ST. THEODORE’S HOSPITAL THEN AND NOW

A Skeletal History

By: Rev. Moreno L. Tuguinay - Compiler

 

“A journey of a thousand miles begins from a single step.” ----- Laotze

 St. Theodore’s Hospital today grew out of the single step when the Rev. and Mrs. John Armitage Staunton accepted the call of the Episcopal Church to come to the Philippines as missionaries in 1903. That single step also sowed the seed of St. Theodore’s Hospital.

 

1903-1920                  THE STAUNTON YEARS - SMV CLINIC – Sowing the Seed of STH.

 

a)      SMV Clinic was accommodated in a one thatch roofed house where the Staunton’s lived. It served both as a school, clinic and a church.

b)      Later on, a separate building was built purposely for the clinic.

c)      Mrs. Staunton used medicines and a few equipment donated by her friends.

d)      She acted both as a nurse and a “doctor” at the same time.

e)      She described their work this way --- “We are not there in the Northern part of the Philippine Island not because of what we can get but an opportunity to give….that others may have better lives.”

f)        Because of some misunderstandings between Padi Staunton and some Church authorities, Mrs. Staunton and Padi left Sagada with a very heavy heart in 1920 but the seed planted still continued to grow.

g)      In 1917 three (3) American sisters arrived in Sagada to help in the missionary work: one was a nurse to help Mrs. Staunton and two were teachers to help in the educational program.

 

1920-1925           EXPANSION YEARS I-----St. Theodore’s Hospital

 

a.       Sr. Sylvia together with another nurse continued the work Mrs. Staunton started.

b.      The clinic which had been used was expanded to a much bigger one to accommodate more patients.

c.       The expanded building for the clinic together with the other buildings was dedicated and blessed by the Bishop and was named as St. Theodore’s Hospital.

d.      Two other American nurses were sent to help Sr. Sylvia and the other nurse.

e.       Request for a Physician was sent to the USA by the then Bishop Mosher.

 

1926-1931             EXPANSION YEARS II ---- Recognition by the Government

 

a.       The Episcopal Church was able to send a physician by the name Dr. Hawkins Jenkins to run the hospital.

b.      1925 - The government recognized it for the first time as a regular hospital by issuing a license to operate.

c.       More patients were now being admitted with the care of a new doctor.

d.      Funds to buy equipment and medicines were received from donors in the USA.

 

1932-1940               EXPANSION YEARS III - - -Building expansion & SLMC as source of doctors and nurses

 

a.       The hospital building was further expanded to accommodate more patients and equipment. Same building still stands today but has undergone some renovations and repairs especially the damages during World War II.

b.      St. Luke’s Hospital and School of Nursing was considered as the source of medical people for STH.

 

1940-1943               JAPANESE PEACE TIME AND OUTBREAK OF WWII

 

a.       Doctors and Nurses were being sent to STH by the Diocese and St. Luke’s.

b.      Medical supplies and equipment were sourced from the diocese and St. Luke’s Hospital. Same thing with medicines.

c.       Start of WWII in December with the bombing of Pearl Harbor—Hawaii.

 

1943-1946              WAR TIME - - - ORETA TIME  and Closure

 

a.       Earlier during the war, the hospital continued to operate treating civilians and soldiers of both Japanese and Filipinos.

b.      Dr. and Dra. Prospero Oreta together with the employees maintained STH with fear and trembling.

c.       Because of the lack of supplies and equipment not to mention personnel, the hospital was closed. Dr. Oreta went to Base Camp together with some of the nurses.

d.      Staff and Personnel who held the Fort during the War:

Nurses: Pia Salioan, Leonarda Tuazon, Ezperanza Somebang

Maintenance: Luis Lardizabal, Vicente Andawi

Ward Aides: James Kingat, Angel Yampan, Melecio Yamashita

Janitor: Jose Bosaing

Laboratory: Salvador Madalang

Accountant, Clerk, Treasurer: Teofilo Killip

e.       Sagada was bombed by the Americans destroying some of the buildings in the Church compound but St.Theodore was not and evidences of bullet attacks are still there on the floors of the hospital.

 

1947-1950               REOPENING OF ST. THEODORE AND RECOVERY

 

a.       Bishop Binsted wrote a letter to the presiding Bishop saying, “ There is imperative need to reopen STH after all the other hospitals in Mountain Province including provincial and private institutions were destroyed in the war and we are fortunate in having our hospital building still in a usable condition though we have no equipment and medicines.”

b.      Dr. and Dra. Oreta returned to reopen the hospital but resigned a year after to go back to Manila in 1948.

c.       Dr. Jose Ferandez who came in 1942 returned and continued the work of Dr. Oreta but left a year after.

d.      Dr. Jose Reyes Jr. who came earlier took over Dr. Ferandez until the arrival of Dr. Mary O. Cruise.

e.       Dr. Mary O. Cruise arrived from the USA and took over as Medical Director but left in 1951. She was the last American doctor.

