Cathay Pacific welcomes new manager in Cebu

Two weeks ago, Cathay Pacific bade farewell to Cebu Manager Suzanne Wong and welcomed incoming Cebu Manager Eddie Kong. Cathay's Bangkok-based General Manager Southeast Asia Patrick Yeung and Country Manager Philippine Vivian Lo came down to Cebu to do the announcement over cocktails at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.

Nanette Inventor, well-known comedienne, also known as Dona Buding, regaled the audience with her songs and antics. She also sat down with Suzanne and Eddie to do what she is famous for - a witty interview with both managers who gave the guests some interesting insights on how they perceived Cebu.

As the airline is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, a video of memories from Cathay Pacific's history was also aired, giving the guests a nostalgic feeling, especially for the frequent flyers who have been flying with the airline for many years. But as the video served to highlight that change is positive, so it was for the changing of the guards in Cebu.

So now, we say farewell Suzanne...and welcome Eddie!

Irigueños Medical Mission

United Irigueños, Inc. is composed of Filipinos who are now American citizens and living all over the United States and Hawaii. It took the group three long years of planning and preparing for this big medical mission to reach Iriga and Bicol. For the first time, Dr. Marietta Almazan and Mcking Alanes organized and arranged everything for the mission. Of course, our very own Vince Solon and wife Nelda were there to lend a helping hand.

Dr. Lucio Margallo II, team leader based in South Dakota, came home for the first time in 30 years. In this mission, the doctors performed major and minor surgeries. Other services were dental, optometry, youth form, education and lectures to doctors and nurses. They also gave free medicines too.

In three days, they did 161 surgeries, and the doctors had examined and treated 6000 patients. For Dr. Margallo, they left so tired but realized that the services they rendered were truly rewarding. In fact, he got a lot of kisses from some of the indigents who never thought these doctors and nurses from the US would reach this far-flung place where, in these mountains, the aborigines still exist. Dr. Margallo couldn't contain his happiness he didn't realize he had tears running down his cheeks. The group also started a pilot project - that of building communal toilets for one barangay, and this is a continuing project of the group which is targeted to be finished in 2 years.

The United Irigeños , Inc. had 37 surgeons including our very own Cebuano Dr. Lito Almendras and Dr. Lorna Adolfo, a cardiologist from Davao City. Most of the medicines were donated by drug companies in the US, although some were given by the visiting doctors themselves.