Physical Therapy in Advocacy

Advocacy is an important aspect of any profession. However, it is not always given much importance by the professionals themselves. Physical therapy, like every other profession, is still growing but the difference is that it is not yet as flourishing as other well-established professions. It also needs advocates to help make it better not only for the welfare of the professionals but also for the people that they help.


We met one such advocate of physical therapy, Mr. Royson Mercado, PTRP. Not to be confused though, being an advocate does not mean that you do not work in the same way any normal physical therapist would. With everything he is working on and all the places he works in, he is exposed to different settings almost everyday, but as he said, “The bulk of physical therapy should be clinical duties even if you are an advocate.” He stated that being a clinician should always be the main duty of a physical therapist. Even an educator or researcher must perform clinical duties too because it is where you can actually practice or apply what you teach or what you research.


On a normal day, he sees patients as early as 8am or at 9 at the free clinic in CAMP. He stays in CAMP until 5pm as a supervisor to the interns and also to help in the patients’ treatment. In between those hours at CAMP he sometimes attends forums or meetings that are related to research (he is part of three researches) and also to physical therapy welfare and development as an advocate of his profession. On other days he has no clinical work and sometimes he would inspect schools for CHED. He is also a private practitioner who is on house call for patients. He sets his own price range to help people who cannot afford to pay a lot for therapy, it's his way of helping the needy. As a private practitioner and a clinician he is able to use the experiences he gets in the clinical setting to be able to further his research.


Although every physical therapist must be an advocate for his profession as his/her every action will reflect on his profession, being an advocate requires a lot of skills, some are innate in every physical therapist while others are developed to be used in advocacy. Good communication skills and good writing skills are needed in being an advocate as it requires paperwork and talks, especially when it comes to matters of legislation. But these skills are already possessed by a physical therapist as paperwork is also part of a clinician's life and communication skills must be well developed to be able to communicate with different kinds of patients. Knowledge of the different laws and the process of passing these laws are the things physical therapists need to know for them to become “hardcore” advocates.


Mr. Royson, takes part in talks when it comes to the welfare of physical therapy. Some of these would include those that concern PT laws. He is also part of the group of physical therapists who helped push through the proposal of a new physical therapy law that would amend the obsolete R.A. 5680. Unfortunately, the proposal for the law has gone back to level one because of the change in the administration. Luckily the efforts were not wasted as the law being proposed now has gone through a lot of changes from the proposed law it was before. And it may be easier to pass it this time as it is more polished and improved. After the 2010 elections they are planning on proposing the law to the senate again. Hopefully this time, it will be passed.



Reflections


Physical therapists are a health professional that facilitates healing, habilitation, rehabilitation, prevention of anatomical barriers and promotion of a healthy lifestyle. They struggle to be able to play their roles in the Philippine community. Essential to this promotion of the profession is advocacy. As a member of the profession, a physical therapist is expected to be an advocate of his/ her field of the healthcare system. He/ she is expected to utilize well the gained knowledge and skills exclusive for the profession to encourage the society, especially those at the rural setting who have less information regarding the work of a physical therapist, to trust the profession in its function in the healthcare system. As a physical therapist, he/ she is also expected to be a catalyst for the upbringing of the profession and for the changes proposed.


Physical therapy, as what I can regard it is, is a profession that exist despite of the many challenges it currently faces in the Philippines. Fleeing from the country to maximize the application of the profession is very easy. But then, we can find that there are already a number of sparks that indicate that the growing improvement in the conception of a physical therapist. At this time, information becomes a very powerful and a very vital ally. Every physical therapist must make sure that they advocate the profession and educate the society that a very noble profession exists and profounds.


By Tristan Gabriel Dizon

Working as professionals requires appropriate skills and experience to arrive at a successful action. Responsibility is then needed for these tasks to be accomplished effectively and efficiently. This is also arrived at with the help of communication skills necessary in the work field. Physical therapists should be responsible and interpersonal.


These qualities are checked in our group’s observation on a physical therapist at work in the field of advocacy. Mr. Royson Mercado, PTRP, from UP Manila is the leading physical therapy advocate, enforcing proposed laws for the improvement of the physical therapy system in the country. In the observation, he explained that the system of the profession in the Philippines really needs improvement. The definition in the RA 5680 is outdated and needs to adapt the World Confederation for Physical Therapy’s definition of PT, according to him. However, due to the disapproval of the government, his team has to redo it.


“A professional should be an advocate of his profession,” he stated. Because of the mere fact that PTs in the country are not autonomous by law, there has to be someone to push for changes, and he felt that it is he who should initiate the force. “Advocacy is my passion,” he added. Aside from being a private clinician and an instructor he sees his advocacy advocate as a passion, though not earning a single nil from it.


Mr. Royson really sets a good example for us. In spite of his numerous roles as a physical therapist, he manages to equalize them and still be productive as a professional. Though working, he is still pursuing a master’s degree in the College of Public Health. He lets me realize that no matter how hard your situation may be, if you want something, nothing can deter you from achieving it.


By Richard Tiu

It is a common belief in the Philippines that physical therapists are the ones performing massages in spas and hotels. This belief was created because PTs also use massage in their therapy of patients and people have the idea that when someone is skilled in the science of massage then they are automatically PTs. This connotation of PTs is a bit demeaning because physical therapists didn't go through 5 years of college, taking subjects like organic chemistry and comparative anatomy, just to be taken that lightly.


I was told by the upperclassmen that even though physical therapists use massage as a form of therapy there are a lot of other procedures and exercises used for therapy. Massage was also taught to them for just a couple of weeks too.


However, before taking the class perspectives in physical therapy, I was limited to the idea that a physical therapist may either be a clinician or an educator but because of the class and more importantly because of the first clinical exposure I was more enlightened about the vast possibilities for a physical therapist A physical therapist may also be an administrator, researcher, educator or a clinician, and being a clinician too has even more divisions to choose from. But more importantly a physical therapist is an advocate, he/she may be not be a hardcore advocate but everything he/she does in his/her job represents the whole profession.


Nonetheless, a physical therapist cannot choose just one of these possibilities as every physical therapist must practice at least two or three of these jobs because a physical therapist cannot do his/her job without being involved in another. There are a lot of possibilities in the field of physical therapy and I cannot wait to explore them all!

By Marc Christian Cuizon


 Highlighting that physical therapy is the cornerstone of rehabilitation was the best impact brought about by this clinical exposure our group has experiences. This diverse tract of advocacy for Pt is what made us appreciate the profession more, for PTs like Sir Royson make a stand that they have to do something for the further development of their profession, and that they are willing to do EXTRA work for this though they do not earn from it.


Occupation vs Profession, the comparison of these two terms have been established during our interview. Personally, I admire the professional outlook of Sir Royson on physical therapy as exemplified by his drive to work extra hours on the arduous process of lawmaking in the Philippines for the welfare of current and future physiotherapists in this country. Amidst the 20,000 plus registered Pts in the country who earn and make a living out of this profession/occupation, Sir Royson is sincerely submissive to the mission that he has dedicated himself to.


It may be cheesy to put into writing how we admire his dedication to his field of work, however, we truly do, and personally I told myself that after graduating I will save money, uplift and secure my family’s finances, and then continue my studies to somehow follow this advocacy of Sir Royson. Thus the bottom-line is that this clinical exposure has made a deep impact on my outlook of this profession I can see myself in.



