La Copa

Uncle Jessie: The Story of Jessie Bass

2008-02-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

The Story of Jessie Bass
25 December 1953 – 17 November 2007

Mid morning of 16 November 2007, complaining of stomach pains, Jesus (Jessie) V. Bass (53) walked into the St. Luke’s Medical Center so he can get the best possible health care.

Jessie was attended to and examined by Dr. Edgardo M. Bondoc who diagnosed him for acute appendicitis. Nonetheless, Dr. Bondoc did not refer Jessie, nor called the attention of any surgeon. In fact, Dr. Bondoc advised Jessie to go home and be an out-patient.

Jessie, however, worried about his condition, opted to be confined at the world-class medical center convinced he would be given the necessary attention. He was alone then, as his entire immediate family lived in the United States . Upon confinement, Dr. Bondoc ordered an emergency contrasting CT Scan to rule out “possible gastro intestinal infectious diseases”. Jessie, however, waited until 7 pm before he was wheeled in for scanning. This was postponed due to alleged chills, fever and elevated blood pressure.

Finally, at 11:55 pm, Jessie’s scan proceeded.

Ten minutes after injecting Jessie with a test dose of the contrast dye, Optiray, a team composed of radiology technicians and 1st year Radiology resident, Dr. Gilbert N. Sy, administered the full dosage. The CT Scan followed.

Jessie was pronounced dead at 1:20 am, November 17, 2007, on the 64-slice CT Scan table - one of the most modern equipment of this world-class medical center. The National Bureau of Investigation’s official autopsy confirmed Jessie had an inflamed appendicitis.

In a fact finding meeting on 14 December 2007, Dr. Joven R. Cuanang, Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs, confirmed that the Medical Center did not have the ideal staffing at the CT Scan Unit at such unholy hour, with the most senior personnel being only a 2nd year Radiology Resident, Dr. Miguel B. Zamora.

It was noted that St. Luke’s Medical Center and the inexperienced junior team did not follow the important precautions that the OPTIRAY manufacturer indicated for its use :

personnel competent in recognizing and treating adverse reactions of all types should always be available; and

the possibility of a reaction, including serious, life-threatening, fatal, anaphylactoid or cardiovascular reactions, should always be considered.

It was further noted that the CT Scan plates recorded a time fixed at 00:03:42 while the Radiology Unit’s incident report indicated that Jessie was given the full bolus dose at 12:15 am, and got through with the procedure 10 to 15 seconds after. How soon after the “Code Red” team responded to give him the anti-dote was never accurately determined.

The presence of such inexperienced junior staff, Dr. Sy, only a 1st year Radiology resident, with two radiology technicians, was one main reason for the wrong diagnosis of what was happening to Jessie when he was wheeled out of the CT Scan gantry gasping for air.

Not recognizing the severity of the allergic reaction to the contrast material, the technicians even tried to question the patient before calling in a resident.

Dr. Sy admitted on 19 November 2007 that he turned Jessie on his side, thinking Jessie was trying to vomit. On subsequent formal meetings, however, Dr. Sy denied his initial admission.

There was, therefore, a critical gap caused by the lack of a full experienced team, and the diagnosis of an inexperienced staff that resulted in the loss of precious time to inject the needed anti-dote, and to immediately resuscitate him to effect a reversal of the adverse reaction.

Despite their subsequent claims of following protocol, or maybe because of its strict observance by young inexperienced staff, it was too late when “Code Red” was called and the first dose of anti-dote given.

Jessie, whose death on the table of one of the most modern CT Scan equipment available for medical practitioners in the Philippines , should be the first and the last to be sacrificed for the sake of many more seeking similar medical assistance, especially at the famed world class, and Joint Commission International accredited St. Luke’s Medical Center .

Unfortunately, despite the above factual incidents, the St. Luke’s Medical Center claims that it did its best and has denied any responsibility whatsoever on Jessie’s death.

NOTE: Please share and email Jessie.vbass@yahoo.com “ if you, your relatives or friends have a similar experience with St. Luke’s Medical Center , its doctors and staff, or with other hospitals and medical practitioners in the Philippines .

La Copa Opens

2007-08-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

La Copa is having its soft opening on the Penthouse of the Mancor Corporate Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig (besides Mercedes Benz). Do come by from Mondays to Saturdays, 11 am to 6 pm.

Be one of the first to discover hand-picked clothing from all over.

Be a La Copa STYLIST!

2007-08-03T21:14:00.000-07:00

Grupo La Copa is looking for STYLISTS who
have the passion for fashion
have experience in retail
is personable and vibrant

WE WANT YOU!

Email us at lacopamail@gmail.com / bibaigaisano.lc@gmail.com or contact us at 09177907052 or 09178329474.

Part-time working schedule
limited slots only

La Copa at the Fort a success

2007-06-24T11:14:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came!

La Copa store to open at the Penthouse 2 of Mancor Corporate Center, 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City by the end of July. Expect our new collection of unique items and one-of-a-kind finds!

La Copa at the Mancor Corporate Center, Bonifacio Global City

Pamela Alquisada, Paola Vega with stylists Sidney Yap and Patrick Perillo

La Copa's Isabel Roces and guest.

