- 4 weeks ago
"Money is not our main goal in rendering this kind of commitment or service.”
Makati Medical Center’s interim Co-CEO Dr. Saturnino “Bong” Javier was just a neophyte medical director when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Philippines. Known for fearlessly admonishing those who disregarded quarantine rules, he successfully steered their institution through a global health crisis.
In this episode of Power Talks with Pia Arcangel, Dr. Javier shares how he balances the demands of top leadership with his continued commitment to patient care. Beyond the boardroom and the wards, he still finds time to reconnect with childhood friends and keep up with the latest—not only in the medical field but also in K-pop trends.
How do compassion, competence, and curiosity keep him leading—and healing—in equal measure? Watch this video to find out.
Makati Medical Center’s interim Co-CEO Dr. Saturnino “Bong” Javier was just a neophyte medical director when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Philippines. Known for fearlessly admonishing those who disregarded quarantine rules, he successfully steered their institution through a global health crisis.
In this episode of Power Talks with Pia Arcangel, Dr. Javier shares how he balances the demands of top leadership with his continued commitment to patient care. Beyond the boardroom and the wards, he still finds time to reconnect with childhood friends and keep up with the latest—not only in the medical field but also in K-pop trends.
How do compassion, competence, and curiosity keep him leading—and healing—in equal measure? Watch this video to find out.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00To you, what is power or influence and how is it best used?
00:03Power is something that can make you change and mold opinion.
00:08It's never physical, but the persuasiveness of what you do,
00:12either by communication or by example,
00:15is how you make an impact with your strength or power.
00:19I can say this seguro for most of my colleagues in the profession,
00:23money is not our main goal in rendering this kind of commitment or service.
00:27There's always a service accompaniment to what we do.
00:31I just hope that government really puts substantial budget on healthcare,
00:35pero budget na gagamitin na maayos for healthcare.
00:38Yung mapupunta talaga sa healthcare.
00:40Budget na hindi mapupunta sa selected packets of corrupt officials.
00:49He's a well-known interventional cardiologist
00:51and is currently the interim co-CEO of Makati Medical Center.
00:55Today, we're sitting down with Dr. Satornino Bong Javier.
01:00Join us as he talks about the challenges and triumphs
01:03of leading one of the Philippines' premier healthcare facilities
01:06only here on Power Talks.
01:09Good afternoon, Dr. Javier.
01:11Good afternoon.
01:12It's so nice to be here.
01:13We're so excited because, Doc, you're actually the first doctor
01:16that we've had on the show.
01:18So, very different perspective ang makukuha naman from you today
01:22and we're very excited for this conversation.
01:23Thank you for having us, Doc.
01:24I'm honored and thank you for having me.
01:27Did you always want to be a doctor?
01:29No.
01:29A doctor, yes, yes, yes.
01:31Doctor, yes.
01:32From my college days, being a doctor was part of my aspiration in life.
01:40But I will tell you that becoming a doctor was more like
01:43parang peer group kind of influence
01:46because many of the people in my class,
01:49at least I came from B.S. Biochemistry of UST.
01:53A good number of people in my group wanted to be a doctor.
01:56So, sabi ko ko rin.
01:58I also wanted to be a doctor.
01:59Sama ako.
02:01So, going into biochemistry,
02:03your plan wasn't yet to go straight to med school?
02:04It kind of gave me the opportunity to consider medicine
02:11because I was in a biological field.
02:15So, it became an easy pathway to get into medicine.
02:19What is a typical day like for you?
02:21For the most part,
02:22days usually spent making rounds,
02:24seeing patients in the clinic
02:25because I've not given up my clinical practice completely.
02:29And then, of course, you have meetings
02:30as part of your administrative job and responsibility
02:33that you usually occupy several hours
02:36of meeting with different divisions,
02:38different departments.
02:39You're really at the helm of, you know,
02:40the day-to-day operations.
02:42But like you mentioned,
02:43you haven't given up your clinic.
02:45Was there ever a time that you thought of maybe
02:48just choosing one or focusing on the other?
02:50Never, never, Pia,
02:51because I felt like to be effective as a clinical leader,
02:57you need to be in touch with a clinical environment
03:00that you work in.
03:01You need to have the pulse of the clinical group
03:04to be able to come up with policies
03:06that will be good for the clinical group as well.
03:09I think we all understand that the doctors,
03:11the nurses, the medical professionals,
03:12the ones that make the hospital thrive
03:16effectively and efficiently.
03:18So, we need to make sure that clinical policies
03:21are aligned with the directions
03:23that the clinical group needs.
03:24So, paano yan, Doc?
03:25Is there a conscious effort
03:26that you divide your time 50-50,
03:2950% with your patients or at the clinic
03:31and 50% here on the corporate side?
03:34What happened, of course,
03:35was I needed to give up a few clinic hours
03:37to be able to accommodate
03:39the administrative responsibilities.
03:42So, instead, for example,
03:43of having like four clinic days a week,
03:48I've made it only three, for example.
03:50And, but those hours are still able
03:54to accommodate people that you need to see.
