Tara \t(a)-ra\ as stated in www.thinkbabynames.com as a girl’s name is pronounced TAH-rah. It is of Gaelic and Sanskrit origin, and the meaning of Tara is “hill; star”. Tara in wikipedia is also a goddess in various religions. For EPCALM, Tara is Tara Enrile, 34, a mother of a lovely 4-year old daughter, Kara, and who is an Overseas Foreign Worker (OFW) based in Ichinomiya-shi, Aichi, Japan. Tara’s story and leukemia journey is that of Faith, Hope and Love (as this is Tara’s

Ryan O’Neel Equio, a 34-year old rescuer of the PDRRMC Search and Rescue Team, has been in the forefront of all rescue missions deployed by the local government of Negros Oriental since 2009. Also a rescue volunteer of the ONE RESCUE EMS, Ryan has been helping save lives of victims of calamities, mishaps and accidents of all forms. The years of rescue work and constant exposure to danger and life-risking situations, somehow made Ryan and his fellow rescuers assume the feeling

Michelle Ann Fernandez-Dechavez, writes a plea to the kind-hearted. See her letter below: “… (When) I found out (that) my husband Kitz had leukemia last November 2012, my whole world crumbled. I was 4 months pregnant with a sick husband whom I am married to for only a year. I had to be strong for the both of them, and I did. Despite the financial burden, the help of friends and family saw us through four chemotherapy sessions. I gave birth to our son last April and thought t

“God will sow” as defined by gotquestion.org is the meaning of Jezreel. Jezreel, as further defined in gotquestion.org: “….was a city in the plain or valley of Esdraelon. It was also called the Valley of Jezreel. The Valley of Jezreel is a beautiful and broad valley or plain, stretching from west to east from Mount Carmel and the sea to the Jordan, which it reaches through two arms, between the mountains of Gilboa, Little Hermon, and Tabor; and from south to north from the

Help Save Our Dad! is the battle cry of Rommel Mauricio’s family – Wife Annie (36); and children; Mhelannie (13); Riza Angela (11); and Princess Anne (8), as they journey with their father, Rommel, 35, who was recently diagnosed with Leukemia last 2012. Rommel who is currently unemployed, is from San Simon, San Nicolas, Pampanga. Prior to diagnosis, Rommel was experiencing on and off fever and general body malaise. Upon check-up in the local hospital, the doctor initially

Flight Delayed. Flight delayed: a term often found at the airports, caused by various reasons, i.e. unavailable aircraft, increased airport traffic, poor weather conditions, etc. Flight delays most often cause inconvenience on the part of the passengers due to missed plans and schedules, whether business-related or personal. Paulo found his “life flight” being delayed by a discovery at the hospital. Paulo Luces, 28 year old engineer, was diagnosed with AML (Acute Myelogeno

Rene Macalalad’s hope rests on God. He thanks and praises Him for his new trial, because now, Rene finds reason and purpose in Life: to help other Leukemia patients who are suffering the same fate, by giving strength and encouragement; and to fellow farmers (Rene being an agriculturist) to provide awareness on the dangers of using chemicals (i.e. fertilizers) on fruits and vegetables. Rene, 25 years old, is one of the latest patients that has approached EPCALM for assistance

Just when Rovil was ready and prepared to face life in full bloom, her career has been nipped in the bud by Leukemia. Let us journey with Rovil as she battles with this dreaded disease, and pray for her eventual recovery. Read below Rovil’s write-up: “….I’m Rovil Villas, 22 years old. I just passed the nursing licensure exam last year. While waiting for the result, I worked as a call center agent. It was May 2012 when I was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

“...Life will knock us down, but we can choose whether or not to get back up...” – Mr. Han (Karate Kid - 2010) Nothing is impossible – even the most unlikely thing is bound to happen in our lives. It may break and knock us down, but one thing is for sure God will surely help us overcome the battle and will use others as instruments to guide us. God won’t give up on us, so there’s no reason for us to retreat. And that’s what Mischelle Cuajotor, a Leukemia patient, had shown u

