Pinoys in Guam help 8,000 provincemates

MANILA, Philippines - A group of Pangasinenses in Guam returned home and extended help to about 8,000 indigent people through a five-day medical mission in San Carlos City and the towns of Natividad, Manaoag, Mapandan, Pozorrubio and Calasiao.

The medical mission was initiated by the Federation of Pangasinenses on Guam (FOPOG) led by retired Major Vic Rivo. All beneficiaries received medical attention including free check-up and free medicine courtesy of FOPOG.

Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim told The STAR that this was part of sisterhood ties forged between Pangasinan and Guam recently.

In a fellowship and thanksgiving celebration held at Sison Auditorium, Gov. Amado Espino Jr. thanked the 60-member medical team of FOPOG for coming to share in the province’s mission of providing medical assistance and health care especially to the poor Pangasinenses.

The governor said that Pangasinan is now rated as the best province in the country in health care with no less than 265,000 heads of indigent families enrolled in PhilHealth.

Meanwhile, Rivo showed his appreciation to the provincial government for being given the opportunity to serve fellow Pangasinenses. He said his team will come back again next year for another mission.

Espino also urged fellow Pangasinenses in Guam to help promote Pangasinan. He assured the delegates that provincial officials of Pangasinan will visit Guam next year together with the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to sign a sisterhood agreement.