Cebu Leadership Final Integration paper by Leader Kerwin Mark L. Gubantes, MD

Dear Prof. Jorge

Good day To you! Pls allow me to thank you for the privelege of being part of your class in Leadership. It has been truly a pleasant albeit challenging experience for all of us. My self awareness has definitely improved and I will continue to work towards my goal and passion. Take care always and see you in the ROAD. Attached herewith is my Final Integration Paper for your perusal.

Cheers!

Kerk, MD




CEBU Regis LEADERSHIP
FINAL INTEGRATION PAPER
Leader Kerwin Mark L. Gubantes, MD.

I. INTRODUCTION

What kind of a leader do I want to be? That is the question that was poised to us at the first day of our class. that is the same question that I wish to answer when the time is right. It was definitely an eye opener for me as I went through the difficult process of knowing myself - my strengths and weaknesses, my family profile, my enneagram , as well as my passion and the external and internal factors that affects me.
Self-awareness as was espoused by Chris Lowney in his book, stressed the importance of this important pillar along with Ingenuity, Heroism and Love in the development of a Great Leader from within ourselves. Our Emotional Intelligence is very much dependent in our ability to control our emotions and be able to have the motivation to move ourselves forward. To be able to lead others, we must be able to lead ourselves first.
Some of the notable answers that were given by my co-leaders on the question of leadership are the following; that leaders should be a catalyst for change; of being able to inspire people; of being able to motivate others and innovate. These concepts are very much being promulgated in the song "Pananagutan". It is a very beautiful song in my opinion primarily because it espoused accountability and servant leadership. Moreover , it encourages us to lead our people to the right path. These are concepts that are hard to come by these day and age. It is but fitting for us to discover leaders who have the audacity of showing us the right path like Pope Francis and who is willing to fight for truth and justice in our society. Leaders who are willing to sacrifice self-interest for the common greater good.

II. Where I am Now?

My Enneagram has revealed that I am a Loyalist and a reformer as well. Loyalist individuals have been defined as people who are committed and security-oriented. I can recall in the early years of my life in Elementary school, I was always encouraged by my parents especially my mother to focus on the goal at hand and that is to do good in school. She always tells me that a good education is the key out of our hardships cognizant of the fact that I was born to humble beginnings. That commitment carried me through the high school years and even though I was not the most technically gifted student in class, I was able to be a consistent honour student and graduated as the class Salutatorian. My early success in the Academic side of life has given me a good opportunity to seek higher education in a reputable school like the University of Santo Tomas . This is one of my defining moments. During those years, the EDSA Revolution was still very fresh in our memories and Probinsyanos like me relish the thought of the opportunity to learn and study in a good University like UST. Rich in history and tradition, I felt privileged to be part of. My days at the University has taken me through a memorable time with the Red Cross youth organization whereby we were organising activities geared towards helping people in need especially those who have been affected by natural calamities like Volcanic eruptions, floods and typhoons. My experience with community organising under the banner of LOTUS which is an acronym for the Legion of Organised Thomasian United for Service had also given me a new perspective in shaping my passion of helping others. We were sent through different parts of Luzon in response to Calamities which have affected our countrymen , brothers and sisters and friends. Relief work for me was both a challenge as well as a rewarding experience. It opened the deeper recesses of my senses to the realities of life and the dangers of the world that we live in.. It has taught me to be compassionate especially for people who has less in life.
As a Reformer, I am a Rational and a Principled person. I could relate this character of mine in 2007 when I came home to Dumaguete to start my young career in Head and Neck Surgery. As a junior consultant staff, I was very eager to prove myself worthy of respect from my peers. I was interested in participating in meetings and conferences geared towards improvement of one's craft however , the early experiences at that times not very pleasant and not according to my plans. I was literally disillusioned by the system being implemented by the Senior staff. I would like to think that they are just protecting there careers and earnings such that they refuse to concede patients under our specialty. It was a painful reality that I needed to deal with. This is the real world now - I told myself, not very ideal. I started to question myself if I made the right decision to come home and practice. Eight years later and now I realize that some things are not worth fighting and we would rather be productive citizens in some other ways. Looking at the many patients that I have helped and served, it was worth my while. It has all the more increased my resolve to be proactive and be a force of change. A change for the better. A change that will give equal opportunities for improving your craft and earning your keep. But most importantly, the change that I would like to achieve is a system whereby we could provide a standard Medical and Surgical care at significantly reduced costs to patients and clients.
In my Genogram, I mentioned that I had the privilege to witness firsthand the difficult life from my Father's side in Siquijor and the relative comfort living in my Mother's side in Dumaguete city. I saw the effects of the authoritarian style of my maternal grandfather and how it folded the lives of my Uncles with contrasting effects. Respect was paramount in the family and that I uphold to this day with my own family. Core values within the family like living with Integrity and honesty are important lessons which I intend to keep for as long as I can for these are the values which will keep me grounded and and carry me forward. My mother was a very important person in this regard. She has showed us to be resilient in the face of adversity and trials. She carried us through sheer grit and determination with the little earnings she had. On story was told of her having to pawn her own wedding ring just to provide for our needs. I just felt admiration and gratitude for her selfless love and devotion. It was God's grace that saw us through the trials and problems we faced then and now. I believe that who are we now and what we have achieved is reflective on how we lived our lives when we were young. I was always cognisant of the fact that if we waste precious resources and opportunities, our lives will be in misery. Leaders who do not learn from past mistakes will fall prey in committing the same mistakes in the present and the future. Growing up witnessing two different aspects of life has made me the grounded and humble person I am today. These experiences have arguably been invaluable in my dealings with our profession, our Medical Society and in our community.

