(HEARING ASSIST. Pampanga Second District Board Member Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab and Lubao Mayor Esmie G. Pineda exchange pleasantries with a mother whose young daughter is being fitted with hearing aid at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center. Photo by Albert B. Lacanlale)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—More than 500 hearing-impaired residents from various towns of Pampanga received hearing aids free of charge from an international charity group.
Held at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in the City of San Fernando in Pampanga from July 9-10, the distribution of hearing aids was led Starkey Hearing Foundation and the Provincial Government of Pampanga.
Kevin Ramos, Starkey Internationally Development Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said the two-day activity was part of their world-wide humanitarian mission “to give the gift of hearing to those in need, empowering them to achieve their potential.”
Hearing-impaired individuals, from as young as three years old to well past their nineties, underwent general hearing tests, voice tests and ear measurement from professionals pooled together by Starkey and Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda.
Ramos said hearing aids are commercially sold for prices ranging from $500 to as high as $6,000 or roughly P300,000.
“We do not look at the price of what we give. What is important is we help make hearing healthcare services more accessible for people around the world,” Ramos said.
The hearing apparatus will come with one year supply of batteries, Ramos said.
Board Members Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab and Tonton Torres represented Pampanga Gov. Pineda on the first day to assist patients coming from the second and third districts of the province.
Cayabyab, in an interview, thanked Starkey Hearing Foundation for bringing the project to Pampanga.
“We cannot thank these people enough for their generosity, helping our fellow Kapampangans who could otherwise afford to avail of these instruments to enable them to hear properly. Kung walang ganitong programa, at mga katulong tulad ng Starkey, marami ang titiisin na lamang sa kanilang mga kapansanan na pwede namang magawan sana ng paraan,” Cayabyab said.
Lubao Mayor Esmie Pineda and the province’s First Lady, former Sta. Rita mayor Yolanda Pineda, were also present to express their support to the project.
