PROJECT BANTAYAN 2025 TRIP: OCEANS AWAY BUT WORLDS DIFFERENT
- Medsoc PnP
- Sep 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 2
When we first set out for Bantayan Island, we knew we wanted to make a difference. And with that ambition in mind, we began our journey across the South China Sea. Just like that, Project Bantayan began its journey – one of teaching, serving, and learning that touched every corner of the community.
EMPOWERING STUDENTS THROUGH HEALTH EDUCATION
Our trip began with education, because we believe that knowledge is the first step to a longer term impact on healthy living.
At Santa Fe High School, we met students brimming with energy and curiosity. Through roleplays, games, and open discussions, we guided 100 teens through topics vital on the island:
Fitness and how to get into working out
Sexual health, including STIs and protection
The importance of consent
Diet and nutrition
Proper hand hygiene – the simplest yet most powerful tool against disease
The dangers of smoking and vaping
We saw the students engage, laugh, and most importantly, ask questions, turning what could have been dry health education into a safe space for learning and sharing.
At Bantayan Central Elementary School, the energy multiplied as we reached out to over 600 children. These young learners were introduced to concepts like puberty, mosquito-borne disease prevention, healthy diets, handwashing techniques, and the harms of smoking and vaping. Using hands-on demos and storytelling, we ensured the lessons weren’t just memorised but also experienced, etching the lessons into their minds.
STRENGTHENING BARANGAY HEALTH WORKERS
Health is only sustainable if knowledge stays within the community. That’s why we gathered 2 Barangay Health Workers (BHWs)—the unsung heroes of primary care who serve at the equivalent of grassroots level—from each of the 25 barangays for a workshop.
During the session, we revisited the basics: vitals (vitals taking and how to follow up), hygiene (the foundation of infection control), STIs (the early signs of it and how to overcome stigmatisation to guide patients towards seeking treatment), and chronic disease management.
These sessions weren’t just about information transfer. They were about empowerment, ensuring that even long after our team departs, there are community members who continue to apply, share, and model good health practices.
MEDICAL MISSION IN ATOP-ATOP
A highlight of our trip was the medical mission in Atop-Atop, where we saw 273 patients, alleviating concerns that had been shelved aside for months. Together with our partner institutions, we offered various services — medical consultations, dental services, and chest x-rays.
We saw patients with a variety of conditions, most commonly hypertension, upper respiratory tract infections, and diabetes. Of note, the use of ultra-portable Chest X-Rays with AI interpretation from Qure.ai allowed for tuberculosis screening, a condition still endemic on the island. 8 patients were diagnosed on the spot, with treatment started aggressively. Household members were to be contacted, with the same process repeated for them. In a setting where delays in diagnosis can mean the spread of untreated illness, this technology quite literally changed lives in real time.
This mission would not have been possible without the collaboration of Cebu Institute of Medicine TORCH, Cebu Doctors' University College of Medicine, Mendero Family Medicine, Chong Hua Mandaue, Matthias Aznar Memorial College of Medicine, and Qure.ai — a testament to the power of teamwork in healthcare.
WALKING, MOVING, AND LIVING HEALTHY
Health is not only about medicine — it’s about lifestyle choices. That’s why we joined the community in a Walk-with-a-Doc event in Atop-Atop. Along with 217 participants, we walked 4km through the barangay, chatting, laughing, and moving as one.
The walk ended in a lively Zumba session, where we danced, sweated, and celebrated the joy of physical activity. It was a reminder that exercise doesn’t have to feel like a chore. It can be fun, communal, and energising.
IMMERSING IN THE LOCAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
If we were going to make an impact on the healthcare scene, we needed to better understand how the healthcare systems work, both on the island and the mainland.
On Bantayan Island, we visited the Bantayan Rural Health Unit, Bantayan Birthing Home, and the Bantayan District Hospital, giving us firsthand insight into the intricacies of rural health service delivery. Something insightful was the lack of well-maintained equipment and how the healthcare professionals work around this shortage to provide healthcare.
Back in Cebu City, we had the chance to connect with medical institutions and professionals.
At Cebu Doctors’ University College of Medicine, we toured their facilities and shared conversations with students and faculty about medical training in the Philippines and how it compares to Singapore’s system.
At the Kauswagan Community Clinic and Social Center, we joined CDU students on home visits. In particular, the visit to a stroke patient and his visually impaired child stood out to us. These encounters grounded us in the human realities of rural healthcare — where access is limited, but compassion and resourcefulness thrive.
At CNU VSMMC College of Medicine, we were welcomed by the Department of Family & Community Medicine, led by Dr. Grace N. Melchor, and given a guided hospital tour by Dr. Jo Belle. These sessions broadened our view of community and hospital-based care in Cebu.
A BIG THANK YOU
None of this would have been possible without the people who guided, mentored, and supported us. Our deepest thanks go to:
Dr Samantha Tinsay
Dr Ng Wee Khoon, Ms Jamie Lim, Dr Elenore Uy
Marlex Nuguid (Qure.ai)
Mayor Orlando Lex Layese
Principal Elisa Matulac, Nurse Joy Necesario Desamparado
CDUCM Dean Dr. Enrico Gruet, Associate Dean Dr. Teresita Escasinas Chiu, Associate Dean Dr. Lydia Bigornia, Dr. Phoebe BL, Dr. Kline Lim
Dr. Charles Chloe Capute Parilla, Sir Job Sarmago, Consolacion MHO Dr. Fe Eleanor F. Pardillo
Dr. Grace N. Melchor, Dr. Jo Belle
Students of CIM and CDU
Their leadership, kindness, and openness made every aspect of Project Bantayan possible.
