In the spirit of leadership, friendship and service, the Alpha Phi Omega Alumni Council of North America (ACNA) hold its 8th International Humanitarian, Medical, Dental and Optical Mission Project on May 21, 2011 at Kabisig Elementary Schoool, Kabisig Floodway, Barangay San Andres, Cainta, Rizal, Philippines. A total of 1,199 indigent individuals (adults and children) were the beneficiaries of this mission service.
On the humanitarian part:
The Alumni Council of North America distributed used clothing, shoes and toys donated by the APO alumni associations based in the United States and Canada. We were able to send 37 balik bayan boxes to the Phils. and they were received by bro. Ver Blasco of SAPOC. The contents (goodies) of the boxes were sorted out and packed by the committee members from SAPOC and Lambda. About 394 families received the donations during the distribution. Many thanks to bros. Joey Policarpio and Ver Blasco for leading the team in packaging and distributing the goodies. Gratitude is also extended to all ACNA members who participated in the distribution.
On the Medical mission part:
We distributed multi-vitamins and minerals to 247 children and infants age between 1 to 7 years old. In addition, minor surgical circumcision was done to 95 boys age between 10-12 years old. Thanks to bro. Dr. Mike Hernandez and sis Dr. Celine Basbas of APO MAS and sis. Rikki Liquigan of the National Office for their leadership and active participation to this medical mission work.On the Dental mission part:
The group of APO DAP volunteers headed by bro. Dr. Arturo De Leon and sis. Dr. Yoya Tarriela rendered dental service like tooth extractions and dental examinations to the local residents of Barangay San Andres. A puppet show and seminar was conducted as part of educating parents and children in order to create awareness on the importance of dental hygiene and proper dental care. Thanks to the group of OLFU, College of Dentistry for a job well done in presenting the puppet show. A total of 214 adults and children received dental service and more than 200 toothbrush sets donated by Colgate were distributed to the recipients of the dental service. Thanks to the APO USA team for helping distribute the toothbrush sets during the mission project.
On the Optical mission part:
Eye examinations were conducted to check & determine if aid of reading glasses was necessary for an individual. Thanks to the group of sis. Dr. Bel Tumbokon and APO RN group for helping in the optical mission part. They were able to distribute at 249 reading eye-glasses during the mission service.
The Fellowship Night:
The fellowship night to honor our volunteers and guests was held at Ressie’s Gardenville located also in Cainta, Rizal. The buffet dinner / fellowship started at 7 pm and followed by a short program. The program includes messages from our ACNA President, sis. Cora de Jesus, bro. Maggie Katz, bro. Beth and her husband from APO USA, bro. Mel Adriano from the Nat’l Office & Hon. Ramon Ilagan, Mayor of Cainta. The awarding of plaque of appreciation and recognition of volunteers and groups was the highlight of the program.
The 8th Int’l HMDO mission project was spearheaded by its over-all chairman, bro. Aleks Garcia, President of APO Dallas Fort Worth AA, Texas, USA; the leadership of ACNA president sis. Cora De Jesus and vice-president bro. Ian Beltrano; with the active participation and support of bro. Joey Policarpio of Samahang APO ng Cainta (SAPOC), sis. Zita Balagot of Lambda Chapter and Lambda A.A.; a well-deserved acknowledgment to all SAPOC and Lambda chapter and Lambda AA volunteers for their invaluable support and assistance to make this mission project a success.
Special acknowledgment is extended to ALL alumni associations of North America for their financial and benevolent support to this project, the 175 volunteer brothers and sisters from different alumni associations and chapters for their participation and service, APO professional groups composed of medical and dental doctors (APO MAS & APO DAP), and APO NURSES who helped during the planning & preparation. Special thanks to: bro. Dr Mike Hernandez, sis. Dr. Celine Basbas, bro. Dr. Arturo De Leon, bro. Dr. Esmar Ermita, bro. Dr. Jay Millonado, and sis. Dr. Yoya Tarriela for leading the team of volunteers. Gratitude is also extended to the National Office bro. NED Bhong Cruz and sis. Rikki Liquigan for their inputs during the planning stage. Gratitude is also accorded to: Cainta Mayor Ramon Ilagan and his wife, Chairman Joe Ferrer of barangay San Andres, the school principal of Kabisig Elem. School for the venue and the Cainta DOH local agency for some medical supplies. Special thanks to Rotary Club of Pasay EDSA ( through Rot. Pit Garcia) for donating medicine and anti-biotic and also to Colgate for the toothbrush sets that were distributed during the dental service. - Bro. Aleks Garcia
A well-planned project results in a well-organized venue, full cooperation of participants & volunteers and success in the execution of the program for effective and efficient service to our stakeholders . . . "De Kalidad na Serbisyo para sa ating mga KABABAYAN PILIPINO!"