 

1950-1965   STH AT ITS ZENITH- -Secondary Level Hospital -St Luke’s Assistance

 

a.       STH was accredited by the DOH as a Secondary Level Hospital with a 50 bed capacity but often times admitted about a hundred patients.

b.      Dr. Salvador Austria became Medical Director from 1951-1954

c.       Ms. Louise Reiley, a nurse became Administratrix until 1965

d.      So many patients from the different municipalities of the then Mtn. Province came to STH for treatment.

e.       Dr. Alfonso Floresca who came as resident in 1954 took over as Medical Director until he left in 1960. Dr. Louise Chen from China came as a resident physician when he passed the Medical Board here in the Philippines.

f.        Dr. Isidro Pasion and Dr. Bienvenido Gaddi came one after the other from St. Luke’s Hospital to help augment the expanding mission of STH.

g.       Missionary District of the Philippines created the Committee on Medical Mission to oversee the medical work of the Church such as St. Luke’s Hospital, Brent Hospital, St. Theodore’s Hospital and all the outstation clinics.

h.       Several medical outstation clinics were opened in the then Mountain Province such as: St. Gregory’s Clinic, Bagnen, St. Paul’s Clinic, Balbalasang, St. Bede Clinic, Panabungen, St. Michael and All Angels Clinic, Tadian, St. Peter’s Clinic, Ag-agama, St. Titus Clinic, Talifugo, St. Gabriel’s Clinic, Lon-oy and one in Balatoc, Uma, Lubuagan. These clinics were served by STH sending its medical personnel from time to time.

i.         Dr. Bene Paraso became Medical Director from 1960-1967.

j.        STH became a training center for nurses and midwives for assignment to the different outstation clinics like Mrs. Nellie Baguiwet y Bacdayan who was sent to STH after her St. Luke’s graduation by Bishop Ogilby preparatory to opening the clinic in San Gabriel, Lon-oy.

k.      STH became a “regional hospital” in the north.

 

1966-1974              BEGINNING OF THE DECLINE – Concept of Closure Began

 

a.       Dr. Hernmanelli Torrevillas became Medical Director - - 1967 – 1969

b.      Dr. Reynaldo Bayubay succeeded as Medical Director - - 1969 – 1970

c.       Dr. Servideo Reyes became Medical Director - - 1970 -1974

d.      Dr. Andrew Tauli became Medical Director - - 1974-1994

e.       Causes of the beginning of decline:

1.      Financial Crisis due to autonomy and “dole out” mentality

2.      Activism demands for higher wages

3.      Unstable supply of medical personnel due to abroad mentality

4.      Division of the Missionary District into 3 Dioceses

5.      Division of former Mtn. Province into 5 Provinces

6.      Building of government hospitals in nearby Provinces and municipalities

7.      Declining economy and peso devaluation

8.      Inadequate community support

9.      Bishop Benito Cabanban in a letter to the STH Advisory Council brought the idea of closing STH – Among other things, the presiding Bishop pointed out that in Alaska, “we had to close our hospitals and turn over work to the government …due to financial crisis. If the people of the region consider the work of STH necessary,….they should  go on with the work and help keep the hospital going despite the financial crisis.”

f.        STH downgraded to a 30 bed capacity – primary level

 

 

1995-2005              ATTEMPTS FOR REVIVAL – SLMC Assistance Again – Foundation Status

 

a.       No permanent doctors after the resignation of Dr. Andrew Tauli as Medical Director. Doctors came and left one after the other. There were periods when there was no doctor on duty.

b.      Bishop Miguel Yamoyam as OIC of the Diocese created the Management Council to help manage the hospital and look for ways of reviving the dying hospital.

c.       Mrs. Ellen R. Gawigawen came in as Administratrix in 1997 to help the Management Council manage the hospital.

d.      Mrs. Ellen R. Gawigawen started reviving STH bringing in the idea of LGU help, repairing and repainting the hospital thru donations of friends and community people.

e.       She brought in the idea of revival thru incorporation or a cooperative hospital.

f.        During one of the Management Council meetings, the idea of a foundation was suggested.

g.       Twice downgraded to primary level, 10-20 bed capacity until now.

h.       Dr. Clare A. Lalwet came in first as a volunteer doctor in 1995, Medical Director - - 1996-1998 and 2003 – Present.

i.         Ms. Eunice Cangbay came in as Administratrix after Mrs. Ellen Gawigawen left to work with SLMC outreach program. Ms. Eunice Cangbay left for U.S.A.

j.        Diocesan Financial Subsidy became lesser until its complete cut-off in 2004.

k.      Mr. Robert Kuan – SLMC chairman promised to help STH when incorporated.

l.         SLMC donated more than two million pesos (P 2, 000,000.00) to repair and renovate the first floor which was done.

m.     Communication System between STH and SLMC was installed.

n.       More equipment, supplies, linens, etc. were received from SLMC.

o.      Padi Randolf Frew and Aids Action International had been supportive of STH thru funds, inspiration and prayers.

p.      Work out of foundation status was continued which took more than 2 years due to bureaucracies both in the government and church.

q.      Several doctors came in succession from Baguio General Hospital for their six months dispersal after residency training.

r.        Rev. Moreno L. Tuguinay was appointed as Volunteer Chaplain and Officer-in-Charge from 2002-2005.

s.       Foundation application was approved by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) effective October 18, 2005 – St. Luke’s Day.

t.        Turn over of STH old management to the new Board of Trustees is done November 26-27, 2005 with Mr. Robert F. Kuan – Chairman of SLMC Board of Trustees as guest speaker.

u.       New management takes over today November 26, 2005.

v.       Closing of the glorious past life and opening a new and adventuresome one.

