One Fine Day in Bulacan... A Recollection by Che Alfonso (written 01-16-08)

One Fine Day in Bulacan... A Recollection by Che Alfonso (written 01-16-08)

The popular saying that “all work and no play makes jack a dull boy” proved to just become a saying.

The purpose-driven and result-oriented Gift2Life group motored off to Bgy. Lico, San Rafael, Bulacan last Jan 5, 2008 to meet with Nanay Solita who personally steered this planning meet.

With Obet on the wheel and Debbie as the Navigator, Gilynne, Arlene, Dulce, Doc Tina and yours truly enjoyed the scenery all the more with Dulce’s freshly-prepared sandwich and cold foiled-pack juice. What a treat!

LIFE IN COMPARISON. Despite the government’s modernization and industrialization approach, I am still thankful that traveling northward, I can still enjoy a true country ambience- golden ricefields and verdant trees, fresh air, flowers in bloom and I even saw carabaos too!

Modern edifice, giant billboards caught my attention. Could these really be signs of progress? What about the welfare of the people? How about those residents in far-flung barangays who cannot afford to go to the city for better education and more so, medical intervention? It crossed my mind that maybe this is why we are traveling this far.

CORNS, CORNS AND MORE……..We were at Bgy. Lico by 10am. Celia and Nanay Solita (distant relatives and both cancer survivors) welcomed us. Trayfuls of boiled corn, sweet and succulent, were offered to us.

It was almost lunchtime and the smell of fried tilapia whet our appetite. Lunch al fresco! We feasted on steamed crabs, vegetables, kare-kare and who wouldn’t get lost with sautéed shrimp paste (bagoong alamang)matched with grated green mangoes, onions and tomatoes? It was also a sight seeing Doc Tina enjoyed rounds of fermented (buro) fish. Custard candy (yema) for dessert, anyone?

The gentle breeze swept upon my face, I’m being lulled. I know every- body wants to find his nook for a nap but Doc Tina started to prepare her gadgets for presentation.

TOWARDS COMMON GOAL. In a little while, Nanay Nenita (a cousin of Nanay Solita and Celia) came with somebody seeking medical advise. Doc Tina willingly rendered breast examination.

The meeting was done by 4pm. The group left shortly for Manila hoping to pass by Gloria’s Take Home Store by the highway for Bulacan’s famous melon and squash seeds, preserved beans, fish and pork crackers but wasn’t lucky enough.

We stopped by Jollibee instead and grabbed a burger bite.

Manila before dusk. We hope to go back to Bgy. Lico soon- this time for implementation of the project.

A Noble Mission by Che Alfonso

A Noble Mission (posted 01-27-10 at gift2life.ning.com)

In 2006, Dr. Cristina L. Santos, a Breast Cancer Surgeon, went to Bliss, Bgy. Tabe, Guiguinto. Bulacan purposely to look for a place which she intends to develop into a haven for people with breast cancer.

Little did she realize that she was destined to discover something else because right beside the old Bulacan Provincial Hospital which she visited, she passed by another old structure which aroused her curiousity- what is it, what and who are inside it. She knocked at the gate and was gladly ushered in. Doc Tina found out that that place is the House of Friendship and there she met Sis. Maria AngelinBongcawel, SDM, the Directress. Children with cerebral palsy whose ages range from 2 to 16 years old are its main beneficiary.

With genuine passion of helping others, especially the less fortunate, their conversation lead to another and not long after that, Doc Tina promised to go back to bring whatever help she can and that started her gift-giving mission to this community.

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS. As early as mid-December, Doc Tina has already started with her solicitation campaign for toys and clothings (old and new). She did not expect gifts (and more gifts) would come in. Tita B (the very supportive mother of Doc Tina) and her friends not only gave cash donations. They also sent mini-pillows, drinking mugs and stuffed toys. And not only that! One of Tita B’s friends even made her teenage children (Mark 1, Mark 2, Eda, Eunice, Annabel, Reggie and I) may participate in the gift-giving mission. What benevolent gesture! These children are not only there for theoccasion per se but for them to see the realities of life, making them understand that they can also devote a little of their precious time helping people like these.

