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By: Khasian Eunice M. Romulo

Doc Rollin P. Tabuena, a renowned pulmonologist and the first bronchoscopist in Iloilo City proudly identifies himself as a "Mama's boy." Throughout his journey from medical school to becoming a seasoned physician, the unwavering support, encouragement, provisions, and invaluable lessons imparted by his mother served as the cornerstone of his strength and motivation. 

In a world where passion, recognition, and wealth are often celebrated, it is humbling to find an individual whose love and connection with their family, particularly their mother, serves as the guiding force behind their successful journey in the field of medicine. Dr. Rollin’s journey is an inspiring blend of scientific excellence and profound compassion to his community.

Early beginnings and Education

Dr. Tabuena’s story begins in a small town in Concepcion, Iloilo. From an early age, his father taught him to be independent and transferred him to a school in Iloilo City. He graduated with honors in elementary and high school at the Central Philippine University. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from the Southwestern University in Cebu City. 

Encouraged by his father, whose unfulfilled dream is to take up Medicine was what prompted Dr. Tabuena to be a doctor. At first, he was adamant to pursue Medicine due to lack of financial resources. But through the support of his parents, especially his mother, he proceeded to medical school at the West Visayas State University. After four years, he was chosen one of the most outstanding interns during his Post-Graduate Internship at the state-owned WVSU Medical Center. In 1995, Dr. Rollin Tabuena earned his medical license and became the first doctor in the family. 

Dr. Tabuena's affinity for Internal Medicine ignited early in his career. While his initial aspiration was to specialize in cardiology, however, he faced a prerequisite to become a diplomate or fellow before embarking on the training program in the Philippine Heart Center. Eager to avoid unnecessary delays, Dr. Tabuena found himself pursuing Pulmonary Medicine at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Manila. His acceptance into the program hinged on the condition that he successfully pass the diplomate exam within the year—an undertaking he not only accomplished but excelled in by securing one of top positions. 

Navigating Challenges

Dr. Tabuena was confronted with a myriad of challenges during his practice as a pulmonologist in the province, with one significant hurdle arising upon his return to Iloilo City from his training in Hospital Torette, Ancona, Italy. In 2004, Dr. Tabuena encountered some difficulty when he introduced the cutting-edge technique of interventional bronchoscopy to a traditionally conservative health practice in Iloilo. Interventional bronchoscopy was then a novel approach capable of detecting malignancies, infections, and various diseases of the lungs. His research gathered criticisms from fellow physicians, an experience that temporarily dampened his motivation to pursue further studies in his field.

Aside from colleagues’ criticisms, the scarcity of financial support for research among healthcare professionals in the country contributed to a decreased research output. But Dr. Tabuena's determination to advance the field of pulmonology despite these challenges underscores not only his resilience but also highlights the issues that impact medical research endeavors in the country. 

Winning Moments

Dr. Rollin Tabuena stands as a beacon of excellence and achievement in his field, having garnered a commendable array of awards that underscore his significant contributions. Among his notable honors is the Heroes Renowned Medical Internist and Pulmonary Specialist of the Year during  the Asia’s Golden Icon Awards in February 2023,  a testament to his dedication to provide the best healthcare services during the peak of the pandemic. Dr. Rollin Tabuena's unwavering commitment to excellence has also been acknowledged with the Asia’s Most Distinguished Doctor in Pulmonary Medicine, showcasing his exceptional leadership and transformative impact in the communities of Iloilo City. 

Compassion in Action

Dr. Tabuena's journey to excellence in the field of pulmonology was marked by a commitment to pushing the boundaries of medical science. His research focused on innovative treatments for pulmonary diseases. One of his most notable contributions was the Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Test Kit (TB Lamp) for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis was introduced in hospitals in Iloilo City. Aside from being less expensive than commercially available device, the TB Lamp is also easier to use in that it can give results in just 60 minutes. It also adheres to the same biosafety requirements that applies to the microscopy sputum smears, which normally takes three days in the traditional procedure. Essentially, the TB lamp gives a relatively high throughput and does not require sophisticated instruments. 

 Dr. Tabuena’s clinic, Asclepius Drugstore Medical Laboratories and Allied Services Corp in coordination with the Department of Health Iloilo is the center in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in the province. Iloilo City had the highest confirmed tuberculosis cases because of the efficient and effective diagnosis of TB Lamp. In October 2023, Dr. Tabuena, together with his wife, Dr Ma. Daisy Tabuena presented their research on TB Lamp in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA during the American College of Chest Physicians convention . 

