The Rotary Balita no. 736 (December 24, 1953).

It is generally admitted that crusades can and do take many and varied forms but end in only one of two ways. They either thrive, gain momentum and achieve their purpose, or they lead brief lives and die a sudden death - out of sheer boredom. When Rotary adopted the Cancer Project, it actually began a crusade against Cancer - that crafty killer whose biggest weapons are mass ignorance and fear. Past President "Hans" and his Cancer Committee decided to start the ball rolling at once with a widespread propaganda campaign. Responding to Rotary's appeal, all local media cooperated in full. In very little time, the word cancer - heretofore spoken sotto voce - suddenly rang out in continuous radio spots, was frankly discussed in programs over the air, was printed boldly in all major publications and literally dragged out of the dark into the open. To newspaper readers and radio listeners all over the Philippines, cancer had become a byword after a period of less than five months. By all standards, the Cancer Project had been a success, With the turn-over of administration into Presi dent "Danding's" hands, Rotary could have dropped out of the crusade. It had started the ball rolling. It had done its duty. It had, in a manner of speak. ing, "planted the seed of curiosity", the nurturing of whose growth properly belonged to other hands than those of Rotary. But Rotary's motto of "Service Above Self" did not permit such an attitude. Rotary could not in all honesty let its propaganda campaign go to waste. In the official program of activities for this year, President "Danding" and his Board of Directors created a Special Committee on Cancer, so the crusade went on. As of today, the Cancer Project has entered and began the second phase of its Cancer-Consciousness Campaign. It has reached the stage where, like any other war, an "army" has become imperative. To acquire this army, the present Committee has launched a series of Educational Lectures preceded by a five-day Cancer Exhibit and Sound-Color Movies on Cancer. This five-day program is worked out on a basic appeal to college and university students whose educational background make them ideal "bridges" - young and active men and women through whom Rotary's cancer information will reach the hundreds of thousands of other men and women all over the country who -because of ignorance and fear - are doomed to die of Cancer. The five-day exhibit is composed of materials geared to the university. student's mind, the better to capture his curiosity. and arouse his interest. Informative pamphlets and handbills containing important facts about cancer are distributed to students on the opening day of the exhibit and after the movies and. lecture. All these materials are written in Iayman's language for obvious reasons. The lectures stress, not the medical aspect of cancer, but the urgency of a periodic check-up because only such a periodic check-up will reveal the presence of cancer. In other words, the campaign now tries to put fear against fear with the warning that "Later may be too late..." This plan to win the support of a "student army" was discussed at a previous luncheon-conference at which the heads of nine leading universities pledged to Rotary their full cooperation and support. On September 22, 1953, Dr. Lillian Gilbreth, internationally known efficiency expert, formally opened the Cancer Exhibit at 5:00 in the afternoon. Rotary's "Gene" Puyat represented President "Danding" at the opening ceremonies which was followed by a Tea Party with F.E.U. president "Teddy" Evangelista as host. (See Balita, Oct. 8, 1953). The affair was completely covered by the press and by the Manila Times-Daily Mirror newsreel man. While no official notice has yet been. given as to the release date of said newsreel, arrangements have been made requesting theater owners to do their bit for cancer by releasing these newsreel shots to all movie circuits possible. On September 24th, through the courtesy of Mr. Jerome Novick of the U.S. Embassy's Movies Division, the Rotary Cancer Exhibit gave a two-hour showing of technicolor-sound movies on Cancer at the P. E. U. Auditorium. Arrangements have been made to include this movie showing as part of the program during Cancer Week at each university. On September 25th, a lecture was held at the same place with Mrs. John P. Clarkin, wife of the consul for Ireland, as special guest speaker. The committee makes grateful acknowledgment of Mrs. Clarkin's public spirit in breaking all precedents and taboos by speaking of her experience as cancer patient. Other speakers during the evening were President "Danding", who explained Rotary's aim in the drive and the special role students could play in it to make the campaign a success; and "Oscar" Jacinto, who spoke on the urgency of early diagnosis of cancer. On December 2, 1953, the same exhibit was shown at the U.S.T. with Rocky Marciano, world's heavy. weight champion, cutting the ribbon. At the lecture which was given by Dr. A. Gisbert, assistant dean ed the U. S. T. college of Medicine, Fr. Regent J. Diaz, O. P. pledged the university's support and announced the establishment of a complete Cancer Clinic for both charity and pay patients at the U. S. T. Hospital. This detection, diagnostic and treatment center, will be formally opened in January, 1954. On December 10, 1953, the Philippine Federation of Private Medical Practitioners, through its president, Dr. R. Angeles, invited Rotary to participate at its annual convention. Rotary's Cancer Exhibit was given center space at the Federation's Commercial Exhibit held in the U. S. T. Gym. Health Secretary J. Salcedo cut the ribbon and with conventionists toured the booths. Commercial firms cooperated by featuring the Look-Out-For-Cancer theme. Rotary's exhibit included a section on cancer drugs and surgical apparatus. On Dec. 12, at the medical conference of the PFPMP, a resolution was passed pledging the Federation's support to Rotary's Cancer Project. The formal resolution was drawn up on parchment paper and the document officially presented to Rotary's President "Danding". This support actually means that Rotary's campaign will branch out to every point in the Philippines where one member of the Federation practices his profession. The Cancer Committee is preparing suitable material in the way of literature for doctors to act as a reminder for each of them to carry on the campaign for Cancer-Consciousness and Early Detection. From Rotarian "Pepe" Fores, communication has been received regarding official support of Rotary's Cancer Campaign from the St. Luke's Cancer Clinic. It will be noted that every effort has been made to attract the support of established organizations with whom permanent contact can be kept. Only through such organizations can Rotary achieve the purpose for which the Cancer Project has been created. Future plans which depend on how long Rotary will sponsor this worthy cause include lobbying for the passage of a Cancer Bill that will assure government support and make possible the actual establishment and operation of Cancer Detection Centers at strategic points in the Islands. Past President "Hans" has promised to spearhead this plan. In the meantime, "Peg" Green has offered to gather leading doctors at a Squibb luncheon for the purpose of discussing the first steps towards working on a suitable Cancer Bill that will take care of insuring the implementation of a national war against cancer. It is the hope of the present Cancer Committee that sometime in the future, through Rotary's initiative in sponsoring this fight, the Philippines will have licked - in a measure - this No. 3. killer of human lives.