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A Batangueño scholar aims for medtech dream

Buena Bernal

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Medical technology is among the health sciences that the Commission on Higher Education outlined in August 2013 as priority courses until 2015

SCHOLAR. Mark Magboo says he wants to make his father proud. Photo by Buena Bernal/Rappler

BAUAN, Philippines – In the evening of mid-October in the mountainous village of Baguilawa in Batangas province, 18-year-old Mark Magboo shared the result of a scholarship application he had been keeping to himself for some time.

Napasok po ako sa top 15 ng buong Pilipinas (I got into the top 15 applicants of the country),” explained Mark to his tatay (father) in his thick Batangueño accent.

That application was just one of several received by a private corporation that offers scholarships to 15 current medical technology students across the country every year. They are screened based on academic credentials, financial need, and a final interview.

It was one of those moments – like when he graduated class salutatorian in elementary – when his stern father felt like he was the “star” of the village.

Star na star ako ng barangay (I feel like the ultimate star of the village),” he recalled his father saying during his elementary graduation when they almost never left the stage given his stream of awards and medals.

Mark’s father, a part-time jeepney driver in his late-50s, is unable to read and write. Forced to work early to help his parents and 10 other siblings, his father only went as far as obtaining an elementary diploma.

Mark is now a 3rd year medical technology student at the Lyceum of the Philippines-Batangas. He said he is studying hard to make his old man proud.  

Chasing a dream

The 18-year-old is fascinated by bacteria.

Kahit sa konting specimen, sobrang dami mo nang makikitang sakit doon (Even with a tiny specimen, you will be able to diagnose different diseases),” said Mark.

Medical technology has motivated him to constantly push himself to the limits.

Hindi ko iisipin na ito lang ang kaya kong gawin… Yung small volume nga ng blood sobrang dami nang nagagawa within a second, ako pa kayang tao na nag-iisip at kayang kumilos,” he said.

(I won’t think this is all I can do… A small volume of blood is able to do so many things in a second. What more a human like me who’s able to think and move?)

Mark used to drop by their community hospital in Batangas once in a while and was always welcomed by a signage that read: “Looking for Medical Technologist. Apply inside.” 

He promised himself he would apply for that position to experience what he considers a magical industry.

May magic sa medical technology. Alam namin yung kondisyon ng patient without seeing them (There is magic in medical technology. We know the condition of a patient without seeing them),” he said. “We test samples na kami rin nag-draw (that we draw ourselves.)” 

LAB TEST. A Thai technician works at blood samples of volunteers at the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences's lab in Bangkok, Thailand, Sept 28, 2009. Photo by Narong Sngnak/EPA

A silent profession

Mark’s dream of becoming a medical technologist is rare. His course is more often than not used as stepping stone to a medical degree.

In truth, the Philippine labor market is ripe for medical technology graduates. 

Medical technology is among the health sciences that the Commission on Higher Education outlined in August 2013 as priority courses until 2015The current number of graduates of these courses does not match the labor demand.

The health science courses identified – which include pharmacy and radiology technology – were based on a market study by the labor department as well as the country’s national development plans and manpower demands for 2011-2015.

Mark’s professor, who was also a medical technology scholar in college, believes there are many “unsung heroes” of the profession. Doctors, he said, diagnose and prescribe treatment for diseases, relying on the output of medical technologists.

Scholarship application

Mark would have stopped from school entirely. Despite his parent’s constant denial, he knew that his education expenses were taking a toll on his family’s finances.

His father and mother would assure him from time to time they can still borrow money from whoever is willing to lend them. But the family, Mark said, is still struggling from unpaid debts that were used to pay for his tuition in the past semesters.

Although tough, Mark’s scholarship application was something he went through on his own and without the knowledge of his parents. 

Asked where he gets his drive, Mark answered with a straight face: “Sa tatay ko po at sa inay ko. Sa pang araw-araw na nakikita ko sa kanila… Kahit po matanda na sila, pinipilit pa po nilang kumita kahit iilang daan para lang may ipakain sa amin,” Mark said.

(From my father and mother. Every every single day that I see them… Even if they are already old, they push themselves to earn money – even just for a few hundred pesos – just to feed us in the family.)

Surprise

Words are hard to come by in the Magboo home. Conversations are rare and direct to the point.

His father, shared Mark, is not a sentimental man.

The night he shared the results of his scholarship application was no different.

Tatay, anong masasabi niyo kung sinabi kong wala na akong tuition hangang mag-graduate?” Mark asked his father shyly.

Emotions under control, his tatay turned his back on Mark and walked to the kitchen. “Hindi nga? (Really?)” he asked back, wanting to make sure.

A slight smile formed on the face of his father, almost overwhelmed by disbelief. He demanded an explanation as to why Mark kept his scholarship application a secret.

Ala eh, surprise nga (It was a surprise),” Mark told him, happy that they no longer have to knock on other people’s doors for money to pay for his college fees. – Rappler.com

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