8. APC No Smoking Campaign

On the 21st of October, Asia Pacific College held a "No Smoking" Campaign initiative seminar to educate students on the dangers and negative implications that smoking causes. We, BM 151, under our EEP advisor, Ms. Eliz, attended the seminar, first, to educate us ; and, secondly, it was a requirement. Regardless of it being a requirement, I believe it should have been mandatory for the entire school, because the smoking culture in APC is very much prevalent front freshman to seniors.

Me standing outside the entrance where the
"No Smoking Campaign" was held (MPH-2).

The campaign was organized by the APC guidance department and involved two guest speakers, Engineer Ermer Rojas and Dr. June Lapada.


Engineer Emer Rojas

Mr. Emer Rojas speaking to the students
with the aid of a electrolarynx

Mr. Rojas is a certified engineer from the Mapua Institute of Technology and holds a masters degree in Entrepreneurship from Asian Institute of Management. He is the founder and president of New Vois Association of the Philippines which is a cancer prevention, person with disability (PWD) and tobacco control advocacy group. Due to his continued advocacy of anti-tobacco campaign, he was awarded the 2015 Healthy Lifestyle Exampler Award for organizational leadership by Health & Lifestyle Magazine. He is also the 2nd nominee for the cancer party-list. He is also one of the spear-head leaders in pushing for the Sin Tax Law which states a 40% increase on so called 'sin' products such as tobacco and alcoholic beverages.

Ern. Ermer Rojas is a throat cancer survivor and tobacco victim. He mentioned that he first started smoking in high school with just a couple of cigarettes a day which then escalated to about 2-3 packs/day once he finished college and started working. He was diagnosed in 2002 and this has dramatically altered the path of his life. He has had his vocal chords removed and now speaks using an 'elctrolarynx' which is basically like a vibrator that when applied to your throat area, acts as larynx by vibrating your throat therefore allowing him to make sounds.

He talked about the implications that he has to live with due to his throat cancer. Besides being unable to speak without a 'electrolarynx'; throat cancer patients can't swim, have a proper shower or sing. He stated the statistics of throat cancer survivors in the Philippines (2,000) compared to Japan (20,000), US (50,000) and China (1,000,000). Yes the number was low not because throat cancer victims were few but rather due to the medical system in a third-world country compared to that of US and Japan. Statistics also showed that there were 5 new cases/month and about 3 deaths/month due to re-occurrence or other diseases. Listening to the statistics being read, I was terrified and immediately thought about my loved ones and myself of course.

Benj posing with a board displaying the advertisement
on cigarettes packets in different countries

Besides the graphic images which was used as a persuasive scare tactic, the important message that I received from him was the 1/3 of cancer is preventable. This can be achieved by proper diet, reduction of alcohol intake, quit smoking and regular exercise. Also 1/3 of cancer is curable with early detection and proper medical care. I will definitely apply to my life and the life of the people around me.

Dr. Dario Lapada Jr.

Dr. Dario Lapada jr. speaking to the APC students 

Dr. Dario Lapada jr, who goes by Dr. Jun (perhaps for the junior part), is a certified surgeon who cares for the less fortunate especially cancer patients. He is a 14 year cancer advocate and performs his duties without expecting financial payment. He is also the 1st nominee for Cancer Party-list.
He has a personal experience with a cancer patient, his father. He recalls that when he was in 4th year medical school, his father was diagnosed with cancer and was only given about 6 months to live. He acknowledged the emotional and financial burden his family faced. Especially juggling his final year in medical school with him knowing his father will soon pass. It was this experience that fueled his advocacy and special interest with cancer patients.
Dr. Lapada focused his speech on the medical aspect of smoking and cancer. He restated that a proper and healthy lifestyle is needed is prevent cancer. He also listed examples of people with cancer and how much there life has changed and the medical implications of it. He said that having cancer is very financially and emotionally stressful.

Dr. Lapada gave us the advice to always be checked regularly even at a young age, don't wait till your older because cancer has very high chances of curability of detected early. He also mentioned how cancer can be genetic, therefore if any family members were victims of cancer then that's more of a reason to get checked regularly. Cancer stages depict the amount of pain one faces, the higher the level the more pain the patient feels.

I asked him a question, saying, " Is a 2nd degree smokers' effected worse then that of a 1st degree. And if so, how?" Well he sorta answered my question in a minuscule way. He explained the 3 different types of smokers; 1st being the actual smokers, 2nd being the people around the immediate environment of a smoker (which is usually me) and 3rd being the people who do not smoke but a in a enclosed area in which smokers are present and a smoking. He said the still the 1st degree smokers are more susceptible to cancer but the 2nd and 3rd are still high risk.

After hearing his message, I was compelled to advocate the message I heard to my friends and family members. I do not smoke myself, so I feel a little okay, but the idea of this happening to someone I love or care of then it truly hurts.

Enrg. Emer Rojas and Dr. Lapada receiving certificates
of appreciaion from Asia Pacific College

Most students and staff members who spend a good portion of their off time in the parking-lot area, usually are smoking or surrounded by smokers. Therefore, like I stated above, making this mandatory for all students would have been very effective.