Balancing Career and Family bonds

Away from the hospital corridors, Dr. Tabuena is an advocate for community engagement. Known as the Dancing Doctors of Iloilo, he and his wife spearheads initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles by Zumba dancing and gym exercises. The couple actively participates in local events, mentors aspiring medical students, and engages in philanthropic activities to uplift the less privileged.

Despite his many responsibilities, Dr. Tabuena spends time with his family, especially with his son Dane Marco. His family engages into fashion and transforms into passionate models of Iloilo showcasing Hablon creations of local designer Nono Palmos. 

As he stands at the pinnacle of his career, the longing for his mother's love has become a cherished sentiment. In reflection, he acknowledges that the enduring influence of his mother continues to shape not just his professional success but also the very essence of the person he has become.

Winning Moments

Dr. Tabuena stands as a beacon of excellence and achievement in his field, having garnered a commendable array of awards that underscore his significant contributions. Among his notable honors is the Heroes Renowned Medical Internist and Pulmonary Specialist of the Year during  the Asia’s Golden Icon Awards in February 2023,  a testament to his dedication to provide the best healthcare services during the peak of the pandemic. Dr. Rollin Tabuena's unwavering commitment to excellence has also been acknowledged with the Asia’s Most Distinguished Doctor in Pulmonary Medicine, showcasing his exceptional leadership and transformative impact in the communities of Iloilo City. 

Dr. Tabuena is one proud mama’s boy who made his province proud by his TB Lamp.

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By Louella L. Pestaño, DOST-STII

Undoubtedly sought-after, Medicine is one of the most difficult post-graduate programs
and becoming licensed to heal is another story that every medical student aims to win.
But Dr. Ma. Daisy Pedroso Tabuena, a proud Ilongga neurologist and internist with 20
years of medical practice, says otherwise as she humbly recalls her journey to become
one of the coveted physicians and inspirational medical professors in Iloilo City.

“Being a doctor was not really my ambition when I was little; just any profession would
do because living on the farm was difficult. In fact, I was the last one to apply to the
College of Medicine, and the funny thing was, I prepared and submitted all the
requirements the same day at 4 o’clock, the deadline for submission,” said Dr. Tabuena.
Without realizing it, the universe conspired to give birth to a doctor who would genuinely
care for and serve her patients.

Remembering Her Significant Vernal Years

Dearly known by her peers as Ms. Bright, Dr. Tabuena shared that her parents did not
pressure her to be excellent academically, but she was raised in a highly conservative
household. For instance, she could not go to the beach with her classmates, even if it
was a school activity. The mind of young Daisy found it complicated to understand why
her parents were strict, but sooner she figured out why. Laughingly, she admitted that
sometimes she sneaked into their house to join her friends playing outside.

Despite young Daisy’s strict upbringing, she still considers herself a daddy’s girl among
her other two sisters. When asked about her fondest memory with her father, she
recalls helping her father during tax season since they own farmland. Her father had
difficulty completing their annual income tax and often returned several times to town for
corrections. Since taxation was one of her high school subjects, she amazed her father
by computing the income tax correctly.

On the other hand, Dr. Tabuena's most important lesson from her mother was to be
independent of life’s challenges, from preparing items for camping to preparing a meal
using a live chicken. As early as high school, Dr. Tabuena lived separately from her
family in a dormitory near her school. Hence, it was no longer a big adjustment for her
while studying Medicine.

Gyri and sulci of her professional career

Like a brain with convolutions called gyrus (raised) and sulci (groove) layers, which are
attributed to the increase of its surface area, Dr. Tabuena faced several challenges and
triumphs in her life before she reached the peak of her medical career.

Dr. Tabuena finished her elementary and high school as class valedictorian and
salutatorian, respectively. However, the transition to college was not as seamless as it
turned out to be since Dr. Tabuena was still trying to figure out where to enroll.
Fortunately, she has a persistent and supportive cousin who advised her to take up a
Bachelor of Science in Biology at the West Visayas State University and provided
financial support for her enrollment. In 1992, Dr. Tabuena graduated Magna cum
Laude. Later that year, that same cousin prodded her to pursue Medicine.
Studying Medicine was not as easy as in college; another story is passing the board
exam. In her first year in medical school, she had many thoughts of quitting because
studying overnight was not enough, and sleep was scarce. During her clerkship, she
shared that regular days and holidays are no longer different because they are busy
attending to the patients in the hospital.

