Both of my parents are already senior citizens so as a family, we make sure that both of them…read morealways go through tests just to monitor their health. My mom has diabetes and my dad has high blood so in order to make sure that they are always in tiptop shape, we make sure their checkups are regular and always on time. In our family, I was tasked to take over any medical expenses my parents will have, and that includes lab tests. Since I quit my job early this year and have only signed on my new post in a different company just a month ago, my parents and I don't have any health card to back us up just yet. Their labs used to be free because they were riding on the health card my former company issued. But now, we have to wait until November of this year in order to get our new health cards to be issued by the company I'm working with now. Because of that, my parents have decided to have their quarterly lab tests done in Hi-Precision Diagnostics in Pasig. Apparently, they don't charge as high as other diagnostics centers or hospitals in the Metro so we get to save a little bit when they go here. Hi-Precision has the complete machinery - they can do blood test, urinalysis, ultrasound, Xrays, the works! But according to my parents, you have to come here early so as not to get caught up with the hundreds of people who come here. They suggest coming in as early as 7 in the morning to skip the hassle of waiting.

I am a first time mom and like everyone else I want the best OB-GYNE for me and my child. After a…read morethorough research in various blog sites about the doctors recommended by my friends and relatives I decided to give Dr. Geoia Amores a try and went to her clinic at LPDH. The wait time was decent. Her clinic was comfortable with actual reception area. She is the BEST ob-gyne! All the reviews I've read about her is true. She is easy to talk to, gentle, ask appropriate questions, and I felt that I received the time I needed without feeling rushed. She did complete physical exam and listened to my past history. Right then and there, I decided to stick with her and she will be the one to take care of me and my baby and nobody else. Can't wait to see her again on my next visit.

She has consultation schedules in Bacoor Medical Center & Unihealth. She is a great OB! My previous…read moreOB had to take a long vacation leave during my due date. She still accepted me as a new patient. We felt really safe. Thank you Doc! You are truly a blessing to us

At four months, my second child appeared to be not gaining enough weight. I was breastfeeding her…read moreexclusively so my kids' pediatrician advised me to see a lactation consultant, Dr. Elynn Go at the Asian Hospital. I called up her office and asked Paz, her secretary if Doc Elynn was covered by my health insurance, and she wasn't. I asked how much her consultation fee was, Paz said it's 1,700. That was pretty steep and I almost backed out of my appointment, but I've always wanted to talk to a lactation consultant so I went ahead with it. I gotta say, my visit to Doc Elynn was worth every penny, probably more. We talked for about an hour to address all of my breastfeeding concerns. It turns out that my daughter's weight was okay, she told me I had no reason to worry. She was very thorough in our checkup, she checked on my baby first, then me, then she watched me as I nursed my child so she can assess the problem. There was really none, but she just gave me a lot of pointers so that I can make the most out of my breastfeeding journey. Check-up and a pep talk, super worth it talaga! Moms out there who are having problems with breastfeeding your child, I highly recommend Dr. Elynn Go.

While preparing for the birth of my second baby, my OB asked me if I knew a pediatrician in St…read more Luke's. I didn't so I asked her to recommend a breastfeeding advocate pediatrician for my baby. She gave me Dr. Cristina Bernardo, the head of St. Luke's Lactation Unit. Dr. Bernardo can be a dead-ringer for one of those Korean superstars. She's so pretty, I can't help but mention it in this post. But obviously, her looks is just a bonus because she's a brilliant pediatrician and a breastfeeding advocate. She's the head of the Breastfeeding Committee of the Philippine Pediatrics Society. Her clinic in St. Luke's Global is a haven for breastfeeding moms. She has her own breastfeeding room complete with comfy couches, nursing pillows, foot stools and books about breastfeeding. That's where she assisted me in my breastfeeding concerns with my newborn.

I've been looking for rimless eyeglasses for a while, and I'm glad I finally found the perfect pair…read moreat George Optical in SM North. The staff were helpful and efficient--after just an hour, I was able to get my new glasses. Great service and quality!

George Optical has its roots in Binondo, serving the Chinese community there. Since then, they've…read morebranched out to Greenhills and many other places. I've been going to George since I was 8. Dr. Elizabeth has been my only optometrist and she is the best. As a kid, I feel that I've always given the wrong answer to many of the eye test questions, but she has always somehow given me the right lens prescription. I don't know how that happens. It's amazing. The eye exam used to be free but now they charge PHP 150 for the comprehensive eye exam. They usually have promos so they can waive the fee but it's not always applicable to everyone. They don't have the best selection of frames but if you're looking for Ray-Bans, they usually have the newest ones. Drop by George and try them out!

