The Philippine Hospital Association’s Experience With Two Infinity Signs That Have Metamorphosed Into a Butterfly

It was July 17, 2011,  Sunday and a fine day it was, when the Philippine Hospital Association (PHA President Ruben C. Flores, PHA Treasurer Edgardo Salud and PHA E.O. Mac Caliwara), landed at the Cauayan Airport in Isabela at a few minutes before 10am, some 25 minutes ahead of schedule.  Private security guards were on hand to guide the passengers through the designated path that will keep them at a safe distance from the propellers of the plane.  In Manila, much attention was given to the weight load that goes unto the plane, where all hand carried luggages were weighed and added up.  Ladies who were secretive of their weights, had no choice but to comply with the body weighing requirements of the airline. The measures, as explained by the groud staff, were resorted to for “purposes of having a correct balance” in the plane.  Even the manner of alighting from the plane after landing were also done by rows , again, purportedly to maintain proper balance, even when the plane had already been secured and parked. At the Cauayan airport 3 army personnel in fatigue uniforms and their Armalite rifles were stationed at the arrival area with the intention of being seen by everybody as if to say, “you’re in safe hands” even if it did conjure an image of terrorists's attack. Too much movies! A mother posing for photo at the tarmac with child in tow was hurriedly asked by the airport security to clear the area and to move on towards the arrival area. Not tourist friendly, one would think.

The travel by land from Cauayan airport to Santiago took about 30 minutes. The group made a short stop to a supposedly tourist destination (google it) Balingtokatok, Chapel of the Transfiguration and Last Supper but that's another story. The place needs more TLC.

Back to tne hospital story.

What could have prodded the group to go away from the comforts of their homes on a Sunday knowing they need to be back to their respective offices by the first hour of the following day, one may ask? The answers are two folds:  call of duty and  reciprocation.

Call of duty, since as leaders of the organization of hospitals, they are guided by its mission to L.E.A.P., i.e. Lead, Enable, Assist and Protect hospitals towards quality service. The Flores Memorial Medical Center, founded in 1950, celebrates its 60^th year and have extended its invitation to all its friends to attend the inauguration of its new wing. PHA , in its roster of members, have 42 member hospitals in the province of Isabela with 12 belonging to the government and 30 private hospitals. In Santiago City, there are 7 hospital members with 1 from the government and 6 private.

Reciprocation, since there was a time when “Papa Doc” as Dr. Adolfo Flores⁺ (1916-2007) was fondly called, never missed any of the events of the organization.  He was a regular fixture in the PHA scene. 

He was sometimes accompanied by his wife, Dr. Natividad “Mama Doc” Sevilla Flores⁺ (1918-2004).

One of the 11 children of Papa and Mama Doc , Dr. Arturo S. Flores , plays a major role in the operation of the hospital. He is ably assisted by his CPA sister, Sita Coseng, who acts as Administrator. The warmth of their reception for the group added to the excitement of us lowlanders who were profusely perspiring by us lowlprofuse being not accustomed to the high temperature in the region.  We were awed at improvements and facilities of the new wing and on the narrations of Dr. Art about the master plan for the one block property where the hospital is situated. He still have a half block to work on, which he said he is hoping to become a reality in his lifetime.  The hospital's corridors at 2.4meters were wide enough to accommodate two stretchers going in the opposite directions.  An automatic sprinkler system was very evident.  All rooms were equipped with ultra slim LED TVs that were hooked on the wall facing the patient's brand new multi-adjustable hospital beds.  there is  hot water available supplied by a water tank at the roof top  hooked up to solar panels.  CCCTV system pointing to strategic locations of the hospital , including offices , are also in place and can be monitored remotely by management via internet. The database can also be accessed remotely which gives management up to date information about the hospital transactions.

From it's humble beginning as the Flores Clinic in 1950, with tender loving care (TLC) the institution has survived the test of time.

 "Like a butterfly that has undergone metamorphosis from a larvae" it now spreads its wings and is now called the FLORES MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER. The hospital's logo, as patiently explained by Dr. Art, are actually two infinity signs brought together to form an image of a butterfly. It symbolizes change, rebirth and a new beginning.


The much awaited ribbon cutting, led by Dr. Art and Sis Sita, assisted by PHA President Dr. Ruben Flores, Congressman Gigi Aggabao and Mayor Amelita Navarro, commenced at 5pm.

Dr. Art Flores showing the way in cutting the ribbon

Dr. Flores huddles with Cong. Gigi Aggabao and Mayor Amelita Navarro

 It was followed by a program and sumptous dinner at the hospital's garden that has as center piece, a rainwater cistern with a beautiful roman fountain on top of it. 

The PHA group was happy to have touched based with Dr. Jun Costales, Chief Of Hospital of the Southern Isabela General (District) Hospital, Dra. Inesita Javonillo of the Javonillo Hospital in Cordon Isabela and Steve Callang of the Callang General Hospital.

The Bold Bunch - After a bowl of Soup Number 5 at
Dr. Jun Costales' Blends and Bites Cafe place where
Baby Back Ribs is the specialty of the house
From Left:  PHA E.O. Mac Caliwara, Dr. Costales Chief Of Hospital Southern Isabela General,
Edgardo Salud-PHA Treasurer, Dr. Ruben Flores-PHA President and
Dr. Art Flores, host

Blends and Bites Cafe

Dr. Inesita Javonillo
Javonillo Hospital, Cordon Isabela
and Dr. Ruben Flores PHA President

Steve Callang
Callang General Hospital

The group bid it's goodbye to evryone at around 8pm. Filled with hapy memories, they began their long evening trek back by land to Manila, all wearing a smile.  The group arrived safely as dawn was about to break.

Good job, congratulations and thank you, Flores Family!

As a postscript, Dr. Art has informed the PHA that it has been operating at 100% occupancy since its opening.

Dr. Art Flores