Mikey, Klub Don Juan hold medical mission

The Klub Don Juan de Manila, an association of horse owners and racing patrons, held a medical mission and relief goods distribution last Aug. 24 at the Sasmuan Catholic Elementary School in Sasmuan, Pampanga with Pampanga. Vice-Governor Mikey Arroyo accompanying the group.

Some 400 families received medicines and grocery items from Klub members and Arroyo, a longtime friend of the horseracing industry who took time out from his busy schedule to welcome the group to the flood-hit town of Sasmuan.

The youthful Arroyo thanked Klub members for bringing yet another of its numerous lined-up charity projects to Pampanga, even as he forecast the continued success of the booming racing industry.

"I would like to thank the Klub Don Juan de Manila for their concern for the less privileged. This only shows that although horse owners are forever locked in fierce competition, they can also be partners with the same aim of helping the poor," Arroyo said.

Klub president Albert Trinidad said the Pampanga activity is but only the third of many more such programs lined up by the association, which counts as members some 40 horse owners.

It may be recalled that the Klub held two previous such charity projects at San Lazaro and Sta. Ana—both huge successes based on the massive turnout.

Klub director Myther Bunag said the association intends to bring the charity mission not only to Luzon, but also to poverty-stricken areas in the Visayas and Mindanao.

"I would like to express my appreciation to all the Klub members who have shown their sincerity to help those who have less in life. The horseracing industry has been good to all and it’s nice to see that the owners themselves are more than willing to give something back to the public through their charity work," Bunag said.

Trinidad also thanked Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) commissioner Roger Tandiama for helping the Klub bring in doctors for the medical mission headed by Perla Alban.