BACOLOD CITY, Philippines?A 13-year-old girl whose cancer has spread to her lungs smiled again for a brief moment on Sunday as her idol, singer-actress Sarah Geronimo, sang to her over the cellular phone.
Metos Lachica of the village of Don Salvador Benedicto, Pontevedra, Negros Occidental would have flown to Manila to meet Geronimo but this was ruled out because of her current state of health.
Instead, at 4 p.m. Sunday, Metos got a call from Geronimo who asked her how she was.
On learning from Metos that her cancer had spread, Geronimo urged her to pray, after which she sang Lachica's favorite song "How Could You Say You Love Me."
"I was so happy she called. And she even sang my favorite song," Metos said on Sunday.
Geronimo also promised to give Metos a signed CD of her album Just Me and a DVD of her blockbuster movie "A Very Special Love" with John Lloyd Cruz.
Geronimo's call to Metos was arranged by Paul Mońozca, chairman of the Dr. A.B. Mońozca Foundation, through Millie Kilayko, president of the Suntown Camp Foundation, of which Metos is a member.
Metos is the eldest child of George, 38, and Mayleen, 34, Lachica. George is a laborer on a sugarcane farm and the couple has four children.
The cancer-stricken girl was named Metos because she was born on May 2, her mother said.
When Metos was in sixth grade in 2008, a lump appeared on her left foot and the doctors discovered that she was suffering from cancer of the bone.
In June, her left leg was amputated at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila but her mother said it was not until two months later that the child could undergo chemotherapy because they did not have the money for it.
Metos had to drop out of school and learn to get around on crutches.
But in recent months the cancer spread to her lungs, causing her to suffer excruciating pain in the chest, her mother said.
"Metos cries a lot. Sarah's call made her forget her pain. She smiled again," Mayleen said.
But the cancer made it difficult for Metos to speak so she could not say much to Sarah even if she was very happy, her mother explained.
Since Metos was due for chemotherapy this week, Sarah's call would keep her happy and distracted from that, Mayleen added.
Mońozca said Geronimo's schedule has been very tight but she made time to call Metos in between tapings.
