Expats, vets and cockers help Baguio-Benguet patients

REACHING OUT

An expatriate Cordilleran in Japan,  retired military servicemen from overseas and  cockfighting aficionados are keeping alive the culture of caring that was Baguio’s theme when it marked its centennial  in 1909.

Together, they have pooled a fund of  P147,400 and $300, of which P56,647.76 and $100 have so far been distributed to 22 patients and a student here and in Benguet.

Members of the Baguio post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, most of whom served in the United States Navy, made the initial thrust, raising  P25,400 under the direction of outgoing and incoming post commanders Larry Senato and Willy Totanes during their induction of officers last April.

Of the amount, P4,340 went to the purchase of medicines for Helen Vicente, a 61-year old  widow with nine children who has been suffering from diabetes for 19 years now. The patient lost her husband to kidney disease a few years back.  

From the same fund, P1,400 was used for  the laboratory tests, catheter and medicines of Mordayne Gay Naslangan, a five-year old girl from Sinto, Bauko, Mt. Province who is fighting lymphocytic leukemia.

Three thousand pesos paid for the initial tuition fee of Cherry Ann Realinza, a 16-year old computer student whose father, Andres,  a security guard, died when he was hit by a pine tree which fell while he was assigned at the Busol Watershed at the height of a storm several years ago.

Other beneficiaries were dialysis patient JosalynBalisbis (P2,200), a 35-year old man suffering from schizophrenia (P1,162.50); a widower who lost his daughter to kidney disease last year but was hospitalized while helping other dialysis patients (P6,796.79), and another dialysis patient who has been in and out of the hospital the last few months.

The fund drive was  triggered by former U.S. Navy serviceman Bob Aliping who dished out CD copies of his original folk and country compositions, saying whatever would be raised would uplift the needy.

From Japan where her husband is stationed under the U.S military service, Cordilleran Rita KewanTokarski sent $300 through her cousin, philanthropist and former world karate champion Julian Chees, saying she would like to follow his humanitarian thrust.

The initial $100 was given to prop up  Jorieta Pocais Pa-ayen, a 22-year old accountancy graduate from Gibraltar Barangay here who was diagnosed  last year for metataticmelacarcinoma, a type of cancer that spreads from a tumor.

The girl, a native of Bauko, Mt. Province, was then reviewing for her board examination when doctors began treatment by removing the lumps  by surgery and recommended her for six cycles of chemotherapy distanced every 21 days.

From the P54,000 raised by game fowl aficionados in a three-cock derby last May 8, 14,000 distributed  to support the dialysis sessions of seven dialysis patients,  Adela Enrade, Manuel Boaging, CrencioDoriano, Rolando Domingo, Jerry Taynan, April Sakiwat and Ryan Becaca.

The derby-for-a-cause was offered by sportsman Gilbert Tanding of the Shilan Sports Arena in La Trinidad, Benguet and was supported by top breeders in Baguio, Benguet and La Union.

Over at the Tabora Sports Complex in Tuba, Benguet,  the United Baguio-Benguet Breeders Association, through president, Engr. Tony Boy Tabora recently released P68,000 as support to members  or their relatives who are undergoing hemodialysis.

Association director, Dr. Edward Dugui-is, said the amount came from the U3BA’s share from the “Bakbakan” national derby series to fund service and community projects.

The initial beneficiaries are kidney patients Marcelino “Bay” Villacencio (P4,497.43; Jaime PaaCabiles (P2,474.60),  Bienvenido Pablo (P2,200); , 

 Leandro Tandoc (P2,200)  Daniel Pontino (P2,200), ErlyDumansi (P2,200) and Roel Cruz (P2,200).  

Documentation of the fund use will be done, fur submission to the donors.–Ramon Dacawi.