Soroptimist International of the Americas
Philippines Region (A Foundation),Inc.
About
Soroptimist International of Ortigas and Environs
Chartered October 10, 2001
Soroptimist International of Ortigas & Environs was chartered on 10 October 2001 at the Edsa Shangrila Hotel, Mandaluyong City and was sponsored by Soroptimist International of Makati. SIPR Gov. Teresita B. Choa officiated the chartering of Soroptimist International of Ortigas & Environs, installed its first set of officers and directors with Enriqueta “Baby” V. Doble as Charter President and inducted 19 Charter Members.
The chartering of Soroptimist Ortigas started as a dare among 6 friends: Norma Co, Baby Doble, Grace Fernandez, Malou Fernandez, Baby Lirio and Olive Ramos. Missing the projects they do, Norma broached the idea of chartering a new club to Baby. Aware of the difficulties in sustaining a club,
she challenged her to scout for the required 15 members. For Norma, it was a breeze having recruited her closest of kin.
For months, the group met and discussed plans. There were times when the conditions did not seem perfect but there was a common thread that connects them, the desire to serve the marginalized women of our society. They were united to take on the challenge to make a difference in the lives of women and girls.
For Baby Doble, there was no turning back. She became the Charter President of Soroptimist Ortigas.
Club Officers Biennium 2022-2024
Emeline Uy Tesy
President
Marriane Lee
President Elect
Leigh Anne Guallar
1st Vice President
Susan Zacarias
2nd Vice President
Charisse Roldan
Secretary
Agnes Macasaet
Treasurer
Norma Co
Auditor
Mary Gaw So
Public Relations Officer
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Directors
Florenta Tan
Ex-Officio
Enriqueta Doble
Charter President
Ann Christine Palisoc
CFAP Chair
Veronica Velasco
Programs
Soroptimist Ortigas Breast Friends
A 2002 study of diseases afflicting Filipino women by Soroptimist International of Ortigas & Environs, shows that foremost amongst these is breast cancer: one out of nine Filipino women today could develop this dreaded disease. The Philippines has the highest breast cancer mortality and lowest survival rates among fifteen Asian countries. Given the rapid increase of breast cancer cases, particularly among marginalized women, Soroptimist Ortigas started a project called Soroptimist Ortigas Breast Friends, which initially sponsored the chemo-therapy program (6 cycles for stages I–IIB) only for indigent breast cancer patients of East Avenue Medical Center. Now, their services have been extended to other beneficiaries around the country. Soroptimist Ortigas has become the beacon of hope for many breast cancer survivors who now live productive lives.
Soroptimist Ortigas Breast Friends 14 components
1. “Libreng Chemo Program” - Soroptimist Ortigas provides free breast cancer chemotherapy of six cycles to indigent breast cancer patients who are in stages I to IIB. They have included low-income patients among their beneficiaries.
2. “Libreng Tamoxifen Program” - After six cycles of breast cancer chemotherapy, a breast cancer survivor (depending on her estrogen level) takes a maintenance medicine called Tamoxifen for a period of one to five years. Soroptimist Ortigas provides free Tamoxifen to their breast cancer survivors when needed.
3. Soroptimist Ortigas initiates and facilitates public awareness campaigns, lectures and seminars on breast health and breast cancer.
4. Soroptimist Ortigas initiates and conducts free on-site clinical breast examinations and breast cancer screenings, risk factor assessments, one-on-one consultations and breast biopsies on patients.
5. Soroptimist Ortigas financially supports an affordable breast cancer surgery with a short stay in at Providence Hospital in Quezon Ave., Quezon City.
6. Every year, Soroptimist Ortigas hosts a Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) fun run and fund raising called TAKBO! Breast Friends (TBF). Net proceeds from TBF are earmarked for all its projects on breast health and breast cancer. The run is held every first Sunday of October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month)
TAKBO! Breast Friends features:
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Free clinical breast examination and breast cancer screening done on the site of the run
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Breast Self-Examination (BSE) Demo – Soroptimist Ortigas would like to emphasize that early detection is the key to fight breast cancer. It is a monthly habit that women are encouraged to practice.
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A short session of Pinoy Laughter Yoga
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A warm-up dance exercise
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Free photos from the TBF & Wacoal Photo Booth.
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Freebies to all runners are claimed at the TBF Redemption Counter
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Cash prizes and medals are awarded to the top three winners in all categories
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A finisher’s medal is awarded to runners who finish the race within the time allotted
7. Soroptimist Ortigas prints and distributes tarpaulin posters to promote early detection of breast cancer to government health centers and public places. One such poster is the “Mga Palatandaan ng Breast Cancer”.
8. The Breast Cancer Advocate Training Course - Soroptimist Ortigas facilitates a one-day course that will empower barangay health workers, midwives and cause oriented women to be competent trainors in the early detection of breast cancer (the core objective of the course). It has a multiplier effect. It can be replicated to households and communities. Another skill taught is the practice of palpation. The course emphasizes that early cancers have a better prognosis with treatments and that early-stage treatments are more affordable and less resource intensive.
9. Breastfeeding – Knowing that the best nourishment for infants is mother’s milk, So optimist Ortigas started the Breastfeeding Project in support of the three Philippine laws that defend the right of the woman to breast feed and the right of the infant to be breast fed. These laws are:
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Milk Code or E.O.51 *National Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, Breastmilk Supplements and Related Products*, 1986.
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Rooming-In Act or R.A. 7600 *The Rooming-In & Breastfeeding Act*, 1992
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R.A.10028 *Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act*, 2009 The Supreme Court states,“her bosom. The idea is of course for every child to enjoy the unequalled benefits of breast milk.”
10. Soroptimist Ortigas conducts Early Detection and Screening of Breast Cancer through mammography. This is provided and done at the Breast Cancer Imperative, Inc.’s MAMMOVAN.
11. Soroptimist Ortigas Breast Friends Forever (SO-BFF) – The breast cancer survivors who availed of their services become members of their care group called . Members are encouraged to help reach out to other survivors and update their personal data and medical condition.
12. Celebration of Survival - Soroptimist Ortigas occasionally hosts a get-together for their breast cancer survivors. This meet-and-greet event is a happy bonding session of survivors and Soroptimists. Speakers give lessons on coping with life after treatment, give hope, comfort and support to the breast cancer survivors and their families.
13. When Soroptimist Ortigas receives donations of female breast prostheses; these are given free to their breast cancer survivors.
14. Since the Libreng Chemo Program of Soroptmist Ortigas is for patients in stages I–IIB only, patients in stages 3 and 4 are referred to their partner hospitals and other like-minded organizations for further treatment.
