Page 12 - Hello Philippines March 2016 'A' issue

12 www.hello-philippines.com IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS March 2016 – No. 05 • UK & Europe Edition

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DALY City, Calif. - Every Sunday there was no ADA (Americans with

and Monday, people stream in and out Disabilities Act) requirement,” Oakes

of Holy Child and St. Martin Episcopal explained the project. “We have a

Church feeling full and flush with ramp leading to the elevator on the

optimism. side and the seven steps of stairs at the

That’s the day the congregation led entrance” that is little help to the frail

by Reverend Leonard Oakes partakes or wheelchair-bound, especially on a

of the bread distribution compliments rainy day.

of a national bakery chain. That’s also Five years ago, the Daly City

the time when they may shake a leg at mission’s efforts had gained attention

the exercise classes to stay in shape or and encouragement in the form of

relieve aches and pains. Or when they generous funding from the bigger

may have their blood pressure checked church.

and pick up a few health tips along the “Our work in giving free blood Children join Rev. Leonard Oakes and Daly City officials at rites marking the future Rev. Leonard Oakes and wife Haidee (center) with the volunteers and clinicians at
site of an elevator to give access to all Holy Child & St. Martin parishioners. recent HCSM health and wellness fair.
way. pressure check-up, lungs and weight
For free. Regardless of address. Not monitoring, as well as giving health

just for the 251 registered members education to the community was pastoral duties as needed. His place Oakes to serve. was given to a forebear by an “English
Birthing a clinic. Retired missionary who could not pronounce
of the church but for anyone who noticed by Episcopal Charities,” Oakes was at the pulpit rather than behind

wishes to engage with the community said. “In 2012 we received a $30,000 the keyboard, ensuing events showed. Episcopalian priest Rev. Dr. Lynn the brilliant Igorot’s original name,”

nurtured by a pastor who happens to grant for a three-year program to The newcomer found time to Bowdish presented herself one day, were all baptized in the Episcopalian

be a professional health practitioner. improve our clinic and services.” explore his diverse interests. offering to join the church. faith.

“We have seven registered nurses, As the care program prospered, He worked as a gate agent at the “She introduced me to the Inclusive. Oakes likes to see more

four LVNs, five CNAs, 2 senior health support flourished. United Airlines terminal in the San community advisory board of Seton

administrators, and two medical “We were able to get a grant of Francisco International Airport. Medical Center where she and similarities than differences with the

doctors volunteering to move the $37,500 for the lift through the United When the 911 terrorist attacks halted community leader Alice Bulos were Roman Catholic religion from which

clinic forward for our common cause,” Thank Offering of the Episcopal Church air travel, causing layoffs in related members,” Oakes related. his church had branched following the

Oakes, a licensed vocational nurse, with the endorsement of Bishop Marc industries, Oakes pursued radiology at Seton Medical Center until recently Reformation. The seat of the faith is

counted his pool of clinicians who have Andrus,” Oakes exulted the success of Canada College. was owned by the Daughters of Charity Scotland, he said, where the church

embraced his endeavor. Their number his campaign to promote health. Having a registered nurse for a wife Health System and was the first established itself and ordained its first

spikes toward the end of the year when Oakes’ earliest career plan leaned fanned his interest in the health field. hospital to rise in Daly City. bishop.

the church holds its annual Health & less on the physical, however. Oakes shifted to nursing, completing Oakes accepted the board’s “We have a very similar liturgy,
Spiritual calling. Twenty-three his prerequisites at the College of San invitation to sign on, serving for over we believe in the Holy Trinity and
Wellness Fair.

Last November, the volunteers years ago, Leonard Oakes was a fresh Mateo before culminating studies with two years before the reorganization the saints, we say the rosary,” he

led an army of kindred spirits from graduate of St. Andrew’s Theological Nursing Care Providers in South San and eventual sale of the DOCHS said. Differences emerge in doctrines.

other provider organizations that Seminary in Quezon City. He had Francisco. to a New York-based corporation. Episcopalian priests may marry or

assisted over 200 adults and children attended the University of Baguio in Both Oakeses work at Kaiser The new owners established Verity divorce but the latter, he emphasized,

representing a cross-section of the the Philippines’ mountain region but Medical Center in South San Francisco, Foundation, a nonprofit, to operate “is not encouraged.”

