From the Facebook post of Albien聽Emmanuel Gacias.
MANILA, Philippines鈥揟his #10yearchallenge of a new board passer of the Physician Licensure Examination inspires netizens as he shares how he has become a cancer survivor who is now 鈥渓icensed to heal.鈥�
Albien聽Emmanuel Gacias聽wrote in his facebook post on March 14;聽鈥�10 years ago ang pinagdadasal ko lang naman ay ang gumaling, wala akong idea na gagawin mo pala akong instrumento para ako naman ang makapagpagaling ng iba,鈥�
(Ten years ago I was just praying to be healed, I didn鈥檛 have any idea that You will make me an instrument to heal others as well.)
Gacias told 黑料社 that he was diagnosed with 鈥淢alignant Germ cell tumor, a kind of lung cancer,鈥� on July 2008 when he was only 19 years old.
鈥淎t the time na ma-diagnose po ako, worries ko ay mag-stop ako sa studies as a nursing student. And also, takot din ako kasi I鈥檓 the eldest in the family,鈥� he said.
(At the time when I was diagnosed, I was worried that I would stop studying as a nursing student. And I鈥檓 also scared because I鈥檓 the eldest in the family.)
Being diagnosed with cancer isn鈥檛 easy for Gacias as he聽underwent surgical operation (lobectomy of the lungs) and series of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
鈥淧ero (But) God is good kasi nakasurvive naman po (because I survived it),鈥� he said. 鈥淲ithout the help/support of my family and friends hindi ko din naman masu-survive lahat (I wouldn鈥檛 survive all of it).鈥�
In his post, Gracias dedicated his success to his mother and brother who are now both 鈥渋n heaven.鈥�
鈥淧ara sa inyo to (This is for you)聽 Mommy and honeyboy聽Al Jules Sean Gacias聽in heaven.聽#10YearChallenge聽#CancerSurvivor.鈥�
His mother was also diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on 2006 and died December the same year while his聽brother died because of an accident.
鈥淗e (brother) is one of the main reasons why ako nag med (I studied medicine),鈥� Gacias added.
When asked about what advise he can give to students and cancer patients like him, he said that they should just focus on their goals no matter how hard.
鈥淜ahit anong struggle sa buhay (Whatever your struggle in life) just focus on your goals no matter how hard it is. Kasi (because) God will make a way,鈥� he said.
鈥淢agtiwala lang tayo kay Lord鈥ag po tayong mawalan ng pag-asa, laban lang everyday.鈥�
(Let鈥檚 just trust in the Lord鈥� Let us not give up, just keep fighting everyday.)
Gacias鈥� post already garnered over 30,000 reactions and 8,000 shares on facebook.聽/jpv