Retyped from Trends 2000, 20 September 1997
(TRENDS is the official Philippine Information Agency Forum that daily releases news throughout the country's newspapers)

They did it again.

Once again a container of medical supplies, used but serviceable hospital equipment and beds, photostat copiers and classroom chairs arrived in the Philippines from Canada.

These were Immediately distributed to five schools, a government agency, and a hospital in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental and Bicol.

The fifth shipment to arrive In the country from the St.Francis of Assisi Marian Development Foundation (SFAMDF) of Canada, it definitely brought "joy and hope" to the target recipients mainly composed of school children in needy communities according to Salvador "Bong" Nasol of St. Francis of Assisi Marian Development Society SFAMDF's facilitator in the Phillippines based in Cagayan de Oro City.

He said "contents of Container 5" were distributed to pre-awarded recipients. Such as the Macabalan Elementary School and Gusa Science School in Cagayan de Oro City; Opol National Secondary Technical school and Miraculous Medal Kindergarten School in El Salvador Town, Misamis Occidental and the Ozamiz City School of Arts and Trade (OCSAT) in Misamis Occidental, Bicol Medical Center; and the regional office of the Philippine Information agency in Cagayan de Oro City.

Nasol said they are still assessing other recipients in the country to receive two incubators, four mechanical hospital beds, six wound suction machines, a pa-xxxxxxxxx en pans and other hospital supplies - all part of "container 5" that have yet to be distributed.

GROWING RECIPIENTS

Last year and the previous years, he said, a number of schools in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Camarines Sur and other areas in the country received similar donated items from SFAMDF, alongside with hundreds of library books, school laboratory equipment, computers, electric typewriters and educational films and slides, hospital cribs, eyeglasses and eyeglass frames, including church related items among others.

These donations are given free to the target recipients, Nasol said, but the society those who can afford to donate some amount of money to help shoulder the Canada - Philippines sea freight costs amounting to as high as P300,000 (Canadian $16,000 approx) per container, including taxes.

"To those who cannot afford", he added "that's ok with us".

HELPING THE THIRD WORLD

According to SFAMDF Facilitator Edward "Ted" Malone, each container shipped to the Philippines holds up to Canadian $2.5 million worth of donated items, with an insured replacement value to as much as $10 million

He said the 40-foot "container 6" which already arrived in Manilla but has yet to be retrieved by the society as soon as payment of taxes and freight costs are made, brings the total tonnage of used goods to 61 metric tons since SFAMDF started its mercy mission here some five years back.

In a press conference co-hosted by the Cagayan de Oro Information Center - Philippine Information Agency during his December 1996 visit to Cagayan de Oro City, Malone said the donations are made possible through the generosity of the lower mainland people in Canada, including Institutions, business.