Celebrating 80 Years of Alaga: The Lasting Ripples of Impact
Unilab celebrates their 80th anniversary with a resounding affirmation of their commitment captured in their theme, “Sa simpleng alaga, malaki ang nagagawa.”
When we think of ripples, we think of lasting impacts. These waves, though small at first, bring about transformation and spread over time and space–transcending the place it came from and creating significant change. As Unilab looks back on the mark of care and the lives they’ve touched in the past 80 years, they also reflect on what it means to be celebrating this moment.
“For 80 years, Unilab has been committed to ensuring that quality healthcare reaches every Filipino. But beyond medicine, we recognize that true alaga is in the small, everyday acts of care that create ripples of impact,” says Alexander S. Panlilio, Corporate Vice President of Unilab. “This anniversary is a celebration of the many ways Filipinos show alaga and malasakit (compassion)—from our healthcare professionals to parents, teachers, mentors, and even strangers who lend a helping hand.”
who inspired him to leave his mark on others as a doctor.
It’s in the small, everyday moments
The mark of lasting care is never about how grandiose an action is–it’s about the meaning and intention behind it. It’s in the seemingly ordinary and habitual moments we all go through that actually symbolize more than they let on: a mother’s loving touch when her child is ill, words of encouragement coming from a friend, smiles from your neighbor across the street. It’s how we unabashedly let those around us know, ‘I’m here for you because I deeply care for you!’ in our own little ways.
Dr. Reinerio Prieto, the inspiration behind Unilab’s 80th anniversary video, shares his reason for choosing to leave his mark on others as a doctor.
“My mother was a very strong woman. Bata pa lang ako hanggang sa naging doktor na, I drew a lot of my strength from her. And it wasn’t the big gestures she made—’yung little things ang tumatak sa akin. A nod of reassurance, a pat on the back for comfort, her smile. ‘Pag nagkasakit ako, siya ang nag-aalaga at nagbibigay ng gamot. The baon she prepared for me every day. These seemingly small things gave me a lot of motivation every time,” says Dr. Prieto.
The ripple effect of the love and care he received from his mother as a child has empowered him to make sure his patients experience how powerful it is to truly be cared for in the same way he was taken care of. It’s seen in the way he check-ups on his patients–making sure to establish a level of warmth, understanding, and compassion–because he understands that he is caring for someone that also cares for someone else. He internalizes just how far and important a personal touch of alaga can go for an individual.
where he puts into practice the life lessons he learned from his mother.
A legacy built on passing it forward
As we reflect on the love and care we have received in our own lives, we are also called to pay it forward. There is no act too small, too fleeting, or too insignificant. We have the power to leave our own unique marks and help make someone’s life lighter and brighter. In the same way Dr. Prieto chose to pass on the mark of alaga his mom gave him, we too can do so in our own ways.
Whether this is dedicating quality time with a loved one, sharing a sincere compliment and expressing your gratitude, offering to help a stranger cross the road, or simply being present and showing up for those you care about–these are all simple ways we can create our own ripples of impact and spread marks of lasting care.
In the grand scale of things, these tiny, everyday acts of care we perform can shape up to impact the lives, communities, and futures of many. We might never know the true extent of what our actions do, but we can always choose to care and spread compassion regardless. Unilab’s 80th anniversary theme “Sa simpleng alaga, malaki ang nagagawa” is more than just a catchphrase. It is a reminder that we can all do our part in making this world a better place–and that it all starts with us.
Watch Unilab’s 80th Anniversary Video here:
Do you have an Alaga story to share? You may visit unilab.com.ph or follow the official Unilab Facebook page.
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