Educational Awareness on Rabies Free-Tagudin

By Manalina Acosta-Lake RN, BSN
Bloomingdale, New Jersey USA

The Educational Awareness on Rabies Free-Tagudin started on September 12, 2011. This program is in collaboration with the Local Government Unit (Office of the Mayor and the Department of Agriculture) and the SAS Class of 1974, and funded by Let's Share Foundation, Inc. I was fortunate enough to join, and participate during the lectures. From September 19 to 23, 2011, we were able to give seminars to the college students of ISPSC, and the students and parents of TNHS( Tagudin National High School.). The program was  well attended, and accepted by the students, and parents. The speaker was Dr. Joyce Lamadrid Lavara, head of the Department of Agriculture in the municipality of Tagudin. The Hon. Mayor Roque Verzosa Jr., also came to show his support and gave words of encouragement on why this program is important to the people, to the animals, and the safety of the town. This program was also incorporated with the school's curriculum and that students who attended the seminar are going to do book reports to make sure that they understood the importance of rabies vaccination. The Educational Awareness on Rabies Free covers the relationship between humans, and dogs; what to do when bitten by a dog; where to go as soon as bitten by a dog; the signs and symptoms to be aware off; and what to do with the dog who bit a person. It also covers laws concerning Republic Acts on dealing with dog bites, and its fines, and punishment. This program is an on going program as the SAS Class of 1974, and LGU still have to go to Saint Augustine's School, and to all the Elementary Schools in the 43 barangays of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur to give lectures on the importance of rabies vaccination. After all the schools are covered, the Rabies vaccination will start and hope that we will make Taguidn a RABIES FREE municipality.

Thank you....

To Let's Share Foundation Inc, and Dr. Carol Encarnacion-Dacanay, thank you for starting the vaccine project for our town, and for all the support that you've given, and shared. To the Mayor of Tagudin, Hon. Mayor Roque Verzosa Jr. for your full support on this project. To LGU of Tagudin and staff. The Dept. of Agriculture headed by Dr. Joyce Lamadrid Lavara. Thank for your non stop enthusiasm, your time, and a powerful deliverance of what is needed to make this campaign a successful one.
To all the teachers and staff of the different schools who helped to make this program possible.
And of course to all the SAS Class of 1974 who gave their time, their efforts to be at the campaign sites day after day. MABUHAY TAGUDIN!!!!!!!!

Rummage Sale in Meadville, PA, Benefit Let's Share Foundation, Inc.

Let's Share's Concert a Success!

 By Tess Dumanil-Garstenshlager, Events Coordinator, Meadville, PA

 

Dr. Carol Encarnacion, Chairman of the Board of Let's Share Foundation, Inc. (pictured standing), is seen with volunteer vocal performing artist, Len Holifield, from Jones County, Mississippi.

Dr. Carol Encarnacion, Chairman of the Board-Let's Share Foundation, Inc. discusses key issues of the mission, goals, and visions of the organization during intermission.

Pictured from left to right: Manalina Acosta-Lakes, BS-RN, Board of Director of Let's Share Foundation, Inc. (New Jersey); Len Holifield, guest performer (Mississippi); Sylvia Green, Events Coordinator (Pennsylvania)

On August 27, 2011, Let’s Share Foundation, Inc,. in Meadville, Pennsylvania, with the leadership of Dr. Carol Encarnacion, sponsored, “Let’s Share a Night of Music”, featuring Filipino-American songstress, Len Holifield, of Jones County, Mississippi.  Len's repertior as a singer included music engagements in many parts of South East Asia with her band.  Since her move to the United States ten years ago, she has done numerous special guest performances by request at Filipino-American gatherings, and at Christian churches, where she is well received as a gospel singer. 

 

There were around 200 people who attended Len Holifield's concert at the Academy Theatre in Meadville, PA.  We had Filipino, and American friends, and guests from Erie-Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and also guest who travelled as far as Canada.  Everybody had a fabulous time, and loved Len’s songs.  The concert was a grand success! 

 

At the opening, Krisel Nagallo played the piano for the Star-Spangled Banner, and Philippine National Anthem.  Charles Reyes and Krisel were the co-emcees for the event.  Len sang Dahil sa Iyo, Paano Kung Wala Ka Na, Gaano Ikaw Kamahal, Mamang Sorbetero, May Bukas Pa, Ang Pag-ibig Kong Ito, Magandang Gabi, The Greatest Love of All, and You Rraise Me Up.  We were all teary-eyed when she sang the Filipino love songs.  It touched our hearts, and made us miss our homeland, the Philippines.

