Mrs. Martha Hopewell's Visit to Cebu

The Save One Life (SOL) Foundation is an American charity program that provides financial assistance to indigent hemophilia patients across the globe. SOL specifically caters to children or youths with hemophilia in developing countries, where there is no government support for hemophilia. The funding is given to qualified patients through the coordinating hemophilia organizations; SOL has a total of 33 program partner organizations from 11 countries, HAPI-C being one of them since 2008.

In February 2012, SOL Director Mrs. Martha Hopewell visited the Philippines. She wanted to find out the condition of the hemophilia community, as well as to discuss matters with SOL partner hemophilia organizations in our country. Straight from her visit in Manila, Mrs. Martha Hopewell was in Cebu on February 21 and 22, 2012.

SOL Director Mrs. Martha Hopewell finally meeting the HAPI-C volunteers

On February 21, HAPI-C officers had a dinner meeting with Mrs. Hopewell, Rev. Donald Kill, and a few of his student scholars. (Rev. Kill is a Columban missionary based in Ozamiz city, Philippines. He introduced HAPI-C to the SOL Foundation a few years back). During the dinner meeting we talked about the condition of the hemophilia community here in the Philippines, particularly in Cebu. Our officers also had an informal progress report on what HAPI-C has done in the past year.

 

During the dinner meeting with Rev. Donald Kill

The next day, Mrs. Martha visited the HAPI-C office at the Perpetual Succour Hospital and had a meeting with our Board Members. During the meeting Mrs. Hopewell discussed on updates and new policies on SOL program, and also about how to work on things more efficiently with HAPI-C. We also discussed about our beneficiaries, the indigent hemophilia patients being sponsored through SOL.

At the HAPI-C office

 Mrs. Hopewell watching part of the HAPI-C documentary on Hemophilia and Physical Therapy (2011). Kenneth Borromeo (wearing grey) was the subject patient for the case study.

Lunch meeting with Sr. Myrna Borromeo, SPC 

 On the way to Carcar, we made a stop-over to the roadside where Gabriel Garces (a hemophilia patient) works as a tombstone engraver outside a cemetery.

In the afternoon, HAPI-C and Mrs. Hopewell paid a visit to the beneficiaries in the town of Lagang, Carcar, where a clan of hemophilia-afflicted families resided. We were accompanied by Sr. Myrna Borromeo, SPC of the Perpetual Succour Hospital.  Mrs. Hopewell interviewed the beneficiaries and their families, who are very thankful of the support given by the SOL.

 At the home of HAPI-C secretary Ana Mae Villamor, where her many academic medals are displayed.

Lagang, Carcar, where a whole clan of hemophilia-afflicted families live in.

Mrs. Hopewell conversing with the beneficiaries in Carcar, one of them an amputee hemophiliac.

  

Visiting the homes of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Hopewell was especially fascinated by how Filipinos in their indigenous straw huts work around their household.

Later in the evening and back in Cebu city, Mrs. Hopewell also visited the home of our HAPI-C President, Ms. Mary Ann Navasquez. She shares her home with her two brothers and a baby nephew with hemophilia, and the rest of her extended family. 

With Roy Navasquez, Mary Ann's younger brother

 Mrs. Martha Hopewell with the Navasquez family

 

And as for her final stop-over, Mrs. Hopewell also dropped by Ms. Elena Camay’s home, the mother of our deceased former HAPI-C President Bobby Chua.

Mrs. Hopewell then flew to Davao the next day. HAPI-C is very thankful for the opportunity we finally got to spend time with her. We look forward in continuing our partnership with SOL.