Lucy celebrates birthday with medical mission

ORMOC CITY , Philippines   – Around 1,500 people from various parts of the fourth district of Leyte benefited from the medical mission facilitated by Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez here last Dec. 11.

The medical mission, conducted in cooperation with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), was Torres-Gomez’s “birthday gift” to her constituents as she turned 36 that day, saying she wanted to celebrate it in a meaningful way.

Torres-Gomez’s medical mission was supported by the doctors and nurses of the Ormoc District Hospital and other towns and the dental team from the Philippine National Police.

She also gave away Belo gift packs to the nurses, Bench perfumes for the doctors and dentists, and honoraria for them and the other volunteers and aides.

The medical mission was held at the Western Leyte College gym. Torres-Gomez visited her constituents there and mingled with them, apologizing that they had to make do with the venue, which turned hotter by the hour.

The congresswoman decided to forego her request to use the Superdome because her previous deposit was forfeited by City Hall. She said she felt bad for her constituents, including the volunteers, who were uncomfortable with the heat.

She was distressed with the fact that even if the medical mission was government-initiated, ugly politics still wiggled its way in.

Torres-Gomez and Mayor Eric Codilla are not political allies and pundits say reconciliation will not be easy, or even impossible, because it was Codilla’s eldest brother Winnie that she routed by 24,701 votes.

According to Torres-Gomez’s office staff, a deposit for the Superdome’s use was paid during the campaign period yet for an expected visit by Kris Aquino.

Aquino, however, cancelled her scheduled visit and the Gomezes decided not to withdraw their deposit but instead leave it with City Hall for future use.

They trusted the word of Superdome manager Alvin Racaza that it could be done, a verbal arrangement which was allegedly concurred by city administrator Dennis Capuyan.

However, now that they wanted to use it, they were informed that the payment was already forfeited allegedly upon the mayor’s orders and that they had to pay again – and that “in deference” to her, at a discounted rate of P5,000 per hour or P40,000.

The deposit that the Gomezes made for Aquino’s visit was P36,000 at P6,000 per hour.

Nonetheless, Torres-Gomez said it was a successful medical mission, making her birthday celebration more meaningful because she knew many people needed it.

Alongside the medical mission were booths for “free calls” for people who wanted to call their loved ones via long distance, in the country or abroad. Torres-Gomez said this was in partnership with Smart.

Torres-Gomez also took time to announce in her various speaking engagements during her two-day visit to the fourth district about a “bigger” medical-surgical mission that would be undertaken by a group of Filipino expats in the United States on Jan. 30, 2011.

Starting this week, she said a doctor would report to her congressional office for a pre-assessment of the patients.

She said these doctors would be able to perform major surgeries to 300 patients, except heart and brain surgery.

General surgery cases include thyroid, hernia, gall bladder, any abdominal surgery, mastectomies or neck surgery, plastic surgery for cleft lips, cleft palate and other cases; ob-gyne; hysterectomy, caesarean section, cataracts and other eye surgeries, hydrocephalus, simple encephaloceles, and hand surgery. 

She urged her constituents to refer people they know who need surgery, saying she is aware that the prohibitive cost of medical treatment discourages the poor from seeking medical attention.

Torres-Gomez promised residents of the fourth district that she would try to do her best while in office, but asked them to be more patient, especially when she cannot grace some invitations because she had other commitments.

“Politics is expensive, the more that Richard and I have to work hard,” she said, referring to their showbiz careers.