ADDUHS95.COM drove to Katipunan to meet up with one of the most talked-about batchmates in the EGROUPS for the year 2002: LETLET QUIROG. For most people, LETLET will be remembered as that giddy, long-haired girl from 4 BLUE. So much has changed since then… the changes in her life happened so fast that barely two weeks after the interview she got PROMOTED to Trade Settlements/Custody and Clearing Department for HSBC Philippines. (Congratulations!). She retired her "Maria Clara" look, for the sophisticated GI-JANE type. She also lost quite a number of pounds. Essentially, though, she's still the same.
95: Do you still hang-out with old folks from high school?
LQ: But of course! Back in college, I used to hang-out with Tantan, Karen, Dinah, etc, etc…actually people who studied in Manila. Maski hindi taga-UP [She graduated from UP-DILIMAN]. Siyempre, pag malayo [from the hometown feeling close kayo lahat. Siyempre, taga-Davao gud… kabatch pa gyud! I still hang-out with them pa rin till now. In Davao, I go out with my highschool barkada pa rin.
95: How does it feel to be in the "spotlight"?
LQ: Medyo weird… why me? Duh?! There's
not much action in my life, actually. Except maybe,
I recently had a "major life-changing situation",
which doesn't happen to everyone… so I guess
that's why I'm in the "spotlight".
[Letlet refers to her "battle" with Hodgkins Lymphoma last year. It's a cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, a part of the body's immune system. The job of the lymphatic system is to help fight diseases and infection. In Hodgkin's disease, cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and can spread to other organs. As the disease progresses, the body is less able to fight infection. She recounts her ordeal (in Filipino, transcribed in English)….]
LQ: In December 2002, I noticed a slight swelling on my shoulder… I dismissed it because I had coughs at that time…In March 2002, coinciding with my physical exam; I decided to have the swelling checked. The doctor told me that I had Cancer…Cancer of What?... he did not know yet and would have to run some tests…and that I may have to undergo surgery….
95: And your initial reaction was…? [Sorry batchmates, it was a stupid question. How would one feel, right? But just had to ask…]
LQ: Crayola ako [translation: she cried hard]… I called my Mom. My boyfriend was with me at that time… I'm too young… this was not the kind of problem I was expecting to face at 23!
[She continues…]
LQ: With my mom's advise, we sought a second Opinion at Makati Med…while this was going on, we encountered a specialist from Davao at St. Luke's Hospital. My mother was so delighted that we found a doctor from Davao… it made her feel more at ease… and the doctor told me that I had Hodgkins Lymphoma… from April to October 2002 I underwent chemotherapy…
95: What do they do to you during chemo? Sorry, I'm ignorant at these types of things. Was it the same as in the movies?
LQ: Well…it's not exactly the same as
in the movies… there wasn't much vomiting…and
today they have medicines that help ease the pain.
They inject medicine to your body…like the dextrose
when you get hospitalized. I had a portacath placed
in my chest area… intravenous pa rin…the
meds pass through the veins, but it's not painful
na cause it's attached to bigger veins compared to
the veins in our wrists.
I prepared myself for the therapy. I had my hair cut
really short, so I wouldn't have to go to the trauma
of seeing my long hair falling off my head. I also
prayed a lot. My mom [who was active in the charismatic
movement] also did her spiritual preparations. I never
really said to myself or thought that "I would
die". I just told myself that I would only have
to endure 6 months of pain…after that, everything
would go back to normal. I even bought a really nice
wig, so that when people see me, I still look pretty.
I never thought that decent wigs were expensive! [laughs]
95: What's the ballpark figure? Was it real hair or synthetic?
LQ: Real hair…Asian Hair…cause my
mom and I looked at synthetic wigs and "tuskig"
kayo…basta mahal kaayo! [laughs again]
[She continues recounting her battle with Cancer]
During the first 2 sessions, I had to have myself
confined in the hospital because my body wasn't used
to the pain. But during the following sessions, they
administered the treatment to me in the "Outpatient"
area... I was so bored because I did not work…
and I couldn't go to the very "public" places
because my immune system was weak… although sometimes,
I sneak out and go to low-traffic malls such as Shangrila
and Podium…after the treatment… the doctors
told me na "wala na"…nawala na yung
cancer.
95: So you're back to normal?
LQ: I still have to undergo check up every 3 months until the end of the 2nd year. Then the check-up sessions are reduced to once very 6 months for the 3rd year…then an annual check-up during the 4th-5th years. After the 5th year and no trace of cancer were discovered, they can now declare that I'm "on the clear".
95: Who among our batchmates was first to know about your ordeal?
LQ: Nympha [Bullecer]…then Dinah…yung mga barkada ko nung high school
95: You've been the subject of a lot of egroup mails last year; were you able to follow that thread? How do you react to the emails?
LQ: Kinda touched. It was actually helpful kasi the more people knew about what happened to me, the more people prayed for me. O diba? Kahit yung di ko masyadong close…at least you guys were somehow concerned. Kasi I really had to flood the heavens with prayers. Thanks!
95: What major changes occurred in your life after your ordeal?
LQ: Medyo praning ako ngayon pagdating sa mga sakit-sakit. I also had a diet change: no raw food, more fish and vegetables. I also avoid places where people smoke. Aside from that, wala masyadong nagbago.
95: How did it affect your outlook towards the future?
LQ: Before I got sick kasi, I was a very organized person. I liked keeping things at their proper perspective. I mean, I still am a very organized person…pero unlike before when I used to plan ahead for my future, now medyo "come what may" na lang ako. I had mapped out my life for the next couple of years. Parang may timetable effect…but siyempre "unforeseen" circumstances happened…Today, I'm just thankful everyday to God that I'm still alive. Enjoy the present… I just fight my "battles" everyday.
95: Wow! That's some insight to most of us who like to whine about life all the time…
LQ: Don't get me wrong. I'm not ALWAYS happy. Sometimes, I get depressed, too-pero hindi yung depression na makabuang na depression. I get lonely lang minsan; kapag wala akong makausap.
95: Well I guess that's normal for people
our age. So, how's your lovelife? Any plans of getting
married?
LQ: I'm not complaining [about her lovelife]. Everybody seems to have gotten married or plans of getting married sa batch natin, diba? We have no plans yet, but if Jay [her boo] proposed to me right now…I would say "Yes" [laughs]…gusto ko na nga mabuntis pero…wala pa, hindi pa. [laughs]
95: Now really? Wow! Any message you'd like to send to our batchmates?
LQ: Ang masasabi ko lang: COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.
Sometimes, I get to read sa egroups about people complaining
about their jobs and little things. I like to tell
them: Buti nga yan lang ang pinoproblema niyo. At
our age, it's about time we guys think what really
matters most in our lives.
[Webmaster's note: Mr. webmaster would like to thank Teejae Sonza for taking her time amidst her busy schedule to conduct this interview. Thank you, Thank you!]
