Service above self, lived out in Iloilo

Photos by Romeo Tanutan Jr.

On a quiet Sunday morning in Mandurriao, the Mill Hill Formation House Missionaries became a place of care, compassion, and purposeful service as doctors, Rotarians, clergy, and volunteers gathered for a community health mission led by the Rotary Club of Iloilo South.

The outreach coincided with Father’s Day, yet members and medical professionals chose to devote part of the occasion to families in need, giving Rotary’s guiding principle, “Service Above Self,” a distinctly personal meaning.

At the heart of the initiative was Rotarian Judge Dan Balagtas, who spearheaded the mission with support from the Rotary Club of Iloilo South, Iloilo Doctors’ College of Medicine, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology residents of St. Paul’s Hospital Iloilo, and the Mill Hill Missionaries.

Fr. Anish Thengumpilil and Fr. Anthony Emeka Onjenkwelu welcomed the volunteers and beneficiaries, helping transform the mission house into a warm and efficient community care hub.

The numbers reflected both the scale and urgency of the undertaking.

A total of 138 adult and pediatric patients received medical consultations, while 12 women underwent cervical cancer screening, an essential preventive service that remains difficult to access for many communities.

The medical team brought together specialists and practitioners who volunteered their time and expertise, including pulmonologist Dr. Rollin P. Tabuena, Dr. Hansel Gubatayao, Dr. Don Garcia, and Dr. Cassandra Allison Celis-Delmo.

Rotarian dentist Dr. Geraldine Adorador complemented the medical services with an oral health initiative, distributing toothbrushes to children and encouraging healthy habits at an early age.

Beyond the consultations and screenings, the event carried the unmistakable spirit of bayanihan.

Rotarians guided patients, volunteers assisted families, and community members shared conversations over hearty snacks prepared for the gathering.

The atmosphere was orderly yet intimate, with every gesture reinforcing the idea that meaningful service is built not only through institutions, but also through individual acts of generosity.

Club leaders Elsie Locsin and Anne Tacogdoy were recognized for their support in bringing the project to life, alongside officers and members Aivee Genson, Gerlin Espinosa, Brenda Briddon, Emilia Guinito, Ernie Reviera, and the wider Rotary team.

Their presence underscored the club’s continuing commitment to disease prevention, community wellness, and greater access to quality health services.

For the Rotary Club of Iloilo South, the mission was more than a single morning of volunteer work.

It was a reminder that service becomes most powerful when expertise, empathy, and collective action meet—and when a community leaves not only treated, but also seen, supported, and strengthened.