Manila, Philippines

What an incredible experience it was to co-facilitate IRFL training in my home country, the Philippines.   Aug. 27-29, 2009, Iris and I facilitated a basic International Relay for Life training for the Philippine Cancer Society in Manila. In attendance were a diverse group of 30 volunteers ranging from doctors, teachers, and government employees, social workers, including 11 survivors from all over Metro Manila.

We approached our training with the Philippine culture attitudes in mind. This training was built around IRFL standards and the 6 D’s of Relay.  Our strategy was to bring it down to reality and allow our participants to face any possible challenges. By afternoon of the first day, they learned what relay is and why they relay as well as identify the committees they needed and realized they have all the possibilities of recruiting several teams in each of their own communities. Training was interactive encouraging participants to actively think through what was needed to have a successful event. On the last day of training, Iris and I modeled the core components of an actual relay.  There were two poignant moments for me; 1) Honoring the survivors in attendance – survivors bravely and openly stood up in front of the group to acknowledge they were cancer survivors.  The survivors were each presented with a survivor medal, which they proudly and emotionally accepted; and 2) Luminaria ceremony.  In a reverently dark room, Iris and I presented “The Empty Table” followed by the lighting of luminaries with the names of the survivors.  “Amazing Grace” in bagpipes played in the background as “Each Candle Has a Name” was read.  It was very simple, basic and short but it sure brought home the point. It was very emotional for all of us.

The volunteers present at this training will be the leaders and planners for the Philippine Cancer Society’s Relay For Life event this coming Dec. 4-5. Each one now knows that they too can make a difference.  Since our training, we have been receiving communications from their event chair asking questions, clarifications and sharing his ideas.  Everyone is excitedly anticipating a successful Relay For Life in Manila.

Thanks to the initiative of the American Cancer Society’s International Relay For Life and the Philippine Cancer Society, the Filipinos now have an opportunity to take baby steps toward cancer education, patient navigation, patient services and ultimately save lives.  The Philippines is made up of over 7,000 islands so communication is a challenge.  Relay For Life has the potential to fight cancer throughout the Philippine islands and give its citizens a chance to save lives and give hope to those battling cancer.  The numbers according to their CEO and oncologist, Dr. Kelly Salvador, is not good.  1 in every 9 will be diagnosed with cancer.  Worst, 1 dies of cancer every 15 minutes in the Philippines.  For this country, this is truly going to be a Relay to give hope and save lives.