Sa ulo ng nagbabagang balita:

 

1. Bagong PNP Provincial Director, Nag-courtesy Call

 

Pormal na ipinakilala ni PNP-Bayambang Chief kina Mayor Niña at Dr. Cezar Quiambao ang bagong Pangasinan Provincial Director ng pulisya na si Police Colonel Rollyfer J. Capoquian noong October 10. Ang pagbisita ay nagbukas ng daan sa ibayong pagpapatibay ng ugnayan sa pagitan ng bagong itinalagang Provincial Director at ng pamunuan ng bayan ng Bayambang.

 

 

2. ONGOING: Validation ng Nutrition Status ng mga Mag-aaral

 

Ang Nutrition Office ay nag-umpisa ng isang serye ng validation activity ukol sa nutritional status ng mga lokal na mag-aaral. Ito ay upang masigurong tama ang naitatalang timbang ng mga mag-aaral at walang nakakalusot na mga kaso ng wasting at stunting sa ating mga kabataan. Ang validation team ay nag-umpisang magvalidate noong October 11 sa Bayambang Central School katuwang ang dalawang DepEd Bayambang District Nurses.

 

 

3. M.C.D.O., Nakiisa sa Tree-Planting Activity

 

Ang Municipal Cooperative Development Office ay sumali sa isinagawang tree-planting activity sa Brgy. Managos ng Managos Farmers Agriculture Cooperative kasama ang Managos Elementary School Parents-Teachers Association at mga mag-aaral ng Managos ES. Ito ay bilang parte ng pagdiriwang ng Cooperative Month. Kabilang sa mga itinanim na punla ay mga puno ng lawaan, narra, at wild cherry.

 

 

4. Bayambang, Nakiisa sa Breast Cancer Awareness Month

 

Ang bayan ng Bayambang, kabilang ang LGU, Julius K. Quiambao Medical and Wellness Center, St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park, at Rotary Club of Bayambang, ay nakiisa sa isang nationwide Pink Lighting Activity ng Philippine College of Surgeons at Inner Wheel Clubs of the Philippines upang paigtingin ang kamalayaan ng lahat ukol sa breast cancer. Sa ika-anim ng gabi, sabay-sabay na sinindihan ng ICT at MTICAO ng pink na ilaw ang JKQ hospital, Prayer Park statue, at Municipal Hall.

 

 

5. SK, Nag-clean-up Drive sa BNHS

 

Noong October 11, pinangunahan ng Sangguniang Kabataan Federation ang isang clean-up drive sa Bayambang National High School, katuwang ang tatlong youth organizations na Yes-O Camp, BKD o Barkada Kontra Droga, at BNHS Supreme Secondary Learner Government. Sa sama-samang pagkilos, hindi lamang napaganda  ang paaralan, kundi napalakas din ang kamalayan ng mga estudyante sa kanilang tungkulin sa komunidad at pangangalaga sa kalikasan.

 

 

6. Mayor Niña, May Additional Cash Grant sa 2 Centenarians

 

Noong October 14, ang dalawang bagong centenarian mula sa Bayambang ay pinagkalooban ng P100,000 cash gift bawat isa mula sa sariling bulsa ni Mayor Niña. Ang cash gift ay tinanggap ng mga apo nina lolo Adriano Herrera ng Brgy. Pangdel at lola Magdalena Rico ng Brgy. Warding.

 

 

7. Mayor Niña, Namigay ng Grocery Packs sa Seniors

 

Sa araw ding iyon, naghandog si Mayor Niña ng mga grocery packages para sa lahat ng 77 Senior Citizens Federation presidents ng barangay. Ang dalawang aktibidad na nabanggit ay bahagi pa rin ng pagdiriwang ng Elderly Filipino Week.

 

 

8. Seminar ukol sa Katarungang Pambarangay, Isinagawa

 

Noong October 14, isang seminar tungkol sa Katarungang Pambarangay Law, DAR Land Use Conversion, at DA Certification for Reclassification of Agricultural Lands ang isinagawa ng Municipal Legal Office para sa mga barangay officials. Kabilang sa tinalakay ang responsibilidad ng mga barangay officials sa pagresolba ng mga alitan sa kanilang nasasakupan. Tinalakay din ang ukol sa DAR Land Use Conversion at DA Certification for Reclassification, na mga pangunahing requirement bago gamitin ang isang agricultural land para sa non-agricultural purposes.

 

 

9. Committee Hearing, Isinagawa para sa Application for Accreditation

 

Noong October 14, isang Committee Hearing ang isinagawa ng SB Committee on Transportation at Committee on People's Participation, para sa application for accreditation ng United TODA Federation of Bayambang, Inc. upang ang pederasyon ay makasali sa mga local special bodies ng LGU. Ang pagdinig ay pinangunahan ni Councilor Amory Junio.

 

 

10. Job Fair, May 157 Applicants

 

Isa sa namang job fair ang isinagawa ng PESO sa St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park noong October 15. Sila ay napag-attract ng 157 job applicants, kung saan 7 sa mga ito ang hired on the spot.  Mayroon namang sampung dumating na job recruiters, kabilang ang SM Hypermarket, One Document Corporation, at ulius K. Quiambao Medical and Wellness Center.

