HAND-Philippines

Our hearts are with the communities across Mindanao affected by the earthquake yesterday.

Families have lost loved ones, thousands have been displaced from their homes, and communities are facing the difficult task of rebuilding and recovery in the days and weeks ahead.

At HAND-Philippines, we are in contact with our local partners and are closely monitoring the situation to better understand the needs of affected communities. Through our ongoing projects supporting Rural Health Units, delivering humanitarian aid, and helping rebuild after natural disasters, we remain committed to standing alongside communities when they need it most.

We will share updates as more information becomes available.

Please join us in keeping the people of Mindanao in your thoughts during this challenging time.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/earthquake-southern-philippines-tsunami-warnings/

We're excited to welcome Clara to the HAND-Philippines team this summer!

Clara is a Filipina-American pre-medical undergraduate student at Brown University and a Laidlaw Scholar. As part of her six-week Leadership in Action Project, she will travel to Bohol, Philippines, to follow up our April 2026 medical mission.

During her time in Bohol, Clara will be studying the impact of the HAND-Philippines free cataract surgery program on our patient’s quality of life as well as conducting narrative interviews with community members to better understand the long-term effects of our work. Her research will help us learn from the people we serve and strengthen our programs for the future.

We are grateful for Clara's dedication to service, learning, and community engagement, and we look forward to sharing updates from her journey.

Please join us in wishing her safe travels and a meaningful experience in Bohol!

Our April 2026 Medical Mission was a powerful reminder of what compassionate and collaborative healthcare can accomplish.

Over the course of the mission, our teams:
• Served 2,800 patients at our community clinic outreach
• Performed 53 major elective surgeries
• Restored sight through 216 cataract surgeries

That's 3,069 lives touched all together this year!

This year also marked the debut of the educational arm of the HAND-Philippines Medical Mission — an initiative focused on building sustainable community health knowledge and empowering local healthcare providers and community members.

Training sessions included:
• Psychological First Aid
• Self Breast Examination Education
• Bystander CPR
• Neonatal Resuscitation
• And many other essential health and emergency response topics

Beyond the numbers, this mission was about partnership, service, and investing in long-term health outcomes for the communities we serve. We are deeply grateful to every volunteer, healthcare professional, educator, organizer, donor, and local partner who made this mission possible.

Together, we are not only providing care — we are rebuilding lives, restoring hope, and strengthening communities for the future.

We are incredibly touched by the kind words from the Talibon Municipal Health Unit in the Province of Bohol, Philippines!

It was an absolute honor for HAND-Philippines to conduct the FREE Neonatal Resuscitation Education Program for their dedicated team.

💡 Moving Forward:

✅Our mission to empower healthcare workers continues.
✅We are actively working to expand this program.
✅More communities will soon have access to this life-saving training!

Thank you, Talibon, for your dedication to saving newborn lives! 👶❤️

Today, April 9, we observe Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), a day to honor the immense courage and sacrifice of the Filipino🇵🇭 and American🇺🇸 heroes who defended the Bataan Peninsula during World War II.

At HAND-Philippines (Health Assistance and Network Development), we believe the spirit of "Kagitingan" lives on in our modern-day heroes—the medical professionals, volunteers, donors, and public servants who dedicate their lives to serving the underserved.

We recently had the honor of a courtesy visit to Governor Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado at the Provincial Capitol. This meeting highlights our collaborative partnership with the Provincial Government of Bohol to advance accessible, quality healthcare for all Boholanos.

Saluting the heroes of the past and the champions of today! 🇵🇭🇺🇸💚

Dedicated to the mission, whether on a mountain peak or in the operating room! 🏔️🩺

Meet Dr. Russel Alegarbes, one of our volunteer doctors here at HAND-Philippines. While he’s a board-certified pediatric surgeon and CEO of InstaMed, his heart for service truly shines through his volunteer work.

Since 2002, Dr. Russel has been using his expertise in minimally invasive surgery to help children in need. We are so grateful to have a surgeon of his caliber—who balances top-tier hospital practice with a passion for giving back to the community.

Thank you, Dr. Russel, for trekking the extra mile for our mission! 🇵🇭✨

Photo by: Dr. Russel Alegarbes

Building a healthier future, together—year after year! 🚐🤝🩺

We are proud to continue our annual mission as HAND-Philippines joins forces with the Provincial Government of Bohol, Local Government Units (LGUs), Rotary Club of Tubigon, Rotary Club of Ubay, Rotary of Upper Tagbilaran, JD Kaligayahan Foundation, Inc., Anda de Boracay White Sand Resort, ARI SA BOHOL, Boholano Broadband, and Rural Health Units (RHUs) to bring our Mobile Clinic directly to the heart of our communities.

This yearly collaboration is all about teamwork—combining our resources and heart for service to ensure that quality healthcare reaches every home. By working hand-in-hand with our local health heroes, we’re making wellness more accessible for everyone. ❤️🇵🇭

Dedicated to the community. Committed to our partnership. See you on the road! 🚐💨

We’re entering 2026 with momentum and big plans!

As we close 2025, our hearts are full of gratitude and excitement, and we can’t wait to share what’s ahead! Our New Year Newsletter is live, celebrating an incredible year of service and growth and outlining the meaningful work still to come:
https://hand-philippines.org/so/afPjcWSdN?languageTag=en&cid=2de851f6-105c-49e7-9b89-d7b3d2e05f7e

📅 Looking Ahead in 2026:
We’re welcoming the new year with bold plans to grow our impact even further, including expanded medical mission services that will reach more patients than ever before through mobile clinics, surgical care, and a new community health education program — aiming for at least 3,000 patients served.

💖 Thank you to every volunteer, supporter, partner, and donor who made this possible. Your belief in our mission gives life to real change in communities impacted by disaster and inequity.

Let’s keep the Bayanihan spirit alive in 2026—together, we’re building healthier, stronger futures! 🇵🇭✨

New Year's Newsletter HAND-Philippines: Growing and Expanding

As we close the year and celebrate the holiday season, all of us at HAND-Philippines extend our heartfelt thanks to you.

Your kindness and belief in our mission makes everything we do possible. Because of supporters like you, hope, healing, and dignity can reach the individuals and families who need it most.

We are deeply grateful for your compassion and partnership. As we reflect on this season of gratitude and giving, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a healthy, happy new year.

With sincere appreciation,
The HAND-Philippines Team