Philippines 2026
Rebuilding Hope:
Our 2026 Mission to the Philippines
John Kumar, MD
This month, our team is heading to General Santos, Philippines, to provide life-changing hip and knee replacements for patients living with debilitating pain.
This mission became urgently critical after a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the region on June 9. While St. Elizabeth Hospital remains safe and ready for us; the surrounding community suffered severe damage, including the total loss of our team’s original hotel. Over the last four weeks, we have worked around the clock to re-engineer our logistics so we can deliver care safely without straining local emergency resources. Local officials have given us the green light: our patients are waiting, and our fully equipped team of volunteers is ready to deploy.
A disaster like this changes everything, but it also deepens our resolve. Rebuilding a community requires more than fixing structures; it requires restoring the health and mobility of the people who live there.
Your support is what makes this vital work possible. Please consider making a donation today to help us cover the sudden, increased logistical costs brought on by the earthquake and ensure we can deliver hope directly to those who need it most.
Our Philippines Missions
A Legacy of Restoring Mobility
As we prepare for our return to General Santos City, Philippines, things have been very busy behind the scenes. We’re gathering and coordinating everything needed for surgery—because we truly bring everything with us. We’re also screening and selecting patients to ensure they meet our criteria, carefully choosing the right volunteers for the mission, and working closely with our local partners.
What we do, goes beyond surgery. It’s about helping people move, return to their daily lives, and feel like themselves again. Because in the end, it’s not just about surgery—it’s about giving someone their life back.
Patient Stories
Voices From Our Previous Philippines Missions
Mylene Amor
A 38-year-old public school teacher, Mylene suffered from debilitating hip pain across both legs. Walking the stairs between her classrooms had become an agonizing challenge. After her joint replacement surgery with Operation Walk Los Angeles, she took her first pain-free steps and returned to climbing the stairs of her school—a moment she will never forget.
Read Her Story
Brendon Buenaflor
Brendon’s journey to surgery began long before our team arrived. Screened during our 2025 pre-trip visit by Dr. John Kumar, he embodies the promise of our upcoming 2026 mission—a second chance at a mobile, pain-free life. His story is a reminder of why we return: because continuity of care matters and because every patient deserves to be seen.
Read His Story
Ruby Jane
Ruby Jane’s story is one of resilience and hope. After years of chronic pain limiting her ability to move, work, and care for her family, her surgery with Operation Walk Los Angeles gave her the freedom to move again. Today, she embraces the moments that once felt out of reach—proof that restoring mobility means restoring life itself.
Read Her StoryA Message from Manny Pacquiao
