Photo credit: Bryna Kimberly Jabines

On July 17, 2025, Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) made medical history, marking a milestone for Panay Island and the region: the first-ever awake craniotomy was successfully performed in the hospital’s neurosurgical department.

Leading the groundbreaking procedure was Dr. Derek Ben Jabines, Neurosurgeon and Spine Surgeon, who was joined by a skilled multidisciplinary team. He was assisted in the operating room by Dr. James Mercado, a fellow neurosurgeon from Davao Doctors Hospital, with Dr. Ceres Lucot-Laud providing expert neuroanesthesia care. Supporting the delicate intraoperative testing was neuropsychiatrist Dr. Paul Christian Sobrevega, ensuring the patient’s critical brain functions were carefully monitored throughout the operation.

The six-hour surgery was performed on a patient with a tumor located in what are known as the eloquent areas of the brain—regions responsible for essential functions like speech and movement. This is precisely why an awake craniotomy was necessary: keeping the patient conscious during key parts of the operation allowed real-time brain mapping, enabling the surgeons to remove the tumor while preserving vital neurological functions.

This procedure demonstrates not only the exceptional skill of WVMC’s surgical and anesthesiology teams, but also their commitment to advancing patient care in Western Visayas. The success of this awake craniotomy sets a new benchmark for neurosurgical excellence on Panay Island, proving that such highly specialized care is possible right here in the region.