Day 6 - Last day at Philippine National Railways

Day 3 of clinic and we saw about 800 patients today; there were lineups of people everywhere!!! Once again, I saw many people with severe cataracts, much more advance than we would ever see in practice back at home. The most heart-wrenching reality here is that we are not able to offer treatment to every patient who needs it. Eye diseases, cataracts and possibly some infections may go untreated because we do not have enough resources to provide everyone with "first world" vision care. It is the second day where we have local final-year optometry students work with us, and it was incredibly helpful to having them translate and assist. The effects of different visual issues are much better translated and explain by optometry-educated translators. Prescriptions were written today for people who needed very high powered glasses, who hadn't had glasses for years, if ever. It is amazing how our team can care for so many people in a matter of 10 or so hours. Tomorrow is a whole different scenery as we will be moving clinic sites. The anticipation is present, but my tiredness drowns all other feelings out. Tiredness never felt so rewarding.

Fellow Doctor

TWECS Team Member

Arrival of the team at 7:30 AM for the last clinic day at PNR when nearly 800 patients had their eyes examined within 9 hours.

Team members never forget to laugh and have fun.

"Brigida Quillosa" Is an 84 year old lady that came in during the first hour of registration with the biggest smile and feistiest of energy, even though by far the most petite, frail little lady with the tiniest arms and legs weighing maybe 80 pounds. Brigida has never seen any day to day activity on the streets of her neighbourhood as she is nearsighted to the point of blindness. We were able to find a beautiful pair of -10.00 eyeglasses to match "what the TWECS Doctor ordered". "I can see all the people now" were her first words. In addition to helping her see distance Brigida also received a pair of reading glasses that she was also very grateful for. Thanks to our leader Dr. Marina Roma-March, who makes miracles like this possible.
 

Brenda Tosoff,

TWECS Team Member

Day 5 - The Word Has Spread!

A sea of patients were seated and waiting for us at 7:30 AM. We greeted them with a good morning and received a joyful and appreciative response.

The never ending lineup - No one in this culture believes in pushing and shoving to get first service. They all waited patiently to be registered with their fellow brothers and sisters of the city.

 

Amazing volunteers from the vice-mayor's office that stuck with us all day. Their presence made our jobs 1000X simpler!

A team serving with nothing but smiles on their faces.

Communication is key, and Jewel went bac to the basics with the "thumbs up", telling the patient he was doing a great job.

Dr. Roma-March and Dr. Marcantonio welcome the students from Manila Central University(MCU). Their knowledge and eagerness to learn greatly benefited the flow of our stations.

This little girl first came in very timid (like most of the children we've seen) but slowly warmed up to the volunteers, figuring out that we're only here to help her. Brenda works very well with children!

The students from MCU observed at each stations very intently and performed each action with ease, displaying their knowledge and skills.

Adjustments were made on all glasses in the dispensing station to make the patients feel like their new glasses are truly their own.

All were happy to be at PNR: TWECS members, volunteers, patients, and their family members.

 

Nothing says thank you better than a smile and a hug.

 

 

Day 4 - First Clinic Day at Philippine National Railways

First morning drive to the site, after leaving the hotel and waterfront areas, suddenly imposes a stark reality of mothers washing their little girls or boys , in a plastic basin on the street with a bucket of water and a large cup. Pouring water over their heads while they stand stark naked.

Men washing and shaving outside the same way except with underwear on.

Every Item you can think of for sale from fruit to prepaid cell phones.

The worst squalor is around the creeks and small waterways.

The first 2 hours at the site are organized chaos. Imagine 27, 50 kilo boxes scattered around the floor with 300 plastic patio chairs , 5tents, 15 tables, 15 Canadians, 15 local volunteer translators, and 3 hundred patients all in a fully functioning railway station with scheduled trains and passengers coming and going.

To add to the confusion, the General Manager of the PNR, June Gregorio is there to welcome us with his entourage, and the Deputy mayor, Isko Moreno also makes a visit.

Now he is running for mayor and also happens to be a local film star. So all the local volunteers, especially the girls are swooning and screaming when he arrives.

It's also Monday which in the Philippines means a flag ceremony takes place at 9 o'clock.

All government agencies, federal, provincial and local government, take one hour every Monday morning to sing the national anthem, have a pep talk, greet visitors and announce local news from the mayor or general manager or who ever is the senior official.

Welcome ceremony for the team.

 

Waiting area within the first 30 minutes of clinic set up.

 

 

Registration & nearsighted testing

 

 Visual Acuities

 

Autorefractor

 

A visit from the vice-mayor!

 

 

 

 

It's all about the teamwork...

 

Day 3 - Remembrance day - Villa Escudero!

The team visits the gorgeous Villa Escudero waterfall in San Pablo City the day before our first clinic day.