If I have to be honest throughout my reflection, then I will be. I have never seen myself as a physical therapist. Ever since I have known of it, I have never seen physical therapy as an actual occupation, let alone a profession. I have never thought it would be comparable to other career choices. I never thought of physical therapist to be just about massage but still, I saw it as a “weak science” even though, ironically, I enrolled in UP-Manila with a PT course.

by Joshua Joel Manoharan

Everything I thought about physical therapy have somewhat remained but they have been modified at the very least. After our clinical exposure, I have become more susceptible to the idea of physical therapy itself. I may not choose PT in the long run, but still I now see it as a possibility, as a choice that I am willing to consider, unlike before.


The question now lies with how it has affected me into thinking this way. So, going to our exposure, we spoke with an advocate of PT, Mr. Royson. “Advocacy is not for everybody,” he said. I used to think it was, but after the interview I do believe him now. Advocacy is a lot harder than it is given credit for, and the physical therapists that “fight” for PT are preoccupied with clinical duties and it doesn’t help that there are relatively only a few of them. No wonder it is not as flourishing as it should be! This made me look at physical therapy with a lot more respect than I used to.


I had a choice to leave or stay. After I have seen the differences he and other PTs can make either as an advocate or not, I stand by my choice for now until I finish. Physical therapy.

by Glenn Michael Maglasang

Physical therapist in a wellness setting

Our group was assigned to have our clinical exposure 1 at Fitness First located at the 3rd level of Robinsons Place Manila. Fitness First is considered as a wellness setting. Fitness First has different sections according to the need of the clients. Some of the sections are for muscle build-up, group exercise, functional training, personal training or mind and body training. Fitness First has also modern equipment which would be a big help in the promotion of fitness and wellness of their clients. We are able to observe a session in cycling studio. This studio is really spacious and it has equipment similar to a bike. With their large facilities, they can really accommodate great number of clients. But of course, their clients are also limited only to those who are capable of paying a certain fee.


On wellness training center where PT can work, the clients and patients ranges from all ages, most of them are adults, of both male and female. The purpose why people go there is basically for physical fitness and wellness. Some wants to lose weight, others are just to maintain their body conditions. There are also some who wants to improve, develop or maintain specific body functioning depending on their needs and preferences.


Although massage is used sometimes as a modality in the place, the primary modality used in the fitness setting is exercise. In our exposure, we observed the cycling studio in Fitness First. We watched an instructor conduct a class in it. Music was played while the all the people went cycling. Somehow, the music affects the speed of cycling of the attendees. Besides the cycling as an exercise, the instructor incorporated a set of distinct movements while cycling. The instructor also added a few pauses or breaks and something like a cool down between songs. All of these are planned by the instructor at the very beginning to produce a well-rounded exercise that works on most of the parts of the body. While observing the class in the cycling studio, we also saw some personal trainers having a one-on-one session with their trainee. They made the trainee use the contraptions like the treadmills and weightlifting machines around the gym or made them exercise on a mat. They facilitate and direct the trainee to follow a certain exercise plan. We sometimes see the personal trainers performing a massage on the trainee. All the exercise that is observed within the gym is aligned with the idea of fitness. Exercises are performed to keep the people there fit and in shape.


Like a physical therapy functioning in other work settings, a PT working in a wellness center also have the same responsibilities as a PT working in other fields. Maybe, they just differ on how they will execute their treatment plans in order for them to meet the needs of their clients.


In the wellness setting, a physical therapy is responsible for ensuring that the routine he or she is preparing for the clients will meet the goals of the clients in general. Overall, a PT should make sure that the routine plan should not only be effective and useful to the clients but also be safe for them as a whole. A physical therapy in this kind of work setting is the one supervising the clients throughout the workout plan which include different exercise techniques fully designed to meet the goals of the clients. Because the setting is particularly in the gym, different exercise equipment are used by the physical therapists to aid the clients in reaching their objectives. Generally, a physical therapy in a wellness setting is the one helping the clients to be more physically fit and to develop a better shape.



Daniel Arzadon


When we were assigned to observe in Fitness First, I expected that it would be a good and fruitful encounter with the PT. I expected a lot because I have been to Fitness First and I really enjoyed my stay there. To look at it in another perspective was an exciting thought for me. To look at it as if you’re the one in charge of the clients and not being the client yourself is nice to think about. I did not get what I wanted but it was close enough. I enjoyed observing Sir Mariano as he was guiding the clients on cycling. I have to admit, it was very entertaining to see a very professional person act as if he’s in TV during the workout. When I saw how Sir Mariano was handling the clients, it occurred to my mind that your future as a PT will be very flexible. We were not able to see Sir Mariano interacted with the clients personally because he was conducting a group class. But I observed other personal trainers in Fitness First and noticed that it is a fact that you would need people skills to become a good PT. Of course, you will need a way to relay your knowledge onto other people. You will need to be a “likeable” person to do these things. I really enjoyed watching or observing in Fitness First and for sure, this path of Physical Therapy will be in my book to consider.

John Marlon Lintan


Being a physical therapist is not just about earning money; more than being a job, physical therapy is a profession which requires enough skills and knowledge in order to execute appropriate treatment plans according to the need of the patients. Physical therapy is a very wide range profession since physical therapists can work in different work settings such as in the hospitals, private clinics, educational institutions, industrial settings, and even in wellness settings.


Seeing a physical therapist working in a gym, a wellness setting, I’ve realized how versatile really the profession is. At first, my mind is stocked believing that physical therapists are only delimited in hospital settings but upon observation in the Fitness First, I learned a lot about the importance of being a physical therapist in that kind of work setting. According to the physical therapist we have observed at work, Mr. Leonardo Mariano, PTRP, the kind of work setting he’s into was able to provide him not only a job, but also a venue for him to be more physically fit as well. However, it doesn’t mean that when a PT is working in a gym, it is a lot easier as compared to a PT working in the hospitals and in the clinics. Mr. Mariano pointed out that as a physical therapist in the wellness setting; he also has this responsibility of ensuring that the routine he is creating for the clients in the gym is not only effective but also safe in general. Considering the number of clients he is holding per session, I think it is really hard to handle those people especially they are of different age, sex, and social status.


At the end of the day, I still believe that WHAT WE LIKE IS WHAT WE DO BEST. So whatever field of physical therapy one opted to choose, it’s just a matter of liking it, loving it and being happy about that particular field.



Maricar Maandal


As a physical therapist in a fitness center, one should be flexible enough to address the needs of the different patients and clients. Usually, during a class in a fitness center, the clients vary with ages, preferences, likes, needs and expectations. Therefore, a PT should have effective social skills as to deal with different people who are attending the class. One must also be flexible to adapt to certain changes on how his/her work and approach should be. A PT should also be excellent and competitive enough to give the appropriate rehabilitation or fitness plan for individual patients.


One of the responsibilities of a physical therapist is to ensure the effectiveness and safety of his/her program for the clients/patients. Determination, perseverance and passion for work must be attributes of a PT in a fitness center because it requires the PT to work with the same exercises and movements the patients or clients are doing. A PT’s attitude and energy during exercises should be more than what the patients and clients can because a PT should be able to encourage the clients and patients. A PT must also know how to work with other professionals in answering the needs of the patients and clients because there are some cases wherein a PT might need help from them. Indeed, aside from the ability and skills of a PT, one should have the social skills in dealing with patients, clients and other professionals.


Physical Therapy is not a mere profession because one must love it in order to be successful. I realized that being a physical therapy brings self-fulfilment for every person whose life has been changed in a better way.



Kristine Eunice Magno


Through the exposure, I realized that our profession works in various fields, like fitness clubs, where the goals of promoting health and well-being, emphasizing importance of exercise and activity, and developing, as well as maintaining, movement and ability can all still be achieved. More importantly, self-fulfillment is attained through interaction with people.

