Operation Smile Turns 30 via "Journey Home"
Operation Smile Philippines (OSP) Singing Ambassador, Chadleen Lacdo-o, Ms. Universe 2011 3rd runner-up and OSP Ambassador Shamcey Supsup, former cleft lip patient Angel and joaquin E. Quintos IV, Chairman OSP Board of Trustees
"Children show me in their playful smiles the divine in everyone." - Michael Jackson
Kathleen S. Magee and Dr. William P. Magee
It has been thirty wonderful and amazing years since the kind-hearted couple Dr. William P. Magee Jr., a plastic surgeon and his wife, Kathleen S. Magee, a registered nurse, participated in an event that would forever change their lives - and the lives of thousands of children around the world. They were co-founders of Operation Smile, an international children's medical charity that has originated here in our very own country, the Philippines, specifically in Naga City, Camarines Sur, Bicol region.
In 1982, the Magees together with their group of medical volunteers set foot here in the Philippines for the first time to repair children's cleft lips ans cleft palates. Haven't been able to treat all the patients and families that had come before them, they felt the need and inspired them to make a promise to return to help more children thus, Operation Smile was born.
Today, Operation Smile
has grown, conducting surgical missions in over 60 countries with a global
network of more than 5,000 volunteers from 80 countries. It has
provided over two million comprehensive health care evaluations and over 200,000
free surgeries for children and young adults born with clefts, of which more
than 24,000 are Filipinos.
Mr. Joaquin Quintos
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Operation Smile International, it has once again returned to the Philippines via the program "Journey Home." “It is indeed a very significant move for OSI (Operation
Smile International) to celebrate the organization’s 30th year here in the
Philippines. We are privileged and honored to host ‘The Journey Home’,” says
Joaquin Quintos, chairman of Operation Smile Philippines (OSP), the in-country
organization of OSI.
Mr. Roberto Manzano speaking during the event
Operation Smile’s “The
Journey Home” is a series of medical missions that seeks to change a child’s
life by conducting free surgery to repair cleft lip, cleft palate and other
facial deformities. “It is touching how the mother organization OSl continues
to give back to the country where it began. It is truly a fitting tribute to
the country and the Filipinos are equally grateful for this,” says Roberto
Manzano, OSP president and executive director.
Here's the "Journey Home" Medical Mission Schedule
Board of Trustees
Operation Smile Philippines
"It's
both our responsibility and delight to come together and thank the Filipinos
for inspiring the birth of Operation Smile,” says Dr. Magee, co-founder and
executive chairman of Operation Smile, Inc., the mother organization
headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
The program "Journey Home" was launched just recently at the Mandarin Oriental, Manila. it was a well-attended event that known personalities, business tycoons, political figures, medical professionals, commoners and media people gathered and united to join and express full support to this humble program in order to promote the mission and vision that the Operation Smile International had been gearing for.
Ms. Shamcey Supsup
Ms. Janine Mari Tugonon
Chadleen Lacdo-o
Present in the said event were Ms. Universe 2011 3rd runner-up Shamcey Supsup, reigning Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2012 Janine Mari Tugonon and Chadleen Lacdo-o, former cleft palate patient of Operation Smile turned singer and had been supporting the foundation in its various projects and activities in and out of the country. She performed with one of the world’s renowned singer-song writer,
Mr. David Pomeranz in his concert tour nationwide last Feb. 27, 28 and March 1,
2009 in a three-city benefit concert tour entitled “In Our Hands," and was recently qualified in the the nationwide competition "Kanta Pilipinas." The three ladies pose as Smile Ambassadors of Operation Smile Philippines.
Mr. Ramon R. Isberto with Ms. Shamcey Supsup during the event
Also present in the said momentous event was Mr. Ramon R. Isberto who is the concurrent Public Affairs Head of thePhilippines’ biggest telecommunications firm, the Philippine
Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), and its wholly-owned wireless subsidiary, Smart Communications Inc.
We've viewed a very heartfelt AVP during the event which I'd like to share with all of you and it's entitled
"A Smile Changes Everything"
Here's another one, this is a short AVP but it also conveys truthful and very touching message...
"Beggar"
We've viewed a very heartfelt AVP during the event which I'd like to share with all of you and it's entitled
"A Smile Changes Everything"
Here's another one, this is a short AVP but it also conveys truthful and very touching message...
"Beggar"
This young and very innocent kid in the "Beggar" video was Angel
And this is Angel today after her miraculous 45-minutes operation. Angel was such a sweet baby.
I've signed my vow of support to the foundation hoping that by this simple blog of mine, could reach and touch the hearts of many and extend their helping hand to those in need. In that way, we'll be able to change more lives... we can do this, we can change the world.
It will take as little as 45 minutes to create a smile...
and change someone's life forever.
"Operation Smile" is also made possible by the following generous sponsors:
"Operation Smile" is set to conduct 10
missions in 9 different sites across the country for 3 weeks participated in by
a thousand volunteers from 30 countries for its homecoming.
To
find out more about Operation Smile’s “The Journey Home,” call (632) 811-9737
or email info@operationsmile.org.ph.
Please do like operationsmilephils on Facebook and follow @OpSmilePhil on Twitter.
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