Sine Sabi is a press conference and film screening of the top Quisumbing-Escandor Film Festival (QEFF) films in celebration of the 65th anniversary of PHAP, attended by representatives from their 45 member-organizations, university students, AFP officers, and guests from the Department of Health and World Health Organization.

 

The Sine Sabi press conference panel, comprised of (L to R) Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go (AIM), Dr. Bryan Lim ’10, Dr. Soe Nyunt-U (WHO), Dr. Alberto Romualdez ’65 (NIH), and Gov. Roberto Pagdanganan (MTA). Not in picture are Dr. Arturo Catli (PHAP) and Mr. Reiner Gloor (PHAP).

Dr. Alberto Romualdez MΣΦ 1965, representing the UP-National Institute of Health, and Dr. Bryan Lim MΣΦ 2010 were among a panel of top health personalities for the press conference, which includes former Senator and Bulacan Gov. Roberto "Obet" Pagdanganan of the Medicines Transparency Alliance, World Health Organization Country Representative Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, and Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go of the Asian Institute of Medicine. The discussions revolved around the significance of various health initiatives of the represented organizations towards the current undertakings for Universal Health Care.

This was followed by a grand screening of three chosen films from the QEFF Video Library: from QEFF 1, themed "Malayo sa Bituka", the grand prize winner “Santigwar” by Gerald Ian Mendez, and finalist “MD-RN” by Barnaby Lo; and “Limang Libo” by Ice Idanan from QEFF 2, themed "Sa Ngalan ng Ama, ng Anak, at ng Ina". After each film, a panel of distinguished guests comprised of Dr. Anthony Cordero MΣΦ 1992 from the UP-PGH Deparment of Community Medicine, Dr. Romualdez, Gov. Pagdanganan, and Dr. Soe tackled the issues shown in the said films, hosted by Dr. Hartigan-Go.

Dr. Hartigan-Go leads the film discussions with (L to R) Dr. Romualdez, Dr. Soe, Gov. Pagdanganan, and Dr. Anthony Cordero ’92.

The PHAP is a collective of organizations that aim to advance universal health care through various initiatives, represented in the event by Executive Director Renier Gloor and Board Member Chris Tan. Amongst ftheir projects are the PHAP Cares Foundation Universal Health Care community in partnership with the municipal government of Sibutu, Tawi-Tawi, and the sponsoring of 65 QEFF Video Libraries for distribution in health and education advocacy centers nationwide.

MEB Button Ricarte ’12 (2nd from right) finalizing the Mu Sigma Phi and PHAP partnership in distributing 65 QEFF Video Libraries nationwide, witnessed by (from L to R) BOS Marvin Masalunga ’14, Mr. Chris Tan and Mr. Renier Gloor of PHAP.

The Quisumbing-Escandor Film Festival for Health, founded in 2008 by Dr. Bryan Lim MΣΦ 2010, Dr. Mark Gomez MΣΦ 2011, and Dr. BJ Jumangit MΣΦ 2008, brings forward the sensitive issues and current realities in health through film media. The QEFF Video Library contains close to 120 short films and documentaries filmed by amateurs and professionals alike from all over the country.

Congratulations to PHAP and the Mu Sigma Phi Fraternity, led by Most Exalted Brother Juan Antonio "Button" Ricarte MΣΦ 2012 and Bearer of the Staff Marvin Masalunga MΣΦ 2014, for continuing to advocate quality health for our fellow Filipinos. All For The Glory!

Photos by Berbi Berba MΣΦ 2015

See Mr. Reiner Gloor’s article on the 65th PHAP Anniversary here.