August 2016 Featured Volunteer: Loida Gutierrez

TRF’s Volunteer of the Month for August 2016 is Loida Gutierrez!

A registered nurse pursuing her doctorate in counseling, Loida has been helping out with The Ruth Foundation for several months. She has assisted our in-house social workers and counselors in assessing the situations of our patients and their families.

Q&A with LOIDA

How did you come to volunteer for TRF?

A few months back, I had already been thinking of finding somewhere to volunteer. Then a colleague from the College of Nursing-DLSHSI, Dr. Resty Tan, introduced me to TRF (The Ruth Foundation). Feeling that God has already done many great and good things in my life, I found it necessary to share this with others by getting involved with the foundation’s advocacy.

What were your expectations as a volunteer?

I volunteered because I felt the work would increase my awareness and sensitivity to the many people who feel helpless and hopeless – the people who are silently seeking and craving for help.

Describe the activities you volunteered for. Why did you choose them?

Since I am studying for a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, being part of the TRF counseling group became a good option.

How has the experience changed your life? What are your key reflections/lessons?

I am privileged to be used by God in this ministry. To God be the glory! And my sincere appreciation to TRF.

Thank you Loida!

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.’.