Watsons and Operation Smile Philippines partner to transform lives

MANILA, Philippines - Watsons and Operation Smile Philippines recently signed a memorandum of agreement that brings together the Philippine chapter of these two global groups in a joint effort to transform lives of less fortunate children afflicted with cleft palate deficiency.

Watsons general manager and Operation Smile Philippines president and executive director Bobby Manzano signed the agreement recently at Watsons Corporate Office together with Operation Smile trustee and treasurer Donald Lim, deputy executive director Ricky Lepatan and Watsons senior regulatory affairs manager Belinda E. Pesayco.

With the partnership, Watsons will be transforming the lives of 50 kid beneficiaries in their first mission with volunteers from the Watsons group. Operation Smile, meanwhile, will provide free treatment from final screening until discharge.

 The tie-up is in line with the two groups’ shared advocacy of transforming lives. As a personal care store, Watsons is committed to make its customers “Look Good, Feel Good” by promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Operation Smile, which has more than 35 offices around the world, began in the Philippines in 1982 when Dr. William “Bill” Magee and his wife Kathy set foot in the country for a one-time medical mission in Naga City.

Providing free surgeries to repair cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities for children throughout the country, this US-based non-profit organization works in more than 60 countries. During the past 30 years, it has provided comprehensive healthcare evaluations for more than two million patients and performed over 200,000 surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities worldwide. It can take as little as 45 minutes to create a smile and change someone’s life forever.

“Operation Smile Philippines is truly privileged and excited to have a great organization like Watsons as its partner in its mission to bring hope and transformation to indigent Filipino children afflicted with congenital facial deformity,” Manzano says. “We are confident that Watsons’ decision to help these children through Operation Smile will inspire others to do the same.”

In 2012, Operation Smile celebrated its 30th anniversary through “The Journey Home” event, where Operation Smile transformed the lives of more than 4,500 Filipino children born with facial deformities. With the help of medical volunteers from 30 countries, the organization conducted medical missions across nine sites throughout the Philippines over three weeks.

Watsons is encouraging all public and private groups to join the life-changing missions of Operation Smile Philippines.