Proudly, this near-sighted Ibaloy writer dares say that our beautiful archipelago of delicious coconuts and smiling carabaos produces the most competent and caring nurses in the world.
That is why they are so highly sought after in hospitals and other health facilities abroad especially in the United States, United Kingdom, and other industrialized Western nations. People, no matter what nationality, want the best, and our nurses are simply numero uno in my book.
Several of my high school classmates have achieved a comfortable life for themselves and their loved ones in foreign soil by virtue of their nursing profession. Some are now living the so-called “American dream”.
Through social media, I am able to “maritess” with a few of my batchmates and I’m truly happy for their hard-earned success. May their tribe increase and as Star Trek’s Spock would say, “May they live long and prosper”.
Anyway, thousands of nurses graduate annually from the country’s colleges and universities with our beloved Baguio City (land of my Ibaloy ancestors) home to several educational institutions offering nursing courses. With this being the case, it is quite ironic and sad then to read in a news article that our country is reportedly experiencing a nurse shortage. Why can’t we have a political dynasty shortage instead when they continue, since time immemorial, to be a curse on our beloved country?
Honestly, I am not surprised by this revelation since many of our nurses would rather go abroad where they are earning much better and enjoy more benefits. They are just being practical and I don’t blame them. In fact, I would have done the same if I was a nurse. Maybe, just maybe, more of our nurses will remain in our beloved country if they are paid better wages and provided with more benefits. I could be wrong but our long-suffering country needs more nurses and not political dynasties.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ continue to bless and keep us all safe.
May 8, 2024
