DR. Ma. Lourdes G. Lagunilla
Student Number: R1322
Submitted to: Professor Jorge Saguinsin
July 10, 2015
1. What is the new learning?
2. What is the relation to what I already know?
3. What have I done, am doing, will be doing for this topic?
As early as my college years, I saw and felt the need to study and work harder. My father was employed as an XRay technician at Clark Air Base and my mother is a textile retailer. We were five siblings in the family and I was the fourth. With very limited resources, my parents can only send one child to college in good schools Our eldest finished his Marketing Course in San Beda supported by my parents. My two elder brothers were in College at the same time. The second in the family graduated with honors and pursued Chemical Engineering course at De La Salle Taft and this was made possible by a scholarship of the GI Bill of rights which I financed my B. S. medical Technology Premed course and later the Doctor of Mecicine degree. This GI bill of rights scholarship was awarded to my father who was a veteran. My father has always emphasized that the only legacy he wil give is our education as there is no wealth he can give us. I knew I have to get not only the most expensive but most prestigious course that will bring improvement and progress to our family and myself. It was not very easy but at least the finance was the least of the problem of my parents to bring me to become a doctor.
Right after I passed the Physician's licensure exam, I knew I will be on my own. Though my parents are still generous, just right after passing the Physician' licensure exam, our textile retail business store was caught in a fire. I knew then as much as my parents would like to support I took the first hospital I applied for the Hospital of the Infant Jesus to start my residency training in Pediatrics for an honorarium pay then of P 2,000 back in 1982. The training was tough especially working with senior residents who were intimidating and sometimes would bully a junior resident like me. During this difficult times, I applied in another training institution which was a government hospital, then Lungsod ng Kabataan now the Philippine Children's Hospital which gave a higher pay and more exposure. The culture in residency training is almost the same where hierarchy is very much a practice. I was able to go through the 3 year residency.
It was during my second year residency training when I got married also to a doctor classmate who took residency in Far Eastern University Hospital. This must be the MOST DEFINING MOMENT OF MY LIFE as my boyfriend then and I got married in April 16, 1983. Defining moments are deeply honest, personal and at times moving account of one's voyage of self-discovery. The a series of "defining moments", shows how personal crises and professional challenges can not only be overcome but can also be used to help give greater purpose and meaning to life - to help make the individual stronger, the family more cohesive and the organization more united. It was another chapter of my life when we decided to get married. We were on our own to earn our bread and butter and at the same time make significant decisions. I went through residency training which only afforded us to meet our daily needs. I was luckier than my husband was, since he got his pay item much later. I had to support both of us including housing, food, house help and our eldest child born in 1984. Then came our next child , our son in 1985. Just after my residency training in 1985 I tried to work as an associate with a well known consultant but I get less for pay . Dr. Simona Alikpala , one of the big names in the Philippine Pediatric Society recommended me to teach at the AUF College of Medicine. It was at this point I'm felt more and more driven since I have to start earning for our family. My doctor husband was just starting on his training on EENT , but I have to go to Angeles City every week and bring our eldest daughter with me to teach. Also during this time , I have to start my clinical pediatric practice. There were more challenges during my journey , as I did not have a money to build a clinic. I had to borrow from my friend and brother to build a small clinic at the carport of our ancestral home in Angeles City.
All that was in my mind then was I had to work, never mind the the time and effort since I can only depend on myself and the emotional and moral support of my family. I had a good enough pay as an instructor initially at the AUF College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics which supported our house rental, payment for bills and allowance but it was just enough. I had to start my pediatric practice initially at a small hospital, Holy Rosary Clinic in 1985. I always start my clinic at 8 in the morning only to find out that the physicians start their clinic at 11 AM. I endure waiting long hours for any patient who will consult and the first patient I attended to was at the Emergency Room for seizure or convulsion due to high fever at past 12 PM when I was already very hungry. The family of this patient were rich businessmen and they must have appreciated how I treated their daughter and eventually became close to our family.
My eldest daughter and I leave Manila on Mondays boarding a bus for me to teach and conduct clinic and go back on Friday afternoons. This was very trying times, when I had to board any bus at Dau, Mabalacat just to reach Manila with a 2 year old daughter I carry. I walked 4 kilometers from the last bus stop to get to our home in Mayon cuddling my daughter. I felt the difficulties as a working mother and I always cry to console myself.
In 1988, my husband and Dr. Ferdinand Lagunilla was to finish his training at the Far Eastern University Hospital and decided to join me in practice. My father in law lend us an old Ford Cortina for our family use. This car has always has brought us mechanical problems, though were fixed, got a sizable amount of our small income.
My pediatric practice was progressively doing well. I answered practically all calls no matter what time of the day they come.
I was so motivated and driven to become the choice pediatrician for parents.
In 1988, our borrowed Ford Cortina car got burned at the North Luzon expressway on our way home after bringing my sister to the Manila International Airport then . We had to buy an old car Dodge at least for our family service car but being an old car will always breakdown anywhere at he North Expressway.
