Indigent or underprivileged residents of Catanduanes who have eyesight problems, especially error in refraction, and need to wear eyeglasses will have the chance to be seen by specialists during the Eye Mission sponsored this Feb. 19-26, 2024 by the Canada-based Third World Eye Society (TWECS) at the Virac RHU, Community Hub, San Isidro Village.
The mission is being held in partnership with the Rotary Club of Virac headed by President Maria Cleofe Laynes, and with the full support of the respective offices of the Virac Mayor Samuel Laynes, Governor Joseph Cua and Vice Governor Peter Cua.
Not covered by the mission are those with cataract (cloudy area in the lens of the eye) or pterygium (triangular tissue growth on the conjunctiva or membrane lining the eyelids that grows into the cornea and eventually covers the pupil, impairing one’s vision).
The most common type of vision problem, refractive errors which make it hard for anyone to see clearly are confirmed through an eye exam.
These errors include nearsightedness (myopia), which makes far-away objects look blurry; farsightedness (hyperopia), which makes nearby objects look blurry; astigmatism, which can make far-away and nearby objects look blurry or distorted; and, presbyopia, which makes it hard for middle-aged and older adults to see things up close.
Other symptoms include double vision, hazy vision, seeing a glare or halo around bright lights, squinting, headaches, eye strain (when your eyes feel tired or sore) and trouble focusing when reading or looking at a computer.
The TWECS Eye Mission, which will offer free eye examination and free prescription glasses is being spearheaded by Filipino-Canadian Dr. Marina Roma-March.
Along with her husband, she started the TWECS Canada – Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity-British Columbia (VOSH-BC) in 1995 and has organized over 18 international eye care missions, for which she received the Philippine Presidential Award for Humanitarian Service.
Qualified individuals who have not enlisted for the mission at their respective barangays may have their names listed at the Office of the Mayor in Virac during office hours from 8AM to 5PM (look for Alizalyn Beo).
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The chill is on in the island, with early morning temperatures have started plunging below 23 degrees Centigrade since January 15, 2024, with the lowest recorded at 21.8˚C on Jan. 22.
According to PAGASA Virac officer-in-charge and chief meteorologist Juan Pantino Jr., this low record for the year has been broken twice, on the 26th with 21.2˚C and the following morning with 21.5˚C.
In its latest Climate Outlook issued on Jan. 24, the weather agency forecast cold temperature surges to still occur in the next few months during the Northeast monsoon (Amihan) season.
The minimum temperature range, it said, will be between 18.8˚C to 24.5˚C for lowlands in the central part of the country, including the Bicol region.
The same report says that Catanduanes will have below to near normal rainfall from February to July, as the El Niño phenomenon takes hold.
Each month having at least 18 “dry” days or days with less than one (1) millimeter of rainfall observed.
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GOING-AWAY COMPLIMENT. While the priest was making farewell visits before moving to a new parish, an elderly member of the congregation paid him the compliment of suggesting that his successor would not be as good as he had been.
“Nonsense,” the priest replied, flattered.
“No, really,” she insisted. “I’ve lived here under five different priests, and each new one has been worse than the last.”