03:57Yan nga lang may do naging
03:58more appointment-based
03:59rather than just people walking in.
04:02And there are always ways of scaling the cat.
04:05Time management lang, diyan, diyan?
04:07O, nga.
04:08And it's important that you're also working
04:10with a good team, diyan, Doc?
04:11Right, right.
04:11O, because that helps, you know,
04:13make ensure that things are running smoothly.
04:15Clarify ko lang, I'm co-CEO.
04:17Co-CEO, yes.
04:18So, there's another CEO
04:19who's the finance guy of the hospital.
04:22So, we work together hand-in-hand
04:24for the medical system
04:25while we do not have a CEO yet.
04:28You said that you're actually
04:28the first doctor in the family.
04:30I'm the first in my family.
04:32But the family I built now,
04:35I have three doctors.
04:37All my three children are in medicine.
04:40One of them is a full-fledged,
04:42licensed physician.
04:44The second one will take the boards.
04:46Exciting, Doc.
04:47And the third one is finish up
04:48medicine proper in UST.
04:50So, I'm happy with the fact
04:51that I've built a family of doctors.
04:53Oh, you must be so proud, Doc.
04:54I am, I am.
04:55But, Doc, between you and me,
04:57were you trying to convince them
04:59about to get into the field of medicine?
05:00Actually, hindi nga eh.
05:02I think na-reverse psychology ko sila.
05:05Because I know many of my friends
05:07who are doctors
05:08who really make an effort
05:10to convince their children
05:11to become doctors.
05:12I think medicine and law,
05:15at least these two fields,
05:17is something you cannot force
05:18your children to get into
05:19unless they want it.
05:21It requires a lot of dedication,
05:24a lot of commitment.
05:25So, if they want to be doctors,
05:27you have to want to be.
05:29And your parents cannot just influence you
05:31to get into it
05:32just because they want you to be doctors.
05:34When they were young, Doc,
05:35would you bring them with you
05:36to the clinic?
05:37Yes, yes.
05:38I remember
05:39in some of my outpatient clinics,
05:43I would take along my eldest
05:45and my second
05:46to see patients with me.
05:49They would do the ECG.
05:51They would take the blood pressure.
05:53And hear this, Pia.
05:54I would give them salary for doing that.
05:56So, it's something
05:58they would look forward to as well.
06:00Okay.
06:00So, at least they knew
06:01that if they work on something,
06:04may kapalip na reward.
06:05That's right.
06:05That's right.
06:06Lahat ng mga doctor ngayon, Doc,
06:07they know na how to
06:08convince their children
06:10to also get into the field of medicine.
06:12Dalhin lang nila sa clinic.
06:12I think if they can see
06:15what you are,
06:17the kind of work that you do,
06:19and they also see
06:20what they're up against
06:21in the kind of work that you do,
06:23then they will have
06:23a better understanding
06:25of the profession
06:26that they're getting into.
06:28But that's great
06:28how you describe that, Doc.
06:30Because parang most of us,
06:31our idea is,
06:32kapag ang magula mo ay doktor,
06:34then they don't normally
06:35have enough time
06:36to spend with you at home.
06:38So, now we see that
06:39there are ways
06:40to work around that.
06:41Siguro, I've given them
06:43a picture na medyo balanced.
06:45And which is why I said,
06:46okay, I can do this too.
06:48So, I'm happy with that.
06:49I'm very proud of the fact
06:51that I've been able
06:51to influence them somehow
06:53to become doctors.
06:54Do you give them advice, Doc?
06:57Every time.
06:58Do they ask for it?
06:59Or binibigay niyo na lang?
07:00I just force them
07:01to get it from me.
07:04Ang suerte rin,
07:05nila, Doc,
07:06because they can learn
07:07from you
07:07and you're right there
07:08at home.
07:09And I also learn
07:09from them.
07:10Ah, wow!
07:11That's a shame.
07:12A lot of things
07:12that your children
07:13will make you learn
07:15in life as well.
07:16Dati kasi,
07:18during my childhood,
07:18parang you cannot
07:19ask questions, di ba?
07:20You just listen
07:21and you just embrace
07:22whatever's being
07:23offered to you
07:24or told to you.
07:26But now,
07:27you have to have
07:27a more interactive
07:28kind of communication.
07:30Give and take.
07:31It cannot be just
07:32what you want
07:33them to do
07:33or what you have
07:34them doing for you.
07:36It has to be
07:37give and take.
07:38Ah, that's a great
07:39way of putting it, Doc.
07:40And when your children
07:41hear this episode
07:42or watch this episode,
07:43they'll say,
07:43ah, my dad learns
07:44from you rin pala.
07:46They will remind you
07:47of that, I'm sure.
07:48Both trivial
07:49and deep things
07:51I learn also
07:52from my children.
07:53Ah, any trivial things
07:55you've learned
07:56lately from them?
07:57Oh, Korean stuff.
07:58Korean...
07:59my daughter
08:00will educate me
08:01on these things.