In any field a physical therapist works, challenges, which also depend on the context of situation, are inevitably there. In the exposure, the physical therapist considers differences on age, generation, and social class that enable him to treat them equally. In that field where the PT practices, which is a fitness club, people also prefer a physical therapist as their PT (personal trainer). Yet, self-fulfillment is still attained through the practice itself and accomplishment of goals such as promotion of fitness and health.



Lorainne Joyce Mosca


A physical therapist has specific roles and responsibilities in a particular work setting. In wellness setting like Fitness First, the physical therapist promotes fitness and wellness. According to Mr. Mariano, PTRP, it is not important to have a PT in this kind of setting—it is an advantage. A physical therapist is more knowledgeable about the physiology of the body than any other instructors in that field. I thought it was easy to be in this kind of setting because you are not dealing with PWDs. But after our exposure my perception was changed. It could also be challenging because you deal with different kind of people, with different age and different status in life. How you initiate the moves would affect how the other clients would perform it. This one really demands professionalism. No matter how big is your personal problem, you still have to be cheerful and energetic in front of your clients. As we all know, it is not easy to pretend.


Mr. Mariano, PTRP was the one to choose the music and choreograph the steps. And according to him, it was not just about putting things together but you also need to consider how would the client feels after doing the workout. The clients are your responsibilities. There are instances that a client doesn’t like the choreography. Unlike PWDs who would try to follow the instructions of the PT as long as they can do it, persons without disabilities sometimes tend to be choosy of the things that they would perform. Of course, this is not always the case. Maybe, you just really can’t please everybody. I think what I really learned with this exposure is that every action and decision we make would have an impact or effect in someone’s life.



Gino Paolo Santos


Our clinical exposure was designated in Fitness First in Robinson’s Place Manila. We observed one of the physical therapists, Mr. Mariano, moderate a class in the cycling studio. The atmosphere in Fitness First was great. It seemed more like a resting place rather than a working place. While observing Mr. Mariano conduct his class on cycling, we noticed some 1-on-1 trainers around the place instructing specific people to follow a certain plan for working out. After the observation, we were able to interview him. We learned a lot from the interview. Apparently, physical therapists could work like doctors with multiple clinics or have sidelines. Although I know that physical therapists can work in different fields, I never imagined that they could work on different fields simultaneously just like doctors. For working in Fitness First, he gets fantastic benefits like free membership to all Fitness First clubs and access to its facilities. And when he conducts a class, it could be viewed as him actually getting paid for working out, but nevertheless, he still needs to serve the people who go to his class. One interesting thing I found out in the interview is that he did not pursue becoming a doctor after being a physical therapist. This really surprised me because I also planned on taking physical therapy as a pre-med only and continue to med school afterwards. To my surprise though, there are actually people who get satisfied with their work as a physical therapist and drop their plans of being a doctor. Mr. Mariano actually favored being a physical therapist more than being a doctor because of the more intimate bond that happens between a physical therapist and his patient. Personally, I am slowly being dissuaded to become a doctor. What is being revealed to me is that physical therapy is more self-fulfilling than being a doctor; that physical therapists’ contribution to society is the same as the doctors’. I am starting to like being a physical therapist and drop the plan of being a doctor, but I do not want to stop pursuing my original plan just because it is too lengthy and difficult, but rather because the job of a physical therapist is just as appealing to me as the job of a doctor.

Sports Physical Therapy Clinic

Sports Physical Therapy Clinic

by: Angeles, Florendo, Lumanlan, Tepace, Yang

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Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the Big Dome

Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines

The floor is shaking and the lights overhead—stunning. Amidst the cheers and the jeers and the drums’ thumping and beating, tension can be felt by everyone in the arena—not just the audience, not just the players, but more importantly, the coaching team. “Less than fifteen seconds remaining on the clock and the team trails by one. Number 5 gets the rebound, passes it to number 12… OH, WHAT A WONDERFUL STEAL BY NUMBER 9! Passes it to 11, aims for fast break, AND HE SHOOTS! What a victory...”

           Ring a bell? For any sports enthusiast or even somebody who knows basketball, such scenes may seem very familiar or cliched. Sports, defined as competitive individual or group activities governed by rules, are only among the things enjoyed by many people from any gender, age group, or nationality. But not so many people are aware that a physical therapist is part of all those hard court action.

         
            For our clinical exposure 1, we observed Mr. Czar Anthony Caguioa, a sports PT and coach of the UP Fighting Maroons basketball team. We were supposed to observe him at the Sports Physical Therapy Center located in UPD College of Human Kinetics, but since the team has a game against UE Red Warriors that day, we were able to watch them play at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

          
           At the team’s dugout, we noticed a first aid kit, hot and cold compresses, bandages, oxygen mask, cooler, water jug, and cups placed at one corner. At the moment, Sir Czar’s patients are the players, all college students, and he’s on watch for possible injuries such as sprains and fractures,. But if he’s working at the clinic in UPD, he handles varsity players of various sports, and the cases are almost similar.

“Kapag sinabi kong tumuwad sila, tutuwad agad yan” as Mr. Czar jokingly pointed. “Hindi siya kagaya ng pedia.”

           This is the main difference in the patient he handles. He handles not only the basketball team, but the whole UP Fighting Maroons. He said that there is an importance in having the power over them. Although he is usually alone, he sometimes have another PT with him. Mr. Czar handles the injuries while the other PT handles strength and condition, and if ever, adding another member of the group for utility.

           When asked for the modalities used, the usual hot moist pack, ultrasound, ice pack, and infra-red was his reply. The injuries range from the usual sprain to reconstruction surgery on the spot. He is the on site paramedic and the ambulatory unit. There is no more medical group around except for his.

"You need to know the sport" -Mr. Czar Caguioa

             He said that different sports have different demands. And for this one, he has to be able to train them alongside the basketball team's coaches, and he has to be the medical team and live for the moment at their games.

Mr. Czar Caguioa, Sports Physical Therapist

       The responsibilities of a sports-based Physical Therapist come in two folds. There is the role before and after the game and the physical therapist’s role during the game. The physical therapist’s role before and after the game involves conditioning and strengthening of the athlete. It is in this process that the physical therapist oversees the training of the athlete, and helps in the athlete’s strength and muscle conditioning. Also, the physical therapist monitors the athlete’s health condition and decides if the athlete is fit enough to play his or her sport. The physical therapist makes this decision by evaluating the health status of the athlete, so it falls upon the physical therapist’s shoulders to correctly evaluate, and make the right decisions based on this evaluation. Furthermore, if an athlete is sick, or needs some sort of medication, it is also the role physical therapist to take him to the professional appropriate to his affliction, and to help the athlete get the medicines needed. The physical therapist also plays a role during the game. This involves also monitoring the health condition of the athletes and deciding if they are still fit to continue playing. If some sort of accident occurs, the physical therapist would act and administer immediate first-aid. But if the accident is not too serious, the physical therapist must still evaluate the athlete’s condition, but not by immediately dashing to the scene if it appears that the player is still capable of moving on his own. This is to prevent any misunderstandings that may occur because rushing in of the physical therapist would immediately signal the coach and the other first-aiders that something is very wrong, and the player needs to be taken away to be treated. Before rushing in, the physical therapist first checks with the athlete and finds out the extent of the injury, then decides of the player is still fit enough to re-enter the game.

A player of the UP Fighting Maroon treated by Mr. Czar Caguioa

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Reflections

“Professionalism is knowing how to do it, when to do it, and doing it.” --Frank Tyger

       September 3 marks the day of our observation with a physical therapist ( PT ) practicing in the sports setting. Truly, professionalism is seen in what Mr. Czar Anthony Caguioa ( the PT we've observed ) does in his workplace/s. But a sports clinic in the UP-Diliman College of Human Kinetics gymnasium is not what we saw. A mighty crowd, banging drums, sweaty athletes and a BIG DOME is what we came to observe!

