Happy Fiesta Nuing! Pit Señor!

Cebu is not the only place in the Philippines that raves about the Feast of Santo Niño. In the far-flung province of Davao Occidental, Nuing, a barangay in the municipality of Jose Abad Santos or JAS also made extravagant preparations for the event. The event was organized by Fr. Richie Cuaton CSSR, the Parish Priest of Nuing Mission Station assisted by the Redemptorist Lay missionaries in cooperation with the whole community of Nuing. People from different parts of JAS came to Nuing to celebrate the event.

The day before the actual feast, 19 January, a medical mission was held on the site. Hundreds of people flocked the grounds for the free general check-up and medicines, Operation Tuli, dental services, eyeglasses fitting, and haircut. The medical teams present included the LGU’s very own health unit, and visiting health practitioners from Metro Manila, Ozamiz City, Digos City and Davao City.

Seeing the faces of the people, knowing their ailments and health needs could really make someone be grateful in life, and return it with a generous heart open for service and love for the people. The accessibility of health care institutions in the metropolitan areas is really a credit of grace for those who live in the cities. On the other hand, for those people who do not have access to public transportation and rely only on private motorbikes with fares so expensive that can cost up to 1,000 Php to the next municipality, have a much less access to a quality health institution in the area. So they travel to as far as General Santos City which is 3 municipalities away for hours just to have oneself checked and avail of services as simple as Electrocardiogram (ECG) and to have consultation with a medical specialist. It is a wake-up call as to where acts of giving and active service should go.

Nonetheless, the opportunity to conduct a medical mission is in itself a grace, as all is grace. Pit Senyor! (Fiona Samantha Ajoc)