III. Where I am going?

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said to Dr. Devi Prassad Shetty, a Cardiovascular surgeon in India, ' The Hands that serve are more sacred than the Lips that Pray". Dr. Shetty founded the Narayan Hospital Health system whereby he developed a MicroHealth Insurance system asking farmers in his community to contribute a measly 5 rupees/ month to avail of standard Medical and Surgical services in his hospital whenever they need one. This system has been very successful in his locality up to this day such that many big cities in India and other countries are trying to follow his model. Using the Principle of Economies of scale whereby they cater to a large group of patients at the same time to significantly reduce the costs of health care. For example an Open Heart surgery which would costs around 60 thousand USD in the US , will only cost around 1,800 USD in his facility given the same standard of care. Cataract surgeries could performed for only 5USD as well as Dialysis sessions for only 10USD. Can we follow this model here in our society, my answer will be an emphatic YES! We just need to have the commitment and passion to achieve the goal. I would like to quote what he said, ' If you want to change the way things are, you have to keep walking. You have to make progress and in some things you will succeed and some things you will fail; But for as long as your intention is to help mankind, and convince that I will succeed, but in the process a lot of things that we never anticipate may happen, something good, something bad, we have to keep walking because that is the only way we can reach our destination" , end of quote. Judging from his words, I can perceive that he is a very humble and simple person with a very compassionate heart for the poor and the needy. In there hospital, they have claimed to have never turned away Paediatric patients who seek there expertise in Heart surgery even though these patients could not afford to pay for the services rendered. I would like someday to Emulate what Dr. Shetty is doing for his countrymen in India and replicate it in our community. It has been done so it is not impossible. He has shown us that he is a good example of a Great Leader, a game-changer as they call him who is aware of his self, his strengths and weaknesses and is very smart in exploiting the opportunities that he faced. He was not afraid to fail because he knew how to get up everytime he fell. He kept on walking until he reached his destination. You can readily see his passion in his work and in his desire to help those who needed him and his expertise. I am far from being Dr. Shetty and what he has done and achieved for himself and his people. But I share the passion of helping others with him and for me that is a start. Being in the Medical Profession just like him gives me the platform I needed to serve others. My experiences in the Red Cross youth organizing Missions to my Volunteer work in an NGO performing Surgical Missions for free is walking towards the destination. <we resonate on this Doctor;  let us keep in touch and pursue same ideals>I have a long way to go but I am not afraid to take the journey. I remember how St. Ignatius Loyola embarked on a 2000 mile journey o the Holy Land only to be deported 2 weeks after and went back to Europe to discover his Self and his purpose in Life. I remember Benedetto de Goes who persevered and pressed on with his journey through three mile high mountains passes despite bitter cold and fear of not finding the mysterious Cathay. Each one of us has our own journey to fulfill and just like St . Ignatius who was able to influence and motivate 9 other people to come with him in his journey to create the Society of Jesus and fulfil there goal, I intend to influence other interested people to align with my goal of creating a system of health care for the poor. According to Chris Lowney, Leadership is not merely getting the job done; it is how the job is done', for all leaders this means influencing, visioning, persevering, energizing, innovating and teaching.

