“We are very thankful that the Iglesia ni Cristo held their outreach program in our area.” Yasser Pangandaman, chairman of Barangay Maharlika, thus remarked at the conclusion of the one-day Lingap sa Mamamayan held last Saturday in Maharlika Village, Taguig City.

A volunteer team composed of 50 doctors, 50 dentists and 100 paramedics arrived before 8 a.m. and set up a large tent at the Maharlika Blue Mosque Park serving as their working area. Residents from the adjoining barangays of Lower Bicutan, Maharlika, Signal Village, and Upper Bicutan lined up as early as 7 a.m. to avail themselves of free medical and dental services.

Dr. Leniza Soriano, one of the physicians who regularly volunteer their services for the Church’s outreach program said, “Though we were tired at the end of the day, we were heartened by the residents’ appreciation of our efforts.”

Aside from the medical consultations and basic dental services, the beneficiaries were given plastic bags that contained rice, canned goods, and instant noodles. Starter doses of vitamins and medicines were also handed out to those who availed themselves of the medical consultations.

A total of 5,000 residents benefited from the outreach program which was overseen by Brother Glicerio B. Santos Jr., the Auditor General of the Iglesia ni Cristo. He said, “This Lingap sa Mamamayan was held in connection with the Church’s upcoming 95th founding anniversary and as part of the Church Administration’s continuing commitment to help our less fortunate countrymen.”

The Lingap sa Mamamayan is an outreach program of the Church conducted regularly to help residents of communities affected by hardships and natural calamities. The Salam Mosque Compound in Culiat, Quezon City, for instance, has been a beneficiary of this program since 1999.

A grateful Bensaudie Lumenda, administrator of the Maharlika Blue Mosque in the village, said, “On behalf of all the Muslim residents and our non-Muslim neighbors here in Maharlika Village, our heartfelt thanks to Brother Eraño G. Manalo, the Executive Minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo. We would also like to extend our greetings to all the brethren on the 95th anniversary of the Church.”