Danny Abid Garcia President of Palaweños of the Midwest (PalMid)

By: Ryan Tejero

 

Palawan is a great tourist destination in the Philippines. Its pristine coastal areas attract many tourists, both local and foreign. Not known to many of us is a group of Palawenos here in the Midwest who do not only promote tourism on their hometown, but are also care-takers of their kababayans back home.

Founded in1984, Palawenos of the Midwest (PalMid) was established to provide assistance to the less fortunate and distressed Palaweños in the Philippines. PalMid conducts its Medical and Dental Missions every two years to deserving municipalities of Palawan. The organization also sends financial assistance to calamity victims in the province of Palawan as part of its projects. More recently, they have pledged support to the Kalayaan Islands in fighting against China’s encroachment to island territory that belongs to the Philippines.

This year, PalMid conducted its medical and dental mission in El Nido,Palawan on January 14 and 15, 2016. Another similar mission is scheduled on March 26 and 27, 2016 in Cuyo, Palawan. Thirty-seven PALMID members travelled to Palawan to deliver medical and dental services. All services were free to more than 2000 served beneficiaries.The missioners brought with them medicines and other medical and dental supplies to give away, and lectures on healthy lifestyles were also offered.

PalMid members are working hard to give back to their hometown by augmenting healthcare services especially to the impoverished communities where basic medical needs are not met. Here in the Midwest, members organize fundraising activities annually to gather financial support to sustain its regularly scheduled projects back home. Prior to the mission, PalMid members collected any amount from $2 to $10. All monetary donations will go directly towards the purchase of medical and dental supplies. They also had a fundraising event held on November 13, 2015 at the Lone Tree Manor to benefit the 2016 Medical and Dental Mission

PalMid’s medical and dental mission started in year 2000. Since then, they also provides scholarship grants and donated medical and dental supplies to benefit the Cuyo District Hospital in Cuyo, Palawan & Rural Health Unit in Magsaysay, Palawan. They also donated 100 sacks of rice for distribution to poor families (2 kgs each family) in Cuyo, Magsaysay & Agutaya, Palawan.

Currently heading PalMid is Danny Abid Garcia. He is presently connected with Abbott Laboratories. He obtained his Associate Degree in Electronics at DeVry Institute of Technology and his training on Automotive Technology from Lincoln Technical Institute. Danny is a Licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Illinois and Certified Automotive Technician.

Danny migrated to the US in 1990s. He came from Cuyo, Palawan. He completed his college degree in Mechanical Engineering from Adamson University. He worked in several places prior to coming to the US.

Danny prides himself with lots of accomplishments during his student years. He was HS Valedictorian, Insular Gold Eagle Medal Awardee, AdU College Scholar, FM Cocofed Scholar, DeVry consistent Dean’s List, and Lincoln Technical Institute Most Outstanding Graduate Awardee.

He is married to Nina Garcia, who is an RN at Presence Resurrection Medical Center, Chicago, IL. They are blessed with children: Diane Garcia who works as a Pharmacy Technician at Walgreens, and currently studies Pharmacy at UIC; and Daniel Garcia, who is scheduled to graduate this Fall from his nursing degree at Chamberlain College of Nursing. Daniel works as a part time DJ for the family-owned business – D3D Enterprise.

Other than PalMid, Danny is also active in other Fil-Am organizations. He is a Lifetime Member of the Philippine Engineers and Scientists Organization (PESO); Member of Mainstreet Organization of Realtors (MORe), Member of Illinois Association of Realtors Awards/Recognition.

Danny sends his message to other community members here in Chicago and the Midwest: Try your best to help other people who are in need and are still around. It’s always better to give, than to receive. Be proud to give back to the community, ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay di makakarating sa paruruonan!”

If you are interested to become a member of PalMid or support PalMid’s projects, Danny can be reached at dangarz@comcast.net.

Garcia Family (L-R): Daniel, Danny, Nina and Diane