A Day in the Work Life of Mike Palma, Our Philippines In-Country Coordinator

Our In-Country Coordinator for the Philippines–Mike Palma–is a Data for Health leader, working with local CSOs to advocate for improved civil registration and vital statistical systems to ensure everyone, everywhere is counted. Although no two days are the same for Mike, here’s a glimpse into what one of his workdays looks like:

6:30 AM - I spring up from bed, out of my PJs into a quick sportswear for a 20-minute brisk walk with the dogs.

8:00 AM - The day starts with a quick breakfast; then I get on a call with my local CSO collaborator for an hour or two to discuss a key piece of legislation we're tracking and lobbying for. This law, if passed, will give Filipinos better access to civil registration, give government better data to improve public health interventions and will be a best-practice example for countries around the world.

12:00 PM - Time for a balanced (trans fat-free) lunch, and a walk around my office to get some more steps in. I check my email inbox and think back to when I first joined GHAI almost a year ago, this December, optimistic about the challenges ahead. Despite the hurdles I’ve faced on the journey, what keeps me going are the milestones my collaborators and I reach, every step of the way, assuring us of the big difference to be made at the end. As I gaze at the faces of children on the street banners outside my office that we’ve lined up to appeal to Filipino legislators to pass an all-englobing bill on civil registration, I realize that saving lives is priceless, and all the work is worth it.

1:00 PM - I settle at my desk for a Zoom meeting, turn on the camera and realize I’m the first one in the room! As I wait, urgent emails start pouring in. Switching to multitasking mode, I quickly respond to the two most pressing messages—working at a global organization means many of my colleagues, from Washington D.C. to Kampala to Dhaka, are working at different hours of the day.

5:00 PM - Time to take a break from work and prepare for another role I play: a professor. I head over to the University of the Philippines and start class. I love teaching and getting to talk about my field experience to graduate students aspiring to work in public health advocacy and change the world. Plus, discussions are always engaging!

9:30 PM - The day is not over yet! What’s late in the Philippines is early in Washington D.C. I join another team meeting and give program updates on current projects and tasks, and what we should be expecting in the coming weeks. 

10:00 PM - Work is over, and it’s time to unwind. I watch some news, brew Japanese green tea and head to bed. And in the morning, the cycle begins all over again. Because the work to ensure everyone is counted never ends.