Talk:B.O.S.S. Brotherhood Operation Sweet Smile

How it Started

Bro Frank,

Dec of 2010 our group APO-SOZA-ALAS was having a feeding program in brgy Tagulo in the municipality of Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur. When I noticed a girl who I thought was playing with her soup, cause it was bubbling turned out to be a harelip child. I don't know what drove me into offering her a free operation, and when the next guy heard it he too a harelip child requested that he be included.

Being an ex-Rotarian I knew whom to approach and it was brod James Makasiar. He said no problem but I need to have more harelip patients. He recommended that I talked to the Rotarians here for a team up. Their response was encouraging, but later fizzled out for they don't have the funds. My group got dismayed and didn't want to pursue the project any more. My determination to have those two kids operated, drove me to just request the group to look for other patients, and I'll do the rests. When the lists was getting longer I then had the local doctors, surgeons and anesthesiologists into the loop by having a MOA with them. Everything was okay for the use of the provincial hospital only to be told that there was a hold order coming from no less than the governor. One of the doctors gave me a tip that I tap the regional hospital and gave me a contact person for a foundation doing such services.

March 02, 2011 we launched the project in the office of Mayor Ireneo Glepa of Molave. Had it announced by the RMN radio. Had the ABC president involved by informing the brgy captains of such a project. Tap the churches also to disseminate the info.

The chief of hospital of Margosatubig Regional Hospital, Dr.Richard B. Sison was so accommodating that he immediately agreed that the project be held in their hospital plus we will house and feed the volunteers. The foundation is Maharlika Charity Foundation Dr. Benedict Edward P. Valdez is also a Mason. They swiftly moved and was here in Pagadian to have site inspection after a week only of communicating. I was handed a proposal wherein we would put up a counterpart amounting to 90K. I almost fell off my chair, and politely told them that our group is a newly formed group and that we can't afford. Maybe my honesty and being frank with them, is what Dr. Valdez saw that he said we just give him at least 40 patients and they would come back to do the operation.

The 40 patients requested was more than doubled, it was 82 harelip patients that arrived, and had the chief of hospital exclaimed My God what a forsaken place is this!! 76 was successfully operated. In token we awarded the Doctors, nurses & staff of MCFI w/certificate of appreciation & tshirts, right after the dinner and fellowship followed. The funds came from my solicitation and not a single centavo was used from the coffers of the association.

Impressed by the outcome Dr. Valdez invited me to assist them in Marawi and make it as our project. I said we could do it. I tapped then bro Rash Arimao, who later got lost and could not be contacted anymore. Brod Ali Andig being the Vice Chairman of I'MAPO, I had him involved and he likewise tapped his alma mater Beta Upsilon. This project was huge involving Cataract, Hernia, Dental Extraction, Cystic removal & Harelip. The participation of the LGU was needed so I talked to bro Gov. Bombit Adiong who did not hesitate. MCFI has been doing this kind of mission for 38 yrs. We were lucky enough that he got me into the loop. I made it as a project of I'MAPO, but again not a single centavo from the association was used. I then termed it as Project B.O.S.S Brotherhood Operation for Sights & Smiles for it involved Cataract, if only Harelip then it will be Sweet Smile. Oct last year it was done.

It was time for a repeat in Zamboanga del Sur, same venue and this time 52 arrived & 40 were operated last Nov. Dr. Valdez again asked me to join him in Tacloban,I tapped sis Cielo Martinez, a judge. She saw the high impact of this project that she said she will tap the AA, it was Delta Phi who bravely accpeted the challenge with only 3 weeks notice and it was in Dec. It was a momentous event for the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center was made a Cleft Center by MCFI. There was a turnover ceremony & press conference and I'MAPO & the local Aa was involved. The Director of DOH in Region VIII even commented in his speech. How I wish there is an Integrated Visayas Alpha Phi Omega, to have brought the project in their area, instead of Integrated Mindanao Alpha Phi Omega, and he thank us for bringing the project in Region VII.

All the four missions where financed by donations and the local AA involved. From June to Dec last year I'MAPO with MCFI operated 180 harelip patients aside from the other operations that was shown in the video.

Come April 16-20 it will be in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat this mission includes Cataract, Hernia,Swuint and Harelip. The delegation opf MCFI will reach 50 at least. April 26-30 will be a repeat in Marawi but for Harelip only,

May 6 will commence in Surigao followed in May 25 in Balaiangao MisOcc.June 25 will be in Gingoog City and July 16 in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.

There you are bro as briefly as it could get..

Thanks a lot, regards & God bless.

MWAB

Bel