The Medical City (TMC) recently launched its Augusto P. Sarmiento Cancer Institute (APSCI) named after Chairman of the Board and one of the country's top surgical oncologists, Dr. Augusto P. Sarmiento.


The APSCI signage and historical marker on the 8th floor Nursing Tower was unveiled on the same day. Then, a short program followed at the main lobby where a grand exhibit was mounted featuring the institute's brand of cancer care.


The event was graced by TMC President and CEO Dr. Alfredo R. A. Bengzon, Senior Vice President for the Medical Services Group Dr. Eugenio Jose F. Ramos, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Jose Xavier B. Gonzales, APSCI Director Dr. Daniel M. Alonzo and Deputy Directors Dr. Beatrice Tiangco and Dr. Manuel Francisco Roxas, TMC doctors, managers, and staff, patient partners, and the honoree, Dr. Augusto P. Sarmiento.

Dr. Augusto P. Sarmiento and The Medical City

Dr. Sarmiento was an alumnus of the University of the Philippines having graduated in April 1948. From there, he worked as a Junior Parasitologist Schistomiasis Control Program of the Department of Health.

APSCI Director Dr. Daniel M. Alonzo, APSCI Deputy Director Dr. Beatrice Tiangco, SVP for the Medical Services Group Dr. Eugenio Jose F. Ramos, President and CEO Dr. Alfredo R. A. Bengzon, Chairman of the Board Dr. Augusto P. Sarmiento, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Jose Xavier B. Gonzales, and APSCI Deputy Director Dr. Manuel Francisco Roxas

Dr. Samiento then became a first-year resident at the UP-Philippine General Hospital Department of Obstetrics. This became his gateway to get into the Department of Surgery where he started his surgical residency in the early 1950s.
Then, he went on to pursue more advanced surgical training in the United States in 1954.

In 1955, Dr. Sarmiento became one of the first Filipino surgical residents trained at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New Yor City. He completed four years of training there under the American surgeon widely regarded as the Father of Head and Neck Surgery, Dr. Hayes Martin. He worked for a time as an associate of Dr. Martin, but decided to return to Manila in 1958.


Dr. Sarmiento taught and practiced general and cancer surgery at the PGH and at two other hospitals upon his return. Then in 1967, he moved his practice along with several overseas trained UP doctors to join Dr. Agerico B. M. Sison in ABM Sison Hospital, which was then just a small hospital in Mandaluyong City. The ABM Sison was later renamed The Medical City and the rest is history. TMC celebrated its 50th year anniversary last year.

The APSCI is gifted with the inspiration of Dr. Sarmiento and the organizational strength of the TMC institution. 8Cs describe the type of cancer care of APSCI:  compassionate, cost-effective, coordinated, collaborative, comprehensive, customized, centered around the patient, and committed.

The APSCI leadership, composed of Dr. Daniel M. Alonzo and deputy directors Drs. Beatrice Tiangco and Manuel Francisco Roxas, has started doctor-initiated researches.  They are beefing up their cancer registry, based on patients’ records to find better ways of treatment.   Dr. Alonzo is also looking at training programs for the next generation of cancer specialists.


For more information about APSCI, you may call 9881000 ext. 6214.

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Family planning makes good business sense shared the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) at the 1st National Conference on Family Planning in the Workplace, as it urged companies to start implementing family planning programs.

A panel on family planning in the workplace offered new ideas and lessons learned. The panel included from left to right: Inquirer columnist Ernie Cecilia (mediator), ECOP-ZAMBASULTA Chapter Secretary General Roberto Valerio, BSWC-DOLE Director Atty. Ma. Karina Pineda-Trayvilla, TUCP-ITUC Executive Board Member and Chair Florencia Cabatingan, and POPCOM Executive Director Dr. Juan Antonio Perez III.

The conference, the first-ever to tackle the private sector’s role in supporting the implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law, brought together the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Commission on Population (POPCOM). The event also gathered 200 participants from a wide variety of industries who shared their experiences and learned best practices from UNFPA’s Business Action for Family Planning Access (BAFP) project.

Launched in 2014, the Business Action for Family Planning Access (BAFP) project encourages private sector engagement in family planning either in the workplace, community-based or as a core business.

Thirteen companies are currently enrolled in the program, representing various sectors such as export garment manufacturing, microfinance, canning, semi-conductor production for export, pastries, agro-industries, automotive and high-end aerospace products.

The program has been able to reach almost 1.4 million individuals through family planning sessions in the workplace and in communities.

Business benefits from family planning

ECOP President Donald G. Dee discussed how the topic was quite timely as businesses aim to remain competitive amidst a changing labor and employment landscape.

Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) President Donald G. Dee as he delivered his opening remarks about ECOP’s initiative on mainstreaming reproductive health in the corporate agenda as a tool for business productivity and competitiveness.

