Medicine is a field of endeavor that has been compared to a jealous mistress that demands time, devotion, and unselfish service in taking care of the health needs of others. To be successful in medicine entails not only possession of the requisite skills but also the heart and compassion of caring. Examples of silent achievers in the field of Philippine medicine who have set a benchmark for others to follow include Dr. Vicente Magsino, Sr. and Dr. Emiliano Panganiban, who founded the Mary Mediatrix Medical Center in Lipa City, Batangas, Philppines and the St. James General Hospital in Ibaan, Batangas, Philippines, respectively. Mary Mediatrix Medical Center (MMMC), one of Southern Tagalog's leading medical centers, offers comprehensive services and has a complete roster of health professionals (including those who had trained overseas) in various specialties. St. James General Hospital is a community hospital that provides primary care and surgical services to the people of Ibaan, Batangas.

Though both long gone, they left a legacy of patience and innovation, and were undeniably ahead of their time. The bottomline is they never ceased persevering even when the obstacles were hard and resources were meager. What makes their stories more inspiring is the common denominator of humble beginnings that were later transformed to successful endeavors via hard work and determined pursuit of their passion and dreams. The next generation of Filipino physicians and patients are better off due in part to the pioneering spirit, hands-on delivery of patient service, and foresight of Drs. Magsino and Panganiban in the field of hospital medicine and healthcare.

(Video from youtube.com; posted by Kindguymd 11.17.11)