Doctors from Matias H. Aznar Memorial College of Medicine, medical students and barangay officials of Calidngan gather at the barangay’s covered court for the free medical clinic. (CONTRIBUTED).
The Matias H. Aznar Memorial College of Medicine (MHAM CM) conducted an early Community Christmas party dubbed as “Pasko sa Kabukiran” at the covered court of Calidngan, a mountain barangay in Carcar City last November 30.
The whole-day event included the launching and signing of memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the establishment of a community-based Nutrition Resource and Development Center (NRDC) and the Shoe Box Project initiated by the Student Council.
The activity, held in cooperation with the Carcar City Council and Calidngan barangay officials, started at 8:30 a.m. with a free medical clinic for 100 adults and 100 children during the whole morning.
Twenty-four MHAM CM doctors, assisted by medical students, provided free medical services to the beneficiaries.
Eighty-seven-year-old kidney patient Demetrio Ricarte, walked with a cane for around three kilometers from Purok Banyo to the Calidngan covered court to avail of free medication.
“Nalipay gyud ko’g daku karong adlawa kay tiaw bay kami ang giari sa libreng pagpangunsulta ug natagaan ko ug libreng tambal. Sukad masukad karon pa mi nakasinati nga adunay niari namo maong daku gyud akong pasalamat sa Ginoo ug sa mga nitabang namo (I feel so happy today knowing that we were the ones being visited for free consultation and I was given free medicines. This is the very first time that we were visited and I am very grateful to God and to all the people who helped us), said Ricarte.
According to Community Extension Services consultant Jarvis Prochina, the Nutrition Research Center is primarily intended to address malnutrition problems in rural areas.
The “Pasko sa Kabukiran” was initiated by the Community Extension Services, together with the Student Council, to reach out to the less-fortunate individuals who have health and food security problems.
A native of Barangay Calidngan himself, MHAM CM IT consultant Francisco Bacalla took the initiative to make Calidngan as one of the recipient-communities for community extension programs, aside from providing a parcel of land for the construction of Community Project Center.
The launching and MOA signing for NRDC was led by Elma Aznar-Sierra in the afternoon. She was joined by MHAM CM Board of Trustee and Auditor Dr. Carlito Astillero, Dean Dr. Arlene Diaz, SC Governor Datu Nar-Jhun Salik, Carcar City Councilor Rogelio Montesclaros and Calidngan Barangay Captain Ignacio Ochia.
It was followed by a Christmas carol with the Calidngan Day Care pupils and a Caroling Contest participated by Puroks Proper, Pinanuyakan, Kamari, Pit-os, Lunas and Virsaros. The teams from Purok Proper and Purok Kamari emerged as winners. They each received P1,000. Non winners received P500 each.
The Shoe Box Project, a charitable project conducted annually by the MHAM CM students headed by the Student Council, concluded the event with much delight from a thousand children, who each received a gift bag aside from the feeding program prepared for them. In addition, 25 noche buena gifts were also raffled off.
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