Chiropractic, Holistic Health Humanitarian Mission Trip to
Manila, Philippines 2015
On July 3rd through July 18th, 2015, Dr. Jacques Charles embarked on a 2 week, 3-part mission to the Philippines. The 3-part mission included (1) Business Mission, (2) Chiropractic, Holistic Health Humanitarian Mission for the underprivileged, and (3) Rest & Relaxation (R&R) Mission.
The first week, Dr. Jacques tackled the Business Mission. In association with the Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of San Diego County, and with San Diego Philippine Honorary Consul Audie J. de Castro who headed the delegation, we embarked on a Business Mission to promote, and enhance bilateral relations between San Diego and the Philippines through trade, investments and tourism. Due to Dr. Jacques Charles clear focus, vision, passion and drive, Dr. Charles’ Business Economic Mission was to be an Ambassador whose goal is to establish Chiropractic, holistic Health & Wellness business and provide beauty, yoga, and health care services to the Philippines. His future plans include establishing businesses and providing employment opportunities for the Philippine people. Dr. Charles’ vision, and desire allowed him the opportunity to meet with many business leaders, Philippines government officials to establish relationships with the community leaders, and many organizations to promote and enhance the growth of Chiropractic Care, holistic Health & Wellness for a better healing process. He was afforded the opportunity to meet with the likes of former Philippines President Fidel Valdez Ramos (1992- 1998), The Chairman of Subic Bay, whose position is appointed by current president Aquinos, the CEO and COO of the Philippines Stock Exchange, among many other business leaders and officials.
Dr. Jacques Charles: “One of the main highlights of the business mission was having the opportunity to meet with his excellency Philippines former President Fidel Valdez Ramos (1992-1998). We really had a great time through an extensive tour of his office, seeing his office photo mementos, and a toast of delicious extra fine Brandy. We had lots of laughs with President Ramos; and I must say he is quite a jokester to meet. He is warm and very friendly. I was very grateful to have the opportunity to meet him. The meeting was concluded with President Ramos gifting each one of us with his book, personally dedicated and autographed.”
The next four days of the second week after the San Diego delegation left for the United States, Dr. Jacques Charles and Dr. Catherine Sy Luib embarked to begin the Chiropractic, Holistic Health Humanitarian Mission as volunteer doctors. The humanitarian mission involved providing Chiropractic Care, Acupuncture, lifestyle and nutritional counseling; and holistic health Services to clients at the Republic of the Philippines’ Department of Social Welfare & Development (DSWD-NCR) Sanctuary Center and Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in Mandaluyong City near Manila, Philippines.
Dr. Jacques Charles served the poorest of the poor with Chiropractic Care, and by donating his two free checked 50 pound bags, he was able to bring and handed out women and children’s clothing donated by church members from the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) in Santa Barbara, CA. With Dr. Catherine donating her two free checked 50 pound bags; other giveaways were possible to bring which included items such as topical pain relieving creams, herbal formulas, and organic whole food vitamin supplements to all the participants. For the 4 days of the Health Mission, we had the opportunity to treat and served about 80 patients each day.
The age range of the patients were from 5 to 80 years old. We were able to treat conditions such as back and neck pain, chest and foot pain, plantar fascitis, headache, and many more conditions. The patients were very happy we were there to treat them and they were very grateful to have the opportunity to be treated free of charge by volunteer doctors such as myself and Dr. Catherine Sy Luib. The Regional Director Alicia S. Bonoan posted many of the event’s photos on the Republic of the Philippines’ Department of Social Welfare & Development (DSWD Field Office NCR) Facebook page for others to see.
The last part of the Mission trip we tackled our much needed Rest and Relaxation mission. Besides getting plenty of rest, we were able to visit Singapore, Japan, and students from the local Chiropractic College (Tokyo Chiropractic College- TCC) in Tokyo who also gave us a tour of Tokyo. Places we visited after our Chiropractic Health Mission in Manila, Philippines included Quezon, Makati (the business district in Manila), the city of Manila (the capital), Batangas-Tagaytay, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Taguig, Alabang, Pasay, San Juan, and Sambalas-Subic Bay (the size of Singapore, it is a bay on the west coast of the Philippines that is an extension of the South China Sea. Its shore was formerly the site of the biggest United States Navy Base outside of the United States mainland; and named U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay. It was closed on December 28, 1991.
Regional Director Alicia S. Bonoan, and the clients from the Manila Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) who received the Health services along with the clothing want to Thank and send Gratitude to First United Methodist Church (FUMC) of Santa Barbara, CA for all the clothing that were sent for the families at the women and children shelters. The clients were very humbled and very appreciative for the generosity and love the church showed by donating and helping the underprivileged women and children who benefited from the clothing donation.
Dr. Jacques Charles wants to thank everyone from the First United Methodist Church who donated clothing for the underprivileged women and children at the Republic of the Philippines of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) who participated in the Chiropractic, Holistic Health Mission. Without the donation, none of this would be possible. I also want to say thank you for all the prayers because of God’s grace, I was able to take this trip and return safely without any problems. In addition, I want to send special thanks to Susan McAdams and Pastor Alan Strout for helping me put the clothing donation boxes together before I left for my trip. Although this was my first time in the Philippines, I am planning to go and do an annual Chiropractic Holistic Health Humanitarian Mission there since I really had an unbelievable experience while I was there.
Chiropractic, Holistic Health Humanitarian Mission Trip to
San Salvador, El Salvador 2010
On December 2010, Dr. Jacques Charles along with several other Doctors of Chiropractic traveled to San Salvador, El Salvador to begin a Chiropractic, Holistic Health Humanitarian Mission as volunteer doctors. The humanitarian health mission involved providing Chiropractic Care, lifestyle counseling and nutritional counseling services to the underprivileged in the capital city. Dr. Jacques Charles served the poor and the underprivileged. Some of the conditions he treated include headache, back and neck pain, sciatica, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow and many more conditions. The age range were from 2-100 years old.
