Tirso Cruz III reveals he’s a cancer survivor

The public wasn’t aware that Tirso Cruz III and his family went through a life-changing experience last year. At the advance celebration of his 63rd birthday (which is today, but he celebrated it at the Events Place of Mother Lily Monteverde last Saturday), the actor gave a testimony of him being a cancer survivor.

Pip, as he is fondly called, revealed details of his illness and how his entire family (wife Lynn and children Bodie, TJ and Dyanin) accepted the bad news. A routine check-up revealed that he had a lump in his lungs and his doctor said it was cancer. He underwent surgery wherein 1/3 of his lung was removed to arrest the cancer. His doctor also removed the nodules inside his body, but these were not life-threatening. He was happy to say that his doctors pronounced him as 100 percent cancer free.

“I’m telling you this story not to put myself in the limelight as someone from showbiz who experienced a harrowing experience, not to scare you of the sickness, but to let you know that God still creates miracles in our lives. That God is  the business of curing us,” said the veteran actor.

Pip says he had firm belief in his doctors who were instrumental in curing him but he acknowledges that God used the said doctors to help take care of him. God is still the greatest healer, he added.

“As they say, doctors may have the facts, but God has the truth,” said Pip. He said he had no one to blame but himself for what happened since he had been smoking since he was a teenager. He was likewise thankful that he got to know of his cancer early and when the doctor told him he had to go under the knife, he immediately obliged. He just asked for a few days to finish his scenes for the teleserye “Hawak Kamay” before going through the operation.

Pip thanked his prayer warriors, his friends who stood by him and his family during the most difficult time of his life. He also thanked his friends from the media who got wind of his illness but didn’t write about it in deference to his wishes. He liked it that his friends chose to keep silent about the matter but helped him through prayers. Now, he is cancer-free.

So it was but fitting that Tirso gave a thanksgiving party to celebrate his new life, which is a gift from God! Happy birthday, Tirso!

* * *

“Tatlong Yugto, Tatlong Babae,” a play written by Palanca award-winner Liza Magtoto was used as a special women empowerment campaign by a feminine hygiene wash brand. The event was launched in a special preview held at Teatrino in Greenhills last March 24. The performance was followed by an open forum featuring obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Ma. Lourdes Escobar. It was organized by naFlora Feminine Hygiene Wash and Talk+Think Creative, Inc.

Under the direction of Roobak Valle, “Tatlong Yugto, Tatlong Babae” is made up of three monologues of three women belonging to different age brackets, as they present their struggles, dreams and how they plan to realize them.

Karen Jaysette Bingco is Jasmine. Alone and trapped in a bathroom, this situation gives her the opportunity to confront her teen angst.

Wenah Nagales and Ruth Alferez alternately play Marigold, a married mother who is in an emotional crossroads. She tackles the joys of motherhood, the marital status quo and how badly she wants to realize a long-time dream.

Joy Viado and Joann Co alternately portray Petunia, a cougar who has gone tired of her dance instructor cub. She talks about how she deals with the prospect of a new happiness.

 After the event, we had a brief interview with Joy who said she enjoyed playing the role of a cougar as she is already nearing the menopausal stage. Like Petunia, she admits to experiencing hot flashes, so she can definitely relate to her character.

“I also don’t have a love life like Petunia but it is a choice,” said Joy. “It is my children who make me happy.”

Joy revealed that her children gave her a surprise party when she turned 50 six years ago. Joy also told us that she is joining the cast of “Bituing Ningning: The Musical” to be staged at Resorts World Hotel. She was picked by director Freddie Santos to play the aunt of Dorina Pineda, the lead actress played by Monica Cuenco of Cebu. She considers it a big opportunity to be part of what is believed to become a major musical presentation based on an iconic movie.

“The Protect Your Own: Empowering Women Campaign” is all about educating women regarding the many issues they face and address daily and how these matters affect them as we live the different stages of our lives. How women should live symbiotically with their society, family and government and how to thrive even with the simplest things we aspire for like love and freedom,” explains Michiko Unso, head of Think+Talk Creative Communications, Inc.

Adds Unso: “What we want to achieve is for women to be informed and be educated regarding the many facets of being a woman, and making her realize that the vagina is truly sacred and powerful, it being the passage to life.”

“Protect Your Own: Empowering Women” is the first major advocacy of naFlora, the newest feminine hygiene wash for women who are in their pre-puberty, reproductive and menopausal stage, and in partnership with Think+Talk Creative Communications, an integrated marketing communications company which is a major expert in brand campaigns, events and broadcast productions for local and international clients.

naFlora is in full support of the “Protect Your Own Campaign” because they are one with Think+Talk Creative Communications, Inc. in their objective to give women access to information about reproductive health and other societal matters.

Other performances/talks will also be held in different areas of Metro Manila and nearby provinces.