08:02Technology, for example,
08:04I would ask my sons,
08:05Luigi Franco,
08:06can you help me
08:06with this gadget?
08:07I need to process
08:08this better.
08:09And they will be very
08:10keen on helping me out.
08:13Social media also, though?
08:15Diyan ako mahina
08:16and this is why
08:16I would take advice
08:19from them
08:20on how to...
08:22Questions like,
08:24Luigi,
08:24pag in-unfollow ko ba
08:25yung isang tao,
08:26will he or she
08:27learn about it?
08:28Yun yung number one
08:30question ng magulang.
08:31Will he or she
08:32learn about it?
08:33Pag-linak ko ba?
08:34Malalaman nila.
08:35Oo, di ba?
08:35Oo, Doc.
08:36Those are the trivial things.
08:38Maybe trivial,
08:39pero may mga,
08:40ano yun,
08:40may mga
08:41substantial impact yun
08:43if you're not very careful,
08:44you know,
08:44especially in social media.
08:46Ako,
08:46sino kaya in-unfollow yun, Doc?
08:47Ang dami.
08:51Baka check nila,
08:52pina-follow pa ba
08:52ako ni Doc Bong?
08:54Dati yata,
08:55when you unfollow,
08:56malalaman nila, di ba?
08:57Yes.
08:57Ngayon, hindi na?
08:59Hindi rin ako sure.
09:00If you really check
09:01your followers.
09:02Ah.
09:04But you're,
09:05walang notification
09:06that Pia unfollowed you.
09:07Walang ganon.
09:08Ah, walang ganon.
09:09Okay na yun, Doc.
09:10Okay.
09:10So you make an effort
09:13to check
09:13kung sino yun.
09:14Yeah.
09:15See,
09:16I learned something again.
09:18Growing up, Doc,
09:21were your parents,
09:23sabi mo,
09:23nobody was a doctor
09:25in the family.
09:25Were they in like,
09:27what fields were they in?
09:28My parents were handling
09:29small businesses
09:30on the side.
09:31I grew up 100%
09:33in my town,
09:34Tanawan City,
09:35in Batangas.
09:36Up to my high school,
09:38I finished it all there
09:39in Tanawan.
09:40And then started
09:41my USD days
09:41when I went to college.
09:43So my pre-med,
09:44my medicine proper,
09:46my clerkship,
09:47internship,
09:47and residency
09:48were all in USD.
09:49Ah, what was
09:50the reaction
09:51of your parents
09:51when you told them
09:52that you wanted
09:52to be a doctor?
09:53Good.
09:53Are you the eldest po, Doc?
09:56I'm the youngest.
09:57Ah, the youngest.
09:58I'm the youngest.
09:59So medyo spoiled
10:00ng konti.
10:01So natuwa po silang
10:02lahat na may doktor
10:03sa pamilya.
10:03Yes, yes.
10:04And when you were
10:06in med school, Doc,
10:07nakaka-uwi pa po ba
10:08kayo?
10:09Oh, yeah.
10:09Ah, okay.
10:11Ang galing, Doc.
10:11Kasi, you know,
10:12diba?
10:12My impression is always
10:13if you're in med,
10:15if you're a doctor,
10:15you're in med school,
10:16parang you have
10:17no time for anything else.
10:18But let me clarify,
10:19nakaka-uwi like
10:20in a month,
10:21in a month,
10:22or two months.
10:23But for the most part,
10:24you stay in a dormitory
10:26in Metro Manila
10:27to be able to meet
10:29the demands
10:29of a medical career.
10:31And you're still
10:31friends, Doc,
10:32kasi parang iba siguro
10:34yung bond kapag
10:35you're going through
10:35the same difficulties
10:36and challenges together.
10:37I'm still maintaining
10:39a Viber group
10:40with my medicine.
10:41We still discuss
10:45the same political views,
10:47the same aspirations
10:48in life.
10:49Now, we talk about
10:50our medications
10:51na minimintain.
10:53So, and then
10:54what's happening
10:55now with your children.
10:57So, career orientation
10:58na yung mga pinag-uusapan.
11:00Maintenance medications,
11:02frustrations in politics,
11:03in government,
11:04et cetera.
11:05Nag-iba na yung conversation.
11:07But, Doc,
11:08was there ever a time
11:09that you thought
11:11that maybe you should
11:12have chosen
11:13another profession
11:14because it can be
11:14so difficult,
11:15it can be so frustrating
11:17and so challenging?
11:19Honestly, no.
11:20I cannot imagine
11:21yata myself
11:21in another field
11:22other than
11:23what could it have been
11:25if I were not
11:25a doctor like architecture,
11:27for example.
11:27But, no.
11:28I think this is still
11:29my calling
11:30to be a doctor
11:31and provide
11:31whatever I can
11:33in terms of
11:34healing
11:35or treating people.
11:37That really
11:38is what medicine is.
11:39It's not just
11:40a career
11:41about earning
11:43your professional fees.
11:44It's a calling.
11:45That's right.
11:46It's a public service too.
11:47That's right.
