Name: Ceniza, Lawrenz Isaac P.

Date: August 19, 2022

Year/Section:
Reflection Paper on the history of Nursing in the Philippines
Nursing jobs have been around for a long time. Through many changes and reforms, it
has evolved dramatically into the nursing profession of today. Nurses play an important role in
the healthcare industry in treating the sick and providing medical care. These trusted medical
professionals continue to make up a large portion of the medical sector and are among the fastest
growing professions.
Nursing in the Philippines has a deep and enigmatic history. In the early beliefs and
practices of health and illness in the Philippines. Early Filipinos believed on two words which
are mysticism and superstitions. It was mainly believed that the cause of the disease was caused
by an enemy, another person, or by a witch or evil spirit. Early Filipinos were very careful not to
disturb others or evil spirits for their health. These evil spirits can be cast out by those who have
the power to cast out demons. Worship in a special healing deity When using the leaves and
roots, it was called an herbalist ("Albularyo"). During the Spanish regime health care Nursing
contexts were revealed through simple feeding, wound care, and caring for sick family members.
Certain practices of the care of the sick require the intervention of a babaylan (priest doctor) or
albularyo (herbal doctor). They also started building hospitals in the Philippines in different parts
of the Philippines and these were: Hospital Real de Manila (1577), San Lazaro Hospital (1578),
Hospital de Indios (1586), Hospital de Aguas Santas (1590), San Juan de Dios Hospital (1596).
In the late 1890s, war broke out between the Philippines and Spain, resulting in heavy casualties.
Many women take on the role of nurses to help wounded soldiers. The emergence of Filipino
nurses led to the development of the Philippine Red Cross. Americans began training the first
Filipino nursing students in 1907. Nursing students in the Philippines studied many of the same
subjects as nursing students in the United States. However, the Filipino curriculum was believed
to "never be a mirror image reproduction of the American nursing curriculum" and involved
more than a simple transfer of knowledge from American nurses to Filipino nurses.
By watching the video provided in the template I have realized that Nursing is a
profession that not only cares for the sick, but also experiences, learns and inspires an interest in
the body. This course definitely gives me insight into the roots of the profession I wanted to
pursue. I believe it is important to know the history of nursing to fully understand the issues
affecting the profession. I believe that without a foundation of historical knowledge, we cannot
effectively address important issues.