Together, We Save Lives
“No woman should lose her life to a disease that can be prevented and treated.”
In every barangay, in every family, there is a mother, a sister, a daughter, or a friend whose smile lights up a room. But too often in the Philippines, that light is dimmed far too soon. Cervical cancer silently claims the lives of thousands of women, second only to breast cancer, which remains the number one killer among Filipino women.
Both diseases can be prevented. Both can be treated. Both can be beaten, if found in time.
The Day Hope Came to 79 Women
On August 9, 2025, hope arrived at JR Borja General Hospital. Seventy-nine women (79), aged 23 to 60, came forward from 16 barangays in the city and two from Talakag, Bukidnon.
Some walked in with quiet fear; others with cautious optimism. All left with something priceless, the power of knowing.
Volunteer Doctors gently performed Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) to detect early signs of cervical cancer. Skilled hands carried out breast examinations to check for the first warning signs of disease. In between, Dr. Maria Orpha Alonsabe of MOPNFI spoke with conviction, her voice breaking through doubt and fear:
“Early detection saves lives. It can save your life.”
Love in Action
Behind this mission were hearts that refused to stand still. Project Chair Nenette Rebolos and Co-chair Bebotte Chu, together with Dir. Wen Raflores, Grace Go, PP & Dir. Bing LA, PP Shirley Thomas Escaño, Pres. Stephanie Caragos, PP Christina Malferrari Jugador, Sec. Jonel Juaneza Tabilla, and PAG Rosalinda Caragos, worked side by side to make the day possible.
We are deeply grateful to the MOPNFI team of 11 doctors whose expertise was matched only by their compassion, to JR Borja Hospital for opening their doors and lending their staff, and to Janjan of MOPNFI for ensuring every detail was cared for.
A Promise We Keep
This was not just a medical mission. It was a promise kept, to the women we serve, to the families who love them, and to the future we fight for.
A promise that no woman should lose her life to a preventable disease.
A promise that Rotary will always be there to protect our communities.
Because together, we save lives, and we will never stop.
