Saint Louise de

Marillac Today
 Juan M. Flavier I choose him to be the Saint Louise De Marillac Today because
Senate President Pro-tempore Juan M. Flavier traces his
humble beginnings to the slums of Tondo and the mining
communities of Cordillera. Born to a poor family, choose to be
a barrio doctor, this former Secretary of Health and now a
Senator on his 2nd term, worked his way to school until he
earned his degree in Medicine at the University of the
Philippines in 1960.

Instead of grabbing opportunities for a lucrative medical

practice, he packed his medical satchel and went to serve the
barrio people of Nueva Ecija and Cavite. To better serve the
barrios, he proceeded to take up a postgraduate course and
earned his Masters in Public Health at the prestigious Johns
Hopkins University. He then became president of the
Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement and the
International Institute for Rural Reconstruction, two
organizations dedicated to serving the common tao through
education, training and empowerment.
Bringing with him his rich experience in rural work, he introduced innovative approaches to health care,
such as Oplan Alis Disease, a massive immunization campaign which later resulted to the World Health
Organization declaration of the Philippines as Polio-free, the Sangkap Pinoy, a nationwide campaign
against micronutrient malnutrition, the anti-AIDS health information campaign and other health programs
aimed at bringing health closer to the people. 

I choose him to be the Saint Louise De Marillac today because, despite his humble beginnings, he still
chose to serve for the poor and those people from the rural who doesn’t have the privilege for a quality
health care in their town. Even though, he had opportunities for a lucrative medical practice, he still
chose to stay at the barrio to help those people who needs medical assistance.