Retired servicemen fighting for others’ wellness

REACHING OUT

BAGUIO CITY -- Like their on-duty counterparts, retired military servicemen from overseas are still into battle, this time for the sick and needy hereabouts.

Out-going commander Larry Senato of Post 124 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars made the call to action at the installation of officers of the Baguio-based  chapter last April 16, generating a net of P16,620 and $200 in a spontaneous response from the membership.

The pass-the-hat was triggered by retired U.S. Navy serviceman Bob Aliping who offered a copy of “Boba Songs”, a CD compilation of his folk and country compositions, to anyone who could share any amount for sick people airing their appeal for help.

Senato’s response was matched by out-going post commander Willy Totanes. The rest followed, adding humanitarian substance to the induction rites.

“Please use the amount to ease suffering of people, some of whom you’ve been writing about,” Aliping advised when he handed the amount to this writer last Monday.

Aliping, whose compositions are based on his experiences in the U.S. Navy and lives of fellow Filipino expatriates, recorded last year his compositions and started offering them as trigger in a donation-for-a-cause drive among fellow expatriate Cordillerans. 

On a  trip to a gathering of Igorots in Las Vegas, Nevada last December, he played his CD on the bus player and raised over $200. He then sent the amount for Shaly Cris Bantas, a 19-year old girl from Quirino, Ilocos Sur and Bauko, Mt. Province who needed to undergo peritoneal dialysis for kidney failure. 

Last January, before returning home to Baguio, he knocked on doors of fellow expats in San Diego,California, promising to personally deliver their CD copies. He collected a total of $1,300 in exchange for his CD. He then sent the amount for 24-year old Quakelyn Lisayen, a former volunteer rescuer here who is struggling to undergo  kidney transplant. 

Also from the U.S. Marivic Baicy of Webster, Texas, coursed through former Baguio assistant city prosecutor Evelyn Tagudar $100, also for Quakelyn. 

Last week, Marissa Pasyalen, a 38-year old mother of two ailing kids tried to fight off tears after receiving support of P10,000 each from two women she had never met until  she appealed for hep.

“They declined to identify themselves, saying they just wanted to help,” she recalled. “One of them is middle-aged, with curly hair who said she is  from Itogon, Benguet, while  the  other is fortyish and an engineer.”

Marissa’s daughter, 14-year old Desiree, has been confined since Feb. 14 at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center , the left side of her body paralyzed due to pneumonia and complications. As of the other week, the family had spent P30,000 for medicines, while hospital charges  had mounted to P134,000.

Her other child, 19-year old Ralph, the third in a brood of six, was operated on for multiple angiolipoma when he was 10 months old and when he was two years old. In 2011, he was bed-ridden, Last September, he was rushed anew to the BGHMC for abdominal pain. Doctors then diagnosed him for bladder stones, kidney and heart problems. 

Melissa was a domestic help in Malaysia but had to come home  to attend to her sick kids.  

Gentle souls may contact her cellphone number – 09485378418.- Ramon Dacawi