Medical Mission In Malinao

Shown above are (l to r) Pres. Pete Ruiz, Ms. Pamela Gonzales, Dr. Reinhard Friesen and PP Botoy Villorente.

Dr. Reinhard Friesen and Ms. Pamela Gonzales were the guest speakers of the Rotary Club of Kalibo during its weekly meeting held on March 1 in Andagao, Kalibo.
Dr. Friesen and Ms. Gonzales with some other physicians are in Aklan for a medical mission being made this week in Malinao, Aklan. They are from Peterborough Medical Brigade from Peterborough City, Ontario, Canada.

As RC Kalibo President Pete Ruiz said, "they are Missionaries of Love and Peace".
Dr. Friesen is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University and Queens University in Canada. He finished Bachelor of Science with distinction at Brock University, Doctor of Medicine with honors in the University of Toronto, and Family Practice Residency in the University of Western Ontario.

Besides being a Paul Harris Fellow, Dr. Friesen was conferred Vice Chancellor’s Medal for Academic Achievement, Brock University, Rural Ontario Medicine Program Undergraduate Preceptor of 2004, and Glenn Sawyer Award in 2010.

Dr. Friesen is accompanied by some Filipino doctors who are practising medicine in Canada. Last Monday, February 28, they served some 200 medical patients and 40 dental patients in Malinao.

In a question and answer, Dr. Friesen declared: "Filipinos are most blessed people especially the Aklanons, but the Philippine government is most bureaucratic". His opinion was based on his experience with the Philippine Immigration and Bureau of Customs officers.

He is so articulate though in his appreciation and praises of the reception given them and the kindness and cooperation they are receiving from the Pilipinos. /MP