From Sunflower Seed to Compassion Island
Photo: Chuck Russell/TWCC
How can one person make a difference in a world so full of challenges?
Let's face it, life can be overwhelming and it's tempting to turn off the bad news and tune out. It takes drive, determination and big dreams to keep going when the going gets tough – with a little help from compassionate friends like Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration and the Sunflower Children’s Network.
It's why the work of Dr. Xiohara Gentica is so inspiring.
A pediatrician in the Philippines, Dr. Gentica has her sights set on developing a children's palliative centre on the island of Palawan, where she lives and works, by 2030. Through the Children’s Palliative Care Leadership Program, and supported by mentors like Camara van Breemen, she recently presented her project – Compassion Island: Pediatric Palliative Care in Palawan – at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice in Vancouver, Canada. Her vision is to build a network of healthcare professionals equipped with knowledge, skills and resources to deliver holistic support for children with life-limiting conditions.
Guided by a philosophy that fosters inclusivity in healthcare, the project title draws from local Indigenous ways of knowing and language: Ingasiq [i-nga’-si] is the tribal word that translates as compassion or inclination to help.
The challenge
The need is vast. Globally, 21 million children require palliative support, with most living in resource-limited countries. In the Philippines alone, 113,000 children need this compassionate care annually, yet most lack access to health care and pain relief due to insufficient awareness and healthcare capacity.
The obstacles are equally daunting: financial constraints, geographical barriers and political complexities.
Nevertheless, Dr. Gentica tackles each hurdle with, as she says, an “attitude of gratitude.”
Practical wisdom for big dreams
Her perseverance draws from hard-won experience:
● Make new connections and don't burn old bridges
● Stop worrying about things you cannot control. Use your energy wisely
● Find a mentor. Find your tribe
She is equally inspired by patients like Audrey, a three-year-old with a life-limiting spinal cord injury. Dr. Gentica recalls working with Audrey's mom to take the little girl outdoors – away from machines and hospital noises. There, for precious hours, mother and daughter enjoyed time together under the sun, singing and playing. The family was seen and helped – the essence of compassionate care.
The power of mentorship
Dr. Xiohara Gentica with Children’s Palliative Care Leadership Program mentor Camara van Breemen.
Like a seed nurtured through the Sunflower Children’s Network (a Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration initiative), her vision is taking root. As a former TWCC fellow and participant in the 2025 Children's Palliative Care Leadership Program, she exemplifies what's possible when determination meets intentional support.
Dr. Gentica's story reminds us that meaningful change often begins with someone who sees a need and refuses to accept that addressing it is impossible. She quotes a Filipino proverb, "Kung maiksi ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot" or "When the blanket is short, learn to huddle underneath." It means adapting to circumstances when resources are limited, encouraging resourcefulness and making the most of what you have.
The seed is planted. By 2030, Compassion Island may well be in full bloom.