Written By: Neyzielle Ronnicque Cadiz, Writer, Operation Blessing Philippines
Because of Operation Blessing’s helping hand in their community, Lola Felissa realized that the true meaning of serving God is lending a hand to other people in need of care and attention.
Felissa Pagadora, 60, a widow and a Grade 1 teacher at Salog Elementary School in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, concluded that because Operation Blessing (OB) inspires change, other selflessly follow.
Lola Felissa, as most people in the area call her, fostered Mary Jane Baldicañas, 13 years old and an incoming grade three pupil, and Rica Lacbayo, 12, going grade 4, while their parents could still not provide anything for their physiological needs. They both came from two families with disheartening situations and whose livelihoods were taken away by typhoon Yolanda.
Lola Felissa has been providing food, shelter, clothing, and even education to the children in exchange of accompanying her in her everyday life and work — an act inspired by OB Philippines’ humanitarian cause, she said. “Kung ano ang kinakain ko, mas binibigyan ko sila ng halaga kasi alam kong mas nangangailangan sila (I am giving them more than what I eat because I know they need it more),” reflecting OB’s mission to address the significant humanitarian needs of affected families and individuals in great need.
Felissa has three children who no longer live with her. As a senior citizen, Lola Felissa’s health is slowly degenerating, which made her decide to retire from her teaching profession this year. Now, she is the one who needs the health attention and care she has been giving to her pupils, foster daughters, and even grandchildren.
In fact, one of her grandchildren joined the Surgical Mission of Operation Blessing on the same day she came for a check-up during Operation Blessing’s medical mission. Lola Felissa was given medicines for her high blood pressure and vitamins for both Mary Jane and Rica who have been suffering from cough and colds. “Operation Blessing’s medical and surgical mission is a great help to the people of Guiuan,” she said. In their local language, she stated that she was grateful to OB Philippines because as a result of their medical mission, Lola Felissa did not have to go downtown for their medical needs and because of this, she saved money to help cover Mary Jane and Rica’s school expenses this school year.
With Lola Felissa retiring, there is a possibility for Mary Jane and Rica to stop going to school next year. They, like other children of Pagnamitan, need helping hands to extend care and attention especially now that their access to education has sacrificed by the devastation caused by typhoon Yolanda. Partner with us today. Together, we can inspire change in others as we help bring hope to these children’s future.
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About Operation Blessing
Operation Blessing Foundation Philippines, Inc. is the humanitarian arm of Christian Broadcasting Network Asia (CBN Asia), the producer of The 700 Club Asia. Operation Blessing provides charitable services to communities by conducting medical missions, health education seminars, feeding programs, food distribution, community development assistance, and disaster response operations.
Contact
For more information of the event, please contact Ms Gigi Endaya at (+632) 477-7806/ 0939-9215543/ 0922-8036922/ 0917-5812603. Please visit and like Operation Blessing’s Facebook page, Operation Blessing Foundation Philippines.
