A Father’s Sacrifices

Written by Niki Guloy

With Father’s Day right around the corner, we want to appreciate all the amazing dads who remind us what love is.

One such man is someone we met on our home visits. Meet Lolo Leoncio, 97 years old. Not only is he the father of one of our patients– a 66-year-old woman partially paralysed from a stroke– he is her main caregiver! Despite his age, Leoncio is strong and well. He helps his daughter with her daily routine, watches over her, and keeps her company. In these trying times, he is her rock. They live in a simple home, but their support comes from one another. Our team has visited them several times now, and despite his daughter’s condition she perseveres. She’s got a fighting spirit — one she obviously gets from her father.

Fathers like Leoncio show love through their sacrifices. To have your dad by your side when you need him most is a blessing to cherish. While you can, let your dads know you love them too.

Sonoran Winds Stakeholders Symposium

“Because every day matters.”

This is the company slogan of Sonoran Winds Hospice, a hospice center based in Buena Park, California that began operations in 2014. Last May 17, in partnership with The Ruth Foundation, Sonoran Winds held a dinner symposium at the Palms Country Club. Invited heads from hospitals, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, hospice centers, and others in the healthcare business sat down and exchanged ideas on the promising future of palliative and hospice care in the Philippines.

Distinguished guests got to enjoy a sumptuous dinner for the evening.

Smile! Friendly volunteers and staff greeted the guests as they arrived.

A buffet line was set-up outside, along with information on each of the foundations.

The program began with a series of opening messages from well-known palliative care and cancer care specialists in the Philippines. They spoke of the current situation of hospice care in the country.

The president of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Council of the Philippines, Dr. Agnes Bausa, spoke on the burden of hospice in the Philippines.

Dr. Rachel Rosario, executive director of the Philippine Cancer Society, speaking on the evolution of hospice care in the Philippines over the past 20 years.

Dr. Rumalie Corvera, president & CEO of The Ruth Foundation, opened the event and gave a talk on the Filipino response to the burden of hospice care.

The evening culminated in a presentation by the president, chairman & CEO of Sonoran Winds Hospice, Anthony J. Ferrio, and an open forum with all the speakers.

President, chairman and CEO of Sonoran Winds Hospice, AJ Ferrio

Open forum with all our speakers

Closing remarks by Dr. Rhodora Ocampo

More pictures are available online on Facebook. You may also learn more about Sonoran Winds Hospice at the links below.

Sonoran Winds Hospice

WEBSITE: sonoranwindshospice.com
FACEBOOK PAGE: facebook.com/sonoranwindshospice

ELNEC for Pediatric Palliative Care

Last April 18 and 19, The Ruth Foundation held the ‘End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium for Pediatric Palliative Care’ or ELNEC-PPC at Asian Hospital and Medical Center. This is the first time the foundation has offered this specialty course for young patients.

Proper care for our children and their families is a growing need. Over 20 nurses, doctors, social workers, therapists and volunteers are now more equipped to be agents of change in their own organizations.

Just like its parent course, ELNEC-Core, attendees went through eight modules over the course of two days.

Our distinguished lecturers (from L-R): Ayda Nambayan, PhD.; Dr. Lilian Lim; and Dr. Mae Corvera.

Participants were encouraged to participate and share their own insights during the training.

More pictures are available online on our Facebook page.

ELNEC and ELNEC-PPC are offered under The Ruth Foundation’s education program ‘Leadership for H.O.P.E.’.

ELNEC-Core at St. Luke’s Global City

“When cure is no longer possible, care is.” This saying is central to palliative and hospice care, and through our Leadership for HOPE Education Program, the foundation strives to spread this message to all who can make a difference. Last May 26, The Ruth Foundation held ELNEC-Core, the End-of-life Nursing Education Consortium Introductory Course to Palliative and Hospice Care. This was a one-day training held at St. Luke’s Medical City – Global City in BGC, Taguig. After the standard eight module lecture, our friends from Sonoran Winds Hospice gave a short talk on hospice care abroad based on their practices in California.

Over 50 participants filled the lecture room.

Lecturer: Nurse Marilou Furio

Lecturer: Dr. DJ Pedro

Lecturer: Dr. Mae Corvera

Lecturer: Dr. Rachel Rosario

Lecturer: Dr. Toni Yamamoto

Lecturer: Dr. Agnes Bausa

Special lecture by AJ Ferrio, president & CEO of Sonoran Winds Hospice

Participants enjoy a few minutes of laughter therapy exercises, conducted by The Ruth Foundation’s training coordinator Nurse Carlo Quilaton.

More pictures are available online on our Facebook page.

ELNEC is offered under The Ruth Foundation’s education program ‘Leadership for H.O.P.E.’.

Celebrating 3 Years of Care, Dignity and Hope

To usher in the new year, The Ruth Foundation celebrated its third anniversary last January 30 at Palms Country Club in Alabang. Together we fondly looked back at the group’s milestones and successes through video presentations, testimonies and an inspiring anniversary message from The Ruth Foundation’s president & CEO Dr. Mae Corvera. Several of the foundation’s partners and colleagues gathered to reminisce and enjoy the stunning performances from friends and acquaintances.

some of our distinguished guests

From L-R: violinist Merjohn Ligaya, lyric soprano Sharon Hernandez, and Pastor Spencer Gequillana serenading the guests with a thrilling rendition of ‘The Prayer’

We also got to learn about two women who inspire much of the work of the foundation, both also named Ruth. There is Ruth the Moabite, a woman from the Bible who cared for her family and the elderly; and Ruth Corvera, a social worker who lived a selfless, servant-hearted life.

Hopefull magazine’s editorial director Ina Amor-Mejia introducing the first issue

That same night saw the official launch of Hopefull, TRF’s lifestyle magazine on health and family wellness. The quarterly issue is free and will be distributed in establishments around the metro, as well as online. You can learn more about the magazine here.

TRF’s treasured volunteers helping at the registration booth

enjoying a sumptuous Japanese-themed dinner spread

That was definitely a night to remember, and hopefully it isn’t the last. With 471 patients and families served in 18 different municipalities, a growing team of 20 and counting, and continually increasing opportunities to spread awareness for quality palliative and hospice care, there are countless reasons to be grateful. Thank you to our partners and collaborators for making these past three years so great. Here’s to a great 2016 and beyond!