The following was written by: Khaz- JP B. Padilla, Field Coordinator (Estancia)
In the quiet rhythm of community life in Estancia, a powerful movement is taking shape—one that brings together compassion, leadership, and collective action in the fight against cervical cancer. Through the SUCCESS-FAP Project’s community rollout on HPV cervical self-screening, implemented by the Cancer Warriors Foundation Inc. in partnership with Expertise France and Unitaid, and with the support of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (PHO) and the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WV CHD), in collaboration with the Estancia Local Government Unit, barangays have gone beyond participation and transformed into active champions of health. Each has contributed unique and heartfelt initiatives to ensure that no woman is left behind.
Across different barangays, creativity and generosity became tools for advocacy. In Barangays Botongon, Gogo, San Roque, and Daan Banwa, women who bravely took part in the screening were supported with five kilos of rice—an initiative that not only encouraged participation but also acknowledged the everyday realities of their constituents. Meanwhile, Barangays Lumbia and Malbog offered practical household support through free wash hand basins, while Barangay Sta. Ana created a welcoming and festive atmosphere by providing burgers and soda drinks. In the island barangays of Bayas, Loguingot, and Manipulon, warm bowls of arroz caldo paired with pandesal were served—simple yet meaningful gestures that turned health-seeking into a shared community experience.
Leadership on the ground proved to be a driving force behind the success of these efforts. In Barangays Sta. Ana and Malbog, Punong Barangays personally joined the house-to-house “suyod,” directly engaging women and encouraging them to take part in the screening. In other areas, barangay kagawads on health took on this vital role, reinforcing trust and strengthening the message at the grassroots level. Barangay Zone I further elevated its support by prioritizing women who underwent screening in their livelihood programs, linking health initiatives with long-term empowerment.
Information dissemination also played a crucial role. Barangay Calapdan maximized its resources by providing free “recoreda” or public announcements to ensure that every household was informed, while other barangays harnessed the power of social media—posting schedules, banners, and key facts about cervical self-screening days before the roll-out. These efforts ensured that awareness reached even the most remote corners of the community.
The spirit of collaboration extended beyond barangay halls. Gaisano Grand Mall Estancia partnered with Barangay Botongon by sponsoring tetra pack juice and packed mammon bread, demonstrating how private stakeholders can play a meaningful role in public health initiatives. At the municipal level, Hon. Requinto integrated HPV cervical self-screening into the “Paglaum sa Barangay” program in Barangays Lumbia and Bulaqueña, bringing essential government services closer to the people. Complementing this, Hon. Arleen Bacos, President of the Association of Barangay Captains, facilitated the allocation of a portion of the Gender and Development (GAD) budget specifically for the SUCCESS-FAP Project—ensuring that barangays had the necessary resources to sustain their initiatives.
Together, these collective efforts paint a vivid picture of what community-driven health promotion looks like: inclusive, innovative, and deeply rooted in shared responsibility. The initiatives of these barangays reflect not only their commitment to the SUCCESS-FAP Project but also their unwavering dedication to safeguarding the health and dignity of every woman. In Estancia, the fight against cervical cancer is no longer just a program—it is a movement carried by the hands of the community itself.