11:48So, it's really
11:50something that I value
11:51as a commitment
11:52to what I do.
11:54Of course,
11:55there's money there.
11:57And nobody hates money,
11:58di ba?
11:58We all want to earn.
12:00Sino bang aayaw?
12:01Exactly.
12:02We just want to earn
12:03things properly
12:04for what we do,
12:06for the services
12:06that we render.
12:07But,
12:08I would think,
12:09and I can say this
12:10siguro for most
12:11of my colleagues
12:13in the profession,
12:15money is not
12:16our main goal
12:17in rendering
12:18this kind of
12:19commitment
12:20or service.
12:21There's always
12:22a service accompaniment
12:23to what we do.
12:24Doc,
12:25nag-ingit nyo,
12:25again,
12:26like you said,
12:27sa USD po kayo,
12:29and you have been
12:30awarded more than
12:31once by USD
12:32different awards
12:33as an outstanding
12:34alumnus
12:35of the university.
12:37What does it feel like
12:38when you go back
12:39to the institution
12:39that you came from
12:40and you're recognized
12:41for the work
12:42that you do?
12:43I'm very,
12:44very elated
12:44and very happy
12:45that someone
12:47or some institution
12:48took note
12:49of what I've done,
12:50especially because
12:51this was part
12:52of the COVID pandemic.
12:53So,
12:54to be recognized
12:55by your institution
12:56and bestow on you
12:58the highest award
12:59that can be given
12:59to an alumnus,
13:00I'm extremely grateful.
13:02I'm extremely grateful.
13:04How about, Doc,
13:05your decision
13:05to get into
13:06the administrative
13:07part of medicine?
13:09What led me to it?
13:11Yeah,
13:11what led you to it,
13:12Doc?
13:13It's probably,
13:15again,
13:16it may sound
13:17like a cliche,
13:18but it's something
13:19that I really
13:19didn't aspire for.
13:20just get to be
13:23offered
13:24siguro at the time
13:25that I was ready
13:26to take on the job.
13:28One of the things
13:29that really
13:30somehow convinced me
13:31to get into it
13:33was,
13:33ang CEO ko kasi
13:34ng PIA
13:35was a doctor.
13:36So, sabi ko,
13:37baka kaya ko to
13:38kasi yung boss ko
13:39is a doctor.
13:41Maybe it's a language
13:42that we can both
13:43understand
13:44and maybe I can
13:45take on the job.
13:46So, I took it.
13:47Little did I know
13:48that in a few months,
13:49COVID is
13:50coming over.
13:51We all remember
13:52how, you know,
13:53how you handled
13:55various situations
13:57during the pandemic
13:57because it was
13:58a very difficult
13:59time for everyone
14:00and most,
14:01especially,
14:02for those in the
14:02healthcare sector.
14:04At that time,
14:04when you first heard
14:05of the number of cases
14:06in China,
14:07in other countries,
14:08Japan, ganyan,
14:09may konting kaba na po ba
14:10kayo na
14:11baka umabot rin
14:12dito sa Pilipinas?
14:14Hindi lang konti.
14:15Malaking kaba ko
14:15na darating sa
14:16Philippines.
14:17And just to give you
14:18a sidelight
14:20of that era
14:22that we all
14:22view as a nightmare.
14:25Naging medical director
14:26kasi ako
14:26yung 2019.
14:28Oh, so right before?
14:29Around October.
14:30Okay.
14:31By December,
14:31we already had news
14:33of the Wuhan virus.
14:34By March of the
14:36following year,
14:372020,
14:37we had our first case
14:38in Makati Medical Center.
14:40So,
14:42what are the odds
14:42that when you took on
14:44a job as medical director,
14:45there's a COVID pandemic
14:47waiting for you?
14:49But it's,
14:50sabi ko,
14:52maybe this is something
14:53that's really meant
14:54to be handled
14:55or contracted
14:56during this particular time.
14:57And we just did our best.
14:59But it's something
15:00you wouldn't wish
15:00on your enemies,
15:01this COVID pandemic.
15:05It's really a nightmare,
15:06especially during that time.
15:07It's a disease
15:08we hardly knew
15:10anything about.
15:11We didn't know
15:12how to treat it.
15:13We've never been
15:14in a pandemic
15:15in our lifetime.
15:16So it's the first
15:16pandemic in our lifetime.
15:18So,
15:19the impact is tremendous.
15:21You see some
15:22of your nurses
15:22down COVID.
15:24You hear of doctors
15:25dying from COVID.
15:26you're running out
15:27of PPE,
15:28for example,
15:29and masks.
15:30You have a hospital
15:31in full capacity.
15:32And you're a neophyte
15:33medical director
15:34during that time.
15:35So,
15:36all of those
15:37are competing elements
15:38of what can be
15:39a potentially
15:40nightmarish situation.
15:42But we're just happy
15:43that we braced along
15:45and we can look back
15:47and laugh about it
15:48and talk about it.
15:49But during that time,
15:50it wasn't.