 

 

11. Mga Paghahanda sa UNDAS, Pinagpulungan

 

Noong October 16, pinagpulungan ng lahat ng departamento at ahensya ang mga gagawing paghahanda sa darating na Undas o All Saints’ Day celebrations na siguradong uuwian ng mga Bayambangueño mula sa iba’t ibang dako. Ito ay upang matiyak ang kaayusan at seguridad ng lahat sa nasabing okasyon.

 

 

12. Team-Building para sa OFW Children, Isinagawa ng OWWA

 

Ang Overseas Workers Welfare Administration ay nagsagawa ng isang team-building activity para sa mga anak ng OFW sa Bayambang. Dito ay matapang na hinarap ng mga kabataan ang mga hamon ng kanilang pagkawalay sa mga magulang na piniling makipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa. Ang mga aktibidad ay nakatulong sa mga kabataan sa pagharap sa iba't-ibang pagsubok habang malayo sa piling ng kanilang magulang.

 

 

13. School-based Immunization, Inumpisahan ng mga RHU

 

Noong mga nakaraang linggo, ang ating mga Rural Health Units ay nag-umpisa nang magsagawa ng school-based immunization (SBI) sa lahat ng mga paaralan. Kanilang naging target ang mga Grade 1 at Grade 7 students para sa booster dose ng measles, rubella, tetanus, at diphtheria, at Grade 4 o mga kababaihang edad 9 hanggang 14 para sa human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine.

 

 

14. Julius K. Quiambao Medical & Wellness Center, Opisyal nang Binuksan

 

Ang Julius K. Quiambao Medical & Wellness Center ay opisyal nang binuksan noong Oktubre 18 sa Brgy. Ligue, sa pangunguna nina Dr. Cezar Quiambao at Mayor Niña at ng pamilya Quiambao. Naging panauhing pandangal si First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos bilang kinatawan ni Presidente Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Ang nasabing ospital ay isang 112-bed-capacity tertiary hospital na may pitong palapag. Ito ay imamamage ng The Medical City Group at mayroong mga makabagong equipment gaya ng MRI, CT scan, at iba pa.

 

 

 

***

 

It's Trivia Time!

 

Happy United Nations Month! Ano nga ba ang United Nations o UN?

Ang United Nations ay isang pandaigdigang organisasyon na itinatag noong 1945 matapos ang World War II, upang magkaroon ng pandaigdigang kapayapaan at seguridad at kooperasyon sa pagitan ng mga bansa sa pagresolba sa mga economic, social, at humanitarian problems.  

 

Ang UN ay may orihinal na 51 member states, kung saan isa ang Pilipinas sa mga founding members. Sa kasalukuyan, ito ay binubuo ng 193 na kasaping bansa.

 

Alam niyo ba na isang Pilipino ang minsan ay naging Presidente ng United Nations General Assembly? Siya ay walang iba kundi si General Carlos P. Romulo. Yan ang OG na lodi!

 

Bakit nga ba ipinagdiriwang natin ang United Nations Day, lalo na sa mga paaralan? Ito ay dahil nais nating gunitain ang pagkakaisa ng lahat ng bansa sa pagtatapos ng World War II, at bilang pagdiriwang sa kapayapaang natamo ng mundo dahil sa pagkakatatag nito.

 

Sama-sama tayong manalangin upang, sa tulong ng UN, ay maresolba ang mga umiiral na alitan at giyera at ang lahat ng mga bansa ay laging nagkakaisa para mapanatili ang kapayapaan sa buong daigdig.

 

 

***

 

[OUTRO]

 

NEWSCASTER 1: At iyan po ang mga balitang nakatutok sa iba't ibang programa at proyekto ng LGU-Bayambang.

 

NEWSCASTER 2: Mga balitang may tatak Total Quality Service.

 

NEWSCASTER 1: Muli, ako po ang inyong lingkod, Mayor Niña Jose-Quiambao ng Mayor's Office.

 

NEWSCASTER 2: At Atty. Rodelynn Rajini S. Vidad mula sa Administrator's Office.

 

[SABAYANG BIGKAS]: At ito ang... Bayambangueñews!

 

***

 

Samantala, 68 days na lang… Pasko na!

 

PIO Personnel Duties and Responsibilities

 

STAFFING PATTERN

(Personnel Duties and Responsibilities)

 

Name	Job Status	Tasks
Head
1.    Resty S. Odon	Permanent	office manager, editor, lead writer-reporter, lead speechwriter, head social media manager
Writers
2.    Sheina Mae U. Gravidez	Casual	PIO deputy officer, assistant writer-reporter, assistant speechwriter, assistant social media manager, program emcee
3.    Vernaliza M. Ferrer	Casual	assistant writer- reporter, archivist of article/photo files
4.    Diadema I. Martinez	Casual	assistant reporter/speechwriter, encoder, researcher (Note: PWD)
5.    Sharlene U. Gravidez	Job Order	news writer, speechwriter
Photographers & IT Staff
6.    Jayvee M. Baltazar	Casual	sportswriter, circulation manager, photographer, driver, office assistant
7.    Eduardo Sison II	Casual	procurement officer, safety officer, photo archivist, office assistant, driver
8.    Xerxesh Gloria	Job Order	assistant photographer, office assistant, driver