An integrated Medical Mission of the unified Southeastern Philippine Union Mission (SePUM), Davao Mission (DM), and Adventist Hospital Davao (AHD) provided a variety of health services to Barangay Tacunan, Tugbok District, Davao City on May 17 with the coordination of its organizing team, Pr Jonathan Hemoroz of Adventist Mission, Pr Victor Navarro, Health Director, Pr. Raul Emnace, SS/PM/ASI Director and all committee members organized for the momentous event.
As a community-friendly gesture of SePUM, which is currently establishing its regional headquarters at Purok 3-B of the aforesaid barangay with approximately 15,000 population and led by Punong Barangay Hon. Arnold Laroga Asobe, all Barangay Health Workers were sent to assist the medical outreach, which provided services to more or less 534 clients.
All administrators, directors, and staff of SePUM, headed by its President, Pastor Danielo Palomares, flocked to the venue to perform designated tasks in various departments: triage, medical, dental, optometry, massage therapy, free haircut, counseling and pastoral care, pharmacy, food distribution, venue preparation and restoration, sanitation, and all other aspects necessary for its success. Twenty 1000MM missionaries also arrived with combs and scissors for free haircuts, and with hands and liniment for massage therapy sessions.
The Adventist Hospital Davao family, led by its President, Ma’am Wintonette Angelica Mojica-Tabudlong, CPA, MBA, CHA, led a contingent of around 25 personnel, while Davao Mission’s President, Pr. Reynald Dela Cruz, sent personnel and volunteers led by Pr. Elmer Arrogante, DM Health and Spirit of Prophecy Director, and Pr. Lito Magsico, Tugbok District Pastor.
Kagawad Erixspe Asobe, who supervised the multi-partite affair on behalf of the barangay council, commented: “As a Committee on Health Chairperson, I am so grateful that God sent you to answer the needs of our constituents, and in full force you came with a more complete package of services than the previous medical missions we experienced. It is such a great blessing for the barangay folks.”
With 8 skillful medical practitioners and a few volunteers, the team performed 96 circumcisions. Volunteer AHD doctors offered medical consultations to 231 clients, and with a lone optometrist, the team provided 66 reading eyeglasses after check-up and reading assessment. Seventy-five clients availed of tooth extractions with only two young dentists from morning until noon, until another lady dentist came later to supplement her expertise. Eighteen people availed of massage services, and 28 had haircuts from the 1000 Missionaries.
“I finally availed of Adventist Hospital Davao’s excellent services,” Ret. Police Inspector Emma Barretto Garcia exclaimed. “I heard about this hospital when I was serving PNP in Cotabato City, and I am glad to meet their mild-mannered and friendly personnel serving my barangay today.” Ma’am Bautista, the purok leader of Deca Homes Tacunan, sought assistance from Ma’am Jo Hallarces, AHD Marketing Director, to request her transfer of PhilHealth services from another hospital. She proceeded to meet the prayer and counseling team and graciously received the Cebuano version of the book, The Great Controversy. She ended her appointment with an interview for Adventist News Network – Southeastern Philippines for its May 22 episode.
The counseling and prayer team listened with compassion to the diverse stories shared by program recipients. With tender hearts, they offered counsel, biblical insights, and uplifting prayers. Encouraging each one to read the Scriptures and discover the “Great Controversy” between good and evil, they pointed to the true medicine every soul needs in these perilous times.
Mrs. Anna Marie Lamanilao, President of the 30-member Barangay Health Workers Association, said: “As a unified team for the welfare of our barangay people, we are grateful for this opportunity of availing the services which could benefit both the young and old. ”
One confession caught our ears. One barangay volunteer, cleaning the dental tools, said: “My son became an Adventist after having a vacation at Lilingayon, Valencia City. Though we differ in religion, I accepted him gladly because he became a better person, prayerful, and more responsible.” Barangay Health Volunteer Berthel Balasabas added: “My son, who frequently attended religious services at Bamboo Adventist Church before he worked as a seaman, talked so much about his fellow Adventists—friendly, happy, generous, prayerful, and loving to help others. Today, I proved that those descriptions my son shared with me are true, a unique experience I had today.”
Definitely, "we should ever remember that the efficiency of the medical missionary work is in pointing sin-sick men and women to the Man of Calvary, who taketh away the sin of the world." Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, June 9, 1904
Photos: SePUM Communication and Media Team
