CHITO’S HOTEL – The Rotary Club of Iloilo South, one of the oldest and most vibrant clubs in District 3850, welcomed the Cancer Warriors Foundation to its final meeting for November, held last November 28 at Chito’s Hotel. Club President Dr. Elsie Locsin, an obstetrician-gynecologist and passionate advocate for women’s health, invited the foundation to introduce the Cervical Cancer Elimination Advocacy and explore meaningful partnerships.
A Legacy of Service and Giving
The club has a long and distinguished history, having produced respected district leaders such as PDG Ronnie Gabalda. It continues to shine as one of District 3850’s champions of Rotary Giving. PDG Ronnie proudly shared that the club is on track to soon welcome its first Arch Klumph Society member, recognizing lifetime contributions of at least USD 250,000.
Their commitment to humanitarian service is evident—this Rotary year, the club successfully secured a mobile clinic, now being prepared for deployment next Rotary year.
Under Dr. Locsin’s dynamic leadership, the club has been actively conducting cervical cancer screening using the VIA (Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid) method. This year alone, they have screened more than 400 women, adding to the 700+ women screened since the project began. Their goal is to reach 500 screened women this Rotary year—an ambitious yet achievable target for a club deeply committed to women’s health.
Cancer Warriors Foundation Shares Its Mission
Representing the Cancer Warriors Foundation (CWF) were:
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Ms. Carmen “Menchie” Auste, CEO
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Dr. Cecilia “Cecille” Llave, Technical Adviser for SUCCESS Asia Pacific
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Ms. Gay, Technical Assistant
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Dr. Bogs Rivera, Founder of End Cervical Cancer Philippines Organization Inc. (CerviQ)
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Community Engagement Specialist Bing Quite, a former President of the Rotary Club of Quezon City
Ms. Menchie Auste opened with a heartfelt retelling of the foundation’s beginnings—a mission born from a personal promise to her son during his battle with brain cancer. She recounted how Bike for Life, her son’s recovery initiative, became a nationwide movement that raised awareness on childhood cancer and mobilized cities, municipalities, and organizations across the country. Rotary, she emphasized, was a supporter at every step.
Today, Cancer Warriors Foundation Inc. is the official Philippine implementing partner for SUCCESS Phase 3, a major cervical cancer elimination grant initiative funded by Unitaid and Expertise France, and carried out in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Iloilo.
Through this partnership, the foundation will deliver 17,000 HPV-DNA tests to underserved and geographically isolated barangays in Iloilo, particularly Carles, Estancia, and Lemery.
An Expert’s Insight: Dr. Cecille Llave
The audience warmly welcomed Dr. Cecille Llave, the Philippines’ foremost expert and lifelong champion for cervical cancer elimination. She delivered a highly engaging lecture on HPV, cervical cancer prevention, the importance of HPV-DNA testing, and advances in modern screening strategies. Her depth, clarity, and passion left a memorable impact, inspiring the club to consider deeper involvement.
Exploring Practical Solutions
Dr. Bogs Rivera presented an interim yet practical solution for communities currently engaged in VIA screening—Speculoscope-Assisted VIA, which enhances visualization and documentation while the transition toward HPV-DNA testing continues. He emphasized that while HPV-DNA is the gold standard, interim methods can strengthen service delivery and reduce missed cases.
Pathways Forward
The discussion concluded with several promising opportunities for the Rotary Club of Iloilo South to support cervical cancer elimination efforts:
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Procuring HPV self-collection test kits, subject to Rotary Foundation guidelines
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Purchasing speculoscopes and thermal ablation devices to improve local treatment capacity
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Enhancing their mobile clinic’s women’s health services by integrating AI-powered breast ultrasound screening
The meeting closed with optimism, shared purpose, and a renewed commitment to women’s health. With Rotary’s leadership, the Cancer Warriors Foundation’s expertise, and the support of global partners such as Unitaid, Expertise France, and the Provincial Government of Iloilo, the vision of a cervical cancer-free Iloilo—and eventually, a cervical cancer-free Philippines—comes closer to reality.