CEBU CITY, Philippines — Adventist Hospital-Cebu conducted its Workers’ Health Emphasis Week on Oct. 19-23, bringing employees together for five days of health education, spiritual enrichment and fellowship.
Anchored on the theme “HEALING: A Weeklong Journey Toward Health, Healing and Salvation,” the initiative was adapted from the Southern Asia-Pacific Division’s health ministries department and jointly organized by AH-Cebu’s health education and chaplaincy departments.
The program aimed to promote holistic well-being while emphasizing Jesus Christ as the ultimate source of healing and restoration.
Juliet Buque, health educator at Adventist Hospital Cebu, highlighted the initiative’s broader impact on the hospital staff.
“We are truly grateful for the opportunity to adopt and implement this program in our hospital,” Buque said. “This initiative reminds us that health ministry goes beyond promoting physical well-being. It is also about nurturing spiritual growth and restoring the connection of man and God.”
The program explored seven essential dimensions of wholeness, featuring daily messages from hospital chaplains and pastors:
- H – Health of the body: Caring for the body God has entrusted to us. Presented by Chaplain Jason Macaron, the session emphasized the importance of physical wellness and healthy lifestyle habits as a foundation for effective service.
- E – Emotional health: Finding strength when the heart is tired. Chaplain Jane Asher Q. Potot led this segment, exploring how processing negative emotions and embracing vulnerability are vital components of true well-being.
- A – Addiction and freedom: Breaking the chains of harmful habits. Pastor Ryan Gil Abenido discussed overcoming physical and behavioral dependencies through faith, support and accountability.
- L – Love and broken relationships: Restoring relationships. Pastor Methu Flores guided participants on the principles of forgiveness, open communication and mending interpersonal bonds.
- I – Inner health: Healing from the inside out. Also covered by Flores, this topic focused on finding spiritual peace and resilience amid daily struggles.
- N – Need for rest and balance: Restoring life’s rhythm. Pastor Joel Aganan highlighted the need to step back from exhaustion and honor God’s design for rest and self-care.
- G – God, grace and new life: Discovering the greatest healing of all through Christ. Aganan capped off the week with a message on salvation, spiritual renewal and the ultimate hope found in Jesus.
During her session on emotional health, Potot reminded workers that experiencing negative emotions does not equate to a lack of faith.
“Emotional health does not mean being happy all the time. It does not mean Christians never cry, never become afraid, never feel angry, lonely, disappointed or overwhelmed,” Potot said. “Emotional health is learning about ourselves, understanding how we feel and reacting to these feelings and knowing when and how to ask for help.”
A highlight of the daily sessions was the interactive small-group discussion, where workers enthusiastically shared personal reflections, key takeaways and practical applications, promoting fellowship, encouragement and spiritual growth.
Joel Aganan, who also serves as the vice president for marketing, noted the profound effect these interactive sessions had on the attendees.
“After the presentation of the topics, there is a group discussion and reflection. The time allotted for the workers is not even enough because they are so eager to express their own feelings,” Aganan shared. “I learned so much, especially regarding how we manage our health — mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.”
Aganan also expressed his gratitude to the organizing teams who brought the Southern Asia-Pacific Division’s curriculum to life.
“I am so blessed by the messages, and I would like to thank the chaplaincy department for their hard work, efforts and preparation of this material,” Aganan said.
As the week concluded, workers were challenged to make HEALING more than a weeklong program, but a way of life — embracing healthier choices, strengthening relationships, deepening their faith and extending Christlike compassion in their daily service.
With thankful hearts, the organizers and participants look forward to a second season of this enriching initiative. The program may have ended, but the journey toward wholeness continues.
“May every worker be healed by Christ, renewed by his grace and empowered to share his healing love with others,” an AH-C worker said.
By Joven Arcelo, Adventist Hospital-Cebu