CitySavings recognizes women’s greatness, efforts, and contribution to culture and society, which is why last March 18 and 26, Savings Bank, Inc. (CitySavings) conducted a webinar to raise breast cancer awareness to educators in the country.
As part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs of the company, Project Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness Program for Teachers aims to increase the understanding of breast cancer prevention and early detection to public school teachers.
“A part of the reason why our (breast cancer) cases are high here in the Philippines is the stigma,” said Dr. Amabelle Gerona, an Oncologist based in Cebu City and also the keynote speaker in the webinar, “We want to remove that by educating as many people as possible so that this can be prevented earlier on.”
Program Coordinator of RAFI-EJACC, Ronald de los Reyes, shared how the Cebu battled the ‘Big C’ with the organization. Some of its most popular programs include training on rural health units to screen for cancer, helping patients with mass screenings, and building support groups for people who have undergone them, and community clinics to support the process of the people who have undergone these tests.
Edna Magsoling, an assistant principal and a breast cancer survivor from Bogo City, Cebu, shared her experience with her fellow teachers.
“There is hope! Kailangan ko bigyan ng chance ang sarili ko dahil binigyan ako ng Panginoon ng pangalawang pagkakataon,” said Mary Ann Sacristan –
Bojos, one of the founders of Cebu Pink Paddlers Dragon Boat Team, the first-ever breast cancer survivor dragon boat team in the Philippines. She is also an active member of the iCanServe Foundation’s activities.
This year’s event was held online in partnership with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. – Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (RAFI – EJACC).
As emphasized by Paula Ruelan, AVP – Reputation and Brand Management
Head, “While we have been supporting DepEd through our various CSR initiatives to ensure education continues beyond the classroom walls, another gap that needs to be addressed is our educators’ health and wellness. More Project Pink webinars are lined up for the rest of the year to promote breast cancer awareness and self-care for teachers.”
