As medical missions go, the recent Oriental Mindoro Association of Southern California (OMASC)-sponsored four-day event, from January 31 to Feb 3 in Calapan, Roxas, and Puerto Galera, takes the plum prize.   It undoubtedly holds a special place in the heart of everyone involved.  From the planning and execution down to the unwinding activities that followed, the event was as crisply and precisely carried out as an expert surgeon’s operation.  It is arguably the most extensive medical mission of its kind in the province, and OMASC, along with the many agencies that worked tirelessly to make it a success, could put another feather in its cap for making it possible.

            Billed as the 2009 USTMAASC Medical Mission, the event was first broached at an OMASC meeting early in 2008 by Eleanor Evangelista, OMASC Adviser and eventual chairperson of the project.  Prior to the meeting, her friend told her about  a group of doctors from the UST Medical Alumni Association of Southern California doing an annual medical mission in various towns in the Philippines.  Leading the group are Drs. Linda Enriquez and Juanito Garlitos.  At the OMASC meeting, Eleanor successfully sold the idea of asking the doctors to include   Oriental Mindoro in their plans for 2009.  After the body endorsed the idea, President Ernie Cleofe approved the project and the rest as they say is history.

            Through a series of emails, letters, phone calls and meetings, an impressive list of agencies and individuals including the Rotary Club of Calapan, the Oriental Mindoro Dental Association, The Surgical Eye International Organization, Resources for the Blind, One World Institute, PhilUSA, Phil,  Dr. Linda and Congressman Alfonso Umali, Mrs. Nora Liwanag, and the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro under the leadership of Governor Arnan Panaligan agreed to work with OMASC and promised to help.  Jojo Leviste, an Omasc officer, started the dialogue with the Rotary Club, Dr. Linda Umali coordinated with the Roxas local health agencies, while Raul Abjelina coordinated with barangay officials in Puerto Galera.

            Day one started with Ed and Eleanor with the Rotary club officers welcoming the USTMAASC doctors and two doctors from Metro Manila at the Calapan Pier in the morning..  They brought them to the Rotary headquarters for a meeting. Doctors sorted medicines, finance chairperson Hermie Maramot distributed team t-shirts, and Father RV Villavicencio blessed the group. Nilda Villao distributed name tags.  After lunch, the team trooped to the nearby Capitol compound where the Rotarians had already set up an efficient arrangement of tables and chairs for the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and non-health care volunteers to serve the patients, many of whom were already waiting to be seen.  Meanwhile, at the provincial hospital, OMASC’s own Dr. Fred Villao was already performing minor surgeries, a mission he had been single-handedly carrying out since the day before and would continue to do so until the last day.  That afternoon also marked the arrival of the Vision team headed by Dr. Ronaldo Noche who, along with Dr. Jenny Gutierrez, immediately proceeded to Roxas to conduct a simultaneous eye mission.  Day one in Calapan was capped by a welcome dinner and dance hosted by Gov. Arnan Panaligan at the Riceland II Hotel.  A group of dance instructors hired for the occasion made sure no one became a wallflower during the evening. The band was made up of Provincial Government employees.

            Day two was a continuation of the Calapan operation and differed only by the markedly greater number of patients.  The same efficient team of Rotarians headed by President Willie Apacible, George Tolentino, and Lita Sugay kept the flow of patients as orderly as possible.  They were assisted by rotarians-in-training volunteers wearing uniforms bearing the intriguing name Rotaractors.  The day also saw the arrival of twenty wheelchairs donated by One World Institute under the auspices of OMASC and in cooperation with the Rotary Club of Calapan.  Two of the wheelchairs were assembled and given to two deserving patients who were on hand to receive them.   In addition to wheelchairs, OMASC also donated on the same day thirteen mattresses to the provincial hospital.  These donations, and the two-day patient tally of 442 medical and 142 dental patients served at the capitol alone, gave the OMASC officers on hand a sense of gratification they will long remember.  After the last patient was seen at around 3:00 p.m., the medical team headed to Roxas in four vans to join the eye team already in place there.  After a dinner hosted by Dr. Linda Umali in Bongabon, Nora  Liwanag and Deputy Customs Commissioner Rey Umali put the team up for the night.  Dr. Linda Umali provided the board and lodging for the Vision Team for 4 days.

