by George B. '29

Earlier this year, fifteen high school students—twelve from LWHS—traveled to Bohol in the Philippines to help provide medical and dental care to local children and families. Accompanied by an oral surgeon, nurses, physicians, and adult volunteers, including Christine Sebastian, Lick-Wilmerding’s Executive Assistant to the Head of School, they took part in this service trip organized by the nonprofit Philos Health, which supports rural communities in the Philippines with limited access to health care.

Forrest Malakoff, a retired Vice President of Mills Peninsula Hospital in Burlingame and founder of Philos Health, led medical professionals to daily makeshift clinics at community basketball courts, while his wife, Annie, guided the high school students to elementary schools to provide fluoride treatments, vision screenings, and measure heights and weights. About 1,500 children received fluoride treatments, and nearly 2,000 patients—more than in past trips—were seen in the clinics.

The Philos mission was introduced to LWHS by Talia B. '27, who went on her first trip to Bohol last year with her parents, both of whom are doctors involved with this nonprofit organization.

Talia was inspired to introduce Philos to the LWHS community because of the way it changed her outlook on life. The stark difference between our lives compared to the residents of places like Jagna highlights the luxuries we take for granted, such as basic health care. 

“It was the first time I had done a service trip or seen a world that was so completely different from mine,” Talia said. “Bonding with the kids there and seeing the extremely limited resources they had was such a reality check.”

Christine Sebastian, who was raised in the Philippines herself, was excited to see what Philos would be doing in Bohol. The impact of this mission resonated with her.

“I enjoyed seeing the joy of the kids at the schools we visited — how excited and happy and thankful they were for what we were doing for them,” remarked Sebastian.

Junior Caroline C. '27 signed up to join the Philos team because she had been looking to do a medical volunteer mission with her mother, a family practice physician in San Francisco.

“My favorite part of the trip was being able to learn from the doctors and to help the families,” Caroline noted. “For me, it was really important to be able to help the people as much as I could.”

This rewarding experience was memorable not only for the care provided to thousands, but also for the lifelong bonds and friendships formed. The group stayed at the Domene Kaw Pension House in Jagna, where staff greeted them daily with cold drinks and made-to-order breakfast, and before returning to San Francisco, they visited Bohol Bee Farm to snorkel, dive, relax on the beach, and see the famous Chocolate Hills.

Looking ahead, Forrest Malakoff is already planning his next two missions for the summer, one departing on June 26th and another on July 3rd. The significance of what he has established is not lost on him.

“I hope Philos will continue to work with local partners to improve the health of the people of Jagna and Garcia Hernandez, and we will have measurable outcomes to demonstrate that lives are becoming healthier,” stated Malakoff.

Many volunteers for Philos have traveled to the Philippines multiple times. Several LWHS students who participated this year have already expressed interest in participating again.

“Honestly, I think most kids from the U.S. would benefit from going on a trip like Philos, because so many of the people there have never left the island and never have access to even a fraction of the resources we take for granted here…not only access to healthcare, but also future careers and opportunities,” Talia commented. “The kids look up to American volunteers, and it was amazing to connect with them so closely. It truly warmed my heart.”