Caddy’s family finds a year-end season of grief and hope

BENCHWARMER
Ramon S. Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- Danny Lagasca had more reason - and inspiration - than the field of veterans he beat for the senior’s title at the annual caddies golf tournament last Dec. 22 at the Baguio Country Club.

The day before his triumph on the 18-hole roller-coaster course, his wife Cristina pulled through her 12thround of chemotherapy against breast cancer.

He was looking forward to meeting his first grandchild, due to be born on Jan. 27. He wanted a grandson and was elated the second ultra-sound confirmed it’s a boy.

The kid will be named Danny III, after the baby’s father and grandfather.

Danny the first chalked up 26 points on the familiar lay-out he had walked for years.. His cady bag enabled him and Cristina to raise their three kids – Maricris, Junior and Olga Joy.

This time around, he had the bag carried by his son and namesake. The father-and-son tandem lightened the weight and stress of competition. It made Danny the elder forget the couple of medical strokes he underwent so he could concentrate on his drives and putting strokes.

He raised his trophy to acknowledge the cheers. The gesture was also for the Samaritans who, for over a year now, have been quietly cheering him and Cristina in her own battle against the big C.

Thanks to them, Christina pulled through her six chemotherapy sessions from May to October the other year. The barangay council led by barangay captain Godofredo Flores augmented the fund with drives, including a concert at the open court beside the Pacdal Circle . Last September, however, mutant cells returned, this time affecting her lungs. Dr. Felina Masadao-Adefuin, who is supporting the family beyond her professional vows, arranged another six-round chemo cycle.

Recently, the barangay council sponsored a darts tournament for her. Other benefactors, many of whom her family never knew or met, helped sustain her treatment. The day after she completed her chemo sessions, Danny beat the field.

The celebration, however, was short-lived. Danny had his final stroke evening of Dec. 25. He passed on the following day.

The 55-year old caddy’s remains lie in state at their home in Liteng, Pacdal. The family was waiting for his sister to arrive for the burial on the sixth. After that, Cristina will wait for Danny III’s birth.

From Germany where he is based, former world karate champion Julian Chees offered to support Cristina’s post-chemo check up. Shoshin Kinderhilfe, a foundation he and his martial students established, has been reaching out to the family. .
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City officials led by mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. marked Rizal Day distributing gift packs to needy families and renewing their commitment to the protection and advancement of the rights of children.

The mayor, Rep. Mauricio Domogan and vice-mayor Daniel Farinas presided over the annual wreath-laying and program at the Rizal Park to mark the 103rd anniversary of the national hero’s martyrdom.The officials then moved to the city hall grounds where they distributed 6,500 packs of food items to indigent families chosen from the city’s 128 barangays.

City administrator Peter Fianza said the gift packs came from President Gloria Arroyo, who is based in Baguio for the Christmas season with her family.He augmented the truckloads with extra relief goods donated by Samaritans in the wake Typhoon Pepeng which hit the city last month.

Earlier, President Arroyo treated the local media to a yuletide bonfire at the Philippine Information Agency where she gifted them with groceries packed in the traditional “bayong”.

From the city hall grounds, mayor Bautista proceeded to the city’s multi-purpose hall to lead 40 children and their families to a pledge for the child-focused targets of the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations.

City social welfare and development officer Betty Fangasan said the kids -20 boys and 20 girls – all from San Antonio Village in Aurora Hill, are the initial targets of the Family-based Actions for Children and their Environs in the Slums (FACES) program.

With support from the city, the barangay, Department of the Interior and Local Government, other government agencies and volunteer organizations, the parents committed to eight provisions for the children – nourishment, education, parent care, health, protection from disease, safe and clean environment, and kids’ right to participate in community development.