Dr. Cathy Chung, public servant

Doctor to the Barrios, Experiences with the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement is a 1970 book written by Dr. Juan M. Flavier, a physician who later became Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) and two-term Senator of the Philippines. “I remember reading this book as a second year student in university. It was a small book, light reading and consistent with the former Senator’s humor and excellent story-telling, was a fun reference reading back then,” Dr. Cathy recalled.
Being a Doctor to the Barrios was not a walk in the park

In 2007, a wide-eyed new Medicine board passer, joined the Doctor to the Barrios (DTTB) program of the DOH and was assigned to Baleno, Masbate, Bicol, a 4th class municipality with 24,000 people, no doctor for 9 years and 1 permanent nurse. “Gusto ko lang muna makawala sa pressure of going into residency training, a wish my grandparents had para daw yumaman ako.” A younger sister in Japan and an identical twin sister in the United States helped too in terms of space to clear her mind, step-back and just think about her future. “The DTTB also appealed to my sense of adventure but more importantly, it gave me the opportunity to give back a promise I made to my Lord. Before I took the Physician’s board exam, I prayed: ‘Lord, ‘pag pumasa ako, ibabalik ko sa mga tao ang blessing.’”

“Mahirap, 24/7—walang Saturday and Sunday. May sarili akong bahay pero parati rin akong nasa Rural Health Unit (RHU). After 2 years, when I decided to extend and eventually promoted to Municipal Health Officer (MHO), pinagawan na nila ako ng kwarto in the RHU, do’n na rin ako tumira.”

“Hindi talaga ako mag-dodoktor”

“Gusto ko maging teacher”. Dr Cathy came from a family of public school teachers. “Lolo at lola ko ay public school teachers, gano’n din ang mother ko. ‘Yung service orientation sa kanila ko nakuha. There were times when I was a kid when they would bring me to their classroom. Sa kanila ako na-inspire kaya originally I wanted to become a teacher.”

“Sa Masbate, do’n ko talaga nakita ang malaking trabaho ng doktor, the importance of public health. Maraming aayusin sa area kaya the original 2 year commitment became 6 years. Public health kasi malaki ang reach. Mas malapit ka sa nangangailangan.” The last 4 years of Dr. Cathy in Masbate was focused on implementing the Safe Motherhood Program, a United Nations Family Planning Agency (UNFPA)-supported project to achieve Millenium Development Goal (MDG) 5.

“‘Di man ako naging teacher, Doctor to the Barrios fulfilled my childhood dream to be a public servant.”

Working for the government through the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF)

There are 3 words for Dr. Cathy that aptly describes what it’s like to work in ZFF:
Challenging: “Mahirap talaga sa Zuellig, matira ang matibay, mahirap na masarap.”
Excellence: “Parating tine-train sa Complete Staff Work. Ipakita mo ang brand ng Zuellig.”
Accountability: “For the output, outcomes and the people—buhay ng mga nanay ang nakataya.”

When asked about the secret to her durability, Dr. Cathy had these tips to all: “Stick to your purpose why you are doing what you’re doing—connected to my personal mission—save the lives of the mothers.”

“Lahat naman ng gagawin natin may katapusan, so tapusin mo na lang with excellence—end with excellence mindset.”

“Malaki ang binago [ng ZFF] sa akin. May mga kaibigan, naging family. Kailangan may malakas kang support group. Find friends that you can pursue your mission with. Batchies and friends ko sina Jelics, Jing, Joyce, Cha and Heidee.”

With siblings enjoying material success abroad, Dr. Cathy is still asked every now and then why she has chosen to stay. This has always been her standard reply: “Kung walang magse-serve sa Pilipinas, sino na lang ang tutulong sa mga Pilipino?”