1-PACMAN party-list to spend for heart surgeries of 300 kids

By Billy Begas

Representatives of the 1-PACMAN party-list group have promised to take care of the surgery expenses of around 300 children with congenital heart defects (CHD).

The children will be the next batch of beneficiaries of the “Save A Child’s Heart Project” initiated in 2017 by House Deputy Speaker Michael Romero and Rep. Enrico Pineda, both Representatives of 1-PACMAN party-list.

Together with their parents and guardians, the children gathered in a zoom meeting to receive their certificates, which will guarantee the payment of their hospital bills.

The program is implemented with the help of the Philippine Heart Center and funded by the congressional allocations of Romero and Pineda.

Due to the limited funds and expensive surgical procedures, Romero admitted that he and Pineda have shelled out personal money to continue the program.

“It’s a different feeling seeing these children smile again…Parents have been profuse with gratitude for what we have done but all I ask them in return is to pray that we may save the lives of more children with CHD,” Romero said.

Pineda, who heads the House Committee on Labor and Employment said that some of the new beneficiaries will need to go under the knife after Christmas day while others immediately after the New Year celebration.

“Almost all of our beneficiaries come from poor families, who were made even poorer because of the economic effects of the pandemic,” Pineda said.

Two-month-old Kim Madison Magno, daughter of a restaurant waiter and a homemaker, must undergo surgery on December 27. Her operation was originally scheduled last November but was canceled after she tested positive for COVID-19.

“Ngayon po, nasagot na ang panalangin namin na sana matuloy na ang operasyon, kailangang-kailangan po ito para mailigtas ang buhay niya,” said Krizel Magno, mother of Kim.

Leah Resurrecion, of San Mateo, Rizal said the CHD of her son Dan Bryan was discovered while he is still in her womb.

“Kinailangan po namin ng P600,000 para sa tatlong operasyon, kaya pagkapangak ko nag-fund raising na kami agad. Itinuro siguro ng Diyos ang website ng 1PACMAN at nadiskubre namin ang ganitong tulong nina Cong. Romero,” Resurrecion narrated.

In 2017, Romero attended a Rotary Club meeting and was asked for some donations for a child who needed to undergo a surgical operation.

After shelling out P50,000, Romero started studying about CHD and learned that many Filipino children are suffering from heart problems leading to the creation of “Save A Child’s Heart Project.”

1-PACMAN party-list to spend for heart surgeries of 300 kids
Source: Philippines Clips