By Lisa Fujimoto-Yamaguchi, PA-C, Team Leader
Returning to General Santos City meant reconnecting with a community that has been waiting for us. Our volunteer team performed 44 joint replacements for 35 patients, relieving years of chronic pain and restoring mobility. Watching the patients take their first steps after surgery reminded us that every planning meeting, every shipment packed, and every mile traveled was worth it.
Our planning began in October with a pre-trip visit, when Dr. John Kumar, Trish Lindsey, Eleanor Barrientos, and I traveled to General Santos City to meet with our partners at St. Elizabeth Hospital (SEHI). Together, we assessed the hospital’s readiness, reviewed patient needs, evaluated equipment and facilities, and laid the groundwork for a successful mission.
Behind those life-changing surgeries was a year of dedication: late-night strategy sessions across time zones, complex clearance processes, and thousands of logistical details coordinated by a team that feels like family. Our leadership team met regularly with SEHI physicians, administrators, and staff to ensure every aspect of the mission was carefully planned. At the same time, volunteers worked tirelessly behind the scenes, taking inventory, packing surgical instruments and supplies, and preparing cargo for shipment to the Philippines. Every meeting, every checklist, every shipment, and every hour of preparation had one purpose: to ensure that when we arrived in General Santos City, we could focus entirely on restoring mobility and changing lives.
Then, just weeks before our departure, a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Sarangani, sending severe tremors throughout General Santos City and the surrounding Soccsksargen region. Roads were damaged, buildings sustained significant structural damage, and our original lodging became uninhabitable. Even after we arrived, ongoing aftershocks served as a constant reminder of what the community was enduring.
While many organizations may have postponed under those circumstances, our patients were counting on us. Thanks to the extraordinary partnership between Operation Walk Los Angeles and SEHI, we adapted quickly and successfully completed all 44 joint replacements as planned. The teamwork, flexibility, and unwavering commitment of both teams ensured that every patient received the surgery they had been waiting for.
After completing the mission, we knew our work was not finished. We wanted to support families still recovering from the earthquake. We partnered with SEHI to organize a dedicated earthquake outreach day in the municipality of Glan, one of the hardest-hit communities. SEHI physicians, nurses, and pharmacists provided medical consultations and distributed medications, while Operation Walk Los Angeles volunteers distributed emergency blankets, tarps, and care packages to affected families. Every dollar donated by Operation Walk Los Angeles for the relief effort was put to immediate and meaningful use, providing practical assistance while reminding families that they were not alone.
Team distributing relief packages in Glan.
A special thank you goes to FIGS for selecting the Operation Walk Los Angeles Philippines mission as one of their global Impact Trips. We were honored to welcome the FIGS healthcare ambassadors, social media team, and videographer to join our team in the Philippines. Their presence provided additional support throughout the mission and helped highlight the dedication of the volunteers, the commitment of our local partners at St. Elizabeth Hospital, and the impact of restoring mobility for our patients. We appreciate their enthusiasm, professionalism, and willingness to experience and support the mission alongside our team.
This mission was a powerful reminder that restoring mobility is about far more than replacing joints; it is about restoring independence, dignity, and hope.
The Mayor visited St. Elizabeth Hospital to deliver relief packages and support the community. L to R: CEO Antonio “Tony” Veneracion; CMO Dr Helena Garcia; Trish Lindsey, RN and OR team leader; Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao; Dr John Kumar, co-medical lead; Lisa Fujimoto-Yamaguchi, PA-C and team leader.
This mission would not have been possible without the incredible partnership and generosity of so many individuals and organizations.
We extend gratitude to our 57 extraordinary volunteers on the Philippines team, who bravely showed up in the wake of the earthquake and aftershocks to deliver care on the ground. Through uncertainty and disruption, our team remained calm, adaptable, and committed to our patients.
To those who could not travel with us but gave so generously to fund our efforts, your support made all of this work possible.
To every volunteer who attended planning meetings, packed cargo, secured permits, worked in the operating room, cared for patients on the wards, or supported the mission from home—thank you.
At Sir Manny Pacquiao’s home. Presenting him with a token of our appreciation. L to R: Dr John Kumar; Trish Lindsey, RN; Sir Manny Pacquiao; Lisa Fujimoto-Yamaguchi, PA-C; Eleanor Barrientos, RN.
Special recognition goes to:
FIGS • Zimmer Biomet • Stryker • Heraeus • Mölnlycke • Innomed • Shukla Medical • OsteoRemedies • Smith+Nephew • SYKLE
Senator Manny Pacquiao • Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao
CEO Antonio “Tony” Veneracion • President of SEHI Celso Bernard Lopez • Metro Pacific Health • St. Elizabeth Hospital, Inc
Eleanor and Cynthia Barrientos • Maryellen Sieben, RN • Stacy Kelso • Cristina Bon • Maryann Guarin • Paulina Andujo • Joe Rangel
With gratitude,
John Kumar, MD
Trish Lindsey, RN
Lisa Fujimoto-Yamaguchi, PA-C