 

TWECS 2012 team members after a cultural show presented by the actual workers of Villa Escudero resort.

Day 2 - Time to visit the clinic sites for the first time

After seeing the neighbourhoods of the patients we will be serving, I'm anxious to start the clinics. From the few people and children that we did come in contact with, you can tell that these people make the best of what they have and are generally happy. I have no doubt they'll be appreciative of what vision we can improve for them with donated glasses, and I hope that we'll be able to improve their quality of life and encourage them to further help themselves as well. The photos say it all, and although we can't change their situations, I know we can improve them and I'm looking forward to being part of the team that does so.

 

Annie Micucci

TWECS Team Member

 

                       The road conditions in the first site visited in Tondo, Manila.

After visiting the second site, Philippines National Railways, Andronica and Marina inform the team of TWECS' plan to provide this neighbourhood with a permanent, sustainable clinic in the near future, at this specific location. This would of course be alongside the mobile clinics. "Imagine a container with holes in it..." as Dr. Marcantonio mentioned.

The third and final site for clinic set up - A basketball court flourished with playful children of all ages.

Day 1 in Manila - What an eventful day!

It was 5:35am when we took our walk down the Manila airport corridor. This allowed the team to stretch our legs out of bid everyone a good morning. The officers at customs were friendly and efficient. Again, the 27 boxes of frames and equipment passed through inspection quickly and easily. The Vice Mayor's office and Andronica made the process as simple as can be. Our attention was diverted away from the boxes as we exited the airport and were welcomed by the staff of the Vice Mayor's office with beautiful shell necklaces. Our first taste of the Philippines was served at breakfast, courtesy of the amazing Andronica. We checked into our hotel and had a little of time to rest and digest before we prepared ourselves to meet the Vice Mayor himself for dinner. 10:00pm and we were ready to lay dormant for the night. What an extraordinary day, with hopes of more to come...

Jessica Tu

TWECS Team Member

Baggage area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport after passing through security and customs with ease thanks to Andronica Roma.

Our team greeted by the office of the vice-mayor of Manila, our host for the trip, outside of the airport. First exposure to the local 40 degree, humid weather.

The Canadian flag put up throughout the city for the arrival of Stephen Harper on November 10th, 2012. (And perhaps for us as well!)

Welcome dinner party hosted by the vice-mayor of Manila, Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. Thank you so very much!

The day of our flight to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Good morning all, on Monday, Christina, Marina, Derrick, Alf and I finished the final pack of readying the boxes for shipment… glasses, meds., equipment, etc. yes, all 26 boxes. Derrick gave me a two minute quick explanation of the refractor (boy am I nervous). At 1PM today we load the rental van… then tonight it is to the airport… the adrenalin rush is mounting… new places, new faces (team members), new experiences, new challenges, and hopefully many new exciting stories. I know that I am not ready (forgot something) but I’m on a mental high J. See you all on the plane, I’m looking forward to meeting you all.

 

Rodger, New Westminster, BC

 

27 boxes and equipment loaded by Derrick march and Rodger Konkle on November 7th to transfer from the warehouse to YVR.

 

Last minute reinforcements while we await more team members to arrive at the YVR! 

 

 I am on my way to the airport to meet up with the TWECS Team to join them on a charity mission to the Philippines. This will be my fourth mission with TWECS. The preparation for my first trip made me quite anxious in many ways. First, as a "fashionista" I was totally stressed out about the 15 pound luggage limit. There were several people thinking I wouldn't make it. I did it and the experience was so amazing I continue to sign up for more. This trip I look forward to working with Dr. Marina Roma-March and other team members I was so privileged to work with on past missions - Robert Dawson, Nica Roma and Dr. Pasquelina . Also very exciting is getting know my new teammates! Most of all I look for to meeting another "Ruby", a 32 yr old laundry worker who came in to get her -1.00 eyeglasses fixed. I was able to find her a nice pair of -8.00 ou, her true Rx. I will never forget the look in her eyes when she was able to see for the very first time, even with her tears of happiness.

 

Brenda Tosoff

TWECS Team Member

 

 

Happy to have checked in the 27 boxes of glasses and clinic equipment at YVR.  

 

T minus 16 hours prior to arrival

One by one team members filed into the Vancouver International Airport, each timidly approaching the rest of the team. After some basic introductions, we all started feeling a little bit more comfortable and the hustle and bustle started. We successfully reinforced all the boxes while we waited for the rest of the team to arrive. Check in started at 8:30 pm and from there, we were on our way. The staff at YVR were helpful and our 27 boxes of glasses and equipment were weighed and transferred

to special baggage with ease. The flight was long but pleasant and before we knew it the PA announcement on the plane was welcoming us to Manila, Philippines.

 

Jessica Tu

TWECS Team Member