City Savings Bank holds Project Pink Forum
A total of 184 selected educators from different Divisions of Central Visayas and Bicol Region participated during City Savings Bank’s Project Pink forum – a signature Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the bank which aims to promote breast cancer awareness and prevention among public school teachers.
Last October 19 – 20, the bank held Project Pink at the Plenary Hall of Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center (EADSC), Cebu in collaboration with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. – Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (RAFI – EJACC) together with the Department of Education (DepEd) which was attended by 115 public school teachers from Region 7. Separately, 69 participants from six divisions and selected offices of Region 5 also attended the forum held in Legazpi City last October 27.
In her opening remarks, CitySavings Reputation Management Head, Paula Viegelmann – Ruelan said “Our country has been identified in Asia as one of the highest incidence rate of breast cancer.This scenario has led City Savings Bank to initiate efforts to look after the welfare of the Filipino public school teachers by providing a venue to educate and raise awareness on prevention and early detection of breast cancer in order to reduce the risk of breast cancer cases among women.”
Meanwhile breast surgeon and advocate from Cebu, Dr. Janice Kanico emphasized that “the risk of women having the said disease becomes higher when they get older which is based on statistical data. 1 out of 68 women can acquire it by age 40 so when you reach this age, yearly mammogram and breast ultrasound is highly recommended.”
On the other hand, RAFI-EJACC’s Program Coordinator, Ronald de los Reyes mentioned that breast cancer is very common with an average incident from 500-600 of women in Cebu Province alone.
Noma Carbonilla, a cancer survivor and one of the recipients of RAFI-EJACC’s medical assistance shared her journey on how she courageously fought the Big C. “At first, I didn’t know I had cancer since there were no initial signs until my family told me that I was losing weight. We just have to trust the Lord and fear nothing about cancer” she said.
Furthermore, Ma. Virgie Daguinsin, a registered nurse in Legazpi City who has been diagnosed with breast cancer gave a talk about the importance of being aware about the disease, “Always go to your physicians for consultation and don’t be afraid of lumps because they are all not cancerous. And, as much as possible have a monthly self – breast examination”, she said
“Project Pink forum has opened my mind about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and I feel honored to be part of it”, as Mayshel Ebogon, a teacher from Omod Elementary School, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, expressed her gratitude to the bank.
A teacher from Sorsogon City Division, Edna Dionglay also extended her appreciation to the bank “The forum was very informative and relevant to us, women since breast cancer cases are very high nowadays. Women must be aware and protect ourselves from breast cancer through early detection”, she said.
CitySavings has always been at the forefront in creating various sustainable programs that impact the lives of public school teachers and the community where it operates.
The attendees were from the divisions of Bohol and Negros Oriental Province, cities of Tagbilaran, Dumaguete, Bayawan, Bais, Tanjay and Guihulngan for Region 7 while other participants came from the divisions of Sorsogon City and Province, cities of Legazpi, Ligao, Tabaco, Iriga and Regional Offices from Region 5.
