The Catanduanes International Association, Inc. (CIA) will conduct its 2024 Surgical and Medical Mission this Jan. 22-26 at the Eastern Bicol Medical Center (EBMC).
Screening of patients have been going on every Tuesday and Thursday at the EBMC Out-Patient Department for the necessary examination and screening.
Free major and minor operations will be done by CIA for patients with general surgical conditions such as hernia, breast mass, skin/soft tissue mass, cholelithiasis (gall stone), head and neck tumors such as salivary gland tumors, congenital deformities like cleft lip and palate, and gynecologic conditions including uterine or ovarian mass.
Those already scheduled for surgery are advised to bring a xerox copy of a valid government-issued ID or certificate of indigency, certificate of marriage or birth certificate as proof of identity, CIA chairman emeritus Lydia T. Mendez said.
The visiting health professionals and volunteers, which number 120 in all including locals, are expected to arrive before Jan. 20, when the group sorts out drugs and medicines needed for the mission.
On Sunday, Jan. 21, they will attend a Thanksgiving Mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral at 7AM to be followed by a motorcade that will pass through Bato, San Miguel, Virac, and San Andres before ending at Barefoot Resort at Balite where lunch will be tendered by the Dela Cruz family.
In the evening at 7PM, there will be Welcome Night shindig at Virac Sports Center.
The mission formally begins on Monday, Jan. 22, until Friday, Jan. 26, with the daily lunch to be sponsored by the following: Dr. & Mrs. Ed Siroy (Jan. 22), Ms. Edna Valderama (Jan. 23), Vancouver Chapter (Jan. 24), Dr. Zelda dela Cruz (Jan. 25) and Mrs. Fely Ticzon (Jan. 26).
In addition, there will be a dinner in Cabugao, Bato in the evening of Jan. 23 and the Governor’s Night on Jan. 26.
Aside from Mendez, the other officers of the CIA for 2022-2025 are: Cely Tabuzo Deauna, chairman of the board; Rene Balmadrid Alcantara, president; Lala Corazon Teves, vice president; Elisa T. Molina, secretary; Lorry G. Russel, treasurer; Arnold Ogena, auditor; and Atty. Edna V. Wenning, legal counsel.
The regional vice presidents, who serve as board members, are: Maribel Abundo Sprecher for Canada-Western; Amy P. Chantengco and Lea Panti for Canada-Eastern; Lina Ariate for Canada-Prairie; Nilda dela Cruz, Tito dela Cruz and Sally Siroy for USA-Atlantic; Cora Abundo, Engr. Simon Jacobo, Ching S. Olazo and Evelyn R. Scott for USA-Eastern; Belen Arcilla, Marilou Tabo and Evelyn Tolledo for USA-Central; Efigenia Gianan-Aguilar, Al Molina, Roger Olfindo and Edna Valderama for USA-Pacific; Felicito Gianan and Emma Herron for USA-Pacific West; and Gerry Guerrero and Hermil Olfindo for the Philippines.
Serving as advisers are Nilo Arcilla, Dr. Virgilia A. Guerrero, Amado Mendoza and Engr. Levi T. Tejada, while Fr. Jojo Tabo is the CIA chaplain.