       In the Araneta Coliseum all is prearranged by Mr. Czar before the game. He checks the condition of every player before the game that is he recommends if the player is allowed to play or not. He treats the athletes with massage if needed. The tapes that cover the body of the players, which Mr. Czar pointed out is quite useless except that it boosts the player's morale, and the equipments that are used by the players like oxygen bottles and protective masks are all managed by Mr. Czar before hand. As we have observed, equipment and modalities utilized by Mr. Czar are hot moist pack, ultrasound, ICC, ice bags,ambulatory units and infra-reds. These are small obviously because they cannot bring a hydrotherapy apparatus that is humongous in the bench side in a basketball game because that would be absurd! As expected in a game, their patients are athletes that are playing for the team.

       As the game starts, the managing role of Mr. Czar , if not stops, lessens and his on-sight paramedic and condition specialist role begins. In the game he looks for the athlete's welfare. He monitor's their playing time, their muscle condition and strength. If ever a player experiences an injury, as Mr. Czar said, he is the first to go and help him although he momentarily pauses to check if the athlete can go on or not before rushing in. Mr. Czar clearly pointed out that he does not massage in the game. He lets another person do it which he has instructed. That kind of authority is cool! He manages the welfare of the player, has authority who plays or not and he has continuous practice of his skills, which in my opinion, further honing it and develops him to be a better professional.

       In the game, Mr. Czar is very professional. As we all know a game can be intense at parts and when you're in the BIG DOME you just can't help but scream your lungs out but he is different. He acts professionally, that is, he shouts discreetly, sits patiently, and keeps his cool in these intense times. I really don't think I am ready yet to act professionally like him because I freak out so easily. Yet I hope I'd develop the necessary skills needed to act professionally as I progress.

       Overall, I think it would be rather awesome to be a sports PT. I really do love watching sports and it would be such an honor to be a PT for a team or some athlete. I think that this side of the PT practice develops one's skill and fulfills one's expectations of the practice. After the observation, all I can say is that being professional is hard but someday I hope I would know how to do it, when to do it, and continue to do it!

by Jorell Victor Angeles

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       Behind every successful player in the University of the Philippines varsity teams is a very triumphant, supportive and fully functioning physical therapist--- Mr. Czar Anthony Caguioa.

       Last September 3, 2009 our group was able to observe Mr. Caguioa, the official sports physical therapist of the UP varsity teams, in action during the UAAP ball game between UP and UE. Sir Czar, as how we call him, is a very accommodating person not because he gave us free patron tickets for the game but because of how he worked with the whole UP Basketball team. The first comment about Sir Czar that was written in my notebook was “very fatherly and flexible”. I have no exact adjectives to describe how he handled and took care of each player who needed assistance during that game. It was superb and amazing how he managed player after each player without any sign of panic or distress. Maybe, he was already used to it for he was with the team for several years. Sir Czar, during that game, was also very professional. You can see him focused and not forgetting his purpose for the team and for the players while enjoying the game. Also, I was able to notice that he is very tactful with the rest of the members in the UP bench in terms of how he approached the coach and other people engaged with the group.

       “Masaya naman at fulfilling kasi I love sports”, this is how Sir Czar marked the exposure for me. I have seen how enjoying it is to be a sports physical therapist. Actually, I was inspired to be one also because I see it as an exciting and as a fulfilling career because, like Sir Czar, I also love sports. But still, I do not close the possibilities that I may take other PT career, when inspired, in the future.

by Ronniel Florendo

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      The blazing lights of the court, the overwhelming cheers of the crowd, and the adrenaline of the players are things that one would not usually think of when it comes to a setting wherein one practices a certain kind of medicine. The stereotype is a quiet clinic, a white-walled hospital room, or even a chaotic emergency room. But the practice of medicine is not limited to these settings. It could be practiced almost anywhere, as long as there is a need for it. The practice of physical therapy can take on many forms, whether it is helping a hopeful patient walk again, conditioning and preparing an athlete for an upcoming game, or even just educating and giving hope to those who seem to have lost it. The practice of physical therapy is not limited to the clinic nor is it limited to the way it is practiced today. It will continue to grow, flourish, and take on new forms.

by Christian Alexander Lumanlan

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      One apparent attribute of a sports PT is the authority he exercises over the players of the team. He may not be the “main” coach of the Fighting Maroons, but he has the power to advise whether a player should carry on with the game or not. Apart from that, a sports PT is also an on-site paramedic. He takes on the roles of a doctor, a nurse, and a physical therapist. With this, it can be observed that PTs can be leaders in various fields encompassed by the profession.

       During the game, we observed that Mr. Caguioa was sitting most of the time, on guard and waiting for injuries or accidents that may happen. It seems as if the job is too light, but a sports PT actually holds in his hands the life and safety of the players. He bears the responsibility of keeping the players fit, helping them avoid fatigue, and administering treatment to the injured.

       Sir Czar said that the edge of being a sports PT is the action and excitement that he feels every time the team plays. There is so much fun and surprise in every game because one cannot predict the results. Moreover, being a sports PT is not as toxic as the PTs from other fields. But this does not mean that the job is less fulfilling.

       Actually, the clinical exposure motivated me to push further and do my best as a PT student. I realized that there are lots of sides to being a physical therapist, and that each side is a whole new world of experiences that provides myriads of opportunities to grow. These opportunities may seem to be overwhelming, but I hope that by the time they come, I’ve already grown into a mature and proficient physiotherapist who’s got the passion and drive to serve people in the best way I could.

by Mary Grace Tepace

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      Mr. Czar Anthony Caguioa, did not realize that he would become a sports physical therapist until after graduation. “Akala ko pedia ako” he said, and this made me realized that I can not really determine what PT sub specialty I am going to be at this early stage. Back then, I see myself as a Pediatrics PT too, but now that my mind is more open to new ideas, I would like to try other specializations too, even sports PT.

       Mr. Caguioa said that to be a good sports PT, one must learn the sport really well, because he said that certain sports must meet certain needs. A sports PT is the one that tells the condition of a player, whether he or she is fit or not fit enough to play, and in this case, whether he had overcome his time in court. He would also train with them and help them when they have medical problems. This is a big responsibility because the conditions of the players are in his hand. He is the immediate paramedic in the court. The good thing about interacting with clients is that they cooperate well. The coach and the players heed to the physical therapist’s instructions, and would not need to be persuaded unlike in Pediatrics. Also, I think that a sports PT should know the player’s capability in his or her sport. An example of this is when a player is down in the court, and the PT would make signals if the player could go on with playing or would need to be removed from the game. This is because if a PT would go inside the court, the player is taken out by default and could no longer play. The responsibility is great. I love it!

by Sabrina Yang

Special thanks to Mr. Czar Caguioa and the University of the Philippines Basketball Team

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Hospital-Based Setting: UP-PGH

The Philippine General Hospital is a tertiary hospital managed by the UP System, having a total of 14 clinical departments. One of these clinical departments is the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine (DRM), and is further divided into several sections. The Physical Therapy section has three clinics, and we had the privilege of observing patients and physical therapists at work in two of these clinics, in the Ward 5 – Main Clinic, as well as in the Charity Out-Patient Clinic, also referred to as the Out-Patient Department Clinic.

The Charity Out-Patient Clinic has six interns, and each intern is able to accommodate a maximum of 10 patients a day. There is a fair number of regular staff in the clinic – 12 regular working PTs – but a rather scarce supply of equipment. For this reason, there is a great reliance on donations, and more importantly, on the ingenuity of the physical therapists. Some of the modalities that we were introduced to us were the paraffin wax bath, therapeutic ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator, and hot moist packs.