            Day three was at the city gymnasium for the medical and dental mission and at the Roxas Provincial Hospital in Odiong for the eye cataract surgery.  After a hearty breakfast at Nora Liwanag’s, the team braced for a long and busy day, aware that there would no longer be Rotarians to man the crowd.  To their relief, city employees from the Mayor’s office and students from the local nursing school were on hand to take up the slack, thanks to Dr. Cruzado, the head of the Roxas District Hospital, who initiated the creation of volunteer teams. Apart from the mix-up in misdirecting some patients to the eye team in Odiong, day three was as successful as days one and two, perhaps even more when taking the greater number of patients seen into account.  The score: 468 medical, 193 dental, 100 vision and 31 eye cataract and pterydium surgeries.  The long hard day was promptly forgotten after a sumptuous dinner served at Nora Liwanag’s.  Ever the gracious host, Nora wanted to make sure the team did not go hungry on their long ride back to Calapan, then on to Puerto Galera that same night.         

            At Puerto Galera, the team stayed at the Hollywood Palm Beach Resort and Hotel in White Beach.  It is owned by OMASC officer Efren Evangelista, a fact that all but ensured the best hotel stay for everyone.  It didn’t disappoint.  Everything from the food to the warm reception and the comfortable rooms spoke of the owner’s genuine desire to please his guests.  Feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, the team tackled day four like it was only day one.   An added sense of fulfillment was brought on by the arrival of Mangyan patients from the highlands of Puerto.  These indigenous people seldom get medical care, so the doctors felt privileged to give them the care they needed.  A few from the team were so affected by the experience they asked for their pictures to be taken with these patients to capture the precious moments.  Day four patient count: 418 medical, 51 dental, 82 eye examinations, and 4 minor surgeries.

            At three o’clock the last day, the mission wrapped up and everyone in the team, especially first time visitors, felt ready to finally see the town.  First stop was the Ponderosa Golf Club, a nine-hole course atop one of the highest hills with a breath-taking view of the ocean and lush vegetation all around.  Island hopping on a rented boat followed for some in the group, while others opted to take a leisurely stroll along the beach to do some shopping and soak up the atmosphere.  Still others chose to stay at the lounge and enjoy listening to the amazing voice of Drs. Tony and Belle Reyes’ daughter Melissa as she sang pop/rock songs on karaoke.  There was also some snorkeling for the other members of the team.  All the hard work of the previous four days was all but forgotten, which was good for the doctors and nurses on the team who were to go directly to Cavite for another medical mission.  The OMASC team which included Ed and Eleanor Evangelista, Ernie and Nini Cleofe, Hermie & Mila Maramot, Fred & Nilda Villao, Linda Macalintal, Boyet & Tess Martinez, Ester Jose and sister Hearty (Elsie Amansec had to leave early) used their extra time to visit the Manor at Puerto Galera, a multi-level mansion with a panoramic view of the ocean, fisherman’s cove, Muelle Bay, and the sand bar. The owner, Bill Lutt, is a big OMASC supporter who, though out of the country at the time, left instructions to his staff to serve the group a delicious lunch of fresh seafood and vegetables.  When the time came for everyone to head back to their respective homes, a sense of peace and fulfillment and the joy that comes from a job well-done was evident in the way they smilingly braved the rough roads and the uncomfortable jeepney ride. 

            In addition to the individuals already mentioned, the following local volunteers and contributors deserve a heartfelt expression of appreciation for their invaluable support: Dr. Oscar Evangelista, Rhoda Apacible, Livia Tolentino, Bles Panaligan,Joy Arellano, Rose Calata, Dr. Anthony Cruzado, Michelle Arteza, Myrna Atienza, Dora Loring,  Puerto Galera Mayor Hubert Dolor,Capitan Arago,   Roxas Mayor Jackson Dy, Naujan Mayor Romar Marcos, and Victoria Mayor Alfredo Ortega and many others whose names are too many to mention..  They and everyone involved in the project should take a bow.

                                                 By Mila Maramot