2010 Bisaya Medical Mission In Cebu

MANILA, Philippines - When: February 8 – 12, 2010

Where: Talisay District Hospital and Theotokos Shrine, Perelos, Carcar

Why:    Rev. Fr. John T. Roña, rector of Theotokos Shrine, wrote a letter three years ago for a Medical Mission for his poor parishioners. He knew of the Bisaya Medical Association through pioneer missioner Dr. Imelda Carpio who made a pilgrimage to Theotokos and encouraged him to write to Dr. Jesus T. Ho, Mission Head.

DR. MANUEL B. BACAREZA

Chief of Hospital, Talisay District Hospital

San Isidro, Talisay City

Cong. Eduardo R. Gullas suggested our hospital when the Carcar Provincial Hospital did not pass the ocular inspection conducted by Dr. Jesus Ho in September last year. All of us in the Talisay District Hospital were so happy about the change of venue. We are so fortunate as the Bisaya Medical Association also brought in a huge container van full of donated hospital equipment and medicines.

Our City Mayor Soc Fernandez welcomed the project with open arms as it benefited the poor constituents of Talisay — about 500 patients registered for the three days of Medical Mission here. The city took care of the missioners’ accommodation at the YMCA of Cebu dormitory and their meals during their stay.

The donated hospital beds and other important equipment will surely help in our application for upgrading, from a primary to a secondary level hospital authorized to perform operations.

DR. JESUS T. HO, Internal Medicine

Head of Mission

I have been doing this for the past 29 years. I wanted to retire some years ago but I have been repeatedly asked to head the mission, and since this has been my “baby” from the start, I cannot refuse. Like now, I was requested by the current BMA president Dr. Bofill to head this mission. The team is composed of 38 missioners, 25 doctors and the others are registered nurses, med technicians and some medical students. A few doctors are from Manila, like the topnotch orthopedic surgeon from V. Luna Hospital, Dr. Adrian Quidlat, his pediatrician wife Dr. Jocelyn Niere-Quidlat and young ophthalmologist Dr. Romeo Luna Jr., among others. Some missioners have been with me for 29 years.

We get many requests – about 6 per year. I assess which place needs us the most – how much they need our help and how the government official/key person requesting wants us to serve the poorest among the people. I have proven that it is best to work through the local government as we usually bring in a 40 x 20 ft. container van of medicines & equipment mostly from Brother’s Brother Foundation – a big foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that donates second hand functioning hospital machines and equipment, hospital beds and mattresses, crutches, wheelchairs, walkers, medical books, etc. Getting the van through all the red tapes needs a powerful government official. We are very grateful for the personal attention given by Cong. Eddie Gullas who was there for us from the first moment we asked for his help. If only Philippine politicians were as sincere and as hard-working as he is, our country would not suffer so much corruption. We are also thankful for the welcome afforded us by the Talisay City government, through Mayor Soc Fernandez and the other city officials who attended to our needs while we were doing the mission.

Preparing for a mission entails a year-long process. I have to do an ocular inspection of the hospital of the place (Carcar Provincial Hospital does not have a functioning operating room and other basic equipment) and talk to the staff for their needs and priorities (so we donate what they want/need). Then back in the U.S., we organize fun-raising activities to support the mission. We average 500 patients a day during our missions, including pediatric cases (which we prioritize) and surgeries, mostly cataracts and cyst removal.

Doing a medical mission is a commitment of love and service because it takes a lot of time and involves personal sacrifices. It is no joke for my wife, Dr. Priscilla Ho, to collate all donated items, make the lists and put them into the boxes before we could load them to the container.

But the feeling of fulfillment that surround us as we look around the happy faces of the people we had served is beyond compare, priceless! So, my wife and I, we still do this year after year, for as long as we are able.

DR. RANO BOFILL, Radiology

President, Bisaya Medical Association

Jess and I are still practicing in the U.S. He graduated a year ahead of me in the School of Medicine in UST. Our group keeps in touch no matter where we are. Jess is the founding president of the Philippine Medical Association of West Virginia where I am also past president. The PMA-West Va. and the Association of Philippine Physicians of America (APPA) are two of the sponsors of our Bisaya Medical/Surgical Mission.

The next president will be in charge of planning the mission for next year. That’s the way we give service through the missions. We have fund-raising, like my wife Judy, a registered nurse, plans to publish a cookbook to raise funds. Every member has the spirit to serve others, especially the poor among our “kababayans.”

We would like to thank for the pleasant accommodations we had at the YMCA, with Mr. Crisologo Caparoso always on hand to oversee everything. Our hearty breakfasts and the blind masseurs (who are DSWD-accredited) made our stay memorable.

The dynamic liaison work of Ms. Marlinda Angbetic Tan made the mission possible despite the hitches and most of all, our grateful acknowledgement to Cong. Eduardo Gullas and Mayor Socrates Fernandez of Talisay City. To the Sisters and workers of Rev. Fr. John T. Roña in Theotokos Shrine, thank you for the delicious meals and kind attention. ?