Dingdong, Marian celebrate Smile Train’s 30,000th cleft surgery in PHL

Kapuso stars Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera recently visited the tiny patients of Smile Train in San Fernando, Pampanga to celebrate the organization's 30,000th cleft surgery in the country.

According to a press release from the organization, children with cleft lips or palates not only have to live with being stigmatized for their appearance. "[C]hildren who suffer from unrepaired cleft lips and palates also have difficulty eating, breathing and speaking. These complications make it challenging for a child to go out into the world and lead a normal, productive life," it said.

"I was very moved when I saw the kids. I saw children who should be in school, but could not go to school because they were ashamed of their condition," the release quoted Dantes as saying.

Rivera, who became emotional at the event according to the organization, expressed her surprise that nearly 5,000 children with cleft problems are born in the Philippines annually.

"Yung iba, teenager na, hindi pa naooperahan," she said. "Kung may kilala po kayong may bingot, itawag niyo po agad sa Smile Train para matulungan sila. Yung mga may cleft palate or butas sa ngala-ngala, kung hindi sila maoperahan habang bata pa, magiging ngongo po sila. Kaya talagang kailang maoperahan sila habang maaga pa."

Smile Train, the world's largest charity offering surgery for children with cleft lips and palates, has more than 40 partner hospitals in the Philippines. According to Smile Train Philippines, these partner hospitals and surgeons perform an average of 14 cleft surgeries every day. — BM, GMA News

For more information on how to avail of free cleft surgery from Smile Train Philippines, call or text 0917-52-TRAIN (0917-5287246).