Help from Ilonggos abroad

By Limuel S. Celebria

The other day, I received from the US-based Filipino American Cancer Care (FACC) Association the total amount of US$1,240 for my cancer medication (I suffer from Renal Cell Carcinoma Stage IV with pulmonary metastasis).

The assistance was personally handed to me by Leocita Talanas Sauter and her husband. Leocita is an Ilongga who was formerly employed at Iloilo City Hall during the time of Mayors Tuing Herrera and Mansing Malabor. She now operates a venture company, Karahuran, based in Texas.

The FACC aid was a bit unexpected. When I wrote my appeal for help, the association’s season for giving has closed for the year. In fact, it had already identified and published its lucky beneficiaries. Still, I thought about giving it a chance and and pleaded my case.

Luckily, our good friend in Iloilo media, Josie Moralidad Ziman – herself a cancer victim and president and founder of FACC, was there to plead my case.

Founded in 2020, the FACC is a non-stock, non-profit, non-political, charitable and all volunteer-based cancer organization serving the Filipino and Filipino-American population in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia area.

According to their website, filamcancercare.org, “Josie, Josie Moralidad Ziman, is a native of Iloilo City, Philippines, a radio journalist and White House Correspondent for Radio Mindanao Network, Iloilo, Philippines, broadcast host of the radio show “Pilipinas sa Amerika” and staff writer for Manila Mail newspaper in Washington DC. In December of 2017 she met Edward Penaflor Logan, a Filipino-American living in Virginia to interview him regarding his cancer survivorship journey as a Christmas Miracle story of hope, love, faith and family. In September 2018, Josie was diagnosed with breast cancer.”

“The common bond of cancer further strengthened their friendship as survivor’s experience. In 2019, Josie approached Edward about publishing a book to include Edward’s cancer story and others, in a compilation of articles she has written about Filipino-American subjects to celebrate the achievements, underscore the sacrifices, and inspire hope in the community. Josie’s wanted proceeds of the book to go to children with cancer in Iloilo City, Philippines to help families faced with the costs of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.”

Here’s a list of donors provided to me by Josie:

– Pastor Willy and Diane De Jesus $200- FACC Spiritual Advisors, they’re from Mandurriao, Iloilo

– Zenaida Deza Steinhauer – $100- FACC – Chairperson Financial Assistance Committee and Board of Director

– Josie Ziman – $150 (FACC President/Founder)

– Jean and Bernard Fournier- $100 from Montreal. Bernard has a stage 4 Bone Cancer and he was touched by your Facebook post Nong Limuel, that why he asked his wife to contribute. Bernard is my brother-in-law from Montreal, Canada. He’s a French Canadian

– Welda Gejon $50- retired Ilonggo Nurse from New York

– Teodora Andrade -$100- Ilongga Nurse in Virginia

– Vincent Fournier- $20- Bernard’s Son and Josie’s Nephew

– Sonia (Provido) Short – $50 – Former Bombo Reporter now based in Mississippi

– Marilou M Caspe – $50 – Ilongga from Montreal, Canada

– Anonymous – $50 – Ilonggo Nurse from Chicago

– Anonymous Ilongga from New York City- $100 (Josie’s Cousin).

– Jackie Baldomero Lowry – $50- Ilongga Business Owner- She’s originally from Sipalay, Negros Occidental

– Karahuran Ventures – $70 – Owned and Managed by Leocita Talanas Sauter from Texas

– Ena and Oliver Almonares – $100 – Ena used to work at PNA Iloilo, her husband Oliver is a former PMA who rescued Marcia Burnham from Abu Sayyaf

– Tina Tionson-$50- Ilongga Nurse, originally from LaPaz- her father died of Lung Cancer.

My eternal thanks and gratitude to these generous souls.