Physical therapists in a hospital-based setting handle patients and teach, as well as study and do research. When we went to PGH for our observation though, we realized that they did more than that. Much, much more than that.

(Unfortunately we have no pictures to post, we weren't allowed to take any.)

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Serge Aclan “I never thought the Clinical Exposure could be so inspiring!” Those were the words that came out of my mouth right after our interview session in the Physical Therapy Section of the Out-patient Department of the Philippine General Hospital. I was hesitant to go at first, with the thought of having high grades in PT100 being the only reason why I would join my group mates for the exposure. The hot weather made things worse. We were heavily perspiring the moment we arrived in the said section. Because of this, it made me want to finish the activity quickly and run home for one cold shower.

When we arrived, I saw a patient getting ready to do routines for his therapy session. The place was clean and all white. Several PT interns were present in the said clinic. A few minutes later, we were accommodated by the PT we were about to interview.

During the course of the interview, two issues caught my attention. First, I can’t help but ask the state of the facilities in PGH. Of course, being a government hospital, PGH has limited facilities and, sometimes, dilapidated ones. Despite this physical therapists in PGH manage to find a way around these inequities. This amazed me.

Next, I was humbled by the passion of the physical therapist we interviewed to work in PGH despite the conditions of the said hospital. His passion showed the true meaning of service for the country and for the people.

The activity ended with the interviewee giving encouragements, even stating that he wishes to see us as his interns in the next three years.

I entered the facility with a gloomy face, wishing the activity was over. But afterwards, I went home inspired and a big, big smile on my sweaty face.

Angeline Dellosa I was one of those people who entered college with nothing else but a pocket full of hope, five-minute plans, and some loose change. It scared me because while I had no idea what I was getting myself into, everyone else seemed sure of where they were going and what they wanted.

I never had any love for Math or the Sciences. Instead, I loved to write, and be around people, be of help to them in any way I can. Because neither of these spelled Physical Therapy to me, I was compelled to believe that I made a mistake in choosing my course, that I did not at all have anything of considerable worth to offer.

This clinical exposure allowed us to observe the workings of a physical therapist in a hospital-based setting. The Philippine General Hospital, being a tertiary hospital, isn't able to offer much equipment, and each day physical therapists face such diverse sets of people. It loomed in me then that it takes far more than just talent to become a physical therapist --it takes dedication, passion, and commitment, a humanitarian character, patience, tolerance, ingenuity, joy. It takes a special set of eyes to see hope and chance in pain and disability, and a lot of heart to find no better recompense than in seeing a patient leave with something you gave, something that he or she did not once have.

It all sounds so cheesy, it seems, but as Sir Llonel had put it, "it's the cheese that makes PT’s tick".

This first clinical exposure did not just show me the roles and everyday workings of a physical therapist. It showed me the essence of physical therapy, and what physical therapists are made of. And suddenly, I knew -- I'm on the right track.

Trishia Luzarraga Undeniably, we Filipinos are less privileged than most countries. Yet we do not let this hinder our way of life. It seems part of the Filipino’s nature to do everything with a smile. It amazes me how we can be such happy people when everything around us is of scarcity. But I guess here lies the beauty of being Pinoy. And this particular nature of Filipinos was reflected in our exposure at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

Being one of the largest government-administered hospital in the Philippines, PGH is expected to cater the needs of the Filipino people, especially the underprivileged. Though the hospital lacks advancement in technologies and facilities, it still manages to serve the nation with great competence. This is done the Filipino way –making the most of what they have. I was astonished by the ingenuity of the PT’s in PGH. This shows absolute dedication.

Rehabilitative professionals work for the betterment of the lives of the people. Doing this with lack of facilities is difficult, but not impossible. It just requires dedication, passion, and love for the people you serve.

One thing I realized is that by pursuing this profession, I will have the opportunity to affect lives in ways beyond description. I will be able to give them something that they lack, and make them feel complete. And through this I will forever be part of them. This thought is overwhelming.  Hopefully someday I will be a person capable of doing such great things.

Having so little yet serving so much –this has to be the most fulfilling of all tasks. Maybe this is the reason why health care professionals choose to work in PGH. And the reason why we, Filipinos, cannot take the smile off our faces even in the hardest of times.

Patrick Manlapaz I grew up in scarcity, shortage, in lack. Every day I wondered how I would survive. I worried about my family’s poverty, and sometimes played the game of make believe just to sneak out of the unfortunate reality. But this did not stop me from fulfilling what I wanted. I did not let scarcity ruin the quality of life I hope to enjoy. I did not let the shortage and the lack dismantle my being and tear my pursuits apart.

Having been brought up this way, my heart has drawn me to avenues where I can serve. I joined organizations and causes that cater to the needs of underprivileged people as a volunteer. I actively participated not only in the local level but in the national level as well. I’ve been involved.

The exposure was another eye-opener. We witnessed physical therapists at the Phillipine General Hospital, a tertiary hospital, a hospital that is supposedly the seat of advanced technology and complete facilities, an institution that supposedly offers adequate and quality health service. However, this is not so. The hospital’s rehabilitation center is struggling to fully address the concerns of patients primarily because of incomplete facilities. PT’s then, utilize more than the facts about PT to be able to cope --patience, resourcefulness, dedication, sacrifice, and the heart to serve.

That is the essence of a true physical therapist. You don’t just do your job, you do it with passion and willingness. You don’t let scarcity, shortage, inadequacy, and lack let you down.

The struggles and hardships that PT’s encounter are no comparison to how they feel when they see their patients regain his or her ability to walk after being brought to the center in a wheelchair. That, according to Sir Jojo and Llonel is what keeps them going.

Carmela Santiago PGH may not have the best rehabilitation facility in the Philippines, however, it amazes me how in spite of this, the physcial therapists of PGH still give excellent physical therapy services to their patients. I believe that this shows us that a good physical therapist must be able to adapt to his or her workplace environment (good or bad) to give the patients the best service that he or she can give despite the different difficulties he or she may encounter. 

Handling an average of ten patients a day coupled with a limited number of equipment is no easy task, but to the physical therapists of PGH, this is a normal thing that they have to accomplish. Like what our interviewee said, working in a hospital setting such as that of PGH can be very difficult. They encounter some difficult patients, they sometimes have a hard time managing what equipment they have,  sometimes they lack the budget to replace old equipment and sometimes they also have a hard time working with the administration --- these things make me wonder why they don’t transfer to another hospital. The answer, they said, is in the rewarding experience they get when they see their patients get well and when they see that in some way, they have improved their patients’ quality of life.

In the end I realized, all workplaces --- be it a private hospital or a government hospital like PGH --- have their own advantages and disadvantages but a physical therapist must learn to cope up with these things. Cheesy as it may sound, I think that what I must consider above all in choosing where I would like to work someday is where I will be happiest to serve as a physical therapist.

Mandaluyong C.A.R.E.S.

Mandaluyong Center for Alternative and Rehabilitation and Education Services (C.A.R.E.S), located at the 2^nd floor of the Lingap Karunungan Center is an example of a community-based work setting. It is a project of Mayor Benjamin Abalos Jr. for the benefit of PWD’s in Mandaluyong. The center focuses on children with physical disabilities who can’t afford the services of a therapist.

The Lingap Karunungan Center

C.A.R.E.S employs the services of a professional for each rehabilitative area-Physical and Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology. Aside from that, they also hire individuals who are interested to be their crews. The crews would be working under the supervision of the therapist and alongside an intern. However, before becoming a crew, they have to choose whether they would be in the PT, OT, or SP department and be trained by the respective therapists.

