Medical missions have grown to be an increasingly important source of support for low-income communities, despite the ongoing barriers to accessing high-quality healthcare. They now play a new role in improving people’s lives and communities, moving beyond just providing medical care.

Recognizing this, The SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) has made it its purpose to travel from Luzon to Mindanao and provide free medical care and services to thousands of patients from diverse underprivileged regions.

The medical mission team recently traveled to Northern Luzon’s communities of Tuguegarao and Cauayan where they helped thousands of low-income families. Roland Bariuan and Angeline Cacanindin are two of them.

Strength to do more

Roland has been a tricycle driver in Tuguegarao City since 1994. But, two years ago, he suddenly felt weak and had to spend money on medical consultations and examinations.

“Napansin ko na kahit malakas ako kumain, namamayat ako at nanghihina. Nalaman ko na may diabetes na po ako. Pero hindi pwedeng pabayaan ko ang sarili ko. Hindi pwedeng maging tamad ako dahil may sakit ako. Kung tamad po ako mamasada, wala kaming pangaraw-araw at gagastushin pambili ng gamot,” he shared.

Determined to care for his health, he goes to the city health office for his routine checkups. The same drive to boost his health is also what led him to SM group’s medical mission, led by SMFI: “Dahil magastos po magpagamot, kadalasan po akong pumunta sa city health office para sa lahat ng aking checkups. Ngayon, nataon pong nalaman kong mayroon medical mission dito sa SM City Tuguegarao.”

Through the medical mission, he received free consultation, blood tests, x-ray, and medicines–services that would break the bank if he had it done elsewhere. With the assistance extended to him, he had his scheduled checkup without worrying about the finances and even managed to put aside money originally allotted for medicine and laboratory tests.

“Ang kinikita ko sa pamamasada ang ginagamit ko at ng pamilya ko para sa aming pangangailangan. Kaya mahalaga sa akin ang aking kalusugan. Ang magandang pangangatawan ang nagbibigay sa akin ng lakas para mas lalo pang pagsumikapan ang pamamasada,” he said.

“Pero bilang tricycle driver, hindi namin maiiwasang magkasakit dahil usok ang kasabayan namin sa pamamasada. Kaya malaking tulong ang libreng check-up sa ang libreng gamot mula sa SM Foundation. Malaking tulong ito dahil kahit papaano, hindi ko muna iisipin ang pang gamot ko,” he added.

Making quality healthcare attainable

Roland’s fellow resident from Cagayan Valley, Angeline Cacanindin, knows full well the need to maintain a healthy body, for this is her tool to fulfill her duty as a house helper. She also believes that this is what her children can rely on as they strive in school.

However, her youngest daughter has been complaining about a toothache, which was already interfering with her nutrition and attendance in school.

“Butas na po ang mga ngipin niya. Kaya tuwing kumakain po siya, pumapasok ang kanin at nasasaktan siya. Hindi na rin po siya makapag focus sa school dahil sa sakit,” she shared.

“Nito lang po, tumawag po ang teacher niya at sinabing umiiyak po ang anak ko per hindi umiimik. Nung kinausap ko po siya, nalaman kong sobrang sakit na po ng ngipin niya. Umiyak din po ako dahil ramdam ko ‘yung sakit. Hindi ko siya agad madala sa dental clinic dahil nasa trabaho po ako at mahal din po ang magpabunot,” she said.

She brought her daughter for a checkup as soon as she learned about SMFI’s medical outreach program in SM City Cauayan. Her daughter’s tooth was extracted. Additionally, she was given free paracetamol, antibiotics, age-appropriate vitamins, and dental hygiene advice from volunteer dentists.

“Ang medical mission na ito ay malaking tulong kasi libre po serbisyo pati ang mga gamot. Ngayon po, makakapagsimula muli kaming subaybayan ang kalusugan ng aming anak para maganda po ang kinabukasan niya.” she said.

Many economically disadvantaged people, including Roland and Angeline, receive lifelines through the continuous medical missions of SMFI. This intervention offers those in need instant help as well as the chance to access resources and medical care that are sometimes unavailable or unreachable.

Simple household decisions can have a big impact on how communities protect the environment. Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) encourages Filipinos to make more thoughtful decisions about how precious resources like water, energy, and oil are consumed and managed in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations.

As the sole producer of PepsiCo beverages in the nation, PCPPI reiterates its commitment to sustainability in advance of April 22nd, the day on which Earth Day is celebrated all over the world. Frederick D. Ong, president and CEO of PCPPI, asserts that adopting sustainable lifestyle habits affects people and our planet. “The choices we make on a daily basis can help reduce home waste, save money, and enhance our wellbeing. Living “sustainably” doesn’t have to be complex; everyone of us can begin by making decisions at home, he said.

Re-use and repurpose. It often takes a fresh perspective to see our everyday tasks differently. One of the ways to reduce household waste is through repurposing old items, like plastic water bottles which may be transformed into plant holders or vases. Used boxes can also be turned into organizers, while brown paper bags can be used as craft paper for school projects.

Meal planning. Apart from selecting healthier food options from the market or grocery, meal planning has the added benefit of consuming just the right amount of food—thereby cutting down on excess and food waste. Planning meals ahead of time also helps manage one’s budget, as well as electricity costs.

Unplug when not in use. Turning off that are not in use, using enough water to wash hands, or unplugging fully charged devices are some good practices to manage resource consumption at home. These also help maintain the health of electrical appliances, helping them run properly for longer.

Go digital, go paperless. One of the shifts accelerated during the community lockdowns was the move towards paperless transactions. Mail and bills are now accessed electronically, minimizing the need to consume paper. With further advances in technology, the possibilities are endless with how the world can help preserve and protect trees.

As PCPPI supports the practice of these sustainable practices, the organization continues to work on its own sustainability initiatives that demonstrate its long-term commitment towards care respect for the environment.

PCPPI aims to reduce the use of virgin plastic and reach 100% recyclable packaging. The company continues to expand its efforts in lightweighting and exploring alternative packaging sources. Since early 2021, PCPPI has also transitioned to renewable energy use to supply the energy requirements of its plants. Solar panels are installed in its Batangas, Cebu, and Davao manufacturing facilities.

Cleanup campaigns around waterways have been planned by PCPPI in the towns where it conducts business in accordance with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Adopt-an-Estero Program. Key waterways all throughout the nation, including those in San Fernando, Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, Cebu, and Zamboanga, have been adopted by PCPPI. Through collaborations with organizations like the Laguna Lake Development Authority, PCPPI is able to convene frequent meetings with other community stakeholders to discuss the best approaches to address environmental issues and create cutting-edge strategies for protecting the local ecosystems.

In this nation, PCPPI is the sole maker of PepsiCo beverages. Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Sting, Tropicana, Lipton Iced Tea, Milkis, Chum Churum Soonhari, and Premier are just a few of the well-known brands that are distributed by this company. Visit www.pepsiphilippines.com for more details on PCPPI and its products.

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