Izod Philippines partners with the Philippine Band of Mercy’s mission

July 13, 2009

Izod Philippines partners with the Philippine Band of Mercy’s mission in bringing smiles to children with cleft lip & cleft palate deformities

The Philippine Band of Mercy (PBM) was founded in 1899 to provide aid, rehabilitation and most importantly, surgeries to children who were physically disfigured at birth, specifically those born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Over 4,000 Filipinos are born with this socially debilitating deformity every year. This means that 11 people each day are abandoned, disposed of, ostracized and neglected because of a birth defect that can be corrected.

PBM’s mission to provide over 1,000 surgeries per year is a very difficult undertaking both fiscally and physically. So far, they have expanded their facilities to provide interdisciplinary clinics for Speech Therapy, Pediatric, Dental-Orthodontia, Ophthalmology, Audiology, Otolaryngology, Anesthesiology, Genetic Counseling, Psychology, and Parents Support Group. The most important expansion happened in 2008 when a two-storey Craniofacial Center was built that included 2 operating rooms, a recovery room, sterilizing room, doctors & nurses rooms and half-way room.

PBM realized that not everyone can afford to visit the top notch facilities in Metro Manila so they decided to partner with local hospitals across the country and send PBM volunteer surgeons on medical missions. Some of the surgeons were sponsored through the specialization training in medical school so that they can provide the care for PBM patients once they’ve graduated.

It is with the above reasons that Izod Philippines decided to pursue a strategic partnership to create social awareness in the country about Filipinos who are labeled as ‘ngo ngo’s’ It is time to stop the jokes, stop the country from discarding them as social outcasts and start supporting their future. PBM patients just like the rest of us deserve to have the confidence and benefits awarded to an ordinary citizen.

Izod Philippines will also be donating a percentage of their sales to the foundation with the generosity of its customers on the following dates: July 31, August 31 and September 30. Please visit the ff. participating branches for additional details.

SM Mall of Asia
Trinoma
The Podium
Robinson’s Ermita
Robinson’s Ermita
SM North Edsa