Shooting the Breeze: July 2026

Welcome lunch at Edgardo's (Roxas) shortly after arriving at Dangay Port on July 12, 2026

The Eye Medical Mission in Mansalay, which was conducted by Dr. Reden Rabino, Dra. Beng Rabino, Mr. Kim Gerangue, Mr. Teo Matonton Jr., Ms. Crislyn Juanola of the Claudina Tansingco Rabino Eye Center/Eye Hear Foundation from July 13 to 15, 2026, was successful (the “Mission”). To wit:

On July 13, the Mission screened 109 potential patients for cataract or pterygium operations. Sixty (60) patients were selected for operations on the following day.
On July 14, the Mission completed 25 cataract operations and 35 pterygium operations, which included the provision of all pre and post-op surgery materials and medication, free-of-charge to all the patients. Note that certain individuals had operations on both eyes.
On July 15, the Mission conducted post-operative consultations with each of the operated patients, which included a briefing to patients on proper post-operative care for their operated eyes.

Because of the support and generosity of many individuals that made the Mission possible, it is only appropriate that we highlight and express our sincerest gratitude to the contributions of the same.

First, we thank Ms. Lou Lim, Medical Director of the Medical Mission Foundation of Michigan, who introduced us to Dr. Reden Rabino and his team, which paved the way for this Eye Medical Mission in Mansalay in July 2026. It’s essentially PART 2 of the earlier Medical Mission organized by Ms. Lou Lim (Medical Mission Foundation of Michigan) in Mansalay on January 26-27, 2026, which included circumcisions, "lumps and bumps" or cyst removals, dental extractions, fluoride treatments and oral hygiene demonstrations to grade school students and emergency life support training. Due to a prior commitment, the eye surgery team of Dr. Rabino could not join the Medical Mission in January 2026 (i.e., PART 1). Many thanks again Lou for introducing us to Dr. Reden and entrusting us to care for his eye surgery team.

Second, we thank Dr. Reden Rabino and his eye surgery team; in particular, Dra. Beng Rabino, Mr. Kim Gerangue, Mr. Teo Matonton Jr. and Ms. Crislyn Juanola for conducting and successfully executing a truly professional and efficient eye medical mission in Mansalay. The Mission was originally scheduled from July 12 to 14, 2026; however, due to the widespread weather disturbance brought about Typhoon BAVI and the resulting travel restrictions imposed on RORO vessels (particularly from Caticlan to Roxas, which was the only viable mode of transport of the eye surgery team to Mansalay), the Mission was in danger of being canceled. Mr. Kim Gerangue persisted and managed to get the team onto the next permitted RORO vessel, braved the still rough seas of the Tablas Straits and arrived in Roxas a day after their original scheduled arrival, resulting in the Mission moving its entire itinerary one day after (i.e., originally scheduled from July 12 to 14 to revised schedule from July 13 to July 15).

Third, we thank the Local Government Unit (LGU) Team, including the Rural Health Unit (RHU) Team, of Mansalay not only for (a) preparing and setting-up the venue of the Mission (i.e., Auxiliary Health Center) and (b) organizing the potential patients for the Mission but also (c) promptly adjusting its logistical plans to accommodate the “one day after” shift of the Mission, including coordinating with the Barangay Health Workers. Hence, in spite of the “one day after” shift of the Mission, the LGU/RHU team did NOT skip a beat and kept the patients flowing as planned as if there was no change in schedule at all. Kudos to Lynn Bautista, Alexis Diama, Roxanne Capungan, Dr. Kristian Caringal, Airis Del Mundo and all the LGU/RHU volunteers who did a great job of taking care of the details, behind the scenes and throughout the duration of the Mission at the Auxiliary Health Center. Our heartfelt gratitude to Mayor Totoy and Vice Mayor Joel for their blessing and support of the Mission (from its inception to its conclusion), including stepping-up the funding for 10 additional eye operations at the last minute, thereby exceeding our original target of 50 eye operations to 60 eye operations in total. For the record, 30 eye operations were sponsored by private individuals and 30 eye operations were sponsored by the LGU.

Fourth, we thank the generosity of the following in our local community of Mansalay, who have expressed their appreciation to the eye surgery team through various sponsorships, including paying for the nominal charge of each eye operation (thereby rendering each eye operation free-of-charge to each patient) and free accommodations and meals that lighten the financial burden of the eye surgery team:

Mansalay Local Government Unit (LGU)
Mayor Totoy Maliwanag and Vice Mayor Joel Maliwanag
Brian and Mary Grace Borysewich
Raimund and Lyn Woitinek (Return of the Innocence Beach Resort)
Mathy and Constantin Partido (Teresa by the Sea Resort)
James and Flor Keh (La Sersita Casitas and Water Spa Resort)
Konsehal Cezar and Mel Sugcang (Melzar’s Resort)
Ramon and Maria Milagros Guevarra (Mr. Frag Restaurant)
Gianluca and Sheilamae Atañez Calzolari (Emiliano Ristorante Italiano)
Dr. Edito and Dra. Ledesma Closa Cruz (Footprints in the Sand Resort)
Lee and Rowena Langston
The Gallego Family

Finally, I would like to thank my sisters (Betta, Maite and Monique), who made it possible for me to devote the time and resources to organize the Mission. My wife (Selina) who has helped me behind the scenes every step of the way. My team in Mansalay, Kagawad Porek Tolentino, Romy Adan and Nonong Lagahit, for taking care of all the other “devil in the details.”

Mabuhay ang Bayan ng Mansalay! Maraming salamat po.

Manuel P. Gallego