Hi Bill, Richard and Lester.

I am humbled by the compassion you all have demonstrated. Thank you

for the financial assistance you gave me thru Auntie Nora.

I had already received a substantial amount from Hope's group, including

Henry, prior to my operation.

Although I had a heart attack and consequent by-pass surgery last

January 29, I am fast recovering. My family and I felt God's guidance
as He provided me with all my needs. The doctors and surgeon I had were
exceptionally good. Currently, I'm undergoing cardiac rehab at a local
hospital so that I can regain my strength and resume my normal activities.

Again, thank you dear cousins.

God bless you

Yoyong

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Hi Everyone,

These past couple of months were exciting for me and my family. Trials are there for God to
demonstrate the fullness of His love and His plan for us.

I had a heart attack (or what the Doctors now call as myocardial infarction) last December and was
advised by the cardiologist to undergo an open-heart surgery or at least an angioplasty procedure
otherwise I may die anytime. Prior to the attack, I had no maintenance meds at 55 years old. I walk
about 2 kilometres every day and play basketball with my son on weekends. I did not expect that
something like this could happen to me.

Anyway, as the result of the angiogram already showed that a main artery (LAD) was totally blocked and
a procedure has to be done the soonest possible time, my wife Goldie, asked the doctor how much will
it cost. The open-heart surgery is about 1.3 million pesos while the angioplasty, which has a 60% to 80%
chance of success, will cost about 700,000 pesos. This is way beyond our means so I told Goldie that if I
had to go ahead so be it.

When Goldie sent messages to my brothers and sisters regarding my condition, Dodi came up with a
suggestion that I borrow money from the corporation. Although I know that it has never been done, in
desperation, I wrote a letter to the SSSI Board of Directors, thru Chairman Joel, requesting for a 1 million
peso loan payable in 5 years. It was like a miracle that the board approved my request. The Corporation,
thru the Lord’s Acre Fund, can release half of the loan amount immediately, because it is what’s
available, and the balance will be available within a year. This development gave me and my family hope
that I will be saved after all.
As friends in church also learned about the situation, I received suggestions to get a second opinion
from other good cardiologists around and one Sunday somebody told Goldie, to ask my cardiologist to
refer us to a cardiologist from the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) in Quezon City. So we went to see my
cardiologist, who made himself available, a day after the New Year. My cardiologist made a call to his
former classmate who is a cardiologist at PHC and we then learned that the price for an open-heart
surgery in PHC is half of the cost of a similar procedure in Cagayan de Oro City (CDO). So Goldie and I
called for an appointment and was given one immediately so we travelled to Manila 2 days after. We
met with Dr. Paolo Villanueva who confirmed our options. As I decided to go for the open-heart surgery
rather than angioplasty, he then told me to see the surgeon before we can set the date of the operation.
We met the surgeon the following week. My surgeon is Dr. Renato Villanueva, the father of Dr. Paolo.
He was the head of the surgery department until his retirement from government service 2 years ago.
He still works for the hospital because of the lack of surgeons available. We later learned that the father
and son (and grandfather) graduated cum laude and were topnotchers in their respective board exams.
We never planned all these. It is God who is leading us the way.

Another unexpected blessing that came in the midst of our trials was when we received financial
support from family and friends. Hope, the Cardinals, Henry and the other US-based Serates sent money
during the time when we have to spend for our frequent travels to Manila for consultations with the
doctors and further laboratory tests. Nonong, in spite of his busy schedule, was able to deposit the
money from the corporation just in time for us to pay the hospital so that my operation can be
scheduled immediately. My brothers and sisters also gave their SSSI cash gift to support us in our needs.
Our friends in church also prayed and gathered a substantial amount. And lately, Richard, Bill and Lester
also gave money thru Auntie Nora. I am humbled by the compassion you have demonstrated and will
forever be thankful.

God is indeed good all the time! My operation was successful and now I’m on my 2nd month in rehab.
My rehab is going well, in fact the PT told me that so far I am recovering faster than expected.

I don’t have to borrow the other half million because the initial loan release is sufficient to pay part of
the hospital bill, my maintenance medication and rehab. I may even be able to start paying my loan
sooner than I thought.

I love you all. Thank you and bless.

Yoyong