15:50I sometimes feel
15:53that it was so long ago
15:54yet it was just
15:55like yesterday also.
15:57Right, right.
15:58It's like a blip
15:59in our existence.
16:01Three or four years
16:02have passed
16:03and now we are
16:04looking back at it
16:05with a lot of lessons
16:08learned,
16:09for example.
16:09I will tell you this.
16:12To go to third quarter
16:13or fourth quarter
16:14of 2020,
16:16so we've had COVID
16:17for around maybe
16:18four or five months,
16:19I can already feel
16:21the emotional
16:22and mental toll.
16:23I would sometimes
16:25stare at the wilderness
16:27and just,
16:29what's going
16:30to happen next?
16:31You plan for something
16:32on a weekend,
16:33by the week
16:34that followed,
16:35everything that you
16:36planned for
16:36needed to be
16:37overhauled already
16:39because they won't
16:40work anymore.
16:41So,
16:42when I experienced
16:43that kind of
16:44emotional
16:45and mental toll
16:46on me,
16:47I said,
16:47it's time for my team
16:48also,
16:49my management team,
16:50to get some
16:51breather for me.
16:52So,
16:53we invited
16:54a psychologist
16:57to give a pep talk
16:58to the team
16:59by Zoom.
17:00Zoom is one of the best
17:01things we've learned
17:01from the pandemic.
17:02Yeah,
17:03that we can use
17:03until now.
17:04Exactly,
17:05exactly.
17:06So,
17:06I said,
17:07we need some
17:09psychological upliftment
17:10from what we are doing
17:12for the last
17:12five or six months
17:13and everyone felt
17:15the relief
17:15coming from that
17:17maybe two or three
17:18hour session.
17:19Were there other
17:20things,
17:20Doc,
17:20that helped you
17:21through that time?
17:23I mean,
17:23like on a personal
17:24level,
17:25what got you
17:26through it?
17:28This may sound
17:29like a cliche,
17:29but prayers,
17:30certainly.
17:31But I will tell you,
17:32there are a couple
17:33of things that
17:33made us able
17:35to go through
17:36the pandemic
17:37and you will
17:38agree with me.
17:39If you have,
17:40of course,
17:40a family with you,
17:42your pets,
17:44internet.
17:45The good part,
17:47the good part
17:47of the internet.
17:48Internet.
17:48because suddenly
17:49people were
17:50devoting time
17:51to plants
17:52or devoting time
17:54to hobbies
17:55like sculpture
17:57or carpentry,
17:58just anything
17:59that can keep
18:00your mind occupied
18:01while you're
18:02on quarantine
18:03or lockdown.
18:04So,
18:05I think on a
18:05personal level,
18:06those are the things
18:07that made me
18:08cope with the demands
18:10of the pandemic
18:11during that time.
18:12Were there times,
18:14Doc,
18:14that you yourself
18:15had to quarantine
18:16or parang,
18:17napraning ba kayo
18:19na ba kayo
18:19towards siguro
18:20the latter part
18:21na just,
18:22I think,
18:23the Omicron virus
18:24na.
18:24But I will tell you
18:25that during
18:26the first salvo,
18:28the first,
18:28siguro,
18:29two or three
18:29surges of COVID,
18:32I relocated my office.
18:34I'm holding office
18:35in the hospital
18:36itself.
18:37So,
18:38I had to move
18:38to the building
18:39away from the hospital
18:40to protect myself
18:42as well.
18:42And so,
18:43you can continue
18:43operations?
18:44Exactly.
18:45Exactly.
18:45So,
18:46we needed to also
18:48protect ourselves
18:49to make sure
18:49that the entire machinery
18:50will go on
18:52during the COVID pandemic.
18:54But you were still
18:55able to go home
18:56naman, Doc?
18:56Oh, yeah.
18:57Very important.
18:59Good thing for us
19:01was
19:01our job
19:02is our job
19:02and then you have
19:05these special passes
19:06that the traffic police
19:08will allow you
19:09to navigate through
19:11because they know
19:12that you're a health care
19:13provider.
19:15Do you still remember
19:16when maybe
19:16the first time
19:17you were able
19:19to breathe a sigh
19:20of relief was?
19:20Yung parang
19:21after everything
19:22that happened,
19:22at what point
19:23did you realize
19:23that, okay,
19:24we're getting out of this?
19:25Parang we're reaching
19:26the end of this tunnel?
19:29Rollercoaster tayo,
19:30piya.
19:30Whenever the surge
19:33will somehow improve,
19:36maybe this is it,
19:38we're getting close
19:39to the end of it,
19:40then you get another surge
19:41and then you get
19:42more cases again.
19:43We've been through
19:44the Delta virus,
19:46which is one
19:47of the worst.
19:47We had the most
19:48number of people
19:49going to the ICU,
19:52the most number
19:53of people
19:53being stranded
19:55in the emergency room
19:56because we had
19:57no vacancy
19:58and the most
20:00number of people
20:01being intubated
20:01and becoming critical.
20:03That was one
20:04of the worst phases.
