A Gathering of Healing Hands: My Experience at the DOH Consultative Meeting on LINGAPP

Last November 28, 2025, I arrived early at the Park Inn by Radisson along North Avenue, Quezon City, the venue for a very special meeting. The Department of Health –Bureau of Local Health Systems and Development (DOH-BLHSD), under the leadership of Dr. Mar Wynn Bello, had organized a Consultative Meeting on Strengthening Faith-Based Health Initiatives for Lingkod Kalusugan ng Alagad ng Pananampalataya at Pamayanan (LINGAPP).

As the representative of the Davao Episcopal Area (DEA) Health Board of The United Methodist Church, I was excited for the opportunity that the government can acknowledge the role of faith-based organizations in the health of our communities.

I was the first person in the conference room but I was impressed by the diverse assembly they invited including representatives from the Philippine Relief and Development Services (PhilRADS) of PCEC, Caritas Philippines of the Roman Catholic Church, the Islamic Medical Association of the Philippines, and several other faith-rooted organizations. Seeing everyone seated together reminded me that despite our theological differences, we share a deep and abiding commitment to human dignity and compassionate service.

The meeting opened with an ecumenical prayer that I also participated in. Then an opening remarks by Dr. Bello. He emphasized that before the government prescribes policies or action plans, it must first listen to the stories, struggles, and insights of the organizations that have long been embedded in communities. I had to agree with his remarks. For years, faith-based organizations have been the unsung frontliners by providing medical missions in remote barangays, supporting families in times of disaster, and tending to the spiritual and emotional wounds the healthcare system often overlooks.

Again, I was the first speaker to share our experience in the UMC. I introduced myself as PasDoc Neki and spoke about the work of our DEA Health Board, our HIV SAVE approach and desire to build HIV competent churches, our growing mental health programs among youth and women, our peer educators Tigbansay and Manuglaygay, and our Wesleyan heritage of combining faith and medical ministry. I felt grateful to represent a church rooted in holistic care of body, mind, and spirit.

I also realized how unique our perspectives are as faith-based practitioners. We bring compassion shaped by Scripture, ethics informed by community life, and a sense of mission that pushes us beyond what is convenient.

Throughout the meeting, one theme kept echoing back and that is we all want to bring healthcare closer to the people as an expression of love. We also openly discussed challenges like limited funding, lack of coordination, unclear policies and the need for stronger government support. Yet, despite these concerns, there was a hopeful spirit in the room. This was just a beginning of a new partnership.

As the meeting ended, I felt encouraged. It was clear that LINGAPP is a program that will bridge between government and faith communities, between policy and compassion, between systems and souls. Walking out of the meeting venue, I carried a sense of renewed purpose. Our church may have simple programs but it is not alone, for along with our friends from various denominations and faith traditions, the FBOs has a vital role in building healthier, more resilient communities. 

This meeting reminded me that healing is not just a medical act, we are really called to take part in God's ministry. 

Reflections of a Community Doctor in the Palay

Being in the community always gives me that feeling of what it really means to be a missionary doctor. It is not the walls of the hospital or the bustle of outpatient clinics, but the everyday lives of people whose health is shaped long before they ever meet a doctor. Here in the community, health is not just measured in blood pressure readings or BMI charts or other vital signs, but rather it is written in harvest cycles, market stalls, and the weary yet dignified faces of the farmers who feed the community.

As I walked through the barangay road where the palay occupies the road instead of cars, I couldn't help but reflect on the choices farmers have to make with the lack of infra to support them, including problems in the rising cost of fertilizers, the unpredictability of the weather, and the stubbornly low buying price of palay. It was disappointing. The market price of palay, or unmilled rice, stands at only eight pesos per kilo. Yes, eight pesos. A number so small it barely captures the sweat, the aching backs, the hours beneath the sun, and the generations of knowledge poured into every grain.

The eight pesos reflect not the value of palay, but the value we have chosen to assign to the people who grow it.

