New smiles, new lives

CEBU, Philippines - The two boys from San Remigio town who were brought to Israel for a cleft palate operation have returned to the Philippines after undergoing the procedure successfully.

Rex Niño Recto, 10, and Yani Millor, 13, both residents of Barangay Canagahan, will also receive financial assistance from the provincial government for their speech therapy.

They arrived in Cebu last Friday evening and met Governor Hilario Davide III and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale the following day.

Magpale said the boys' therapy is covered by the budget of the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children (PCWC). The province is also considering of getting a private speech therapist for the children.

"Mangutana pa ta og speech therapists. Hope we can find therapists here in Cebu (We need to look for a speech therapist. We hope we can find one here in Cebu)," she said.

She said the province will also look for more sponsors that can help more children with the same condition.

Davide, for his part, thanked the Israel Defense Force (IDR) for funding the corrective operation. The delegation for Israel found the boys during its medical mission in northern Cebu following the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda.

"Maka-experience na ang mga bata og bag-ong kinabuhi (The children will now live a new life)," Davide said.

Israel Honorary Consul Emily Chioson said the Israel delegation offered corrective surgery for the two boys because the medical team knew it would help them live normal lives.

"Nino and Yanny can now experience a simple smile. They can live normally without any rejections," Chioson said, her sentiments echoed by Yanny's parents, Abelito and Jocelyn Millor, and Rex's grandmother, Cresencia Lopez. 

Yanny says he wants to be a doctor while Rex wants to become a policeman. The two are in grade three and four at the Canagahan Elementary School.

With bright new smiles, a brighter future indeed awaits.  (FREEMAN)