Ma. Cristina Bui Cura couldn’t help but get emotional every time she encounters patients and relatives with terminal illnesses seeking medical assistance to Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
It breaks her heart to see and talk to them every day, but she had no choice but to do her job to the best of her abilities.
Tina is a 45-year-old charity worker assigned at the Office of the General Manager.
A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Management at the College of the Holy Spirit in Tarlac City, Tina had no idea at first how to approach patients who are seeking medical assistance.
“I don’t have social work training so it’s hard on my part before to carry out my responsibility, but I do my best every day, and now I am getting better at it,” admitted Tina.
Tina worked for a private company in Tarlac City for 15 years. She looked for a new job when the company closed down.
With the help of a good friend, Tina was hired by PCSO on Sept. 1, 2010, and was immediately assigned at the OGM.
That time, her tasks included receiving checks being signed by the former GM and delivering signed checks at the Treasury Department.
Instead of cash, PCSO gives its assistance in the form of a guarantee letter, which has a two-month effectivity.
In May 2012, she was assigned at PCSO’s satellite office at the Lung Center of the Philippines to help patients. There, she would interview more or less 60-70 patients a day.
Tina has this nature of talking loudly, giving patients an impression that she’s always arguing, unfriendly or snobbish.
“My clients would tell me I looked snobbish but once they get to know me, they will realize I’m not really snobbish at all,” said Tina.
Tina admitted that being a charity worker is really emotionally challenging. She had to adjust to her clients’ needs and be more understanding of their plight.
“I just think I’m more blessed than them. I’m blessed because I’m not in their situation. Having a terminal illness is no joke. A patient needs a huge sum of money to sustain his/her daily medications,” teary-eyed Tina said.
“As a mother, I know they only want the best for their kids. They will do everything just to extend lives of their kids,” said Tina.
Tina’s most unforgettable encounter was meeting the parents of a five-year-old patient who has leukemia.
To sustain the child’s medications, the mother had to work as a washerwoman; while the father as a tricycle driver.
“I know I’m not in the position to advise my patients because I’m not in their shoes, but still I want to tell them to hold on to their faiths, be strong, and don’t lose hope. God is always here to help us,” she added.
As a government agency for charity, PCSO assures all Filipinos that they can seek medical assistance under the Individual Medical Assistance Program whether they’re rich or poor.
“However, the assistance given by PCSO depends on the financial capacity of the patient or the relative of the patient. If the patient belongs to category F, they may receive 70-percent to 100-percent financial assistance,” said PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan.