Edzel M.

Canon
BPAG 4-1

World war II came and it brought his family to experience challenges in order to
survive. It was an experience that brought them closer. After the war in 1945, his family
moved in Baguio where the rest of their lives begun. He got back to school by the age of
nine. He finished grade school and high school on top of his class. In their high school
yearbook, it even included one of his classmates prediction, Juan Flavier will go to
college at the University of the Philippines, become a doctor, attend the John Hopkins
University, and one day become secretary of health. For him, Baguio gave him and his
co-teens paradise and romance all the same. Life in Baguio was full of adventure.
In 1952, he went to Manila to start college. He studied at the University of the
Philippines College of Medicine to become a doctor. In UP, he learned community care
from Fr. Delaney, an American Jesuit priest, who was a great influence on countless
leaders from the State University. He also met his future wife in UP by the name of
Alma Susana Aguila, the daughter of a Protestant lay minister and a former governor of
La Union. He proposed marriage to her and she said yes in one condition, he would
never enter in politics or be in any government position. With that pledge, they
eventually got married in 1961. They were blessed with four lovely children.
After graduating from med school, he took up the medical board exam and
passed. He also opted to practice and be trained abroad after graduation but due to
circumstances, he was not able to do so not until later in his career. He became a
teacher in Bacteriology and Pathology for a year at the University of the East Medical
Center.

Edzel M. Canon
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Serving the poor was his calling. His decision to serve stemmed not mainly
because of patriotism but from the desire for social justice and his concept of what it is
to be a doctor. He was inspired by the works of the legendary Y.C. James Yen, the
father of rural development. He even told the latter of his plan of going to the Mountain
Province to practice medicine and work in community development. He was also
convinced to work with Dr. Yen at the PRRM and he was with him for 31 years.
In 1992, he was chosen by President Ramos to become Secretary of the
Department of Health. He was then doubtful of accepting the position since he had a
promise to his wife Susan that he will not enter the government. But the then outgoing
Secretary of Health Alran Bengzon gave him reasons why he should take the position;
Every Filipino must serve in the government at one point in his or her life. We criticize
the government at every turn and now is your chance to do something from the inside.
But before he could decide on the matter, he then wakes up one morning only to find
out that he has the position of Secretary of Health. Bringing with him his rich experience
in rural work, he set all his parameters in a bigger context for the betterment of the
whole countrys public health. To guide his brainstorming sessions, he came up with the
slogan MEDIC-Media friendly, Exciting. Doable, Innovative and Current to make the
most of what little time and resources they had. He introduced innovative approaches to
health care, such as Oplan Alis Disease, a massive immunization campaign which later
resulted to the World Health Organization declaration of the Philippines as Polio-free,
the Sangkap Pinoy, a nationwide campaign against micronutrient malnutrition, the antiAIDS health information campaign and other health programs aimed at bringing health
closer to the people, Ceasefire for Children, supports the National Immunization Day

Edzel M. Canon
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underscores the need for peace as a prerequisite for health, there will be "no shooting
of bullets, only shooting of vaccines", Yosi Kadiri, aims to provide awareness about the
danger or harm that cigarette smoking can give. After his stint as Mr. Lets DOH it,
another chapter of his life and career opened as unexpected. He was offered to run as
Senator under the Lakas-CMD party of President Ramos and won the election for two
terms. He was convinced that he could bring his campaign under the Department of
Health to the next level.
He had this reputation built in the Senate by attending every session and by
always being the first to show up. He was even tagged as Mr. Quorum. Through his two
terms as Senator, he learned to work with people, to deal with different personalities
and learn different things from environment, taxation, land reform, indigenous peoples,
children and more about issues on health. He also learned to play politics and
compromise.
Certain development issues and strategic measures were identified focusing
mainly on the goal of improving the quality of life of the Filipinos. Public policy-making
and service delivery systems were accountable, responsive, participative, demanddriven, client-focused and results-oriented. This is through the efforts of introducing
reforms for good governance. However, there are instances that such initiatives were
not implemented due to lack of political will, heavy partisan politics, inadequate financial
resources and graft and corruption.
Flaviers ethical living and leading takes courage and conviction. He was always
concise to choose the right thing, even when the right thing isn't popular or easy. The

Edzel M. Canon
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way he make decisions were all based on his core values and principles, then telling
them that This is my stand and I will lead the people by this example.
What makes Flavier a remarkable leader is his way of uplifting human and
societal development by not harming anyone. He was always after the betterment of
many, a true essence of a public servant and ethical leader. Throughout his career in
PRRM to Cabinet Member and to being Senator, he has always a say to influence
process and stimulates change in subordinates attitude and values. Juan Flavier, a
man of action made sure to do as the people would wish him to do. He had lived his
core values in all parts of his life in service of the common good. As a leader and a
servant of the people, he has augmented self-efficacy to people and foster
internalization of vision by utilizing strategies of empowerment. He was an almost
perfect leader---- trustworthy, people-oriented, man of integrity and socially powerful.
Juan Flaviers story showed us the very aspect and essence of public
governance. The very essence of sound development management. It presented the
basic elements of governance such as accountability, participation, predictability and
transparency.
Reading his story brings us to the reality of what is Philippine governance is all
about. And somehow makes us realize that we too can contribute to its reformation.