How fashion can serve
Watching the recent “Fashion Can Serve” show at the Raffles Hotel, I realized that breast cancer hits anyone, anytime. There is no rhyme or reason to it. Looking at the lovely fashion muses, of designers Maureen Disini, Lulu Tan Gan, Kristel Yulo, Rajo Laurel, Rhett Eala and Eric delos Santos, (one realizes that they) are no ordinary models, but survivors of the dreaded disease that afflicts so many Filipinas (the Philippines has one of the highest incidence of breast cancer in the world). These beautiful women have faced their illness with strength and dignity. It was quite an emotional moment for the audience to see survivors Bernie Aboitiz, Ann Ong, Patty Betita, Michelle Soliven, Toni Abad, Crisann Celdran, Julie Torres, Alya Honasan, Leah Caringal and Maritoni Fernandez walk down the ramp.
The effervescent host/auctioneer Tessa Valdes made the bidders happily part with their money for the I Can Serve Foundation’s main flagship program “Ating Dibdibin (Take Your Breast Care to Heart).” This community-based breast cancer screening program is the first of its kind in the country, partnering with local government to provide access to affordable diagnostics and timely cancer treatments. It aims to make the program permanent via the enactment of a city ordinance and asks that a permanent annual fund be set aside to sustain the program and subsidize would-be patients.
The event was truly a celebration of life and fashion for the I Can Serve Foundation whose members are all breast cancer survivors. Their message is loud and clear: detect breast cancer at an early state and get treatment. This is is the best defense for a disease that afflicts so many Filipinas.
* * *
For inquiries, call 636-5578, email info@icanservefoundation.org or visit www.icanservefoundation.org.
Get in touch with the author at: jacinto.fa@gmail.com.