20:05So I said rollercoaster
20:06because you feel
20:09a certain relief
20:10that it's over
20:10and then you get
20:11into another surge
20:12again,
20:12so you build up
20:13the mental exhaustion
20:14again,
20:15and then you go through.
20:16We've had,
20:16I think,
20:17four or five
20:18surges in Makati Med.
20:20So each time
20:21takes on another
20:22impact on my team
20:23and in the entire
20:25community of Makati Med
20:27as well,
20:27and I'm sure
20:28in the community
20:28then.
20:30But I remember,
20:31Doc,
20:31also you had a very
20:31positive outlook.
20:32You would say that
20:33for every bit of bad news
20:36that we would hear
20:36about the virus,
20:37you would talk about
20:38how there are patients
20:39who do survive
20:39and that there's
20:40a great number
20:41of those who
20:41leave the hospital
20:43feeling better.
20:44That's right.
20:44For, you know,
20:45one of the platforms
20:46I made use of
20:47during the time
20:48of the pandemic
20:49was to communicate
20:50to my community,
20:52to the community
20:53of Makati Med
20:53what we are doing,
20:55updates on the COVID,
20:56okay,
20:57and then whenever
20:58I make known
21:00some bad news,
21:02I try to
21:03punctuate it
21:04with some positive news,
21:06uplifting,
21:07stabilizing,
21:09empowering,
21:11and I think
21:11that's how we all
21:12managed to get through
21:13with a difficult,
21:15vicious pandemic
21:16that we saw.
21:18Doc,
21:18do you think
21:18that after the pandemic
21:20parang nagkaroon
21:20ng newfound
21:21appreciation
21:22for our healthcare
21:23workers?
21:24I believe so.
21:26I believe so.
21:26Kasi di ba
21:27marami nga sila
21:28mga posters
21:29and promulgations
21:30that these are
21:31the actual heroes
21:32of the pandemic.
21:33So,
21:34I perfectly believe so.
21:36But,
21:36I suppose that came
21:37also with a lot
21:37of frustration
21:38during the pandemic?
21:39Oh yeah.
21:40Marami.
21:42Marami frustration.
21:43How would you deal
21:45with that doc?
21:46Because it's very difficult.
21:47You're trying your best
21:48to impose certain measures
21:51and all that
21:52and then there's just
21:53resistance
21:53from other people.
21:55That's true.
21:56And resistance
21:57can come from
21:58various areas.
22:00It can come from
22:01a few of your fellow
22:04doctors or your colleagues
22:05for example.
22:06Manageable naman yan.
22:07It can sometimes
22:09come from
22:10the community
22:11or even from
22:12people in government.
22:15So,
22:15there are things
22:16that you would like
22:16to accomplish
22:17in the smoothest way
22:18possible
22:19but sometimes you cannot
22:20because there's
22:21some interferences
22:22that sometimes
22:24get in the way
22:25of what you want to do.
22:26Doc,
22:26now kasi di ba
22:28we're in the middle
22:28of budget deliberations
22:29sa Congress.
22:30Do you think
22:31there's something
22:32that they should
22:33focus on in particular
22:34when it comes to healthcare?
22:36Well,
22:36I just hope
22:37that government
22:37really puts substantial
22:39budget on healthcare
22:41pero budget
22:43na gagamitin na maayos
22:44for healthcare.
22:45Yung mapupunta talaga
22:46sa healthcare, no?
22:47Budget na hindi mapupunta
22:48sa selected packets
22:49of corrupt officials.
22:50And I think
22:51it's a sentiment
22:52that is very strong
22:53coming from everyone
22:55including doctors.
22:57We just want to make sure
22:58that our funds
23:01are being used
23:02properly
23:03and appropriately
23:04for the intended
23:06objectives,
23:07intended goals.
23:08And healthcare
23:09certainly want them.
23:10Healthcare,
23:11education,
23:12di ba?
23:12These are
23:13flood control.
23:16Yes, Doc.
23:17Di ba?
23:17Well, Doc,
23:18Makati Med
23:19prides itself
23:19in being
23:20the hospital
23:20with a heart.
23:22How would you
23:22describe
23:23Makati Med
23:24as a hospital
23:25with a heart?
23:25What does this mean?
23:26Well,
23:27the hospital
23:27with a heart
23:28is anchored
23:29on compassionate care.
23:32Yung yung aming
23:32tagline that we use.
23:34The vernacular
23:35is malasakit,
23:36di ba?
23:36So it's a hospital
23:38that renders care
23:39with physicians,
23:41nurses,
23:41pharmacies,
23:42everyone else
23:43committed
23:44to rendering
23:44care that is
23:46professional,
23:48ethical,
23:49compassionate,
23:50competent,
23:51and patient-centered.
23:52So yun yung usual
23:54formula
23:55that we come up with
23:57to be able to say
23:58we are a hospital
23:59with a heart.
24:00And Doc,
24:01minsan kasi
24:02there are some people
24:02parang minamasama
24:03nila the fact
24:04that a hospital
24:04is also a business.
