Farewell Dinner for Unheralded Volunteers

Some 56 foreign and local volunteers were honored at a dinner-dance cum awarding of plaques to deserving ones by hosts Mariquita S. Yeung and husband Carlos Yeung.

Just as excited were the doctors who led the Operation Smile Cebu mission – Dr. Sonny Santos and Dr. James Joaquino, plastic surgeons and Dr. Willy Go, anesthesiologist, who for the last 11 years has been doing unwavering service to the less fortunate children in Cebu and neighboring provinces.

In the midst of the mission, someone asked if Mariquita Yeung was doing a Princess Di? In all humility our reply was: “No, she is not doing a Princess Di, but we believe she is doing more. Mariquita’s concern for the poorest of the poor especially children with cleft lips and palates whose future is unbearably bleak and shattered if not being helped, is beyond measure. Not counting the cost, Mariquita’s heart bleeds the moment she sees a child whose face is indescribably ugly (those with double cleft lips) that only a mother can love!”

How blessed are we to know that there is one person, a Cebuana who came back, and without any prodding but with the support of Operation Smile International and Operation Smile Philippines, was able to mend the shattered faces of more than 3,000 patients in 11 years. We can only thank the good Lord for giving us Mariquita Yeung whose love and compassion to give back the children’s future and returned their smile after being operated on, then and only then can we surmise that what this Cebuana is doing can never be equaled.

During the farewell party, a video of the OPSmile at the VSMMC was presented before the guests. When that part was shown where Mariquita would carry some children and bring them to the operating room, not minding the smell of these indigent children, so many of the American volunteers including Gov. Gwen Garcia were misty-eyed. For them, it was truly a humbling experience. No, not an obsession but to a person with a soft spot in her heart for the least of her brethren, she did it for HIM! Hallelujah, God is risen!