As the rapid spread of COVID-19 caught the world unprepared, frontliners in hospitals faced long hours, greater pressures, stigma, and anxiety amid the pandemic. The Medical City (TMC) was no exception. Overwhelmed with incredibly scared COVID-19 patients, doctors, and staff had to withstand excessive exhaustion exacerbated by its negative impact on their mental well-being. 

TMC president and CEO Dr. Eugenio Jose F. Ramos believed that “During these past 20 months of extreme disruption and unprecedented uncertainty, we stood proud as ever, driven by an even strong sense of purpose, and relishing the pleasure of being part of this wonderful institution that represents the future of healthcare, a continuing work of progress that is bigger than ourselves. The years ahead shall lay witness to our capacity, not only to adapt but to innovate, not only to grow but to lead.”

In TMC, the medical practitioners and hospital staff are not only experts in their respective fields. Many of them are also artists and musicians by heart. Through art, TMC helps promote healing and encourages meaningful connections between healthcare providers, patients, and their families.  It inspires, gives hope, and calms the mind.

It begins at the TMC Lobby, designed to create a welcoming and soothing ambiance. A space is provided for art exhibits. Not far from it is a nice grand piano where pianists can play anytime to serenade the guests filling the space with delightful music.

Last Nov. 29, TMC kicked off the Yuletide season with the Annual Christmas Lighting ceremony.  The climax of the joyous celebration was the launch of The Medical City’s original Christmas theme song, “Tuwing Pasko, Lumalakas Tayo”, composed and sang by TMC’s homegrown talents.

Behind the Scenes

Christian G. Delos Reyes, a doctor by profession and singer by passion, is TMC’s chief marketing officer. Since last year, he has been planning to create an original Christmas theme song to communicate the story of the TMC staff that people can connect with.

It was a dream that came true when 28-year-old Gala Sanchez joined TMC’s communications and creatives division in Sept. 2021 as Communications Officer. Gala, who is also an independent singer-songwriter on the side, finished her AB Communications degree in Ateneo de Manila University and also attended songwriting camps. Even while she worked under digital marketing agencies, she was still able to pursue events and music production which made the process of recording the song easier, more heartfelt, and more connected with the audience it will reach.

In an interview, she revealed that music can be a powerful channel to express emotions and intentions in a way people can understand and connect with.  Her testimony supported the vivid manifestation in the emphatic lyrics which reflected in the music video.

It was on Nov. 18 when they first had a team huddle. The team’s collective effort in writing and composing the song, in developing the storyboard, and in conceptualizing the music video produced a masterpiece that any Filipino or any person may relate to.  

Kevin, a 34-year-old multimedia artist, is a nurse by profession. His genuine love and care for all the patients he took care of when he was still practicing his profession was translated and amplified into the message of the music video. He took nursing in Lyceum of the Philippines University—Batangas to fulfill his grandmother’s wish and passed the board exams. However, his passion for photography and filmmaking never left him. His learned and skilled years of experiences as a photo journalist, as well as a nurse helped in contributing to the resilient and amazing production of TMC’s first Christmas theme song.

In 2019, he saw an opening in TMC. He said, “Noong March 10, 2020, na-expose ako sa COVID-19.  Quarantined ako for 26 days. Naisipan ko mag-document through photos and videos, yung mga experiences ng frontliners during the pandemic. Doon ako nahasa. Like Gala, dumating ako sa tamang panahon na kailangan na ng TMC ng isang multimedia artist.”

Irene, 26 years old, graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in Journalism where her knowledge and skills in the major served as an anchor as she was able to apply and use when the team conceptualized the storyboard, as well as the lyrics and eventually helped in the music videos shoot. She recounted her experiences as part of the team, “Dito ko na-witness, lahat sinasama sa events. Tinulungan ko si Kevin sa shooting ng video.”

On November 19, the song was finalized. By November 21, it was handed to Jan Levi Sanchez for the instrumental arrangement. Jan did a great job in making the song sound and have a more Christmas vibe.

The song was interpreted by Dr. Delos Reyes, Gala, Daryl Sanchez from the hospital’s customer relations department, and Daniel Datwin from the billing section of the account management department.

The music video was shot in two locations on Nov. 26—at TMC Ortigas and  in Teresa, Rizal where main actor and TMC nurse Beemcee Elampara lives. The team from TMC composed of Kevin, Irene, Tricia Reyes, Mikko Bernardo, and Rovi Matilla brought all the props, which turned into iconic symbols, with them during their location shoot. These included the Christmas lantern or parol which serves as a light and one of the traditional representations of Filipino Christmas, the symbolic red gift box, and food.

The food on the table was not diminished to merely being eaten but as a representation of how the family is during Noche Buena. In many Filipino households, Noche Buena is considered a very important meal as family members gather at the table to partake of the special meal prepared on Christmas eve, sharing stories, catching up, and expressing love and care for one another.

Ultimately, the red gift box is a symbolism of people’s strength and weaknesses, love, care, and happiness that everyone shares during the Christmas season. Hence, it was present in every scene in TMC’s Christmas music video conveying that everyone battles their lives differently while “carrying” the red box.

“There are many stories to tell here at The Medical City,” shared Joshua Dizon communications and creatives division head.

“The music video titled ‘Tuwing Pasko, Lumalakas Tayo’ tells just one of them—how we rest and recharge when go back to our own homes. But our TMCitizens also found a home in The Medical City, where their passion to serve is recharged the moment they step inside their workplace.”

Dr. Ramos shared his reflection about the song, “Bakit lumalakas tayo tuwing Pasko? Kasi, ibang liwanag ang ating tinitingnan, ang liwanag na nagdudulot hindi lamang ng saya kundi ligaya.  Yan ang inaasam namin dito sa Medical City, kasiyahan at kaligayahan na nagpapalakas hindi lamang tuwing Pasko, kundi sa habang panahon. May the spirit of Christmas provide the spark that will take our country to a brighter 2022!”

Indeed, the spirit of Christmas is togetherness and selflessness, a time for healing and renewed strength.

To watch the full music video, visit https://www.facebook.com/TheMedicalCity/videos/286623996729745

About the author: Angela Martinez-Yupano is a passionate writer and the author of the book, “Chicken Sinampalukan for the Soul:  Finding “Happy” Through it All.”  It is a celebration of a family’s journey to take the road of happiness, as it is after all a choice.