"Never let the narrow-minded people define what you and your kid can do and become. The world will always have downers but there will be more people who will choose to love us unconditionally." - Dr. Chris Guzman (NCFPI Parent Volunteer) It was never easy giving birth to a cleftie. I knew that my son, MJ had a cleft lip and palate during my 5th month of pregnancy. I was tormented with how's and why's, those questions were left unanswered. I was happy he's healthy, but at the same time scared of what his future will be, how people would see him, will he be discriminated? It was a roller coaster of emotions. I searched for well-known surgeons, and initially settled for an Oral Maxillofacial surgeon who did an obturator…

Being a cleft is indeed not easy, but it has refined and changed my views for the better. - Vhince Nakar (NCFPI Patient) I would like to start my story as beautiful as it could be like those in fairy tales. Sadly, real life is never similar to fairy tales, but I hoped it did. I was born with cleft lip and palate. It’s a defect that has affected my speech, teeth, facial structure, and even my social life. Because of my disability, I was bullied and treated as an outcast in every social group I am in. As sad it may be, I even received discrimination from my very own relatives. Hearing it as a kid, knowing what they meant, was very painful and unimaginable. I would go to…

"You could always do something for the cleft community either donate, educate other people or cleft affected families, give pieces of advice, or sometimes, just be there and listen." - Ms. Jadee Lopez (NCFPI Parent Volunteer) When we found out Gabbie will be born with cleft lip and palate, I searched for well-known doctors. For some reason, I would always end up on NCFPI website. So what I did was look up for their officers, and there, I found Dr. Glenda de Villa who at that time was the president. We scheduled a meeting and the first time I saw her, we felt the warmth, the care, the sincerity, the confidence, and the calmness in her. We knew we found Gabbie’s surgeon. Along the way, while doing private checkups under…

"Mahalin at alagaan natin ang ating mga anak anuman ang kanilang kalagayan, dahil sila ang tanging regalo ng Diyos sa ating mga magulang" - Mauralyn Boco (NCFPI Patient Mother) Taong 2015 nang nakilala nang pamilya ko ang NCFPI. Pinanganak ko noon ang aming panganay na si Fairyleen, siya ay may cleft lip. Dinala siya ng asawa ko sa Ospital ng Muntinlupa para ipa-check ang kanyang sitwasyon ngunit tila isang pagkakataon na nakita ng asawa ko ang poster NCFPI sa bulletin board ng Ospital. Dinala namin sa NCFPI si Fairyleen at naging matagumpay ang kanyang operasyon sa labi. Ngunit sinubok ulit kaming mag-asawa. August 2019 ay nagsilang akong muli ng isang sanggol. Nagulat kaming mag asawa dahil si Baby Raiszen ay mayroon namang cleft lip at palate. Panibagong pagsubok ito para…

"Through volunteering, I learned more about my missions in life as it was already in my heart when I was young like it was my sealed orders from God." - Dr. Crysoine Marquez (NCFPI Volunteer Orthodontist) Since college, I have loved participating in the medical and dental missions of our organization. It was 2008, when I met NCFPI through my friend and classmate Dr. Janet Pandan. I was encouraged to join with her when I heard her talking about NCFPI. During the thirteen years of my volunteering experience at NCFPI, I enjoyed having new friends with other volunteers. Now, I'm still in the journey of continuous learning especially in the seminars and trainings I attended with the help of NCFPI. It's nice to see the results of what you have…

"Madaming beses mang hindi natuloy ang surgery ng aking anak ay hindi kami sumuko na magkakaroon siyang muli ng magandang ngiti. At dumating nga ang araw na iyon" - Anira Alauya (NCFPI Parent Patient)

"Masaya sa pakiramdam na makatulong at makita mo na ang mga taong may katulad na sitwasyon ko ay kasama ko pagbubuo ng magandang ngiti." - Jose Ringad Jr. (NCFPI Patient/Volunteer) Ipinanganak ako na may cleft lip at cleft palate, 7 taong gulang ako nang naoperahan ang aking cleft lip. Dahil nag-aaral na ako noon sa Grade 1 madalas akong tinutukso ng aking mga kaklase sa aking sitwasyon. Kaya noong nag- bakasyon ay pina-operahan ako ng aking mga magulang sa Perpetual Help Hospital, Las Piñas city, sa tulong ng isang sponsor at naging matagumpay ang aking operasyon. January 2010, inirekomenda ako ni Ms. Arlene Gacutan sa NCFPI dahil meron daw libreng operasyon sa cleft lip at cleft palate at isa siya sa mga pasyente na natulungan ng foundation. Hindi ako nagdalawang-isip,…

"Nakilala ko ang maituturing kong pangalawang pamilya -- ang NCFPI." - Brain Padrequilaga (NCFPI Patient and Volunteer) Taong 2012 nang makilala ko ang NCFPI na tumutulong sa mga katulad ko na may cleft palate. Sa tulong ni Ms. Dulce at ng Tita ko ay nakilala ko ang maituturing kong pangalawang pamilya -- ang NCFPI. Lumaki ako sa Mindanao bilang isang breadwinner ng aming pamilya. Hindi naging madali dahil simula pa lamang noong nag-aaral ako ay iba't-ibang pagpipintas na ang naranasan ko. Madalas ginagaya nila ang pagsasalita ko. Walang araw na papasok ako sa eskwelahan na uuwi akong hindi umiiyak. Dumating din ang sitwasyon na dahil sa mga panlalait na iyon ay nagawa kong magpakamatay ngunit laking pasalamat ko na nabigyan ako ng pangalawang pagkakataon ng Panginoon at pinaalala sakin na…

They helped her more than words can ever explain how. From series of operations to speech therapy up to braces. They treated us as their own. We are truly blessed to be part of this amazing foundation. - Clarise Bañez (NCFPI Patient Mother) We never knew Krizeila's case until she was born. The moment she came into this world, all of us were shocked. Series of ultrasound exams to know the gender never showed any signs that she was cleft. None of our family has a history of cleft lip and palate, so we don't know what, how and where to go. A day after she was born, we were sent to Fabella Hospital stating that they know how to handle such cases. Sadly, we were not assisted mainly because…

“The journey isn’t really hard knowing that you have someone to journey with” – Roseann Garcia (NCFPI Patient Volunteer) Let me start my story by sharing with you how amazing that I got to know about my new-found family - NCFPI. 3 years ago, I was in the Municipality of Pandi to get some requirements for my scholarship. One of the employees there was just staring at me the whole time of which I am already used to. People would stare at me like it was their first time seeing a person with cleft. After I got my requirements, he asked me if I can go upstairs to meet some people who can help me along. That time, I didn't understand what was happening. I went with him in the…