We had to get a loan of of PHP 300,000 to build the clinic and buy EENT instruments for Dr. Ferdie. Much of the loaned money was used to buy a new Nissan Sentra. We bought second hand EENT instruments which were still good and these made through a good practice of Dr. Ferdie. We were able to pay the loan in three years without noticing the efforts we put in as we were very determined to make it.
AUF Medical Center inaugurated in 1990. Though stocks then were being offered, I didn't have the money until about 1989 when as a faculty member we were able to pay installment for the PHp 50,000 one share. I was so happy to be then invited by the department Head of OB Gynecology Dr. Amelia Guiao. I even, kiddingly said , "what happens when AUFMC opens and I shall be bringing patients there" . I was actually doing a good practice by this time with lots admissions and consultations in 1989 at their nearby small hospital, Mother of Perpetual Help Clinic.
In 1990. The AUF MEDICAL CENTER was inaugurated. We were then just simple consultants struggling to make it as far with other senior consultants coming from different schools like UP and UST. Never mind the ridicule we got from fellow consultants as we did not have familiar faces and doctors to mingle with. We just strived to work in our own small clinic outside of AUFMC.
We worked very hard not mindful of time. One day I received a call from the President and CEO of the Angeles University Foundation Medical Center. He congratulated me for being on top of consultants as far as admissions are concerned. He personally invited my family to join their family on a weekend show and dinner. We felt so much privileged and honored to spend one whole Sunday with a very respectable and highly regarded family.
Then came, the moment we had to build our own home. Little by little we were able to pay off a house in a very well known villa in Angeles City. We had our youngest daughter born in 1988. I was appointed the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and the AUFMC. My classification at the academe rose from Clinical Instructor to Assistant and later as Associate Professor of Pediatrics in 1988.
I was very busy practice as a Pediatrician , though I was able to juggle my time in the academe and in the Residency Training program I handled with the Training Officer at the AUF Medical Center. These were tough years. I came to realize to build bridges between my family, my work as a pediatrician and my role in the academe. I began to develop my multi tasking role by getting along as a wife, a mother, a pediatrician and a teacher. I was able to become more balanced and therefore, more able to deal with the challenges and issues that I encounter in each of my different roles. I believe looking and living life holistically made me more effective and a more authentic person.
It was always a busy day and week as I work as a pediatrician and a Department head. I was physically well and had an emergency operation due to stone in my ureter in 1989. This was followed by two ectopic pregnancies in 1990 and 1991 where I had to undergo emergency surgery for acute abdomen. I survived all these health issues. It was these emergency surgeries that made me I decide to get a premium insurance for us including our children. As doctors in private practice , we had to save money for health and other needs. My salary in the academe was not enough to bring up a family.
The famous Mount Pinatubo eruption which brought tremendous destruction in Central Luzon came in June 1991. It was very difficult and we thought it was the end of the world for us, only to realize that everyone affected just had to work harder. I believe the Filipino people work harder during calamities And this became a turning point for most of us. In 1993 we got the biggest loan to transfer our home to a business area where we bought a commercial lot and an ancestral home with it. We got a PHP 6 million loan which had an initial 9 % annual interest and floating interest thereafter. Little did we know that a global and Asian crisis was on the way and the following years brought soaring high increase in interest rate from 9 to 15 and as high as 30 % . We started restoring a 37 year old ancestral home . At first it didn't give us problems then only to realize on the 2nd year of restoration of the ancestral house , the interest in our loan was soaring high and we had to sell properties. It was not very easy to sell our hard earned house and lot where we live and another lot property . I asked my husband to borrow money from his parents who were well off , but he didn't. My only recourse then was a novena prayer I had with St Therese the Little Flower of Jesus. It was my only hope then. I really prayed hard with practically talking my heart out to St. Therese in a chapel at AUFMC . Three days later my prayers was granted. A very interested client who introduced himself to be my relative bought our lot at P 1 million. This could only settle a part of the remaining 3 million pesos balance . I felt very humbled to continue praying that we can sell more properties like a condominium we bought and was sold for another 1 million and much later our house and lot we lived in was able to pay off the balance. There was no one to turn to then except to God and St. Therese who granted us the graces we most needed. St. Therese the Little Flower of Jesus had her centennial celebration in 1997 . Her relics were brought. at the Mt Carmel Church in Angeles City where I had an excellent chance to thank her and I was practically crying when I attended her send off. I felt she was a friend who really pulled me out of my biggest problem the. I continue to pray to St Therese for guidance and inspiration .
In 1995. I received a call from the President and CEO Atty. Emmanuel Y. Angeles of the Angeles Univesity Foundation Medical Center and I was advised to attend the stockholders meeting where I shall be elected as one of the members of the Board of Directors. I was so overwhelmed as I didn't even realized what my role will be but the President stated they needed a lady member. The Chairman of the Board of Directors then was the former President of the Philippines, Diosdado Macapagal. My father in law was so amazed when my name was published with the rest of the Board of Directors in a leading national newspaper and told me " Do you know that the Board of Directors is the highest law or policy making body of a corporation " . My father in law made me realized the importance of the position.