On our first visit, we weren’t able to witness a therapy session since their patients were not present. Because of that, we took the liberty of interviewing Ma’am Karen about her work as a PT in C.A.R.E.S.

Ma'am Karen explaining some activities of C.A.R.E.S.

Ma’am Karen told us that as one of the professional therapists in the centre, she facilitates the interns and the crews during therapy sessions. She also plans for the treatment of new PT patients and other administrative works such as scheduling patient sessions and organizing activities. Aside from that, she also works with the City Government in advocating to improve the centre and to provide better facilities and equipments at C.A.R.E.S.

After the interview, we toured the area and observed that there were no heavy equipments used. Most of the equipments are toys that are utilized for therapeutic exercises. Modalities like water, heat, electricity and light are not used since they lack the funds to buy them.

When we asked an intern on how they adjust to the lack of equipments, he told us that as a PT, it is his responsibility to think of ways on how to help the patient in the best way he can regardless of the restrictions. Aside from patience, compassion and true concern for those in need, he also mentioned that as a PT, he should also be creative when it comes to the planning of the treatment since not all patients have access to high-end equipments.

R.D. being treated by Ate Gilda and Ate Gladys while her brother watches over.

During our second visit, we were able to witness a rehabilitation team composed of one PT professional, Ma’am Karen, an intern from UST, Ate Gladys and a crew, Gilda Mendoza treating a patient. Their patient was RD, a 6-year old with cerebral palsy.  During the treatment, we stood by and watched the team work. The intern exuded confidence in the way she handled her patient. She knows what to do and how to do things in a way that would benefit the patient. She sees to it that her therapy plan would help and at the same time suit her patient. She knows how to respect her patient and treat her like any other non-disabled person because the intern knows that the condition of her patient doesn’t make her any less human. She’s also aware of the needs of the patient and she tries to maintain a safe environment while trying to attend to her patient’s needs. Through those observations we have seen how competent the intern was in communicating with her patient. 

We also witnessed how the intern was able to practice how to supervise a treatment by instructing the crew on how to handle the patient. She explained why they should do some exercises and taught Ate Gilda how to perform some therapeutic exercises properly.

On the other hand, Ma’am Karen asked relevant questions regarding the planning of the treatment of the patient. She took note of the improvements with RD and asked the intern to think of ways to adjust her plan so as to improve R.D.'s condition further. This act of questioning further improves and trains the intern when it comes to planning a patient’s treatment.

The rehabilitation setting of C.A.R.E.S.

On the patient’s side, we have seen that she is motivated by the willingness of the therapists to help her. She is also motivated by her brother who carries her almost every Wednesday to attend to her therapeutic exercises. But of course, two people won’t work well if there is no cooperation. The patient knows that she should cooperate with her therapist so that they could get past the hurdle faster. But as everyone knows, one doesn’t always succeed in something if he or she didn’t fall once. There are times when the patient would throw tantrums and get tired of the treatment because of the great pain she is experiencing and the therapist would give an understanding look and shows great tolerance towards the patient. 

From left: Emilio Francisco, RD and her brother, Ate Hilda, Erica Bango, Khalisha Eugenio, Lorenz Garcia.

REFLECTIONS

          The world is a playground, you knew that when you were a kid. But somewhere along the way, some people stopped playing the game of life.
      Experiencing my first clinical exposure in Mandaluyong C.A.R.E.S. was life-changing in a way that it encouraged me to give the best of what I have on my chosen course. Honestly, being a physical therapist wasn’t among my choices so it was really a tough decision to enter a world I was not familiar of—the world of a physical therapist. After my first year in UP, I was really in doubt of myself. Suddenly I came to realize that I am not interested with my course and that I wanted to be a psychologist. Until I experienced my clinical exposure, and just like a snap of a finger, everything changed. My doubts and fears all went down the drain because of one reason, the people we met in C.A.R.E.S. RD, a cerebral palsy patient, was our observed patient during our 3-hour stay in Mandaluyong C.A.R.E.S. She is a jolly girl with a strong determination to improve. We observed a physical therapy intern from UST do some manual exercise on her. Being a person with lots of fears in life, I couldn’t stand the cries of RD. At that moment, I asked myself, will I be able to bear the painful cries of my future patients? I don’t know but I have to. At a very young age, she had been battling her disability since birth. Just with that fact alone encourages me to pursue on being a physical therapist and to be able to help people restore their normal functions. Aside from her, I also appreciate her brother. If her brother alone carries RD every Wednesday for her check- up, what more can I do for her in the future?

We will always be little kids in this world playing our own games in life but never forget to stop for a while and look around us because there are some people who need our help. One thing I know is for sure, somewhere along the way if some people would stop walking, I would be there to help them.

- Erica Lois Bango

“I still have a long way to go…”

As I watched an intern, a crew and ma’am Karen work with a patient; I had come to realize that I still need to allow myself to be moulded into someone better and more experienced before immersing myself in the same situation for I would not have the composure, the skills, and the knowledge to be able to perform my work with excellence.

Excellence comes with 3 things-attitude, knowledge and skills. A good PT is someone who can work well in any situation with all kinds of people and with different patients. As we were observing the therapists with the children at C.A.R.E.S, we noticed that they do not only concentrate on building a good relationship with their patients but also with the other professionals they worked with as well. This would make sure that the patient would receive the best treatment that can be offered by the various therapists that are working with him/her. Another is knowledge. PT’s would not be able to make a good and proper rehabilitation plan for their patient if they do not undergo the rigorous training and study that could only be given by a school. The patients deserved the best from their therapists. Only a well-trained PT should treat the patient to obtain excellent results.

Lastly, I realized that I also need the proper skills to become a good PT. I need to equip myself with the proper techniques and methods that will ensure a patient’s improvement. Without all these characteristics, I would not be able to serve other people the way I wanted to. Now I know why we all have to wait for four years before being exposed to the real world-so that we would perform with excellence the work given to us.

-Khalisha Griffith Eugenio

The experience I had at C.A.R.E.S. was enjoyable and at the same time fulfilling. I am very thankful that there exists a rehabilitation center here in the Philippines that prioritize patients who cannot afford to pay for their needed treatment. What I really liked about C.A.R.E.S. is its primary goal of community involvement. Ma’am Karen (PT head) facilitates and observes while Ate Gladys (PT intern) and Ate Gilda (Crew Member) apply modalities (exercises and stretching) to RD, while RD's brother sits beside her for support. I appreciate its aim to increase the awareness of the needs of persons with disabilities and to show that they too can live a normal life by just helping them achieve it.

I also like what C.A.R.E.S. does in involving family members because they play crucial roles in the development of the patient. With their help, family members can apply what the PT instructs them to do because patients spend most of their time at home and so family members can really help in improving the patient’s condition. Just like how Ate Gladys instructed RD’s brother some stretching exercises so that he can apply them to RD when they are at home.

At the end of the day, I realized that being a Physical Therapist is definitely not an easy profession. The patient’s development and improvement is in your hands and it is up to you on how you’ll apply what you’ve learned and more importantly, to practice professionally and whatever you do, do it with all your heart. I also realized that despite all the stresses that you experience, they will all be gone as soon as you see your patient improve until he goes back to his normal functioning.

-Emilio Angelo Francisco

When we first went to C.A.R.E.S. for our clinical exposure, I was rather disappointed since we weren’t able to observe a physical therapist (PT) in “action". We were then asked to go back the next week and observe another patient. Luckily, the patient arrived and we were able to observe how physical therapists practice their profession.

