August 15, 2009 was a significant date for the doctors, nurses, personnel and patients the Quirino Memorial Medical Center, now a modern-looking hospital with first-class facilities located in Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. It was their founding anniversary. Except for some greetings, it was business as usual though. After all, the hospital is always teeming with poor people who can’t afford hospital services in other institutions.

Formerly known as the Labor Hospital, QMMC was built and organized for the service of the indigents on August 15, 1953 during the tenure of the late Pres. ElpidioQuirino. Later, it was named as Quirino Memorial General Hospital on Aug 15, 1964 pursuant to PD 3975 then to Quirino Memorial Medical Center pursuant to EO 119.

It was the only government hospital of its kind in Quezon City when it was first established. Its beginning forty years ago can be traced from its name which bears identification with the working force as the major beneficiary of its medical services. Its primary purpose of reaching out to the sick and infirm was achieved in line with the late President ElpidioQuirino’s social amelioration program.

Today, the hospital has expanded to a 350-bed capacity medical center with an-increasing out-patient cases averaging to 400 daily. True to its objectives, the Quirino Memorial Medical Center, being a government-supported institution, is committed to serve all patients regardless of creed, color or socio-economic status.

But for those who have seen the Labor Hospital twenty years ago, they cannot help but notice how it has changed from a dilapidated, small government hospital that stinks even from the entrance, to the efficient, modern and clean health institution that it is today.

It all started with RA 8313, An Act upgrading the Quirino Memorial Medical Center. It’s principal author? Our friend Mike Defensor. It was his way of fulfilling his promise to the poor communities who trusted in him.

August 21, 2009

The Editorial of the Philippine Daily Inquirer today succinctly marked the ripeness of time which the country is experiencing at this point: the resurgence of the spirit of democracy.

“The assassination of former Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. 26 years ago today led us, by sometimes bizarre twists and unprecedented turns, and in a mere thousand days, to the presidency of his widow, Corazon Aquino. Now, in an amazing historical coincidence, Cory’s slow death and extraordinary funeral earlier this month have led the country back to rediscover Ninoy the hero.”

Sen. Noynoy Aquino, fast becoming a more colorful character since the death of his mother, stated the call to action: have faith in democracy.

"My parents have genuine faith in democracy. They believe the key to democracy is stability of consensus in place of oppression. Now it is our turn to secure the democracy they [my parents] fought for. Alone I am weak but together we are strong. The ball is now in our hands. Ituloy natin ang laban [Let us continue the fight]!" he told the people as he flashed the familiar "L" sign for "laban" (fight), which his mother, the late president Corazon Aquino had used in her own campaign against the dictator Ferdinand Marcos more than 20 years ago.

We at Tenks Mike Blog had a friendly discussion about how history will judge our friend as a defender of democracy. On one hand, he was at the forefront of the fight against Martial Law and oppressive regimes during his youth. Yet, his association with and dedication to the present administration undoubtedly raised doubts about his ideology and commitment to democracy – doubts which are mostly knee-jerk reactions if we are allowed to say so.

One of us recalled how Alleba Politics applauded Mike when he conceded defeat in the Senatorial Elections 2007.

It said, “Yesterday (May 30, 2007), the administrator’s top defender former Chief of Staff Mike Defensor conceded defeat in the yet unconcluded midterm Senatorial race. According to Defensor, he did so in order “to ease tension” and to discourage his supporters (and in essence Team Unity [TU]) from committing “acts inimical to the essence of democracy and fair play in an electoral battle.”

I have not seen Defensor in a positive light since he started to be Arroyo’s staunchest defender. But today, I applaud him. He gave me a renewed faith on Filipino politicians. I know what he did is hard. He has, after all, been in public service for a long time.

I can only hope that the wisdom that made him concede can also be influence those who wish to commit what Defensor wants to avoid. Furthermore, I hope that the same wisdom makes Defensor realize that he is not on the losing side. Rather, he lost because he is on the wrong side. This momentary (I think) rest from public service should make him realize that in the end, a true public servant serves the public and their interests, and nobody else’s.

For now, I applaud him.”

While we may not agree with all of the statements above, we share his conclusion that indeed Mike Defensor has the heart of a true public servant.

After four hours of interesting discussion, we decided that we can never tell how history will judge our friend. However, we would like to open a discussion about the matter online to provide a forum for those who have any opinion - strong or weak, for or against - about the matter.

Let us know what you think.

