Not only have they brought honor to the country and revitalized football in the Philippines without depending so much on the government, we are about to experience their concern for others.
On the third week of this month, there will be a 3-team friendly soccer tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium featuring the Azkals, Kaya Futbol Club, and Global Futbol Club for the benefit of IcanServe Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit organization composed mostly of breast cancer survivors who are into information crusade about breast cancer and the benefits of early detection.
On Sept. 19 (Monday), it’s the Azkals vs KayaFC ; Sept. 21(Wednesday), Azkals vs GlobalFC , and on Sept. 24 (Saturday) KayaFC vs GlobalFC. The two-hour games will start at 3:00 pm.
It will be aired on AKTV Channel 13, the sports channel of TV5 on the same day but delayed telecast.
Ticket prices are “very reasonable,” said Nikoy de Guzman, who is the one in charge for IcanServe of this project.
I asked how IcanServe (although I’m an ovarian cancer survivor, I’m a member of IcanServe)was able to bag the Azkals for a benefit event and Kara Magsanoc Alikpala, founder and guiding spirit of the group said, it was “the Azkals who chose us.”
Fantastic, isn’t it.
Kara said it was the idea of Armand del Rosario, an Azkal who also leads the Kaya team, which has six Azkals in their team.
Del Rosario thought of doing a special with a breast cancer group as a beneficiary. I imagine he has friends or relatives who have suffered with this illness.
Del Rosario talked with Miguel Celdran, whose wife Crisann, is a co-founder of IcanServe. As expected, Miguel brought in Crisann to the conversation with Del Rosario. Thus, we have the September games.
Salute to the Azkals for their generous heart.
As Nikoy said,”This is a great way to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month on October.”
There another big IcanServe event on Sept. 17 at the Regal Hotel in Davao City. It’s the third “Silver Linings”, an educational forum and reunion of breast cancer survivors.
Just like the past “Silver Linings” the Davao event promises interesting, exciting and meaningful sessions. Registration fee is P100 ( includes meals). For inquiries, please call in Manila, 632-636-5578 and in Davao, 6382-221-4467 (Janice) Or visit:www.icanservefoundation.org
IcanServe has gone a long way from the time in 1999 when four breast cancer survivors Kara,Crisann, Becky Fuentes and Bet Lazatin decided to put up a group “to provide a circle of support for women who were newly diagnosed, women on cancer treatments and women in remission navigating through their ‘new normal’ life. “
They saw the importance of women being armed with information in combating this illness which is among the major causes of death in the country.
The group has grown so much. I count about 300 or more every time we have a party at Bibeth O. Siguion-Reyna’s place.
The group is also undertaking a breast cancer early detection program.
Ating Dibdibin or “Take Your Breast Care To Heart”, is a comprehensive community-based breast cancer screening program to address the sad situation in the Philippines where breast cancer cases are usually discovered in the late stages.
Ating Dibdibin, a first of its kind in the country, is the ICanServe Foundation’s response to the fact that the Philippines has the highest incidence of breast cancer in Southeast Asia. It also ranks 9th in the world in breast cancer incidence.
The program aims to save lives by teaching early breast cancer detection techniques through free forums and screening sessions conducted by a medical team and cancer survivors.
For a fairly young sports group, the Azkals seem to be on the right track by participating in worthwhile social projects. More power to the group! May they succeed in all their endeavors!
Off-topic:
Looks like Mark Lapid is getting away with whatever former Tourism Secretary Bertie Lim complained about to President Aquino.
From Dolly Carvajal’s column:
“I paid my Tito Mon Jimenez (the new tourism chief) a surprise visit at the Senate. He was at the office of Senator Lito Lapid while waiting for the tourism department’s budget hearing to start. Mark Lapid was also around.”
http://entertainment.inquirer.net/13367/well-crafted-%E2%80%98thelma%E2%80%99-gets-%E2%80%98a%E2%80%99-rating#_
‘yan ang isang kanser na nananalasa sa ating lipunan – LAPID!
dapat na ‘yang masugpo.
bago pa man dumami ang cancer cells na ‘yan at kumalat, puksain na!
GO Azkals!
Lalong lumakas ang konek ni Mark, s*%#@t!
Si Tito Mon Jimenez naman, bakit si Lito Lapid lang ang kausap mo? You look like cheapy cheapy to me this early. 🙂
PeNoy, hindi mo ba nakikita ang mga nakaharang na balakid sa iyong Tuwid na Daan?
Walisin mo na lalo ‘yang mga hold over at midnight appointees ni nunalisa kahit pa mga kapwa mo kapampangan, aba!
Gusto mo ‘atang magalit ang mga bossing mo, ah.
Kilos na. Now na!
I don’t know them personally but I extend my condolence to James and Phil Younghusband for the passing of their mother who was only 49 years old. Reports said she died of a heart attack. Losing a mother is always painful.
They have a nine year old sister.
Their father has also passed away in UK some years ago.