Cory painting fetches P.6 M for charity

In the midst of her own struggle with colon cancer, former President Corazon Aquino is helping others who are waging a lonely battle against the disease.

Mrs. Aquino donated a 9 x 27 acrylic painting to the Pink for Life Foundation, and the painting fetched P600,000 at an auction held Wednesday at the Greenbelt 5 in Makati to raise funds for breast cancer patients.

“I’m so glad I could help,” Mrs. Aquino said in a text message to one of the chairpersons of the foundation, Mons Romulo-Tantoco, when informed that her painting boosted the fund-raising. The buyer was a woman active in socio-civic work.

Tantoco said the auction raised a total of P1.4 million, P400,000 more than the target.

Tantoco wrote the former president in April to seek support for the fundraising project of the foundation, and was pleasantly surprised that Mrs. Aquino responded immediately.

“I knew she was suffering, but I also knew she would want to alleviate others of their suffering,” says Tantoco. “I have worked with Mrs. Aquino in the past and I know that even despite her suffering she’s a very giving person.”

After receiving the request of the foundation, Mrs. Aquino sent one of her most recent works, a painting of flowers she completed only in February 2008, about a month before she discovered she had colon cancer. The former president took painting lessons regularly after her term ended in 1992, but her paintings were never put up for sale, with the exception of one or two fund-raisers. She gives her paintings as gifts to relatives and friends.

Tantoco said that since its incorporation last March, the Pink for Life Foundation has helped some 200 women and one man who are suffering from Stage 1 and Stage 2 breast cancer.

Pink for Life helps them shoulder up to 70 percent of the cost of their chemotherapy sessions.

The other chairpersons of the foundation are Irene Martel Francisco and Sigalit Jemal. The members of the board include breast surgeon Dr. Diana Cua Balcells, dermatologist Dr. Vicki Belo, Bulgari’s Mario Kaitgbak and Shangri-La Makati’s Joy Wassmer.

Those who want to help the foundation or seek help from it may call 810-3352.

Pink for Life also works hand in hand with medical representatives who locate breast cancer patients in hospitals in Metro Manila.

“One only has to present a pathology report and prescription from her chemo doctor,” said Cua-Balcells (tel. 8100810), a breast surgeon at Makati Medical Center and Asian Hospital.

In Asia, the Philippines has the highest reported incidence rate of breast cancer. From 43.2 in 1993-1995, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) was recently about 47.7 per 100,000 females, and this figure exceeds the rate reported for several Western countries, including Spain, Italy, and most Eastern European countries.