We had our previous pediatrician probably by default; I came home to the Philippines with my first…read morechild and we just looked for a pediatrician near our home. She was the first one available. She's okay. She's nice and we're chums and all, but the only problem is she wasn't a breastfeeding advocate. So whenever my kid would go on a checkup and the scales would show that she's not gaining enough weight, she would always point me towards supplements and formula milk. I didn't give in though until my daughter was already one-year old but I didn't want that cycle to happen again with my second child. My husband also wasn't impressed with that pedia so I decided it's about time that I look for a new one. I heard about Doc Bambi on Facebook. One mom was raving about her kids' new pedia (like what I'm doing now), I liked what I read so I decided to bring my kids to her one day. And I'm glad that I did. She was so gracious to my little girl. She knew how to get on my daughter's good side so we didn't have a hard time asking her to cooperate on her checkup. She is also quite pleasant and chatty. I didn't feel like I was talking to a doctor, I felt like I was talking to a friend who's a doctor. I like her proactive approach to my children; rather than prescribing supplements, she encourages me to train my little girl to eat properly and take the high road in breastfeeding my younger one. She's a breastfeeding advocate too.

Most affordable diagnostics center and best of all, you can check your results online. No more…read morehassle of going back to pick up your tests. They even have an app you can quickly login to to preserve all your details! That warrants so much praise from me. It's fairly busy given the proximity of hospitals in the area. Bring a nice book and wait for your turn at the cashier as the account should be settled first before the process. Best go early (they open at 6am) to avoid the queue. Just hope they publish standard fees for their services.

HP Plus or Hi-Precision Diagnostics Plus, is a laboratory and diagnostics center situated in front…read moreof the emergency entrance of the Asian Hospital in Alabang. Hubby and I used to go there for my monthly CBC (complete blood count) as required by my OB-GYN and my hematologist, my second ultrasound, and for my GTT (glucose tolerance test). We were like hanging out because the length of our visits would sometimes go beyond a couple of hours, waiting for my turn. Though I have an HMO card, courtesy of my husband, the prescribed tests were not covered because they are pregnancy-related. If I were to sum it all, these tests are not pocket-friendly but they are mandatory to ensure my good health and that of my baby. Being a budget-conscious kind of a woman, I decided to have my tests elsewhere. Somewhere that we can save but the tests and their results would not be compromised. HP Plus clearly fits the bill. I used to bring my Mom to that same facility for her gastro exam and we were completely satisfied with how her test was conducted and how the results were delivered. HP Plus Alabang would almost always be filled with patients. It's a good thing that this branch has been renovated to accommodate more people and to make waiting time more comfortable. The staff are very courteous, helpful, and patient in dealing with guests of varying temper. Sally is my favorite. She is one of the medical technologists and you would often see her at the reception counter. Depending on the type of test, results are promptly provided and may be accessed and downloaded from their website. It was one of the things I loved about HP Plus. I do not have to claim a copy of my test results at the center just so I could show something to my doctors. All I had to do was to present the PDFs saved on my iPad. Pretty convenient, isn't it? If you are from Muntinlupa and you need to undergo laboratory exams, x-rays, and other diagnostic tests (they even do paternal tests!), you may want to consider HP Plus in Alabang. You are sure to get quality service and reliable results without going over your budget.

My mom is scheduled for ultrasound 1PM at center for women's health. We went there before 1PM…read more However, the doctor arrived at 1:30PM because she went to the bank! Next time don't schedule patients if you have personal errands to attend to!

Two reasons I like this hospital:…read more One of the best dermatologists in Manila, Dr. Eileen Cubillan, holds clinics here, and two, our family has experienced good care in this hospital, many thanks also to Dr. Carlo Canosa, a surgeon and family friend. My use of the word "like" to describe a hospital is remarkable in itself, because generally I cannot say that I like hospitals. I mean, who does? But, I had my first-hand experience being confined here last year when I came down with dengue. I got myself a double room. It's cheaper because it's meant for sharing, but it's roomier than a single room, and I requested that they put me in one that's unoccupied, so it still feels like I have the room all to myself. Unfortunately, I got myself a roommate the day after because there was an inexplicable surge in dengue cases that day. Good thing my roomie found a room the following day, because a day later, my brother would join me. I needed transfusion, and in this hospital, if you can provide enough qualified donors, you won't be charged for the blood anymore, whereas other hospitals would charge you for the sourcing of the donors plus the processing of the blood (extraction of the platelet). Also, the food is not bad. In fact, the food is quite edible. They even give you your own personal utensils. I found out that MCM recently transferred ownership and was undergoing renovations, which explained the nicer facade and new wing. It's a given that hospitals are unpleasant places, but MCM is definitely one of my choices for good medical care for its patients.