SPU Manila Music Therapy

13/09/2026

**In Loving Memory of Our Beloved Teacher**

Today, on your birthday, we pause to honor and remember the remarkable legacy you left behind. Your vision, dedication, and compassion continue to live on in the hearts of those whose lives you touched.

As the pioneer of the Music Therapy Program in St. Paul University Manila, you opened doors to healing, growth, and hope through the power of music. Your passion transformed not only a program but also countless lives, leaving a lasting impact that continues to inspire us today.

On this special day, we celebrate your life, your contributions, and the beautiful legacy you entrusted to us. Your melody lives on in every note, every lesson, and every life changed through your work.

**Happy Heavenly Birthday, dear Ms. Annette. You are deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever cherished.** 🎂🎶🌹

*"A great teacher never truly leaves; their lessons and love continue to guide generations."* ❤️

02/09/2026

Where Care Continues Beyond Cure: A Reflection on Palliative Care and Music Therapy

By Ivee Bongosia
08.31.26 reflection

When a Patient Dies

To hear the news that 2 patients have transitioned at night was saddening. In a way, passing while in the hands of palliative doctors and staff allowed the patients to be given the most suitable care they needed & deserved, up to their last breath. In palliative & end of life care, the focus is to help patients manage their pain & symptoms and to help them in their final moments.

At Siriraj Palliative Care Center, the bereaved family and caregivers are given time in the 1st few weeks to focus on the funeral & other logistical tasks. Then they are provided psychosocial support for 1 year. Though grief has no timeline, a year of support is a big help.

As music therapists, we may not be able to help them directly in curing their sickness, but having been able to assist them & their loved ones through the music, in their last days, is a comfort in itself.

01/09/2026

Happy Birthday, Dr. Estrella Agustin (Dr. Yanky)! 🎉

Warmest birthday wishes to our esteemed Music Therapy Faculty. May your special day be filled with happiness, and may the year ahead bring you continued joy, success, and fulfillment.

May God continue to bless you abundantly, guide you in all your endeavors, and keep you safe in His loving care.

-Love Music Therapy Family

29/08/2026

Group Learning by Ninh, Mee, & Ivee (08/27/26)

Spirituality in Palliative & End of Life Care

Acknowledging the domain of spirituality helps patients find comfort & meaning. It is an essential part of holistic care.

The four areas of Spirituality:
1. Self to self
- e.g. evaluating the value their life, success, and forgiving oneself

2. Self to others
- e.g. their relationship with family, a loved one, friends, and their legacy

3. Self to nature
- e.g. finding meaning in life through their environment

4. Self to the supernatural
- e.g. their belief in God/ a higher being, participating in religious rituals, prayer

29/08/2026

The Beautiful Balance of Music Therapy: Where Evidence Meets Empathy
by Ivee Bongosia

Aug. 25 2026 reflection.

Today, I got to experience the process of initial assessment firsthand, having encountered a new patient & case. Part of initial assessment is completing the patient profile, and our duty, as shared by Mr. Puchong, is to tell the truth and give the facts. In initial assessment, we gather enough information to be able to formulate possible goals, and think of music interventions that may suit these. All with the possibility that these may change too as more information about the patient emerge.

It was also a new experience for me to lead a session for relaxation. The music was provided while a Thai massage specialist was caring for the patient. How heartwarming to see the change in the patient in that span of time... that despite the pain, music and massage helped her somehow.

The work of music therapy, I am learning more and more, is a beautiful balance of being objective, empirical, and using the rational part of our brain, while also being intuitive & flexible to the flow of change, and using our hearts to connect on a human level.

28/08/2026

"Lessons from Grand Rounds: Caring for the Whole Person"

Aug. 26 group reflection by Yayee, Mee, and Ivee:

In the grand rounds, input from doctors and health providers of different specializations are given. This emphasizes the need to care for a patient in a holistic way. Considerations like psychosocial, economic/financial, and even the patient's community situation are also discussed, not just their physical condition. It was also discussed in the grand rounds that though we value the patient's firsthand accounts, we also acknowledge the need to ask the caregivers to confirm information. We also have to accept the limits to what the doctors & therapists can do to care for the patient. Overall, we learned in the grand rounds that in palliative care, health practitioners determine how to best care for the whole well-being of the patient within the established parameters.

26/08/2026

25/08/2026

A valuable day of learning and growth in Music Therapy.

Ivee's reflection for today (08/24/26):

The whole day was spent going through the entire Music Therapy process firsthand. One key takeaway today is that the goal can change even during actual implementation, up to when the session ends. This was our experience with one patient, where we identified an initial goal. As we were providing the intervention, it emerged that maintaining her positive mood was the priority. I learned that as therapists we need to be decisive, and choose what's best for the patient, informed by both the previously gathered information and more importantly, what is actually happening in implementation. It was interesting to witness the dynamic nature of implementation unfolding. It was also my first time to lead a session, alongside Yayee & Ninh, Mahidol University Music Therapy Masters students. It was nice to collaborate & learn from them. Leading the session was a joy, especially connecting with the patient and seeing her enthusiasm despite being bedridden.

23/08/2026

🎵 Harmony in Healing: Witnessing Whole-Person Care Through Music Therapy by Ivee Bongosia

Reflection - Aug 21

In the morning I got to listen in during the morning rounds and it was amazing to see that in Siriraj hospital's Palliative Care, the music therapist actively collaborates with the doctors, nurses, psychologist, and Thai Traditional Medicine Specialist. Each patient's holistic wellbeing is taken into consideration, and other factors like family dynamic and preferences too.

Visiting the ward in the afternoon and observing Mr. Puchong's music therapy sessions with the individual patients, it was moving to see how the music created a memorable moment between the family and the patient, how it either relaxed the patient, or provided energy for them. The goal changes depending on the need at that moment. Consent also needs to be given prior to providing the music therapy service.

Seeing the patients' difficult situation and how the music therapy helped them and their family, I had sympathetic feelings I had to navigate after, because this is all new to me. Mr. Puchong asked if I needed space to process. Indeed, as music therapists, self-care is important, so we can be our best professional selves for our clients/ patients.

23/08/2026

Happy birthday Cristy Lin Bojocan ! Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the Music Therapy Center. Enjoy your special day. Wishing you good health, much happiness, and a stress-free day. Cheers to a great year ahead!