Doing what one is able

(Conclusion)

CEBU, Philippines - After all the accolades and awards ascribed to his name and accomplishments, Dr Edgar Gamboa, whose "The Dark Nights of Father Madrid" was recently serialized by the Asian Journal, still insists on doing what he can to be of service for others.

Graduating from the Cebu Institute of Medicine in 1974, Gamboa has gone far in the medical profession, now an experienced and board-certified general surgeon specializing in laparoscopic, trauma, minimally invasive and pediatric surgery.

Having served as Chief of Surgery and Trauma Director for several hospital committees, Gamboa is also the author of two published books and several articles, and is also quite active of international medical missions.

Here in Cebu, the Missionaries of the Poor (M.O.P.), an international monastic order of Brothers dedicated to help those who are in need, have been furthering their order's advocacies with Gamboa's help and friendship, with the now-California-based Cebuano extending his aid beyond international borders.

The FREEMAN recently found the time to chat with Gamoba, who had thoroughly convinced us that there are truly volumes of rewards to be found in doing what one is able to help his/her fellowman.

The FREEMAN: Today, Dr. Ed Gamboa is a General, Trauma and Robotic Surgeon based in California, USA. Before all that, who was Dr. Gamboa?

Gamboa: Growing up an avid reader of Cebu newspapers and national magazines, such as The Free Press, I felt like I was in heaven when my article got published in the Republic News. I was a high school sophomore at the time. Before then, in grade school, I recall waking up early on vacation weekends, about 4-5 in the morning, to get the first printing of the dailies. My classmate, Atty. Amay Ong Vaño, and I would get our bundles, then sell "hot off the press" newspapers to Sunday churchgoers at the Redemptorist, Santo Rosario, Cebu Cathedral, and San Agustin churches.

The FREEMAN: Why, of all degrees, did you opt for medicine? Given that your college extra curricular activities indicate a lot of publication and press-related activities, and given your active involvement in the publication and authoring of books and articles, a casual observer would be quick to think that you could've opted and made it big in the publication biz.

Gamboa: Like most young men, I wanted to do a lot of things. Medicine and surgery were natural attractions. Who wouldn't want to save lives, cure the sick, alleviate pain and suffering? I also dreamed of writing books or articles for TIME and Newsweek. My father, a lawyer, said I could be a physician surgeon and still write, on the side. But he said it would be tough to be a journalist and perform operations on the side. That made sense. And yet, most of my writings are in my diaries. So, my hat's off to all the Freeman journalists -- I admire their courage and dedication to journalism.

The FREEMAN: With the current down-trend in the demand for nurses in the US, the Philippines is left with a lot of able and capable professional nurses who aren't practicing as nurses but are engaged in fields and industries which are far from their professional backgrounds. Anything to comment regarding the current situation?

Gamboa: A complex problem, a sad situation. I feel for anyone who's sacrificed to earn a college degree only to encounter stumbling blocks to achieving their dreams. This is no longer unique to the Philippines. Most US college/university graduates this year had trouble finding jobs despite prestigious diplomas. The government can help by publishing updated data on professional supply and demand, locally and internationally. Students need to sift through such information before they embark on their chosen careers. Job and career counselors can help students navigate through these difficult decisions. Regarding entry and acceptance of Philippine nurses to American hospital and health care facilities, an executive order from the White House can eliminate the current barrier.

The FREEMAN: As we've come to understand, you are currently helping the Missionaries of the Poor in expanding their site in Talisay, to better facilitate the needs of the abandoned elderly men under their care. Would you have any updates regarding the expansion?

Gamboa: The building structure will cost at least 3 million pesos to build. In addition, we need another 1 million to equip and supply the clinic. Right now, we are in the process of raising funds in the Philippines and in the United States. We are doing this through our non-profit St. Joe's Buddies (website: www.stjoesbuddies.blogspot. com), MedShare in San Leandro, California (http://medshare.donorpages.com/mopsantoninoclinic/Gamboa/), and the Missionaries of the Poor in the Philippines (www.missionariesofthepoor. org). The Cebu Institute of Medicine and the Velez College of Nursing have agreed and are ready to staff the clinic all year round. Services will not be limited to those under the care of the Missionaries of the Poor but will extend to residents in the indigent Sawang-Calero and Pasil areas.

The FREEMAN: Many have come up with their own versions of what charity means. For you, what is your definition of true charity?

Gamboa: No one has put it better than Our Lord Jesus Christ: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love can take the form of time, talent, and treasure. You practice charity by spending time with people, by sharing your talents, by being kind to one another, by helping each other succeed, etc. St. Basil the Great said: "Your extra bread belongs to the hungry, your extra clothes to the naked, your extra coin to the poor."

For more information on how you can help those in need, the Missionaries of the Poor mission homes in Cebu is located in JM Basa Street, Sawang Calero, Cebu City (Tel no 261-0017) and in Uldog Street, Poblacion, Talisay City (Tell no 516-9697).