 

There was a slide show, and a documentary about the Philippines describing the nation, people, traditions, and a lot of places that we are proud of. The slideshow showcased past, and ongoing projects of Let’s Share Foundation, Inc.  Topics included the foundation's goal of health education awareness programs and disease prevention through education.  Making the general public aware of the risks, and benefits of vaccination is one of the main goals of Let’s Share Foundation, Inc. and although the Philippine Department of Health, and other Physician groups in the area are working on these, it is hoped that we can enhance vaccination rates. With more people working together, we can do better, and more people will have a better understanding, and commitment to join.  Free-rabies communities through education, and animal vaccination were also discussed and are being worked on.

 

The guests also enjoyed the big Chinese Auction, door prizes, 50/50 and samples of Philippine desserts such as bibingka, suman, buchi-buchi, polvoron, and sampaloc were made available to everyone at the event.

 

It was ended by one of the Board Members, Ms. Manalina Acosta-Lake, RN, who called all the volunteers (Connie Bensel, Bill and Lisa Buchholz, Alfred Dacanay, Rick and Tess Garstenshlager, Allan and Sylvia Green, Emily Hawthorne, Annie Hoffman,  Maria Hollabaugh, Jovita Motea, Krisel Nagallo, Charles and Marivic Onion, Helen Repko,  Autumn Sliker, Rose Stoker, Rose Thomas, Virgilio and Angel Vicmudo, Alvin Villamar, Jed Villamar, Tim and Aldin Wolbert)  to the stage, and handed a plaque, and bouquet of flowers to Len Holifield. Emily Hawthorne also handed a bouquet of flowers to Dr. Carol Encarnacion. 

 

We thank Len so much for sharing her talent, and time to support Let’s Share Foundation, Inc.  Our sincere gratitude to all our generous donors, and incredible volunteers; we could not have done it without your support!  Special thanks to Daphne Matias-Creel who started the project, and moved back to Mississippi.  (We miss you, Daphne!!! ) Also special thanks to our friends from NJ, NY, and Canada who wholeheartedly helped us all the way  to have a special, and unforgettable night of music with Len Holifield.

 

Finally, our profound, and sincere gratitude to Dr. Carol Encarnacion, for her extraordinary enthusiasm to present the first Philippine concert in Meadville, PA, in support of Let’s Share Foundation, Inc.  Thanks to you, Mr. Alfred, and Dr. Encarnacion-Dacanay for opening your house, and kitchen with delicious dinners during our late night meetings, and exchange of e-mails between your studying in the middle of the night.   We salute you for your passion to do medical missions (Bakuna Project) to the Philippines through Let’s Share Foundation, Inc. 

 

Maraming salamat, and Mabuhay!!!

binan experience by Christian Belisario

The volunteering experience that I had with the Let’s Share Foundation during the medical mission in Barangay De La Paz, Laguna, Biñan was a very rewarding and eye-opening event.  It made me realize that there are so many people who need help; however, it also made me realize that there are so many people who are willing to volunteer their precious time and administer that help to those who are less fortunate.  Being a pre-med student in the United States, one does not truly see that poverty that exists in third-world countries, and being a part of this experience gave me an entirely different perspective. It was such a fulfilling experience to be a part of it, and I am so glad that I was able to volunteer my time to help coordinate the medical mission, as well as give a presentation about infection prevention to the recipients of the vaccines that were administered.  I would like to thank everyone who was involved with the medical mission, for making it a successful
one.                                              

Pictured is one of the Sigma Tau Delta sorority members from UST medical school administering the PPSV vaccines to one of the Barangay De La Paz residents.  It was great to work with these medical students and see how to administer a intramuscular injection. 

Here are some of the kids who received the deworming treatment.  They also received free vitamins.  The kids seemed really excited and grateful that they were getting the medical help and the free vitamins. 

Here is the audience that listened to the lecture about infection prevention, given by Dr. Carol Encarnacion, Dr. Nicole Dacanay, and myself.  The audience was very engaged, and they actively participated in the lecture by answering questions, as well as asking us questions.  Everyone was grateful that they were receiving help from this medical mission.  

