The first awake craniotomy performed in Panay Island is deemed a milestone.

The medical procedure was done on July 17, 2025 at the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Iloilo City.

A 43-year-old patient who was diagnosed with intracranial tumor went through a six-hour operation.

The woman was conscious, or awake, while the tumor was removed successfully from the left temporal lobe of her brain.

The feat was marked by medical team leader, Dr. Derek Ben Jabines, with Dr. James Mercado, Dr. Ceres Lucot-Laud, and Dr. Paul Christian Sobrevega, in coordination with medical staff members.

It was not reportedly easy to undertake the process leading to the operation, as the medical team had to ensure that the patient is physically, emotionally, and psychologically ready for the procedure.

As of this writing, the patient stayed at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) while on recovery stage, and was set for transfer to a private room on July 20, 2025.

WVMC has mulled on adding Awake Craniotomy to the services at the hospital’s Brain and Spine Center, though details on the cost of the surgery was not divulged, or if the procedure is within Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) coverage.

“Ang difference sa Awake at sa usual natin na ginagawa before is tulog doon ang pasyente. Ang Awake is same surgical techniques and principles kaya lang, na-incorporate natin para safe sya,” according to Dr. Derek Ben Jabines, neurosurgeon at WVMC.

As for Dr. Ceres Lucot-Laud, neuroanesthesiologist, she pointed out how patient selection is key to the successful operation.

“The patient should be emotionally prepared. I have to meet the patient siguro three to four days before the surgery. I have to establish a good rapport. The folks and the patient should understand the risk of the said procedure and they all agreed naman,” Laud emphasized.

Meanwhile, Dr. Paul Christian Sobrevega, neuropsychiatrist, said that the impact of the successful procedure makes the service more accessible to patients.

“I understand the impact that it has not only in Iloilo City but in Western Visayas. The patients need not go to other places to (avail) this kind of services,” Sobrevega said.

“The surgery was performed while the patient was awake to safely remove a tumor from the area controlling the speeds and the movement through real time brain mapping. This landmark achievement underscores WVMC’s growing expertise in advance neurosurgery,” Dr. Joseph Dean Nicolo, chief of WVMC, underscored.