It's Great to be in SLU Baguio!

I was sent by my school to attend the 21st Annual Convention of the Philippine Academic Society for Microbiology and Parasitology this year to participate in the initial steps for the standardization of laboratory manuals in Microbiology and Parasitology in Philippine medical schools and allied health sciences.

The event was hosted by the St. Louis University of Baguio City headed by the Dean of its College of Medicine, Dr. John Dumantay.

It was an unforgettable experience.

I got to experience firsthand and for the first time, a temperature cooler than the coolest air-con temperature I was in.

Of course, the delegates did their job fulfilling the objectives of the convention.

It's About Time: OJT Nurses Training Fees to be Investigated

It is a known fact that new nurses (with no actual work experience yet) in the Philippines apply for on-the-job training (OJT) in hospitals. Instead of being paid for work, these registered nurses are even the ones paying the hospitals where they "work". And because work experience is required especially for those aspiring to work abroad in the future, the said nurses are forced to comply and pay thousands of pesos for a certain number of months.

This issue has been brought to public consciousness with the help of many nurses' organizations including the "Ang Nars". It's president said, "Nurses should not be made to pay for work rendered in hospitals."

Good news. The Philippine Senate has taken notice and is now set to investigate the alleged exploitation of nurses who are undergoing on-the-job training (OJT) in hospitals according to Senator Pia Cayetano, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.

Senate Resolution No.166, seeks to look into reports of registered nurses and nursing graduates on OJT who are made to pay for their training, work experience, and certification, instead of being hired as regular hospital staff.

Looking forward to a positive result out of this measure.