Operation Smile bigwigs visit Cebu

It's love month once again and Operation Smile people will be on their feet to make children with facial deformities smile again. Operation Smile International, headed by Dr. William Magee and wife Kathy Magee, Founders of OSI, and Operation Smile Philippines headed by Chairman Jose L. Querubin, will be visiting Cebu on February 19, 2006. They will be at the local site, VSMMC, to observe and experience first hand the activities during the mission.

Those arriving are: Jose L. Querubin - chairman, Ms. Edith Villanueva - president, Mr. Ricardo Lepatan - OIC, Mr. Roberto Manzano - Trustee, Ms. Blesilda Peren - Marketing Director, Dr. William Magee and wife Kathy - OSI Founders, Mr. Carlos Robles - OSI Trustee, Ms. Olivia Machado - OSI Coordinator.

Also arriving from Manila are the new OSP Board of Trustees, viz: Ms. Evangeline Cayaba - Treasurer and the TrusteesMr. Ramon Santiago, Mr. Charlie Vitasa, Mr. Joaquin Quintos, Mr. Ricardo Delgado Jr., Mr. Napoleon Nazareno, Mr. Ozen Chan, Ms. Dee Anne Zobel, Ms. Tina Monzon Palma and Mr. Donald Lim.

Mrs. Mariquita S. Yeung, Chairman of MSYCFI, which hosted the Cebu OSP mission for the last 8 years, will host dinner reception for the visiting bigwigs at her lovely home in Nivel Hills at 7:00 PM. The following day, there will be a Press Conference at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center at 10:30 AM. After which, the officers will witness the actual surgeries in the Operating Room. Then, some of the Trustees will leave for Manila while others will fly to Davao, another site for this medical mission.

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It's the consensus of everyone that when January comes, the influx of tourists to our Queen City, especially our very own Cebuanos, is incredible.

Among our friends, the first to arrive was Dr. Jose "Bebe" Barba. He came to receive an award from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the Most Outstanding Toledohanon during the 46th Charter Day anniversary celebration. Venue was the Barba Sports Complex, named in memory of Bebe's father who was Mayor of Toledo City for 23 years. He was then given a welcome dinner by Consul Jaime Picornell at the Casino Español de Cebu.

Another balikbayan was Emmanuel "Noli" Frias from London where he works as a nurse. Noli spent one month with his Mom Cherry and sisters Baby and Marichu. He left with the promise that he will surely be back next January.

Dr. Cherry Duterte Bondoc and hubby Dr. Rene came home to bid goodbye to their loving Mom Bening Duterte who joined her Creator. After her mom was laid to rest, Cherry spent time with her friends while husband Rene attended their class anniversary at CIM. The couple, who are Florida-based, are blessed with three handsome boys - Paul, Louis and Michael. Since they are now semi-retired medical practitioners, they travel a lot and sometimes join medical missions to the Philippines.

From Seattle, Washington came the beauteous friend of ours - Mary Ann Vargas, wife of Homer who's working as a Dialysis Nurse in one of the hospitals in Washington. She was treated to a hearty lunch by her friends from the Inner Wheel Club of Cebu South. With her were Cynthia Dagus, Baby Florido, Stella Bernabe, Pilar Puno, Lilian Chua, Baby Aleta, Sheila Maximo, Zony and Janice Escario.

And from Michigan, came loving couple Ted and Flammie Alo who just love to shop in Cebu. Immediately after they arrived, golf buddy Julius and Nelia Neri hosted dinner at Lemon Grass for them. Also with us were Inting and Lucille, formerly Michigan-based but will be here to stay for good. Two days before, Fer Y. also hosted dinner for Ted and Flammie at Chikaan.