The gift of friends

Last May, I had the privilege of emceeing Manny Padilla’s first art exhibition entitled "Room Series" at the Milky Way Building. Manny’s paintings showed his interpretation of objects commonly found in rooms.

My daughter Ella, an art enthusiast, was with me at that time and she spotted lamps, fruits, glasses, and other objects in the artworks. His works reminded me of Paris.

What made the exhibit special was the fact that it was the artist’s way of helping our friends who have been afflicted with breast cancer.

The exhibit was for the benefit of breast cancer awareness of the Essenses Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit organization focused on educating, uplifting, and promoting the wellness of women. The foundation holds "feel good’"workshops for cancer patients and survivors and provides chemotherapy for women diagnosed with the earlier stages of breast cancer.

The exhibit was also for the benefit of a childhood friend of mine, Toni Abad, who is a surviving breast cancer patient. It was made possible by Toni’s friends Manny and Mia Tambunting-Padillia, Trish Briones, Carmina Sanchez, Bing Viray, Keren Pascual, Toni’s sister Melissa Joseph, and Toni’s former boss and mentor Rhoda Campos of the Rustan’s Essenses Foundation, an organization which is dear to Toni’s heart.

It was Toni who first inspired Manny to have his first exhibition and to do it in part for those suffering from breast cancer. I am so proud of Toni because she continues to have a positive mindset despite her condition and wants to encourage other patients to accept their challenges and to continue to dream big. I’d like to share with you an excerpt from her speech during the exhibit’s program. Be inspired!

"Every year, more than 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer; 11, 000 of these women will be 40 and under.

"Although risk increases with age, breast cancer can happen to any woman – young, old, even if no one else in your family has had breast cancer.

"To all the women here tonight, if you feel any unusual changes in your breast and your doctor tells you that you are too young to have breast cancer and does nothing more than a clinical breast exam, insist on another test –an ultrasound, mammography or a breast MRI."

(Information/statistics I got from a pamphlet sent to me by my dad from the Young Survival Coalition in New York)

"Be empowered to take responsibility for your health!

"Who would have thought that at 36 years old I would succumb to breast cancer and be part of the statistics? Prior to my diagnosis, I was a pretty vivacious person and was the free spirit in our group. I am sure all my friends here and former colleagues from Rustan’s can attest to that. I was running all over the place, doing one event to the next. and was quite unstoppable.

"Then I was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer. I had to endure a left radical mastectomy and have undergone the first round of the six chemotherapy sessions that I must receive to insure that the cancer does not spread or return.

"For the first time in my life, I am forced to stay still, be quiet, and live for the moment. I am now seeing life and the world at a much deeper level.

"In every adversity there is always a lesson that the Lord wants us to learn. Those lessons are still being unraveled to me. I am just grateful for the early diagnosis. At this point in my life, I am literally feeling the Lord’s hand holding mine to let me know that I am safe and should not fear.

"I have also been blessed with a group of family and friends who have been rallying around me to make sure that my spirit is up and that I can lean on them for their support.

"From the moment I got diagnosed, everyone in my inner circle and those whom I thought were just acquaintances have been so supportive.

"Now that I am a surviving cancer patient, I see the world just as you may. That there is a creator and everything around us is truly planned by a divine being!"

In good and bad times, true friends will stick by you and make your world a better place. I’m blessed to be Toni’s friend because she reminds me to stay focused to accept life’s realities and to never give up hoping for the best. Cheers, Toni, and thank God for the gift of friends!

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E-mail author at mommytalk@businessworks.com.ph