(U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney was in Calbayog today. Among her engagements was the Closing Ceremonies of Pacific Partnership 2008. Let me give you Joey Gabieta's report as printed in the LSDE)
CALBAYOG CITY– After more than a month of conducting their medical and engineering works in this city and in two towns in Samar and one in Northern Samar, the close to 3,000 members of America’s mercy mission packed their bags and things yesterday morning with their ambassador in the country, Kristie Kenney expressing the “extraordinary experience” that the group had during their stay.
Kenney, in her speech, said that the medical and engineering work conducted by the members of the mission, dubbed by local officials as “Pacific Partnership 2008: Samar Mission,” said that she was sure that the members of the mission savored their experience and stay in Samar provinces.
“Our engineers learned new techniques; our doctors and nurses benefited from the expertise of (local) doctors and nurses.
And you taught us how to sing and dance,” she said to a warm applause from the audience at the socio-cultural hall of the Tiburcio Tancingco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST), this city.
She was welcomed by Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento, Northern Samar Governor Raul Daza, Samar Rep. Reynaldo Uy, Samar Vice Governor Jesus Redaja and Brigadier General Arthur Tabaquero, commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division.
Ambassador Kenney was accompanied by Edcel Custodio, acting secretary of the Foreign Affairs Department.
The 928 men and women members of the USNS Mercy Mission, arrived in Samar last May 13 and formally ended their work last Friday.
Aside from this city, the group, which was composed of 500 doctors and nurses and 68 engineers, among others, conducted their “mercy mission,” in the neighboring towns of Sta. Margarita and Gandara in Samar and in San Isidro, Northern Samar.
The mission group was headed by Captain William Kearns who said that he was overwhelmed by the warm reception their group received from the local people. “Thank you for your great welcome. The mission served as a lasing reminder of friendship and teamwork between (the United States and the Philippines),” he said in his speech during the send-off.
Mel Senen Sarmiento, mayor of this city, said he could not find words in expressing his gratitude to the coming of the mission which he said had benefited close to 30,000 poor people.
On top of providing medical services, the group also constructed a health center; water and waste treatment facility, both in this city and another health center in Santa Margarita.
For his part, Northern Samar Governor Raul Daza said that the goodwill mission conducted by the members of the USNS Mercy Mission, was an indication that theAmerica cares for people living in less developed countries like the Philippines. “The people have witnessed that the US is not only an instrument of destruction just like we have witnessed in Iraq but also an instrument of preserving lives…,” Daza said.
The coming of the mercy mission to Samar and Northern Samar provinces was realized upon the request of Mayor Sarmiento who asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In turn, the President had requested the US government, through its embassy here in the country, to conduct the mission. Sarmiento himself said that the mission was the second ever to happen in the province after its first mission in 1987 which also served “thousands of poor people in the island.”
The USNS Mercy, which was docked in the Samar Sea bordering this city and the island town of Sto. Niño during their goodwill mission, is described as a hospital ship whose primary mission is to provide an afloat, mobile, acute-surgical medical facility to theUS military with the secondary mission of providing medical and surgical services, afloat and ashore to support US disaster relief and humanitarian operation worldwide.
Here are some pictures taken during the program at the TTMIST
Ambassador Kenney with (l-r) DFA Asec Custodio, Capt. Kearns and Capt. Mercado
CACO singers doing the doxology
An American band member as he sang the "Star-Sprangled Banner"
Mayor Sarmiento delivering a thank you speech in behalf of the Samareños
Part of the guests invited for the affair
with the presidential table re-arranged minutes before the program, the American envoy settled for the floor to watch the AVP on the USNS mercy mission.
Capt. Crispin Mercado, the Mission Co-Director from the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Capt. William Kearns III, the Mission Co-Director from the US Navy.
Ambassador Kristie Kenney
DFA Acting Secretary Edsal Custodio
Ambassador Kenney as she received a Resolution of Thanks. Said resolution was signed by Mayor Sarmiento, San Isidro Mayor Conrado Avila, Sta. Margarita Mayor Fred Serrano and Gandara Mayor Antonieto Cabueños.
Tokens of Banig and Lakub were given to the four VIPs
Chaplain Dance as he delivered a speech during the Project Hand Clasp Ceremony
Calbayog Bishop Isabelo Abarquez receiving the Project Hand Clasp donations on behalf of the Diocesan Commission on Health Care.
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