A gathering of cancer warriors

By: Ma. Ceres P. Doyo - @inquirerdotnet

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 09:10 AM April 11, 2019

Sources: https://opinion.inquirer.net/120696/a-gathering-of-cancer-warriors

Stronger together. All ages, all stages, all genders. These were the oft-repeated catch phrases at the recent National
Cancer Patient Congress. The gathering almost filled to the rafters the AFP Theater in Camp General Emilio
Aguinaldo. Not surprising because cancer is the second cause of death in the Philippines, and gathered were people
who have survived the disease, if not still doing battle for themselves and for others.
April 8 was one of a kind. About 900 cancer survivors, patients, health care providers and support groups — cancer
warriors all — linked and raised arms to celebrate, discuss and understand the newly passed National Integrated
Cancer Control Act (Nicca, or Republic Act No. 11215) and its implementation soonest.
The moving force behind the congress was the Cancer Coalition of the Philippines and the groups that compose it,
the tireless individuals, coalition cochairs Paul Perez and Kara Magsanoc Alikpala among them.
Beginning with a hopeful mood was Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD, a cancer survivor, who shared his insights on his journey
toward healing, how he embraced his cancer with grace and “focused on the humor, not the tumor.”
I must say that the way the program was laid out (with entertainment numbers in between and emceed by Mae
Paner, aka Juana Change) was indeed informative. The three parts — “Stronger together through shared
knowledge,” “Stronger together through collaboration” and “Stronger together through vigilant action” — each had
experts well-versed in the topic and who answered questions from the eager audience afterward.
In the first discussion, panelists from the Department of Health (DOH) explained how Nicca can provide access to
timely cancer care and treatment and make it affordable and accessible.
Nicca can indeed ease the burden on patients and their families and promote survivorship especially among the
financially challenged. DOH facilities can be expanded to make diagnosis and treatment affordable and equitable.
The law mandates for a National Integrated Cancer Control Program that would serve as a framework for all cancer-
related programs and activities of the government.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was just as gung ho in seeing the full implementation of the Nicca, while
beaming about the 24 cancer centers in DOH hospitals. Other government agencies—the Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes Office, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.
(PhilHealth)—as well as private groups, such as the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology, were there to explain
their roles in the implementation of the groundbreaking law. An oncologist explained the importance of patient
participation in scientifically supervised medical trials that can lead to breakthroughs. Who knows, dramatic
discoveries in cancer treatment might yet come from the Philippines!
A pleasant surprise was the group called Patient Navigators of Taguig City, whose members personally assist
patients and families navigate the stormy journey from diagnosis to treatment to palliative care and so on. What a
noble activity/ministry/apostolate!

Addressing the issue of funding is the Nicca’s Cancer Assistance Fund, which mandates PhilHealth to expand its
benefit packages for all types and stages of cancer and regardless of patients’ age. In the package is not treatment
alone but also screening, rehabilitation, pain management and palliative care in end-stage cases.
Cancer patients and survivors would have benefits and privileges granted persons with disabilities. This means 20-
percent discount for medicines and maintenance drugs.
 A gathering of cancer warriors

By: Daniel D. Faeldon

Cancer is one of the four epidemic non communication diseases which include
cardiovascular, diabetes, mellitus, and chronic respiratory diseases.

Having a friend who diagnosed with cancer it means coming to term with the
limits of our humanity. It is learning to live day by day with numerous unanswered
questions. It is learning to be brave in the midst of seemingly insurmountable odds.

But even more heart wrenching than the effect of cancer on the families and
parents of these people are the effect of cancer on them. They all have faced cancer
and carry a different tale to tell, but all united by the fight against cancer and ready
to challenge destiny.

There is always hope, and that hope is sometimes changing. It means something
different for each person in any given situation. When one doctor tells you there is
nothing more that can be done, he is merely saying that he has exhausted his
expertise. The next oncologist may have more up his sleeve. Hope may come in
the second, third, or fourth opinion, or totally evolve into a different form.

Cancer is a very individual experience. Each and every survivor (and we are all
survivors from the day of diagnosis) will have a unique walk down the cancer
path. However, we will all meet challenges and successes and failures that have
been met and dealt with before us and will be met and dealt with again after us. It
behoves us, therefore, not only to avail ourselves of the knowledge of those who
have gone before us, but to endeavour to leave behind whatever we can that will
benefit those who walk the path after us.

They are real cancer warriors. They realize life is a never ending climb and it is up
to us to choose the next stepping stone.
Duterte urges Filipinos to uphold PH sovereignty, protect rights, freedoms
By:Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Apr 09 2019 12:30 PM | Updated as of Apr 10 2019 12:35 AM

Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/09/19/duterte-urges-filipinos-to-uphold-ph-
sovereignty-protect-rights-freedoms

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte urged Filipinos on Tuesday to remain steadfast in protecting
Philippine sovereignty as the country marks Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor).

Duterte, in his Day of Valor message, said he hopes that the freedoms fought for by war veterans
would inspire the people to protect the rights enjoyed by modern-day Filipinos.

“...it is my hope that we will all be inspired to remain steadfast like our forefathers and their allies in
upholding our sovereignty and in protecting the rights and freedoms that our people enjoy today,” the
President said.

