This February I was fortunate to have the opportunity once again to go to Bacolod, Negros on a medical mission.  As in the past, I worked with a family physician, Norma Arias.  We left O'Hare on a Friday afteroon and arrived in Bacolod on a Sunday evening.  Am not quite sure what happened to Saturday during our travel, but found that we got Saturday back on our way home.

 

We were met at the airport by Bella Alacapa, a registered nurse who has been a gracious hostess over the years for those of us traveling to Bacolod and she helped to get us settled with our new venture.

 

On Monday, Bella, Norma and I and a nurse by the name of Russell as well as the construction folks we traveled with from the States, took a tour of Bacolod; revisiting some of the Gawad Kalinga villages where Norma and Bella and I would be working as well as the construction people.  These villages have a unique history, having been developed some years ago as a means to assist those living in less than ideal conditions into homes with sound structure; the villages also help provide those living there with some sense of pride and dignity.  The homes are being built by volunteers all over the devloping world, but began their start in the Philippines.

 

Each morning, Norma, Bella and I would pack up our supplies that we brought with us from the Sates and set up clinics at various Gawad Kalinga villages, each day a different site, a kind of mobile clinic.  We saw a variety of patients with a variety of conditions and felt that we were able to make a difference in many lives; this was particularly true with a young fellow who presented with a large swelling of the left side of his jaw and a concern that it might be Tuberculous.  As a matter of fact, there were a number of patients that  there was a TB concern and each was referred to Russell who would then help with follow through with various diagnostic studies.  We saw folks who hadn't been seen by a physician for ages and who apparently had long standing blood pressure problems that we helped to control and that Russell would follow through with after we leave.  Both Norma and Bella were invloved with a great deal of patient education; both on a one to one as well as group educatoin with the people as necessary. During our time with our clinic, we saw about 400 to 425 people.

 

The Saturday between our clinic days, we visited the Holy Family Home for sexually abused girls. It is also called an orphange, but it is certainly not the Dicksonian concept of an orphange; it is run by the Capuchin Tertiary Sisters of the Holy Family, dedicated women who provide the girsl with a variety of services besides shelter:  education, health and nutrition, guidance and counseling, as well as social services and spiritual enrichment to name just a few.  On Sunday, we vegateted at a small resort.

 

Each time I have the opportuntiy to go on a mission, I alwasy feel it to be the best.  This mission really was. Each time I learn more about the Filipinos and their culture.  Each time I learn more about their graciousness and courtesy.  Each time I learn more about

poverty and injustice and the devastating effects it can have on people.  Each time I learn about how important it is to put our faith into practice.

 

Pat Cipriani