Commitment to serve moves docs, volunteers in INC mission

MANILA, Philippines - “This is my passion, my devotion,” said Dr. Perla Tan, 69, as she attended to the needs of those who lined up for consultation at the Kabayan Ko, Kapatid Ko (My Countrymen, My Brethren) evangelical-medical mission of the Iglesia Ni Cristo in La Union last Oct. 5.

With methodical expertise, she pressed her stethoscope to hear the breathing of a baby while being cradled by her mother. She inspected the baby’s scalp, gave instructions to the mother, and gave the medicine and vitamins that the baby needed.

Tan was one of the many doctors who took time out to serve in the 18th Kabayan Ko, Kapatid Ko mission.

She and the other doctors, nurses, dentists and various volunteers and paramedics traveled by bus for seven hours from Manila to get to the Eli Sur open grounds in San Juan, La Union where the evangelical-medical mission was to be held.

“This is part of our devotion, of our calling. We did not come here for comfort. We came here to serve,” she said.

Another volunteer, Vilma Quilang, who works as an administrative officer at the Philippine General Hospital for the past 17 years, said participating in the evangelical-medical mission of the INC was a commitment for her.

“Commitment na po ito. Nawawala po ang aming pagod kapag nakapaglilingkod kami at nakikiisa sa ganitong gawain ng Iglesia (This is already a commitment. We don’t get tired when we are able to serve and join hands in such an undertaking of the Iglesia),” she said.

1.4-M crowd estimate

Police estimated that the crowd that gathered in the evangelical-medical mission in La Union reached more than a million as of 7:30 a.m. of Oct. 5. By around noon, the crowd estimate was at 1.4 million, according to Chief Inspector Reynaldo Lizardo, deputy group director of the Provincial Public Safety Battalion.

Dr. Sergie Santos, a cardiologist, who is among the organizers of the Kabayan Ko, Kapatid Ko, noted the perseverance of the doctors, dentists, nurses and other volunteers who always came with them to every Kabayan Ko, Kapatid Ko event.

“Hindi sila nanghihinayang na mag-cancel ng clinic. Sila pa ang nakikiusap na sumama (They don’t have any regret canceling their clinic. They even ask to come),” said Santos, also a part of the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation Inc., who also helps out in the evangelical and medical missions of the INC.

He noted that these doctors, who always take time out from their busy schedules, are experts in their respective fields. But because of their faith in God and devotion to serve the poorest, they want to be part of the medical missions that the INC is mounting almost weekly.

The medical mission uses state-of the-art portable medical equipment, including a film-less X-ray machine that is also radiation hazard-free, an ultrasound machine that can also do a 2d-echo, and a machine that can do a complete blood count. 

All portable machines automatically send results if needed via the Internet to the doctors and other experts at the New Era General Hospital (NEGH) in Quezon City.

The film-less X-ray machine, for instance, used in the evangelical-medical missions of the Kabayan Ko, Kapatid Ko, sends the X-ray results to the NEGH where doctors and radiologists analyze results and send their diagnosis to the X-ray van immediately in real time, Santos explained.

The dentists also give a complete course treatment for tooth extractions, giving a full week of medication, including giving an initial dose of tranexamic acid to immediately stop bleeding.

Those who attended last Oct. 5’s evangelical-medical mission came from the provinces of La Union and Benguet.

Message of salvation

INC brethren led by the district ministers held weeklong devotional prayers in preparation for the evangelical and medical-dental mission.  Thirty-six huge tents were set up in the Eli Sur open grounds, covering 18 hectares of its total area of 38 hectares.

Before the event was held, INC general auditor, minister Glicerio Santos Jr., relayed the message of INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo to “double” the efforts of the INC brethren in participating in the church’s evangelical activities.

Santos said this is God’s work in these last days as the INC tries to reach out to all regions of the country and of the world in spreading the message of salvation.

The main activity was a pre-taped Bible exposition played out on giant LCD walls set up in each of the giant tents in La Union.

There was also a program afterwards, where celebrities like Antonio Aquitania and Victor Wood came out to speak. Wood sang his signature songs, while Aquitania encouraged the audience to further listen to the words of God delivered by INC ministers. Both Aquitania and Wood are undergoing Bible studies under the INC.

Last Sept. 27, the INC held a similar Kabayan Ko, Kapatid Ko event in Lucena, Quezon where around 1.1 million people attended.