Facade of the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan. —Screengrab from CSMC Facebook page.
MANILA, Philippines — San Juan City is marking Aug. 15 as Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) Day, according to a declaration by Mayor Francis Zamora, in recognition of the hospital that has made the city its home for the past 50 years.
The CSMC, one of the nation’s premier health-care institutions, marks its 50th anniversary with a thanksgiving celebration at Smart Araneta Coliseum also on Aug. 15.
The event brings together CSMC doctors, employees, patients and corporate partners for a Mass to be led by Jose Cardinal Advincula, Archbishop of Manila, and concelebrated with Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery of Evangelization, and Archbishop Emeritus Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.
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The event will also feature performances by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, the Ryan Cayabyab Singers, Baihana, Manila Symphony Orchestra, UP Concert Chorus, Darren Espanto, Lola Amour and “Concert King” Martin Nievera.
Also being honored are doctors who have served the institution since its inception, and employees marking service milestones from five to 50 years.
CSMC organized activities leading up to the anniversary, like medical missions, outreach programs and health forums.
“This anniversary is not just a celebration of our heritage but also a testament to our ongoing commitment to excellence in health care,’’ said CSMC president and CEO Raul Pagdanganan. “We look forward to continuing our mission of providing outstanding medical care and making a positive impact on the lives of our patients.”
Established as St. Paul’s Hospital of Manila, it was renamed Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital in 1974 in honor of Rufino J. Cardinal Santos, whose leadership through the office of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila was instrumental in its recovery amid rising costs.
In 1986, it adopted its current name and, over the decades, evolved from a modest five-story hospital into a world-class medical center renowned for excellence in cardiology, oncology, neurology, gastroenterology and rehabilitation medicine. —contributed