How a bottle can help in the battle vs. breast cancer
‘Piso para sa Chemo’
We were totally starstruck when he was crowned Second Prince in GMA’s reality show StarStruck. We were starry-eyed as we watched him tackle one gripping dramatic role after another, snapping up not a few acting awards. And now, the Baguio-born, 28-year-old registered nurse Rocco Nacino plays what could be his most challenging role yet: waging war against breast cancer alongside his mother, Linda Nacino, a breast cancer survivor.
We don’t hear the whirring of TV cameras or anyone shouting “Lights, camera, action!” Instead, a hush falls as the dashing Rocco Nacino, looking dapper in a suit, enters the Velvet Room of Seda Hotel and joins an intimate gathering of women (with a sprinkling of men) here to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Avon Philippines-GMA Network partnership in the fight against breast cancer in the country through the Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer campaign.
As ambasssador of the Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer advocacy, together with fellow Kapuso artist Jennylyn Mercado, Rocco has waged a bruising battle with breast cancer since he was a young boy. “I was only 12 while my younger brother Kyle was only seven, and I was taking my exams for primary school when my mother had breast cancer,” he relates. “We were then living in Singapore, where my dad (Ralph Nacino) worked as an engineer for 10 years and where I studied, too.”
He adds, “It was a hard time for us. I wanted to understand what was happening to my mom and, at the same time, take care of her so I took up Nursing.”
As much as he passionately dreamt of being an actor/performer, Rocco wanted to be a nurse, give care to patients and, in the future, become a doctor. “I really want to be a pediatrician someday,” he muses.
The truth is, there are many doctors in the Nacino clan, which inspired Rocco to tread the same career path. So when he returned to the Philippines, he took up Nursing at Mapua Institute of Technology, took the Nursing Board Exam and became a registered nurse in 2009.
In Rocco’s family, cancer is no stranger. “My mom had cancer, too, and she also had a mastectomy on her right breast,” shares Linda Nacino. “It may be in our genes so I and my five sisters are now more vigilant. My mom had cancer when she was 65 and now, she’s 91. She’s my inspiration.”
She tells her own story of faith, hope, and survival, “I was watching TV lying on my stomach when I felt something hard in my right breast. I was diagnosed in Singapore.”
“After 16 years of battling breast cancer, my mom is still here and she’s stronger than ever. She’s a living testimony that we can beat breast cancer. Kayang-kaya natin labanan ’to,” Rocco is proud to announce to the world.
Rocco was there as Mommy Linda bravely went through 30 days of radiation and six cycles of chemotherapy. She also took oral chemo. “By God’s grace, I did not lose my hair, hindi ako nakalbo,” a grateful Linda says with a long sigh.
Rocco declares, “Because of my mom, I’m here. Because of her teachings, I’m smart in life. Because of her, I’m determined to succeed in life. Because of her, I want to be a doctor.”
Though not a doctor yet, Rocco plays nurse for a day by helping patients at the Breast Cancer Center of the Philippine General Hospital that Avon supports financially. “I help patients with their biopsy, the charting, etc.,” he explains. “For most of them, just going to the clinic is traumatic. Somehow, it feels good for me to ease their anxiety.”
Through the help of Rocco’s fans, who enjoy a good relationship with his mom, “Piso Para Sa Chemo” came to life. “I would buy those bottles from the market and put stickers on them,” says Linda.
You probably couldn’t imagine how an empty bottle of water, with just the photo of mom and son Linda and Rocco on a sticker, could help breast cancer patients. This is no empty boast: “Through our ‘Piso Para Sa Chemo,’ we’ve been able to raise P40,000 to help some indigent patients get their biopsy and buy some of their medicines,” says Linda. “But we’ve barely scratched the surface, we’re just starting. Naiiyak nga ako, the patients are so poor they don’t even have P239 for the biopsy. Even if the surgery is free, they still have to buy their medicines. You can see them lining up as early as 5:30 a.m. And it’s so heartwarming to see the smiles on their faces. With our little help, we motivate them to think na kaya nila to fight.”
Donations to “Piso Para Sa Chemo” just keep pouring in. “We were shocked that some people were putting in as much as P500 and even P1,000,” says a beaming Linda. She happily discloses, “I have distributed more than 200 bottles. People living in Bataan and Cavite, and even those in California, USA, were asking us to send them bottles. People message me through Facebook and I always share Avon Philippines’ I share the fight against breast cancer hashtag.”
Staunchly sharing in this fierce battle versus breast cancer is GMA Network, truly a kapuso. “With God’s help — we always need God’s help — and the continued support of everybody in this room, I am confident that Avon will succeed in this endeavor,” Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, GMA Network chairman/CEO addresses the small gathering.
The good-humored Gozon notes, “Avon and GMA have been partners for 10 years. For some people, that’s really a long time, without quarrel. Because the purpose of the partnership is really worthy. I read somewhere that men can also have breast cancer. But I don’t mind. As I said, Avon is a company for women, but Rocco and I love the company of women. Our mission at GMA is like Avon, but in a different context. Our mission is to enrich Filipinos everywhere but through entertainment, news, and public affairs programs. So, in a way, we are involved in the same objective. Just as we’re well on the way to discovering a vaccine for the Ebola virus, we need companies like Avon which perseveres and dedicates its resources to eradicate breast cancer, the leading killer of Filipino women in the country and possibly of women in the world. We thank Avon for getting GMA on board this laudable campaign, and getting our GMA talents to manifest our corporate value of being a true kapuso.”
Avon Philippines general manager Emie Aguilar-Nierves points out, “This 2015, Avon intensifies its Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer campaign with the theme ‘I Share the Fight Against Breast Cancer.’ ... Avon Philippines and GMA Network believe that there is no greater purpose than to lend our courage, strength, and hope to those who are battling breast cancer and to call on everyone to share in this fight.”
Sharing this fight with Avon and GMA are the Philippine Cancer Society, SM Mall of Asia, SM Cares, UnitedHealth Group, and Ford Philippines.
And the fight rages on.