As Christmas season is known to be a busy month and everybody is preoccupied with shopping and partying, the Gift2Life staff and volunteers seemed unaffected by all of these. Most of us hardly had enough sleep, some have to leave their houses early not being able to sip a cup of coffee just to be able leave on time and yet no one complained!

We all felt the presence of the Holy Spirit because everybody was so happy and excited to be in Guiguinto soon.

THE REAL ENCOUNTER. We arrived safely at the House of Friendship by 9am. I’m sure each of us (mostly first timers in that place) is wondering what is going to happen next.

The very amiable Sis. Angelin met us and introduced us to her staff who were all very busy moving to and fro but one thing that caught my attention was seeing the children with cerebral palsy in a group!. I have seen a few before ut never did I experience seeing so many, more so hobnobbing with them and it is really so heartbreaking!

As the group was unloading the gifts and preparing for the program, I had the chance to talk to a father who was carrying her two year old daughter.

I asked him how she acquired it. The father told me that she just had high grade fever which lead to convulsion. They brought her to the Phil Gen Hosp, was confined for a month and was ruled out to have cerebral palsy. While talking to the father, the girl had seizure attacks and I saw from my very eyes how her tiny and fragile arms and legs twisted, her mouth bubbling with saliva and her eyes focused upward. I did not know how to react but how I admired the father because when he noticed my looks, he was the one who appeased me by saying “It’s okey, it will only take a few seconds. We are used to it.” This is the reason why my wife and I take turns in working. If she’s at work, I stay home for the kids (they have 3) because we really cannot be away from them at the same time. Their meager income could not support their basic needs. Worst, their daughter’s medical check-ups and medicines are not taken care of. Despite their situation, I could see from the face of the father that he still has high hopes.

On the other side, I approached another patient. Karen is sixteen years old. While asking her mother how it started, I noticed Karen was having tantrums. She doesn’t like to wear shoes and her mother forced her to. I told the mother “Pakialis nyo na lang po, okey naman po kahit wala, basta masaya siya.” (Please remove the shoes, it really doesn’t matter I think she’s happier without.) And Karen smiled at me, reached out for my hand but I was a little frightened because when I offered mine, she grabbed it and wanted to put my hand into her mouth. Then her mother told her to stop and behave. She covered her face. I looked at her from head to toe. While the mother kept on narrating something which I did not understand because I was paying more attention to Karen’s physical looks, I noticed her long nails and unbrushed teeth. Although the mother kept on wiping Karen’s powdered face, they still need to be updated on hygiene issues.

How I wish I had more time to talk to some parents about their children but the program has already started.

CALL TO ORDER. Even Doc Tina deserves a respite, not literally, but at least she will be working behind the scenes this time. She was busy making guidelines for the activity and meeting other guests.

The Gift2Life group went in full force – Warren manning the technical system, Doods on the camera, Geleen for spot photos and later on the peace and order of the crowd, Dulce, Boots (a new member who is from the Christ the King Ministry Celia and Letty for the gift booth. Obet and Marlon saw to it that the gifts were properly piled up while our nurse Debbie and her friend Teacher Arlene anchored the program.

Obet lead the Opening Prayer, followed by yours truly for the Opening Remarks. The presence of the following were duly acknowledged; Dr. Teody de los Reyes, Dean of College of Nursing, Dr. Yanga Colleges and Eng. Marcial Añac of the Rotary Club of Guiguinto. (Sis. Angelin informed us that the Rotary Club owns the building that the House of Friendship is using for its mission.) We were also told that Guiguinto Mayor Isagani Pascual pledged a monthly support of five (5) cavans of rice. His wife joined us in the festivities a little later.

It was nice to see Vangie around. She managed to come despite her hectic schedule. Nanay Solita and Nanay Nenita (relatives of Celia who have interesting experiences about breast cancer) were there too.

