BICOL UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND PHILOSOPHY

Daraga, Albay

REFLECTIVE ANALYSES IN
READINGS IN PHILIPPINE
HISTORY

Submitted by:

Aculan, Omar L.
AB Political Science – 1B
 Reflection on PAGGAMOT SA GITNA NG PAGGAHASA

Ang mga Pagamutan Bilang Pook ng Brutalidad at Kabayanihan Noong Labanan Para sa
Liberasyon ng Maynila (3 Pebrero – 3 Marso 1945)

By Professor Michael Xiao B. Chua

In this article, historian Michael Charleston Chua aimed to inform the readers of the
experiences of the Filipinos who served in the war not as soldiers or members of the army, but as
medical professionals and practitioners. From my own viewpoint, this is relevant to the status quo
of our society now that we are facing a serious pandemic in the country. It celebrates and
reminisces the heroism and altruism of our doctors, nurses, and other medical practitioners who
are not given proper attention and recognition. After reading, I have gained lots of insights
regarding the experiences of the Filipino health workers during World War II and respect to the
level of dedication they put in their service.

How these medical professionals are perceived as heroes could be traced in the concept of a
bayani and kawani in the Philippines. To the Filipinos, a bayani is someone who dedicates his life—
ideas, thoughts, actions, and service for the betterment of the entire community or society without
expecting anything in return. On the other hand, a kawani, is a person who dedicates his skills and
knowledge for the benefit of other people, especially those in need. One can see how a doctor or a
nurse fits like a glove under these given connotations of the words. They sacrifice their time being
away from their own families in order that they may protect the lives of others. They spend their
days attending to the wounded, curing the sick, and giving comfort to those in pain. They would do
everything they could in the name of their jobs as health service providers. Their selflessness is
enough proof that they are true heroes of our time. This deeper sense of heroism, which finds its
roots in Eastern perspectives of thought, is distinct from the Western regard of a heroe, who would
only focus in advancing the interest of a clique or particular group he belongs to.

The numerous accounts and testimonies provided by doctors and nurses who encountered
and experienced these atrocities first-hand are indications of their dedication and loyalty to their
jobs. Throughout the war, these medical professionals were given the gruesome task of making
sure every person wounded be taken care of and every individual who required medical attention
be dealt with accordingly. On top of that, they had to endure the pain of witnessing how the
Japanese soldiers would torture, rape, and kill innocent civilians for pleasure. At that time, many
hospitals and health centers were seized by these armed troops. Doctors did not succeed in
preventing the latter from occupying their treatment facilities and were only met with further
aggression and transgression.

One example of this act of bravery is Dr. Sison, who, in spite of the instructions from the
military to prohibit the admission of patients to the Philippine General Hospital, continued to
accept individuals who needed medical attention. He sheltered thousands of refugees, whom he and
his team took care of. This was furthered when he took in a Japanese businessman by the name of
Kiyoshi Osawa. He feared that the Filipinos would kill him because of the nature of his job, and so
he treated him until such time that he was discharged after the end of the war. Osawa would then
come back to the country to establish two businesses in partnership with the Filipinos. During the
time when the hospital was turned into a fort for the Japanese soldiers, it never crossed Dr. Sison’s
mind to abandon his job and save his life. He continued to provide medical service to his patients.
Dr. Sison did not exude prejudice and bias while treating the Japanese businessman. He could have
easily left Osawa alone, knowing that he is one of their foes, but he still gave his helping hand. It is
astonishing and indeed heartwarming to witness the likes of Dr. Sison, who can also be seen in the
personhood of our health workers and frontliners who continue to fight the battle against COVID-
19.

The surgeons of the UP-Philippine General Hospital must also be remembered for their
exemplary and extraordinary valor. Amid the endless bombing of the Japanese and American forces
against each other, they did not cease to operate on the patients through round-the-clock
treatments. There was even one doctor who planned the mass exodus of civilian refugees who were
in danger of losing their lives during the war. As if all those were not enough, after leaving the
premises of the hospital, some of them formed part of the Philippine Civilian Affairs Unit and
continued to do their jobs despite the lack of resources and medications.

