DIPOLOG ---- The Zamboanga del Norte United Correspondents (ZNUC), a group of local based media practioners here, launched a Fund Drive for a ZNUC member whose wife is now confined at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila.

Mr. Aquino Sumalpong better known as “akin-akin,” made a formal appeal for financial help thru the ZNUC to aid them with their medical bills at the said hospital. Sumalpong said that his wife; Bebing has just been recently operated at the said hospital for kidney malfunction.

The media organization thru its incumbent president, Nick Carbonel, told The Daily Dipolognon, that such “Fund Drive is necessary for the medical bills of Mr. Sumalpong’s wife.”

“We appeal to Norte Zamboangueños to help our brother Aquino, in his most trying times and especially in getting financial support from our Overseas Filipino Workers based in the United States and other parts of the world,” Carbonel said.

An Open Letter

Pagpakabana sa Katilingban Foundation, Inc. East Poblacion, Rizal, Zamboanga del Norte

October 21, 2004

JOSE MANTE, Ed.D.
Academic Head
Colegio de San Francisco Javier
Rizal, Zamboanga del Norte

Sir;

Greetings of Peace!

The students of De Javier were very lucky to get a free medical and dental check up last October 6, 2004, being provided by a medical mission sponsored by Dr. Mei-mei Yu, an alumna of then Xavier High School and volunteer school physician, who saw the pressing need to address the health concerns of the students. I consider this event a rare opportunity for the students considering the school’s very limited medical facilities and the inadequate medical and dental service that can be provided by the town’s Rural Health Unit. I was, however, shocked and very much disappointed to learn that you instructed the school nurse, Ms. Ma. Stella Ibabao, to ask that Dr. Yu’s medical mission send only two or three or cancel the whole activity in event that more personnel will be sent for the mission; the reason – you cannot afford to spend for the meals of the doctors.

If I recall correctly, during the town fiesta, the school asked the students who participated in the street dancing to contribute P500 and P30 for non-participants, which you allegedly spent for the choreographer’s fee and costume. Two of our scholars had a very hard time raising the said amount, as these things are not covered by their grant. Three weeks ago, you had a disco, which you compelled the students to buy or sell tickets as the same were considered as sold. You certainly seem to give more importance to these said activities, which are remotely related to development of the students, not to mention, financially burdensome on their parents. May I then ask, how important is a street dancing and a disco in comparison to a medical mission for the students? If you can spend and even require contributions for the expenses of a street dancing, can you not afford to spend for two snacks and lunch for a few medical personnel? Surely, this expenses would just be a droop in the bucket compared with thousands you spent for food when a team from the Commission on Higher Education visited the school as what you mentioned when we had a conversation in the morning of October 6 and affirmed by the registrar and the accountant during our meeting in the afternoon of the same day.

The right health is one of the ten identified rights of children under the United Nations-Conference on the Rights of the Child (UN-CRC). I am very sure that you are very much aware of this since you are also the Municipal Social Welfare Development (MSWD) Officer of our town. However, your instructions to limit the number of medical personnel or cancel the whole activity should there be more because you cannot afford to pay for their food is very much opposed and anathema to goals your position as MSWD officer, in the light that you can readily spend thousands for other activities the importance of which are only cosmetic. Such reason is unjustifiable and holds no water in the light of your not so recent expenditures.

Our college collects fees every enrolment, including payment for health services supposedly provided for by the school. Yet, this amount, which is supposed to be used for the health and medical services for the students, is being diverted for other purposes other than health. The school accountant has explained to me that the administration is trying to address other priorities of the school. Is the health and the need to answer the medical needs of the students not a priority of the school then? Why should health fees be collected when they are not applied for their purpose? This kind of anomaly is not only reprehensible, but also morally shocking to one’s conscience. Our health fees are not milking cows! Most of our students are below 18 years old and are covered by the UN-CRC. Don’t you realize that their rights, you are duty bound to protect, are blatantly violated? Being a member of the school’s administration and MSWD Officer, it is your duty to see to it that this is corrected and the health needs of the students are addressed to.

I cannot understand the reason for your disregard of the health mission, when it would benefit your own students. You should have been thankful to Dr. Yu for her unselfishness in sharing her time and expertise free of charge. If our children are supposed to be the hope of our nation, it is then our duty to see to it that this hope is nurtured in good health. (The New Nandau, Vol. XIV No. 24)

Sincerely,

(SGD.) BLAS OFELIE S. DESCALLAR
President