Balles Children's Clinic

06/08/2025

02/08/2025

The CDC just released their latest data on kindergarten vaccination rates, showing fewer children are immunized against polio, measles, diphtheria, and pertussis. Fortunately, most parents vaccinate their children. Every parent, policymaker, and public health leader in the country should be coming together to increase access to vaccines.
https://bit.ly/3UGObQY

30/07/2025

Not because she’s looking fine, doesn’t mean its light to carry..

30/07/2025

"It isn’t weak to ask for help. It’s like using a flashlight when you are lost in the dark.” - Unknown

TODAY'S EDITORIAL: The Philippine Mental Health Act, Republic Act 11036, was signed way back in June 2018. Among other things, RA 11036 provides that hotlines operating 24/7 must be set up nationwide to assist people with mental health problems, particularly those at risk of committing su***de. https://tinyurl.com/3t5s7mh9

30/07/2025

29/07/2025

Happening Today: YouTube LIVE with Dr. Francis Dimalanta

🕔 July 29 | 5:30 PM
📍Topic: How to Spot Developmental Delays in Your Child

Tap the link and hit “Notify Me” so you don’t miss it:
🔗 https://youtube.com/live/Q8LrPTtuMwE?feature=share

26/07/2025

22/07/2025

A Morning at Chowking: A Lesson from the Least Among Us
By John Raña

It was a quiet morning, and I was easing into the day with a warm meal and a hot cup of coffee at Chowking. I was staying at a nearby hotel for convenience during an impromptu reunion with our kids visiting from the U.S. and out of town. It was meant to be a peaceful start to a joyful day.

Then, a boy, no older than five or six, approached me. His clothes were clean but clearly worn. He looked up at me, hesitated, and with barely a whisper, asked if I could spare some money for food.

Before I could respond, I noticed the restaurant manager watching from a short distance. Perhaps thinking I didn’t want to be disturbed, he quietly signaled the security guard to usher the boy out.

But I stopped them.
“No,” I said gently. “I’d like to order an extra breakfast for him.”

The boy’s eyes lit up. I invited him to join me at the table. But his next words caught me completely off guard:

“Pwede po ba pabalot na lang para hati kami ng kaibigan ko?”

There it was. This child, who had so little, wasn’t just thinking about easing his own hunger, he was thinking of someone else. His instinct wasn’t just to eat, but to share.

In that quiet, unexpected moment, I was reminded of a truth we often forget: generosity isn’t measured by how much we give, but by our willingness to share, even when we have very little.

Many of us live comfortable lives, secure homes, full fridges, more food than we can sometimes finish. And yet, how often do we hesitate to give? How often do we hold on tightly to what we have, even when we have more than enough?

That little boy, without intending to, gave me more than I gave him. He offered me a lesson in empathy, in compassion, in love. He reminded me of the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew:

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

That morning, I didn’t encounter grace from a pulpit or a page of Scripture. I found it in the quiet dignity of a hungry child who wanted to feed a friend.

In a world where it’s easy to become cynical—to look away, to feel overwhelmed, to pretend not to see—moments like these remind us that kindness and humanity still live on. Sometimes, they shine brightest in those who have nothing, yet still choose to give.

16/07/2025

Key things you need to know about G6PD deficiency

15/07/2025

I’m not raising my children to be the best in every competition, the top of their class, or the most admired by the crowd. I’m not focused on them being the brightest minds in the room, the fastest runners, the most eloquent speakers, or the ones with shelves full of medals and trophies.

Because in the long run, those things while commendable are not what truly defines a good human being.

Instead, I’m raising them to be the ones who notice the child sitting alone, and choose to sit beside them. The ones who offer a smile to someone who's having a bad day. The ones who hold the door open, say “thank you,” and speak up when they see someone being treated unfairly even if their voice trembles.

I’m raising them to understand that being kind takes more courage than being clever. That compassion is a far greater achievement than a perfect grade. That how we treat others, especially when no one’s watching, reveals who we really are.

They don’t need to be the loudest in the room. It’s okay if they’re quiet. It’s okay if they’re shy. It’s okay if they don’t always get the right answers.

But what is never okay is choosing to be cruel. To mock others just to fit in. To ignore injustice because it’s easier. To win at the expense of someone else’s dignity.

Because at the end of the day, kindness is what lasts. People won’t always remember how fast you ran or how many medals you won. But they will never forget how you made them feel.

I want my children to grow up with hearts that care more than hands that compete. With empathy that outweighs ego. With the strength to stand for what’s right, even if they stand alone.

The world doesn’t need more perfection. It needs more people who are human deeply human. People who see others not as rivals, but as fellow souls.

So no, I won’t measure my children by their performance. I will measure them by their character. Because I know that success without goodness is empty and a kind heart will always shine brighter than any spotlight.

That, to me, is what real greatness looks like. And that is what I will always be most proud of.