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FOR
TABACO, ALBAY
Date: June 21-25, 2006
Venue: San Isidro and Santo Domingo, Tabaco, Albay
Host church: Jesus Faith Christian Fellowship, Tabaco, Albay
Number of Volunteers: 19 from Bagio City and Manila
Number of Churches: 13
Statistics:
| ACTIVITIES |
San Isidro** |
Santo Domingo |
TOTAL |
| Total Patients |
586 |
693 |
1279 |
| Medical |
460 |
571 |
1031 |
| Dental |
108 |
82 |
190 |
| Surgery (Cyst and Circumcision) |
45 |
74 |
119 |
| Prayed to Receive Christ |
195 |
420 |
615 |
| Requested Bible Study |
78 |
286 |
364 |
**Number includes about 45 treated at host church.
COMMENTS:
The city of Tabaco, Albay is in the shadow of the stunning Mayon Volcano, on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. It is a beautiful place. The two baranggays are well outside of the town proper. San Isidro is located in the region around the Mayon Volcano, while Santo Domingo is closer to the ocean. The area has rich soil (due to volcanic activity) with the areas full of coconut palms, banana palms, jackfruit trees, and pilinut trees. Despite the abundance, poverty is very evident particularly in the more rural barangays.
Albay is close to 18-22 hours drive from Baguio. Despite this, we loaded three vehicles and made the trip. Rough roads (particularly in Camarines Sur) and tricycles slowed us down greatly, but much of the landscape was beautiful and a joy to travel through. We traveled through Benguet, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Albay.
We had some people along who were new that gave some new aspects to the ministry. We had Isabel who provided Family Planning instruction for patients who came to the medical mission. Daniel, from VisionWorks, drove for us and videotaped much of the trip. Eliza, who joined us to serve as a volunteer primarily, is also a reporter for a major Philippine newspaper (STAR), and so took notes and pictures to document the trip.
The response from both of our sites was tremendous. Even with preregistration done at both sites to control numbers, we still had difficulty controlling the number who wanted to come. The number of patients well surpassed our expectations, but we were able to handle everyone who came up to the deadlines for each day.
The barangays and the host church treated us well, and we had great Bicolano food, excellent lodging accommodations, and opportunities to shop and see the natural wonders of Albay. It is hard to believe all that we were able to do in the limited time allotted. A little bit of van mechanical problems slowed us down, but praise God, nothing kept us from accomplishing the task God had set for us.
THANKS
1. Thanks to our primary sponsor—Dakilang Pag-Ibig “DIAMDEM” Ministry, Inc. (our sister ministry in California, USA). We also appreciate our secondary sponsoring organizations—Spring Hill Baptist Church, Calvary Baptist Church, Emmanuel Christian Community Church, VisionWorks, and School of Mission. We also thank our host, JFCF, and the barangays of San Isidro and Santo Domingo for caring for us so well.
2. The doctors and dentists (Drs. Paul, Pauline, Connie, Rene, Evita, Deo, and Robert) and other medical and non-medical volunteers who joined us are always appreciated. Thanks also to our team leader, JR Andres, who coordinated this challenging trip. It was a joy for me to come along on the trip and find everything come together so smoothly. This ministry could not be done without people giving this ministry their priority.
It is always a privilege to serve God in this ministry. It could not happen without God’s bringing believers together to carry out His mission.
Bob Munson
President, Dakilang Pag-ibig DIADEM Ministries, Inc. Philippines
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