APFi stages pre-holiday gift giving mission

Posted by APFI on Nov 11, 2010 in News Blog | 0 comments

We often hear people say, “pang bata lang ang pasko” (Christmas is just for kids). The  ”Grinch” (the famous fictional character who stole Christmas) in us would brush aside the true essence of the season either by pushing us to commercially and excessively celebrate it or making us totally indifferent to Christmas.

Arnel Pineda Foundation Inc. (APFI), being true to the values of Arnel Pineda himself, will never be The Grinch but will rather celebrate Christmas spreading love, sharing, blessing others and making a difference. And so, even this early, APFI chose to be Santa Claus in November.

On the morning of Wednesday, November 10, 2010, APFI officials and volunteers trooped to Barangay 397 Zone 41, Padre Noval St. Sampaloc, Manila to bring an early Christmas treat to more than 50 kids ages 2-10 years old. As soon as we unloaded the goodies, the kids were already lining up for the gift giving activity.

Tiny tots and school-aged kids greeted us with excited looks on their face. APFI started the activity with a short prayer joined by the kids, and immediately proceeded to distribute school supplies, multivitamins and paracetamol, and gift packs with some clothes and hygiene kit.

As we handed each gift pack, the sweet but shy voices saying “thank you”, made us (volunteers) realize that we need not wait for December to share the joy of Christmas. It can be everyday — each time we share what we have, however simple the gift is, when it is given wholeheartedly and we give a part of us… it is Christmas.

And yes, as the kids shouted “Thank you, APFI” in chorus… the old adage can be true that Christmas is, indeed, for kids after all. Only that, we, adults must make Christmas possible for them, and when we do, the joy of the season is shared with us as well.

So now, will Mr. Grinch succeed in stealing Christmas again? I hope not, now that APFI vows to bring Christmas to more kids. With your help, we can do it Christmas time or any day.

by Mellany Zambrano-Obal

Zaski… A Hope That Was Lost

Posted by APFI on Sep 28, 2010 in News Blog | 1 comment

Ever since Arnel Pineda personally picked the case of Zaski John Angelo R. Lopez, APFI has committed itself to help this 4-year old kid from Ibaan, Batangas battle the disease that has left him crippled for nine months now.

Thus, APFI facilitated the immediate transfer of the boy from his home in Batangas to the National Children’s Hospital on September 22, 2010 where he had undergone extensive medical tests and procedures. His CT SCAN result reads:

Multiple plain and contrast-enhanced axial images reveal oderate generalized dilatation of the ventricles; cerebral sulci; interhemispheric fissure and minimal degree, the cerebellar folia indicative of chronic communicating hydrocephalus with atrophy.

There are patchy small low density changes in the temporo-parietal cortices as well as in the right thalamus.

A well defined low density focus or malacia is seen in the left thalamus.

There is a low density subdural fluid collection over the left fronto-parietal convexity measuring about 0.5 – 1.0 cm. in thickness.

There is no midline shift. No abnormal area of contrast enhancement is noted.

The calvarium and basal structures are intact. The sutures are not widened.

IMPRESSION:
1. MODERATE CHRONIC COMMUNICATING HYDROCEPHALUS WITH CEREBRAL AND CEREBELLAR ATROPHY AS WELL AS FOCI OF MALACIA / GLIOSIS, LIKELY SEQUELA OF A PREVIOUS MENINGO-ENCEPHALITIS.
2. LOW DENSITY SUBDURAL EFFUSION, LEFT FRONTO-PARIETAL CONVEXITY.

Based on this result and his X-Ray result that reveals an untreated hypothetic pneumonia resulting from his prolonged bedridden condition, his attending neuro specialist, DRA. CAPILI of the NHC, has recommended a series of treatments including:

Intravenous Penicillin management for 7 daysIntravenous Antibiotics (Metronidazole, Textriaxole, Oxacillin) for 6 weeks to treat his SUBDURAL EFFUSION (puss and water in the brain, which is a likely complication of meningitis and hydrocephalus) After all these are done and complications have been treated, Zaski will be referred to NEURO SURGERY for a possible VP Shunt. This procedure is expected to drain the water from his brain.

Unfortunately, the father of Zaski, Mr. Johnny Lopez, saw the discomfort of this long treatment and decided to just bring his son back home in Batangas.

APFI tried to convince the father to just let Zaski stay in the NHC for the treatments but the parents may have their own personal reasons for deciding against it.

APFI is saddened by this but we cannot impose on the parents. APFI is just here to assure them that through all these, we will be of help.

And so, on September 25, Saturday, with sadness, we bid goodbye to Zaski. His parents brought him home, back to where they believe he will be better.

It was not a mission accomplished, but something taken with great courage and compassion.

Let us still continue praying for Zaski…

Isla Pugad: A Nest of Broken Dreams

Posted by APFI on Sep 27, 2010 in News Blog | 1 comment

When Cherry Pineda, wife of Journey frontman Arnel Pineda and chairwoman of the Arnel Pineda Foundation Inc., asked me if I know a place where we can hold a medical-dental mission, I queried back what could be her criteria in choosing the area of mission. With her usual concerned and sincere look, she quipped, “depressed, no-access to medical care… forgotten”.

Her sincerity in uttering the last word striked me and pushed me to mentally browse among all the places and areas I have visited that are stored in my memory. And then suddenly I thought of a place that I visited during one of my lowest moments in 2007 and wherein my two days of stay there made me realize how blessed I am. The place was so poor and depressed that anyone who can afford to go to school, eat three times a day, have job options, enjoy the comfort of having access to basic services will feel blessed and lucky that he has not to live in it.

