IT IS a rite of passage from boyhood to manhood. Aside from being a cultural ritual it also posed a sanitary and hygienic importance such as decreasing the risk of urinary tract infections.
Tuli or circumcision is commonly done during summer months where young boys do not have classes allowing unhampered time for them to recuperate and the circumcised organ to heal. This is a time when it is not uncommon to see boys wearing oversized shirts or shorts and walking bowlegged.
Also during summers medical missions conducting free circumcision or tuli are held in various barangays. Many families would get their young boys to line up for free circumcisions.
Junior Chamber International (JCI) Davaoeña Daba-Daba chapter is one of these groups conducting Oplan Tuli in these barangays. Last April 9 (Sunday) they held their Davaoeña Operation Tuli Activity (Dota) in Barangay Bunawan, Davao City.
According to Project chairperson Kaka Baltonado, the Dota is a regular project of the all-female JCI chapter and is on its 4th year. The medical and surgical team came from the San Pedro Hospital Community Extension Service and Surgery department.
About 100 boys came to the Bunawan Gymnasium. The event started in the morning and ended at around past lunchtime.
The JCI team was led by its current president Jeline Gison, Vice-President for community Grace Tolete, Vice President for individual Alexa Dayanghirang, treasurer Mar Javines, secretary Celine del Monte, director for training and individual development Ira Suelan. The JCI Daba-Daba past Presidents Tushinka Tan (2014) and Amadea Aquino (2015).
Though I am not a member of the JCI, we have a close working relationship with the chapter as they used to request the services of the Philippine Information Agency-11 office in conducting press conferences for their notable projects and programs.
JCI Daba-Daba was featured prominently in a sports documentary “How to Make a Visayan Chopseuy” written and helmed by Dabawenyo filmmaker Charliebebs Gohetia for the GMA Cine Totoo Docu-Film Festival in 2014.
The documentary revolves around an underachieving team of Tchoukball players from Davao City which was supported by the ladies from Daba-Daba. It was the closing film of the 2014 Mindanao Film Festival where I was the festival director.
The JCI chapters in the country are celebrating its JCI Week (April 16-22). The week will be marked by several activities and projects. On April 23 is the nationwide launch of JCI’s 2017 Search for the Ten Outstanding Young Men.
Special Thanks to Kaka Baltonado, Tushinka Tan, Maricon Quilaneta and Vanessa Ruth Quinones Chan.