something to make you feel good

The Commission on Health Care of the Diocese of Calbayog in coordination with the City Government of Calbayog (on October 5 to 12, 2008) conducted a cleft lip and palate operation dubbed as Operation Pahiyum. This year's operation was the 12th to be conducted by the commission.

26 children benefited from the operations conducted by volunteer / missionary doctors from the Caraniofacial Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. The operations were held at the Our Lady of Porziuncula Hospital (OLPHI).

The Diocesan Commission on Health Care is under the care of Monsignor Francisco Cinco III. It was cited as the Outsanding People's Organization during the recent Calbayog Charter Day Anniversary.

Here are some pictures taken as the beneficiaries posed for a souvenir picture with Mayor Mel Sarmiento, Msgr. Jun Cinco and the missionary doctors.

Sustainable Agriculture Program

The Diocese of Calbayog through the Diocesan Social Action Center recently launched its Sustainable Agriculture (SA) Program.

Anchored on a theme "Soil Fertility, a Key to Food Security", the event was attended by organic agriculture farmers of the Social Action Center and some farmers from the Dioceses of Borongan, Catarman and Palo.

Part of the launching activity was the mini Organic Agro-Fair held at the CPC grounds where organic agriculture practitioners of the SAC exhibited their organically-grown products as a way of promoting organic agriculture. The organizers also conducted a tour visit to the Sustainable Agriculture Learning Center (SALC) in Brgy. Limarayon, Calbayog City. The Center showcases some SA technologies being promoted by the SAC.

Currently, there are approximately 466 farming households who are actual organic rice farmers across 31 barangays spread in 11 municipalities in Samar province. These farmers have already undergone the basics of sustainable agriculture and their population is increasing as more farmers continue to convert their farming methods to the organic way.

I will be giving more details about the program in my next blog updates. In the meantime let me give you some pictures from the event.

Ribbon-cutting. Calbayog Bishop Isabelo Abarquez with (r-l) Fr. Cesar Aculan of the SAC, Vice Governor Jesus Redaja, Mayor Mel Sarmiento and Boy Baldomaro.

Mayor Mel Sarmiento as he delivered his message during the program launching the Sustainable Agriculture Program of the Diocesan Social Action Center.

SAC (organic) store

It was a pleasant surprise to discover this little store tucked in a small corner of the Diocesan Pastoral Center (which many usually refer to as the youth hostel).

At the corner of Sen. Pres. J. D. Avelino Avenue and Licenciado Street (or directly in front of the spanking Centennial Pastoral Center) one will find SAC store. SAC stands for Social Action Center, one of the important programs of the Diocese of Calbayog.

They have organic products in the store. The ignoramus in me querried with the lady in the store about what organic is and was told that it's any farm product produced without the use of fertlizers.

The store opened in June of this year and had a good number of products newly-harvested from a farm in Brgy. Limarayun. The day I was there, they had squash and red rice for sale.

Another thing worth noting about the store is that it stands on "venerable" ground. Oops, it's the history buff in me that made me say that. One only have to look at the floor tiles. I believe that it dates back to the Spanish times. If we may review our local history, the renovated youth hostel was built around the same time that the old barracks building and the Cathedral were built