Purely Personal
Bush honors Filipino doctor at White House
By Josephine Darang
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:54:00 05/11/2008
MANILA, Philippines - President George Bush invited six Physicians for Peace volunteers, including a Filipino medical volunteer, to the White House last April 29 to participate in a ceremony to mark the kick-off of National Volunteer Week.
Retired USAF Brig. Gen. Ron Schuyers, CEO of the group, e-mailed from Norfolk, Virginia. He is also a volunteer. The goal is to build peace and international friendships through the medical profession.
Dr. Juan Montero, a native of Siargao island and an expat and private practitioner in Chesapeake, Virginia, was commended for his work in the Philippines.
PFP in Siargao
Dr. Montero brought Physicians for Peace International to the Philippines for the first time in September, 2000, despite the US Embassy advisory against travel to Mindanao.
Headed by Dr. Juan Montero II, the team members were at first hesitant to pursue the mission because of the kidnapping of an American citizen and the military operations in Mindanao. But they were assured by Siargao del Norte Gov. Francisco Matugas and Surigao del Norte Rep. Constantino Navarro Jr. that it was safe in Siargao, a group of islands in Surigao del Norte, northeast of Mindanao.
The four-day medical mission was composed of 15 US-based medical practitioners, mostly specialists, and 15 others from the UP-PGH Ugnayan: Physicians for Peace Philippines, Ephetha Foundation for the Blind, and ALCON-Philippines.
Matugas and Navarro, who were with the US medical team in Siargao, said a total of 1,091 free consultations were done by the team.
A harelip operation was done by Dr. Armand Versaci, a world-renowed US plastic surgeon and author of medical books. Another noted surgeon, Dr. Gerald Dimarest, specialist on critical care and author and lecturer on surgery, also performed major surgeries. The mission also brought some P20 million worth of medical and laboratory supplies and medicines to district hospitals.
“We were able to convince the American doctors that Surigao del Norte is peaceful and we were happy they have found it out for themselves.” Matugas and Navarro said.
PFP Philippines
After eight years, PFP Philippines headed by Butch Pichay as president and Dr. Ted Herbosa as chair is involved in reaching out to the less fortunate. PFP is working with Glaxo for medicines, Pagcor for financial help, Philippine Airlines for 50% fare discount for medical missions, the Department of Social Welfare for managing delivery of medical shipments from the US, Philippine General Hospital as venue for the Prosthetics Center, Smart and Globe for medicine donations, Shell Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard.
Lyne Abanilla, past governor of Rosary International District 38l0, is executive director of PFP in the Philippines. She says that many people’s lives have changed for the better because there are people like Dr. Montero and his colleagues who have gone out of their way to help the poor. The latest project is giving hope to people who have lost their limbs through accident or disease. Call PGH Prosthetics Center at 5369605. To learn more about Physicians for Peace, click www.physiciansforpeace.org.
Sta. Ana fiesta
Archbishop Edward Joseph Adam, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, will officiate the Concelebrated Mass honoring Our Lady of the Abandoned on May 12 at 9:30 a.m.
The Parish also marks the 430th anniversary of the establishment of the first Franciscan mission outside Intramuros. It was founded in the year 1578.
Behind the altar is the Camarin de la Virgen where Our Lady of the Abandoned has been enshrined since 1718.
Filipinos in Macau
The Filipino community in Macau keeps the faith, despite their hardships, according to Fr. Manuel Ocańa, who was there recently. Concelebrating Mass at the St. Augustine Church, Fr. Ocańa saw how the people prayed and heard how they praised the Lord through hymns.
Sunday Masses at St. Augustine Church at 10:30 a.m. are said in Filipino. The SOLT fathers (Society of Our Lady of the Trinity) run the church. Edda Cua Naces who teaches in the Catholic school invited Fr. Ocańa to visit and say Mass for the Filipino community. He told me that the Filipinos there inspire him to keep his faith. Fr. Ocańa is the head of the St. Michael Development Center in Tolosa, Leyte, a parochial school. He is asking help for poor scholars of the high school. To help, please text 0928-2644996.
Mona Lacanlale donated an image of St. Joseph for the church, while Allan Tengco donated another image for the Cofradia de San Jose of the parish.
Fr. Dennis Molabola of the Mission of St. Peter Church in Tolosa would also like to enthrone an image of St. Joseph inside the church. If St. Joseph is there, he is sure he would be able to build his mission church and convent. To help, please text Quico Vecin who is doing the image at 09l5-8755l36.
‘Okay si Doc’
My surgeon Dr. William Olalia and his wife Dra. Salve Olalia are hosting the new TV program “Okay si Doc” over CLTV 36 in San Fernando, Pampanga, every Saturday at 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Replay is every Wednesday at 10 p.m.
Happy fiesta to the parishioners of Our Lady of Pentecost Parish today. Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco is saying Mass at 9:30 a.m. Parish priest is Fr. Momoy Borromeo.
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