Tough Ten: Outstanding Young Asthmatics

CEBU, Philippines – The Search for the Winners Against Asthma (SWAA) drew close to 2,000 entries and took months of deliberations. It culminated in a grand awarding ceremony at the Makati Shangri-La recently.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) launched the SWAA in February this year. The search called on young asthmatic achievers aged 30 years and younger to share their stories about how they managed and overcame the debilitating disease. The stories were intended to inspire other asthma sufferers that they, too, could win against the disease.

The search was open to Filipinos or foreigners with permanent Philippine address that have been diagnosed as asthmatic by qualified physicians. There were two categories: Category A (Youth Category) for 19-year-olds and below, and Category B (Adult Category) for 20- to 30-year olds.

GSK Medical Director Dr. Gio Barangan explains the reason for focusing on the young asthmatic bracket: “We decided to target this particular age group because asthma is a common chronic disease of childhood leading to reduced activity, school absences, ER visits and hospitalizations… We want to let them know that asthma should not deter them from realizing their full potential.”

And, true, the SWAA attracted young people who have effectively won against asthma and excelled in various fields, including academics, arts, career, and sports. In the youth category, Christian Lacza, a student from Navotas City, was adjudged as the grand prize winner.

Christian is one of the 2014 Kabayan Ten Outstanding Public School Students, and 2014 Ten Outstanding Youth Leaders of Navotas City. Other awards to his credit include the 2010 Gawad Huwarang Kabataan of the Antolin Oreta Sr. Foundation and Gawad Modelong Kabataan: Galing at Dangal ng Malabon of the Arnold Vicencio Foundation. He is also the youngest recipient of the Orator of the Year Award in Navotas National High School.

“When I was young, my asthma attacks were so severe that my mother would have to bring me to the hospital almost weekly,” Christian relates. “This made me realize that if I cannot excel in physical activities, I have to discover and focus on my other strengths.”

“Going to my pediatrician was a constant necessity and she made sure I get the proper medication and treatment. But more than that she never failed to cheer me up and would always give me words of encouragement whenever I visited her,” Christian continues. “Instead of letting asthma stop me, I stopped asthma from interfering with my life as I pushed myself [forward] – excelling in academics, student leadership and in various competitions.”

The runners-up winners in the youth category are 15-year old student and dancer Christina Chua; taekwondo twins Andre Rafael and Anton Joachim Montero; consistent student scholar Kenneth Angelo Bagay and Dave Andre Labaton, also a taekwondo medalist.

In the adult category, medical student Teesha Banta got the top prize.  The 23-year-old from St. Luke’s College of Medicine was a full scholar in her first two years of medical school and graduated Cum Laude from University of the Philippines Los Banos with the degree of BS Biology Major in Wildlife Biology.

Teesha is a lifetime member in two international honor societies, but besides her academic achievements she is also actively involved in community service. As an active Girl Scout, Teesha received two of the highest awards given by the organization – the Chief Girl Scout Medal and she is one of the 75 GSP National Young Awardees. She has represented the country in national and international events, specifically as an advocate and a National Peer Educator on Adolescent Female Health.

“Asthma runs in our family,” she reveals, “but symptoms of severe asthma began when I was in college, which, unfortunately, was also the time when I was so involved in my schoolwork and scouting. My mother, who is a doctor and is also an asthmatic, helped me through most of my journey by taking care of me and always reminding me to take my medicines.”

She adds, “Actually, because of my asthma, I had to temporarily stop med school because bed rest was advised. But it did not stop me from taking a part-time job as a high school Science teacher. Besides being a doctor, teaching was my second dream job.”

Teesha said she plans to become an OB-GYN or specialize in Pediatric Pulmonology so she could treat asthmatic children. Her message to other asthmatics: “During our asthma attacks, we may feel powerless and helpless. We do not have the strength that non-asthmatics have and it may feel like it is the end of our dreams. Well, our condition is but another challenge that adds more meaning to each of our achievements, an opportunity to push harder, aim higher, and be better persons and citizens of our country. We can defeat asthma and we can conquer our dreams!”

The other winners in the adult category are UP student Ianna Engaño, an athlete, musician, artist and social activist; Yasmin Versoza, a firefighter and member of the Marikina City Fire Truck crew; Christianne de Vera, a triathlete; and Yliah Nina Bosch, a registered nurse who is working as an emergency nurse responder at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The winners’ prizes included a Huawei P7 Smart Phone and gift certificates from Sodexo and Folded & Hung. More information on the Search for Winners Against Asthma campaign is at www.facebook.com/WinAgainstAsthma.