Golden Girl

Last Saturday was the 50th birthday party of Ann Puno, loving wife of lawyer Rene Puno, devoted mom to Renee Ann, Yago, and Luis; a wonderful friend; a renowned cook. A cancer survivor.

Her birthday party at the Grand Ballroom of The Bellevue Hotel in Alabang wasn’t just a celebration for her family, who rejoice in the fourth year of Ann’s new lease on life. Ann’s party, her very presence, was like a Post-it in our collective bulletin board, which seemed to say “Cherish every breath, every moment, every year in your life and in the lives of your loved ones.”

And in celebrating Ann’s 50 golden years, Rene and the children prepared a video presentation that did not skip the year 2006, the year Ann was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. They also did not edit out from photos of the milestones in her life, likewise flashed onscreen, snapshots of her bald and pale from her chemo sessions. The Punos believe that Ann’s bout with cancer in 2006 has led to her wholeness as a person now, and has cemented her faith.

Ann once told me her cancer gave her a certain closeness to the Lord, so that she feels His presence more so now than ever before.

“And I don’t want to ever lose that closeness,” she said.

* * *

Rene, a former member of The New Minstrels, sang “Ikaw Lamang” to his beloved wife, and not to be outdone, Ann surprised the children and him with her own sexy rendition of the “Samba Song” by Bong Penera.

So many friends of Ann showed up — including her support cancer group WOW (which stands for “Women of Worth”) and high school chums from Assumption Iloilo — that more tables had to be set up in the ballroom.

Aside from the sumptuous buffet prepared by The Bellevue, rum cake, double chocnut cake and other goodies from Ann’s own oven were served to the guests. 

“I was actually very excited to turn 50 years old!” admits Ann, whose looks belie her age. “I was like a child excited for her birthday party, with matching sleepless nights and anxiety attacks waiting for the day to come and finally be able to say, ‘I’m 50 and it feels great!’ That’s the truth!”

And you better believe her.

* * *

In 2006, on a beautiful summer day, Ann, her husband Rene and children Renee Ann, Yago and Luis were lazing around in the master bedroom, enjoying each other’s company. In the midst of the bliss of their bonding, Ann said she heard a voice telling her to put her hand on her right breast. Others would call it gut feel. Ann chooses to believe it was Jesus talking to her.

She had just had a mammogram the previous November, and the results cleared her of malignant growths. But on this seemingly perfect day, after she put her hand on her breast, she felt a lump the size of a corn kernel. Subsequent tests confirmed that it was malignant. Ann had Stage 2 cancer.

“It turned our world upside down,” recalls Ann of that day in 2006 when she was told she had the Big C.

She recalls not crying when she got the news, but sobbing in the toilet later when no one was looking. Rene would be strong in front of her, but weep when she was not around.

On the day the hairdresser had to shave Ann’s head of whatever hair she had left, Renee Ann had to dash out of the room, unable to control her emotions.

Yago was, “the constant one,” believing from Day One that God would take care of his mother. Luis the youngest was so devastated even his school performance suffered.

Through it all, Ann, as Renee Ann recalled in the article, struggled to remain happy and hopeful. “You were trying to be the happy self you always are. That’s how it went throughout this whole ordeal — although you were the one suffering, it was you who was laughing, smiling and making jokes about your condition. Mom, you are beyond amazing.”

* * *

“You just have to carry me, Lord,” Ann would pray when the effects of her chemo seemed too much to bear.

But it was also those around her, friends and strangers alike, who helped ease her burden.

Once, she was buying some food at a counter outside the supermarket and a friend recognized her. She told her friend she was going to have chemo later in the afternoon. When she got back her change from the saleslady, it was P10 more.

“Pangdagdag sa chemo ninyo, Ma’am,” the saleslady, a total stranger who overheard her conversation with her friend, told Ann. Ann was choked with tears, realizing that P10 was probably all the extra money the saleslady had for the day.

“There may be bad people in this world, but I think the good people outnumber the bad,” Ann believes.

* * *

Ann is certain it is her faith, her will to live, and the support she got from family and friends that saw her through. She specifically cited the group The Joy in Living Foundation, a support group for the family and caregivers of those with cancer. Ann said that those who are caring for family members with cancer need as much healing and support as the patients themselves.

Ann and Rene decided from the start that they were not going to keep her illness a secret, and that she was not going to withdraw from the world. Once, when she found it too stressful trying to match her headscarf with her outfit, she boldly decided to just leave the house without one. She went to Mass in all her shaven glory and couldn’t care less if people stared at her.

She also is realistic enough to say that to survive cancer, you need money. Her heart goes out to those who just go home to die because they have no money to pay for their chemo. She feels fortunate because she had the means to have her treatment, and she gives back by being active in her church, and in a support group for cancer patients. She keeps at least two nights of the week free for her parish work. She is cancer-free today.

* * *

And so as she sang and sashayed on the dance floor and mingled with guests, Ann was truly celebrating. We should all celebrate our birthdays, she told her guests — with emphasis.

After all, life begins with a birthday.

(You may e-mail me at [email protected])