Pink Ribbons

Last Friday, I told my wife, Tata, that I'd be joining an advocacy walk the following morning. When Saturday came, I "suddenly" felt tired and told her sheepishly that we maybe should do this thing next year. But because I didn't read the newspaper article like I should, I didn't know that the walk was scheduled at 6pm, not 6am! Tata had been reading The Freeman late Saturday morning when she told me of the correct schedule.

And so we were there, 15 minutes before six, wearing my favorite black, "cancer sucks" tee. We both were waiting beside the La Fortuna Bakeshop, instead on the steps of the Capitol, putting our elbows on the traffic railings, since we didn't know of anyone joining the parade.

You must be wondering what I was doing there, crashing in on a parade for breast cancer awareness. You see, my mother died of breast cancer back in '01 and believe me, I wouldn't want to wish on anyone to go through the three years our family did since my Mom was diagnosed with the disease and until she passed away. I'm not a medical researcher nor am I Lance Armstrong who can gather a few bigwigs to a $1000.00/plate dinner. The best thing I can think of was to join the walk, to throw my support behind the people who are in the frontlines in the battle against this dreaded disease.

The parade was led by the UV drum corps. I told Tata that we'll just take the sidewalk and accompany the parade from there. Maybe she didn't hear me because she pointed to spot between the red shirted CIT students and the white shirted UV students, gesturing to our spot. And so we just inserted ourselves between the two groups and enjoyed the walk with kids waving pink ribbons.

My Mom already knew that there was something wrong with her breast but she just kept it to herself. When she had it examined, it was too late, the cancer had already spread and treatment was beyond the skill of human capability. Now, if there is anything more gut wrenching than seeing your Mom waste away before your eyes from a treatable disease, I don't know what it is.

I finally found out later that evening that the parade was called the, "Annual Moon Walk", a walk for breast cancer awareness led by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., that is to coincide with the full moon. Breast cancer is the number one killer of Filipino women today but early screening and detection can halt it at its tracks.

I never found out what stage the cancer of my Mom was, nor am I interested to find about it today. Never think that breast cancer won't happen to you, your spouse, your Mom, your sisters, your aunts, because chances are, it will. Tell them to see their gynecologist or the barangay health doctors for a check up or to ask them about self-examination. Breast cancer is a killer. Stop it before it gets you or the ones you love.

BACK TO CYCLING

There is a good chance that we will see Ivan Baso and Jan Ullrich back to racing this year. Their respective federations have said that there is no clear proof linking them to doping and unless they will receive additional documents saying otherwise, they will have no choice but to give them back their racing licenses. But despite of its shaky position, the UCI said that it will raise its objections before the Court of Arbitration in Sports to deny Ullrich a license.

I think that The UCI and WADA are trying to outdo each other who the bonehead king is. Going after somebody on the basis of a suspicion is just ridiculous. I hope Ullrich and Basso will sue the UCI and the concerned Spanish authorities down to their last Euros.