A.S. Watson’s global commitment to bring 10,000 perfect smiles continues as Operation Smile Philippines turns 40

Operation Smile Philippines was born 40 years ago in Bicol, thanks to a basket of bananas. In 1981, Dr. William (Bill) P. Magee, Jr., a plastic surgeon, and his wife, Kathleen (Kathy), a nurse and clinical social worker, traveled to the Philippines with a volunteer medical organization called Interplast upon the invitation of then Gov. Felix Fuentebella of Camarines Sur.

There were hundreds of parents with their children who had cleft lips and cleft palates but the group couldn’t operate on all because Interplast also handled other medical cases. It was heartbreaking.

On the last day of the surgical mission, Bill and Kathy saw a woman and her daughter (who had not been operated on) with a basket of bananas. The woman said, “Thank you for coming here to help our children.”

The Magees were so touched by the encounter and they vowed to come back with a group of medical volunteers to repair children's cleft lips and cleft palates.

Thanks to their friends, including evangelist Pat Robertson who donated $30,000, the Magees came back in 1982 and Operation Smile was born. Before Bill became a reconstructive surgeon, he was a dentist.

The Magees assembled a volunteer team of 18 doctors, nurses, and technicians for their own medical mission to the Philippines.  They helped approximately 100 more patients, but again, hundreds waited to be treated.

Today, Operation Smile is an international medical charity with a global network of thousands of medical volunteers, including doctors, nurses, and other personnel, from more than 80 countries dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults from more than 60 countries. 

As Operation Smile Philippines turns 40, a medical team arrived in Naga City on November 21 and conducted operations on children and young adults. The doctors stayed until November 25 until all the children were discharged.

With the purpose of putting a smile on customers' faces, Watsons Philippines began its partnership with Operation Smile nine years ago. Since then, the partnership has changed the lives of 2,152 children, who were born with cleft-lip and palate conditions, through free surgeries.

“A baby’s smile is the most beautiful thing in the world. It signifies hope for the future. As a health and wellness retailer, Watsons is a proud partner of Operation Smiles Philippines in transforming lives and giving the less privileged a chance to live healthy and beautiful lives.”said Viki Encarnacion, PR and Sustainability Director of Watsons.

Joining the Naga City medical and surgical mission are 35Watsons employee-volunteers. This partnership in the Philippines is part of A.S. Watson’s global commitment to bring 10,000 perfect smiles in collaboration with Operation Smile.

Let us help Baskin-Robbins bring smiles to the lives of 31 children

Whenever I see a child suffered from a cleft lip and or cleft palate defects, I feel for the parents as much as for the kids. I wonder if the child is in pain whenever he/she eats.  I do pray that they have consulted a surgeon and that the reconstructive surgery is on its way.

Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy. Together, these birth defects are commonly called “orofacial clefts”. These birth defects happen early during pregnancy. A baby can have a cleft lip, a cleft palate, or both a cleft lip and cleft palate.

Through the BR 31 Smiles Project, Baskin Robbins partners with Operation Smile Philippines. For every regular double scoop ice cream sold, Baskin-Robbins will be donating P31 to Operation Smile to provide free reconstructive surgery to the lives of 31 children with cleft lip/palate deformities.

“All over the world, Baskin-Robbins is known as the brand that brings smiles to customers through its delicious ice cream flavors. Now, we want to take this thrust a bit further by bringing back the smiles on the faces of children with facial deformities through the BR 31 Smiles Project,” said Michael Dargani, president of IceDream Inc.

The number 31 is used to represent Baskin-Robbins’ iconic 31 flavors, one flavor for every day of the month. In this case it also represents the children whose lives are about to change forever through the BR 31 Smiles Project.

“We are truly grateful to Baskin-Robbins for collaborating with our organization to help children with cleft lip and cleft palate deformities through the BR 31 Smiles Project. This campaign not only changes the lives of children but also helps our organization create public awareness about this congenital deformity and how it affects the individual who is born with it.” Expressed Gian Trebol, Executive Director of Operation Smile Philippines. 

Customers can also buy a limited edition campaign badge with frequency card for only P100 and get a free junior scoop of ice cream. The proceeds of the badge sales will go towards funding the BR 31 Smiles Project. The Baskin-Robbins frequency card entitles customers to a freebie on every 3rd visit. Another way to participate is by buying their special Smiley Cake – 20% of the cake sales will also go towards the campaign.

Bringing smiles to everyone, especially children, has been deeply rooted in Baskin-Robbins’ humble beginnings. The ice cream company was founded in 1945 in Glendale, California by Burton Baskin and Irvine Robbins, ice cream enthusiasts and brothers-in-law, whose passion inspired what is now the world's largest chain of ice cream specialty shops.

IceDream Inc. exclusively operates Baskin Robbins in the Philippines. During its first year of operation it has successfully opened 5 stores with a view to expand further and cater to ice cream enthusiasts all over the metropolis.

Operation Smile is an international children's medical charity conducting year-round nationwide missions to provide free surgeries to children with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities.

For more information about Baskin-Robbins 31 Smiles Project; visit www.baskinrobbins.ph or check out their Facebook (facebook.com/baskinrobbinsph), Twitter and Instagram (baskinrobbinsph) accounts. Visit Baskin-Robbins shops at the Central Square, Bonifacio Global City; Greenbelt 5, Makati; Ayala Fairview Terraces; Trinoma Mall in Quezon City and Glorietta 5, Makati.