SANTA CLAUS OF ALL SEASON

Dr. Benedict Valdez, with his huge frame and bulging tummy, could very well dress up and act as Santa Claus because of his happy personality and infectious laughter.

Actually he does not need to dress up to be like Santa Claus because to many poor people all over the Philippines who have been touched by the healing hand of this happy doctor, Benedict Valdez is a Santa Claus of all season who brings joy and happiness to those who could not afford to go a hospital.

Dr. Valdez, a Davao City surgeon, is deeply involved in charity medical work through the Maharlika Medical Foundation, an organization of doctors who extend help to the poor and the needy during their free time.

I met Dr. Valdez when I was still Governor of North Cotabato through my relative, Dr. Rizal Aportadera, a Maharlika Medical Foundation pioneer.

In all of the years I have known him, Dr. Valdez has always accommodated patients from North Cotabato who could not afford to pay the services of a doctor.

Patients with cleft palate, meningocele, cysts, ovarian tumor and goiter were operated for free.

With the support of long-time friend and political ally Sen. Chiz Escudero who has provided the medicines needed by the patients, the Misyon Pagmamahal Medical and Surgical Mission has helped so many people in North Cotabato.

Last Saturday, in Bannawag, Kabacan, Dr. Valdez was so overwhelmed by the number of patients who needed surgeries that he decided to forego with his lunch just to continue serving the long line of people who waited the whole day.

In our previous medical mission in Midsayap town Dec. 1 last year, Dr. Valdez gulped down a lot of medicines just to control his fever and continue working on so many patients.

Today, Dr. Valdez’s reputation as a doctor willing to help poor patients has spread all over the world that many charitable organizations have tapped him to help them in the implementing of their medical charity work in the Philippines.

He was able to obtain funding from donor agencies to ensure that all young children with cleft lip, cleft palate or meningocele would be operated on for free.

To many children in the country now, Dr. Benedict Valdez is their Santa Claus.

I am happy too that this Santa Claus is my friend and the wedding godfather of my daughter, Dr. Maria Krista.

(photo caption: Dr. Benedict Valdez (right) with my daughters, Josa Bernadette, a nurse and 2nd year medical student, Dr. Maria Krista (in white) and their cousin, Junjun Fantin. This photo was taken by Capt. Acosta, the pilot of this chopper and husband of former Davao City Councilor Mabelle Sunga Acosta. This helicopter was lent to the Misyon Pagmamahal Medical/Surgical Mission by my friend, Col. Sammy Afdal, originally from Kabacan, North Cotabato and now a very successful businessman.)