IV. How do I get there?

My strategic Plan is divided into three components.

A. Personal
Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle and good health is paramount towards achieving the goal. Poor Health is a big obstacle because it lessens our capacity to work properly and be able to effectively help others. Eating the right food and maintain my exercise regimen like biking at least twice a week and swimming in the sea at least once a week will be helpful and fun. On the Academic side, my learnings and experiences in the MBA program of AGSB will be very crucial for me in creating the process and system of the Health care model which will substantially reduce the Health care costs just like what Dr. Shetty did in Narayana Hospital . Even though I am just in my second subject right now after ManDyn, I have significantly increased my level of Understanding in the dynamics of the business and the intricacies as well as the self awareness in my strengths and weaknesses as well as my purpose in Life.. Improving my Emotional Intelligence will be important especially in dealing with different difficult circumstances and people in the Industry that I am involved with. As Daniel Coleman pointed out in his book on Emotional Intelligence, ' A Good Leader should know his strengths and weaknesses, values and goals, should know how to control disruptive emotions, be motivated , show empathy and be able to manage relationships'. Above all these things is my strong Faith in HIM who created me, for without Him, I am nothing. All of these Endeavour and handwork will be for nothing if I don't include Him in my Plans - Ad Majorem dei Gloriam.

B. Family
As shown in my AVP, I have always drawn my strength from my nuclear family. My parents who had impressed upon me the value of a good education and handwork. Leadership is about defining moments and my experiences growing up in a very supportive family structure has been one of my defining moments. They gave me the opportunity to reach my goals early in life and who I am today is largely because of the Love and support that they unselfishly gave me. So as I continue to pursue my purpose and my passion in life, I will always go back to my family for moral and emotional support. I am thankful to my co-leaders Bryan and Genevieve who facilitated the Team Building process. It was an emotional and amazing experience for me to learn how my wife and children appreciated what I am doing and there show of support through the letter I received was a very powerful example of how Love can be an important force for good and change. My supportive wife made me realize the strengths and weaknesses I have and I will do my best to improve upon them. One of the Leadership lessons I learned from the great Mahatma Gandhi is " You must be the change you wish to see in the world".

C. Work
I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to work as a physician and a Surgeon at the same time. My Profession is a good platform for me to serve others and the community as a whole. It is a tough task to follow the footsteps of Dr. Devi Shetty and what he continues to do at the Narayana Hospital in India , but I will try even if I am the only one- I hope not. I Have found my Purpose in Life and I will work hard for it. I remember what the late Steve Jobs said during a commencement exercise in Stanford, espoused Love and Passion for your work. He is a firm believer that when you Love what you are doing and you are passionate about it, then it is not very difficult to excel and achieve excellence. His Work ethic is a good example of Achievement Culture. You will often hear statements like ' Love your work' and Don't waste your time" in his speeches. Up to this day Apple company which he founded has remained at the top of Fortune 500. I will continue to remain committed to my passion of helping others through my work day in and day out as I walk towards my destination. I may stumble but for sure I will get up and move towards the goal. It may take 10 or 15 years from now, I don't mind, for sure I will put my Heart and Soul into it. Are you with me?


GOD Bless us ALL!

Cebu Regis Leadership by Dr. Kerwin Mark L. Gubantes

Dear Prof. Jorge

Here is the link to my AVP in Youtube   https://youtu.be/106pUlskuac . < hindi available?>
Many thanks for the learnings and acquaintance, it has been a privilege and pleasure.

Sincerely,

Leader Dr. Kerwin Mark L. Gubantes
Cebu Regis Leadership

Cebu Leadership - Genogram by Leader Kerwin Mark Gubantes, MD

Dear Prof. Jorge

Good evening! Sending you my Genogram. Hope you find it an interesting read. A Blessed CHRISTmas season to you and your family.

Cheers!

Kerk MD.









CEBU REGIS LEADERSHIP
MY GENOGRAM
Leader KERWIN Mark L. Gubantes, MD.

