The passion to serve
January 25, 2007 | 12:00am
At the tender age of six, there was a gentle seed of kindness planted so deeply in the heart of a Xavier School student named Willie Ong. He was mesmerized by the story of Kree, the Christian boy in a cartoon-like slide movie, who loved to help his friends particularly the poor ones. Sadly though as the story goes, Kree died at a young age. Though everyone else thought of it as a tragedy, Kree was welcomed by Jesus with open arms. This ending left a permanent mark in Willie who couldn’t get this story out of his young mind. Then and there, he concluded that this is the best thing anyone can hope to achieve.
Very few of us know at such a young age what we want to do with our lives but Willie knew that he wanted to help people, specifically the poor. Armed with this burning desire, he decided that the best way to achieve this was take up a noble profession —— the kind that would enable him to reach people directly, something that involved human contact and a human touch —— so he decided to become a doctor. And that was what he prepared himself to do.
Though he was crystal clear on his direction, fate was not. Shortly after enrolling in Medicine at the University of the Philippines in Dilliman, Willie had a falling out with his family caused by the most difficult and sensitive teenage years that led Willie to a painful road of unexpected twists, and downward turns of the most debilitating kind. Willie had to struggle through the loneliness and hopelessness of a very deep depression.
"I even blamed God which was the worst thing one could do, and completely turned my back on Him," Willie said.
Things got much worse long before he and his folk even got better. He spent the next 10 years in and out of school while trying to painfully wean himself from anti-depressants.
"As I reached my clerkship, however, my patients miraculously became my saving grace. Once, I saw a frail old lady sitting quietly in the charity ward, accepting what fate had given her. And me, with my depression, living alone in my dorm. I thought of her plight and suddenly felt I was no longer alone. I needed her as much as she needed me. The poor patients became my companions and counselors. They became my humble saviors, my gentle healers," Willie explained his road to healing.
During internship, all he did was help the clerks. Finally somebody needed his help and he started to have a semblance of friends. He poured his heart into it and became the most outstanding intern. Willie also met his very prayerful wife Liza. They got married after a year.
Willie was able to endure the hardships of internal medicine residency and was voted chief resident by his younger colleagues. But the responsibility weighed heavily on him. He relied on his own capabilities and the extreme stress caused him debilitating anxiety attacks. At its peak he almost broke down again. But then in an unforgettable moment God stepped in and Willie experienced his unwavering love.
"This happened one morning in March 1996, I left the hospital in panic. I drove home wanting to see my wife immediately. I almost drove my car to the road island. I thought I could not reach home. I kept crying. Then after 16 long years, after all my cursing God. I felt I had no choice but to ask God to help me. I was watching the road when I saw a green vehicle that said ‘God loves you’ in the bumper. I tailed the slow moving van and sure enough it led me home... right into Liza’s arms as I blubbered incredulously: ‘Jesus saved me today. Despite all my sins’."
Soon after Willie and Liza looked for a spiritual support group and found Couples for Christ. This is where we met. Initially they struck me as a shy and timid couple. When it was their turn to host our prayer meetings, however, Willie showed an incredible spirit of knowledge and godliness. He made our meetings so absorbing because he took pains to research on relevant Bible topics which touched us deeply and he openly adored his extremely caring wife so much. They are truly a great team.
They also became my family doctors. When my hubby needed a cardiologist, Willie accomodated him. And for my 10-year-old son, Liza, a general practitioner, is always someone we could depend on for prescriptions and consulation on childhood ailments. We were greatly attracted to their genuine sincerity, humility and gentle demeanor.
One day, I saw a very animated Willie being interviewed on TV. Months later, he was featured in the March issue of Readers Digest’s Modern Day Heroes for his initiative to reverse the brain drain in the medical profession. Another day it was Liza I spotted discussing medical illnesses in layman’s terms with guest doctors in their very own weekly TV show Doc Willie and Liza —— aired every Friday at 5 p.m. on RJTV. I was so amazed by the way they had overcome their shyness. What a transformation. They shared that after they had joined CFC everything they touched turned into gold, and every pursuit led to something good.
