EPCALM News Online

EDITOR’S NOTE

Challenging and exciting can best describe the year 2022. For us at EPCALM, we endeavored to continue our programs and services for our patients and their families, despite the setbacks and limitations brought about by the pandemic. Coping with various constraints at hand, we did what we could. And by the latter part of the year that was, when the

so-called “new normal” transitioned to the “better normal,” and inspired by the support of partners and new allies, EPCALM managed to come up with milestone accomplishments at year’s end.

 

To begin another year ahead of us, we bring you this maiden issue of EPCALM News Online – a compila-on of events and activities that transpired during the last quarter of 2022. Star-ng with this issue, we hope to provide you with quarterly news updates on the Founda-on’s programs and projects.

 

As we respond to God’s leading, EPCALM remains steadfast in its commitment to provide personalized services to our patients and their families, as they journey toward wholeness. We also take this opportunity to thank one and all for your unstinting support through the years to EPCALM – the Philippines’ first and only non-government organization for adult leukemia patients.

 

EPCALM Website Has a New Look The EPCALM website now sports a fresh look! Visit us at www.epcalmfoundation.org. Please note that the former EPCALM website (www.epcalm.org) will be redirected to the new website domain. The new and improved website features a dynamic main page design, and a real time chat box. Special sections will also be posted shortly, including our maiden issue of the quarterly EPCALM News Online, our EPCALM Annual Reports

(this section will be available for EPCALM General Membership only); and the Orange Calendar, where EPCALM events and activities will be posted. READ MORE… hEps:// www.epcalmfoundation.org/post/epcalm-website-has-a-new-look

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EPCALM Serviced Patients Now at 75 Since EPCALM was founded 17 years ago (on 12 May 2005; and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 29 December 2009), it has serviced about 342 adult leukemia patients from all over the Philippines, and even some outside the country. From October to December 2022, EPCALM registered a total of 75 serviced patients. READ MORE… hEps://www.epcalmfoundation.org/post/epcalmserviced-patients-now-at-75

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EPCALM House Blessed EPCALM finally has a “safe haven”, which is aptly called The EPCALM House. Located at 23, 13th Street, Barangay Damayan Lagi in New Manila, Quezon City, it is envisioned as a “place of solace” for EPCALMserviced patients and their families. A house blessing and dedication was done on 31 October 2022, officiated by Rev. Carlos dela Cruz, Senior Pastor of Ellinwood Malate Church (EMC); EMC is a partner church of EPCALM. READ MORE…hEps://www.epcalmfoundation.org/post/epcalm-house-blessed

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EPCALM Patients Receive Chemo Meds Recognizing the high cost of chemotherapy drugs, and the increasing health care expenses of adult leukemia patients, EPCALM, under its Medical Service Arm, assisted serviced patients through the provision of prescribed oral chemotherapy drugs and maintenance medicines in 2022. The cancer medicines were released in two batches, after prior screening and submission of prescriptions issued by the patients’ respective oncologists. READ MORE…hEps://www.epcalmfoundation.org/post/epcalmpatients-receive-chemo-meds

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‘Hope Packs’ distributed to patients, families At the height of the pandemic in 2020, when mobility was limited because of a government-imposed nationwide lockdown, EPCALM distributed Hope Packs to the homes of serviced patients and their families. These packs contained basic commodities such as rice, easy-open canned goods, other basic commodities, as well as hygiene essentials. This was a purposive move to assist the patients in their domestic needs, in light of the pandemic. The distribution of the Hope Packs continued even when government eased mandatory lockdown last year. READ MORE… hEps://www.epcalmfoundation.org/ post/hope-packs-distributed-to-patients-families

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EPCALM Serviced Patients Now at 75 Since EPCALM was founded 17 years ago (on 12 May 2005; and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 29 December 2009), it has serviced about 342 adult leukemia patients from all over the Philippines, and even some outside the country. From October to December 2022, EPCALM registered a total of 75 serviced patients. READ MORE…hEps://www.epcalmfoundation.org/post/epcalmserviced-patients-now-at-75

