CMMS’ 2026 medical mission is a success

By Trisha Matabalan, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
February 10, 2026

2026 CMMS medical mission (Photo courtesy: Henry Mayuga)

BACNOTAN, La Union — The Canadian Medical Mission Society of British Columbia recently visited the Philippines to attend to the medical needs of their less fortunate countrymen.

(Photo courtesy: Henry Mayuga/Facebook)

The CMMS’ first medical mission was launched in 2011 under the guidance and continued perseverance of founding members Dr Dan and Antonia “Toni” Vargas, Evelyn and Henry Mayuga, and Edward Teodoro.

Henry Mayuga and Evelyn Calica-Mayuga, organizers of the event. (Photo courtesy: Henry Mayuga/Facebook)

“In early 2010, Dr. Dan Vargas approached us to organize a medical mission to serve the poor in third world countries. My husband and I saw this as the opportunity to really share the blessings we have been given in life. The work involved in achieving our objectives is difficult because we cannot do it alone. We are so fortunate that we found a lot of dedicated volunteers who have the same goal of “serving” and really do the work they have been assigned to do from their hearts,” a quote from Evelyn Mayuga in the site’s founding members’ page states.

Similarly dedicated to the cause, Henry Mayuga’s statement says, “With the founding of the Canadian Medical Mission Society, we have been given that opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of so many people. Dedicating a part of one’s life to the service of the poor is a legacy that my wife and I would like to leave our two children.”

(Photo courtesy: Henry Mayuga/Facebook)

On January 31 to February 6, 2026, the CMMS conducted a total of 1,328 procedures in the municipality of Bacnotan, La Union. As the Canadian Medical Mission Society is an optical, dental, medical and surgical mission, these procedures consisted of dental, optical, and major and minor surgeries. They work to embody the CMMS’ tagline of, “Together, we bring hope for better health!”

Henry Mayuga and Evelyn Calica-Mayuga, organizers of the event. (Photo courtesy: Henry Mayuga/Facebook)

This medical outreach truly impacted this municipality and the many municipalities before them. The continued efforts of these dedicated medical professionals and volunteers year after year bring a significant difference to the lives of those they touched.