OPERATION SMILE: 17 OLONGAPENOS WENT UNDER FREE CLEFT LIP AND PALATE OPERATION

On Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr.’s behalf, Olongapo City First Lady and Zambales Vice Gov. Anne Gordon visited the seventeen (17) Olongapo City residents who went under the free hare-lip and cleft lip and palate surgical operations courtesy of ‘Kapampangan Development Foundation’ (KDF).

FL Anne Gordon’s participation in this endeavor was with regards to the surgical operations executed by volunteer doctors from ‘Operation Smile-Philippines’ where volunteers operated on indigent patients from Olongapo City, the province of Zambales and other parts of Central Luzon with cleft lip and palate.

‘’Pinapahalagahan ng administrasyon ni Mayor Bong Gordon ang kalusugan ng mga batang Olongapeno lalo na ang mga batang may physical na kapansanan na dahil sa kahirapan ng buhay ay hindi magawang suma-ilalim sa operasyon na nangangailangan ng mahigit P60,000 hanggang P100,000 bawat isang pasyente,’’ said FL Anne Gordon.

‘’Nagpapasalamat din ako sa ‘Kapampangan Development Foundation’ at sa ‘Operation Smile-Philippines’ na naging daan at nagbigay dahilan sa mga bata na ngumiti at patuloy na ngumiti,’’ added FL Anne.

The following are Olongapenos that benefitted from the medical mission:

1. Paula Mae Gayanes – 3 years old

2. Romalyn Godoy – 1 year and 7 months

3. Arjean Ashriel Magno – 1 year old

4. Nicole Alfabete – 10 year old

5. James Oliva – 3 year old

6. Mary Rose Espineli- 20 years old

7. Arnaldo Ayson – 4 year old

8. Nilo Soria – 3 year old

9. Nanet Isip – 4 year old

10. Alex Seridon – 30 years old

11. Aran Jansen Endaya – 10 months old

12. Harold Castro – 1 year old

13. Ceriaco Ramos – 5 years old

14. Allison Hawayi – 3 years old

15. Mark David Dondriano – 9 months old

16. Mark Daniel Dondriano – 9 months old

17. Dether Kyley – 9 months old

‘’Walang sinagot financially ang Olongapo Government at lalong walang sinagot ang mga pasyente dahil ang lahat ay inako ng ‘Kapampangan Development Foundation’. Magmula sa transportation, tirahan, pagkain, hospitalization at doctors fee hanggang sa kanilang pagbalik dito sa Olongapo ay sinagot pa rin ng foundation,’’ asserted City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) head Gene Eclarino.

The free harelip and cleft lip and palate surgical operation was made possible because of the harmonious connection between Mayor Gordon and Sylvia Ordonez of the ‘Kapampangan Development Foundation’ (KDF) who recently conferred and discussed the said Operation Smile project with Mayor Gordon.

With this, Mayor Gordon directed CSWDO head Eclarino to look for indigent people who are with the aforementioned facial deformities and assist them in the medical mission.

The final pre-surgery screening was done on May 30, 2010 at the Social Action Center (Sacop) San Fernando, Pampanga while the surgical procedure was executed on May 31, 2010 at the Mother Theresa Calcutta Medical Center (MTCMC) also in San Fernando, Pampanga.