Celso reaffirms support to anti-breast cancer drive
Mayor Celso Lobregat urges the residents to continuously support the anti-breast cancer campaign during the Pink October Walk program Tuesday at the grandstand. Listening intently are Congresspersons Beng Climaco and Erbie Fabian, Councilor Lilia Nuño, City Health Officer Rodel Agbulos and members of the GAD focal committee. (JOEY BAUTISTA)
Mayor Celso Lobregat has urged residents to continue to support the advocacy against breast cancer and to promote the importance of early detection.
This, as the city government through the Gender and Development Focal Committee yesterday morning spearheaded the Pink October Walk, a fund raising drive intended to help breast cancer patients in the city.
Now on its third year, yesterday’s Pink October Walk formed part of the 2009 Zamboanga Hermosa Festival. The campaign is in partnership with the Tzu Chi Foundation with the overall goal of helping alleviate the plight of breast cancer patients including breast cancer survivors.
The mayor, whose own sister, Ditos is suffering from breast cancer, stressed that early detection helps prevent the occurrence of the disease. “Faith in the Lord and prayers are also very important.”
He thanked the participants to the Walk and all those who continuously support the anti-breast campaign. He likewise reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promote and protect the health of the constituents, ensure their overall development, continue implementing medical and health programs and provide medical and health services especially to the underprivileged.
The Pink October Walk was participated by the different government and non-government agencies including schools and women groups.
Congresspersons Beng Climaco of District I and Erbie Fabian of District II graced the activity as show of support to the anti-breast campaign. Climaco pledged to help construct the Breast Cancer Center at the Zamboanga City Medical Center by allocating at least P10 million from her priority development fund. Fabian likewise expressed support to the project and gave P5,000 as his share to the fund raising campaign.
Lobregat donated P10,000 and Councilor Cesar Iturralde gave P5,000. The Golden Haven Memorial Park, owned by Senator Manny Villar also contributed P10,000.
Initially the Pink October Walk netted some P52,000. The campaign will continue until tonight during the Cena de Esperanza spearheaded by Councilor Lilia Nuño and the GAD Focal Committee at the Convention Center of the Garden Orchid Hotel.
The proceeds from the fund raising drive will be turned over to the Tzu Chi Foundation, a non-government organization that will implement projects and programs aimed to eliminate breast cancer.
Councilor Lilia Nuño, who organized the Walk in coordination with Councilor Lynet Abarro, chair of the Council committee on women, urged all sectors to help support the anti-breast cancer campaign and help ameliorate the plight of breast cancer patients.
Other councilors who participated in the walk and in the program that followed at the Joaquin Enriquez Sports Complex were Rudy Lim, Rey Candido, Gerky Valesco and Cesar Iturralde.
Two breast cancer survivors—Bernardita Gallardo and Eloisa Abdullah, during the program gave their testimonies on how they coped in their battle against the disease. (Sheila Covarrubias)