Faces of Death: On Dealing with Terminal Illnesses in the Philippines
Many of us have seen it: a kindhearted main character who is both loved and despised by the people around her. Upon learning she only has few days left to live due to an illness, everybody suddenly turned goody-goody including the most despicable of her enemies. Everybody makes up and prepares a memorial service plan for the poor protagonist.
Sounds familiar, right? Then you might have watched too many teleseryes in your life already.
Just like in teleseryes, Filipinos do tend to have a change of heart upon learning that someone is terminally ill. The once estrange family members, friends, and even rivals are found to stick together in the face of certain death, and this stems from the Filipinos’ bayanihan (cooperative endeavor) system.
According to the book From Victims to Survivors by Lourdes Ladrido Ignacio, MD and Antonio P. Perlas, MD, MPH, cooperative endeavor is one of the top coping mechanisms Pinoys adapt during times of crisis. This unique system among Filipinos displays the nation’s ability to empathize by being generous and offering help in times of need.
Because of the Filipinos’ close-knit family ties, a terminally ill person also turns to his or her family for support. These ties do not only stop from immediate family but also extend to the grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins, making every member a valuable source of strength during difficult times.
The Filipinos strong sense of spirituality also plays a vital role on dealing with terminal illnesses. In fact, it tops the coping mechanism list of Pinoys according to the same book by Ignacio and Perlas. Their faith that all things happen according to God’s plans allow them to accept reality and cope with it.
 |
(bit.ly/2tMr09G)
|
Spirituality also serves as a big factor when it comes to decision making. In a 2007 study conducted on elderly female Filipino immigrants in California, most of the participants believe that incurable illnesses can be healed by divine intervention. In another study, there were a low 10 percent that give advance-directive to not resuscitate a dying patient as they believe “only God can decide when a life ends.”
Rowena Patel, the Filipino American nurse manager in the hospice and palliative care unit of San Francisco’s Laguna Honda Hospital, said that chronically ill Pinoys in California often ask for “really aggressive care” despite the discomfort. These patients refuse to get an early memorial service plan, putting up a fight hoping for a miracle to happen.
Thru the Filipinos bayanihan and spirituality, they are able to cope with terminal illnesses with much ease as compared to other nations. Facing chronic illnesses does not destroy their determination easily, rather, it strengthen their ties with everyone and improve their relation with God. Their will to fight makes you admire Pinoys even more as a nation.
Terminal illness won’t let Filipinos yield easily and seek for an early memorial service plan. As the saying goes, “habang may buhay, may pag-asa.”
References:
Post a Comment