24:05I mean,
24:06siyempre,
24:06you need income
24:09to be able
24:09to operate as well.
24:10That's right.
24:10How do you respond
24:11to that, Doc?
24:12We always maintain
24:13the fact that
24:13it's a reasonably
24:15priced kind of service.
24:17We never use
24:18the word cheap
24:19kasi it may not be
24:21cheap to some people.
24:22but reasonably priced
24:25for the kind of service
24:26that you aspire for.
24:29If you aspire
24:30for a certain
24:30quality of care,
24:32there are issues
24:34that need to be addressed.
24:37It should be safe,
24:38it should be accurate,
24:39it should be reliable,
24:41and it should be given
24:42with compassion.
24:43So all of those
24:44are ingredients
24:45to make sure
24:46that what you
24:48purport your institution
24:49to be
24:50is indeed
24:51what it is,
24:52the hospital with a heart.
24:53So, Doc,
24:54all in all,
24:54how long have you been
24:55in the medical profession?
24:57Wow,
24:57you're asking about
24:58my age now.
24:58No naman, Doc.
25:00Bwede natin
25:01upisan yung count
25:02sa med school.
25:02More than,
25:0330 years.
25:0430 years.
25:0530 years.
25:06Okay.
25:0630 years.
25:07That includes
25:08the practice lang yan,
25:09clinical practice.
25:11So,
25:12i-admon na lang diyan
25:13yung medical studies,
25:16medicine proper,
25:17and then you come up
25:18with a good number.
25:20Okay,
25:21that will inevitably
25:22tell you
25:23I'm a senior already.
25:24Pero, Doc,
25:25we were looking
25:26through your
25:27biography,
25:29your CV,
25:30and you had
25:30fellowships also abroad,
25:31but you chose
25:32to stay here
25:33and practice.
25:34And to me,
25:35that is actually
25:36something quite admirable
25:37and impressive
25:38because so many people
25:39nowadays,
25:40and they choose
25:41to live abroad,
25:42work abroad,
25:42and pursue careers abroad.
25:44What made you decide
25:46to stay here
25:46and practice here?
25:48The support system
25:49of your community
25:51is very, very important,
25:51which you won't get
25:52abroad, for example.
25:54And the kind of practice
25:55that we are handling
25:58in the Philippines.
26:00It's a very,
26:01mga pasyente ng Filipino,
26:03very loyal yan.
26:04They really build
26:06a relationship
26:07with the physicians.
26:09So much so
26:10that physicians
26:11can become your
26:12sponsors in welding,
26:15their family,
26:16friends,
26:17they're invited
26:18to all gatherings,
26:19kumisan,
26:20madyong partner mo pa yan.
26:22That is how
26:23doctors are treated
26:24by their patients
26:25in the country.
26:27In the States,
26:28you're just
26:29one of the doctors.
26:30Most of them
26:31are group practices.
26:32So the doctor
26:33you see now
26:33won't be the same doctor
26:34you will see next time.
26:36They will just
26:37look at your charts
26:38and continue on the care
26:39that you're getting.
26:40Here, hindi.
26:41Which is why
26:41extended ang
26:43client base mo,
26:46when you have a doctor
26:47whose patients
26:48are loyal to you,
26:50the family of that
26:51patient will go to you,
26:52including the
26:53household,
26:54the drivers,
26:55extended families,
26:56and everyone
26:57will eventually
26:58become your
26:59patients.
27:00As I speak,
27:01what I handle
27:02now is
27:03some of them
27:07have become
27:08doctors already.
27:10So that's how long
27:10I've been in practice with.
27:11Well, Doc,
27:14so we've seen
27:15both the challenges
27:17and the benefits
27:19of being a doctor.
27:20But to you,
27:21what is essentially
27:22the best part
27:23about being a doctor?
27:25The best part
27:25of being a doctor
27:26is at least
27:27you maintain
27:27the kind of reputation
27:28that doctors deserve.
27:31You get
27:32accorded
27:33some degree
27:34of respect.
27:35Unlike other fields,
27:36right?
27:37And I won't mention
27:37anymore anything.
27:39but you get
27:41that kind of
27:43regard
27:44that other fields
27:46may not derive
27:47from the people
27:48around them.
27:49And to me,
27:50that is the
27:51best thing
27:51that accrues
27:52with being a physician
27:53in any place.
27:55In any place.
27:56Plus,
27:56the kind of work
27:57that you do
27:57is different.
27:59You save lives,
28:00you heal people
28:01from their afflictions,
28:03you ease pain.
28:04How can you argue
28:05with that kind
28:06of predicament,
28:07diba?
28:08Parang
28:09after listening
28:10to you,
28:11Doc,
28:11pwede ba
28:11kami mag-doktor?
28:12Pwede.
28:14Kaya ba?
28:15Ilang years ulit,
28:16Doc?
28:16Piyang mukha kang
28:17pediatrician.
28:18You'll be a
28:18perfect pediatrician.
28:20Pwede bang
28:20derma, Doc?
28:21Pwede rin.
