"It is a promise kept and fulfilled" said Pres. Sergs Mamba of the Rotary Club of Tuguegarao on Operation Smile Phils. Foundation Inc. (OSPFI) recent successful harelip and cleft palate operation for indigents held at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center Tuguegarao City on November 9-12, 2000.

Last year on November 25-27, 1999 heralded the 1^st RCT – OSPFI joint project and on the penultimate day Mrs. Catherine Vigilia, Executive Director promised us that they will come back if we can assure them of at least 30 patients and our club can carry out such big project. The club was in unison to continue the same since the poor folks who are the immediate beneficiaries and can’t afford the cost of operation in Manila are transformed into beautiful faces and subsequently the smile on their faces and to a further extent their immediate families of thanks.

As soon as Sergs took over as president of RCT last of July 2000 he mentioned Operation Smile as one of his flagship projects and started communicating with OSPFI for the faithful implementation. He got the support of Dr. Emmanuel Acluba, MHA the CHIEF of the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) for the venue of operation and the hospital staff if need be for additional assistance. Notices of the forthcoming harelip operation were undertaken by way of radio and cable TV announcements, Municipal Health Officers dissemination information, DSWD and Sunday Masses announcements. The month of October 2000 was the schedule of pre-screening of harelip patients at the Mambas Surgical and Maternity Clinic along Luna St., Tuguegarao City. Incidentally Pres. Sergs and Ann Amy Mamba as both physicians, he a general surgeon and she an OB Gyne. X-rays, CBC, physical examinations were done and our club got tremendous support from non-Rotarian friends like, husband and wife Doctors Enrico and Luz Cortez Babaran. Patients from all parts of Cagayan and even in Isabela were properly pre-screened and the number exceeded our expectations.

The team arrived safely in our city in the early morning of November 9, 2000 and soon after went to CVMC for the set up of the OR’s, the recovery room, very clean charity ward & the support of medical/nurse staff, and to inspect the patients admitted.

The members of the team from OSPFI are as follows: Mrs. Catherine Vigilia, Executive Director, Plastic Surgeons Lawrence Loh, Team Leader; Jesus Gil Inciong, Glenn Genuino, and Sarah Estrada; Anesthesiologists Willie Go, Joy Ang, Jojo Pajarillo OM Surgeon Edlyn Ng, Nurses Monette Pasao, Clarinda Somera, Janet De Rama and Susan Aldea. Like last year Colgate Palmolive Phils. Inc. through Ms. Beth Babaran Sallador (a fellow Cagayano) Administrative and Corporate Affairs Officer is a volunteer of OSPFI as Medical Record Coordinator. She also brought along CPPI products for the patients and CVMC Medical Staff as gifts and give aways consisting of large size colgate toothpaste, toothbrush, health soap, baby powder and bar soap.

On 10 November 2000 36 patients were operated, the following day 21 patients including a patient operated for a malignant big mole on the face and another adult for release of contracture with skin grafting for a total of 57 serviced exceeding last year’s operation of 52. If these were brought to Manila in private hospitals/clinics- the total could be more than P 2,000,000

On the 12^th November was the post operation check up of all the patients and the beautiful smiles were already evident on the faces of the patients.

President Sergs in acknowledging the tremendous help of OSPFI said "One could see in a matter of minutes the transformation from a look that is far from pleasing to one that is appealing. The effect is well beyond physical appearance. They will forever feel the love of the Lord through us Rotarians. The mission didn’t not only give beautiful smiles to 57 patients & their families, it did not only give them brighter future and better outlook in life, but most of all, the mission fulfilled the mission of Christ in Matthew 25:40… whatever you did to the least of my brother, you did it for me…"

So successful was the Operation Smile that there were no reported cases of complications & in a fitting recognition program and send off party held at the Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines of PP Ronnie and APP Wilma Guzman, Pres. Sergs awarded each and every member of the OSPFI team a Certificate of Appreciation and some token pasalubongs. The Rotary Anns Association through Pres. Tess Gannaban worked out the reception & food preparation, records & documentation and other menial tasks. Likewise Rotary Club of Tuguegarao thanks the support of Philippine Society of Anesthesiologist-Northeast Luzon Chapter Visitacion D. Pinson, President, Philippine Nurses Association Rosario Tan. The program was simple yet not to be forgotten in the lasting impact on the help extended to indigent patients who can now come out in the open to overcome their shyness, inferiority complex, lead normal lives and hope for a better tomorrow.Ó

Members of the Operation Smile Philippines Foundation, Inc. (OSPFI) with Officers and
some Members and Anns of the Rotary Club of Tuguegarao

Members of the OSPFI in action at the

Cagayan Valley Medical Center.
 
 
 
 

FINALLY, the sweetest SMILES…..
 
 
 
 

 
 

Before after
 
 
 
 
 
 

From despair TO A life full of hope FOR THE FUTURE . . .

Before after
 
 
 
 
 
 

Mabuhay!
 
 

Rotary International

District 3770

Rotary Club Of Tuguegarao

Tuguegarao City