Ideal National Hero

In the rural parts of Misamis Oriental shines a heart of gold. His name is Dr. Julito Sabordino, Jr.

Dr. Sabornido Jr. has spent most of this adult life serving the poor people in Misamis Oriental as a barrio doctor. He remembered about the limited resources he had in the health center. For example, in a 50-bed capacity health center, he had to admit 75 patients.

As the infection remained untreated because of his lack of financial resources, Sabornido’s condition worsened until he was eventually diagnosed with end-stage liver cancer.

There was a time he even went out of his way to a remote area because a family was killed, and he had to offer his medical help. On his way back, a snake bit him, so he has to immobilize his foot on his own. He even walked back 32 kilometers, to go back to the health center. He is truly a selfless man for others.

So when he was diagnosed with cirrhosis as a result of a chronic hepatitis B infection in 2006 (a disease he acquired in 1983 when he, then a medical technologist in Cagayan de Oro City, accidentally pricked himself with a needle that had traces of blood from a patient positive of Hepatitis B), he never lost hope, putting his faith in God. "Love ako ng Lord," he said.

But indeed the Lord truly love him for his service to the poor people. Huge donations from The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, from Dr. Gopez-Cervantes' patients, and from Sabornido's colleagues in Misamis Oriental all poured in to support his liver transplant operation in Taguig.

The whole transplant team (numbering over 60; 36 of them doctors) volunteered their services for free. The hospital also said it would waive all hospital bills in excess of the donations received.

Dr. Sabornido is relishing a second life and renewed health. A gift he has tirelessly given to countless patients in the remote villages in Mindanao where he served as a barrio doctor for more than 20 years.

He could have chosen to practice his profession to financially benefit him. But he chose to serve the less fortunate Filipinos who need him more even to the extent of sacrificing his own health. He is truly our modern day hero. A man that we can draw inspiration from that in our own small ways, we can make a difference for the Filipinos and for the country. Indeed a man for others … just like Dr. Jose Rizal.

Sources:

'Dead man walking' given new lease on life
By Karen Galarpe, abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 03/31/2011 6:53 PM | Updated as of 03/31/2011 8:10 PM

Doc dances to new beat as liver transplant survivor
By Tarra Quismundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:08:00 03/31/2011

A Man for Others

By Gavin C. Ong H1B-26

Jose Rizal is indeed an amazing hero. He wrote the Noli me tangere (Touch me not) and the El Filibusterismo (Subversion) as a tool in uniting the Filipino people to revolt against the Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. He did this for the Filipinos and for the country without considering his own safety. His nationalism and care for the Filipino people is truly extraordinary. So where can we find our modern day hero?