OPERATION Smile (OS) is once more coming to Cebu to do surgery on children with cleft palates, hare lips, and other facial disfigurements. Doctors, nurses and volunteers are arriving on June 24, billeted at the Bayfront Hotel.
In Cebu, OS is under the aegis of the Mariquita Salimbangon Yeung (MSY) Charitable Foundation. From June 27 to July 1 some 150 surgeries have been scheduled at the University of Cebu Medical Center in the North Reclamation Area.
To plan out this important undertaking there was a meeting held at the MSY building in Cebu Business Park. Monette Aliño, as executive director of the MSY Foundation, presided and discussed the agenda, item by item.
“This is the 18th year OS is handled by the MSY Foundation,” she reminded all. It is the special concern of Mariquita Yeung. Mariquita was not around for the meeting but she was well
Mariquita was not around for the meeting but she was well represented by her daughters: Jewelle Yeung who is special project head, and Carla, with her husband Chris McKowen.
Among those present, too, were Dr. Vivina Chiu Yrastorza, Flor Ynclino, lawyer Joje Decal, Meren Gepilano, Mariela Ares, and Paulo Salimbangon.
Making a brief appearance was Carlos Yeung, whom Mariquita describes as the funder of her foundation. As it is, she is the founding chairman, with her brother Congressman Benhur Salimbangon as vice chairman.
Involved in the MSY Charitable Foundation are Dr. Jose Antonio Quitevis – president; Cesar Salimbangon – vice president for external affairs; Dr. Vivina Chiu Yrastorza – vice president for international affairs; Monette Aliño – executive director.
Felicia Salimbangon – treasurer; Flor Ynclino – PRO; Joje Dical – legal counsel; Msgr. Roberto Alesna – spiritual adviser; and the directors – Dr. Deborah Limchiu, Dr. Clara Credo, Emerinciana Gepilano, and Chad Francis Salimbangon.
There will be a welcome dinner for the delegates on June 24 at Villa Mariquita, and the next day June 25, a Saturday, an excursion to Tambuli Beach in Mactan. The farewell party and presentation of citations will be on the evening of Friday July 1 at Villa Mariquita.
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For tomorrow, June 10, at 5 p.m. Hyundai Cebu South opens its showroom and office at a new location on Jaime de Veyra street in the North Reclamation Area.
Also tomorrow at 6 p.m. the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel opens “Independencia – Luzvimin,” a Filipino food fest to mark Independence Day (June 12), up to June 16 for lunch and dinner at the Cafe Marco.
The opening event is by invitations, at the hotel’s Shanghai-Beijing Room, with guests asked to come in Filipino attire. For this food fest heritage cuisine expert Jessica Avila has been inspired by the regional dishes of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
Ambassador Francisco Benedicto hosted a luncheon for media friends at the Tsai Cheng restaurant of the Cebu Grand Convention Center.
There was no particular reason to celebrate but to touch base and do some updating. From time to time, Ambassador Frank hosts these gatherings just to get the load on what lies beneath, or beyond, the days’ headlines.
Photographer Loy Jurado was there to capture some scenes, a portion of which are on this page today.