It was 7 in the morning as everyone gathered by Jollibee Philcoa. UP Diliman college students were arranging themselves according to their organizations as the marching band was rehearsing. The PNP and MMDA escorts were discussing the final route of the walk. DOH Undersecretary Brod Ted Herbosa ϕ79A and his assistant Brod Dennis Rosete ϕ95, and immediate past president of Phi International, Inc. Brod Romy Isidro ϕ77A were welcomed by the brods led by Superior Exemplar Miko Ver ϕ06. It was a beautiful Saturday morning. The walk was about to begin.

Last February 12, the second wheelchair turnover ceremony of Empowerment Through Mobility (ETM) 4 was held at Quezon City. The day began with a walk from Philcoa, through the Quezon Memorial Circle, and finally to the Quezon City Hall. Together with the brods of the Phi Kappa Mu during the walk were three UP Diliman student organizations: the UP Zoological Society, the Association of Biology Majors and the UP Pre-Medical Honor Society. More importantly, the resident brods were graced by the presence of alumni brods Ted Herbosa, Dennis Rosete and Romy Isidro (who were all in sports attire). It was almost a kilometer’s worth of walking towards the city hall.

The participants of the walk were received at the city hall by QC Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and District 1 Councilor Sis Doray Delarmente, together with the recipients of the wheelchairs. The stage was set for the turnover ceremony, with members of the local press (TV5, GMA7, and ABS-CBN) and the rest of the audience eager for the event. The event had a short program, which consisted mainly of messages from the VIPs and representatives of the recipients, and the actual turnover itself. The most striking message came from the head of the Philippine Council for Cheshire Homes, who was handicapped herself. Even though her message was very short, the gratitude and happiness were very prominent in her voice. It was very heartwarming.

A total of 100 wheelchairs were given to Quezon City through Councilor Delarmente. Wheelchair donations to other institutions/organizations were also made that morning: 20 to the Philippine General Hospital, 20 to Mayor Herbert Bautista, 15 to the Philippine Council for Cheshire Homes, 5 each to the UP Pre-Medical Honor Society, the UP Zoological Society, the Association of Biology Majors, and the UP Psychology Association.

This project would not have been possible if it weren’t for the efforts of ETM project head Brod Jayson Rosario Paragas ϕ08B and the rest of the ETM team (Brod Jayson Panganiban ϕ09 headed the QC turnover). The support from Phi International, Inc. and Sun Power Corporation were invaluable in the acquisition of wheelchairs from the Free Wheelchair Mission in the USA.

Once again, congratulations to Brod Jayson Paragas and the rest of the ETM team. All for PHI!

February 12, 2011 was a busy day for the fraternity, wherein the brods were divided between ETM 4 and simultaneous medical missions in Laguna and in Marikina. Wheelchairs will also be donated to the city governments of Makati, Pasay, and Caloocan.