Last January 2011, Arlene Danugo Bisamos, married to Erwin Bisamos (33), residing in Blk 28 LRT, Barangay Gregoria de Jesus, GMA, Cavite, was admitted to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), to give birth to her fourth child. Arlene, a 29 year old mother of 3 girls ages 14 (Erleen), 12 (Cassandra Lee) and 3 (Sophia Ezra), was undergoing regular laboratory examinations, due to frequent hematuria during pregnancy. Upon evaluation of the test results though, Arlene was dia

Not many will look back to the period of their early twenties and see a time heavy with medical trials. Our friend, Ryan, will belong to such minority, as he has many somber remembrances in his young adulthood. As I entered the hospital to visit a newly diagnosed leukemia patient together with his parents, I couldn’t help but come to the stark realization that many cannot come even close to saying they have been through so much at his age. In 2008, at the age of 17, Ryan ex

Glenn Mayo is a 36 year old OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) who has been diagnosed with meningitis and AML (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia) for well over a year now. Only this December did a close friend find and connect with EPCALM to start assisting his family in what ways we can.Glenn Mayo is a 36 year old OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) who has been diagnosed with meningitis and AML (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia) for well over a year now. Only this December did a close friend f

Jessel with brother Manuel (left) and EPCALM Executive Director Cesar Dumogho (center) As soon as Manuel Dancel found out that his sister, Jessel Dancel Hsu was diagnosed to have leukemia, he wasted no time in searching for avenues of help and cure for his beloved sister. When one gets diagnosed with a dreaded disease, the sick gets strength from the love of family manifested by the way the closely knit Filipino family is drawn even closer together to do everything they can a

Gladys Abano, 28 years old, married, first consulted doctors at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) last November 2010 due to easy fatiguability and pallor. After testing, Gladys was found to have a decreased hemoglobin count, thus blood transfusions were recommended. But due to persistent and recurrent signs and symptoms, work-ups were done, where Gladys underwent bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. Results of the work-ups revealed that Gladys has Acute Myelogenous Leukem

Exactly 16 days ago, I was diagnosed with Leukemia. Despite all the tests, medications, complications and even the first chemotherapy I recently went through, the thought of having Leukemia hasn’t really sunk in yet. Everything just happened so quickly. Cliché as it sounds, that’s how it was literally for me. When the diagnosis was disclosed to me, I saw my life slowly crumble right in front of me. But I knew I had to look strong for my family so I kept it all inside. Perhaps

Anna Carmela Tria Kho, 22 years old, has been recently diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) last March 16, 2011. Anna Carmela was referred to doctors for evaluation of Pancytopenia, a medical condition in which there is a reduction in the number of red and white blood cells, as well as platelets. Her physical appearance upon examination revealed marked pallor. No organomegaly (abnormal enlargement of organs) was observed though at the time of the examination. A

Johnel is the eldest of six siblings of Elena Manongsong and Dominador Candava, born on March 8, 1970 in Occidental Mindoro where he spent his early years and finished his elementary and high school education. As a child, Johnel dreamed of becoming a doctor so he ventured out of his hometown to take up BS Medical Technology as his premed course at the Manila Central University. His steadfastness and diligence in every task given him was recognized by the two hospitals where h

Karen Flores Pajarillaga (one on the left), 33, has been diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) last March/April 2010. At that time she worked at Imperial Palace hotel in Cebu as an assistant sales manager. She was happy with her work and has been working in Cebu for 5-6 years. Everything was quite ok and she came home to Paranaque, Philippines about thrice a year. Last April, though, when she went home, her family noticed that she lost weight. She then confided to

Maria Ella Regondola-Cabanlet, wife of Stephen Cabanlet (a Philippine Marine Officer), was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), Baguio City, Philippines. A sample of her biopsy was sent to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), Quezon City and confirmation was given regarding her diagnosis. She was confined at BGHMC for her first cycle of Chemotherapy last September 19, 2009. Unluckily, her co