The Philippines on Tuesday marks the 77th Araw ng Kagitingan to honor Filipino and American
soldiers who fought side by side in Bataan during World War II.

“Today, we remember the heroism of the brave Filipino and American soldiers who stood side by
side in the mountains and jungles of Bataan in defense of our liberty and democracy,” Duterte said.

Duterte is expected to commemorate Araw ng Kagitingan in southern Philippines on Tuesday

afternoon.

Last year, the President also skipped commemoration rites at Bataan.

Aside from the war veterans, Duterte added that the Philippines will “forever remember and honor”
civilians who fought alongside Filipino and American troops during World War II.

“We may not be able to memorialize all of them, but we will forever remember and honor their epic
struggle and unshakeable fortitude,” he said.
Duterte urges Filipinos to uphold PH sovereignty, protect rights, freedoms
By: Daniel D. Faeldon

Araw ng Kagitingan is a non-working holiday that is part of a long weekend in the

Philippines. World War II veterans parade in different cities in the Philippines on
this day. There are small parades in different localities in the Philippines but the
Araw ng Kagitingan’s main highlight occurs when the country’s president gives a
speech at the Mt Samat shrine, in the Bataan province, to commemorate the
heroism of the Filipinos and American troops during the World War II.
We celebrate April 9 as the Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor. The term valor is
defined as great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle. Philippine
history is full of stories of courageous men and women who dared to fight against
superior arms. They may have lost but their stories should never be forgotten.
Many streets are closed and public transport routes may be redirected to give way
for parades. Malls and other leisure areas remain open and most people may go to
these places and use this day as a family day.
We may not be able to memorialize all of them, but we will forever remember and
honor them for their sacrifices, struggles and battle just to serve of our beloved
country.
 FEU denounces 'cyberbullying' incident involving student-athlete
Source:Rappler.com
Published 11:04 PM, February 19, 2019

Updated 11:13 PM, February 19, 2019

MANILA, Philippines – Far Eastern University (FEU) issued on Tuesday, February 19,
a statement on what it called a cyberbullying incident involving a student-athlete.

"FEU condemns the wrongful tagging of an FEU student-athlete in a sexually explicit

video circulating in social media," the statement read.

"This clearly is an act of cyberbullying that causes negative psychological effects and
harm to any individual, private or public."

"We encourage everyone to be prudent and refrain from using these forms of
harassment."

The school was referring to social media posts that identified the student-athlete in the
video as Carly Hernandez of the FEU women's volleyball team.

Hernandez' brother also condemned these posts on Facebook, calling on netizens to

stop spreading fake news as the Lady Tamaraw was gravely affected by the incident.

"Nakakalungkot isipin na nag-aaral nang maayos 'yung bata at nagsusumikap para

maabot mga pangarap niya tapos ganyan niyo lang sisirain? Sana maisip nyo kung
anung magiging impact nito hindi lang sa kanya pero sa buong pamilya namin at sa
mga nagmamahal sa kanya," Joshua Matthew wrote on Facebook.

(It's sad to think that the kid is just studying hard and working hard to achieve her
dreams, then you're just going to ruin her like that? I hope you guys realize the kind of
impact you're making not only on her, but on our whole family and those who love her.)
 FEU denounces 'cyberbullying' incident involving student-athlete

By: Daniel D. Faeldon

Source:Rappler.com

It can really make us wonder how a country we thought of as Bully – free produce
such as acts of hate towards another. If people can bully other to this extent even
the public eye, what about during their everyday lives where they are unsupervised
and much freer to do whatever they want, whenever they want to do it, whether it
is in the workplace, home, and at the school.

Cyber bullying comes in a whole range of different shapes and sizes and is
something that is totally subjective to the recipient.

Examples of cyber bullying include: nasty messages online or on the phone,

comments on your posts or posts about you, being excluded from online groups or
forums, embarrassing photos being put online without your permission, rumours
and lies about you on a website, offensive chat on online gaming, fake online
profiles being created with an intent to defame you.

A cyber-bully is usually portrayed as a wicked young person who found one more
tool to exercise his/her desire to torment others. However, the numerous cases
prove that sometimes cyber-bullies are teens that have problems themselves. It
may be parental/teen abuse, psychological disorders, hard living conditions etc. If
mean teenagers simply entertain themselves at cost of well-being of others, then
abused teens channel the pain and fear through aggression against others. Cyber-
bullying may also take place on the part of whole groups, just like real-life bullying
in schools does.
I am Daniel D. Faeldon, I was born on February 27 1993 at Manila. We are four
siblings in the family. I’m the youngest child. My mother’s name is Leonor
Faeldon, she is from Alaminos City, Pangasinan and my father’s name is Eloy
Faeldon, he is from Batanes.
Before we live in Manila but in the year 2000 my parents decided to move out in
other place which in the province of my mother at first we are having hard time to
live because there’s no electricity and water but as time goes by we learned to live
and accept the new environment with a new people.
I took my elementary education at Holy Family Development Center and
secondary education at Great Plebeian College in Alaminos City, Pangasinan.