Cagayan de Oro City Medical & Dental Mission

With no clear explanation from Air Philippines authorities, our 6:00 am departure flight from Manila to Cagayan de Oro City turned into four hours of confusion, chaos and anxieties. It’s understandable that it was the early morning of October 30, the height of Super typhoon “Paeng" wrecking havoc in northern part of Luzon. But confusion and anger began to develop among the restless Cagayan de Oro City bound passengers when it became clear that the two scheduled flights (the 6:00am and the 8:00am) had been stalled while other planes come and go from different destinations.

Meanwhile, Bro. Elmer Emperado, of Lapasan church of Christ and Gigi Carranza’s exchange of text messages keep our cellphone busied. The former asking the latter if we’re already on our way to Cagayan. The only assurance that we can give to them is that, “we will text them as soon as we boarded the plane.”
.
When the smoke becomes clear and everything finally settled, the scheduled two-flights were combined and by the time we boarded the plane, the medical and dental mission in Cagayan already started an hour ago.

It’s almost 11:00 in the morning when our plane taxied the Cagayan tarmac and just outside, Bro. Elmer Emperado patiently waiting for almost two hours holding a piece of cardbox that read, “Sonny & Gina, MARCH for Christ.” Straight from the airport, this “big” brother drove us to the scene of the action
.
The clinic site is the same elementary school where the Lapasan brethren hold their Sunday worship service. As soon as we arrived, we immediately set up the Dental area. Throng of people that composed of men, women and even children gathered earlier now forming a long line ready to put their fate into Doc Gina’s hands. Some are eager to part-ways with their tooth of burden and unwanted cavities.

Hunger seems out of our mind, not when our hosts remind us to recharge. It was half past 1:00 o’clock when we feasted on ‘nilagang baboy’ and ‘pakbet’ prepared by sister Dalene Emperado.

The 1-day free clinic sponsored by MARCH for Christ ended when the place becomes totally free of patients. At almost 6:00 in the afternoon, doc Sam treated, dispensed medicines to 176 patients with 2 minor surgeries, and doc Gina had a total of 38 extractions.
.
At the Emperado’s house, the whole staff was treated with home-made cake again prepared by sis. Dalene. This was later followed by a dinner for the Cariagas and Catalans.

Before the night ended, doc Sam and family bid farewell to the rest of us and embarked on a 4-hour drive back to Butuan City. While our travel agent made sure we’ll be having a goodnight rest by texting us that our 10:35 am departure back to Manila has been moved to a more comfortable 2:35 pm schedule. It was a looong and good night rest indeed!

Note:

Special thanks to the Emperado’s for being our gracious host, diligently taking care of us, for their time of showing us around the city’s malls and exclusive subdivisions, and bidding us goodbyes up to the airport. To little Chabelita, for a short-lived but meaningful friendship. Thanks also to the young people of Lapasan who served as our dental assistant/registrar, to the student pharmacists and also to the promising nursing graduate who will take her board exam this coming December, wish you all the best. To the rest of you guys, sorry for my sin of omission for not putting your name on record. Thanks also to Doc Sam and his family, what a great partner in this kind of endeavor. To Gigi, for introducing us to Air Philippines (we know it’s beyond your control, but we will demand a treat every time this happens). To kuya Chito and the rest of the board members, for allowing us to represent the MARCH to Cagayan brethren; and most specially, thanks to our Awesome God for making this trip safe and the medical and dental mission a success. God bless us all.