Good morning!

Before anything else, TO ALL OF YOU, thank you VERY MUCH for coming and for attending the 14^th Annual Get-Together of the Cancer Crusaders Club.

I am really really HAPPY to see all of you.

Really really happy to see you are all having a GOOD TIME.

All having an ENJOYABLE TIME.

I saw or sensed that through your laughter and the smiles in your faces.

Through your active participation in the games and interactive activities.

I am really really HAPPY to see that you are all HAPPY, that you are made to be happy by our main facilitators, Ms. Nanette Inventor and Doc Larry, and our other facilitators, by our co-cancer crusaders like Fids Cantara, Joy de Castro, etc.

The most important think that we want to do in our Annual Get-Together of the Cancer Crusaders Club is TO MAKE YOU HAPPY. Right? Nanette, Doc Larry, Fids, and Joy?

We believe that if you are happy, you are HEALTHY.

Remember, healthy means you are in the state of positive physical, mental, and social well-being.

In Tagalog, isn’t a positive well-being the same as being MASAYA? Being HAPPY? Kung masaya kayo, kung happy kayo, healthy na kayo, Malusog na kayo. Wala na kayong sakit! Thus, always stay happy kahit papaano.

Yan ang pinakamalakas na prescription or reseta ko sa inyo.

Kung happy kayo, happy na rin ako. Kasi I have attained the very objective of the Cancer Crusaders Club which I formed 14 years ago.

Mayroon lang akong inaanounce or ibabalita sa inyo tungkol sa Cancer Crusaders Club.

Starting this year, ang Cancer Crusaders Club ay magiging MDH Cancer Crusaders Club na. The objectives will be the same. I will still be around. Beth will still be around. Fids and Joy and the other old timers of the Cancer Crusaders Club will still be around.

Ang kaibahan lang ngayon ay may dagdag ng MDH or Manila Doctors Hospital sa pangalan ng Cancer Crusaders Club. Ang implication nito ay merger – parang merger ng mga bangko tulad ng PCI-Equitable Bank, Metrobank at Asian Bank, etc.

Anong mangyayari kung may merger? Lumalaki ang organization. Hindi ba? Mas malaking pondo, hindi ba? That’s exactly what will happen to the Cancer Crusaders Club. Mas marami na ang ating kasapi – because ang ibang pasyente ng ibang doctor ay kasama na. Mas malaking pondo, mayroon na ang support galing sa Manila Doctors Hospital.

So from hereon, the new name is MDH Cancer Crusaders Club. Ito ang magiging official psychosocial at cancer support group ng Manila Doctors Hospital at ito ay bahagi ng social responsibility program ng Manila Doctors Hospital.

Bago ako magtapos, gusto ko lang pasalamatin ang administration ng Manila Doctors Hospital sa kanilang support. This year, ang magpapakain sa atin lahat ay ang Manila Doctors Hospital. For the past 14 years, Manila Doctors Hospital has allowed us to use its conference room for our annual get-together. Since 1988, dito sa MDH ginaganap ang salu-salo ng Cancer Crusaders Club. Kaya, sapat lang ang bagong pangalan ay MDH Cancer Crusaders Club, di ba?

Salamat kay Sr. Estelle, at iba pa

Also, I like to thank Dr. Elsie Dancel, the chair of MDH Tumor Board, one for having a vision to form an MDH cancer support group and second for cooperating, welcoming and agreeing to the merger.

I also like to thank Joy de Castro for volunteering to make this year’s get-together somehow different and especial.

I also like to thank Ms. Nanette Inventor and Doc Larry for emceeing, facilitating, and making all cancer crusaders happy and healthy.

Marami pa akong pasasalamatan. Fids, Beth, ……. Sa inyong lahat, maraming salamat po and I hope to see all of you again next year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.