In 1997 AUFMC was converted from a stock corporation to a foundation by virtue of the Board' s resolution.
Our eldest daughter went to College at UST for her B.S. Biology Accelerated course in 2001, followed two years later with our son also at UST . It was in 2005, that I planned to downsize my clinic hours to spend a day of the week with my children in College. It was also during this time that I was again called by the President and CEO of the AUFMC. I had then the suspicion he might request me to be the Medical Director position of which I was scared. I was right. He told me to work for the Medical Center as they were about to replace the then Medical Director, for reasons, I didn't pursue to know. For the whole month of May 2005, the President and CEO continued to meet me at the office where he talked of the vision, mission of the hospital , all the hardships he went through with his late mother , Barbara Yap Angeles as the founder of then Angeles Academy till it became Angeles University Foundation Medical Center and Atty Emmanuel Angeles now the founder of the Angeles University Foundation Medical Center. I I gave up teaching, but continued my pediatric practice. I prayed to St Therese for discernment and I felt I got the answer. A week before I was announced for the position, just as I was coming out of the office of the President , I met the very important person who will help me worked through at the Hospital. It must be the divine sign and so here I am still continuing my mission on earth to provide excellent and affordable medical care to the community. Everyday I had to face new challenges since I was appointed as the Medical Director. It was not easy to mingle with employees who had loyalty to a previous Medical Dirctor of 13 years. This was even more challenging for our Medical Staff who are my peers. I read their minds. I can see and feel doubts and a lot of questions It was challenging to deal with employees but at least they are employed and more often will adjust to changes. Together with the the management we had series of meetings for a smooth transition. I took time to meet and engage every key staff individually to find out their concerns. This is empathy as part of emotional intelligence displayed by a leader. It was also during this time that I get to know each one and conduct small group meetings and concentrate on defining the objectives and strategies in the coming years . Our Medical Staff are not employed and I am aware of the very independent and assertive personalities of doctors. I continue to be very diplomatic and build good relationships in various activities where the doctors are engage to participate. Leaders need to be able to adapt their approach and communication style to different situations.. One has to have competencies demonstrating emotional intelligence, such as the ability to work with others and effectiveness in leading change. Proficiency in managing relationships and building networks and the ability to find common ground and build rapport is very much part of emotional intelligence. In 2007, the youngest of the children of Pres Emmanuel Y. Angeles, Atty Gabriel Martin L. Angeles took over as President. With a very proactive and supportive young President, Directors for Medical Services, Nursing Services, and the Ancillary the services, we continue to work for the MISSION of AUFMC , where AUFMC is committed to the Highest Quality in Healthcare Services, Education and Research.
I enrolled in the Ateneo Graduate School of Business in anticipation of future requirements by the Department of Health for Medical Directors to have Masteral degrees. this is another defining moment as I have to go back to school. So much effort and time is needed in this course. Just the same , with the support of my family, I continue to go through this MBA Regis.
These must be all a lifetime defining and trying moments of my life , no matter how great or small they are, they become the nuggets of my strength to go on. I can see in my children who also are on their trying moments, though in different perspective as they have almost all the support from us. From these vignettes of my experience I hope can inspire my children and my family and those who believe in me , that the powers of patience and prayers will spell it all a SUCCESS.
These defining moments of my life transformed me to a better person. The defining moments included limited financial resouces, natural calamities and opportunities which were challenging including work positions of the Medical Director of AUFMC. I gathered so much courage facing the difficulties in life. and this made me more confident and strong to make good decisions.
What is the new learning?
If I were to draw a linear graph plotting the significant moments in my life, there are some very happy ( high values ) and some sad ( low values ) parts of the graph. . Though only may be classified as true " defining moments" , such moments challenged me and make me think of my values and make me grow or change. I feel it is not the moments themselves that define us , it's how we respond to these and how we choose to redefine ourselves and place us in an equilibrium, that is integrating our whole self , our family and the society to help me leverage my energy and deal with the challenges that comes my way.
I am sharing this process of self-discovery...and delivering a message for leaders that companies should have a purpose beyond financial return. Defining Moments will make you smile, cry and think...if it makes you act, it would have solved its purpose - finding a balance in life.
What is the relation to what I already know? What have I done, am doing, will be doing for this topic?
I can now attribute our experiences that make us better persons or leaders whether they are failures or success. In the midst of the joy, sorrow, stress and the excitement of life, we should not lose sight of what is most important to us - GOD, our family, peers, our work, and our community. I learn lessons through the years that help me stay focused and balanced; do the right thing; to reach for our dreams and help others achieve theirs. I continue on my journey as a parent, a wife, a doctor and a Medical Director and most of all a child of GOD to be of service above all.
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