Page 7 - 2017 JAN-JUN - KAAKBAY

January to June 7
2017

Filipino Films in Spotlight in Month-long After the film, MoMA Film Curator La Frances Hui
film series at the Museum of Modern Art NY moderated a talkback with Ms. Diaz and Director of
Photography Nadia Hallgren.

The MoMA series opening night was attended by
representatives of the Philippine Consulate General in New
York, film enthusiasts, academics, filmmakers and members
of the Filipino-American Community.

The film series featured 17 films from around 2000 to
the present, by acclaimed Filipino directors including Lav
Diaz, Brilliante Mendoza, Ditsi Carolino, and Raya Martin. It
ran until June 25 2017.

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York
opened its film series, A New Golden Age: Contemporary
Philippine Cinema, last 1 June to a sold out showing of the
documentary Motherland, directed, produced, written and co-
edited by Ramona S. Diaz. The film series took place during
Philippine Independence Month.

Motherland gives an inside view of the busiest
maternity hospital in the Philippines, Fabella Hospital, and
explores the community that is formed within the bustling During the talkback, Nadia Hallgren (left) describes their one-month experience in
charity ward. The film exposes the viewers to challenges the maternity ward of Fabella. Ms Diaz (middle) shares her insights on the
faced by the impoverished patients and the clever methods Philippine health system, and La Frances Hui (right) gives her thoughts on the
that hospital staff conceive of to address their needs. film selection for the series.

Pioneering Filipino Medical Program Launched in New Jersey

Consul General Theresa Dizon-de Vega met with officials of the
Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey to discuss its newly-
launched pioneering Filipino Medical Program and to discuss further
collaboration on wellness, health, and lifestyle issues affecting Filipinos
and Filipino-Americans.

In a discussion with Holy Name Medical Center’s Vice President
for Asian Health Services Kyung Hee Choi and Filipino Medical Program
Officer Veronica Lavarro, Consul General de Vega reaffirmed the
Consulate General’s support for the program and its assistance in raising
awareness of its unique services for the Filipino Community. She noted
that there is a need for greater information dissemination as Filipinos, like
Consul General Dizon-de Vega with Holy Name Medical Center Vice the greater Asian-American Community, are generally hesitant to seek
President for Asian Health Service Kyung Hee Choi and Veronica Lavarro available health and human services when based overseas.
of the Filipino Medical Program (photo by NYPCG)
Ms. Choi and Ms. Lavarro explained that their unique program,
which stemmed from successful Korean Medical Programs, caters to the most prevalent health conditions among Filipinos such
as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney and gall bladder illnesses, and hypertension, among others.

The program provides Filipino patients with facilities for health screenings, access to Filipino television programs such
as The Filipino Channel, Philippine magazines and reading materials, and Philippine food in the hospital menu for in-patients
such as porridge (Lugaw, arroz caldo) and Adobo. Filipino language materials are likewise available for those who have
difficulty reading English.

During the facility visit Consul General de Vega had the opportunity to converse with a Filipino-American patient who
had availed of the program’s services.

According to Ms. Lavarro if the program is successful, they are optimistic that it will be replicated in other medical and
health institutions and help promote a healthier lifestyle among the Filipino-American Community.

The Consulate and the Filipino Medical Program will undertake further collaborative work in reaching out to the Filipino-
American community on addressing health concerns, particularly during Human Services Day held every March.