Whether as a citizen of America or another country, the Pampango can be called upon during a time of crisis in his native community.
Long before the Pinatubo eruption in 1991, going way back to pre-war days, Pampangos in the United States had been noted for their distinct affection and support of their province.
The tradition of contributing material and financial help continues today, evidenced by their donations to town fiestas, local civic affairs, religious, and even political causes.
A number of Pampangos who gave contributions to the province through various advocacies and charities had been honored in appropriate forum.
There are many countless groups and individuals whose sustained support to community projects here, have not been publicly recognized.
It is not the lack of the proper institutions that countless patriotic Kapampangan residents abroad do not receive appropriate appreciation and official recognition from government authorities.
The commendable exiles and migrants, mostly professionals, retirees and entrepreneurs, do not seek honor and reward for their good deeds. They do humanitarian work, sacrifice and devote time and resources as a sense of duty, an act of conscience.
I single out a model example of Kapampangan migrant, Dr. Arturo S. Basa, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Dr. Basa migrated to the U.S. in the '80s where he began his checkered career as a urologist. The Sasmuan-born doctor strived hard to achieve world-class excellence in his line. His clinic in Ohio, most well known in Cleveland, comprises himself and seven American doctors mostly diplomats in urology.
His name and clinic are widely known in the Eastern border-states. For his active and selfless initiatives in advancing the cause of his fellow Filipino doctors in that state, and his dynamic leadership skills and human relations, he was elected to responsible positions in the Association on of the Philippine Physicians in Ohio. He was acclaimed its president two years ago.
From the time he departed from the country up to this date, Dr. Basa has not lost touch with Pampanga friends, families, and events. His mind keeps going back to his community; with deep-seated feelings for local residents who are still struggling in the same conditions they were when he left. He is here for the PHS Centennial.
Immediately after the 1991 eruption, he organized his friends, fellow Pampangos, and associates in the medial profession in his state to mobilize what resources they could share, sought medicine and supplies, and raise funds to conduct a medical mission in lahar-devastated Pampanga.
Dr. Basa's group camped at the JBL Memorial Hospital shuffling between San Fernando, where it gave money to the SACOP (US$5,000.00) for the homeless, and the Ospital Ning Angeles where hundreds were given medical treatment, and minor surgical help during his second mission in l997.
He was shocked to find the actual conditions and capabilities of public hospitals in Pampanga, noting how even basic equipment and operating room supplies are grossly inadequate and lacking most of the time.
"This really summons me to a greater resolve," he said. He wants to and makes a reprise of a modest medical mission he had started years ago.
Dr. Basa and his group came to Pampanga just recently for a look-see into the people's situations, mostly the health conditions, prevailing.
Their Association had been scheduled to conduct medical missions in various provinces, already pre-arranged by local counterpart associations.
What Dr. Basa, class P.H.S. '55, envisions is to organize a massive donation campaign in the U.S. mostly for expensive top of the line hospital equipment for the use of local district hospitals.
His Association; together with US Rotarians, plans to donate sizeable money for public health purposes, help upgrade medical services, provide medical supplies to the hospitals.
After reading the political turmoil in Pampanga, Dr. Basa last week was still confused with the Capitol conflict, the unresolved differences among public officials, and the uncertainty of approval for his group's donations or contributions for Pampanga.
Some local doctors counseled Dr. Basa not to channel the donations and fund support to the Governor, "because the provincial board will not lend favorable support to the required board resolution to accept the proposed acquisition." Still other civic leaders wanted Dr. Basa to send his projected equipment and cash donations to the Rotary Clubs but cautioned him that the Rotarians may not be willing to pay customs duties to take the goods out of the pie, according to businessman Frank Pangilinan.
Some civil society and business groups volunteered to undertake the receipt and utilization of the said donations. Dr. Basa was warned that some vested interest parties may commit certain misdemeanor in the custody of valuable equipment, Pangilinan reported.
They cited the project of World Relief Organization, coordinated by U.S. citizen George Samson, which figured in a scandal and trouble with a trusted aide of Gov. Lapid at that time, and the hostile opposition by certain Board members.
Donated supplies from two containers van rotted before these were dispensed, with the drugs past expiration date before finally disposed. Will somebody up there advice Dr. Basa what to do?
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His supporters would confirm that Among Ed, as a campaign promise, pledged to serve a single term only in the Capitol. The news spreads now that he wants San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez to succeed him, for whom the former priest vowed to campaign in the event Oca decides to go for it. A swell idea, I may add, and a source of joy for poultry magnate Dr. Rey Aquino, now in temporary seclusion. This is my thought on the occasion of the 4th anniversary celebration of the cityhood of San Fernando.Ok si Oca, Magsilbi Tamu at magsilbi ya bilang aspirant for Governor.
