The Philippine Online Chronicles

It is an opportune time, a time for good governance, a time for good leaders and good example. Why not run for smoke-free Cities and smoke-free Local Government Officials? Today, on World No Tobacco Day, I run to honor my brother Vincent who left fathers a precious legacy. He fought the good fight by living through cancer in faith, hope and love. He did not waste a single minute on self-pity and despair. He sought cure and healing because he loved life, his own and most especially that of his wife and sons.

My brother Vincent began smoking at the tender age of fourteen. He did it clandestinely until I stumbled upon the telltale signs of cigarette butts in our yard and the heavy nicotine breath of a smoker. I did my best to dissuade Vincent. Much as I tried, I did not succeed. Eventually, on his own, after smoking for twenty years, he stopped. By then he was a father of two wonderful sons. Surely, it was a father’s love that stopped my brother’s smoking.

Seven years after he stopped, he discovered he had lung cancer stage 1B. The next four years (2000-2004) were his heroic journey towards healing. Almost four years after his lung operation, he breathed his last on December 1, 2004. Six months earlier, on May 31, 2004, although considerably weakened due to metastasis, he walked slowly but firmly to file his case against Philip Morris Inc, the company that supplied him with all that nicotine needed to rouse dormant cancer cells against good ones. He died not knowing how his case will fare. Almost four years later, in September 2008, the Court of Appeals sent the case back to the sala of Judge Winlove Dumayas of Makati RTC branch 59, ordering the latter to commence trial.

How many more fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters will suffer the fate of Vincent? This can be prevented if we work together and especially if we, especially government officials, from the President to the Baranggay Captain of the smallest Barangay, would dare to provide good and inspiring examples.

When I could not stop my brother from smoking, I quietly prayed for him. When he developed cancer, I prayed all the more. Today, on World No Tobacco Day, I offer my run as both commemoration and prayer. I ask my brother Vincent to help all parents and government officials to become good role models by trying their best and making difficult sacrifices to overcome their weaknesses in order to encourage others to do the same. Nothing is really impossible. Consider what Theodore Roethke meant when he said, “What we need is more people who specialize in the impossible.”

Fr. Roberto P. Reyes

May 31, 2010

Puerto Princesa, Palawan