It was gearing up to be an ordinary day for the young couple Aries and Shilet Cabildo as they lined up at the Nueva Ecija High School (NEHS) gym to receive their free medicines from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)’s medical and dental mission.
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| YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS BABY USHER PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan assures the couple of financial assistance for their baby's heart surgery during the agency's medical and dental mission in partnership with Class 1977 Alumni Association Inc., on April 14, 2018 conducted at the Nueva Ecija High School gym in Cabanatuan City. |
Unknown to the Cabildo couple was the presence in the multitude of PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan and neither him knew the couple and what was coming his way.
Aries and Shilet are the parents of 1-and-a-half-year-old Usher, a seemingly happy and active infant, but who is suffering from tetralogy of fallot, a congenital heart disorder. And they have been worrying about his heart surgery for months now.
“Nakakaawa po ang aming anak kapag sobrang iyak o sobrang saya, nangingitim ang mga labi at kuko at nahihirapan na agad huminga,” Shilet said.
Little did they know, that day would turn out to be more than special day as they will receive the answer to their most fervent prayer.
That day, Balutan was busy supervising PCSO and medical personnel with all tenderness and modesty, a complete opposite of him being known as the “Mandirigma” that implies his toughness and courage as a battle-tested Marine general in Mindanao.
As Balutan joined the activity at the gym, he noticed two young parents carrying a baby. He called the couple’s attention, who didn’t hesitate to tell about their child’s impending heart surgery.
“Sana po madagdagan pa ang taon na makasama namin si Usher,” Aries begged Balutan.
To which Balutan gladly replied, “Mandirigma pa din tayo pero hindi na sa bakbakan sa Mindanao, kawanggawa ang ipinaglalaban natin ngayon.”
“Kaya sisikapin natin na gawin ang lahat ng puwedeng paraan para matulungan ang inyong sanggol. We will maximize our financial assistance for his surgery up to his recovery,” he told the Cabildo couple.
The couple was overjoyed and couldn’t thank Balutan enough for the unexpected blessings.
“Maraming salamat po, sobra po kaming nagpapasalamat na mag-asawa kay GM Balutan dahil pinansin niya po kami nung kami ay lumapit at makipag-usap sa kaniya. Siya pa po ang naglapit sa amin sa mga staff ng PCSO para asikasuhin ang hinihingi naming tulong para ma-operahan po ang aming anak na si Usher,” Aries said.
“Hindi po namin akalain na malambot po ang puso ni sir [referring to Balutan] kahit na ang tapang ng tindig nya, maraming-maraming salamat po, ‘yung pakinggan lang po kami sa aming kahilingan ay malaking bagay na. Salamat po sa PCSO,” Shilet said, while trying to hold back the tears.
Medical Services Department Manager Dr. Jose Bernardo Gochoco, meanwhile, said that the agency usually gives P100,000 worth of financial assistance (maximum) to a patient with heart cases but that would still vary on the case rate and patient’s classification.
“Yan naman talaga ang objective ng mga medical missions ng PCSO, ‘yung makatagpo tayo ng pasyenteng matutulungan ng ahensiya para sa kanilang kalusugan, more than giving one day medical services and one-time free medicines,” the doctor said.
The charity mission also banners the “PCSO Partner Tayo”, a joint outreach program of PCSO and the Nueva Ecija High School Class ‘77 Alumni Association Inc., that aims to provide free health care, medical consultation, dental extraction, eye examination, circumcision and medicines to Cabanatuan City residents.
The activity resulted to 254 medical and 15 dental consultations.
PCSO conducts regular medical and dental missions in the depressed community within and outside of Metro Manila and nearby provinces including provision of free medicines for those who have less or no access to health services offered by the local government.
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