‘Pink Tent’ gathers crowd in fight vs. breast cancer

IN line with the celebration of October as Breast Cancer Awareness month, people from all walks of life joined the fight against the disease in the Pink Tent in Oakridge Pavilion, A.S. Fortuna St., Mandaue City, last Oct. 22.

With pink outfits and accessories such as ribbons and turbans, more than a hundred people participated in the one day pre-Christmas bazaar. From 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., the event featured a variety of stands and stalls.

For only P50 as entrance fee, participants weren’t only able to help fund mammograms for indigent women, they were also able to participate in a Zumba fitness exercise, enjoy organic food and drinks, try out herbal products, shop for shirts, dresses and shoes, scavenge for aesthetic gift items, appreciate and purchase art from local artists and patronize Filipino-made products and handicrafts.

Cynthia Chico, one of the participants in the event, said that Pink Tent is a “great way to help uplift their (cancer patients) self esteem.”

She said that what made her decide to take part in the event was the thought of helping cancer patients appreciate life even with their condition.

“They will be given more hope (through this event)”, she said.

ICanServe Foundation Inc., the foundation behind the event, advocates for early breast cancer detection through high impact information campaign and community-based screening programs.

The Pink Tent is one of their fund-raising initiatives together with Rotary and Oakridge Business Park. 

“Early detection is our sure protection,” said Fely Serafin-Atienza, head organizer of the Pink Tent event. Serafin-Atienza had been diagnosed with stage one breast cancer in the past and has won the fight for the past 17 years.

Serafin-Atienza said she was inspired to join the event to show people how important cancer awareness and prevention is.

She said that if it weren’t for early detection and diagnosis of her cancer, it could have been too late to remedy and cure it.

In the past, breast cancer has been regarded as a disease that immediately means death, she said. She said breast cancer patients hid and shut themselves off from society.

The “Pink Tent,” which was established in 2012, is one with cancer survivors in fulfilling its goal to boost cancer patients’ morale. Stacey Marie S. Baladya, UP Mass Com2