In the Philippines, the entrance of new young workers has significantly affected the current working environment. According to 2015 labor force survey (LFS 2015), almost half of the labor force population consists of young workers. Over 42 million Filipinos aged 15 years and above are part of the labor force, 47.1% of which are workers in their prime reproductive age.

Meanwhile, one in ten young Filipino women aged 15-19 have begun childbearing, with 8 per cent of these age groups already mothers and another 2 per cent already pregnant with their first child, according to the results of the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).

“As young people, particularly women, move into wage labor they are faced with larger difficulties associated with pregnancy and later on caring for their infants and young children. Women in the formal sector, the wage and salary workers, are sometimes ill-equipped and unable to provide the proper health care especially during stages of pregnancy,” said Dee.

In tough economic times, Dee said, “it’s important to remember that the absence of concrete workplace health program costs money. What’s more, our case studies show that a sound health program including family planning program in the workplace is linked to improved performance and profitability.”

Dee cited the benefits companies can gain through better policies and practices such as improved productivity through less sickness absence, cutting healthcare costs, keeping skilled workers in employment and reducing the number of people who have to cut their working hours to care for more family members.

Bridging the Gap in Access

According to the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey in the Philippines, 49 per cent of unmarried, sexually active women and 17 per cent of married women still have an unmet need for family planning

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative Klaus Beck emphasizes how investing on workplace family planning makes good business and how companies can help employees plan the timing and size of their family.

“Today, working couples are faced with the challenge of a lack of time to access quality family planning and reproductive health services, especially in public health centers that provide these services only during working hours,” shared UNFPA Country Representative Klaus Beck in his talk.

“A workplace program ensures that these services are available where the employees are, and that they are closely supported by their co-employees on a regular basis. Workplace programs are intended to reach the working couples at their work places,” he added.

Through the BAFP program, the UNFPA hope to provide further speed to a nascent movement on family planning in the workplace so that more companies join in helping their employees, themselves and the country in the process.


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Whether you want to make improvements to your home because you're preparing to sell or for your personal enjoyment, window treatments are a fun and affordable way to upgrade the look in pretty much any room of the house. In fact, the right window treatments can go along way toward speeding up the sale of your home.

Photo by Michael Browning on Unsplash

One: Let the Light In

Dark homes discourage potential home buyers, while a lot of light in a home provides a number of benefits. Natural daylight enhances moods, increases productivity, and leads to healthier, calmer lifestyles. It isn't surprising, then, that home buyers are more likely to buy your home if you've chosen treatments that let in a lot of daylight. To bring natural sunlight into a room, you may consider pleated shades or a similar alternative from retailers such as the Next Day Blinds Company.

Two: Soften Direct Lighting

Of course, your window coverings should also provide you with a way to keep the direct sunlight out for convenience and to help you maintain a comfortable temperature inside your home. Light-filtering window treatments, such as adjustable blinds or woven shades are effective solutions to this situation. The treatments can be adjusted to let in early morning sunlight and to keep it out during the hottest parts of the day.

Three: Go for a Minimalist Look

Today's young buyers are more inclined to buy a home with streamlined looks. This means less fabric and a move away from heavy window treatments. Some of these options may include frosted glass, adhesive films, modern screens, and solid-panel shutters. Some homeowners have chosen to display art pieces as window coverings or positioned plants to provide privacy and some shelter from outside air.

Four: Introduce Natural Textures

Another modern preference involves the use of natural fibers, such as bamboo and rattan. This type of window treatment softens and adds interest to some of the sleek, minimalist designs preferred by many young home buyers. These treatments, conveniently available through retailers such as Next Day Blinds, are readily affordable and maintain a lasting interest when used to complement other classic details.

Five: Research Classic Color Choices

Some home décor colors remain popular throughout the decades. Use this to your advantage when you're trying to sell your home by researching those colors that are most likely to impress potential buyers. This generally involves sticking to neutrals for the majority of the surfaces and using classic colors to add interest. Curtains, blinds, shades, and similar window treatments should complement those choices by coordinating with them or providing contrast.

Six: Ignore Current Trends

While today's design trends are focused on simplicity, you may find that indulging in luxurious fabrics and details is a way to set your home apart from others. This tactic is a bit risky if you're hoping to make a quick sale, but if you don't mind waiting, you should find a decent amount of home buyers who love luxe and sparkle as much as you do. If you're ready to accept that risk, go ahead and indulge in silks, damasks, and velvets with all the beaded tassels and crystal embellishments you desire.

Choose What You Love

Ultimately, your window coverings should reflect your personal style and leave you with a functional space that you love to enjoy. These tips can help you upgrade your windows to attract home buyers and cut down the amount of time it takes to make the sale. Whether you choose a soft textile that creates a diffused natural light in your space or a sleek, modern panel-track system, you'll find that adjusting your treatments to make them a little more modern can improve the way you feel at home and help you sell your home more quickly.

