Rein: A doctor in the making
- Veronica Manalang
- Mar 9, 2017
- 1 min read
Meet RV Villavicencio. He is currently a 2nd year medical student of the University of the Philippines, Manila. He graduated with a degree in Biochemistry and taught in the same university while pursuing a masters degree in Biochemistry. He planned to enter medical school after his teaching stint but his father’s untimely demise prevented such. Thankfully, the local church extended their support for their family’s loss.
After doing some soul searching, he decided to follow the call for full time Christian ministry and serve in that same church. Not long after, he became a missionary in China to serve and plant churches. He later returned to the Philippines to further equip himself in ministry by taking post-graduate studies in counseling. In the course of that training, Supertyphoon Haiyan (Yolanda) struck Central Philippines. He volunteered to provide psychological aid for the survivors and rescue workers as well as coordinate relief efforts within partner churches.
This incident affected him in a profound way and has led to the decision to once again pursue medicine. As he was doing trauma work with the survivors, he lamented that he was not able to help any further. He prayed that God would again provide a way for him to enter medical school so he can be of greater help when tragedies like this strike the country. And the Lord did provide such. Through iBelong Philippines, a scholarship was granted soon after his admission to the College of Medicine of UP Manila. With the help of the Fighting Chance Scholarship Program, He is now finishing his coursework and getting ready for his clinical rotations next year.
