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| OUR HISTORY AS A GROUP |
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| we make a difference |
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| HISTORY OF OUR MEDICAL MISSIONS In 1998, two years after the inception of the Aguman Capampangan NW USA, a project was conceptualized aimed at helping uplift the health conditions of the people displaced by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo and the poorest among the poor in the province of Pampanga where the majority of the Aguman members come from. The result of this effort was a plan to undertake a medical mission to the Philippines in the last quarter of 1998 depending on the financial resources of the association. The medical mission that we conceived was unique and different from the typical missions that were undertaken by various organizations in the United States. Ordinarily, when we speak of medical missions we come to think of medicines, medical supplies and people whose professions are in the medical field. In our case, if we push through with this project, we don’t have anybody in the medical field that will join the delegation in going to the Philippines. To solve this problem, we decided to involve the local officials, the Department of Health and the different civic organizations in Pampanga . Their role was to identify the venue and invite doctors and nurses to participate while we bring the medicine Doctors who will participate in the consultation are provided with a list of available medicine and served as the basis for their prescription. Members of the delegation and some local volunteers are the ones dispensing the medicine. After a series of fundraising activities and establishing a connection with World Medical Relief Inc. the project that we planned became a reality.. In the first medical mission that we undertook we brought $75,000 worth of medicine and medical supplies and served 8 towns in Pampanga mostly resettlement areas, 1 town in Tarlac and one town in the province of La Union. A total of 2,850 people were the beneficiaries of this humanitarian endeavor. The medical supplies and excess medicine were donated to the different health centers in Pampanga for the residents to avail of when needed. Our first medical mission was very successful and earned the distinction of being the first association in Oregon to undertake a medical mission. From 1998 to 2007 we undertook a total of seven medical missions and a dental service was integrated in the last one we had. We were able to help almost 20,000 medically indigent people in their health needs in 5 provinces of Central Luzon and provided some health centers medical equipment and supplies they need. This was made possible thru the generous donations of those who have a compassion to help the poor and needy and to the members of the Aguman who sacrifice their time and personal resources just to be able to serve the sick people back home. To date, we have already received a number of requests from different organizations in Pampanga to conduct medical and dental missions in their respective areas. We can push thru with another mission if we have enough funds. A huge amount of money is involved since we have to pay the World Medical Relief Inc. storage and handling fee which is 5% of the total amount of medical supplies and medicine , order special medicine that we get at a discounted price , the children’s medicine that we buy in the Philippines, the door to door fee that we pay in sending the stuff to the Philippines and the transportation expenses we incur during the mission. This does not include the air fare since the delegates shoulder their own. In our forthcoming Spring dinner and dance affair, we need the support of our kababayans. Whatever donations you give is for a worthy cause and will be rewarded a hundred fold. Keep in mind that we have thousands and thousands of poor people in our towns and provinces who are sick . They badly need our help. Mabuhay ang Pinoy. Rudy Alejandrino vice president & medical mission chairman, Aguman HISTORY OF THE AGUMAN CAPAMPANGAN, NORTHWEST USA The Aguman Capampangan Northwest USA is a non-profit Filipino-American organization that is affiliated with the CFAA. It was founded on June 29, 1996 by Ernie C. Turla, Art Villanueva and Ben Susi when they had a picnic with other fellow Kapampangans at Oaks Park in Portland, Oregon. Four large families (the Bonifacios, the Susis, the Ramirezes and the Guintos) served as its core in terms of membership especially when it first started. The first president was Marita Villanueva (1996-1998). She was succeeded by Dan del Rosario (1998-2000). Then, Ernie Turla took over as president for 4 successive terms (2000-2008). Frida Alejandrino, one of the original members, has been serving as secretary since 1996. The Aguman raises funds through yearly Christmas caroling and through dinner-dances such as the one scheduled this April 15. It has promoted Philippine culture through the Santa Cruzans it has had over the years and which were chaired by Monette Mallari. It has promoted Kapampangan culture especially their language through their partnership with the Akademyang Kapampangan International (also headed by Ernie Turla) with which they jointly celebrate an annual La Naval Fiesta at Cascade Locks. Despite its being new, the Aguman has already been able to accomplish what only a few Filipino organizations in the whole world have been able to. The medical missions it sent to the Philippines in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007 distinguish it from other organizations in that it works for a humanitarian cause and is not just self-serving or just centered around social life as most Filipino clubs around the U.S. are. In those missions, a group of delegates led by Rudy Alejandrino brought with them to the Philippines medical provisions procured from World Medical Relief Inc. Such missions, usually undertaken only by medical societies, captured the imagination of all Filipino communities in the Portland area and of all Kapampangan communities the world over! Ernie C. Turla president, Aguman |
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