St. Scholastica's Bacolod Alumnae Foundation, Inc.: Making a difference in the lives of poor and sick children in Negros
St. Scholastica's Bacolod Alumnae
Foundation, Inc. extends its sincerest
gratitude and appreciation to this group
of generous Negrenses who helped the
poor and sick kids of the province. They
were honored during the Appreciation
Dinner held at the Sugarland Hotel,
Saturday. Jean Trebol, SSBAFI vice
president and executive director
(2nd from left), serves as the guiding light
of the foundation in making their dreams
and visions come true.
BACOLOD CITY -- There are great citizens who truly make a difference in the lives of the poor and sick children of Negros Occidental.
St. Scholastica's Bacolod Alumnae Foundation, Inc. (SSBAFI) has made things happen for the less fortunate children in the province by helping them in health, skills and educational needs.
SSBAFI held an Appreciation Dinner at Sugarland hotel, Saturday to honor the generous donors of the foundation.
SSBAFI Vice President and Executive Director Mrs. Jean V. Trebol said, "We have honored our donors who generously supported the foundation, which in turn helped many children who have suffered from a very serious illness."
"Their kindness and generosity have brought us to where we are today and it is truly amazing how much we have been able to accomplish with your help and support in just five years," said SSBAFI president Pilar Mendezona.
Some 10 children who are beneficiaries of the foundation came to say to the generous donors, "Thank you for all your support."
Trisha Mae Linga, a recipient of open heart surgery led the others to extend their sincerest gratitude to the donors.
The foundation also awarded the certificates of appreciation to its numerous donors.
Meanwhile, SSBAFI President Mendezona said that SSBAFI's most successful program is health.
The "Give a Life" project has conducted 22 medical missions in the province. These missions include immunizations for Hepa-B, MMR, HIB, Pnuemo 23, DPT, measles, and tetanus as well as the provision of vitamins and deworming. This project has served over 9,778 indigent children in Negros Occidental.
The "Save a Life" project has provided medical services to 491 pediatric indigent patients in government hospitals. This includes nine patients whose open heart surgeries were facilitated and funded by the foundation.
Another notable project is the conduct of the Aloha Medical Mission every year wherein over 5,183 minor and major surgeries were conducted.
In fact there is another Aloha Medical Mission set on November 10-15, 2008 at the Teresita Jalandoni Memorial Provincial Hospital in Silay City, said Trebol.
U.S.-based doctors will come here to perform minor and major surgeries. "There are four plastic surgeons who will do the surgery. Those who have burns, cleft lip and palate, goiter, gall bladder, skin masses, hernia and cyst can inquire from the SSBAFI Office at 2nd Floor, Metroplex building at B.S. Aquino Drive (next to Jollibee) or call Raul or Concep at 434861. The final screening will start on October at the Provincial Hospital in Silay to determine who can qualify for the surgery. Each patient should first obtain a referral from their Municipal or City Health Doctor and there are other documentary requirements and laboratory tests that need to be complied," she said.
She added that this is on a "first-come-first-serve basis."
Moreover, the foundation also facilitated the distribution of in kind donations such as medicines from the Order of Malta and wheelchairs from the Wheelchair Foundation and Medical equipment and supplies from the Medical Supplies Network, Inc. of the Rotary District of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The Foundation through Trebol recently forged an agreement with the Medical City for the conduct of the Open Heart surgeries for the indigents in their hospital. The Committee handling this has been awakening the spirit of volunteerism among the members, as many alumni members flock to serve in the health programs.
The Training and Development Committee has successfully launched a football program which provides soccer training to indigent children in public schools in the province. This program has successfully operated for four years and has served over 240 students in nine public schools in Negros Occidental. They also conduct football clinics for a fee to SSA Students and children of Alumni during the school year and the summer to raise funds for their outreach programs.
It also facilitated the conduct of skills trainings for indigents and retreats and recollections for the youth. They have sponsored the yearly retreats of the senior class of the Holy Family Vocational High School.
The Education Committee has provided scholarships to two high school students and seven college students. This committee has also provided financial assistance to the Holy Family Vocational High School for SY 2005 and 2007.
The Teachers Development Committee has facilitated three seminars and one educational trip for the Teachers of SSA Bacolod.
"We believed that we all share a common dream of a better life for our less fortunate brothers and sisters. I know that this is not an easy task but given the track record of our foundation and the worthy projects that we have, we are positive that many more will be willing to support our good works. I am sure that deep in our hearts, inspired by the Benedictine spirit of ERA ET LABORA, we all share in the foundation's mission and vision, to uplift the lives of the poor as we are propelled by the spirit of giving back to the community that which we have humbly received. God has blessed us with so much… Now, we thank him for giving us the opportunity to share these blessings with others," Mendezona said.
Meanwhile, Gerolyn Jacosalem, mother of Rhyz Gyle who underwent a successful open heart surgery in 2006 thanked the foundation and its donors for the help extended to her son. "I thank SSBAFI for your help. I also thank God for the kindness shown by the SSBAFI officers and members.”
Gov. Isidro Zayco said that SSBAFI has helped so many children in the province especially on the health care.
"Their efforts of helping the poor are laudable," Governor Zayco said.
Vice Governor Emilio Yulo, III said that SSBAFI projects are laudable. The provincial government faces so many problems and we appreciate SSBAFI's good deeds. What they have done and will be doing will serve to inspire us and this will be an impetus for a stronger relationship between the province and SSBAFI."
Negros Occidental 4th District Rep. Jeffrey P. Ferrer said that, "I have seen how happy the parents of these kids are with the help of the SSBAFI. "I am inspired by their good work and I was touched to see these children back in the pink of health. I hope that other foundations will follow what SSBAFI has done for the poor and sick children of the province."