“Kalinga Tomasino 400”

400 Missions Reflecting Thomasian Care for the Philippines

by  Primo Andres, MD CEO USTMAAA 2008

As a part of the saga of the Quadricentennial Anniversary of the founding of the University of Santo Tomas, another bold move is about to unfold in our native alma mater – the launching of the “Kalinga Tomasino 400”. This is a series of missions, mostly but not limited to medical missions, that will span the remaining days leading to January 28, 2011 when Thomasians will converge in the campus of UST to participate in the climax of the 400 years of Thomasian history.  It is anticipated that the 400th medical mission will be conducted in the UST Social Outreach Program  in Bamban, Tarlac among the Aeta communities.  A brainchild of the Rector Magnificus, Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, and spearheaded by Dr. Noel Chua, the President of USTMAA Philippines, and Dr. Jose Yamamoto, the Chairman of Gawad Kalusugan, the Health arm of Gawad Kalinga, in cooperation with the Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) headed by Prof. Evelyn Songco, Ph. D., and supported by the USTMAA in America and its Foundation, this will be formally kicked off in the Thomasian GKVillages  in Towerville, Bulacan on December 18, 2008 from 10 AM – 2 PM during the annual distribution of Christmas gifts to the GK families.  The Fr. Rector has committed the Conservatory of Music and the UST Singers to provide entertainment.  It is also expected that the Founder of Gawad Kalinga, Tony Meloto, will formally announce the designation of UST as the GK Institute for Health.

The Thomasian GK Villages are located in a beautiful setting in the slopes of Towerville by a creek located in the far reaches of San Juan del Monte, Bulacan.  Following the First Wow GK event in 2004 in Chicago, Illinois where a number of Thomasian physicians were mesmerized by the message of Tony Meloto and Dylan Wilk about “bayanihan” through building of not only dwellings for the poor but also provision of health, education and means of livelihood, the USTMAAA campaigned for its own village that would serve as a showcase for its member alumni to visit.  The idea has caught on like wild fire burning with fervor and love for country and the desire to help our less fortunate kababayans rise from the quagmire of poverty.  Now there are eight (8) villages built by Thomasian medical alumni clustered close to one another and there is even a Medical Clinic and Dormitory under construction.  GK Partners include Class 1974, Class 1973, Class 1979, Tau Mu Sigma Phi Fraternity, and Dr. Mark Asperilla of Class 1979.  Dr. Tim & Telly Gabriel also of Class 1973 put up Barrio Paraiso.  Drs. Jose and Stella Evangelista, Drs. Dionisio and Zita Yorro, all from Class 1968, and Dr. Primo & Sylvia Andres from Class 1972 teamed up to build Save A Heart Village. The Golden Jubilarian Class of 1958 is in the process of putting up its own village.  There are, in addition.  other Thomasian villages all over the country including 4 villages that have been built by Drs. Carlos and Myrna Capati of Class 1970 in Angat, Bulacan and  in Angeles,Pampanga as well as in Caloocan City, the Sacred Heart Village of Dr. Primo & Mrs. Andres in Nanyo, Panabo, Davao del Norte and their Twin Hearts Village under construction in Cordon, Isabela.  Dr. Noel Canlas is also putting up his own village in Pampanga and Dr. Eustaquio Abay is looking into building one in Bacolod, Negros Oriental.  And the list can go on as Thomasian families have participated as partners in several other villages that are beyond the scope of this article to enumerate.

Being the largest medical school in the Philippines and accounting for around 50 % of Filipino-American physicians practicing in USA, it became natural for the Thomasian medical alumni to adopt the health arm of Gawad Kalinga, Gawad Kalusugan (GKal), as its own project.  Dr. Jose Yamamoto of Class 1973 is the Director of the  Progam and his classmate, Dr. Eustaquio “Boy” Abay is heading GKal USA.  Over 75 % of those actively participating in the program are Thomasians.  It is therefore not unusual for the founder of Gawad Kalinga, Tony Meloto, to look to UST to lead the campaign for better health among its recipient families.  He has long espoused the idea of designating UST as the GK Institute for Health.  GK will be honoring UST as one of the four Educational Institutions most committed to GK in the forthcoming GK International Summit in Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)  in Boston, Massachusetts on June 11-12, 2009.

Thomasians who go on a medical mission or participate in any social outreach program is encouraged to register the event with the  UST Office for Alumni Relations (OAR),  http://alumni.ust.edu.ph, and/or  the USTMAAA, www.ustmaaa.org and/or get in touch with USTMAAA Executive Director, Dr. Primo Andres,  primoandresmd@gmail.com.    Let us all roll our sleeves up and put on our jogging shoes and begin our march towards the Quadricentennial Anniversary of our beloved alma mater, the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, an event that we are so privileged to celebrate in our lifetime.