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Help Save a Life; Be an EPCALM Donor! Cancer remains a national health priority in the Philippines, with significant implications for individuals, families, communities, and the health system in general. Our pa-ents, and their families, need your help. You can do your part to help save a life. How? Be an EPCALM Donor, and you can significantly contribute to their recovery. No amount is too small or too big. Your personal dona-on will go a long way to help fund the programs and services offered by EPCALM, including the purchase of life-saving chemotherapy drugs and maintenance medicines. READ MORE…hEps://www.epcalmfounda-on.org/post/help-save-alife-be-an-epcalm-donor

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EPCALM Patients Join CAREWELL Wellness Activities To complement conventional medicine in addressing physical and emotional issues, EPCALM-serviced patients attended some wellness activities offered weekly by our new partner organization, The Cancer Resource and Wellness (CAREWELL) Community. According to CAREWELL Executive Director, Oliver Calasanz, these activities are geared toward helping people with cancer become more positive and engaged in their fight for recovery, enhancing their health and wellness in a holistic manner. READ MORE… hEps://www.epcalmfoundation.org/post/epcalm-patients-join-carewell-wellness-activities

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CML Patient’s Small Business Helps Him Cope with Challenges Our featured patient for this maiden issue of EPCALM News Online is John Lerick Otazu, 23. A serviced patient of EPCALM since 2020, John Lerick has been diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML). Presently, he is on oral chemotherapy and steroids medication. The second of four siblings, he graduated from the San Jose Elementary School in Rizal Province, and thereaher went to the San Jose

National High School also in Rizal. READ MORE… hEps://www.epcalmfoundation.org/post/cml-patient-ssmall-business-helps-him-cope-with-challenges

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EPCALM Holds Weekly Family Church Bible Fellowship In line with the Spiritual Care Service Arm of EPCALM, a “family church” Bible fellowship is being conducted every Friday at 7:30 p.m., to enrich the spiritual growth, and help in the faith journey of serviced patients, their families, as well as supporters, partners, and volunteers. In 2022, the Book of John was studied, led by clergymen and volunteer lay leaders. READ MORE…hEps://www.epcalmfoundation.org/post/epcalm-holds-weekly-family-church-biblefellowship

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EPCALM Holds Christmas Fellowship for Patients, Families EPCALM patients and their families were treated to a day-long Christmas Fellowship on 10 December 2022 at the EPCALM House in Quezon City. Fun and games, gift-giving, raffle prizes, a talent showcase, group singing, sharing of leukemia journey, prayer time, and lunch fellowship were some of the highlights of this holiday activity. This was the first -me for the patients and their families to gather in person after the pandemic. Those who were not able attend were online, and viewed the fellowship livestreamed through Zoom. READ MORE…hEps://www.epcalmfoundation.org/post/epcalm-holdschristmas-fellowship-for-patients-families

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EPCALM Annual General Assembly Held at EH The Annual EPCALM General Assembly was conducted on 26 November 2022 at the EPCALM House (EH), attended by the Friends of EPCALM – composed of advocates, families of deceased

patients, supporters and partners, as well as regular EPCALM Members, who were eager to personally meet other leukemia warriors after more than two years of only seeing them virtually through video conferences. READ MORE… hEps://www.epcalmfoundation.org/post/epcalm-annual-general-assembly-held-at-eh

 

EPCALM BOT Meets for FY 2022-2023 Plans The Board of Trustees (BOT) of the EPCALM Adult Leukemia Foundation of the Philippines conducted its first meeting on 26 November 2022 at the EPCALM House in Quezon City to officially begin Fiscal Year 2022-2023, and map out strategic plans for its program ministries. READ MORE…hEps:// www.epcalmfoundation.org/post/epcalm-bot-meets-for-fy-2022-2023-plans

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