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MANILA, Philippines—Celebrities recently joined over a thousand breast cancer survivors, supporters and friends at an event called Silver Linings 2008 in Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City. Silver Linings is the only national homecoming-cum-educational forum for breast cancer survivors in the country. A project of ICanServe Foundation, it aims to give hope and information to breast cancer survivors.

Singer and stage actress Pinky Marquez hosted the event, while volunteer doctors, news and entertainment personalities and performers showed their support through a whole-day program that catered to patients and those reclaiming their lives after their bout with cancer.

Aside from Marquez, volunteer moderators for break-out sessions included racer Gaby de la Merced, actresses and breast cancer survivors Melissa de Leon and Maritoni Fernandez, columnist Maricel Laxa, ANC news anchor Twink Macaraig, broadcast journalist Karen Davila, and radio personality Jude Bacalso.

The San Diego Dancers of Cebu performed the Sinulog for the opening plenary, and singers Raki Vega and Bituin Escalante performed during the closing ceremony.

Participants from breast cancer support groups all over the country brought their spouses, children and caregivers to learn the latest in breast-care health and total family well-being.

Guests came from Cebu, Metro Manila, Baguio, Benguet province, Olongapo, Albay, Bohol, Bacolod, Iloilo, Antique, Tacloban, Roxas, Tagum, Davao, Cagayan de Oro.

New friendships

Philippine Cancer Society executive director Dr. Kelly Salvador lauded ICanServe Foundation for organizing Silver Linings and inspiring volunteers to run it.

“You should do this more often, not just once every three years,” he told ICanServe founding president Kara Alikpala.

The first Silver Linings was held in 2005 in Mandaluyong City and attracted over 1,000 participants.

In her opening remarks, Alikpala said, “Hope can’t find a more hospitable home than the heart and soul of a breast cancer survivor... We gather together for Silver Linings because it is the only universe we know where everyone who has experienced the worst has seen the best.”

Silver Linings chair Me’anne Solomon added, “With your learnings and new friendships forged at the end of the day, you would have found your Silver Linings.”

The C-Network provided participants with free bone density and fasting blood sugar examinations, while the Philippine Medical Society of Oncologists conducted an all-day free clinical breast examination, consultation and breast-care tips led by Dr. Dennis Tudtud.

Silver Linings 2008 was made possible by Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, C-Network, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Pag-Ibig Fund, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sunday Inquirer Magazine, Cebu Daily News and ABS-CBN Cebu.

To know more, visit www.icanserve.net.

• A grander celebration of Swiss Food Festival
• She’s happily married but can’t forget her ex-boyfriend
• Celebrating Filipino migrants around the world
• How to be the belle of the wedding ball
• Unsinkable Negros women
• Timeless fragrance, gem of a scent
• Larry’s last legacy: a farm spa in the north
• Jim Paredes shows some ‘Skin’
• Lessons from a wedding

• Seeing a bright future amid crisis
• ‘Plate it’ for women’s health
• Changing the way we regard our bread
• Building walls and walks
• Gastronomic treats from the north
• Free will
• Carbon footprint
• Showrooms at LRI
• Charms for the good life
• Amazing lace
• Practical gift suggestions
• Beat water-retention weight gain
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