What Are Some Of Your Best Or Memorable Moments With Your Mom?

In celebration of Mother’s Day this 2020, we asked this question to our staff:

Here are their fun and heart warming answers:

A fun memory.. Off to church in matching outfits. Christmas based on the design. Age appropriate style (Mom did the designs). - Isobel, Volunteer Care Coordinator

This one is taken in Singapore, it was our first international trip na two lang kami kaya super memorable ito. Yung pangarap ko na mabigyan sya ng vacation abroad natupad ko nung matapos ko ang contract ko sa Saudi. She is a great woman, that I will always look up to. She taught me how to be strong in all circumstances and put all my trust in the Lord. She was also a fighter. She never became a burden to all of us even if she was already enduring pain from cancer. She is the best person I've ever known in my entire life. Until her last breath, she made sure me and my sister's future were well secured. Given a chance to get to have my own child, I will make sure to pass on all the beautiful things she has taught me. I will forever miss her and be proud that she is my mother. - Mitch Nermal, Nurse/Patient Care Coordinator

I just realized that my Mama likes going to the mall. When my Papa used to work in a government port agency, he was always away because he had to be in different ports in the country. My Mama always brought us to the mall (any mall in Manila). She likes buying my sister and I the same style of clothes and shoes but in different colors (and my Ate didn't seem to agree with that), even up to this point that we were both in our 30s. This picture was taken during the opening of Robinson’s Galleria :) Of course, she bought us terno clothes and shoes again :) Our Papa only knew we were going somewhere in Alabang but ended up in Galleria instead :) Look at my mama’s smile of victory. LOL. She loves being with my brother, too (she calls him, Bunso). This year is the first Mother’s Day, he won't be around. And we can't go to the mall either because of the lockdown. But we will do our best to make this day (and everyday) a memorable Mother’s Day for her :) Mama, you’re the best! Thank you for your unconditional love! We love you so much! - Dr. Ara Ofina, Palliative Medicine Doctor

Moms usually leave their jewelries to their children more especially to their daughters as inheritance. My Mom did not. Either she already had disposed of them or she did not find it necessary. At the time of her death I was granted by God the privilege to be with her as she had lived the last 13 years of her life in the US.She, however, left me something more valuable and that is the legacy of prayer. Mom had always been close to God in her own special way. She would have a regular prayer time when all the domestic chores are done. She would sit by the window and pray. That is why I want to always remember her. She was very active in church and everyone calls her Mommy. Mom was my first teacher. She would patiently teach me how to read my books in advance. She always made me feel special, though all my siblings also felt special because of Mom. I must have broken her heart when in times that I was not compliant. But that is a different story. She has faced many challenges but surpassed them all. Now as I look back, I guess her source of strength aside from her family was her relationship with God.After her death, she was awarded a posthumous award by her parish, which I was honored to accept on her behalf.I will remain grateful to God for creating me to be my Mom's daughter. - Tita Cottie, Counselor/Chaplain

My mom would usually give me candy to sit still for photos. Her bag seemed like Mary Poppin's bag with unlimited items in it...Snacks. Check. A screwdriver. Check. Alcohol, tissue, toothpicks, name it. She probably has it. - Mikee, Communications & Training Associate

“To the world, you are a mother.
To our family, you are the world.”

My mom is one of the best nurses I will ever know, who worked full time when I was a little girl. Despite that, she always prepared the best meals, especially her slow cooked beef for Sunday family lunches! Now that I’m a mom, I find myself trying to cook those Sunday lunches like she did, but will never be able to equal. It was also mom, who first told me the story of the Good Shepherd, and since that day, I have known Him as my own. - Dra. Mae Corvera, Executive Director/Palliative Medicine Doctor

The best medicine from my mama - her presence, her warm touch and a bottle of cold Royal Tru-Orange that she bought from the sari-sari store. Speaking of presence, looking back, it's really my mom who has always been present in every special and trivial moments of my life – first vaccine, first communion, first day in school, first (and all) graduation, first ER visit, circumcision, PTA meeting, field demonstration/performances and a whole lot more. Indeed, her presence is one the best presents I received in my life. - Ricky So, Graphic Designer

During my last birthday (to think I turned to an age that's last on the calendar), I cried like a baby. I thought something unfortunate happened to my mom, praning lang. Kasi naman, she has never missed a midnight-call or -text to greet me on my birthday ---that midnight until late afternoon of my birthday, I did not receive any. Kinabahan ako ng todo. The time na nakausap ko na siya, para akong batang nagtatampo. Haha! Given that we are far away from each other and as someone who does not really like getting birthday greetings, I value hers the most and really look forward to it. I think it's also because I value her becoming MY mom on that same day. She's my best friend and confidante. Parehas kaming madaldal and with her, I don't feel judged. She's a lot stronger than I am at tinitingala ko siya sa aspeto na iyon. Sana I can be even half of how she is. - Mamel, Training and Marketing Associate

She loved hearing kwento ng mga kalokohan naming magkakaibigan, whether friends ko sa lugar namin sa Bulacan, sa school and sa University nung nag-college na ako. She knew all my friends, that's why she was also a "nanay" to them. Her laughs were real and the joy in her eyes were priceless. Minsan nga napapaluha pa siya sa kakatawa sa mga kwento ko and I missed that for the past 24 years. I missed all the kwentuhan, mga masasarap na luto na namana ko (ehem), pag aalaga nia sa akin 'pag my sakit ako, mga goodbye and hello kisses everytime aalis ng bahay at uuwe. I missed the compliments coming from her na alam mong walang halong bola.. #genuinemotherlylove. Happy Mother's Day in heaven Nanay Betty, thank you for everything... I will love you until forever. - Virgie Roldan, Executive & Administrative Assistant

