Revilla’s ‘agimat’ works again, says son Bong

The "delicate" spinal column operation performed on Sen. Ramon Revilla by surgeons of the Stanford University Medical Center last Thursday was successful, former Cavite Gov. Bong Revilla said in a press statement yesterday.

The surgeons decided on an immediate operation on the senator, who was spending the Lenten recess in the US, to prevent his becoming paralyzed.

"So far, he is doing very well and the doctors don’t see any complications arising from the operation," said the young Revilla who is in the US watching over his father. "Mukhang may bisa pa rin ang agimat ni Daddy (It looks like the amulet of my father is still effective)."

Revilla became more popular as a movie actor by portraying lead characters with amulets, and is fondly called "Agimat" by friends and admirers.

Doctors at Stanford immediately recommended an operation after Revilla decided on a medical checkup because of a lingering pain. The medical examination revealed torn ligaments and fissures in the upper region of his spinal column.

The young Revilla said the doctors were concerned that slight to moderate trauma in the affected region might cause partial or total paralysis as the fissures might crack and damage nerves in the spinal cord.

"The doctors were concerned that even a light blow to the area, like a minor vehicular accident, might have dire complications, that is why they advised immediate surgery," he said.

The senator might spend two more weeks in the US until his doctors decide that he could travel safely back to the Philippines.

Sen. Juan Flavier, a doctor of medicine by profession, expressed the hope that Revilla would recover as soon as possible.

"We need him here in the Senate," he said.

Flavier acknowledged that Revilla’s ailment was a very delicate one, especially as the fissure was high in the lumbar region. At the same time, he expressed satisfaction that Revilla did not rely completely on his "agimat" in facing his spinal injury.

"Subukan niya huwag magpa-opera at tingnan natin kung may agimat pa siya (Let us see the effectiveness of his amulet if he had decided against the operation)," Flavier said. – Efren Danao