The Bisaya Way: Selfless Giving

CEBU, Philippines - My Uncle Jess, internist Dr. Jesus Tanrena Ho, and Auntie Inday, dentist Dr. Priscilla Miranda-Ho, migrated to New York in the mid-1960s and established themselves in Moundsville, West Virginia. Despite success and respectability – Dr. Jess is the founding president of the Philippine Medical Association of West Virginia and past president of the Association of Philippine Physicians in America (APPA) — they have never forgotten their roots. Thus, 29 years ago, the couple initiated a medical mission group that comes home to help the poorest of the poor in the Visayas and Mindanao areas. Today, many pioneer missioners are still doing their share of this charitable undertaking, along with their children and some grandchildren. Being a missioner not only entails volunteering your time and expertise, it also means giving cash from your own pocket, as well as soliciting donations from pharmaceutical companies and networked hospitals for useful equipment they can spare. Being a missioner means that you have to pay your travel expenses into the country and stay at whatever accommodations the recipients could afford to provide.

For the past two years, the request of Rev. Fr. John T. Roña, rector of Theotokos (Greek term for “Mother of God”) Shrine in Perelos, Carcar, was set aside because of prior requests. Last year, Uncle Jess and Auntie Inday came to Cebu to do an ocular inspection of the possible recipient – Theotokos. As their relative, I was given the role of local coordinator of the 2010 Bisaya Medical Association’s Medical/Surgical Mission. 

When we did an inspection of the Carcar Provincial Hospital, Uncle Jess immediately disapproved, as it did not have the facilities needed: at least two sterilized operation rooms, pharmacy, consultation area, laboratory, etc. When we were faced with that problem, I tried contacting Congressman Eduardo Gullas who readily met with us even when it was a Saturday evening. Sir Eddie suggested the Talisay District Hospital in San Isidro. The following early morning of Sunday, Sir Eddie accompanied us for the ocular inspection, of which Dr. Jess was quite satisfied.

I facilitated, in Cebu, the release of the 45 ft. x 20 ft. container van at the international port by early February, while Cong. Gullas personally facilitated in Manila the needed papers for its release. The van finally arrived in Talisay District Hospital just before the official start of the mission. Donations, mainly from Brother’s Brother Foundation, included basic operating room items like gauze sponges, gloves Vacutainer, Tegaderm dressings, cover sheets, suture removers, specula, trays, CPR bags, tracheal tubes, operating gowns and clogs, etc.; clavicle straps, Dow Corning Wright tibial inserts; neonatal equipment and facilities like umbilical vessel insertion tray, nasal cannula, infant feeding tubes, incubators, among many, many others. Bigger items were EKG machine w/cart, chemistry & analyzer machine, suction machines w/stand, several crutches, wheelchairs, hospital beds, sofas, tables, etc.

Meanwhile, Dr. & Mrs. Jesus T. Ho brought in with them as accompanying luggage four boxes of medicines that were purchased from the personal cash donations of the participating missioners, worth about US$55,000.00.

The poor parishioners of Theotokos Shrine in Carcar, as well as the people of Talisay City, had the privilege of free medicines, medical consultations, minor surgeries and are still enjoying the donated hospital equipment, books, beds, tables, etc. that are now in use at the Talisay District Hospital.

To Dr. Lino & Dr. Imelda Carpio, US-based family physicians and pioneer missioners who liaised the request of Fr. Roña; Radiologist Dr. Rano Bofill – current president of the Bisaya Medical Association, and wife Judy, R.N. — BMA Auxiliary President; Dr. Jesus T. Ho – Head of Mission, and wife Inday Miranda-Ho – Auxiliary Head of Mission, our heartfelt thanks for your selfless gift of service.

God’s blessings be on you and your laudable project. ?