In 1993, she began her residency program under the Department of Internal Medicine at
West Visayas State University Hospital, where she also served as Chief Resident for
Internal Medicine. Dr. Tabuena took her fellowship in neurology at the University of the
East–Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital in 1997; she also became the Chief
Resident.

Initially, Dr. Tabuena did not plan to be a neurologist; instead, she wanted to become an
oncologist, a medical physician specializing in diagnosing and treating cancer and blood
disorders, since there was only one oncologist in Iloilo then. However, after several
applications to institutions, Dr. Tabuena was not accepted, so she decided to shift to
another specialty.

“Every happens for a reason. I was not accepted to oncology because maybe I was
more suited to neurology,” shared Dr. Tabuena.

She also aspired to become one of her professors who practiced Medicine and taught
as a medical consultant in medical school. She excelled in her specialty, and more
significant opportunities paved her journey.

In 2002, Dr. Tabuena received the Takeda Post Graduate Fellowship Grant Training in
Electromyography at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at the University of
Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan. Two years later, she received the Japanese
Scholarship Grant for Foreign Students on Electromyography and Dystonia at the same
university. Fortunately, the language barrier did not become a challenge because her
professor just returned from the United States. The only challenge she had was the
Japanese culture and lifestyle.

Presently, Dr. Tabuena practices her specialty as a neurosurgeon, serves as a lecturer
in the College of Medicine, and is affiliated with several hospitals in Iloilo City, such as
West Visayas State University Medical Center, Iloilo Mission Hospital, Iloilo St. Paul’s
Hospital, Iloilo Doctors Hospital, and Medicus Medical Center. She is also the co-owner
of Asclepius Medical Clinic.

Medical Breakthrough for the Ilonggo Community

Diagnosing patients was challenging because some of Dr. Tabuena’s patients would
return to her for consultation several times to the point she could no longer give an
accurate diagnosis. As a result, she went to Japan to gain value-added training,
knowledge, and a new approach to her specialty.
Dr. Tabuena’s extensive training in Japan inspired her to pursue medical research on X-
linked dystonia parkinsonism, vascular dementia, hemorrhagic stroke,
electromyography, and nerve conduction studies.

Furthermore, Dr. Tabuena specializes in electromyography (EMG), which identifies
peripheral nerve and muscle disorders. There are two parts to the entire procedure: first
is the electrical simulation to determine nerve activity, its health, lining, and other
associated identifiers; the second is the muscle testing, where a needle is inserted to
determine muscle activity. Dr. Tabuena mentioned that EMG can diagnose diseases
like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
According to her, the technology was already available in a few hospitals in Metro
Manila, but it was contemporary in Iloilo City.

At first, many of her patients are hesitant to partake in the new intervention because of
the conservative nature of the community. Still, she doubly reassures her patients that
the new approach is safe, fast, and accurate. Eventually, the Ilonggo community and its
nearby provinces realized the benefits of this transformative technology, which became
the gold standard in diagnosing complex neuromuscular disorders. For example, one
patient who underwent electromyography was mistaken to have dystonia. But, it turned
out to be a rare type of disease that, when missed or diagnosed late, the patient could
not walk anymore. Otherwise, the patient can cope with mobility.

Despite reaching the pinnacle of her expertise, she emphasized there is no stopping to
learn and improve in her profession because technology is continuously evolving. She
added that her three-year training in Japan was not enough to master the technology. It
needs continuous practice and technology exposure to enhance skills and knowledge.
“Your goal is already achieved, and you have achieved more, so you should be happy,”
Dr. Tabuena uttered when asked to message her younger self.

When it comes to EMG that she currently uses in her clinic, if given the opportunity, Dr.
Tabuena wants to add a magnetic stimulator that can navigate the brain and apply
treatment modalities like stimulating a particular part of the brain to treat neurologic
cases like stroke and movement conditions, and psychiatric conditions like depression
and schizophrenia.

“Success is when you are already contented with what you have and achieved, whether
small or big, as long as you are satisfied with the result. Importantly, you left a
significant impact on your society, your family, and even yourself,” said Dr. Tabuena as
she wrapped up her professional career.