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It was already three o’clock in the afternoon, and 18-year old Brad was supposed to be home by 12 noon. His worried mom began to think if teaching him to commute was the right decision. Brad Gutierrez is a person with autism (PWA), and that was his first time to travel by public transportation.


As it turned out, it was one of those days when UV Express shuttles get delayed by traffic congestion. Brad waited patiently for three hours, fighting hunger and sweat along with other passengers in line. But unlike most people, he got home with pride that he was able to come home by himself.

Commuting to and from Savemore Market is just one of the many life skills Brad and 60 other participants are learning from AutiSM at Work – an immersion program designed by SM Markets, the SM food retail brand comprised of SM Supermarket, Savemore Market, and SM Hypermarket, and Autism Society of the Philippines (ASP) to promote workplace inclusion for PWAs. Now on its 2nd year, the program continues to expand from the pilot run at Savemore Market Light Residences to the current 17 SM Markets branches nationwide.


ASP President Mona Veluz affirms that by exposing PWAs in a work environment through AutiSM at Work, the participants get to learn the necessary skills they need in life.

“PWAs need to transition into adulthood in a significant way beyond what they learn in school. They need to know how to be independent, socialize, interact, be responsible. This immersion program with SM Markets teaches them just that,” says Mona. Soft skills like engaging customers and co-workers, taking directions from supervisors, coming to work on time, and even taking a bath before going to work, are important for PWAs to be truly included in society.


Being a mother of a PWA herself, Mona gets emotional when talking about the overall development that program participants are showing during their three-month internship. She remembers how one of the participants, 20-year old Rhav Lomboy, turned from a struggling beginner to a confident mentee.

According to Mona, Rhav was uncomfortable when he first tried to put grocery items in a bag. Now, he has transitioned from that task to putting back unwanted items in the shelves, giving shopping carts to customers, and greeting everyone he encounters. “It makes me so happy and proud seeing them improve, the difference in personality, the confidence. As a parent, that’s what you want to see,” Mona shares.


Seeing PWAs thrive in a place like Savemore Market where people from all walks of life come and go every day is indeed promising. It builds possibilities for PWAs like Brad, who dreams of being a chef in his own restaurant someday. For Rhav, his future is where he is a successful graphic designer. And for 24-year old JD Sagala, a graduate of computer electronics, his vision includes working in big companies like Samsung electronics.

The possibilities that SM Markets and ASP’s immersion program opens up are indeed infinite not just for PWAs, but for SM employees and its customers as well. “It’s enriching, meaningful, and inspirational for our employees and customers. Seeing them (PWAs) do what they do motivates us to be even better so we can help create a truly inclusive society,” says Dorothy Sobrevega, AVP for Human Resources of SM Markets.

“Learning life skills is really more important especially when you’re learning how to survive. We’d like to think that we are showing them the right path as they begin to dream of becoming somebody someday,” Dorothy concludes.


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There are many people that will sigh at the thought of a family birthday that is looming near. Not because they aren’t pleased, but because it means trying to find something amazing as a gift. Sometimes you can make it more difficult than it should be because you are trying to be too adventurous. Instead, think about simple ideas that your family member will love.

Photo by Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash

A Time Capsule

Children have a love of finding things and of creating, so why not add the two together and create a time capsule. You can use any container as long as it’s weatherproof, and then you can fill it with things that are special to the child. Perhaps they may want to write a letter to the person who finds it or draw a picture. You can then bury the capsule in the garden and leave it there to be discovered in years to come. It might be a nice thing for the child’s children to dig up so they can see a glimpse of their parents as a child.

DVD or Blu-ray Picture Disc

Despite the growth of cloud storage for your photos, it isn’t always easy for people to see them, especially other family members. That is why it can be a great gift to give someone a disc containing treasured family photos. You can digitize old photos so that they can be preserved and add them to newer pictures to create a family album. Keeping them on a disc is a reliable way to keep them safe. It is also less problematic than a hard drive which could fail, leaving you to seek the help of companies like Secure Data Recovery.

Flower Subscriptions

There aren’t many people who don’t love getting flowers, especially for their birthday. But, you can make it even more special by getting them a flower subscription. These are companies who will deliver flowers to the person you nominate every month for the whole year. You can then renew the subscription each year to keep them coming. If they aren’t into flowers, there are many other subscription-based ideas out there. For example, you can have magazines or even chocolates delivered regularly.

A Family Puzzle

If you have someone that loves doing puzzles, then they will also enjoy creating one of their family. All you need is to take a nice family photo and send it away to be made into a puzzle. The birthday recipient will have fun building their family photo and seeing it develop in front of their eyes. It is also something that they can frame and keep after it’s finished. You could also use other photos such as an old photo of their parents, or perhaps their kids when they were young.

Gifts that mean something to someone are always the most appreciated. They offer more than just a practical angle; they are also something they can treasure for years to come. Use these ideas to give something special as a birthday gift.


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