neighborhood and surrounding areas. continued his education at Trinity with Leonard also doing part-time the hospital, which has the only What the Episcopalian church does
Milestone. The event was the fifth College, also in the capitol city.
work as a visiting nurse with a home emergency department open to all encourage is women leaders. Besides

the church coordinates every autumn, The last century was coming to an health care agency. patients between San Francisco and Reverend Bowdish, HCSM has Rev.

but last year was a milestone. end just as the Kalinga-born Oakes’ His vocation blossomed with his Burlingame. (Kaiser Permanente in Rebecca Goldberg as Associate and

Daly City officials and Episcopalian future was coming into view. profession. South San Francisco is a membership Deacon Tricia Rosso who head the

leaders each took a shovel on Nov. 14, The ‘90s marked a new beginning “When the HCSM priest moved to managed care organization.) church alongside Fr. Jureck Fernandez

breaking ground on the future site when the Episcopalian deacon was Vallejo, I was elected to be the next Oakes is among the first community as Intern.

of an elevator that would give equal ordained priest. That same year, 1997, full-time vicar of this Church by the leaders Verity invited in its initial Oakes cited the Philippine

access to the elderly and physically he and his wife Haidee uprooted from members of the Bishop Committee,” outreach. Years earlier he had forged Independent Church, also known as

challenged. the homeland and settled in Northern Oakes related his elevation. “The a partnership with the hospital to the Aglipayan Church after its founder

Around the coming Thanksgiving California. appointment was recommended to the participate in a health fair brewing in Gregorio Aglipay, as “in corcordance”

Day, Oakes sees the same officials The new priest gained local Bishop of California and I was installed his head that he shared with his former with Episcopalians. “Their members

cutting a ribbon and giving the experience as music director for a small in November 2008 on the Feast of All nursing instructor, Persephone Gee, are also our members.”

community an all-encompassing but tight church on Southgate Avenue Saints Day.” RN, and her husband Dr. Jeff Gee, who Oakes kept in touch with his

welcome to its sixth fair. in Daly City. The post was ideal for Fate literally knocked on the door had joined the church around the same fellow people of the cloth as a board

“This church was built 1956 when Oakes, who loves to sing, filling in for and opened up bigger opportunities for time. member of the Peninsula Clergy

Pinoy dies after fall on ship’s deck in Malaysia “Our expertise and connections in Network from 2012-2013. Later he
A 22-year-old Filipino died after Malaysian news site The Star reported on Asst Comm Tengku Mohd Zailan Tengku the medical field and our commitment was appointed Grand Chaplain of the
falling onto a ship’s deck while exiting Tuesday. Ahmad, said the Filipino fell on the deck to the poor and low income people in Masons in California, which opened
the vessel’s engine room on Monday, of MV Necklace at around 2:45 p.m. the community” began materializing, further avenues to socio-civic groups
The report, quoting Manjung OCPD Oakes said. like the Lion’s Club and the Knights
The incident happened eight nautical of Columbus, who have become
“Through the help of the Bishop of collaborators of the Holy Child & St.
miles northeast of Pulau Pangkor, it California and the staff, the approval Martin Church clinic.
of the Bishop Committee of this church
added. and the collaboration of our volunteers The church also shares the goodies
and partners in community health donated by Panera Bread to a nearby
The report said that the Filipino, who system, the Health Clinic was born,” shelter every third Sunday and third
Oakes, who has a son and a daughter, Monday of the month. Friday evenings
has yet to be identified, died from severe said of his new baby. are devoted to music lessons.

spinal fracture and internal bleeding in Caregiving comes naturally to HCSM holds two Sunday services.
Oakes, one of the eight children of For more information call 650-991-1560
the brain due to the fall. Benedicto Oakes Sr. of Apayao, and the or visit www.holychildandstmartin.
former Teresa Barantes of Tacloban. org. n Text and photos by Cherie M. Querol Moreno /
The report said the vessel was
The Oakes family, whose surname Philippine News / Published / February 21, 2016 / 12:51 pm
travelling from Singapore to Lumut,

Malaysia when the incident happened. n

Rie Takumi / ALG, GMA News / Published / February

24, 2016 / 5:33 pm