SCARRED BUT NOT SCARED
The Hope for Lupus Foundation, in partnership with four multi-awarded and acclaimed photographers Jose Antonio T. Aliling, Bien S. Bautista, Josefino Mario De Guzman, and Maria Victoria Manotok Arroyo, presents “Scarred but not Scared,” a photo exhibit, which is on view until Oct. 20 at the Exhibit Hall (second floor), Greenbelt 5, Makati City.
The show captures how lupus can manifest in different ways and gives a glimpse of the lives of some of those who courageously endure their battles against the disease and claim their respective victories against its symptoms in whatever form they came. It’s also a tribute to those who have fought bravely and have since passed on.
Lupus is a lifelong illness wherein the body’s immune system turns on itself and attacks the body organs. This systemic disease can affect any part of the body leading to scarring, destruction, joint pains and deterioration of vital functions, among other known symptoms. Over five million people in the world have lupus, but because its symptoms mimic other ailments, there is an extreme lack of awareness and understanding about this condition. Such lack of awareness unfortunately, leads to countless misdiagnoses and unnecessary deaths, which could have been prevented had more people been armed with the right information.
It was Emmeline Aglipay Villar’s personal battle with lupus that led her to set up The
The Hope for Lupus Foundation continues its awareness campaign with an exhibit by four multi-awarded photographers.
Hope for Lupus Foundation Inc. in 2016, together with co-founders Lila Shahani, Melanie Cuevas, Dr. Geraldine Zamora Racaza and Dr. Paulo Lorenzo and other volunteers from the medical and private sector.
The foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to promote the early detection and proper treatment of lupus by increasing awareness about this mysterious condition. It also provides much-needed social support to patients and their families who are affected by the disease.
For those who seek to understand better about this disease, may this photo exhibit be the start of your journey for more enlightenment. And for those who carry the same cross, may this serve as a beacon of hope that amid all the uncertainty and pain, there is always a smile that shines from within.