Remo Aguilar
I’m moderating this Saturday’s #HealthXPh chat and drafted a pre chat post for another topic. Then, Dr. Iris, still in shock, message our group about Dr. Gia Sison’s sudden passing. I went blank all of a sudden. I was talking to a colleague when I read that message I suddenly don’t know what to say, write, talk about to anyone. As Doc Iris would say, all of us were just scrolling on the #healthxph team pictures with Gia since hearing of that news.
The team decided to host a “tribute” chat for Gia and in all of the 10 years of making #healthxph pre chat blogpost, this was the “hardest” I made. I’ve been staring at this blank draft, for more than a day already, unable to write anything since we received the news of our beloved Ate Gia’s passing. Not that I don’t have fond memories of Gia. Quite the opposite. We have lots of Gia memories that it is “strange’ (and I felt guilty about this) that I suddenly don’t know how to write about her. With the help of the #HealthXPh team we came up with the following guide questions for our tribute chat.
Doc Gia always had a way with people, bringing her signature charm and cheer everywhere.
T1. Tell us how you met Doc Gia?
I met Gia virtually when our advocacies crossed path during Typhoon Yolanda 10 plus years back. I was working with some “Googlers” back then to locate missing persons and tag areas badly affected by the typhoon. She was calling for volunteers and help for Yolanda missions. We collaborated and that was the start of so many shared advocacies, building up to the founding of #HealthXPh with Drs. Iris and Buboy. Below was our first ever #HealthXPH team meeting picture.
Doc Gia was a kind friend, mentor and teacher, among other things.
T2. What was your favorite memory of her? Share a tweet of hers that made an impact on you.
This was the hardest, as I have many fond memories of Gia. I remember during our first #HealthXPh Healthcare Social Media Summit in Cebu, we were tasked to improvised or at least make a skit, sort of an impromptu entertainment to liven up a session. She just jokingly told us to follow her cheerfully sing, dance and have fun. That was it! it was super fun and we were laughing at ourselves and what we can improvise at her cheerful cajoling!
Ate Gia has interacted with many of us in person. I lost count of Gia stories and advocacies we share. There’s even more memories that will not fit in this space. So here’s one that immediately connected with what I’m supposed to do this Saturday. I am scheduled to visit USTH Dept of Orthopedics this Saturday for their accreditation. I remember Gia welcoming me to her med school alma mater every time I posted my UST visits on socmed. So as a tribute to my our dear friend Gia, I wore UST’s colors during this accreditation. Go UsTe! says your Maroon friend Ate Gia!
It is an unspoken understanding amongst the #HealthXPh community that Gia relentlessly pursued a lot of advocacies. She was our soc med “maven”, the most entertaining, a global icon and relentless influencer. She is in every platform imaginable just to pursue her advocacies. No wonder like that “midas touch”, any advocacy she pursue has always been a success. The picture below is one of the rare moments where Gia is “serious” despite being surrounded with celebrities like her. Iris kiddingly posted picture on facebook with the caption “Ang serious ni Gia!” and Jim replied, “fierce!” I guess it shows how serious Ate Gia is with her advocacies.
Let me ask then,
T3. What is an advocacy will you take or pursue as influenced by Gia? Why?
Please join us in this tribute chat. It will be at 9PM Manila time today March 23, 2024. Let’s celebrate Gia’s life with our fondest memories of her and all the advocacies she pursued!