Stylist Erica Chang, La Copa's Dianne Tan (in a La Copa top) and guest, Karen Teh

Head stylist Sidney Yap with stylist Pia Santos

La Copa's Dianne Tan (in La Copa) and head stylist Warner Lee

Stylist Jillian Ong at work

Stylist Iselle dela Cruz

La Copa's Dianne Tan, Regina Sambalido and Melanie Go (all in La Copa)

La Copa featured in Manila Bulletin

2007-06-04T23:31:00.001-07:00

photographed by Lilen Uy
makeup by Shu Uemura
styled by Sidney Yap and La Copa's Regina Sambalido and Dianne Tan
modeled by Phoemela Barranda

*click on images to enlarge

La Copa featured in Manila Bulletin

2007-06-04T23:31:00.000-07:00

La Copa featured in the Philippine Daily Inquirer

2007-06-04T23:08:00.000-07:00

photographed by Paolo Pineda
makeup by Mickey See
styled by Sidney Yap and La Copa's Regina Sambalido and Dianne Tan
modeled by Ornusa Cadness

*click on images to enlarge

La Copa featured in Philippine Star (released March 14, 2007)

2007-06-04T22:53:00.000-07:00

photographed by Lilen Uy
hair and makeup by Shu Uemura
styled by Sidney Yap and La Copa's Regina Sambalido and Dianne Tan
modeled by Fortune Santos of PMAP

*click on images to enlarge

La Copa at the Fort on June 15-17, 2007

2007-06-03T19:22:00.000-07:00

In preparation for our new collection, La Copa is having a sale event at Mancor Corporate Center, the Fort on June 15-17

Don't miss the chance to get a hold of the last few pieces of our present collection - unique items only La Copa has to offer.

click on image to enlarge

La Copa store to open in June/July

2007-04-27T01:45:00.000-07:00

For everyone who're wondering, our store will be open sometime late June or early July at the Penthouse 2 of Mancor Corporate Center, 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig .

click image to enlarge

In the meantime, please watch out for La Copa events to be announced here at our site. If you want to join our mailing list, please email us at lacopamail@gmail.com or contact us at 09178329474 or 09228128169.

Sample Sale Press Launch

2007-04-17T01:50:00.000-07:00

A press launch was held last March 19, 2007 at the Palm Grove Restaurant, Rockwell Club to announce the sample sale event as well as the coming of La Copa. Lunch was served, followed by a fashion show for the press to preview some of the clothes.

All accessories sponsored by Ginger Ignacio.

Shoes by Schu

La Copa with the folks from Globe Platinum and Samsung
Pauline Juan and Ruby Gan of Schu
Ginger Ignacio jewelry designer and our accessories sponsor, Melanie, Regina, sponsor Ruby Gan of Schu, Dianne & Isabel.

La Copa and Globe Platinum Sample Sale

2007-04-16T23:02:00.000-07:00

The event was a success! Thanks to everyone who came and shopped.

Some pictures:

The Rockwell Tent

Thanks to everyone who came
La Copa's Melanie Teng-Go (in La Copa) and Pauline Juan
Melanie and Globe's MJ Hyndman
Pauline Juan and Agoo Benzon

Friendly and accommodating stylists were there to help shoppers

Stylist Anne Go at work
a La Copa dress
Stylists Sharlene Tan (in a La Copa brown knit dress with pockets and hoodie), Anne Go, Head stylist Sidney Yap and stylist Erika Dizon

Stylist Erika Dizon
La Copa's Dianne Tan (in La Copa) with stylists Iselle dela Cruz and Elaine Lua
Stylists Kimi Yap, Boop Yap and Bea Sambalido (all in La Copa)
Stylists Karen Sanggalang and Sugar Pecjo (in a La Copa brown cotton baby doll dress with pockets)
Stylists Jillian Ong and Christine Uy at work
Stylist Erika Dizon holding up a La Copa orange shift dress
Stylist Bea Sambalido trying on a LaRok dress

Stylist Jillian Ong, La Copa's Regina Sambalido (in La Copa), stylist Jeelai Tecson, head stylist Sindey Yap, La Copa's Dianne Tan (in La Copa), stylist Christine Uy
La Copa's Melanie, Dianne and Regina with head stylists Warner Lee and Sidney Yap

More will be posted soon along with pictures of hot ticket items during the sale.

For all those who missed out on this event, watch out for our store which will be opening in June at the Penthouse 2 of Mancor Corporate Center, 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

For more information, please call 819-3673 loc. 121 or email us at lacopamail@gmail.com.

Our Philosophy

2007-02-11T21:46:00.000-08:00

every woman is in search

she walks along a dry, beaten path and is often tired
once in awhile she chances upon a fleeting satisfaction
she knows that soon enough it will be emptied by others on a similar trip
sickeningly trendy clothes in multitudes offer her the quick fix
but soon, many catch on and she loathes the feeling of familiarity
so, downtrodden and dissappointed, she trudges on again
she looks up at the bold sun and comes back to her childhood
it was a time when the sunlight thrilled her
free-spirited and unaffected,she was never of want
she splurged herself on her mother's fine garb, selfishly wrapped in her own rules
she was unpredictable, unpretentious
suddenly, she wakes up and her thirst is stronger than ever
and then she sees it.

La Copa.