A Salute to Brave Women

 It was yet another comforting afternoon for breast cancer patients and survivors when they were treated to a pampering session that included a makeover (make-up), facial care and manicure, pedicure/foot spa – all for free, using the products sold in one of the country’s leading shopping hub, Rustan’s.  

The Rustan’s Essenses Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit organization that aims to make an impact in the lives of Filipino women, once again extended its helping hand during the Look Good, Feel Good Workshop – an annual workshop that pampers and lifts up the spirit of cancer survivors with beauty care, making them feel good about themselves despite the struggle in overcoming breast cancer.

After a successful Cebu launching last year, the workshop strikes for the second time – this time armed with more pampering treatments: manicure/pedicure/foot spa sessions. The foundation’s Health & Well-being Committee Chair Luisa “Isa” Lorenzo underscores the foundation’s main goal that focuses on helping women diagnosed with breast cancer gain back their confidence – taking control of their lives again. Lorenzo has high hopes that these women will gain the intangible feeling of being physically and psychologically beautiful, a priceless feeling at that. Lorenzo emphasized that the foundation is basically imparting early breast cancer detection and vital information on breast cancer. The foundation believes that it is through awareness that one can skip the chance in acquiring this killer disease. 

The survivors who sat on the make-over seat were lucky to have a free make-up from one of Cebu’s well-known maquillage artists, Jesse Glova. “It feels good to make people look beautiful. When you put on make-up, you don’t feel insecure considering that you’re battling an illness. Make-up adds color to your face…it lightens up the face. I advice that in order not to feel insecure, wear make-up,” relates Glova. Rustan’s maquillage icon Winston Abregonda was equally in demand during the workshop. The survivors were given total pampering experience, not to mention Christian Dior cosmetics were used during the mini-facial and make-up sessions.

After being under the prowess of Glova, Mitzi Eumague (29 years old), shared she feels better with make-up on. A native of Oriental Negros, Mitzi came to the workshop with hopes to feel good since she was preparing herself for her 4th cycle treatment last September 20. Eumague was diagnosed last February 5. In one way or another, the workshop gave her an idea on the importance of make-up in a woman’s life. A sweet smile is evident on her face when Glova finished the makeover. According to Eumague, life must go on and as for her she continues to strive hard to become a registered nurse. On the other hand, Pea Eviota (41) feels fabulous when the make-up session with Abregonda finished. With her wig on, Eviota still feels she’s beautiful. Her enthusiasm lights up her whole aura giving an impression that despite the struggle, she can certainly sing, “I Will Survive.” As a married woman with one daughter, Eviota shakes off negative vibes by just wearing a smile, always. 

One of the breast cancer support groups who took part on the workshop was the Can With God. Founded in the year 1998, Can With God is a breast cancer support group that helps mainly on indigent cancer patients – patients mostly from the towns of Cebu. They provide for the expenses for mammogram, biopsy and mastectomy. The organization has tied up with the Cebu Breast Clinic of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center with Drs. Signan and Ligo doing the operations for free. They source their funds from monthly or yearly donations given by companies and concerned individuals.  Micheline “Chica” Farrarons of Can With God relates that the organization envisions to put up a “Halfway House” for patients who come to the city for check-ups and medications, who don’t have relatives where they can stay for a while…who don’t have anywhere to go. This Halfway House Project aims to provide accommodation and free meals for indigent patients who want to be treated in the city.

Can With God is scouting for a lot where they can build the halfway house. “It’s so sad to see that some of the patients who don’t have relatives in the city sleep in streets. As a pioneer breast cancer support group in Cebu, we (Can With God members) pay it forward. It’s our way of saying ‘thank you’ to God for carrying us through breast cancer,” exhorts Farrarons. Can With God is composed of 10 active members who are also cancer survivors. Farrarons added that the group also does counseling and home visitation to patients to console and lift up their spirits. “When you get sick, you should strengthen your spiritual life. Get closer to God. Then if you are strong in the spirit, the ‘physical’ will follow,” concluded Farrarons. (To those who wish to join Can With God in their advocacy, one may call them at tel. no. 254 8678, look for Marina.)

Twenty-five breast cancer survivors were given the pampering they deserve that day. The event was also in cooperation with I Can Serve Foundation.

For every P500 worth of purchase at Rustan’s Essenses and its cosmetics and toiletries section, P1 goes to the Essenses Foundation and directly benefits women-oriented programs. Other foundation projects under the Health & Well-being committee is the Cervical Cancer Prevention awareness and its vaccination awareness, too. Self-breast Exam hangers are also available for free. The foundation aims to be accredited with the American Cancer Society, hopefully. 

This kind of workshop is running for two years now in Manila and in Cebu. Every month, Manila workshops are conducted giving more chances to cancer survivors to participate at the same time to look good and feel good.

About Rustan’s Essenses Foundation

Rustan’s Essenses Foundation aims to play a meaningful role in the empowerment of the Filipino women through education on total wellness, and information on women’s rights and privileges as important members of society and the country, through involvement in other socio-economic projects that will push forward the status of women in the Philippines. It was organized, and is led by women, for women.

Since its launch, the Foundation has been highly involved in a number of projects. Mrs. Kathleen “Maymay” Lior-Lichtenstein (President, Essenses Foundation) explains: “This is a working Foundation composed of dedicated and accomplished women who steered the first two years to a variety of causes, ranging from the treatment of cancer patients to organizing feel good workshops for cancer survivors, to assistance in livelihood projects and the printing and distribution of a primer on women’s rights, and setting up projects in the fields of education and the arts.”