A veteran lawmaker asked latest passers of Nursing Board Exam to deliver the Filipino-brand of healthcare treatment and work values if they’re planning to pursue career overseas.
Speaking before nurse board passers of West Visayas State University or WVSU, Valenzuela City Congressman Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian said Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs should continue promoting our values and culture being the country’s representatives abroad.
“Kung kayo ay successful sa pag-aabroad, ‘wag nating kakalimutan ang ating bansa. Kayo ang magiging ambassadors natin,” Gatchalian said.
“Hopefully, sana ‘di niyo makalimutan at sana i-promote natin ang ating bansa sa iba’t ibang parte ng mundo dahil dapat makilala nila ang ating bansa sa (pamamagitan ng) ating magandang kultura at tanawin,” he added.
The lawmaker said Filipino nurses are recognized globally for their extraordinary competence, modesty, and hard-work, citing US President Barrack Obama’s award to Filipino Nurse Mechu Sanchez.
“Meron ngang isang Filipino nurse na binigyan ng parangal ni President [Barack] Obama dahil sa kanyang self-less act dahil napakaraming tao ang kanyang iniligtas sa New York kung saan nagkaroon ng malaking trahedya (noong tumama iyong Hurricane Sandy),” Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian also lauded nurse board passers who are planning to work in the Philippines, saying that it is a pleasure working with local nurses in resolving medical issues in the country.
“Yung dito naman sa ating bansa ako’y natutuwa, lalo na ‘yung mga magtatrabaho sa gobyerno na makakasama ko kayo. Talagang kailangan natin ng magagaling na tao,” he said.
“Talagang kailangan natin ng mga young professionals na kagaya ninyo na tutulong sa ating bansa. Nakikita niyo naman napakadami nating problema. At kayo ay magiging kabahagi ng gobyerno sa ating mga programa,” he added.
In 2011, the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency or POEA revealed that nursing ranks second as highest number OFW occupations with 17, 236, which is next only to household service with 142,689.
On June 27, the Professional Regulation Commission or PRC released the names of 11,225 out of 29,188 nursing students who passed the nursing board examination given by the Board of Nursing last May.
The schools with the highest passing percentage are West Visayas State University-La Paz (139 passers out of 139 examinees), Cebu Normal University (78 of 78), and Silliman University (53 of 53). (Tim Alcantara)