The place is Barangay (Isla) Pugad – a twenty five minute boat ride (aboard the Barangay’s mobile/patrol-cum-ambulance service boat) from the progressive town of Hagonoy, Bulacan. It is a far cry from main Hagonoy proper not only in terms of distance but of progress and everything that connotes development.

When I told Cherry about it, she opted to see the place. And so, unintentionally coinciding with the first year anniversary of the Ondoy tragedy, we drove to Hagonoy first hour in the morning of September 26, 2010. After an hour and a half drive, we reached main Hagonoy and rode the Barangay service boat waiting for us at the ‘pondohan’ at the back of the town’s market place.

The boat ride provided us the sight of the town’s outskirts that boast of numerous ‘pondohan’ or ‘consignacion’ (mini fishing ports), even several satellite gasoline stations along the riverbanks. But after several minutes, the boat seemed to be taking us away from civilization and bringing us to a seemingly endless river surrounded by fishponds, baklad, pilapil, swamps — but lo and behold — no more sight of any settlement or community. It was only after exactly twenty five minutes that we finally saw an island full of coastal houses, some partly submerged in water – a community obviously poor, and yes, isolated.

Several Barangay officials and lady volunteers warmly welcomed us and gave us a quick tour of the island. The pilapil-like walkways of the island which are usually wet and muddy, connects the numerous lines of dilapidated, improvised shanties that are homes to 517 families with total population of 2,056. The barangay chairman told us there are actually 384 houses in the island, mostly barong-barong made of worn out bamboos, rust-laden GI sheets and tent materials.

But the story of Pugad is not in the poorness of its shanties but in its residents who are deprived of so many basic things including education (elementary/primary school only), absence of job opportunities (aside from fishing), clean and potable water, communication lines, sanitation (not all houses have comfort rooms), proper waste and garbage disposal, health care, and ISOLATION.

The island is witness to the many heart-wrenching stories of poverty – of families eating only once a day, sick residents dying due to inaccessibility to medical care – even that of common ailments like simple flu on children usually result to death, pregnant women giving birth while still on boat, teenagers not being able to go to high school because school is an hour-boat ride and forty pesos away from their island, their houses and meager possessions submerged in water during high tide – even worst during typhoons, all these and more – stories of survival and basic human existence.

The APFI Inspecting Team as headed by Cherry Pineda, saw the need of these island people to medical supplies, vitamins, basic medicines and antibiotics, dental care, pre-natal care, first aid kit supplies, vaccines, derma ointments, even potable drinking water.

Obviously, Pugad is not a nurturing nest for its poverty-stricken populace but a depressing island for its people deprived of the many basic things in life. Even the local government finds it too far for comfort. Indeed, it hosts many broken dreams.

If only each one of us can extend a hand, we might bridge the distance and get the blessing across. Because on a deeper analysis, its distance may have isolated the island, but it is our indifference which isolated its people.

So, APFI being true to its mission of reaching out to the poorest, most forgotten of our fellowmen, will hold its Misyon Kalusugan Grande sa Oktubre on October 17, 2010 in Barangay Pugad, Hagonoy, Bulacan which will be dubbed OPLAN: ISLA PUGAD.

APFI will bring volunteer doctors and dentists to care for Pugad residents who need medical and dental attention. The Foundation will also bring medical supplies for the island’s health center, distribute grocery packs and health kits to residents and school/gift packs to children.

It is our hope that we may touch lives with this mission. It is our statement that no place is too far, and that no person is unimportant as all is equal in the eyes of God. Everyone deserves a better life. Each one of us is bound for a greater purpose.

Mellany Zambrano
- Blessed to be an APFI Volunteer

Limited resources compel children to educate themselves in this poorest barangay in the Hagonoy municipality. Click on image to view more photos.

OPlan Case 3: Zaski

Posted by APFI on Sep 22, 2010 in News Blog | 0 comments

As part of Misyon: Kalusugan, we have a new case personally handpicked by Mr. Arnel Pineda. Please help APFi save this child. APFi thanks Gen. Nick Bartolome for providing the ambulance for Zaski’s transfer from Ibaan, Batangas to the National Children’s Hospital.

Learn more about Zaski’s plight HERE.

See more photos HERE.

John responds to chemotherapy

Posted by APFI on Sep 3, 2010 in News Blog | 0 comments

We just received news from John’s father following APFi donors assistance towards John’s necessary medical procedures:

Dear sirs and madams:

I thank God for this time and opportunity of giving thanks to kindhearted individuals who unselfishly shared their time, efforts and resources to share God’s love to children one of which is my son, John. I wholeheartedly thank sir Arnel, mam Cherry, mam Tessang, sir Will and the rest of the APFI members and staff for your support and responding to God’s way of answering prayers.

The amount of 30,000 pesos funds for John’s medical procedures were spent for John’s chemo drugs and antibiotics used during his 3rd cycle of chemotherapy. Though there is only a minimal shrinkage of the tumor, the good news is cancer cells are responding in chemo drugs. We are vigilant in watching John’s physical health since chemo drugs weakens his immune system. We are now on the first stage of the 4th cycle chemotherapy, and we thank God for He provided our needs. It is our unceasing prayer that God would still provide John’s medical needs in the succeeding cycles of chemo.