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| MEDIA COVERAGE |
| 10 |
| The Medical Mission to the island province began in 1996 under the auspices of the US-based Marinduque International, Inc. (MI, Inc.) MI, Inc., a non-profit organization with a 501 (C3) tax exempt status, has 8 chapters located in the USA and Canada: in Southern and Northern California; Chicago, Illinois; Texas; Maryland/Virginia; the Eastern Seaboard; and in Toronto and British Columbia, Canada. California's Macrine Jambalos Katague is the outgoing President and NJ's Thelma Munoz Santos is the concurrent president. Noli Ricohermoso of Southern California is the Executive VIP. Marinduque is located in the geographical center of the Philippine Archipelago with a land mass of 960 square kilometer shaped into the form of a heart by the nurturing waters of Tayabas Bay on the north, Mongpong Pass on the east, Sibuyan Sea on the south and Tablas Strait on the west. It is reached by 2-hour drive to Dalahican Port, Quezon and a 1-hour ferry boat ride. The medical mission is a 4-step endeavor. Registration, Nurse Assessment, Doctor Diagnosis and Free Prescription of Medicines. The medical mission has been successful because of the cooperataion of local and provincial governments, public health centers, Clergy of the Boac Diocese, various local civic organizations like Club Marinduqueno, Marinducare Foundation, the Women's Club, local schools like Mother Theresa's Learning Center and Marinduque State College. Six towns were served and 6540 patients were treated by doctors of various disciplines: HENT, Resp, GUT, GIT, CVS, PSYC, Dental, RESP, Eyes, etc. |
| Surgeries were performed in Boac capital's provincial hospital. Volunteer doctors,nurses, support volunteers and their friends are either local or foreign based whose roots are from the province. This year, the Philippine Medical Association of Southern California led by its president, Dr. Manuel Baculi and the Philippine Profession Association of Indiana led by Ms. Marita Jao- Stuppy joined the MI, Inc. missioners. Indiana's Dr. Rudy Jao and Long Beach California's Dr. Hector Sulit, both Mairnduquenos and founders of MI, Inc. formed the main core of the medical group. Medicines and supplies were purchased locally or donated by U.S. and Canada hospitals, corporate and private donors and through collection centers setup by the various chapters. Funding comes from donors and members who have been supporting the program since its inception. The volunteers were housed in the island's small town hotels and private homes mostly situated in the scenic coastal towns. Marinduque has its own attractions like its Moriones Festival, Tres Reyes Islands, Malbog Sulphur Springs, Mt. Malindig, Natangco Reefs, Padjao Falls, old Spanish-era churches, endless stretches of beaches, isolated coves and uninhabited islets. Visitors keep coming back because of the Marinduquenos' special blend of natural warmth, hospitality and uniqueness that can only come from the heart. |
| MARINDUQUENEWS International |
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