From Screening to Surgery: Church Donates Vision Care Support to Quezon City Students and Patients

More than 180 students at Emilio Aguinaldo Elementary School in Cubao received prescriptive glasses on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, as the Mabuhay Deseret Foundation (MDF) held a vision screening and eyeglasses distribution activity supported through the humanitarian efforts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Catching What Classrooms Miss

Dr. Michael L. Ong, MDF Board of Trustees Member and Optometry Advisor, spoke to students, parents, and teachers on the importance of catching vision problems early. He pointed out that nearsightedness among children is on the rise worldwide, and that many cases go undetected until they become significantly worse.

"We want to provide solutions for children with vision problems," Dr. Ong said. "Globally, the number of children with nearsightedness or myopia is increasing, and we hope to reduce the number of those who become highly myopic."

He also walked students through proper reading habits and everyday eye care practices they could carry home.

School principal Jaida Concepcion Malonzo was present at the activity alongside Stephen V. Casio, MDF Country Director; Elder and Sister Cronin, couple missionaries assigned to the area; and Jeremiah Gaer, MDF Program Head.

Equipment to Restore Sight

The second part of the day's activities moved to the Mabuhay Deseret Foundation office, where a formal hand-over ceremony was held for medical equipment donated through the support of the Church.

Three Phacoemulsification machines, used for cataract surgery, one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in the country,  were turned over to the foundation. The machines are expected to significantly expand MDF's capacity to perform sight-restoring surgeries for patients who otherwise could not afford the procedure.

Dr. Jan Edward Sayco, MDF Ophthalmology Advisor, gave a lecture on common eye diseases ahead of the turnover, with a particular focus on cataract management and what patients can expect from treatment.

Present at the ceremony were President Constancio Lim of the Quezon City South Stake, his wife Sister Lim, and Brother Arsenio Macaspac, first counselor of the Cubao Ward.

Building a Community That Helps

Stephen V. Casio underscored the importance of the Church's partnership to MDF's broader work.

"The vision of Mabuhay is to build a community that works together to help individuals with rehabilitating and other medical conditions, and we want to assist them as much as possible at no cost," he said. "Support from organizations like the Church enables the foundation to reach more communities and provide critical services free of charge."

To date, the Mabuhay Deseret Foundation has served more than 120,000 patients across the country, reaching communities in over 90 districts and stakes nationwide. The foundation continues to expand its programs through sustained partnerships and humanitarian donations.

Humanitarian service from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints addresses both immediate and long-term needs, from emergency medical assistance to the kind of capacity-building that helps local institutions serve their communities long after a single event has passed.