Septuagenarian seeks help in cancer fight

By Ramon Dacawi 

People with extra cash may want to help Mariano Mapili, a 76-year old house painter suffering from cancer of the rectum. He has to undergo four more rounds of chemotherapy and five sessions of external beam radiation treatment.

Eleanor Tejedo, the patient’s 44-year old daughter, said his third  chemo  session set on March  14 remains tentative as the family has been financially drained. The financial strain is  on top of unpaid hospital bills from previous treatments and confinement.

“He had his second chemo treatment last February 24-26 as the doctor was willing to administer it despite our having paid only half of the cost pegged at P9,000,”  Tejedo said last Wednesday.

“The doctor also strongly recommended  that the five-session radiation treatment should also be done as soon as possible but we can hardly think of it because of the prohibitive costs,” Tejedo explained.

The nearest radiation therapy service  available is in Daguapn City where an oncology center gave a quotation of  P32,300 for the five-session package.

 In a letter endorsing  Mapili’s request for assistance, city social welfare and development officer Betty Fangasan said the family[s economic capability “falls below the poverty threshold. (Mapili) financially depends on his children for his medication”.

Punong  barangayJustina Andaya of Fairview, Baguio City, through kagawad Pedro Genove Jr. also issued a certificate of indigency for the patient whose family stays in a house at No. 62, purok 2 of the said barangay.

Eleanor  said his father, a native of Al-alinao, Naguilian, La Union, was diagnosed for cancer last January.

“We were encouraged to appeal for help as his ailment is at stage 2, which means he has a very good chance of recovering provided he is able to follow the treatment protocol we can not sustain without help,” she said.

Samaritans may contact Eleanor’s cellphone number – 09472098811.