As we observed the methods and the modalities applied by the PT intern to the patient, I was very eager to see how the rehabilitation process takes place. The PT intern told us that when we start handling patients, we must be very creative and resourceful with all of the equipments and modalities available and we must use these modalities to their fullest potential so that improvements regarding the patient’s condition are evident after all the sessions with the patient are completed. With that in mind, I knew it was easier said than done since you must be very confident when handling patients or else, people won’t trust your capabilities in executing interventions with anyone.

As we continued with our observation, I felt that being a physical therapist was truly a gratifying profession. I considered shifting to a course in engineering during my first year but I have decided to continue with the course since the feeling of helping people regain their maximum potential and functional ability from the time they were having a hard time to move until they are able to stand and walk properly by themselves again seems more rewarding than connecting wires together.

With that being said, I’m really looking forward to the time we take up our other major subjects and practice the concepts learned during internship until the day we become certified physical therapists.

- Herr Lorenz Garcia

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Because we CARE

IT WAS COOL

                         

ERGONOMICS

The term “ergonomics” is derived from two Greek words: “ergon”, meaning work and “nomoi”, meaning natural laws. Ergonomists study human capabilities in relationship to work demands.

    Ergonomics, also known as human factors, is the scientific discipline that seeks to understand and improve human interactions with products, equipment, environment and the system. From different areas of sciences and health related studies such as human biology, psychology, ergonomics aims to develop and apply knowledge and techniques to optimize system performance while protecting health, safety and well-being of individuals involved. The concern of ergonomics extends across leisure, work and other aspects of daily living.

    In recent years, ergonomists have attempted to define postures which minimize unnecessary static work and reduce the forces acting on the body. All of us could significantly reduce our risk of injury if we could adhere to the following ergonomic principles:

• All work     activities should permit the worker to adopt several different, but     equally healthy and safe postures   

• Where     muscular force has to be exerted it should be done by the largest     appropriate muscle groups available  
• Work     activities should be performed with the joints at about mid-point of     their range of movement. This applies particularly to the head,     trunk, and upper limbs.    
  

    Ms. Cathy Eguia is a physical therapist who practices ergonomics as her chosen field after graduating from University of the Philippines-Manila. She works at AMKOR Technology Philippines, a manufacturing company which specializes in the production of microchips and technological paraphernalia necessary for the utilization of computers and other related products. She works in an office located inside the factory. She is the physical therapists of the company which has two branches, one is in sucat and the other in Santa Rosa.

    According to her, a physical therapist's task is to to assess the workplace of all the employees in the company. She points out certain barriers which affects the productivity of the workers. Estimating a total of 6500 workers, Ms. Cathy Eguia evaluates their respecting work stations and determine all the possible sources of injury and enumerate all the effects if these barriers would not be corrected. She works with other professionals such as doctors and nurses. All of them aim to identify the probability of increasing the efficiency of the workers through the proper addressing of all the threats related to work.

    Ms. Cathy Eguia goes to all the departments each day and evaluate the workplace of each worker. She examines the position of the worker and environment. If she finds it to be very delicate for the person, she advices the company to modify the area to reduce and even eliminate the possible factors that could bring a development of disability to the person. She keeps track of all the health records of workers and attend to them whenever they need her intervention and advice. She examines. each worker's capability and maximum movement capability through therapeutic exercises and use of up-to-date equipments for proper assessment.

    Being the only Physical Therapist in the company, she finds her job to be very tiring. Though she sees her job as a way of helping the workers in improving their physical capabilities and extend their potentials beyond their current capability. She considered herself as a person who finds fulfillment whenever she sees someone improves her work and become free from any injury because of her skill and knowledge.

    The group was not fortunate to visit the place. But we were lucky enough to have ms. Eguia who completely described the place and herself as a physical therapist working to improve other's lives! According to her, she is not into going outside the country and search for a greener pasture. She believes that as a Filipino, she has to serve first her fellowmen before other people.

By: Jonas Bernabe

Hindi kayo nag-aaral ng pagka PT  para makakuha ng mataas na grado na makikita sa inyong mga transcript subalit, kinukuha ninyo ang kurso na ito, sinasapuso at iniintinding mabuti upang mapakanibangan ninyo at ng  mga pasyente ninyo sa hinaharap. Ang kaalaman na inyong natamasa ang siyang  tutulong sa inyo upang buhayin ang pag-asa ng mga pasyente ninyong gustong makalakad ng maayos, gumaling at mabawasan ang kirot na nararamdaman ng  kanilang murang  katawan at higit sa lahat magkaroon sila  ng tibay at lakas  ng loob upang labanan at malagpasan ang mga pagsubok na haharapin. Nasa kamay nating mga Physical Therapists ang nalalabing pag-asa ng mga may kapansanan.. Hindi kayo nag-aaral ng pagka PT  para makakuha ng mataas na grado na makikita sa inyong mga transcript subalit, kinukuha ninyo ang kurso na ito, sinasapuso at iniintinding mabuti upang mapakanibangan ninyo at ng  mga pasyente ninyo sa hinaharap. Ang kaalaman na inyong natamasa ang siyang  tutulong sa inyo upang buhayin ang pag-asa ng mga pasyente ninyong gustong makalakad ng maayos, gumaling at mabawasan ang kirot na nararamdaman ng  kanilang murang  katawan at higit sa lahat magkaroon sila  ng tibay at lakas  ng loob upang labanan at malagpasan ang mga pagsubok na haharapin. Nasa kamay nating mga Physical Therapists ang nalalabing pag-asa ng mga may kapansanan.. Being exposed to what physical therapists do in different settings is part of the activities that we are supposed to do in our PT 100 course. I was really excited when I found out that were going to be exposed to the work of a physical therapist in the industrial setting, in Amkor which was situated  in Paranaque and Laguna. Unfortunately, we were not able to go to the place due to some reasons which was explained to us by the physical therapist working there. She was Ms. Kath Eguia, a graduate of Physical Therapy from the University of the Philippines. So to avoid wasting time, we just interviewed her and asked some questions regarding AmKor and her life as a physical therapist.

First and foremost, she introduced herself to us and right after it, we began to interrogate her. We talked about her college life and how she ended up in physical therapy. Her story is the same with mine. We were both really not interested in physical therapy because we wanted to take other courses but we ended up in this course. She told us that CAMP and PT life is really toxic but we must never give up because everything is worth it right after we graduate. In case we think of shifting to other course, we might as well attempt to try PT subjects first because she told us that you will never know how important physical therapy and physical therapist will be unless we try.

As we progressed, we also asked questions regarding her workplace. As far as I remember, she told us that she is one of the few people with occupations related to health there. Her task is to check if everything is doing well in their workplace, which was full of machines for producing microchips and other stuffs, and to check whether it is safe for the workers to work there. She is also responsible for the improvement of the quality of the workers there. She told us that her work is really stressful due to the fact that she’s the only physical therapist there and she handles almost 500 workers but she said that it feels good if she was successfully able to do all the things she ought to do, especially improving the quality of life of an individual. She told us that when you’re handling a patient in the near future, you will an unexplainable feeling after you successfully treated your patient. It is rewarding especially when you see the big difference between your patient when she still has impairments from your patient right after your treatment.

She is one of the few people who really inspired me to continue this course. There is one statement that really stayed in my mind and has become my principle in life. Here is how it goes:

“Hindi kayo nag-aaral ng pagka PT  para makakuha ng mataas na grado na makikita sa inyong mga transcript subalit, kinukuha ninyo ang kurso na ito, sinasapuso at iniintinding mabuti upang mapakanibangan ninyo at ng  mga pasyente ninyo sa hinaharap. Ang kaalaman na inyong natamasa ang siyang  tutulong sa inyo upang buhayin ang pag-asa ng mga pasyente ninyong gustong makalakad ng maayos, gumaling at mabawasan ang kirot na nararamdaman ng  kanilang murang  katawan at higit sa lahat magkaroon sila  ng tibay at lakas  ng loob upang labanan at malagpasan ang mga pagsubok na haharapin. Nasa kamay nating mga Physical Therapists ang nalalabing pag-asa ng mga may kapansanan.”