"With God on your side, everything is possible," they beamed.
What further amazed me was the real joy and animation I saw on their faces. They were like light bulbs on the screen. I dropped off a note in their home to greet them on their anniversary and saw this van parked in front of their parents’ home where they live. It was a white van with a colorful mural that said Makabayang Doktor. They enthusiastically shared with me a DVD of their newest project .A TV show which aims to help poor patients living in marginalized, decrepit places in Metro Manila. I saw a happy husband and wife doctor team aboard their special van doing house calls. They reminded me of Santa Clauses delivering peace, goodwill, medicines, treatments, equipment as well as their own extraordinary brand of healing power. (I smiled remembering the story of the green van that God sent their way on that fateful day.)
Willie and Liza are prolific authors, too, who have been busy authoring and selling medical books which have been funding their many projects. My favorite among the many is the Medicine Blue Book, 6th edition.
With the full support of the Ong family, the "prodigal son" (the way Willie described himself in the past) has now found his true home, in the hearts of the simple folk who lifted him up when he was down.
"The members of my family are my jewels. They are so supportive of us, emotionally and financially. The whole family, all 38 of us, gathers most Sundays and I organize parties for bonding and healing of hurts and wounds. I feel our job as doctors is to make the family united and strong."
Willie added he has always felt part of a bigger family that includes any person he meets on the street. He also feels a very close affinity for the depressed, the poor, the helpless and the people who think they are hopeless. He always shows them that they can rise above their problems.
"The partner I have —— Liza —— is one I cannot do without. My wife Liza has always been by my side. Our philosophy is one plus one equals three. For example, I conceptualize the books, then she edits, types and publishes them. For patient care, I give my initial diagnosis and treatment, she then confirms it and looks at other physical and daily needs of our patients. We do everything together. Without the other, nothing gets accomplished."
A passion? A madness? A calling? Whatever you call it, it’s built-in deep inside Willie and Liza. God gave them a unique talent: the ability to help others for a long time without asking for anything in return.
(Makabayang Doktor airs every Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. with the special participation of Boy Abunda on NBN-4.)
(Would love to hear from you. Email me at miladayjewels@yahoo.com)
Very few of us know at such a young age what we want to do with our lives but Willie knew that he wanted to help people, specifically the poor. Armed with this burning desire, he decided that the best way to achieve this was take up a noble profession —— the kind that would enable him to reach people directly, something that involved human contact and a human touch —— so he decided to become a doctor. And that was what he prepared himself to do.
Though he was crystal clear on his direction, fate was not. Shortly after enrolling in Medicine at the University of the Philippines in Dilliman, Willie had a falling out with his family caused by the most difficult and sensitive teenage years that led Willie to a painful road of unexpected twists, and downward turns of the most debilitating kind. Willie had to struggle through the loneliness and hopelessness of a very deep depression.
"I even blamed God which was the worst thing one could do, and completely turned my back on Him," Willie said.
Things got much worse long before he and his folk even got better. He spent the next 10 years in and out of school while trying to painfully wean himself from anti-depressants.
"As I reached my clerkship, however, my patients miraculously became my saving grace. Once, I saw a frail old lady sitting quietly in the charity ward, accepting what fate had given her. And me, with my depression, living alone in my dorm. I thought of her plight and suddenly felt I was no longer alone. I needed her as much as she needed me. The poor patients became my companions and counselors. They became my humble saviors, my gentle healers," Willie explained his road to healing.
During internship, all he did was help the clerks. Finally somebody needed his help and he started to have a semblance of friends. He poured his heart into it and became the most outstanding intern. Willie also met his very prayerful wife Liza. They got married after a year.
Willie was able to endure the hardships of internal medicine residency and was voted chief resident by his younger colleagues. But the responsibility weighed heavily on him. He relied on his own capabilities and the extreme stress caused him debilitating anxiety attacks. At its peak he almost broke down again. But then in an unforgettable moment God stepped in and Willie experienced his unwavering love.