Games went on, participated by the able cerebral patients themselves and their families. Glenda Garcia (a TV actress typecasts for villainess’ role together with her son Carlo) brought the house down by dancing with a patient to the tune of Papaya. She also donated cash and boxes of ponkan and apple. In her inspirational talk, she assured Doc Tina and Gift2Life Organization of her unwavering support in its mission.

Another fun-filled game was the Deal or No Deal mastered by Arlene and participated by patient Rex and his mother. The PC-conceptualized game was prepared by Warren.

By two o’clock in the afternoon, we were running out of games but there are still plenty of gifts left so we decided to just entrust it to Sis . Angelin. Their soup kitchen is clearing up, after serving non-stop meals to the patients and their families but a simple meal was also prepared for us- pancit, menudo, boiled tilapia, noodle soup and a vegetable dish. Thank you very much!

We would like to thank Sis Angelin, her staff and volunteers for accommodating Gift2Life Organization. It has been another wonderful experience and we look forward to seeing them again next year, God willing!

Last but not the least, we would also like to extend our profound gratitude to the kindness and dedication of the following Gift2Life staff and volunteers-Debbie, Obet, Geleen, Warren, Doods, Letty, Celia, Gigi, Marlon, Vangie and Dulce for their time, efforts and dedication, her husband Ferdie for the smooth ride and moral support, to Boots and Arlene for your time – we hope to see you more often in our future advocacies. You have not just touched the lives of these people but also gave all of them positive meaning and hope.

We are sure that this is just the beginning and we expect to spread goodwill to many more people, from different places in different time.

A Legacy by Che Alfonso

A Legacy (posted 01-25-10 at gift2life.ning.com)

Life’s full of challenges, some are bearable and within our limits but did you notice that most of the time, all the emotional, psychological, physical and all other attributes are pushed and pulled to the fullest?

To me, there have been countless but the most is joining a cancer support group where the slightest idea never crossed my mind nor bits of knowledge and experience made me take the plunge. For unknown reasons, one thing led to another.

The formal training, first on Hospice and Palliative Care Volunteer Works, introduced me to a broader perspective of what cancer is. The succeeding years of hands-on approach opened my eyes to the real world much more.

BAPTISM OF FIRE…. as you may call it cause I felt I was a soldier heeding to my superior’s orders, not having the right to say no cause I made several house visitation to every hospice patient assigned to me regardless of the travel distance, time and weather condition.

Hospice patients are "end-termers". They always look forward to our next visit and each visit entails moral, psycho-social, spiritual and emotional upliftments. The medical aspect is taken care of by the medical staff we have in our team. Suffice it to say..they are just waiting for their time (and miracle) while endless medication, chemo, radiation and bone scan treatments keep draining their body.. and being.. and pockets as well.

AGONIES, SUFFERINGS AND DEATH. When I work, I give my all. It seems that my world revolved in this advocacy that even my family has been involved- bringing goodies and things that we think could make them happy in their remaining days.

But contrary to our training that we, Hospice Volunteers, are not supposed to be seriously immersed in their situation, I found it really hard. Why? You cannot help it !

I had six (6) of them- Severino from Sta Rosa, Laguna(lung CA S4), Gilda (Cervical CA S3C with bone mets, another Gilda from Cabuyao, Laguna (Naso-pharyngeal CA S4 with brain mets), Yolanda from Canlubang, Laguna (breast CA S3C with bone mets) Cris-Ann from Cabuyao, Laguna (Myelogenous Leukemia S4) and Rouel from Canlubang (liver CA S4 with bone mets). I saw how they struggled, suffered and died.

A RESPITE, AND ANOTHER TRY. I needed a breather. It wasn’t easy. What’s a Thursday afternoon without them? It’s in my system. It took sometime, yes.. six (6) long months of (still) thinking of them but another door was opened, and I let them rest.

Saw an invitation in the newspaper, grabbed the phone and reserved a seat. Looked for the place. And then there was I.. listening to the speaker as she dissects the word cancer. After an hour or so, they were looking for volunteers. Is this another calling?

Weeks after, I was already in the Breast Care Clinic of the East Avenue Medical Center. Another training. More focused, this time on breast cancer- awareness, early detection, palpation equals
advocacy.