Dine to Donate at Applebees

Applebee's in Meadville, PA, will donate 10% of your food purchase to Let's Share Foundation, Inc., when you dine in anytime on June 16, 2011. You must present a Dine to Donate Flyer to your server for the donation to count. To request for a flyer please email: letsharefoundation@gmail.com or call Emily at 814-333-2848.

Our First T-shirt

We are excited to show our t-shirts highlighting our foundation. It comes in black and white from sizes small, medium , large and extra large.

Barangay De La Paz, Binan, Laguna

Saturday, May 14, 2011, Philippines---- Residents of Baranggay De La Paz, Binan, Laguna, were recipients of a medical mission program aimed to promote infectious disease prevention. The whole day project proved successful mainly because of the tireless efforts of volunteer workers from the City of Binan Department of Health; OpenHeart Foundation, Inc.; Sorority of Thomasian Doctors (Sigma Tau Delta); lecturers, Nicole Dacanay, M.D., Carol Encarnacion, M.D., and coordinators, Christian Belisario,  and 

Ma. Zobel Yuvienco, MD. 

Nor Tabios, Chairman of Openheart Foundation, Inc.,  (pictured above, standing at left)
discusses Deworming Treatment to parents. Two hundred children from ages two to eight years old 
received deworming treatment. Ninety residents of Baranggay De La Paz also received pneumococcal vaccines. 
The whole day event was held on the grounds of OpenHeart Foundation's office branch in Binan.

Pictured above are volunteer workers from the City of Binan Department of Health. 

Twenty dedicated volunteers were on hand to help with the medical mission project.

Dr. Benjamin, Chief Medical Officer, City of Binan Department of Health (pictured at right) 

receives a donation of stethoscopes and minor surgical instruments from Let's Share Foundation. 

Nor Tabios of OpenHeart Foundation (pictured at left) is seen handing Dr. Benjamin the donated items.

Pictured above being interviewed by the local television media, is Christian Belisario, volunteer coordinator, and pre-medical student from the University of Connecticut. Dr. Nicole Dacanay, Mr. Belisario, and Dr. Carol Encarnacion discussed infection prevention to participants of the medical mission. Some of the topics discussed at the lecture were food preparation, consumption of clean water, and  proper handwashing among others. Participants were instructed on the benefits and risks of pneumococcal vaccines.

 Barangay De La Paz  is one of twenty-four Barangays in Binan, Laguna. People residing
 in this area have poor health status and are vulnerable to different forms of health risks. Providing 
worm treatment and pnemococcal  vaccines to people from this Barangay, has without a doubt 
helped improve and upgrade the quality of life of its residents. The medical mission project  
entrusted the town with learning opportunities that promote better health care and has afforded 
individuals with a better understanding of how diseases are transmitted. If you would like 
to help in our on-going mission in Barangay De La Paz, please let us know by 
e-mailing us at letsharefoundation@gmail.com.

Let's Share Foundation, Inc.: Let's Share A Night of Music!

Let's Share Foundation, Inc.: Let's Share A Night of Music!: "Come and join us for an evening of Philippine-American songs, featuring Filipino-American guest singer, Len Holifield, at the Meadville Acad..."

Let's Share A Night of Music!

Come and join us for an evening of Philippine-American songs, featuring Filipino-American guest singer, Len Holifield, at the Meadville Academy Theater, 275 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA 16335 on August 27, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. The concert will benefit Let’s Share Foundation, Inc., “Mission Bakuna” projects in the Philippines. This event is open to the public. To reserve your free tickets contact, Emily Hawthorne at  (814) 472-0180. Seating is limited, and will be on a first come first serve basis. Thank you!

Len Holifield (pictured above).

About us...

Let's Share Foundation, Inc., is a 501(c) non-profit organization based in Meadville, Pennsylvania. We exist to provide medical missions to families, and individuals living in medically under-served areas in the Philippines. We aim to increase advocacy from the private sector in promoting vaccination rates among communities that are in need of Tetanus, Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) and other vaccines, as well as, animal vaccinations against Rabies. Our organization envisions working with the Department of Health and local Health Organizations in the eradication of vaccine preventable diseases through educational programs that help create lasting and positive change in the lives of those we serve. 


Awareness about individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is another advocacy project that has been started by the group.

Join and support our cause by calling us or mailing us your contribution. To sponsor a vaccination project or volunteer please call Carol Encarnacion, M.D., M.P.H., FACP at (917) 783-0975. To give by mail, please send your tax deductible contribution to: 

Let's Share Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 1394, Meadville, PA 16335.