An Hour with a Nurse Leader

I woke up from a text message this morning. It was from Dr. Leah Paquiz, founding president of Ang Nars Inc. and former president of Philippine Nurse's Association. She calls me by my other name which is a guy's name. She told me that she will be at the PNA office at 1 pm and we can do the interview today. I was still sleepy but I had to prepare myself for the interview. This is the only time we are both available and I can't let this pass. I texted my other co-writers about it and they both agreed to come with me since they also have their formulated questions for her.

Upon arriving at the PNA main office, I texted Ma'am Paquiz that we're already at the lobby. The guard pointed a woman in red from the parking lot and there I saw Ma'am Paquiz smiling at us.

"You're ____?" She asked.

"Yes, ma'am. ____ Xyla ma'am, " I replied.

"I thought you are a guy! Babae ka pala!" She said. I actually expected those words. People always think I am a guy whenever they see/read my whole name. I never used it as my nickname. I've always liked my name, Xyla.

So anyway, the interview went well. There were moments that I just kept silent because everything I would ask her always lead to her main answer, NO TO VOLUNTEERING. I told her that I've been a volunteer nurse for a couple of times and she told me that it's like I allow them to exploit me. I allow those hospitals to "rape" me. Dr. Paquiz fights for equal pay for equal work and service. She told us that this is nothing to do with her because at this point of her life, she's already satisfied from what she has achieved. She was just doing this to help us, her colleagues.

Her words pushed us to make a change for our fellow nurses. She motivated us to be assertive because our nursing schools failed us to teach about assertiveness. I salute her for her advocacy. Not all nurses are like her. She's really one of a kind. :)

I will never forget what she advised us: "Itaas mo ang propesyon mo. Huwag kayong magpaalila. Iba na ngayon. We are the modern Florence Nightingale."