Quiapo Medical Center

Schedule a trip to what Dr. Michael Lim Tan calls the “Quiapo Medical Center” and the other big medical / private hospitals in Metro Manila any day prior to August 25, 2015 discussions. [Tuesday, August 25 at 1-3 pm on SDH: Culture and Illness]. Dress simply; try to blend in with the other consumers and/or church goers. Explore as many facets of the medical centers' - “wings”: emergency room, OPD, lobby, admitting section, pharmacy, wards [if any], cafeteria, other areas. As expected of a health professional, be respectful and observant. Keep your eyes open, listen to the sounds, smell your surroundings. Keep safe, be alert. Be aware of wonder.

A question of authenticity 

The first thing that concerned me about the whole Quiapo Medical Center concept was whether the 'personnel' really believed what they were offering. It's one thing to sell these things as part of a cultural system one really believes; to sell these things without believing in them is another and that just seems wrong. It's the difference between a quack doctor and a faith healer. Coming from a family of doctors in Quezon City, I have no prior experience with these things. It's a completely different world from the one I know. And so, authenticity was one of the issues I hoped to investigate.

Evolution of the Nickname Story (or Bakit Geno?)

Since college: "Hindi ko nga alam eh, ako daw pumili nun nung bata ako."

Since med: "Pinili ko lang daw yun nung 4 years old ako."

Since this year: "Dati yung tatay ko kasi Gen tawag sa'kin. Tas yung tita ko, Henobeba. Siguro pinagsama ko, kaya noong 4 years old ako sabi ko daw 'Ako si Geno noh!'"

Fridays

About three months ago, an unsuspecting student was invited for lunch by a couple of classmates to talk about faith and life stories. They met in the warm second floor corridor of their building during the hour-long break, but the conversation went far too interesting that they agreed to meet again in the afternoon after class. He had tons of questions which they wanted to answer, so they agreed to meet every Friday during lunch. However, something always came up on Fridays that they weren't able to meet.

As usual, this Friday, something came up that the student couldn't keep the appointment but instead sought the classmates after lunch. The news was that two of his groupmates attended in his stead, one was previously invited while the other, who was conveniently in the vicinity, joined out of intrigue.

As they did earlier, the classmates talked about Christian apologetics, and logic. The claim is that Christianity, despite being a religion that requires faith, does not at all dispense with reason. In fact, according to the Christian bible, God himself encourages thinking.

“Come now, let us reason together,

says the Lord”

Isaiah 1:18

It is a misconception that, in Christianity, matters of faith cannot and must not be questioned. For instance, Mary, one of God's most favored human beings who was then faced with the most extraordinary situation, just had to ask the fear-inspiring angel who brought her the news of her being a virgin mother, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” and, without repercussions, was provided with an answer.

For a lot of questions on faith, if not all, God has provided answers. But whether these are recognized as answers or found to be adequate is a completely different matter. It remains, though, that the God who created the human brain with its intricate structure and functions that bring about human thought makes use of this same facility to enable us to comprehend parts of Himself. We are allowed and encouraged to think.

And this thrust is the foundation of the subsequent Friday discussions.