Last June 11, 1998, the lifestyle section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer posted an article written by Geraldine Rullan that looked into the Philippine political crystal ball. It was called, “A Glimpse of the Country’s Future” with a tagline, “Five young leading men who will probably figure in elections 2010.”

by: Ma. Christina Angela Guevarra

Note: This entry was originally posted in www.peyups.com, as part of the Dekada 90 entries. We are reposting this in our blog because the writer was able to capture the highlights of Mike's history as a student activist, and at the same time, she was able to articulate the questions that most people have in their minds.

We hope this will open a forum not only about Mike, but about all former student activists who consider public service as a career track. 

_________________________

by: Ma. Christina Angela Guevarra

Kuwento lang - noong aktibistang estudyante pa sa UP ang kasalukuyang kinatawan ng ikatlong distrito ng Quezon City, pumapasok lang siya sa klase kapag may eksam o recitation. At dahil maboka at matinik magpaliwanag sa mga titser, madalas na pinalalampas ang kanyang mga "kalokohan."

Balikbayan mula sa US si Michael T. Defensor nung mag-enrol siya sa kolehiyo noong 1985. Sa katunayan, para itong pagbabalik-loob sa dating alma mater. Sa UP Integrated School (UPIS) kasi nagtapos ng elementarya si Mike. Ngunit hindi na ito ang Peyups na nakagisnan niya. Napadpad siya sa isang Pinas na nasa gitna ng mainit na kampanya laban sa diktaduryang Marcos. "Maraming protest rallies," aniya. "May mga questions na ako noon, dahil noong 1985 na nasa States pa ako, maraming news na lumalabas na hindi nakikita rito pero nakikita roon."

Dala ng bugso ng panahon, sumali siya sa isang political org, ang UP Center for Nationalist Studies (CNS), noong 1986. Mula noon ay naging aktibo na siya sa mga kilos protesta para sa demokrasya. Naging USC councilor si Mike noong 1987 at nahalal na vice-chairperson nang sumunod na taon. At dahil talaga namang napakasigasig, hinirang siyang national chairperson ng National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) noong 1989.

Bilang isang masugid na aktibistang may "hectic"na iskedyul at bagong paniniwala na rin, lumipat si Mike sa BA History kahit na isang semestre na lang ang kailangan niyang bunuin upang magtapos ng BS Economics. Problema ang naging dulot nito dahil hindi niya sinabi sa kanyang tatay. "Kaya may pressure sa akin for several years," aniya.

Pagkagradweyt noong 1992, sumabak na siya sa mas malaking larangan ng pulitikahan. Nahalal siya bilang isa sa mga pinakabatang konsehal ng Quezon City. At dahil "child-wonder" itong si Mike, naging isa rin sa pinakabatang deputadong pumasok sa kongreso. Sa kasalukuyan, nakatutok si Mike sa mga programang pang-kabataan bilang vice chairman ng Youth and Sports Development Committee. Kasama ang mga kapwa niya "Spice Boys," hayag din siyang tumututol sa Constitutional Correction and Development (Concord) ng kasalukuyang administrasyong Estrada.

At mukhang namang may pinatutunguhan ang kanyang career. Bilang deputado, tumanggap si Defensor ng mga parangal mula sa iba't ibang kinatawan. Hinirang siyang isa sa Twenty Most Outstanding Congressmen noong 1997 ng Congress Watch. Isa rin siya sa dalawang Pilipinong napabilang sa "Top 20 Asia's Most Powerful and Influential Young Leaders to Watch for in the Next Millennium" ng Asiaweek na inilathala nito lamang Nobyembre.

Ngunit nang tanungin si Mike ukol sa aktibismo, partikular sa kilusang estudyante, mukhang nag-iba na `ata ang simoy ng hangin - taliwas na sa mga paniniwala niya noong mga huling taon ng diktadurya. "Kung hindi kaliwang-kaliwa, kanang-kanan naman. Wala man lamang gitna. Maraming de-kahon na pagtingin at pananaw," hinaing ni Mike. Sandamukal na raw ang mga klase ng ideyolohiya at isyung pinakikialaman ng kilusang estudyante ngayon. Kaya marami na raw ang "nate-turn off."

Kuwento lang - pulitiko na ngayon si Mike. Kung dati rati'y nagtatalumpati lang siya mula sa likod ng inarkilang dyip o trak, ngayo'y asenso na - sa Batasan na rumaraket. At kung gaano kaanghang ang mga salitang binibitiwan ni Mike noon laban sa krisis ng edukasyon, ganoon na rin katamis ang ngiti niya ngayon sa bulwagan ng dating itinuring niyang na kalaban.

Iba na raw kasi ang panahon ngayon.

 O baka naman siya lang?