It is also evident in the life of Dr. Antonio Gisbert how doctors like him value their work and
place importance on their mission as medical professionals. Despite his personal loss due to the
death of his family members and the threat to his own life and security, he continued to treat the
wounded and cure the ill. It is not new to us how doctors and nurses would go the extra mile just to
provide service to their countrymen. The initiative he took was fundamental in saving thousands of
refugees and detainees and keeping them alive until assistance came. Similarly, the dauntlessness
of Dr. Yanzon and Teresa Nava proved that you need not to have the best equipment or the highest
position in order to help someone in need. In times of emergency, when resources are scarce and
reinforcements are unlikely to come on hand, one must exhibit his resourcefulness and make ends
meet with what is available in his surroundings.

Before reaching Dr. Conrado S. Dayrit’s rather discerning testament about the brutality and
atrocities during the war, I was fully convinced that the Japanese forces were to be blamed for most
of the destruction that took place as a consequence. However, I was enlightened after reading how
the Japanese soldiers actually had high reverence towards medical practitioners. Thus, they could
not have caused the torture and violence in hospitals and other health centers just like what most of
witnesses would bring out. Notwithstanding, I also agree with Chua’s remarks regarding the
veracity and authenticity of Dr. Dayrit’s account. One cannot fully trust his narrative due to the fact
that during the time when most of the brutality happened, he was no longer within the premises of
UP-PGH and had fled already. It is still interesting to keep his perspective in mind, because it would
also suggest that the Americans, whom our government considered our ally, took a greater part in
the desolation of our cities. This would be backed up by the countless times their forces caused the
impediment of safety and security of the Filipinos through bombing and indecisive attacks.

My sentiments echo Chua’s stand on who is to be blamed between the Japanese and
American soldiers. Although the Japanese contributed a lot in the destruction not only of our
infrastructures and edifices, but also our dignity and right to life, liberty and property, we should
not point our fingers solely at them. We must not look at one side of the picture and inspect all
possible angles of uncertainties to arrive with the most probable truth regarding the incident
decades ago. Both sides wanted to overthrow the other to protect their personal agenda. Because of
that, our country and fellow Filipinos became the collateral damage and suffered the most out of it.
We should not look at the Americans as our heroes, for when MacArthur and his men fled the
country during the breakout of the conflict, we were already betrayed and left alone. It took the
Americans years before coming back to the Philippines when many of their native allies died
hungry, wounded, and lacking of military equipment to defend themselves and the country. Their
intentions were good for they wanted to help us regain back our freedom, but due to their
incompetence and negligence, the lives of tens of thousands of Filipino soldiers and ordinary
citizens became the compensation.

At the same time, the war did not put the plight of our doctors and nurses in vain. The
bravery, selflessness, and dedication to save the lives of their fellowmen must be our source of
inspiration. A couple of decades may have passed, yet it still does not change the unfortunate status
quo of medical practitioners in our country. Today, in the midst of combating COVID-19, health
workers and frontliners are once again risking their lives by burying one foot under the ground.
This is our wake up call not to disregard and neglect the health sector. The sad truth about the
medical field is this: many of the fresh graduates of medical schools and nursing programs opt to
work abroad because of the higher salary and benefits that await them and the fact that much
importance and priority is given to them by other countries through the concrete programs
designed to gratify their conditions. We cannot criticize them because the resources our country
provide in the medical field is truly not enough and would not suffice the needs of all doctors and
health professionals. One can never forget how roughly 100B pesos was cut out of the allocated
budget for health in the country, as well as the distasteful remarks given by a legislator, which was
aimed at reducing the morale and dignity of nurses. Furthermore, the condition not only of the
doctors and nurses, but also of the ordinary Filipinos is aggravated due to these entitled and
privileged few, including our self-serving politicians who would rather have themselves tested,
sometimes even twice, not taking into consideration those who are in need of these testing kits and
apparatus. There are also cases of patients suspected of contracting the disease who lied to their
attending physicians, subsequently resulting to the death of the latter.

These are just some of the numerous issues and predicaments of our noble health workers.
How they still continue working despite all these challenges is something we must reflect and
ponder on. Most of the time we take them for granted—we shout at them, we argue when they
could no longer provide treatment for our loved ones, when in fact they have done everything to
the best of their abilities. It is my only hope for my fellow countrymen to look back at the sacrifices
and hardship of the doctors and nurses not only during the Second World War, but also in these
modern times. Let us remember their dedication and loyalty to our country and emulate their
heroism and altruism in our own lives as well.