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Cherry Sapul, wife of an OVP-WMSO medical assistance beneficiary, gazes from their balcony—grateful for the support that brought healing, hope, and a fresh start for their family.
The Office of the Vice President - Western Mindanao Satellite Office (OVP-WMSO) under the Medical Assistance Program extended assistance to a patient who was hospitalized in Zamboanga City last year.
Cherry Sapul, the wife of the patient, shared how her husband began experiencing leg pain after returning from work as a public transport driver. A few days later, he could no longer stand.
Doctors diagnosed him with potassium deficiency—a condition where the body lacks an important mineral needed for muscles and nerves to function properly.
“Bigla na lang sa evening pag uwi, hindi na siya makalakad as in paralyzed. Noong una pumunta pumunta kami sa doctor sabi mababa ang potassium kumain lang daw prutas. Akala naming okay lang, pero bigla na lang talaga hindi makalad, bumababa talaga ‘yung potassium niya naging 2 na,” (One night after work, he suddenly couldn’t move—he was paralyzed. The doctor said his potassium was low and told us to give him fruits. At first, we thought it was okay, but his condition got worse. His potassium level dropped to 2,) Cherry recalled.
Since Cherry’s husband was the sole breadwinner, it became increasingly difficult for the family to afford his medication, she then sought help from the OVP-WMSO office in Zamboanga City.
“Nagbigay sila ng medicine, ‘yung una Clagen at second time iba din ‘yung reseta na binigay na pang potassium,” (They gave us medicines. First, it was Clagen. The second time, they helped us buy potassium supplements,) said Cherry.
The medication costs them around 31 pesos per tablet—an amount that quickly added up as her husband needed to take 6 to 8 tablets a day for nearly 10 months just to be able to move again.
As a result to the continued treatment, Cherry’s husband is now recovering and has returned to work.
“Sobrang laki po kasi halimbawa, mahal talaga ‘yung gamot kaya malaki talagang tulong ‘yung OVP,” (It was a huge help. The medicines are expensive, so OVP’s support really made a difference,) she said.
Like many Filipinos, Cherry expressed regret over the budget cuts in the Medical and Burial Assistance Program—funds that could have helped more poor families.
“Sayang, kasi maraming taong natutulungan si OVP lalo na kaming mahihirap, saying po talaga,” (It’s such a waste because OVP really helps people like us—the poor. It’s a big loss,) Cherry added. “Maraming salamat po, Inday Sara,” (Thank you so much, Inday Sara.)
According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2023, the Zamboanga Peninsula recorded the highest poverty incidence in the country wherein about 24.4% of its population lives below the poverty threshold—meaning one in every four families is considered poor.
That is why, since 2022, OVP-WMSO has made it a priority to strengthen its assistance programs, especially in healthcare.
The continued operation of programs of the OVP means not just relief—but recovery and hope—for many Filipinos.
Cherry Sapul, the wife of the patient, shared how her husband began experiencing leg pain after returning from work as a public transport driver. A few days later, he could no longer stand.
Doctors diagnosed him with potassium deficiency—a condition where the body lacks an important mineral needed for muscles and nerves to function properly.
“Bigla na lang sa evening pag uwi, hindi na siya makalakad as in paralyzed. Noong una pumunta pumunta kami sa doctor sabi mababa ang potassium kumain lang daw prutas. Akala naming okay lang, pero bigla na lang talaga hindi makalad, bumababa talaga ‘yung potassium niya naging 2 na,” (One night after work, he suddenly couldn’t move—he was paralyzed. The doctor said his potassium was low and told us to give him fruits. At first, we thought it was okay, but his condition got worse. His potassium level dropped to 2,) Cherry recalled.
Since Cherry’s husband was the sole breadwinner, it became increasingly difficult for the family to afford his medication, she then sought help from the OVP-WMSO office in Zamboanga City.
“Nagbigay sila ng medicine, ‘yung una Clagen at second time iba din ‘yung reseta na binigay na pang potassium,” (They gave us medicines. First, it was Clagen. The second time, they helped us buy potassium supplements,) said Cherry.
