Semper Paratus. Treat every patient with profound compassion, dignity and respect.
Semper Paratus: always ready. For 20 years, Sacecc Cobilla Camano has lived by those words. A nurse and emergency medical technician from Naga City, Camarines Sur, he has worked from pre-hospital to hospital settings and now serves at SEHA Clinics Visa Medical Screening in Abu Dhabi.
Tested by a pandemic
Sacecc’s career has taken him through emergency cases, gruelling shifts, SARS and meningococcal outbreaks, and exhausting runs in the ambulance. He thought he had experienced everything as a nurse, until the COVID-19 pandemic drained him mentally, physically and spiritually. Though he was thankful to have the resources at his disposal, seeing hopelessness and frustration in the first two months of the pandemic was draining.
What carried him through was his faith as a Christian and as a Vincentian nurse, trained to be compassionate and driven against all odds. That pushed him to keep helping his patients and colleagues, and focusing on dignity and respect gave him the strength to finish every shift and get the job done.
“I thought I had experienced everything as a nurse, but the COVID pandemic exhausted everything that I have mentally, physically and spiritually.”
The Filipino touch, the Vincentian way
Sacecc describes himself as a Filipino nurse shaped by Vincentian philosophy. The “Filipino touch”, for him, is proactive care that treats each patient not as a case but as extended family. The Vincentian legacy amplifies this with person-centred care, a reminder that healthcare remains deeply ethical and rooted in respect for human dignity.
Every patient is not just a case, but extended family.
Humility in a new culture
When Sacecc arrived in the UAE, he was struck by the cultural differences and attitudes of patients and colleagues. His training in a modern Vincentian hospital and school had prepared him, and he overcame the culture shock by staying humble, focusing on his patients and strengthening his work ethic.
Ready under pressure
The experiences he has gained and his work ethic have given Sacecc resilience and a gift for leading in his current role. Staying focused and determined gives him the confidence to lock in, even under extreme pressure.
To nurses dreaming of working abroad
Sacecc’s advice to Filipino nurses who dream of working abroad is to equip themselves and not limit their capabilities in acquiring knowledge, whether in nursing school or working in Philippine hospitals. All the knowledge, skills and attitude gained along the way, he says, will help them land a job and achieve excellence in their careers abroad.
“To my fellow Filipino nurses, don’t forget your own traits and culture, especially being God-fearing, kind and helpful, hardworking, joyful and caring. Then you will not lose yourself, and you will overcome loneliness.”
Filipino Institute features Filipinos at home and abroad whose courage, sacrifice and success inspire others. Tell us your story, or nominate a kababayan whose journey deserves to be heard.
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