From once working as a domestic helper who endured mistreatment from her employer, Filipino nurse Edilberto G. Cipres has risen to become one of the most respected healthcare professionals in Italy.
Cipres, originally from Batangas, Philippines, was recently conferred the Nursing Now Italy Award at the Italian Senate in Rome — a national honor recognizing nurses who have made outstanding contributions to patient care, education, or healthcare leadership.
The award, presented by Italy’s national nursing body Confederazione Nazionale delle Associazioni Infermieristiche (CNAI), is among the country’s highest distinctions for nursing excellence.
Before his success, Cipres’s journey was marked by hardship. He once served as a domestic worker in Europe, facing abuse and discrimination. His perseverance led him to retrain, earn his nursing credentials, and later serve as a nurse to a prince in Germany — a remarkable turnaround from his early struggles.
Now based in Padova (Padua), Italy, Cipres works as a registered nurse in the Emergency Room of Ospedale di Saronno, where he is known for his compassion and professionalism in high-pressure situations. His dedication to learning has also propelled him toward earning two master’s degrees in Italy, a testament to his lifelong commitment to education and excellence.
In a feature published by The Manila Times, Cipres’s recognition was hailed as proof of the global impact of Filipino nurses and their ability to rise above adversity through hard work, resilience, and faith.
