Philippines
    The World Bank defines the poor as people living on less than $1 a day. In these terms, 62% of the Philippines’ 70 million residents live in poverty. The Filipino Department of Social Welfare and Development reports that 46% of its current population is under 18 years of age. In the Philippines, the most affected citizens of poverty are children.
    
    Payatas is a dump site near Quezon City, part of Metropolitan Manila, where thousands of children and their families reside. Everyday garbage is brought in from the surrounding area and utilized by residents of Payatas for home building and upkeep, food, and survival. The leading causes of premature death are upper respiratory infections, gastro-intestinal disorder, and skin infections.
    
    Deeply moved by the difficult living conditions of needy children, particularly those residing in orphanages, and inspired by the courageous efforts of local missionaries like Brother Joe McGourn and his dedicated staff at “My Children’s House of Hope Bahay Bata 127”, Frank Foundation Child Assistance International launched a pilot medical mission, together with Physicians for Peace, the Philippines Pediatric Society, and Bahay Bata 127.
    
    Bahay Bata 127, centrally located near the Payatas landfill, serves the needs of street children in Manila and the children who reside in Payatas. Beyond the school, Brother Joe and his staff at Bahay Bata manage feeding, grooming, medical, dental, and family support programs and initiatives. The center houses modern amenities and sports outlets for children who would not have such amenities or outlets otherwise.
    The mission of Bahay Bata has reached thousands of children in metropolitan Manila and has now extended throughout the country, seeking to address the needs of children afflicted by poverty.
    
    125,000 people reside on the 5,295 hectares of Payatas. 32% of these residents are school aged children. Bahay Bata makes an effort everyday to relieve the plight of these children through education and supportive services; however, the needs are great, especially the medical needs.
    
    The medical team arrived on location at the Reception and Study Center for Children in Manila early on Tuesday, August 23. The two-day mission aimed at evaluating the health conditions of pre-selected orphans from two children’s institutions in Manila and Lubao. The medical specialists were to conduct basic examinations on the children, such as their physical and cognitive development, vision and hearing tests, special needs assessment, and interviews with caregivers, and they were to provide recommendations for future treatment.
    
    The team was led by the renowned Philippino-American physician and a trustee of Physicians for Peace, Dr. Juan Montero and his partner and longtime friend Dr. Navarro. Four pediatric residents from the Philippine General Hospital were excited to have an opportunity to volunteer and help children who are disadvantaged with limited healthcare services.
    
    The staff and volunteers of Bahay Bata 127 prepared the rooms at the Reception and Study Center to serve as a temporary clinic, where up to 5 children could be examined at the same time. As the physicians evaluated each child, their medical information was immediately inputted into one of three computers, also supplied by the Bahay Bata team.
    
    By the end of “day one”, more than 30 children were evaluated by the medical team. The eagerness of each doctor to help as many children as possible was felt as the team went home for the evening, anticipating an even more successful “day two” of the mission.
    
    The second day of the medical mission started early as the team headed to the province of Pampanga to evaluate children at the Reception and Study Center for Children in Lubao. This institution is home to children who are abandoned, neglected and orphaned. About 2 hours driving distance from Metro Manila, this is a modern facility with a welcoming staff and warm, friendly atmosphere.
    
    Just as the day before, the medical team arrived and went right to work. This time the process was familiar and about 40 more children were efficiently evaluated by the team.
    
    The third day of the mission was designated for presenting Frank Foundation humanitarian aid to three child care institutions: Papa John Center, RSCC Manila and Concordia Children’s Services. In the beginning of July 2005 the President of Frank Foundation Dr. Nina Kostina and Vice President Julie Hogan visited these institutions as part of the fact-finding humanitarian trip. What they found is that each of these orphanages, regardless if they are private or government sponsored, was in need of the most basic items: pillows, blankets, baby formula and diapers, just to name a few.
    
    Frank Foundation Child Assistance International frequently launches humanitarian programs to support orphanages in other countries around the world. The plight of disadvantaged children in the Philippines quickly gained priority and Dr. Kostina pledged to provide each of the three orphanages with the items that they most urgently need.
    
    As a result, Papa John Center received brand new pillows and blankets. Because of the large number of infants, RSCC Manila and Concordia Children’s Services both received a large supply of baby formula and diapers.