Survival in the new world

Allow me to tell my story to the people of the CNMI, especially the CNMI Medical Referral Office and the elected officials up on the Hill. My story might sound foolish to some but anybody who loves the truth will listen.

Before I start with my story, let me introduce myself. My name is Nicolas Pangelinan Blas, a CNMI full blooded indigenous. I am the same as any Refaluwasch and Chamorro people working to bring food to the table.

Now let me begin the story: On Dec. 2, 2008, I was sent to Manila to escort my kuya (brother) who would undergo a kidney operation at the Asian Hospital in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, in the Philippines.

When we arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, we were picked up and dropped off at the Asian Hospital. My kuya was admitted for two days, and then released. He was given medication for his kidney operation, and we were transferred to the Civic Place, just across the Asian Hospital. A week later, he was admitted again at the hospital.

Two days after that, I received a note from the housekeeping staff where my kuya and I stayed. The note says, “Please call Nita on this telephone numbers.” I called the phone number to talk to Nita. I asked Nita, if she needed me.

“Mr. Blas, you need to move out of that room where you’re staying,” she said.

I asked, “Where should I stay if I move out of the room?”

She said, “Sir, you have to go and stay at the hospital.”

Then I told her, “Look, listen, and understand. The hospital is a place for sick people, and not for a healthy man like myself. The hospital has no room for my things and me. My privacy will be invaded and my rights will be taken away, and that is not what I am looking forward to.”

“Sir, but this is the policy,” she said.

I asked her whose policy that is.

“Saipan’s,” she said.

I asked her to call Saipan right there, and tell that person who made that policy to change it and stop playing games with people’s life because I am not a toy here. Then I hung up the phone and waited if I should be forced out of that room.

After I hung up the phone, I knelt down and prayed, “Father, please do give protection and assistance to this poor soul of mine, and in time of my distress, Oh God! It appeared that I was sent to this place, picked up at the airport and dumped here in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, looking for my own survival in this world, without anybody to assist or guide me and my kuya in this land.” Then I ended my prayers.

On Dec. 25, 2008, here came this generous and caring warrior, a Vietnam War hero, a retired Marine, a full blooded CNMI indigenous living in San Pedro, Philippines for eight years now. His name is Franklin Cing.

This man told me that at one time, Mrs. Evelyn David (sorry to mention her name; she’s from the CNMI) asked Mr. Franklin Cing to help a patient. The patient was operated on and released from the Asian Hospital, but there’s no room for him to stay and food to eat. What a painful situation for that patient. He also mentioned about a person who was referred to Manila from the CNMI, and that person was not picked up at the airport because his name was not on the list. Another painful situation for that person. He also mentioned a woman, also from the CNMI, who was robbed by purse snatchers and her money was taken away. Another sad and painful situation for that woman; there’s no escort with her.

It seemed that this young man, Franklin Cing, from the CNMI, loves and cares for the Chamorros who are sent to Asian Hospital. So often he visits his people; sometimes he brings something for them to eat. He loves his people and he knows our culture and traditions. He wants to be closer to them and serve his people here in a professional and right way, but this man can’t do all these things to satisfy his people with his own wealth. Also, this man said he knows the annual funding for the Philippine referrals but only if the CNMI Referral Office should give him the opportunity to take control of that funding will he be able to provide transportation and manpower to escort all CNMI patients referred to the Asian Hospital.

On Jan. 2, 2009, I received an e-mail from a fellow Chamorro who I met when I was there. This woman is young, healthy, highly educated, and is very respectful to the elderly. I consider and embrace her like a family member. This young and blameless woman (her name is Carmen) told me in the e-mail, “The referral staff in the Philippines didn’t deliver her subsistence allowance on Jan. 1, 2009, because the bank was closed, and she will have no food to eat.” Another painful situation for an innocent and blameless CNMI indigenous individual. This thing could have been prevented if staff from the Philippine referral prepared the money earlier. They knew that the bank would be closed on that day but neglected to deliver the bread at the proper time.

I would recommend that Mr. Franklin Cing be recognized and be given the opportunity to take control of the Philippine referral funding so there’d be a change, and that the CNMI people who will be referred to the Asian Hospital will not experience the same painful situation just because nobody was there to assist and guide them.

Thank you all for taking your time to read my story. Any elected official who wants change? Now is the time to act for change!