MOA Medical/Dental/Minor Surgical Mission

by Tereso Ugalino

Dear fellow officers, members, town mates and supporters,

A couple of steps and a giant's leap!

Similar to our pilot project we sponsored on Feb. 8, 2008, our 2nd Medical/Dental/Minor Surgical Mission carried out on Feb. 12, 2011 was undeniably a complete success.

Staged at our soon to be refurbished district hospital, 1177 needy patients registered, checked, attended and were cared for. Appropriate medicines for their indicated health concerns/problems were dispensed. Naur-urnos laeng itatta gapu ta nasurok nga 200 medical(non) volunteers including our town's 30 barangay Rural Health Unit's personnel, Knights of Columbus brothers, PNP forces, Councils of Sta. Monica, Bacar, Barbarit and San Lucas actively participated and helped monitor the flow. These groups bolstered the pool of veteran and efficient doctors/dentists/nurses from The Gabriela Silang Provincial Hospital/Other District Hospitals, JCS Team, Magsingal District Hospital staffs and UNP nursing students tapped either by these trio, Dra. Carmeliza Singson-Chairperson, Hon. Jeremias 'Jerry' Singson- Provincial Board and JCS Founder or Dr. Ronald R. Tobias-Hospital-in-Charge. All volunteers effort and humanitarian services were exceptional from 8:30-5:00 p.m. My profound gratitude to all. Kudos!


Likewise, my sincere gratitude to Hon. Gov. Luis 'Chavit' Singson, Hon. Mayor Arlyn Favis, Vice Mayor Alrico Favis, and Fr. Flor Rebebes for their full support. Same gratitude to Hon. Jerry Singson for donating more than hundreds of reading glasses handed to patients "nga kasla kinuton". Another big thank you for his reception/hospitality dinner at his gorgeous Vigan residence days following the mission. Lifetime MOA member and President of Magsingal Assoc. of So.CA, Nestor Ulibas, thank you my friend to your group's donation and personally installing the latest telephone (an envy) system at our District Hospital. Another thank you too as well for your presence and post medical mission reception dinner.( Looking forward to another one!)

My utmost thank you to all our donors; Dr. Roberto Espejo-DMD for donating ampoules of anesthesia, Dr. George Solanzo-DMD for donating toothbrushes given to children dental patients, Officers Rely Parbo-Liberato of New Jersey, Joven Viloria of New York , Es Baldoria-Ceria from Hawaii, your last minute donations hugely helped and thank you. Mrs. Tessie Oandasan, thank you for boxes of sutures and were handy at the circumcision beds. To our reigning Queen, Darelle, thank you for your personal souvenir pens you distributed. To our officers, members, donors and participants during our Casino Trips thank you as well for helping out generate additional funds.

Special thanks to the 0fficers and Members who went home (balikbayan) and were present; Grace and Darelle Panlasigui-Lu, Jacinto Oandasan, Presentacion Briones, Julia Timbreza, Cosme & Frances Urbi, Catalina Ulibas, Nestor Ulibas, my loving wife Edna, PHL Representatives Eddie and Myriam Urbi and Cresente (Raffy) Luczon. To my cousin Engr. Mauro U. Jurado, thank you for always being there.

A day after the mission, on Sun. Feb 13, 2011, our State-of- the-Art Public Restroom project located north of our historic church, St. William's the Hermit was blessed by our Pastor, Fr. Flor. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was performed by Darelle and I. Dedication/turning over of keys was witnessed by parishioners during the 8:00 a.m. MOA sponsored Thanksgiving Mass. In black and white, official maintenance was endorsed to our town's Knights of Columbus Chapter headed by Grand Knight, Rey Jurado and Parish Pastoral Council President, Jose Soliven. After the Mass, the long awaited restroom project was opened to the public with a modest reception and entertainment. Fr. Flor, Teddy Udarbe and Ma. Luisa Salvador, thank you for the hard work to make our dreams a reality.

To conclude, a humongous and unending thank you to the Miss MOA 2010-13 Royal Court; Her Maj. Queen Darelle Panlassigui-Lu, Ist Princess Joyce Ulibas Bombita and 2nd Princess Desiree Ugale Tualla. The three of them, their/our supporters plus we the committed members made our humble but prestigious projects possible. If I missed anyone, my apologies.

Thank you all again and God Bless,