Wake-uppers:
Scene:
The biggest winner during the opening of the 1st Bohol International Choir
Festival on March 18 was no other than the Bohol Queen of All Media Ardy
Araneta Batoy. I'd enjoyed watching the show with her expertise on emceeing the
event! No need to say more! Salute!
Scene: How to raise an
eyebrow? This factotum on special services (FSS) in the Highest Kingdom of
Choco (HKC) is now suffering from hydrocephalous. “FSS was very down to earth
when FSS was new,” said HKC’s the intruding cupbearer-VRS. “Now FSS feels like
the king in HKC. In fact, FSS has PSG even inside the mall. Nakatungtong ra
gani sa buko-buko sa kabaw Hahahaha”
 |
| Tagbilaran Woman's Club members |
Scene: Catch the Teen Idol
2014 Artista Search in your school: March 21 (Friday), 3 p.m.-6 p.m. at Dr.
Cecilio Putong National High School gym and March 22 (Saturday), 1 p.m.- 3p.m.
at PMI College Main Campus gym.
Scene: A strong call from Tagbilaranan
Woman’s Club: We
call on everyone to support the campaign to observe Wednesday as" no plastic
bag day" and hopefully to eventually expand to everyday of the week. This
initiative will enhance the earth's carrying capacity against pollution. We are enjoining all Tagbilaranons to hang
the 2x2 ft. tarp as seen in this car in front of their residences so people can
be reminded that for a start, let us make Wednesday, a plastic bag free day. It
is only 60 pesos. You can order and get tarp yourself at EBA Printers: Tel no
4123502 or 0918 6029804. Look for Vicvic. Please. Help in the info drive. Our
dumping site in Dampas cannot take anymore of the plastics. Thank you
Tagbilaranons.
***
Atty. Victoriano B. Tirol, Jr., one of Bohol’s great educators, dies
Former DepEd-Western Visayas regional director and University of Bohol President Atty. Victoriano
B. Tirol, Jr. died Friday, March 21, at
St. Luke’s Hospital, according to his family and relatives. His sudden death has
left many in the academe nearly too stunned to speak. They are mourning the
loss of a great educator and leader.
 |
| Atty. Victoriano B. Tirol, Jr. |
As a
lawyer and educator by profession, Atty. Tirol Jr. served as national president
of the Philippine Public School Teacher, Employees Association (PPSTEA) and
initiated the Magna Carta for Public Schools.
In July
2009, Atty. Tirol Jr. was awarded as one of The Outstanding Boholanos around
the World (Tobaw) in the field of education. In his desire to open more avenues
for educational advancement, he founded Cristal e College in Panglao,
Information Computer Institute Bohol and Galeria, a computer school in Quezon
City.
Atty.
Tirol Jr. was a practicing lawyer with three Doctoral Degrees in Philosophy
major in English, Education and Administration. He has also earned six masteral
degrees. He also graduated Master of Arts in Theology, Doctor of Ministry and
Doctor of Divinity. The Confederation of Evangelical Ministries Association of
Bohol Inc. ordained him Evangelical Bishop.
***
Having
known friends who are fighting the Big C, I can feel what US-based socialite
Mikey Gatal and his family are going through when he shares about the condition
of his sister, the 1983 Miss Young Bohol Marcel Gatal-Diego, who battles the
Big C.
“Any
journey down that road is not easy for a family,” says Mikey, holding back
tears.
Marcel
is suffering from breast cancer stage 3, the same one singer-songwriter
Anastacia is a survivor of.
The
American Cancer Society says, “Stage 3 breast cancer is more advanced than
Stage 2, but it is not considered metastatic. For this diagnosis, cancer has not spread
from the breast to organs or other distant sites in the body, but cancer cells
will have traveled to nearby underarm (axillary) lymph nodes, or lodged in
lymph nodes beneath your breastbone (sternum) or even under your collarbone.”
 |
| Marcel Gatal-Diego (Courtesy: Raul Gatal) |
“She’s
in high spirits,” adds Mikey, who will visit Marcel this summer.
VRS
is requesting its readers to pray for Marcel’s speedy recovery. Remember, as
poet Alfred Tennyson said, more things are wrought by prayers than this world
dreams of. Prayer can move mountains.
My Ate Marcel Battles
the Big C
I have been trying to
keep this to myself but I realized that by sharing our pain, people would get
to be more cognizant of breast cancer and how it affects and devastates the
families of its victims
It was only last
December 2013 when I visited Ate Marcel and her family in Manila that I found
out about the Big C. The biopsy results confirmed what she had dreaded ever
since she felt a lump in her chest. The diagnosis was breast cancer stage 3b.
I remember going to
the toilet right after we talked. It was there at that very private area where
I tore up and really cried. After regaining my composure, I went back to the
living room where Ate Marcel, Kuya
Tony and their kids
were gathered.
I remember going out
with the whole family and with younger brother Junjun for some bonding moments.
It was supposed to be a happy occasion for Christmas was approaching and yet
there was that dark cloud of gloom that hovered over us.
 |
| ..
with daughter Katrina after a chemotherapy session. |
That was one sad Christmas reminiscent of the one that we had the year Papa
Rogie passed away.
Yes, my dear Ate
Marcel is facing the biggest battle of her life and we need the power of a
Prayer Brigade as she continues her treatment regimens
Ate Marcel’s last
visit to Bohol was only last January. She insisted in coming home to pay her
last respects to our late uncle “Papa Rey Gatal” before he was to be buried
last January 3. It was a heart-wrenching reunion for Ate Marcel and cousins Ate
Roni and Manoy Rocky who practically grew up together since our respective
houses in Gallares St. were right beside each other.
I couldn’t help but
shed a tear when Ate Marcel was sobbing on Manoy Rocky’s shoulders. Manoy
Rocky, then Tagbilaran City’s Kabataang Barangay Chairman was the one who
insisted that Ate Marcel accept the offer to represent the city in the 1983
Miss Young Bohol Pageant. She followed his advice and the rest is history.
Cancer is such a
treacherous disease. Once it latches onto the cancer patient’s system, it is
irreversible unless there is medical intervention. The malignant tumour results
from the abnormal and uncontrolled division of affected cells
Right now Ate Marcel
has lost her hair as a result of her ongoing chemotherapy. Ate Marcel has
always been a survivor and been a veteran of life’s battles and wars. She has
always been a strong, opinionated and determined woman who never been known to
back out from trials and challenges.
But Ate Marcel can
never do this alone. Let’s rally behind her as she faces the biggest battle of
her life. Give her some words of encouragement and please offer a prayer for
her
Making this public has
been a very difficult decision for us. We could just keep quiet about this but
it would be unfair for family, friends and classmates.
We want to share this
so that everyone would realize that cancer is very real and can happen to
anyone including your loved ones.
(Note: The American Cancer Society (ACS) stresses
the importance of finding breast cancer early.
The goal of screening exams for early breast cancer detection is to find
cancers before they start to cause symptoms.
“Most
doctors feel that early detection tests for breast cancer save thousands of
lives each year,” says ACS’ website. If you have sore, red and itchy nipples,
upper back pain, a change in nipple appearance or size, change in breast size
and pain, lumps or swelling in the armpits, it
is advisable that you contact a doctor as early as possible.)
***
Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at
leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.
