UCPB, co-donors back Operation Smile mission in Davao

UCPB has partnered with Operation Smile Philippines Foundation, Inc. to provide free surgeries for 150 children with cleft lip and cleft palate in a mission to be held in Metro Davao Medical and Research Center on November 20 to 24, 2017 and January 2018.

This is part of Operation Smile’s 35th anniversary “Until We Heal” global campaign which aims to treat 2,300 patients in 2017 and enhance the skills of cleft care professionals. The Davao mission is also supported by UCPB codonors Phoenix Petroleum and Ulticon Builders which donated P500,000 each.

In a ceremony held at the UCPB Corporate Offices recently, UCPB President and CEO Higinio O. Macadaeg, Jr., Operation Smile Chairperson Edith Y. Villanueva and Vice Chairperson Regina Anne A. Gonzalez signed the agreement for the Davao medical mission. The event was also attended by Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. Vice President for External Affairs Raymond T. Zorrilla and Ulticon Builders, Inc. Vice President of Finance Beatrice G. Magallanes.

“For over 10 years now, UCPB has been supporting Operation Smile because we believe in its mission to make a difference in the lives of indigent children with cleft lip and cleft palate. It only takes a surgery costing P15,000 to change the course of their lives but sadly, their families are not able to afford it. Through this mission that we are sponsoring together with Phoenix Petroleum and Ulticon Builders, we are set to change the lives of 150 kids in Davao. After their surgery scheduled this coming November and in January next year, they will finally be able to smile and look forward to a brighter future,” Macadaeg said.

Villanueva expressed her heartfelt appreciation to UCPB and the donors.

“We are grateful to UCPB and your co-donors for your generosity. For the last 35 years, we have survived because of people and companies like you. This is the miracle of the smiles that we bring to Filipino children,” she said.