A Tribute to a Teacher, Mother and Friend When I was young I had a teacher whom I thought was mean to me. I also thought that she was like a Lion who wanted to control his kingdom and at the same time an Empress who wanted to impose her will on others. At one point she jokingly called me Robin Padilla. I thought it was a compliment because Robin Padilla is handsome and so I thanked her. She said, “Ano ka hilo? Kaya kita tinawag na Robin Padilla is because bad boy ka, hahaha”. If you remember, Robin Padilla was sentenced and imprisoned then for illegal possession of fire arms. She kicked me out of St. Martin de Pores Charity Hospital where I have rendered free service doing cleft and palate service on indigent patients two times a week, regularly for years, after receiving a complaint from a visiting American Craniofacial Surgeon without hearing my side. The latter was degrading my mentor, Bill Magee, while she was performing a craniofacial surgery on a pediatric patient. She said that Dr. Magee is only a Dentist and a Maxillofacial Surgeon and not a Craniofacial Surgeon. I politely told her, “I am sorry Mam but I have to disagree with you. True, Dr. Magee was a Dentist but he later took up Medicine, became a Plastic Surgeon and went on a Craniofacial fellowship training program under the mentorship of Paul Tessier. I know because I trained under Dr. Magee”. After hearing those words, she went ballistic and told me to get out of the operating room. The rest was history for Robin aka “bad boy” Padilla. I did not understand her then for I thought I did nothing wrong except to stand up for my mentor and speak the truth. I asked myself, “Bakit ganoon? Nagtiyatiyaga ako na nagseserbisyo sa St Martin de Pores Charity Hospital ng walang suweldo for years na, e itong Americanang Plastic Surgeon na ito isang linggo lang dito at di na babalik, bakit di man lang pinakinggan ang panig ko?” Going back, hindi pala siya ang nag decide na tanggalin ako sa roster ng mga consultants ng hospital. It was a management decision. Also going back may reputation nga akong “bad boy”, which I disagreed. It is my nature to speak up when I think I need to. Years after, when I finally became a fellow of our society, the Philippine Association of Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, she talked to me. She was on a happy mood. She said, “Alam mo Jim, lagi kang namimisinterpret at misunderstood sa society natin dahil madaldal ka. You have to understand na masyado ang seniority dito sa atin, and that includes other specialies in surgery. Bukod doon, maraming faction. Mabuti kang tao (dinagdag ko na lang po, hahaha). Mag-ingat ka. Mahal kita, anak”.She further told me with a smile, “By the way, gusto ko lang sabihin sa ‘yo. Nabalitaan ko na masarap daw ang handa mo ‘nung ikinasal ka”. I remembered, hindi ko nga pala siya kinuhang ninang sa kasal at hindi ko rin inimbita. I owe a lot from Dra. Teresita Tongson. She was instrumental in my fellowship training in Norfolk Virginia. Together with Dr. Rene Encarnacion, we were sent to Norfolk Virginia to be part of the Physician Participant Training Program of the Operation Smile International. It was a good opportunity of getting exposed to Microsurgery, Craniofacial Surgery (lectures, fresh cadaver dissection, and actual surgeries) and fellowship with other Plastic Surgeons of different nationalities for one month. It was also a great opportunity to meet and have the chance to talk to Dr. William Magee (co-founder of Operation Smile International) regarding my desire to have fellowship training in Microsurgery and Craniofacial Surgery. The rest was history. Going back, I realized that Dra. Tongson was very instrumental in molding me during my formative years in Plastic Surgery. She cut the tree when it’s becoming too tall to be pruned. She was fond of the acronym KISS which means Keep It Simple Stupid. Up to this time I remember this acronym and have been applying it in my practice. More importantly, her example of a benevolent Physician, dedicating ones’ life on education and in the service of indigent patients, has influenced many of us. She’s a Physician Surgeon with the heart of Lion, the eye of an Eagle and hands of a Woman. Farewell our dear teacher, mother and friend, Dr. Teresita Tongson. Marami pong salamat sa inyong tulong at kadakilaan. Jim Sanchez
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 22:22:14 +0000
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