January 17-21, 2011: Grand Homecoming of the Noble Hearts

Per request of the Provincial Vice Governor of Sarangani, ACIM-Asia assisted in the organization and the conduct of the grand medical-surgical mission of the Philippine Medical Society of Northern California (PMSCN).

We helped find sponsors for the food of the volunteers and fortunately found a firm support from the Director of the Student Affairs of the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, who agreed to sponsor a snack for 200 volunteers.

The medical – surgical mission was held in Sarangani Province Capitol last January 17-21, 2011, serving almost 3,000 patients who availed free surgery and medical treatment. Major surgeries were done at Socsargen County Hospital, while minor surgeries and medical consultation were conducted in the Capitol Grounds of Sarangani.

Majority of the medical volunteers came from northern California.  Most of them were Filipinos who came especially to serve their fellow Filipinos for free.

Two members from ACIM-Asia came to lend a hand in the minor surgery and the dental extractions.

A grand dinner waited for us at the last night of the mission.  The Swiss volunteer Thiery Bianco was so excited to have the autograph of the great Manny Pacquiao, who hosted the thanksgiving dinner.  It was a grand night, capping a grand mission.  Next year, the PMSCN will be in Mindoro, in central Philippines.

December 13-14, 2010 Midconding, Maguindanao Mission

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November 19, 2010 - Campaign Against RH Bill

Brgy. Ticulab, Maitum, Sarangani Province:

Lt.Valenzuela, organizer of the mission,
signed up against RH Bill

one signature makes a difference

The Philippine Army 73^rd IB organized another medical civil action program for the residents of Barangay Ticulab, Maitum, Sarangani Province, in cooperation with other LGU’s and NGO’s.

Barangay Ticulab, a 2-hour drive from General Santos City, was one of the areas that were attacked by the MILF last 2008.  During the war, a number of residents were lured to the hideouts of the rebels, thinking they could hide in safety among friends, but realized their error of judgment when they were used as hostages. Eventually those hostages were released, and serenity restored. Peace was still in place as we came to conduct the medical mission.

The team served 217  medical patients, 37 dental patients, and 26 circumcision cases. Also a feeding program was provided among the malnourished children of the said Barangay.

We assisted in the minor surgeries.  The team served 217  medical patients, 37 dental patients, and 26 circumcision cases. Also a feeding program was provided among the malnourished children of the said Barangay.

With the ongoing international pressure on the Philippine government to pass the Reproductive Health Bill, we decided to spare precious time to conduct a signature campaign among the residents to stop the passage of RH Bill.  We gave a lecture on the moral and scientific dangers related to the provisions of the RH Program in the bill. We hoped to prepare the grassroots to resist the execution of an immoral law, in the instance that the bill would be passed into law.  Naturally, we met people who refused to sign the petition against the bill, but we encountered many who listened, argued, and decided to support our campaign.

Young minds and hearts hearing the word of God

We also conducted a Catechism class with a role play for the children.  We distributed rosaries and bioethics pamphlets among the residents.

November 27, 2010 - Brgy. San Isidro, General Santos City

In line with the anniversary celebration of Mindanao Bulletin and Sapol News Bulletin, a Medical-Dental mission was conducted to serve the residents of Purok Mapailubon, Barangay San Isidro, General Santos City.

ACIM Asia was one of the partners invited to serve in the mission,  along with other partners such as the Joint Task Force, Pinili Clinic, RD Foundation, Philippine Eagles, and Catanios catering.  At the end of the mission, the tally was:  250 medical patients and 110 dental patients served.

Needless to say, but we're saying it anyway, we distributed catechism pamphlets and conducted signature campaign against the RH Bill.  Of course we also distributed rosaries.  It was a lively mission all in all, with passionate debates on the RH Bill.  There were pro-RH bill patients who would not let our campaign go without a challenge, so they made the campaign come to life.  It was exhilarating to argue for Christian doctrines and win some points. May those arguments take root in good soil. God bless us all!