The medication costs them around 31 pesos per tablet—an amount that quickly added up as her husband needed to take 6 to 8 tablets a day for nearly 10 months just to be able to move again.
As a result to the continued treatment, Cherry’s husband is now recovering and has returned to work.
“Sobrang laki po kasi halimbawa, mahal talaga ‘yung gamot kaya malaki talagang tulong ‘yung OVP,” (It was a huge help. The medicines are expensive, so OVP’s support really made a difference,) she said.
Like many Filipinos, Cherry expressed regret over the budget cuts in the Medical and Burial Assistance Program—funds that could have helped more poor families.
“Sayang, kasi maraming taong natutulungan si OVP lalo na kaming mahihirap, saying po talaga,” (It’s such a waste because OVP really helps people like us—the poor. It’s a big loss,) Cherry added. “Maraming salamat po, Inday Sara,” (Thank you so much, Inday Sara.)
According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2023, the Zamboanga Peninsula recorded the highest poverty incidence in the country wherein about 24.4% of its population lives below the poverty threshold—meaning one in every four families is considered poor.
That is why, since 2022, OVP-WMSO has made it a priority to strengthen its assistance programs, especially in healthcare.
The continued operation of programs of the OVP means not just relief—but recovery and hope—for many Filipinos.
Nag-abot ng tulong ang Office of the Vice President - Western Mindanao Satellite Office (OVP-WMSO) sa ilalim ng Medical Assistance Program para sa isang pasyenteng naospital sa Zamboanga City noong nakaraang taon.
Ayon kay Cherry Sapul, nagsimulang makaranas ng matinding pananakit ng binti ang kanyang asawa matapos ang trabaho bilang public transport driver. Makalipas ang ilang araw, hindi na ito nakatayo.
“Bigla na lang sa evening pag uwi, hindi na siya makalakad as in paralyzed. Noong una pumunta pumunta kami sa doctor sabi mababa ang potassium kumain lang daw prutas. Akala naming okay lang, pero bigla na lang talaga hindi makalad, bumababa talaga ‘yung potassium niya naging 2 na,” pagbabahagi ni Cherry.
Natukoy ng mga doktor na potassium deficiency ang kondisyon ng kanyang asawa—isang seryosong kakulangan ng mineral na mahalaga para sa normal na paggalaw ng kalamnan at paggana ng nerves.
Dahil siya lamang ang nagtatrabaho sa pamilya, hindi kinaya ni Cherry ang gastos sa patuloy na gamutan kaya’t lumapit siya sa OVP-WMSO para humingi ng tulong.
“Nagbigay sila ng medicine, ‘yung una Clagen at swcond time iba din ‘yung reset ana binigay na pang potassium,” ani Cherry.
Aabot sa 31 piso ang halaga ng bawat tableta, at dahil kailangang uminom ng 6 hanggang 8 tableta araw-araw sa loob ng halos sampung buwan, mabilis na naipon ang gastos ng pamilya.
Dahil sa tuloy-tuloy na gamutan, unti-unti nang nakakabalik sa normal ang kalagayan ng asawa ni Cherry, at nakabalik na rin ito sa pagtatrabaho.
“Sobrang laki po kasi halimbawa, mahal talaga ‘yung gamot kaya malaki talagang tulong ‘yung OVP,” dagdag ni Cherry.
Ngunit sa kabila ng mga natanggap na tulong, nagpaabot din ng panghihinayang si Cherry ukol sa mga isyung kinakaharap ng programa, kabilang na ang mga pagbabawas sa pondo na aniya’y makakatulong sana sa mas marami pang mahihirap na pamilya.
“Sayang, kasi maraming taong natutulungan si OVP lalo na kaming mahihirap, saying po talaga. Maraming salamat po, Inday Sara,” saad niya.
