There were enough bags to spare and we were able to organize the annual Christmas Get Together enjoyed by the ostomy members.
A shipment of ostomy bags from ASPOA namely Friends of Ostomates New Zealand, along with three additional parcels from New South Wales ostomy Australia, was received by the National Federation of Ostomates of the Philippines intended for needy ostomates.
The proponent for FOWNZ is Richard Mcnair who has regularly sent supplies for the association. Similarly, Allen Nash who is president of ASPOA facilitated a donation through Ostomy New South Wales. This was coordinated through Michelle Crosbie who is a volunteer who sent a total of three parcels plus pediatric stoma bags with the help of the local Rotary Clubs that agreed to fund the freight cost for the shipments received last November 21,2025.
However, in unforseen circumstance two powerful eathquakes struck off the coast of Manay Davao Oriental on October 10, 2025. Still, in another part of the southern region a magnitude of 6.9 earthquake struck Bogo City, Cebu that registered dozens of death and misplaced people. To make matters worse, three weeks later on November 4, 2025 severe Typhon Kalmaegi wreaked havoc in the same province causing widespread flooding.
These events prompted the officers of the NFOP to send part of the donations received for the victims of the typhoon and the earthquake especially in support of ostomy patients who may have lost all their belongings.
There were also donors from Manila who were kind enough to share bags for the affected ostomates so as to help hasten in their plight. The donors are Ms. Arshan Ismail, Ms Cynthia Calderon and Nurse Rose Encabo.
We were able to get in touch with several hospitals in Cebu City and rationed bags according to their requests. Local health workers and volunteer groups ensured that the supplies reached patients in urgent need.
Christmas Get Together
There were enough bags to spare and we were able to organize the annual Christmas Get Together enjoyed by the ostomy members. There was a lay forum entitle “Living with Hope inspite of Illness”. Afterwards, games and potluck followed.
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World Ostomy Day 2025 will be hosted by the OAA Region. Click for more details
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