Business Log
Mission: Make Pangasinan harelip-free
By Eva C. Visperas
It started as a pity on his niece. She had harelip and had developed an inferiority complex, shying away from people, even from her relatives, because of her physical deformity.
Dr. Jess Canto, Region 1 Medical Center hospital director based in Arellano district, Dagupan City, narrated last week to a group of sexy reporters (just ask me who they are as this is very confidential) that he felt he could do something to put an end to this niece’s misery.
And he did. He performed the surgery and the rest was history, as we love to put it.
When he became lieutenant governor of Kiwanis Club, he achieved a sterling record when he implemented “Children Priority One Project” that promoted child care starting from pregnancy. In fact, he was one of the five finalists for Civil Service Commission’s Lingkod Bayan last year for his good public service record.
But of all the projects he implemented as a doctor, he considers Alis Bungis (Harelip/Cleft Palate removal) his pet project.
He continues to pay so much attention to this project, thanks to House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr for Pangasinan fourth district beneficiaries and Philhealth regional manager Ernesto Beltran for their help.
Of course, credit also goes to Doctors Robert Valenzuela, Melquiades Manaois, Mario Garcia and Gerry Rosario who help Canto perform the surgery on the harelip patients.
Then, there is also the International Band of Mercy, with its counterpart in the Philippines that is extending invaluable assistance for this worthy project.
Canto recalled that when he went to the Shrine of the miraculous Our Lady of Manaoag in Manaoag town one day, there he saw a young male adult with harelip. Without much ado, he talked to the person and convinced him to see him in his office for a free treatment.
This person has since joined 100 others more from all corners of Pangasinan and even in nearby provinces who have so far benefited from this project.
Today, there are 13 other pending patients waiting for clearances (to ensure they are free from other illnesses) who will also undergo surgery, guaranteed free of charge.
To undergo harelip/cleft palate operation is not a joke. It entails a big sum of money, so pity the poor ones who will likely suffer for the rest of their life without Good Samaritans like Canto and the rest of those helping him to come to their rescue.
The good doctor, who always has good praises for the speaker and his wife, plans to have a reunion with all their beneficiaries.
“Wow, that’s a good idea!” chorused the sexy reporters over a cup of hot coffee one rainy day.
By then, they will be flashing their best smiles.
(You can also read this writer’s other stories at http://businessblog.prepys.com.)
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