I.
A. Grandparents ( Father side)

My grandfather Aurelio originated from Loon, Bohol but migrated to Larena, Siquijor when he was young. My father told me that Lolo did not have the opportunity to finish his elementary schooling and had to work his way out of poverty. He had three other siblings, Alipyo, Vicente and Eugenio whom we have never met. My earliest recollection of Lolo was in my elementary years when were brought by my father to Larena, Siquijor to attend the fiesta celebrations during May. He was a market vendor and was often drunk when he comes home in the afternoons. It was difficult to connect and bond with for obvious reasons, but more to his being a drunkard is that he was never fond of his grandchildren. Our relationship was limited to just showing our respect by blessing from the hand, ' mano po Tatang'. We never had the chance to communicate at a deeper level with him. He passed away when I was in the 5th grade..

Lola Salud grew up in Larena, Siquijor and was fortunate to finish High school education. She married Lolo Aurelio at a young age just like many women of her time. She helped Lolo working in the market at the same time given the tough task in looking after her seven children as a dedicated housewife and mother. My recollection of Lola is that she was a very religious person. Her day starts around 4:30 am to attend the dawn mass and then comes home to prepare breakfast for the family. I could still clearly remember her telling me that she would be happy to see me become a doctor someday. She had 5 other siblings, Florentino, Marcial, Generoso, Flores,and Bienvenido. Among Lola's siblings, I was fortunate to witness and experience the kindness and Love of Lola Bienvenido. She was an Elementary school teacher and remained in single-blessedness until her demise. I was very fond of her because she never misses to give me some money and food overtime we visit her. She was the epitome of kindness and a very good role model for me growing up as a kid. She had the gift of being able to relate with children that is why she was well-loved not only by her apo's but also her students. During her passing the family felt a big loss.

Cebu Regis Leadership Call to Arms by Dr. Kerwin Mark L. Gubantes

Dear Prof Jorge,
Good evening! How are you? I hope everything is well . I am sending you this Advocacy speech of mine, I hope you find it interesting.

Cheers!
Kerk

CEBU REGIS LEADERSHIP
Call to ARMS - My Advocacy
Leader Kerwin Mark L. Gubantes, MD

Ladies and Gentlemen, friends, friends of Mother Earth, good Morning! It is with great concern that I am before you today. As you could see around you and witness firsthand the destruction Mankind has brought upon our Home Planet. Greenhouse gases polluting the atmosphere and the air that we breath, increasing carbon dioxide levels from every source imaginable is elevating the temperature of our planet. This phenomenon leads to Melting of the Ice Shelves and consequently leads to rising sea levels and warming of the waters. Furthermore there are already signs of bleaching and destruction of the coral reefs documented in many parts of the planet such that there is already disruption of the Marine ecosystem and thus depletion of the food supply chain. The changing weather patterns, stronger typhoons and Hurricanes, longer droughts in many parts of the world as well as the rise of many deadly diseases can all be traced to the wanton destruction of Mother Earth. When is it going to stop? When do we start to realize what we have done? What are we going to do about it?

Maybe we could start by looking inwards first, our very lives, how we conduct our day to day activities. Are we conserving energy? How can we lessen our carbon footprint? Maybe instead of cutting trees, we should start Planting again. We could start using energy efficient devices to reduce our need for power. Let us shift our focus on Renewable sources of energy like Solar, Geothermal, Wind and Hydroelectric to generate power to supply our needs. These sources will significantly cut the need for fossil fuels like coal which is widely used today to generate electricity.

Cebu Regis Leaders, Reflection paper #2 External and Internal Factors that shaped me by Dr. Kerwin Mark Gubantes

Good day Professor Jorge, sending you my Reflection paper on the External and Internal factors that have shaped me.. I hope you will find it a worthwhile paper. See you tomorrow.

Cheers,
Kerk , MD.






CEBU REGIS LEADERSHIP
Reflection Paper # 2 External and Internal Factors
Leader Kerwin Mark L. Gubantes, MD.