Batay sa datos ng Philippine Statistics Authority noong 2023, ang Zamboanga Peninsula ang nagtala ng pinakamataas na poverty incidence sa bansa—kung saan 24.4% ng populasyon ang nabubuhay sa ilalim ng poverty threshold. Ibig sabihin, isa sa bawat apat na pamilya sa rehiyon ay itinuturing na mahirap.
Dahil dito, pinaigting ng OVP-WMSO ang kanilang mga programa sa tulong medikal mula pa noong 2022, upang tugunan ang lumalalang kakulangan sa serbisyong pangkalusugan, kawalan ng trabaho, at iba pang suliraning dulot ng kahirapan.
Ang patuloy na operasyon ng mga programa ng OVP ay simbolo ng pag-asa para sa mga pamilyang patuloy na nakikibaka laban sa kahirapan—hindi lamang para sa panandaliang lunas, kundi para sa tuloy-tuloy na pagbangon at mas maliwanag na kinabukasan.
Ayon kay Cherry Sapul, nagsimulang makaranas ng matinding pananakit ng binti ang kanyang asawa matapos ang trabaho bilang public transport driver. Makalipas ang ilang araw, hindi na ito nakatayo.
“Bigla na lang sa evening pag uwi, hindi na siya makalakad as in paralyzed. Noong una pumunta pumunta kami sa doctor sabi mababa ang potassium kumain lang daw prutas. Akala naming okay lang, pero bigla na lang talaga hindi makalad, bumababa talaga ‘yung potassium niya naging 2 na,” pagbabahagi ni Cherry.
Natukoy ng mga doktor na potassium deficiency ang kondisyon ng kanyang asawa—isang seryosong kakulangan ng mineral na mahalaga para sa normal na paggalaw ng kalamnan at paggana ng nerves.
Dahil siya lamang ang nagtatrabaho sa pamilya, hindi kinaya ni Cherry ang gastos sa patuloy na gamutan kaya’t lumapit siya sa OVP-WMSO para humingi ng tulong.
“Nagbigay sila ng medicine, ‘yung una Clagen at swcond time iba din ‘yung reset ana binigay na pang potassium,” ani Cherry.
Aabot sa 31 piso ang halaga ng bawat tableta, at dahil kailangang uminom ng 6 hanggang 8 tableta araw-araw sa loob ng halos sampung buwan, mabilis na naipon ang gastos ng pamilya.
Dahil sa tuloy-tuloy na gamutan, unti-unti nang nakakabalik sa normal ang kalagayan ng asawa ni Cherry, at nakabalik na rin ito sa pagtatrabaho.
“Sobrang laki po kasi halimbawa, mahal talaga ‘yung gamot kaya malaki talagang tulong ‘yung OVP,” dagdag ni Cherry.
Ngunit sa kabila ng mga natanggap na tulong, nagpaabot din ng panghihinayang si Cherry ukol sa mga isyung kinakaharap ng programa, kabilang na ang mga pagbabawas sa pondo na aniya’y makakatulong sana sa mas marami pang mahihirap na pamilya.
“Sayang, kasi maraming taong natutulungan si OVP lalo na kaming mahihirap, saying po talaga. Maraming salamat po, Inday Sara,” saad niya.
Batay sa datos ng Philippine Statistics Authority noong 2023, ang Zamboanga Peninsula ang nagtala ng pinakamataas na poverty incidence sa bansa—kung saan 24.4% ng populasyon ang nabubuhay sa ilalim ng poverty threshold. Ibig sabihin, isa sa bawat apat na pamilya sa rehiyon ay itinuturing na mahirap.
Dahil dito, pinaigting ng OVP-WMSO ang kanilang mga programa sa tulong medikal mula pa noong 2022, upang tugunan ang lumalalang kakulangan sa serbisyong pangkalusugan, kawalan ng trabaho, at iba pang suliraning dulot ng kahirapan.
Ang patuloy na operasyon ng mga programa ng OVP ay simbolo ng pag-asa para sa mga pamilyang patuloy na nakikibaka laban sa kahirapan—hindi lamang para sa panandaliang lunas, kundi para sa tuloy-tuloy na pagbangon at mas maliwanag na kinabukasan.