"This happened one morning in March 1996, I left the hospital in panic. I drove home wanting to see my wife immediately. I almost drove my car to the road island. I thought I could not reach home. I kept crying. Then after 16 long years, after all my cursing God. I felt I had no choice but to ask God to help me. I was watching the road when I saw a green vehicle that said ‘God loves you’ in the bumper. I tailed the slow moving van and sure enough it led me home... right into Liza’s arms as I blubbered incredulously: ‘Jesus saved me today. Despite all my sins’."
Soon after Willie and Liza looked for a spiritual support group and found Couples for Christ. This is where we met. Initially they struck me as a shy and timid couple. When it was their turn to host our prayer meetings, however, Willie showed an incredible spirit of knowledge and godliness. He made our meetings so absorbing because he took pains to research on relevant Bible topics which touched us deeply and he openly adored his extremely caring wife so much. They are truly a great team.
They also became my family doctors. When my hubby needed a cardiologist, Willie accomodated him. And for my 10-year-old son, Liza, a general practitioner, is always someone we could depend on for prescriptions and consulation on childhood ailments. We were greatly attracted to their genuine sincerity, humility and gentle demeanor.
One day, I saw a very animated Willie being interviewed on TV. Months later, he was featured in the March issue of Readers Digest’s Modern Day Heroes for his initiative to reverse the brain drain in the medical profession. Another day it was Liza I spotted discussing medical illnesses in layman’s terms with guest doctors in their very own weekly TV show Doc Willie and Liza —— aired every Friday at 5 p.m. on RJTV. I was so amazed by the way they had overcome their shyness. What a transformation. They shared that after they had joined CFC everything they touched turned into gold, and every pursuit led to something good.
"With God on your side, everything is possible," they beamed.
What further amazed me was the real joy and animation I saw on their faces. They were like light bulbs on the screen. I dropped off a note in their home to greet them on their anniversary and saw this van parked in front of their parents’ home where they live. It was a white van with a colorful mural that said Makabayang Doktor. They enthusiastically shared with me a DVD of their newest project .A TV show which aims to help poor patients living in marginalized, decrepit places in Metro Manila. I saw a happy husband and wife doctor team aboard their special van doing house calls. They reminded me of Santa Clauses delivering peace, goodwill, medicines, treatments, equipment as well as their own extraordinary brand of healing power. (I smiled remembering the story of the green van that God sent their way on that fateful day.)
Willie and Liza are prolific authors, too, who have been busy authoring and selling medical books which have been funding their many projects. My favorite among the many is the Medicine Blue Book, 6th edition.
With the full support of the Ong family, the "prodigal son" (the way Willie described himself in the past) has now found his true home, in the hearts of the simple folk who lifted him up when he was down.
"The members of my family are my jewels. They are so supportive of us, emotionally and financially. The whole family, all 38 of us, gathers most Sundays and I organize parties for bonding and healing of hurts and wounds. I feel our job as doctors is to make the family united and strong."
Willie added he has always felt part of a bigger family that includes any person he meets on the street. He also feels a very close affinity for the depressed, the poor, the helpless and the people who think they are hopeless. He always shows them that they can rise above their problems.
"The partner I have —— Liza —— is one I cannot do without. My wife Liza has always been by my side. Our philosophy is one plus one equals three. For example, I conceptualize the books, then she edits, types and publishes them. For patient care, I give my initial diagnosis and treatment, she then confirms it and looks at other physical and daily needs of our patients. We do everything together. Without the other, nothing gets accomplished."
A passion? A madness? A calling? Whatever you call it, it’s built-in deep inside Willie and Liza. God gave them a unique talent: the ability to help others for a long time without asking for anything in return.
(Makabayang Doktor airs every Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. with the special participation of Boy Abunda on NBN-4.)
(Would love to hear from you. Email me at miladayjewels@yahoo.com)
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