“Because every day matters.”

This is the company slogan of Sonoran Winds Hospice, a hospice center based in Buena Park, California that began operations in 2014. Last May 17, in partnership with The Ruth Foundation, Sonoran Winds held a dinner symposium at the Palms Country Club. Invited heads from hospitals, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, hospice centers, and others in the healthcare business sat down and exchanged ideas on the promising future of palliative and hospice care in the Philippines.

*Distinguished guests got to enjoy a sumptuous dinner for the evening.*

*Smile! Friendly volunteers and staff greeted the guests as they arrived.*

*A buffet line was set-up outside, along with information on each of the foundations.*

The program began with a series of opening messages from well-known palliative care and cancer care specialists in the Philippines. They spoke of the current situation of hospice care in the country.

*The president of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Council of the Philippines, Dr. Agnes Bausa, spoke on the burden of hospice in the Philippines.*

*Dr. Rachel Rosario, executive director of the Philippine Cancer Society, speaking on the evolution of hospice care in the Philippines over the past 20 years.*

*Dr. Rumalie Corvera, president & CEO of The Ruth Foundation, opened the event and gave a talk on the Filipino response to the burden of hospice care.*

The evening culminated in a presentation by the president, chairman & CEO of Sonoran Winds Hospice, Anthony J. Ferrio, and an open forum with all the speakers.