Gone were the days when hospitals conjured images of a medical institution reeking with the smell of antiseptics. Or of hallways filled every square inch with patients seeking hospital care. Not anymore. With the advent of medical tourism and wellness establishments, hospitals become some sort of a hospitality venture with the odor of medicines no longer offending the nostrils of patients and visitors alike. The best description of a hospital these days is that of hospitable place. That precisely was the main motivation, why first of all, lawyer Rene Inting had thought when he founded the Tagbilaran Community Hospital, a tertiary medical facility that had since made waves in the annals of medical care. Ever the disciple of anything associated with the good life, what Inting wanted for a hospital was that it has the amenities of a three-star hotel, at least for local standards,—gleaming lobby, clean rest rooms and above all air-conditioned accommodation facilities. Thus, the Tagbilaran Community Hospital was born.

It was therefore to the credit of the Inting patriarch who was one time the branch attorney of the Philippine National Bank before he ventured into the hospital business, to revolutionize hospitalization. With the penchant for comfort and opulence running in his veins, his dream of a topnotch health provider prodded him to expand his craft by building a four-storey expansion building just across the original location along M. Parras St. The hospital brought to the core Inting's flair to deliver its mission of healing by gathering under one roof the finest medical expertise money can buy. He dreamt of one day owning a hospital fully equipped with the most sophisticated medical technology and facilities which are only found in Cebu hospitals. But too bad for this hospital mogul who died even before he would see the light of day of a modern hospital which was due to open early next year. As if he was aware of portents of things to come, Inting made one last look of his dream project three days before he passed away.

Aboard a well chair, the retired lawyer turned “hospitable entrepreneur”, toured all of the buildings four floors apparently to inspect the progress of work as it prepared to open it for public use as scheduled. It was the last time he was seen in the hospital premises alive. Again, it was too bad that he failed to make it for the hospital's blessing and inauguration. Dead of a lingering illness, Inting's hands-on style was exemplified even during the time that he was battling a dreaded disease. On this serious state, he was always seen in the vicinity of his pet project to assure the public he was bound to serve with expert healthcare that in due time the people would be able to experience high quality medical attention. But God must have his own plan for the man who became one of the pioneers of revolutionized health care provider in Bohol. Until his death last week, Inting was best remembered as a former OIC- board member as a result of the EDSA Revolution. Inting, 79, was also known as the son of former city councilor Placida Inting. With his death, he left a wife, Dr. Pura Sarmiento Inting and four children Eric, Jonas, Roy and Iris. The patriarch's father, Bernardino, carved a name of his own, when a street, formerly Mabini, was named in his honor. The hospital owner interment was held yesterday.

By: SEN GUINGGUING