I am a simple person with simple needs and desires however living in an increasingly complex and violent world has totally changed my perspective in life. As I try to examine different factors that have influenced and affected my life, I have come to realize that it is difficult to name everything in order of importance. Allow me to name a few Internal factors first before the external factors. First in the list is probably my inherent desire to help others. During my years in college, my active involvement in the Red Cross Youth organization has molded in me the value of compassion for others. I have witnessed firsthand how lives are affected by the ill-effects of typhoons, floods , volcanic eruptions and other calamities. organising some relief work for the people affected in various parts of Luzon in the early 1990's have given me a sense of purpose and direction in life. It made me realise that our lives are definitely intertwined with our environment. If we do not take care of our environment, then the massive forces of nature will be upon sand that is already happening today and with greater intensity than ever before. More and more people have been victims of calamities, both natural and man-made. There is suffering everywhere we look. If you recall the time when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in the early 1990's, a lot of people were displaced, jobs were lost, the American bases closed shop and people's lives were transformed. I was part of a small group of young students dispatched by the University to do Community Organising in Bamban, Tarlac. We tried our best to gather the people together, get their cooperation to choose their leaders and started livelihood projects to help rebuild their lives. It was an experience that has really touched my heart and soul, being able to work and live with such wonderful and honest people. I could have never imagined that we were able to achieve such project in our younger years. When I came home from in 2007 after my training in Head and Neck surgery, that same love and compassion for people was again evident and put to the test. It was a very challenging year for the family, my Mother was diagnosed with a stage 3 Breast cancer and I was just starting my career. Every aspect of the Family dynamics were tested - emotionally, physically, financially and spiritually. I kept the faith and indeed the Good Lord saw us through the trial. It's been 8 years now since the

Regis Cebu Leadership- Enneagram by Dr. Kerwin Mark L. Gubantes MD

Dear Prof. Jorge,

Good evening! It was good to see you today. Thank you for the learnings . I am sending you my Enneagram and some inputs I have on the results.

Cheers,
Kerk ,MD.



REGIS CEBU LEADERSHIP
Leader Kerwin Mark L. Gubantes, MD.
My ENNEAGRAM


What is the new Learning?
It is the first time I took a personality exams and it is interesting to see the results. I believe that the tests results validates my belief in the type of persona in me however, I would like to believe that it is a combination of at least 3 different classifications/types. I don't think we belong to just one specific type of classification because we are dynamic individuals shaped by a host of life experiences , trials and tribulations. Although the results gives me a better understanding of myself, it should not in anyway interfere with my desire to improve on it. The following are the results:

Type 1 - The Reformer - 5 Type 6 - The Loyalist - 7
Type 2 - The Helper - 3 Type 7 - The Enthusiast - 3
Type 3 - The Achiever - 3 Type 8 - The Challenger - 4
Type 4 - The Individualist - 4 Type 9 - The Peacemaker - 5
Type 5 - The Investigator - 2

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Cebu Regis Leadership Reflection Paper No. 1 by Leader Dr. Kerwin Mark L. Gubantes MD

Dear Professor Jorge,

Good morning! I hope you find the reflection I did on the moments that defined me interesting to read.

Sincerely,
Leader Kerwin Mark L. Gubantes, MD.


CEBU - REGIS Leadership
REFLECTION PAPER # 1 - My Defining Moments
Leader Kerwin Mark L. Gubantes, MD.


I would like to believe that there are three defining moments in my life. The first one brings me back to the wonderful, carefree times in high school. During those years, my life revolved around school activities and growing up with my sisters Carlyn and Christine and Mama. My father was conspicuously not around during my formative years because he sacrificed to work overseas to be able to support our family. I never really understood the impact of growing up without my father around until now that I have a family of my own. I could not really blame anyone, we could not possibly dictate how our lives move forward. As a dutiful son, I did my best to excel in school so much so that I graduated High school as the class Salutatorian. I never expected it to be honest but knowing what just happened, I started to realise the potential I have to probably achieve greater things in life. All I need to do is to be diligent in my studies and see where it leads me.I would have to say that Don Bosco High School did a good job in inculcating and cultivating in us the values of hardwork, prayerful life and diligence. These values sustained me through the difficult and challenging years later in my life in College and Medical school. These are the same values that I am trying to impart on my children. Another important aspect of my formative years in high school is the Love for Sport. Don Bosco system allows children to really play because sports helps build good character. It allows us to bring balance to our stressful lives as well as to ensure good health. Presently, I make sure that I dedicate enough time and effort to do biking and swimming just to stay healthy.