PRESS RELEASE ON MEDICAL
MISSION 2012
Contact Armando ‘Doy’ Heredia, Adviser &
Spokesperson
March 2012
• +1-401-848-0622 • info@lingkodtimog.com
US-Based Humanitarian Group Returns
from February 2012 Medical Mission in the Philippines
- provided medical care to Tao’t Bato cave dwellers in Palawan Island
The Rhode
Island-based humanitarian group “Lingkod Timog” that translates to “Serving the
poor in the Southern Philippines” recently returned from its 8th annual medical
mission in the Philippines from February 22 to 29. The group first provided
medical, surgical and dental care to tribal Tagbanua patients in the island of
Palawan. The group then travelled to the remote part of Southern Palawan to
care for the cave-dwelling Tao’t Bato. Rhode Islanders Cecilia and Armando
Heredia led the medical mission.
The group
president Cecilia Heredia describes the medical mission: “The Tao’t Bato did not
want to mix with others so we had two parallel medical services almost one-half
kilometer apart – one for the Tao’t Bato and one for other tribal people and
lowland Filipinos. The Tao’t Bato walked down from their caves in family
groups, including infant and children and the elderly, some almost through the
night, to reach the pickup points and Philippine Marines trucks brought them the
rest of the way. Based on their ailments, they were given medical, surgical or
dental care. Those who agreed to were given haircuts. All were fed before
being trucked back to where they started.” Cecilia is the music teacher at St
Philomena School in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and a Companion in Mission of the
Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ). St Philomena School raises funds through
Broadway musicals for the Development Center projects of the Sisters FCJ in
Manila.
Executive
Director Irene Covarrubias Sabban coordinated the volunteer doctors, dentists
and nurses as well as security and support personnel. The mission team included
US and Philippine-based volunteers, local private and public doctors and
Philippine military doctors, surgeons and dentists.
Dr Andrew Wilner
of Newport, Rhode Island, the group’s medical director, manned one of three
medical lines for the Tao’t Bato, with Dr. Tiago Villanueva Marques, and
Philippine Marines Dr. Diamante on the other two. A five-time volunteer,
neurologist, and medical author, he pointed out that “we rode at high speed for
almost six hours over unpaved and very rough roads just to get here. The Tao’t
Batos are seldom seen cave dwellers so we had to give them special attention. I
can't wait for the next mission!”
Dr. Tiago
Villanueva is a first-time volunteer to the medical mission. A family physician
from Lisbon, Portugal, whose mother is from the Philippines, he found the
mission a unique way to rediscover his roots. Also a medical writer, he will be
married this summer and plans to join next year’s mission with his intended, a
Canadian-Portuguese doctor.
US-based
volunteers included past Fil-Am Newport Rhode Island Presidents Larry Soriano
with his wife Nellie, Tony Cercena, and Tommy Delemos. Luth Ballon came from
Seattle, and Reggie and Brenda Soriano came from Alaska. All said they intended
to join next year’s mission
Medicine and
supplies came from Lingkod Timog funds and private volunteers, such as Dr. Maria
Petrillo-Bolanos of Portsmouth who responded to a last-minute list and donated
surgical supplies, and Dr. Mylene Santos of Fatima University Medical Center in
Metro-Manila who donated surgical drapes and other supplies. Palawan’s famous
restaurateur, Butch Chase, donated food for patients and volunteers.
Lingkod Timog
spokesperson Armando Heredia pointed out that this joint Lingkod Timog and the
Philippine military medical mission was formed when Lt General Juancho Sabban,
the Commander of the Philippines Western Command was studying in Newport’s US
Naval War College and the Heredia’s were his local sponsor. Cecilia Heredia
formed the group and Executive Director Irene Covarrubias Sabban coordinates the
activities. All missions involve private and government agencies, military and
police, and Christian and tribal health care providers. The indigenous people,
such as the Tagbanuas and Tao’t Bato see not just the US and Manila-based
volunteers, but their own community leaders and neighbors helping them. Lingkod
Timog’s previous missions helped the Badjaos in Zamboanga; Basilan and Sulu, the
Aetas in Zambales and Lumads in Davao.
