World-renowned stage star Lea Salonga, who has recently waxed a new CD album “Inspired” and a host of other celebrities like Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, former TV “Let’s Dance” host Lucy Torres-Gomez, ABS-CBN EVP Charo Santos-Concio and award-winning broadcast journalist Karen Davila have freely joined hands with the Philippine Society of Pediatric Oncology (PSPO) in its ongoing fight against cancer.
Crystal-voiced Lea is nursing a few-months old daughter, Nicole and is leaving soon for New York to rehearse for Broadway production’s “Les Miserables”, with her entire family, including mom, Ligaya.
She says her album is inspired by the birth of her daughter, various and new experiences and songs and music which contributed to her wonderful and beautiful feelings of life.
Talking about her campaign against child cancer, the famous international 35-year old theater actress and singer said, ‘Fighting cancer is very much like performing on stage. It calls for a strong drive for excellence, the desire to provide the best treatment for the afflicted children.
“It requires an innate sense of discipline, the perseverance to complete the rigorous follow-up care which may take months or even years. And, in the end, the fight merits a standing ovation, the successful culmination of a series of treatment and therapy sessions.
She hastened to add that “The applause will surely come as long as we dedicate all efforts in fighting childhood cancer.”
On the other hand, Manny Pacquiao has been able to convince his adamant mom, Dionisia, on staying in Mindanao and supporting him in his bid to become General Santos’ mayor in the coming May 14 election.
The trouble is if Pacquiao wins, how will he divide his training for a world title about and serving his constituents? If he chooses his training over his local executive title, who will honestly take over his duties of good governance?
Manny has no ready-made answer but when asked about childhood cancer which has become second biggest killer disease in the Philippines, Pacquiao said, “Like in boxing, one has to have a strong will, the ability to keep on focus while fighting, physical health and well-being, correct nutrition, alertness, speed, right movement and immediate treatment once one feels pain.
“Immediate attention and medical treatment should be top priority. We, especially the children, can beat cancer, we can truly defeat cancer!”
Meanwhile, Santos-Concio and Davila are one in asking their industry colleagues in broadcast and print to tapping the corporate world and media outlets to drumbeat awareness on childhood cancer in the Philippine setting.
The PSPO was started on October 24, 2000 with the goal of taking the lead in advancing and promoting the practice of childhood cancer management. It is an offshoot of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), an international non-governmental organization dedicated to the global control of cancer; and with a vision of a world where cancer is eliminated as a major life-threatening disease for future generations.
With over 270 member-organizations in more than 80 countries, UICC is a resource for action and a voice for change in partnership with Sanofi-Aventis Global.
In the Philippines alone, 3,500 kids are diagnosed of cancer each year where leukemia and eye cancer are the most common.
According to PSPO coordinator Dr. Julius Lecciones, about 80 per cent could be potentially cured when treated at an early stage. However, more than 2/3 submit for diagnosis at late stages and only 16-20 per cent actually attain long-term survival among child cancer patients. (PNA)
