JAY’S CHANCE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE

CABANATUAN CITY, PHILIPPINES | JUNE 2019

Jay Serrano, a young boy from the aboriginal community in the Philippines, was born with a cleft lip and palate. His mother shared that before his lip surgery, people in their village often called him “Bungi” — a word meaning “cleft” in their local language. Instead of kindness, some villagers laughed at Jay, leaving his mother deeply heartbroken.

At 2 years old, Jay finally received a surgery for his cleft lip at another hospital. This gave his family hope. Determined to continue his journey, they traveled three hours from their hometown in Porac, Pampanga this year, in the hope that Jay could undergo surgery to repair his palate during the Smile Asia Medical Mission in Cabanatuan City.

Final medical checks by Plastic Surgeon Dr Mae de Guzman and Anaesthesiologist Dr Judith Brill before surgery

After a thorough health evaluation, Jay was cleared by the Smile Asia team and scheduled for surgery. His father told us that his greatest dream is for Jay to go to school like other children — to study, play, and grow up without being held back by his condition. With gratitude, he thanked the Smile Asia team for giving his son the chance at a brighter, more confident future.