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Don't let anyone tell you the mission is a breeze. Hot and humid in the Philippines especially closer to the equator in the Negros Occidental province makes it a relatively tough gig for those 5 days we spent screening the local population - had to keep rehydrating Day 1 - Saturday October 5th off to Manila on a very early flight so lots of weary faces turning up at around 4am Day 2 - Sunday October 6th flight to Bacolod on Negros Occidental - the location of our first mission 25 years ago and the HQ of the Eye Hear Foundation, quick lunch with the EHF team and then off to our base for the next 4 nights - Zaycoland hotel and resort (almost) in Kabankalan. Pleasant accommodation and a good place to base out of. Day 3 - Start of the mission screening - split into teams of 8 and 7 we went to our various locations to see the kids and adults first stop for the ear team was Cauayan Central Elementary school whilst the eyes folk went off to the local community hall Over the following 4 days we had screenings across the province at towns such as Ilog (means river in Tagalog), Hinoba-An and Sipalay. Sometimes in the same location but mostly split between schools and community centres The Army accompanied the eye team and provided free haircuts to the locals - Some of our team enjoyed their services. Some who needed the services didn't take advantage - ahem no names mentioned!! And some even took part in the opportunity to chop down some sugar cane. For those unaware the island is the home of sugar crops and as you drive through it you just see vast expanses of cane fields... Lastly and importantly - the numbers. Doug will no doubt talk about this on the 18th when the students provide their report on their take aways from the mission but just wanted to update that the total screenings during the 5 days of the mission was 4658. a stellar effort by such a small team!
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