The group had been going places but I never had the chance to be invited. Instead, I stayed with patients in the Chemo Room, listened to their plights. During non-chemo days, I just have to contend myself beside Debbie, the Chemo Nurse, cutting plaster tapes.

More trainings from the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care, Inc. came and I saw myself coordinating an advocacy for the Naval Education and Training Command in Zambales, the very first.

MORE CHANGES…. FOR THE BETTER. Things happen. Unforeseen events came. New place, old faces. Endless meetings, brainstormings and the first advocacy at Bgy Alas-Asin, next was Bgy. Lucanin and then the Kiwanis Intl- Mariveles Chapter, all in Bataan but this time for Gift2Life, Inc. More requests followed but didn’t materialize.

It’s been two (2) years or so. Gift2Life continue to go places, touching people’s lives, with or without cancer.. but they are so many…wanting to learn, to be educated, to be touched. And our
military personnel is not an exception, thus.. the Camp Tour started.

FRIENDSHIP STARTED IT ALL. When my friend’s husband took the helm of the Philippine Navy Command, protocol dictated that she, as the Navy Ladies Adviser, spearheads the ladies club. Being a military officer’s wife myself (and an Adviser to BNS Ladies Group when my husband was Commander of Ft. Bonifacio Naval Station), I knew the responsibilities were not confined to only handling the group effectively, harmoniously and productively but also to come up with meritorious projects that would compliment ,at least, the basic needs of the military personnel, their families and the civilian staff as well.

Seminars on Protocol and Social Graces, Psycho-Social and Stress Management, Livelihood are mainstays in the agenda but health awareness campaigns would also make a good impact, thus, The Phil Navy Officers’s Wives Association, thru its Adviser Ms Shirley M Golez and President Siony L Abogado welcomed the Breast Cancer Awareness Program.

From June 2009 onward, powerpoint lectures, breast screening and high-risk factor assessment were conducted at Bonifacio Naval Station, Naval Base Cavite, Naval Forces Northern Luzon, Phil Military Academy, Naval Education and Training Command, Naval Forces Central Command, Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao. By word of mouth and thru reports of the PNOWA, the Phil Army and Phil Air Force Ladies Groups knew it and requested one for their group which Gift2Life readily accommodated.

We also did the Armed Forces of the Philippines Officers’ Ladies Club (AFPOLC) and The Southern Luzon Command. On February 4-7, we will be at Naval Forces Western Command.

We hope to continue with our advocacy, for as long as our body and mind can withstand early morning calls, endure long travels, late night caps, but as my friend’s husband is bowing out of the service come May 2010 and the very energetic former PNOWA President Siony Abogado had relinguished her post on last January 23, I couldn’t express my sincerest gratitude to these people, who also made it possible for us to deliver our Breast Cancer Advocacy, with flying colors!

September 2009 Collections of Che Alfonso's Blogs

Some Kind of Feeling (posted 09-14-09 at gift2life.ning.com)
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone we meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly... Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass- it's about learning how to dance in the rain. Life's too short to wake up with regrets so love the people you fight right, forget the ones who don't believe. Everything happens for a reason. Life is a matter of attitude.

Affirmation (posted 09-24-09 at gift2life.ning.com)
GOD gave me strength because life demands much of me. There are grave problems I must tackle using this weapon. But human as I am, several times I thought of quitting because of difficulties I can no longer traverse but challenge made me pursue. I realized the best things in life are its hardships, without its struggle to lift oneself, one will not develop invaluable strength.

People who conquer grow much stronger in adversity and that as a consequence don't give way to despair, looking upon hard times as spur to greater effort.

One must learn how to run her own life. When people extend their own imagination beyond what they see, then that's their own lookout. Miracles do happen. Someday, when we're perfectly in tune with God, I know that we, too, will be able to do great miracles.

Now that I've found my niche under the sun, my doubts are all things of the past, confident to set my eyes on a genuine goal in my chosen world.I know I'm in for tougher tasks ahead but I'm ready to face them- head on!

It's too early to say what will happen with us but for now, feel sure it matters, afterall... happiness sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open.