Rosalyn Abellado of Subic Bay suffers from a blocked tear duct that caused intense headaches and a swelling in the corner of her right eye. Two doctors she previously consulted warned her that an infection in the tear duct could be fatal.

Abellado did not want to die just yet and wanted to undergo surgery. However, her family could not afford the P200,000 cost of the operation.

Fortunately, the Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Philippines (TCMFP) held an outreach in Subic Bay on 18 October and its volunteer eye doctors were able to examine Abellado and other elders with impaired vision at no cost to them.                                      

The foundation and its Tzu Chi Eye Center in Manila committed to help cataract sufferers Manuel Baltazar and Romeo Lumabi, Abellado, and 36 other eye patients who consulted the Tzu Chi volunteer ophthalmologists.

The 77-year-old Baltazar, a deacon, told TCMFP, “I am so grateful a free clinic like this happened here today. We did not need to spend a single cent on consultation!” 

Lumabi, crossed an island and traveled overland for almost two days in hopes of receiving treatment. His daughter also traveled all the way from Manila to accompany him for the checkup. 

Local entrepreneurs of Subic Bay organized the TCMFP medical outreach. Lions Club International district governor Tess Pronto-Endaya, through her company, Lab1 Medical and Diagnostic Center, provided the patients’ pre-surgery laboratory tests. 

After all the test results and medical clearances are released, the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce will transport the patients to the TCEC for their surgeries.

Aside from cataract screening and consultations, TCMFP vice president Dr. Robert Sy performed 10 minor operations on patients, while a team of volunteer dentists from Manila, led by Dr. Benilda Licayan, performed tooth extraction for 64 patients.