'Fashion Can Serve' captures stories of triumph, survival

MANILA, Philippines – Fashion shows have been known to emphasize on dresses created by top caliber designers. But not all fashion shows are staged to impress the eyes. Some are staged to touch the heart.

On October 13, ICanServe Foundation, in cooperation with the country’s top designers, will put up a “Fashion Can Serve” fundraising event, an event that transcends the borders of the usual runway shows.

Now on its second year, the event will put spotlight on the courageous journeys of breast cancer survivors as real breast cancer survivors and their “Breast Friends” will serve as models and muses as they walk down the ramp beside them, to bring light and authenticity.

“Last year, we ended with two muses ending the segment. It was very touching when they saw the last two people were actual survivors. You know they look so good and so full of life. Sometimes, the wrong idea is kawawa naman sila and we don't want that. It was heart-warming to see how people reacted last year so we want something a little bit different this year,” Elizabeth Virata, Chairman of the Board, ICanServe Foundation said during the intimate gathering to promote the event held in September.

For this year, the event will carry the theme "We Don't Walk Alone."

“We chose the theme ‘We Don’t Walk Alone’ because it is true for all of us. For most of us and the survivors, we have that someone who supports us plus the rest of the family,” Virata explained.

Pairs walking the runway will include Bibeth Orteza and her son Rafa Siguion Reyna, Beth Romualdez and her daughter Via Reyes, sisters-in-law Margarita and Malou Fores (who are both survivors), Amanda Luym and her close friend and cousin Cacay Moras-Server, Chuchu Madrigal and her daughter Alex Eduque, and Frances Yu and sister Crickette Tantoco.

Breast cancer survivor and model Baby Gozali shares why she chose to participate in the runway show. “I was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer, but God is greater than any cancer, and He healed me. It has become by advocacy, one of my missions to increase awareness, especially in the ways to prevent cancer, such as carcinogens in the environment and food, radiation, and stress.”

By participating in this fashion event, Rita Nazareno celebrates her “second life” and hopes to inspire other women and survivors. “You have to be grateful for what you have, for the life that you live. You have to be okay with your mortality, if anything happens. I’ve lived such a good life so I will just continue to do so,” she shares with such positivity.

For Frances Yu, through her own journey of survival, she has learned the blessing of suffering: “You cannot avoid suffering—it’s your choice to suffer with God, or without God. Suffering shouldn’t be wasted. It’s something you can elevate, and transform into something transcendent. You can offer it up, and use it as a stepping stone to become a better person.”

Amanda Luym and best friend Cacay Moras-Server are proud to join the conversation in any way. “During treatment so much gets taken away from you: your physicality, your ability to even function properly, to move, your body won’t feel like your own. Try to live as well as you can, for as long as you can. Win. I saw cancer as a battle. And I won,” shares Amanda, encouraging other women to fight and not lose hope. 

Also taking their spot in the limelight will be breast cancer survivors Rita Nazareno, Olive Lamasan and MeAnne Solomon. Former Miss World Megan Young, Iza Calzado and Heart Evangelista will also be lending their star power to the cause.

Six of the country’s style visionaries --- Randy Ortiz, Dennis Lustico, Patrice Diaz, Rosanna Ocampo, Mark Bumgarner and Patty Ang ---- will channel their creative vision, to create awareness and raise support for ICanServe Foundation and its advocacy of awareness and early detection.

Their muse’s stories of triumph and endurance will be interpreted through each designer’s collections.

The female designers are undoubtedly thrilled with their newest style challenge. “We put a lot of time and thought into our collections. We hope that through our vision, and our participation, we may help women see beyond the scars, and give them a renewed appreciation of themselves. They are beautiful, strong and courageous. They are remarkable individuals of inspiration,” according to Ang, Diaz and Ocampo.

For the male designers, they agree that breast cancer is “not only a woman’s concern. It is everyone’s responsibility to look after and protect the women in their lives - mother, daughter, sister and wife.” 

Since it was established in 1999, ICanServe Foundation has become one of the biggest and most influential foundations for breast cancer in the Philippines.

Through the Fashion Can Serve fundraising event, ICanServe hopes to raise support for its flagship program, Ating Dibdibin, which was first established in 2007.