We arrived in PGH around 11a.m.; travel time from Enterprise was longer due to the heavy rains and flooded areas that we encountered on the way.

Upon arrival, we were welcomed by Princess Urdas and Marky Cruz, who were on the Centennial Committee.  Both of them toured us and explained how each unit/department in PGH functions.  We were able to visit:

DPPS (Dept of Pay Patient Services) – this is the office who handles all patient admissions in PGH.

Charity Medical Wards - separate wards for females & males.

In between the Female & Male Wards is the MICU.

We also dropped by the Radioisotope area, which is part of the OPD (out-patient dept). Next stop was in the Lung/Pulmonary Center and the building for Surgical OPD, which, according to our nurses, was a structure donated by the Japanese government and entertains an average of 50,000 patients each day.  A large number of the patients in OPD come from Northern & Southern provinces surrounding Manila.

Newest facility: Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal - donated by the Queen of Spain in 2006, aimed to improve the accessibility of ophthalmic services in the Philippines and provide the Eye Center and peripheral hospitals with the needed equipment & training to offer adequate attention to the patients. The main goal of this center is to decrease the incidences of blindness in the country.

Then we headed to the Cancer Institute, where both adult and pediatric patients are admitted & treated.  The Cancer Institute envisions itself to be the national model & referral center for the care & prevention of cancer. Apart from the use of medicines and other treatments, the Institute also supports therapeutic healing (natural healing) and has a very nice garden within the area.  Our nurses shared that a lot of private entities and famous individuals have been donors of the center [to name a few like Ricky Reyes (Filipino hairstylist) and Avon (cosmetic company) for the Breast Care Center].  

There was also an exhibit area which highlights PGH then & now.

To make this our visit complete… I am proud to announce that Maria Gerda Opague won 2^nd place in the PGH Singing Idols. She volunteered to perform during the October Recognition Night.