This really struck me most because I realized that there are a lot of people who are in need of therapy but there are only a few who could help them. I want to be one of those people who could restore back their normal way of living. And with this I formulated my long term goal, which is to finish this course and help other people. I believe that it is destiny that has brought me here, just like what Ms. Eguia was. I am destined to help people. I am destined to be here.

By: Eidref Santos

Our clinical exposure which aims to interview a registered physical therapist in a specific profession is one of the most significant and must do activity for every physical therapy student. Our group is assigned to confer to a physical therapist on an industrial setting spearheaded by Madam Kath Eguia PTRP. She is once a UP student and currently working at AMKOR Technology of the Philippines. AMKOR is the world’s leading suppliers of outsourced semiconductor interconnect services and it  provides leading-edge package solutions such as Package on Package (PoP), Stacked Packaging, Flip Chip, MicroLeadFrame^®, System-in-Package, MEMS, and Wafer Level Packaging (WLP), for latest generation applications.

At the outset, it is quite unusual on how a physical therapists work on this semiconductor company so Maam Eguia explained to us each feature of her work. A physical therapist, assigned to an industrial setting is quite different on other physical therapy field because it covers a wide range of development. The objectives of a therapist in this kind of locale is to provide and to survey the possible techniques to be done to improve one’s quality of work e.g. the best position of a person while carrying heavy boxes or the correct sitting position to avoid pain. After teaching and doing the proper stances, a physical therapist is also assigned to check the kind of development on the worker’s quality of work they do and the products they generate.

Maam Eguia did not only tell to us the line of work she is practicing right now but she also gave us words of wisdom and advices on how to survive a University of the Philippines. She said that we must strive hard and never to give up. In fact, Maam Eguia is one of the persons who encouraged me to finish the course as she gave us the background of our future profession. She said that physical therapists are better than a doctor because a doctor just gave the immediate medications to be done on a patient but a physical therapist is always there for the patient through the time he is suffering, the healing process up to the evaluation stage. A physical therapist is unique because he sees the patient’s condition day by day and observes his development up to the time they are well. Lastly, the most significant lesson she impart to us is this,      “ Hindi kayo nag-aaral ng pagka PT  para makakuha ng mataas na grado na makikita sa inyong mga transcript subalit, kinukuha ninyo ang kurso na ito, sinasapuso at iniintinding mabuti upang mapakanibangan ninyo at ng  mga pasyente ninyo sa hinaharap. Ang kaalaman na inyong natamasa ang siyang  tutulong sa inyo upang buhayin ang pag-asa ng mga pasyente ninyong gustong makalakad ng maayos, gumaling at mabawasan ang kirot na nararamdaman ng  kanilang murang  katawan at higit sa lahat magkaroon sila  ng tibay at lakas  ng loob upang labanan at malagpasan ang mga pagsubok na haharapin. Nasa kamay nating mga Physical Therapists ang nalalabing pag-asa ng mga may kapansanan.. ”

Thus, after our interview, all of us are flabbergasted and really convinced to follow the track of our dreams, to be a future physical therapist holding the University of the Philippines' core values of HONOR and EXCELLENCE!

                               

By:              Kevin Barrozo The             more I think of my profession someday, the more I crave for             graduating immediately from my course. First thing that sprouted             on the setting where Ms. Eguia             works was concerned on prosthetics and prostheses. Since the             exposure was about physical therapist in an industrial setting, I             thought of interviewing someone who is involved in manufacturing             aid equipments for people with disabilities. I was surprised when             she told us that she is working in a factory of microchips! Where             is PT there? She explained thoroughly and gave interest to the             entire group. Ms.             Eguia has inspired me to strive more and become the best physical             therapist someday. She has opened our minds to the essence of             having a physical therapist in every sector of the society. I             didn't think that a physical therapist is needed on that             particular workplace. Ms. Eguia has described how she works inside             with other professionals such as doctors and nurses who are also             part of the medical team of AMKOR Philippines. She has broadened             our thoughts on our possible responsibilities when we become             physical therapists someday. She gave us a brief background on how             she performs her job to the highest grade of professionalism.             Ms.             Eguia determined physical therapists as people who touch the lives             of other people, regardless of race and culture. She portrayed the             flexibility of a physical therapist, the finesse of being a             licensed professional and the undoubted perseverance in serving             the Filipinos. We asked her if she's planning to go abroad and she             answered, “Kung aalis ako, wala nang tutulong sa mga kababayan             natin.” Because of this exposure, my plan of shifting to             Business Administration is just another hallucination!

By:             Ronald Escano                  Having the             chance to interview one of the graduates of Physical Therapy in             The University of the Philippines Manila was a pretty good             experience. We had interviewed Ms. Kathy, who is currently working             in the AMKOR Philippines as their one and only Physical Therapist,             but of course together with her colleagues, a harmonious working             condition was established. AMKOR is by the way an international             company who specializes in making microchips and processors for             different computer companies such as Hewlett Packard and Dell.             Even though we were not able to see the actual workplace of Ms.             Kathy, she was able described it very well in order for us to             depict the real image of it. AMKOR was a pretty enormous place             where in a lot of machineries, heavy equipment could be found and             of course thousands and thousands of hardworking employees.             Unfortunately, due to this working situation there are times where             in the employees tend to go beyond their capacity to work             resulting to disabilities. Thinking of the place where             Ms. Kathy worked, a lot of questions came to cross our minds. How             do you do it alone? What do you feel after making someone better?             Ms. Kathy answered our questions one by one, and as she answers             them, we were getting interested in it much more. She told us that             being a Physical Therapist is no joke, that it requires a lot of             effort in order for it to succeed; moreover, a lot of heart must             be put in to it, that you must love what you do. Upon hearing her             words of wisdom, we were enlightened that Physical Therapy is not             just about making money, but most of all the heart warming feeling             of helping someone in need. By: Randall de Guzman We were given the chance to interview the only Physical Therapist in AMKOR Technology Philippines Inc., Ms. Kathy Eguia. She was a graduate of BS Physical Therapy in the University of the Philippines Manila. Before starting the actual interview, she introduced herself and told us about her college life. After knowing that Physical Therapy was not her first choice, I started to think twice about pursuing my current course, since PT was not also my first choice. But, after explaining lots of things about Physical Therapy, my thoughts suddenly stop and told me that I should continue this course. Because ever since I was a child, I always dreamt of helping other people who are in need. That is why I want to be in a medical-related profession. Fortunately, Ma’am Eguia, in some other way, helped me to be ready in going through this course. “AMKOR is a strategic contract manufacturing resource for many of the world’s leading semiconductor companies.” My very first idea about AMKOR is they do things or machines related to persons with disabilities, such as wheelchairs and crutches. But Ms. Kathy explained to us that they are producing semiconductors. AMKOR has two plants here in the Philippines, one in Paranaque and the other in Laguna. Ms. Kathy told us that since she is the only Physical Therapist in the company, she is having a hard time visiting these plants and checking if there are workers who are injured or need to be seen by a doctor or a therapist. I asked her if she was not feeling tired or bored of her work, she then answered me that all of us get tired, but despite of getting tired from all the things that she does, there is always that happy feeling whenever you are able to help other people and hearing the words “Thank You” from them.