28:22Perfect rin.
28:24So, you have
28:24several options.
28:26Dermatology,
28:26pediatrician,
28:28OB.
28:28Pwede rin OB.
28:29Pwede, pwede.
28:34So, on the show,
28:36I have a part
28:36called Confessions
28:37of an Icon
28:37where we ask
28:38you rapid-fire
28:39questions.
28:40So, the first
28:40thing that comes
28:41to your mind
28:42is what you
28:42will tell us.
28:43So, if you're
28:44ready, Doc,
28:45we shall begin
28:45with the
28:46Confessions of
28:47an Icon
28:47of Dr. Javier.
28:49Okay.
28:50So, Doc,
28:50given the heavy
28:51responsibilities
28:52you take on
28:53as a CEO
28:53and doctor,
28:54would you
28:55exchange it
28:55for anything
28:55or would you
28:56say that you
28:56still wouldn't
28:57have it
28:57any other way?
28:58I wouldn't
28:58have it
28:59any other way.
29:00That was quick.
29:02Is there
29:02an explanation
29:02by that, Doc?
29:03No.
29:03I think
29:04self-explanatory.
29:06So, this is
29:06something you
29:07see yourself
29:07still doing
29:08for a very
29:08long time?
29:09Not a very
29:10long time.
29:11I look forward
29:12to retirement
29:12too.
29:13Okay.
29:14But for now,
29:14yes.
29:15I wouldn't see
29:15it any other
29:16way.
29:16Based on
29:17experience and
29:17observation,
29:19how much sleep
29:19do healthcare
29:20workers actually
29:21get?
29:22And how much
29:22do they really
29:23need?
29:24Ideally, we
29:24should get
29:25seven to eight,
29:26but five to six
29:27is average.
29:28That's the
29:29reality.
29:29Five to six
29:30hours.
29:30And as you
29:31get older,
29:31the number
29:32of hours of
29:33sleep that
29:33you get
29:34becomes less.
29:36Four to five
29:36for some people
29:37in their
29:38seventies or
29:39eighties would
29:39be good enough.
29:40But for the
29:41younger people,
29:42maybe six,
29:43seven would
29:44be ideal.
29:46Okay.
29:46Gano'n pala
29:47yun, Doc?
29:47Habang tumatanda?
29:48I would have
29:49thought that...
29:49You would hear
29:50your folks
29:50siguro complaining,
29:51couldn't sleep
29:51anymore at night.
29:53Okay.
29:54Binabawi naman
29:55nila during
29:55daytime.
29:56Oh nga,
29:56may shesta.
29:56At the end
29:58of the day,
29:58when you're
29:59stripped of
29:59your roles
30:00as doctor
30:01and leader,
30:02what's a
30:02personal oath
30:03that you
30:03promise to
30:04uphold to
30:05yourself or
30:05for yourself?
30:06I will
30:06maintain my
30:07respectability
30:08and dignity
30:09as a person,
30:10as a professional.
30:11Naka, Doc.
30:11And of course,
30:12that will pass
30:13on to your
30:13children.
30:14I hope so
30:14and I pray so.
30:16So, Doc,
30:16for those
30:17listening to us
30:18who are discerning
30:19whether or not
30:20they should
30:20pursue a career
30:21in medicine,
30:23what would
30:24you tell them?
30:25You have to
30:26really want
30:27to be a doctor
30:28to really enjoy
30:29the craft
30:30that you're
30:30getting into.
30:31Maybe you should
30:32identify role models
30:33in life.
30:34Ito siguri yung path
30:35na gusto kong
30:36tahakin.
30:37And therefore,
30:38if it's a doctor's path
30:40that I would like
30:40to tackle,
30:42go for it.
30:43Go for it.
30:45But don't do
30:45anything na napipilitan ka.
30:47You won't enjoy it.
30:48I've heard of
30:49people quitting
30:50medicine in
30:51their third
30:52year proper
30:53and that's
30:53something you
30:55wouldn't want
30:55to happen to
30:56anyone.
30:57So,
30:57make sure that
30:57you're getting
30:58into medicine.
30:59It's something
31:00that you really
31:00want.
31:01Because it
31:02requires a lot
31:02of sacrifice
31:03and commitment.
31:05And Doc,
31:05on the show
31:06also,
31:07we feature
31:08powerful,
31:09influential figures.
31:11To you,
31:11what is power
31:12or influence
31:12and how is it
31:13best used?
31:14Power is
31:15something that
31:16can make you
31:17change and
31:19mold opinion.
31:22It's never
31:22physical,
31:23but the
31:24persuasiveness
31:25of what you
31:26do,
31:26either by
31:27communication
31:28or by
31:29example,
31:30is how you
31:30make an
31:32impact with
31:33your strength
31:34or power.
31:35Dr.
31:36Bokhavir,
31:36thank you so
31:37much for
31:38guesting on
31:38Power Talks.
31:39Thank you so
31:40much, Doc.
31:41Thank you,
31:41Doc.
31:42To the next
31:55episode!
Be the first to comment