To my fellow DepEd colleagues — please, take care of your health.
Many of you know my story. Almost a year ago, I was struck down by a stroke. It happened right after a MATATAG training in QC. I went home with a slurred tongue and a strange heaviness in my chest. I tried to open my laptop to tell my supervisors I couldn’t attend the next training in Baguio because something felt wrong… but my left fingers would no longer obey. I couldn’t type. I couldn’t control my own hand.
My wife rushed me to Gat Andres Bonifacio Hospital in Tondo. After CT scans and emergency procedures, I spent fourteen long days confined. I came out partially disabled. My left hand and leg felt like they belonged to a stranger. Every day, I cried quietly, asking myself: How did I end up here?
Diabetes, stress, poor eating habits, and sleepless nights finishing reports — all the things we shrug off as "part of the job" — had finally caught up with me. The once strong and fiery "Lito-san" felt like a broken shell.
I filed for leave with pay for eight months, using the service credits I had accumulated over 33 years in DepEd. At the time, I couldn’t even hold a pen, let alone teach. But through therapy, prayer, and sheer stubbornness, I started recovering. When my neurologist finally gave me the green light, I returned to work as a "one-hand machine." My superiors spared me from heavy tasks — maybe out of kindness, maybe out of respect for my decades of service. I was simply grateful to be back.
Then came the heartbreak.
I had prepared every document for my Employees’ Compensation (EC) claim, hoping for support for my partial disability. But GSIS denied it. They ruled that my condition was not work-related. As you can see in the attached letter, they state that "Diabetes Mellitus is a lifestyle disease," and therefore, my stroke is not compensable.
I appealed. I hoped for reconsideration. But the verdict remains: Denied.
I was stunned. I was devastated. The sadness settled is heavier than the stroke itself.
Lesson learned: Take care of your body. Guard your health like your life depends on it — because it truly does. Don’t let stress and overwork steal your future the way it almost stole mine.
Stay healthy, mga kasama. We give so much to the service — please, don’t forget to save something for yourself.
8 comments:
How sad that despite all the premiums we’ve been paying, GSIS still failed to consider your condition. Authorities should see this, because it’s unacceptable that an institution funded by our taxes and our contributions can’t help us when we need them the most. It’s unfair, and this is exactly why the Philippine government system feels so frustrating. They don’t act for the people — only for our money and their own interests. It’s infuriating.
This is exactly why so many Filipinos lose trust in government institutions — they demand so much from us, yet give so little in return when we’re the ones in need. It’s exhausting and unfair.
We deserve better. We pay, we comply, we sacrifice — yet when we ask for support, we’re treated like we’re asking for too much. This shouldn’t be normal.
Your bosses are supposed to help you, not let you struggle alone. They should be raising hell for you, not staying quiet.
Sadly, the GSIS staff asked me to submit a “leave-without-pay” document—even though I’ve earned more than enough leave credits over my 33 years in government service. All of it vanished in an instant, and with it, a piece of my confidence. Still, thank you for reaching out.
This situation reflects a broader concern shared by many Filipinos. When government institutions impose heavy requirements yet fail to provide adequate support when citizens genuinely need it, trust naturally erodes. Experiences like this leave people feeling exhausted and treated unfairly. It underscores the urgent need for more compassionate, consistent, and citizen-centered public service.
We truly deserve better. We fulfill our obligations — we pay, we comply, we make sacrifices — and in return, we expect the support that institutions are mandated to provide. When asking for help feels like asking for a favor, something is fundamentally wrong. This should never be the norm, and it’s time our institutions lived up to the standards the public rightfully expects.
Ideally, leaders should stand firmly with their people — no one should be left to struggle alone, and institutional issues should be confronted, not ignored. In my case, though, I’m fortunate. My superiors have been consistently supportive and have helped me every step of the way. The problem isn’t with them, but with the system that makes even the most dedicated employees fight unnecessary battles.
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