𝐒𝐏𝐂 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟕𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲

San Pedro College (SPC) rolled out a medical mission in Brgy. Talandang along with its 70th anniversary weeklong celebration on Sept. 26 to provide free healthcare and basic medical services to underserved communities.

This year’s medical mission, part of SPC’s platinum anniversary celebration and funded through its 70th anniversary, offered more free services than in previous years, including optical checkups, eyeglasses distribution, pharmacy services, dental checkups, tooth extractions, medical checkups, health kit dissemination and legal consultations.

“This is one of our concrete expression(s) of our ‘Love Serves’ … That’s why most of the facilitators, most of the participants natin are alumni of San Pedro College,” Remark Mortalla, director of Community Engagement and Extension Services (CEES) said.

Mortalla explained that this is the third annual medical mission of SPC-CEES’ Sustainable and Holistic Engagement for People’s Health and Empowerment towards Rural Development (SHEPHERD) Program, a four-year project that provides laboratory examinations, health information drives and general health checkups for underserved communities.

Additionally, five barangays participated in the medical mission: New Valencia, New Carmen, Biao Escuela, Biao Joaquin and the host barangay, Talandang.

“Ika-tulo na ni na higayon na naa gyuy medical mission na ginahatag ang San Pedro College uban sa ilahang mga doctors and medical staff. Siyempre ang mga katawhan na nanginahanglan ug medical, dili na muadto pa sa asa na mga clinic o hospital,” Gil Lopez, Brgy. Talandang chairman said.

In preparation for the program, Lopez added that they had organized facilities, manpower and even transportation for people from remote sitios.

𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬’ 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬

The medical mission catered to a total of 370 residents across five barangays, providing six legal consultations, two affidavits preparation and notarization, 65 dental checkups, 146 optical checkups and 151 medical checkups.

“Ito ang una. Kung pa private-private ka, magasto, ‘di katulad dito — malaking tulong para sa mga tao.”

Rodolfo Villamir Jr., a 64-year-old senior citizen from Brgy. Biao Joaquin said that this was his first dental checkup, and that he planned to have a loose tooth extracted.

“Maayo man. Kay ang ilang ginahatag na tambal, para 60 days,” Enelia Tagopa, a 55-year-old wife of a stroke patient said.

Prior to the checkup, Tagopa stated that they have also availed the free laboratory examinations provided by SPC-CEES’ SHEPHERD Program, which the institution initiates once every three months.

“Definitely,” Rother Jan Delos Santos, an alumnus of SPC and an active volunteer said, when asked if the program reignited his Love Serves spirit.

“Athough dili lang sa ing-ani, daghan man activities ang school to serve the community. For me, mao man gyud na ang spirit sa Love Serves,” Delos Santos added.

Delos Santos was a member of the Volunteer Service Provider (VSP) during his college days and even became the vice president for health during his fourth year, earning him the title “suki ng medical missions,” as Mortalla calls him.

Beyond providing health services to the underserved communities, the initiative promotes good health-seeking practices and encourages a new generation of youth to pursue careers in healthcare.

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