As a community doctor, I’ve long understood that food security is fundamental to population health. When families do not have stable access to nutritious and affordable food, diseases multiply. Malnutrition, anemia, lifestyle diseases, mental stress, and even intergenerational poverty will just persist. But seeing the farmers’ struggles up close reminds me that the health of our food system is inseparable from the health of the people who cultivate it. When the ones who feed us cannot feed their own families, we actually make the entire nation malnourished physically, socially, and morally.

The Gospel of Luke reminds us, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” This is not just a spiritual teaching but a call for social justice. The price of palay calls us to check where our moral compass is pointing in terms of justice, dignity, and compassion. Honoring those who labor honestly is a reflection of who we are as a society. But in many ways, we have failed to honor our farmers. We have underpriced their produce, overlooked their needs, and taken their labor for granted.

Health may be measured by medical instruments, but the community will really tell us the real status of our health.

Launch of Migrant Mental Health Ministry

 
A New Beacon of Hope: The Launch of the Mental Health Support Initiative for Migrants in Japan

In a momentous occasion, the United Methodist Church (UMC) in partnership with the New Creation Church in Japan (NCC) unveiled the Mental Health Support Initiative for Migrants. This groundbreaking launch took place during an uplifting online worship service that brought together migrant workers, church leaders, and other church and ministry partners.

During the worship service, the warmth heartfelt greetings from leaders representing both the Philippines and Japan enveloped the digital space, reflecting the collaborative spirit that breathes life into this essential new ministry. Rev. Federrico Noble, Administrative Assistant from the DEA Bishop’s Office, welcomed everyone that reminded everyone the feeling of a family gathering rather than just an assembly of individuals.

Prof. Cristy Framer Mella, a leading light from PCC-CORR and Chairperson of the DEA Health Board, passionately spoke about the initiative’s significance. She articulated how it directly addresses the intercultural needs and increasing mental health challenges faced by migrants—a topic that resonates deeply with many in our global community. Rev. Dr. Nezer Soriano, Director of the DEA Health Board, shared insights about the church’s vital role in promoting holistic mental well-being, reminding us that as Wesleyans we provide holistic care for our minds as this is crucial as caring for our bodies and souls.

From the Eastern Visayas District, District Superintendent Rev. Maximino Maregmen expressed unwavering solidarity with those working abroad, reinforcing a unified commitment to uplift migrant communities. Mrs. Mayvelyn Salavia, representing the New Creation Church in Japan, warmly articulated her support for ongoing intercultural ministry efforts, emphasizing the beauty of diversity in a shared mission.

The worship experience led by Ms. Dinah Serrano was a sanctuary of reflection. Through scripture, prayer, and uplifting music, participants were nurtured in a spirit of unity and hope. A particularly moving moment was the Litany of Commitment, led by Pastor Iris Terana, where attendees collectively vowed to walk alongside migrants on their journeys, championing mental health as an essential aspect of comprehensive ministry.

In his powerful sermon, Bishop Israel Painit of the Davao Episcopal Area painted a stark reality: about one in three overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) faces significant mental health challenges—anxiety, depression, and burnout are all too common. “The reality is that many OFWs endure immense mental health challenges,” he noted, emphasizing that the Church’s response is a manifestation of God’s unconditional love for all. Bishop Painit also highlighted the importance of intercultural competence, acknowledging the unique struggles Filipino migrants face, from language barriers to the isolation that often accompanies living in a foreign land.

The Mental Health Support Initiative for Migrants is poised to offer essential services that resonate deeply with the needs of this community—counseling, support groups, intercultural training, and advocacy. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between Filipino migrants and the broader Japanese community, fostering connections that can heal and empower.

As the worship service came to a close, leaders and partners extended their blessings, a collective affirmation of this initiative as a significant milestone in enhancing migrant care and promoting holistic health for those in need. Together, they are not just launching a program; they are igniting a movement rooted in compassion, understanding, and the shared belief that everyone deserves mental well-being, no matter where they come from.