Doctor to the barrio

Episode on January 12, 2008 Saturday, 11:30 p.m. As thousands of Filipino doctors fly abroad in search for greener pastures, Raffy Tima finds one who chooses not only to stay, but to serve in a remote, fifth- class municipality in Northern Samar. In “The Doctor is Out of Town," Raffy meets Dr. Julius Cidro who works under the “Doctors to the Barrios" program of the Department of Health. Assigned to a post that had no takers for several years, Dr. Cidro becomes the lone physician in the town of Silvino Lubos in Northern Samar. He endures the long and tedious boat ride to the community, lack of facilities and medical supply, low wages and uncomfortable lodgings at the municipal clinic – in order to serve the people. Writer-host Raffy Tima and producer Carmelo Gutierrez share both the difficulties on the shoot and the learnings they gained with Sine Totoo host Howie Severino. They recall how the estimated five hour boat ride to Dr. Cidro’s place of work extended to a horrifying 12 hours. But they could not complain because this was the doctor’s weekly routine and he patiently traveled in the boat with them! What inspires a devoted doctor to the barrios? Find out this Saturday night, when Sine Totoo presents Raffy Tima’s “The Doctor is Out of Town".

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Ngayong Sabado ng gabi, handog ng Sine Totoo ang isang ‘di malilimutang dokumentaryo ni Raffy Tima – ang “The Doctor is Out of Town". Habang libu-libong Pilipinong doktor ang umaalis para magnars sa ibang bansa, isang doktor ang nakilala ni Raffy na hindi lamang basta nanatili sa Pilipinas, pinili pa niyang maglingkod sa isang liblib at mahirap na bayan sa Northern Samar. Sa dokumentaryong ito, sinamahan ni Raffy ang doctor to the barrios na si Julius Cidro. Si Dr. Cidro ang kaisa-isang doktor sa Silvino Lubos --- isang bayang maraming taon nang walang manggagamot. Sa bawat pagpunta roon, kailangan niyang magbangka nang pagkatagal tagal. Sa mismong klinika na siya naninirahan, kung saan wala rin siyang sapat na gamit o gamot para sa komunidad. Nanilbihan siya rito sa loob ng dalawang taon kahit napakaliit lang ng suweldo. Sa panayam ni Howie Severino ng Sine Totoo kina Raffy Tima at field producer ng dokumentaryo na si Carmelo Gutierrez, ibinahagi ng dalawa kung gaano kahirap ang naging shoot nito. Ang biyahe nila sa bangka na dapat ay may limang oras lamang … inabot ng 12 oras! Pero hindi raw sila makapagreklamo dahil kasama nila si Dr. Cidro, na ginagawa ito linggo linggo. Ano nga ba ang inspirasyon ng isang doctor to the barrios? Alamin sa “The Doctor is Out of Town" ni Raffy Tima, tampok sa Sine Totoo ngayong Sabado ng gabi sa GMA-7.