David Cooper of Mars, right, and his wife, Geraldine, in black and white dress, are in Geraldine Cooper's hometown of San Juan, Philippines, to deliver donated eyeglasses to the residents. They also endured a typhoon last week.

SAN JUAN, Philippines — Come flood or fire, the Mars Centennial Lions Club is helping people half a world away in the Philippines.

David Cooper, president of the Mars Centennial Lions Club, has been on a eyeglass-recycling mission to the Philippine village of San Juan on Mindanao Island.

His work hasn't been made any easier by a typhoon which came ashore Tuesday.

Typhoon Basang with 50-mph winds and heavy rain made landfall in the province of Surigao del Sur. According to news reports, the most widespread threat from the storm will continue to be heavy rainfall, flooding and mudslides.

“It's still chaotic here with several dead and others missing,” Cooper emailed Thursday. “Mud is still everywhere and fresh water is one of the impeding concerns.”

Cooper and his wife, Geraldine, arrived in the Philippines Jan. 24. Geraldine Cooper was raised in San Juan.

“I'm sitting outside a small sari-sari store in the Philippines,” said Cooper. in an email earlier last week. “ A sari-sari store is a tiny village store where local residents buy small packets of their daily needs such as rice, oil, candies, etcetera.

“But today a crowd of villagers has arrived to try on eyeglasses,” said Cooper.

“The Lions Clubs International has collected hundreds of used or discontinued eyeglasses to be available to vision impaired people in rural and impoverished areas of the world,” said Cooper.

“Since I am currently the president of the Mars Centennial Lions Club ... we decided to help here in the Philippines, homeland of Geraldine, my wife. So from the other side of the world the Lions are helping,” said Cooper.

They brought with them hundreds of the donated Lions glasses.

“Even though we said nothing about our plan to offer free glasses, a rumor spread throughout the village and by this morning as early as 5 a.m. dozens of people from miles away were waiting,” Cooper said.

Cooper said, “When I was approached to join, I was aware of the Lions' focus on eye care and also concerned about some of the vision problems here in San Juan, and with that in mind joined with some specific goals in mind.”The Mars Lions began to collect glasses through a container and sign in the Mars Brew House, owned by fellow Lion Bradford Price. The Elwood City Lions Club donated several hundred pairs of glasses it had collected.Eyeglass distribution is a time-honored activity of the 48,000 Lions Clubs around the world, said Lions International spokesman Dane LaJoye.LaJoye said, “Lions, in general, we accept used eyeglasses. You can donate them to a Lions club or put them in drop-off boxes.“We ship them to one of six eyeglass-recycling centers were they are sorted by prescription, cleaned and repaired,” said LaJoye.Sometimes, Lions members and optometrists travel overseas accompanying an eyeglass delivery.“Often, we contact a local optometrist to attend the eyeglass clinic,” said LaJoye.In addition to Tuesday's typhoon, Cooper there are many problems facing the Philippines including conflict between the Muslim and Christian populations and an ISIS component that reflects the world stage in miniature.“In February of 2017 a major earthquake (8.0 on the Richter scale) hit Surigao where we were staying at the time, destroying many of the large buildings, malls and hotels,” said Cooper.“Now a major volcano (Mount Mayon) is erupting in full glorious fashion with lots of smoke and red hot lava,” he added, of January's eruption of the volcanoCooper said he has forged a personal tie with the Philippines.“I have a degree in physics and taught for a while in Pittsburgh and Tucson, Ariz., before being asked to set up a computer science department in the college of the Northern Marianas Island of Saipan.

“It was there that I met my wife Geraldine in 1991. We had a beautiful daughter, named Divine in 1996 and she was raised for five years here in the village where we are now visiting,” said Cooper.Cooper added, “My wife is better known than I am even though she has only been here (in Mars) for about 10 years.“She would win the “Miss Congeniality” contest in the area if there was such a contest. She works at the Hilton Garden View in Cranberry. Everywhere we go she is recognized long before myself and I've been here for 75 years,” he said.Last year in a remote area of the Philippines we hear “Hey Geraldine!” – a group on a medical mission from Butler Hospital just happened to be there! And recognized her!” said Cooper.Cooper said, “We are of modest income and means, but always try to leave this village with some small improvement.“ A small amount of money here can do so much more than you would expect. Several years ago, we put several loads of gravel along the main muddy street. It cost less than $100 for the permanent improvement,” he said.“Another year we had the church completely repainted — again for around $100,” he said.“This year we decided to bring eyeglasses to the community. We are also working on developing ideas for a community-oriented cottage industry for some income for the town,” Cooper said.Cooper said, “In all the world, I've personally found the Philippines to be one of the most comfortable places for a displaced American to visit.“English is spoken here, the cost of living is low, People are friendly and like Americans. And for a 'third-world' country we feel relatively safe,” he said.The culture is rich with many local fiestas with local dances done in elaborate beautiful costumes.Cooper said, “Music is everywhere with many homes having personal karaoke machines before they own a TV! Most are beautiful singers. They almost always have a finalist on 'American Idol,' and the women almost always have a finalist in the Miss Universe contest.”“There are many islands with many distinct dialects (over 100). And English is spoken as a second or third language by many of the residents making it easy for travelers to visit the Philippines,” he added.“The United States has been intimately involved in the history here being responsible for its liberation from the Japanese occupation in World War II,” Cooper said.Cooper said, “In general, this has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life to see so many truly grateful people with such genuine smiles of happiness. Perhaps this will become an annual event for us and we can visit many Lions Clubs and villages in the Philippines.”

Dave Cooper fits in the front seat of the vehicle. Cooper said it's a the priorty seat usuall reserved for elderly or pregnant women during an earlier trip to Surigao in the Phillippnes. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Residents of San Juan in the Philippines look through a table with nearly 100 pairs of eyeglasses. Five people at a time tried glasses on until until they found a pair that helped them to see clearly or to read. Then the glasses were theirs to keep for free.

Cooper said he had never seen so many happy smiling people who are seeing clearly perhaps for the first time in years. The local priest and his family were among the first pleased recipients. Cooper's wife, Geraldine, is at right. She was raised in San Juan.