It is in this light that the Pagkalinga sa Kalusugan ng Mamamayan or the Pagkalma, the socio-civic arm of the fraternity, conceived of Project OPERA or the Operating Room Assistance Program for the fraternity’s diamond year. A brainchild of Dr. Melvin V. Valera, Φ2006, Project OPERA aims to provide support for the pediatric surgical patients of the PGH from ages 0-7 years. The project was conceived with knowledge that early intervention affects the quality of life and the future of young patients more significantly than those of an adult.

OPERA fundamentally aims to give financial assistance to indigent pediatric surgical patients of the PGH through provision of surgical needs and medications. Recognizing that there are a lot of patients in PGH that are in dire need of medical aid, the MSS and PAGKALMA select only the most deserving patients. Criteria for chosen beneficiaries include the patient’s prognosis, cost of treatment, and financial capacity. Upon selection of the patient, the fraternity, through OPERA, commits to provide all pertinent assistance such as financial support for pre and post-operative procedures and medications. For the surgical operation itself, the Phi Kappa Mu provides the best surgeons (most of them Phi alumni) available to conduct the procedure free of charge.

On May 23, 2009, a landmark herniotomy and hydrocoeloectomy mission was conducted by the fraternity under OPERA and in coordination with the Section of Pediatric Surgery at the PGH. On that day, a total of 28 pediatric indigents were given the opportunity to live more normal lives with the successful removal of their hernias or hydrocoeles.

Only three years since its inception, hundreds of children have been given opportunities for normal healthy childhoods and brighter futures through the surgical support that this program has provided. With OPERA and other projects under the banner of PagKalMa, the Phi Kappa Mu hopes to aid the UP College of Medicine and the Philippine General Hospital in their mission of providing the best medical treatments and services especially to the underserved.