The most memorable experiences with my mom are all the instances when I got sick or had asthma attacks. Also, in high school and when I needed to go to school. Early in the morning, she always got up first to make breakfast for me, kami lang dalawa ang gising sa bahay.... These were the times I felt her love the most. She was always the one to take care of me. And now that she is in her octogenarian years, I always ask God to give me the opportunity to take care of her. I treasure every moment we have together. - Dra. Nanette, Medical Director of Patient Care

When I was in college, umuwi ako sa bahay isang hapon. May nakita akong kanin na may halong kung anu-ano...kinain ko...aba masarap. Dumating ang nanay ko, sabi, "bakit mo kinain iyan eh yung mga tira-tira yan na ipapakain ko sa baboy natin." Sabi ko, "masarap.'kala ko niluto niyo." Sabi ng nanay ko, "haay, mabubuhay talaga kahit saan itong anak ko. Kumakain kahit kaning baboy..." True naman na mabubuhay ako kahit saan at anong situation. - Lira Tañamor, Social Worker

Happy Mother’s Day!

Enhanced Community Quarantine Covid-19 Delivery

These times have been hard for most of us. Due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), many people are left to stay at home, most being unemployed, and others with the privilege of working from home.  Though for both scenarios, the reality is that going out to purchase necessities is very difficult. Those without the means to purchase have to wait for government aid and those with enough money end up in line for so long to find themselves in a shop with empty shelves. It is a trying time but nonetheless, The Ruth Foundation has found ways to reach out to their patients, since home visitation has been discouraged to prevent possible cross-contamination.

May I remind you, dear reader, that most of TRF’s patients have low immune systems. These patients are chronically ill (them being palliative and hospice patients) and though the team was not able to provide home-based consultation, they have been connecting through phone (telemedicine). This distribution of goods acted as a way for each patient to still feel the presence of TRF, in the safety of their own homes.  

Each team member had their roles, from purchasing, repacking and delivery to pick up points. The main difference is that most of the time, the team had to stay inside the company vehicle to avoid possible spread of any virus. Don’t worry, they were provided PPEs and followed health safety protocols before and after delivery. This distribution was done last April 3 and 4.

The Ruth Foundation is grateful for each member of the team who did the groundwork, for those who worked behind the scenes, for those who donated, and for those who took time to pray for their safety.

“Nag papasalamat po ako sa (The) Ruth Foundation at sa mga sponsor, mga doktot, Dr. Mae, sa mga nurse, volunteer kahit sa malayo po kaming lugar nag papaalala pa rin kayo sa amin kalusugan at sa Covid 19 at nakakataba po ng puso malaking bagay napo ang inyong pag alala lalo na’t kay nanay ko na si J.T.* kung ano dapat gawin sa kanya lumalakas naman po siya kaya LABAN LANG! Ma’am Jelai salamat din po sa inyo at sa Ruth Foundation. God Bless! Lubos na gumagalang, R.D.*”

“Ruth Foundation, thanks sa free check up and free medicine na binibigay ninyo sa nanay, lalo na sa pagbibisita ninyo lagi sa kanya. J.R.* name ng nanay ko. God bless you all, (the) Ruth Foundation! Many, many thanks. –M.T.*

*name changed for privacy

Patient’s faces have been blurred as per Patient Privacy Act.

DSWD Social Amelioration Package

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) committed to provide emergency subsidies of P5,000 to P8,000 for two months, as well as livelihood assistance grants to the low-income households affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

The DSWD said an eligible family will receive the emergency subsidy “in cash and in kind” from various national government agencies as provided under Republic Act (RA) No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act of 2020.

For more information or questions, you can reach out to our Social Workers Lira and Laurice at 0943.804.9957 or contact DSWD directly at 8.951.2803.

Comm Workshop

Last March 10,2020, we held a simple in-house workshop for Communications. The main topics were:

1. Introducing TeamUp, an app used to set up our teams’ schedules so that each one would be aware of tasks done by each team. This serves as the foundations’ digital bulletin board so as to create awareness of updates and increase communication within the team

2.Launching of the #CompassionateMe Project. Team members answered the Q&A form. Compassion was discussed, focusing on the idea that Compassion starts within us and you can be compassionate in very simple and practical ways.

3.Introducing the Event Feedback and Summary Forms. Team members who attended were familiarized with these forms which will help keep track of events in the foundation.

There were 14 attendees that day and all looked forward to more workshops like this.

Comm Workshop

Ricky, teaching how the TeamUp app works.

Team Picture

#CompassionateMe

Isobel answering the questionnaire

#CompassionateMe

Dan answering the questionnaire

#CompassionateMe

Flip answering the questionnaire

In-House Training: Genogram Training with Social Workers

Yesterday, March 3, 2020, Dr. Nanette Ramilo-Cruz trained TRF’s Social Workers in using a Genogram.

A genogram is a diagram charting the history of the behavior patterns (as of divorce, abortion, or suicide etc.) of a family over several generations. It also details the medical history of a family in order to assess a family member's risk of developing disease. Last year TRF’s nurses also underwent this in-house training as part of patient documentation.

This training assists the Social Workers in using family assessment tools in the palliative care plan. This also assists them to foresee problems in the future for families with patients suffering with chronic illness.

This training was an avenue to enlighten TRF’s Social Workers regarding family connections, roots of concerns, etc.