Good nutrition powers the body, giving it the nutrients needed for a healthy brain, strong muscles, sturdy bones, active nerves, glowing skin, smooth circulation, and a strong immune system.
The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. through its health unit, Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (RAFI EJACC) initiated a project called Dasig, which aims to provide cancer care through education & advocacy, treatment & survivorship, and psychosocial support. Among the project’s activities is: KanServe Meals with Chef B.R., which provided psychosocial support to 15 cancer patients and their guardians with an afternoon of cooking and inspiration.
The event held at Bakers Avenue, Cebu City, offered its cancer patients an opportunity to learn nutritious recipes and practical cooking tips that would inspire them to maintain a healthy and enjoyable diet in the process of their treatment and survivorship journey. One of the activity’s main objectives was to provide these patients with psychosocial support through an opportunity to talk and mingle with other patients.
Tranquilina Amistad or Linlin, was comforted and inspired by the activity. “I cried when they shared their thoughts [other patient participants] because it helps me a lot to cope with what I have experienced. I am going through a lot, and I feel like a handicap at home because I can’t do basic chores considering that I am a very hands-on parent, and I have so many limitations now. I’m happy for this kind of opportunity that EJACC is offering for their cancer patients,” Linlin expressed.
Kanserve Meals with Chef B.R. wouldn’t be possible without its speaker Chef Bonifacio Ramo, a well-known chef, and a cancer survivor himself. This collaboration affirms RAFI EJACC’s belief that integration of medical support and other aspects of care through community support and education can spark hope and demonstrate resilience among the participants.
Chef B.R. also shared his personal battle with cancer and emphasized his commitment to highlighting the importance of nutrition and supporting your body throughout the entire journey.
“The diet that we have while we are having our chemotherapy is very crucial to how fast the healing or the therapy is going to be. It’s not just a one prong attack at all. We ourselves, the patients, or the family, must make sure that the food that we are putting into our bodies is making sure that it will not worsen, or it will not feed the cancer cells that we are trying to eliminate with chemotherapy. So, it is very crucial because it is going to partner with the diet and the lifestyle that we have is going to partner with the medicines that we are taking during our therapy,” Chef B.R. shared.
Jean Tecson Arabis, who attended the event with her mother, found it particularly useful given her role in meal preparation. She noted that managing a budget is challenging, especially since organic ingredients tend to be expensive for her. “Naa koy mga nakuha nga mga ideas nga makuha which is mas maayo. Naa diay mga lain pamaagi sa pagluto nga malamilami sad diay and mas malasa,” Jean explained.
Through this event, RAFI EJACC hopes to have touched the lives of its patients, empowering them with essential nutritional knowledge and resources, advancing cancer care and reinforcing its dedication to fostering a healthier, more resilient community.