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

 

1.      EDCP Archives

2.      STH Files

3.      Rev. Ezperanza Somebang Memoir

4.      Present and Past Employees of STH.

 

NOTES:

 

1.      The compiler of this SKELETAL HISTORY of STH appreciates very much the help of several people and institutions who provided records, pictures, and documents which were the main sources of this short skeletal history.

2.      If there were people and important events in the life of STH which were inadvertently not mentioned, please inform the compiler for inclusion to give more flesh to this skeleton. Compiler is aware of it so please help provide the information.

3.      Above all, please forgive the compiler who hastily compiled this information for the Launching of the Foundation. A better history with more flesh hopefully will come out in the near future if we all desire.

 

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SOME HISTORICAL NOTES REGARDING ST. THEODORE’S HOSPITAL

1904	The Sagada Mission started with the Rev. John Armitage Staunton’s Dream and Vision of an Industrial Mission.  (Fr. Staunton was carrying it in his mind when he and Mrs. Staunton first settled in the squalor of a goat shed 12 ft. square and in this cramped quarters started a school, treated the sick, conducted divine worship and baptized hundreds of converts.)   St. Theodore’s Hospital started as a dispensary by Mrs. Maria Staunton, a professional Nurse.
1909	The Dispensary was expanded into a Clinic.   Mrs. Staunton single-handedly took care of the sick.  As a trained nurse, she was often called up to make decisions and to do the job of a physician and surgeon.
1917	The Dispensary transferred to a building where St. Mary’s School now stands.
1925	Ms. Eliza Davis took over Mrs. Staunton’s work.  Padi and Mrs. Staunton went back to the U.S.A.    Ms. Dorothea Taverner then continued Mrs. Davis’ work.   The Clinic was converted into a small hospital with a different building using the name St. Theodore’s Hospital.  Sister Sylvia, a Nurse by profession, worked at the hospital.
1930	Dr. Hawkin King Jenkins arrived from the USA as the first missionary doctor to run the hospital.  He worked until the break of World War II.
1931	The government officially recognized St. Theodore’s Hospital with a two-storey wooden building.
1941-1945	St. Theodore’s Hospital took care of transient Japanese soldiers.
1948	The government duly licensed St. Theodore’s Hospital with authorized 55-bed capacity.
1962	80 bed capacity with 32 employees
1966	The last American missionary, Ms. Louise Reiley, left St. Theodore’s Hospital as Administratrix.
1974	St. Theodore’s Hospital, by action of its Advisory Council on Bishop Edward Longids’ recommendation, donated its Anesthesia machine to St. Luke’s Hospital.
1975	Custom-built Ambulance donated by the Diocese of Western Massachusetts to the Diocese of Northern Philippines thru representation of Bishop Longid arrived.
1979	St. Theodore’s Hospital is a Secondary Level hospital with authorized bed capacity reduced to 30.
1980	STH was reclassified by the Ministry of Health as a primary level hospital because it did not meet the criterion for the number of physicians required for secondary level hospital. Although the technical facilities of the hospital are those of secondary level hospital, understaffing and consequent limitation in scope of hospital service resulted in the reclassification.
1981	2 physician doctors employed (Dr. Tauli and Dr. Solang to meet secondary hospital status requirements.)
1983	Electricity has been made available on a 24-hour basis but is being utilized for lighting purposes only.
1987	-DOH renewed hospital license to operate as secondary level facility. -The total Diocesan subsidy covered 68.4 % of operations. -Bangan Society, a women’s civic club in Sagada donated P1, 800.00 for the purchase of Uratex foams mattresses for the hospital.
1988	Through the help of Rev. George Gayagay and Rev. Colefax, rector of St. John’s Parish in Australia the hospital received essential donations of: 2 x-ray machines, ECG, wheelchairs, blankets and mattresses.   Note: X-ray machines were never used as they could not be assembled after being shipped in separate crates and with no manuals available.
1990-1994	St. Theodore’s Hospital was again elevated to a Secondary Level hospital with authorized bed capacity of 30.
1995-1999	St. Theodore’s Hospital’s category was reduced to Primary Level with authorized bed capacity of 20.
1998	Construction of x-ray building
2000-present	St. Theodore’s Hospital authorized bed capacity reduced to 10 with Primary Level category.
2001	St. Theodore’s Hospital’s first floor renovated.  Renovation fund was donated by St. Luke’s Medical Center.
2000	Second hand xray machine donated by SLMC
2005	STH moving forward toward incorporation, start of Development Campaign for THE ST. THEODORE OF TARSUS HOSPITAL FOUNDATION, INC.
Oct 18, 2005	The St. Theodore of Tarsus Hospital Foundation officially registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Nov. 27, 2005	Launching and Inauguration of the foundation with the first Board of Trustees meeting
Jan 1, 2006