‘Project Smile’ to provide free dentures for teachers

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – About 110 teachers from Bacolod City and the Fifth District of Negros Occidental will receive free dentures through Project Smile, an initiative by the Rotary Club of Bacolod Central (RCB Central).

On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, RCB Central, in collaboration with the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) and Fifth District Representative Dino Yulo, signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the dental makeover project, which aims to benefit teachers.

Dubbed “Project Smile: Yuhum ni Titser,” this new edition of the project will provide teeth restoration services, including extractions, fillings, and dentures, for 100 teachers from the 5th District and 10 from Barangay Granada in Bacolod City.

RCB Central President Rolem Basiya, PDA Negros Occidental Chapter President Dr. Analie Gonzaga, and Rep. Dino Yulo formalized the partnership during the MOA signing held at Seda Hotel.

As outlined in the agreement, RCB Central will provide administrative support for the project. For the Bacolod edition, Barangay Granada was chosen as the implementation area, with 10 teachers from the barangay’s schools selected as beneficiaries.

Barangay Granada Captain Armando Vito pledged to assist in the selection process and oversee additional dental services such as extractions and fillings. RCB Central will cover the cost of the dentures.

Meanwhile, PDA-Negros Occidental Chapter will carry out all necessary dental treatments and procedures, from initial assessments to post-treatment care.

Yulo, for his part, will select the 100 teacher beneficiaries from the 5th District and provide both financial and logistical support.

Speaking to reporters, Yulo recalled a story of a teacher who was ridiculed by a student for missing front teeth. The student compared the teacher’s smile to a “one seat apart” arrangement.

“That is a true story,” Yulo said. “When Rotary approached me a couple of months ago, I remembered that story, and when they mentioned the teachers, I saw this as an opportunity to help.”

He added, “It will boost their self-confidence. It’s important that we maintain respect inside the classroom and ensure that teachers aren’t subjected to that kind of treatment by their students. This project gives them the opportunity to restore their smiles, which is crucial for self-esteem.”

Project Smile was first launched in 2017, benefiting 29 teachers from Handumanan National High School. The relaunch of the project coincides with Rotary International’s Basic Education and Literacy Month this September.