PLDT-SME Nation joins fight vs cancer

MANILA, Philippines – Even as it strengthens the Philippine economy by helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) grow their business, PLDT-SME Nation now displays compassion and heart as it supports a series of events for cancer patients.

Benefiting the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care Inc. (PFBCI,) the “One Big Fight Dinner and Concert,” organized by the East Avenue Medical Center’s Department of Surgery was recently held at the Adarna Restaurant in Kalayaan, Quezon City.

More than 100 doctors and guests attended the fundraiser. Proceeds from the event, as well as funding from PLDT-SME Nation, will be used for the renovation of the Breast Care Center housed at the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC).

One of the more pleasant, lighter parts of the event was a makeover session for cancer patients and women of the PFBCI. The makeover was provided by the Make Up Forum prior to the event.

Beating breast cancer

The Philippines tops the list in Asia for the most cases of breast cancer in women. Breast cancer is second only to lung cancer as the most common type of cancer in Asia, if both men and women are considered.

According to the Philippine Cancer Society, an estimated 14,000 new breast cancer cases will be diagnosed this year and nearly 6,300 deaths are expected from the disease.

The Philippine Foundation for Breast Care Inc. has been at the forefront of helping breast cancer patients in the Philippines for nine years now.

The PFBCI was established to promote breast health and fight breast cancer in the Philippines and in Asia. Founded by Dr. Florentino Doble, it started out by offering pre- and post-surgery aid to breast cancer patients such as chemotherapy and psychological consultation. Its members mostly consist of volunteers, former patients, and doctors.

“The foundation was put up because there was a need for a dedicated place to serve pre- and post-surgery cancer patients,” says PFBCI president Malu Cortez.

“We needed to inform and serve the patients because a lot of them really needed money and didn’t even come back because they thought it was already hopeless for them when that should not be the case,” Cortez adds.

With patients coming from Metro Manila and different provinces like Isabela and Pangasinan, the PFBCI has housed more than 500 patients since it started, averaging five new patients every week. Ninety percent of them are indigents, belonging to classes D and E who do not have money to finance their treatment or go to the center.

Dr. Elizabeth Pineda, PFBCI treasurer, says they wanted the patients to feel that they have hope because other people are willing to help them.

Breast cancer can afflict both women and men, from age five to 85. While five percent of acquired breast cancer is attributed to hereditary factors, 95 percent is attributed to external causes such as the environment and pollution.

The treatment for breast cancer surgery can cost as much as P10,000 — even with discounts from government funding agencies such as the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in public hospitals.

Post-surgery treatment is more financially burdensome as breast cancer patients have to undergo sessions costing P7,000 to P10,000 six times to monitor their illness.

PLDT-SME Nation will fund the renovation and rehabilitation of the Breast Care Center so it could accommodate the needs of new cancer patients every day.

Running for pediatric cancer patients

PLDT-SME Nation also sponsored the “Run for Children’s Fun” held recently at the UP Diliman campus grounds.

The fun run charity event was organized for the first time by the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA).

With PLDT-SME Nation sponsoring the event, proceeds raised from over 1,500 participants were used for the restoration of the pediatric cancer patients’ playroom also at the EAMC.

“The playroom serves as a room where cancer patients can play around while waiting for their chemotherapy sessions,” says Dr. Mon Severino, medical specialist II and assistant training officer of the EAMC’s Department of Pediatrics.

Existent for 20 years now at the EAMC, the playroom is a place where parents and patients interact. It can accommodate up to 30 patients at a time for outpatient treatment.

“PLDT-SME Nation is not just out there to serve the needs of our entrepreneurs, as part of PLDT,” says PLDT-SME Nation community consultancy head Gabby Cui. “We see to it that as long as there are opportunities to help those in need, we’re here changing lives.”

Running to make a difference, participants in the PTAA charity run promoted a healthy lifestyle for a cause. Runners participated in the 3K, 5K and 10K races.

“We greatly appreciate the support of everyone who joined and we saw the participants’ willingness to join our cause. There was a huge turnout for the race,” says PTAA president Paz Alberto, who also ran in the event.

More than 50 raffle prizes were up for grabs at the event, ranging from round-trip tickets to Honolulu, Hawaii and Hong Kong to overnight accommodations in Boracay.

The event was managed by the Run for Change and was sponsored by PLDT-SME Nation and others in the private sector.

Race winners were Kimbert Sarmiento for the 3K, clocking in eight minutes and 46 seconds; Ben Alejandrino for the 5K at 17 minutes and seven seconds; and Bernardo Desamito Jr. for the 10K at 34 minutes and 51 seconds.

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For more info on what PLDT-SME Nation can offer businesses, call 101-888 or visit www.pldtsme-nation.com.ph.