November 8, 2010 - Poblacion, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat

Due to the recent outbreak of Filariasis among the residents of Palimbang, a medical civic action program was organized to address such problem. Filariasis screening was conducted and 13 out of 30 tested positive for the disease.  Free medicines were given to those who tested positive.  A second phase of treatment will follow to stop the outbreak.

ACIM Asia was one of the partners of this particular MedCAP which served 931 medical patients, 68 dental patients, 110 circumcision clients, and 40 cyst-removal patients.  Seventy-five children were given supplementary high-nutrition feeding.  


Health teaching on dengue fever was also conducted simultaneously. 

November 4, 2010 - Tinumigues, Sadsalan, Madanding, Udtong, and Sigayann of Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat

Red Cross volunteers conducting health assessments

For almost a month now, a number of barangays in the Municipality of Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat had been submerged in water from the overflowing Allah River.  One of the dikes that divert the water away from the residential areas had broken down. Most of the communities suffered water up to the chest level, which made it almost impossible for land transportation to reach the communities.   Community boats became the mode of transportation for the local residents.

US ARMY CAT 734 Medic, SSG Edwin Torrescortes
assessing a pediatric patient.

A medical mission was organized by the 33rd IB of Philippine army, in partnership with LGUs and NGOs, to assist the flooded communities in the Municipality of Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat namely: Barangays Tinumigues, Udtong, Sigayan, Sadsalan and Madanding to address the proliferation of water-borne diseases.

Health Education on the prevention of Dengue Fever

The team was divided into four groups to serve the barangays simultaneously, ACIM Asia along with the Red Cross- Tacurong chapter was assigned at barangay Tinumigues serving about 296 patients. 


The Sadsalan team served 232 patients, Madanding team served 281 patients and Udtong and Sigayan teams served 285 patients.

School supplies, used clothing and relief goods were also distributed among the affected families, alongside the medical missions.

October 16, 2010 - Datal Bukay, Glan, Sarangani Province

Here we are again on a medical mission organized by the 73^rd IB of the Philippine Army.
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We went off to serve the indigent tribal families in the hinterlands of Datal Bukay, Glan, Sarangani Province.  It was a 2-hour drive from Glan town proper.

 We embarked on a four-wheel-drive truck then went forward, bouncing along the very rocky roads, crossing rocky rivers, bumpy and muddy creeks, and traversing steep and rugged mountain sides.  

ACIM Asia team was composed of 9 volunteers: 2 French, 1 Swiss, 5 Filipino Nurses, 1 Filipino Aide, and a  local doctor from Glan who confirmed his participation at the very last minute. 


The lone doctor labored with complete devotion and managed to serve 330 medical patients at the end of the day.  The dental team served 120 patients and  the circumcision team attended 55 patients. 

While the health mission was going on, a     

peace advocacy campaign was conducted by Kapatid Kapayapaan Council to promote peace awareness among the local residents.

As we traversed our way back to the city, we  solemnly wondered at the experience we just had. Behind the mountains and beyond the river lies a village of humans longing for medical services which were beyond their reach.  What a profound wonder we felt, like we had been some kind of Columbuses who navigated oceans to see a world beyond our consciousness, seeing  people like us who had needs like ours, which we were able to humbly serve.  Some time in your life have you ever felt like a little hero? Well, that's how we felt that day.

And do you know how it felt to see the joys of the villagers in receiving rosary beads?  We felt like we were some kind of St. Francis Xavier.  


But of course, we were just feeling dramatic.  Some more heroic missionaries had served the village before.  How else could the people have known how to pray the rosary before we came? In each of the few houses that we had visited we had seen a simple picture of the Sacred Heart.  So really, it wasn't as if we planted the first Cross in that remote village.  A humbling experience, indeed.  Someone else was more heroic, who traversed the rivers and the slopes BEFORE four-wheel drive trucks were invented!  Cheers to the first missionaries.  God bless and keep their souls.