The Cerebral Perspective – Her Personal Life

The cerebrum is one of the main important parts of the brain because many human
activities like thinking, language, emotions, and personality traits are controlled in this
area. Similarly, every personal life is significantly influenced by family. Without them, life
becomes shallow and coreless. Hence, beyond healing and relieving her patients' pain,
the most rewarding feeling is wrapping up her day with her family, exemplifying work
and life balance.

Despite the overwhelming responsibilities of a neurologist and professor, Dr. Tabuena is
a charming and loving wife to Dr. Rollin P. Tabuena, a renowned pulmonologist who
gave birth to TB Lamp, a rapid molecular detection test for tuberculosis. She is also a
caring and supportive mother to their unico hijo, Dane Marco.

Dr. Tabuena recalls her spouse as persistent and delightful when they met in the
hospital. Dr. Rollin would always invite her to join in special conferences or gatherings.
Although focusing on different specialties, together, they spent their fellowship and post-
graduate fellowship training in Manila and Japan, respectively.

Likewise, handling her role as a mother and physician flawlessly, Dr. Tabuena said
making a feasible schedule and accepting extended support from her mother to attend
to her son while working at the hospital allowed her to succeed. As a result, Dane
Marco grew up very close to his parents. Dr. Tabuena also shared that her son did not
give them challenging times when they were abroad for conferences, but he began
checking their whereabouts as he grew up.

Since they are often out of home for work, Dr. Tabuena would describe herself as a
strict but caring mother who values quality time with her family, like cooking food for
Dane or dining out. Moreover, whenever the schedule was amenable to their family,
they would spend their vacation elsewhere, for instance, her most memorable family trip
to Paris, France.

In September 2023, Dr. Tabuena shared they had a mishap in Paris while strolling
around because they rode the train. She recalled how stressful and funny it was
because they entered at the wrong end of the train; their actual seats were at the front,
but they entered from the back. So upon alighting, they had to find their baggage in
every compartment at the back end of the train while getting anxious about whether
they could find all their stuff before the train left. Nevertheless, the family had a well-
spent vacation and learned an important lesson about the situation.

Dr. Tabuena is also a certified fur parent to their domestic cats---Peanut, Mori, Bruno,
and Cramer. She even has a massive collection of photos and videos of her lovable
pets on her phone, memorializing their funny moments.
She loves dancing Zumba, making the Tabuena doctors called The Dancing Doctors of
Iloilo. Once it began as a hobby, it emerged as in-demand modern calisthenics
throughout the country. The couple also created social media accounts to reach a
bigger audience and inspire individuals to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Tabuena shared
that they decided to try Zumba for health reasons during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Tabuena also loves modeling and charity work. There was an instance where the
couple modeled hablon fabric to showcase local fabric and designs and uplift the
country's weaving industry.

Words of Inspiration from a Licensed to Heal

“Love your patients and do your job wholeheartedly. Not because of the money we will
be getting from it but because we know ourselves that we help people alleviate their
pain. That we did something good for people,” underscored Dr. Tabuena to all Filipino
physicians. She also mentioned that the learning and skills they gain are not solely for
them but for the community they serve.

She also advised future physicians never to give up, even if the trials and tribulations
seem impossible to surpass. “Patience, resiliency, and determination are key to
finishing medical school,” Dr. Tabuena underscored. She added that when they start
their rounds in the hospital, they should always check the charts and know their
patient's medical records as if they are memorizing their name.

Undeniably, Dr. Ma. Daisy Pedroso Tabuena is a great Filipino physician, and her
patients are grateful for her knowing that she truly cares for them. Success does not
come easy—even the most brilliant person sometimes finds it challenging to stay on
track. It takes blood, sweat, and tears before someone can taste true success. As
Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady of the United States, said, “I am who I am today
because of the choices I made yesterday.”

Details

Sex: Male

Education: 

• University of the Philippines at Los Ba?os (UPLB), College, Laguna, B.S. in Agriculture, 1982
• University of the Philippines at Los Ba?os (UPLB), College, Laguna, M.S. in Plant Breeding, 1986
• Okayama University, Tsushima Naka 1-1-1, Okayama, Japan, Ph.D. in Plant Physiology, 1995

Field of Specialization

Agriculture, Plant Breeding, Plant Physiology, Rice varieties production

Read more: Philbert S. Bonilla