LUBAO -- A world with all children smiling is fast becoming a reality, thanks to the kindness of medical volunteers of Helping Children Smile Incorporated (HCSI).

The group's president Vonnie Burton told Sun.Star Pampanga that the group has been conducting free surgery, such as lip revision and palate operation, since 1997, where medical volunteers from Australia have given their time and expertise for the yearly mission to the Philippines.

Valentine's 2009 blog

This year, in memory of the late Guagua councilor Jerome David-Tulio, the HCSI has tied up with the local government of Lubao and Sta. Rita to help some 60 children coming from indigent families to avail of this rare opportunity.

Burton said the memorial mission held at the Escolastica Romero District Hospital here was a success, adding that not only children from Pampanga towns received the free operation but also from the towns of Bataan and Zambales.

Dr. Frank Kimble, one of two surgeons who administered the operations, said patients ranging from five months old to 24 years old were treated from February 23 until March 3.

Kimble said the operations would last for almost two hours depending on the extent of work to be done.

"We love to help and we love the Filipino people. We do this every year and the greatest reward we could ever have is the feeling that we made a child smile, he or she will not only look better but will also feel better inside and out," Kimble said.

Sta. Rita Mayor Yolly Pineda thanked doctors and nurses who headed the medical mission, saying her municipality and other towns are truly blessed for the kind hearts and generosity of the medical volunteers.

She also thanked former Guagua councilor Devine David-Tulio, mother of Jerome, who co-sponsored the medical mission together with congressman Mikey Arroyo, local government in the second district and staff at the said hospital.

The HCSI also donated medicines to patients.

Others members of the medical team are organizer Lorie Rowe, Witin Sharma, Richard John Scolaro, Damian John Castonelli, nursing staff Lindy Patten, Glenn Cartwright, Erin Elizabeth Mc Intosh, Catherine May Rogers, Nichole Margaret, Johnson, Bernice Alwyn Mc Lennan, Craig Adrew Walsh, Aileen Veronica Burton, and Tracey Lee Madden. (Chris Navarro)