MANILA, Philippines - Early this month, six GMA Artist Center (GMAAC) talents participated in a medical mission mounted by the Joosarang Church in Angeles City and Pampanga which benefited a large number of needy people in the area.
Dion Ignacio, Krissa Mae Arrieta, Vaness del Moral, Steff Prescott, Jan Manual and Patani joined the team of 55 Korean volunteers, including three doctors led by Lee Jong Taek, four dentists and eight nurses. They distributed help amounting to more than P4-M worth of medicine.
The GMAAC talents witnessed the immense generosity of the group and were touched at their attempt to contribute what they can for the Filipinos. “They weren’t just distributing medicine. The help that they extend go beyond the physical needs of the people. They talk to them about God and how everyone could know Him better,” Krissa, Vaness and Steff chorused.
Dion, Jan and Patani asked the group leader Andi Kim why they chose the Philippines for this endeavor. Kim, interpreted by his cousin, responded, “It’s simply because Filipinos are close to our hearts. During the Korean war in 1850, 8,000 Filipino soldiers fought for our freedom. This is just Joosarang Church’s way of paying tribute to your race’s goodness.”
This is the second year for the volunteer group to give this service to our kababayan. On their first year they were supporting the Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC) students before they built the Joosarang Church (in existence in Korea for 16 years now). The group is no stranger to helping Filipinos in Korea. Since before, they have been helping some 150 overseas Filipino workers on their need for a job, migrant visa and medicine support every month.