After a 15-hour journey by sea, Dhevina Tutuh and her daughter, Marina, finally reached Bataraza, Palawan, seeking a life-changing medical procedure.
Marina, who suffered from a cleft lip, was among the 289 individuals treated during a medical and surgical mission conducted by the Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. (RTNMC) through the RTN Foundation Inc. (RTNFI), in partnership with Coral Bay Nickel Corp. (CBNC).
The pair traveled from Maput, Tawi-Tawi—an island municipality closer to Sabah, Malaysia, than mainland Palawan—after Tutuh saw a social media post about the mission. To reach the site, they navigated rough seas aboard a lansta, a small vessel used for inter-island travel.
The mission, held March 2–6, 2026, was led by volunteer doctors from Medical Mission to Heaven and Adventist Medical Center Manila.
“It is gratifying both spiritually and professionally,” said Dr. Mendelssohn Manalaysay, a volunteer oral and maxillofacial surgeon. “When I see my patients—especially those with cleft lip and cleft palate—and witness the gratitude of their parents, I feel deeply thankful. Through this mission and the support of Nickel Asia, we have been able to help people in Rio Tuba, across Palawan, and even beyond.”
In addition to cleft surgeries, the mission treated patients for goiter, hernia, gallstones, hemorrhoids, myoma, ovarian cysts, and other surgical conditions.
“It is inspiring to see patients coming from different villages just to receive free medical care,” said Maria Julia Cabusao Villanueva, a volunteer nurse.
Now in its 23rd year, the outreach program provides specialized care to communities with limited access to hospitals and specialists. The program began in 1990 as a way for RTNMC to support communities near its operations.
After a 15-hour journey by sea, Dhevina Tutuh and her daughter, Marina, finally reached Bataraza, Palawan, seeking a life-changing medical procedure.
Marina, who suffered from a cleft lip, was among the 289 individuals treated during a medical and surgical mission conducted by the Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. (RTNMC) through the RTN Foundation Inc. (RTNFI), in partnership with Coral Bay Nickel Corp. (CBNC).
The pair traveled from Maput, Tawi-Tawi—an island municipality closer to Sabah, Malaysia, than mainland Palawan—after Tutuh saw a social media post about the mission. To reach the site, they navigated rough seas aboard a lansta, a small vessel used for inter-island travel.
The mission, held March 2–6, 2026, was led by volunteer doctors from Medical Mission to Heaven and Adventist Medical Center Manila.
“It is gratifying both spiritually and professionally,” said Dr. Mendelssohn Manalaysay, a volunteer oral and maxillofacial surgeon. “When I see my patients—especially those with cleft lip and cleft palate—and witness the gratitude of their parents, I feel deeply thankful. Through this mission and the support of Nickel Asia, we have been able to help people in Rio Tuba, across Palawan, and even beyond.”
In addition to cleft surgeries, the mission treated patients for goiter, hernia, gallstones, hemorrhoids, myoma, ovarian cysts, and other surgical conditions.
“It is inspiring to see patients coming from different villages just to receive free medical care,” said Maria Julia Cabusao Villanueva, a volunteer nurse.
Now in its 23rd year, the outreach program provides specialized care to communities with limited access to hospitals and specialists. The program began in 1990 as a way for RTNMC to support communities near its operations.
“We are grateful to the volunteers from Medical Mission to Heaven who continue to bring this mission to the southernmost part of Palawan,” said Reynaldo Dela Rosa, Nickel Asia Corp. assistant vice president for community relations and RTNFI executive director.
“We are grateful to the volunteers from Medical Mission to Heaven who continue to bring this mission to the southernmost part of Palawan,” said Reynaldo Dela Rosa, Nickel Asia Corp. assistant vice president for community relations and RTNFI executive director.
