Operation Smile seen to benefit 200 patients

CEBU, Philippines - More than 200 children and young adults with cleft lip and cleft palate deformities will benefit a free surgery during a weeklong medical mission that Operation Smile Philippines is holding at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

As of yesterday, at least 80 children have undergone operation, which normally costs between P100,000 to P150,000 in private hospital and between P15,000 to P20,000 in a government hospital.

The mission, which started last March 19 with pre-surgery screening of patients, will end on March 25.

It is conducted by a combined team of international and local volunteers from Operation Smile International and OSP in partnership with the Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung Charitable Foundation Inc., the Philippine Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency.

Roberto Manzano, president and executive director of OSP, said the event is a lifetime chance for indigent children to have their congenital defects corrected since their family will never be able to afford the cost of the procedure.

"The free reconstructive surgery from Operation Smile will mean a new life for the children. Cleft children are ridiculed because of their deformity and often stop going to school. Most will grow up with neither the social or work skills to find gainful employment," said Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, chairman of MSYCFI.

MSYCFI has been hosting Operation Smile missions for the past 13 years, benefiting almost 3,000 patients.

In yesterday's press conference, Chadleen Lacdo-o, one of the 3,000 children who have undergone surgery, sang a song entitled "This is my Dream."

Lacdo-o, who is now 15 years old, was four-year-old then when she was operated by Dr. Han Kai. The patient and the doctor meet after 11 years in a very emotional moment.

Both cried including the people attending the press conference.

Lacdo-o, dubbed as Operation Smile Philippines Singing Ambassadress, was now successful that she is set to perform at the Operation Smile Gala Night in Los Angeles in September. She will share the stage with Filipina international singing sensation Charice Pempengco and Miley Cyrus.

Since 1992, the OSP, chaired by Prople, Inc. president and CEO Joaquin Quintos, has provided free reconstructive surgeries to more than 22,000 indigent patients.

The number of afflicted, however, remains huge as the Philippines has a high incidence of oral cleft estimated at one in every 500 born every year, which means an estimated 4,000 are added to the number every year.

Fundraiser and philanthropist Susan Casden flew to Cebu from her home in Beverly Hills, California to be involved in the mission.

"In Operation Smile, you have no choice but to get involved. I love children and helping them are one of my joys in life," Casden told The Freeman.

Salimbangon-Yeung and Casden were former neighbors in Hong Kong who are both into charitable works. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM ( FREEMAN NEWS)