MANDAUE CITY, CEBU — In celebration of National Women’s Month 2026 – BABAYES Women’s Month, a powerful collaboration of health advocates, medical professionals, and community organizations gathered to strengthen women’s health awareness through the BABA YES – Women of Mandaue Against Breast Cancer – WOMB initiative.
Hosted in partnership with Parkmall, the Mandaue City Local Government, and multiple healthcare organizations, the initiative aims to bring accessible cancer awareness, screening services, and preventive health education closer to women in the community.
Pink Corner: A Hub for Women’s Health
As part of the BABAYES Women’s Month celebration, the “Pink Corner” opened at the Mandaue City Government Center, providing a welcoming space for women to learn about early cancer detection and preventive healthcare.
The program runs every Friday and Saturday throughout March 2026 starting March 13 at 1:00 PM, offering vital services including:
Breast cancer screening
Pap smear screening
Early cancer detection consultations
Mental health counseling
This initiative reflects the spirit of the 2026 National Women’s Month theme:
“WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society – Lead Like the Babaylans, Filipinas!”, recognizing the important role women play as leaders in families, communities, and society.
Walk-in participants are welcomed on a first-come, first-served basis, encouraging women to prioritize their health and well-being.
CerviQ Brings Cervical Cancer Awareness to Mandaue
Through the invitation of Mr. Joey Dientes of Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), Dr. Jesus Randy “Bogs” Rivera, founder of CerviQ – End Cervical Cancer Philippines Organization Inc., was invited as a speaker to discuss HPV and cervical cancer prevention.
Dr. Rivera highlighted a critical message during the session:
Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that is highly preventable through HPV vaccination, early screening, and timely treatment.
During the discussion, he emphasized the importance of HPV awareness, explaining that Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause of cervical cancer but can be prevented through vaccination and early detection programs.
Dr. Rivera also shared how innovations in screening technology—including speculoscope-assisted Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA)—are helping expand access to cervical cancer screening across communities.
Strengthening Local Screening Capacity in Cebu
Dr. Rivera is also affiliated with Health Screen Laboratory and Diagnostic Center, which operates multiple branches in Cebu, including:
City Times Square, Mandaue City (across Parkmall)
Lahug, Cebu City
Cordova, Cebu
Together with CerviQ, the laboratory network expressed its commitment to support women’s health initiatives in the region.
The organizations announced their intention to host a FREE Cervical Cancer Screening program across the three Cebu branches of Health Screen Laboratory and Diagnostic Center.
This initiative is envisioned to take place in May, which is recognized nationally as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
The program aims to expand screening access through partnerships with WOMB and other organizations supporting the BABAYES program, reinforcing a unified community approach toward cancer prevention and early detection.
Celebrating 11 Years of WOMB Advocacy
For more than 11 years, Women of Mandaue Against Breast Cancer (WOMB) has been a leading advocate for breast cancer awareness and early detection in Cebu.
Through educational campaigns, screening programs, and community engagement, WOMB has empowered thousands of women to prioritize their health.
Their continued leadership through the BABAYES initiative demonstrates the power of collaboration between local government, medical professionals, civic organizations, and private partners in advancing women’s health.
Breast Cancer Awareness Highlighted by City Health Leadership
Also present during the program was Dr. Christine Alves Felix, head of the Cancer Control Program of the Mandaue City Health Department.
In her presentation, Dr. Felix emphasized the importance of early detection in breast cancer, highlighting three key pillars of screening:
Self-Breast Examination (SBE) – empowering women to regularly check their own breasts for changes
Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) – professional evaluation by trained healthcare providers
Imaging tests such as mammography and ultrasound – which help detect abnormalities that may not yet be felt physically
Her message reinforced the importance of combining awareness with accessible screening services, ensuring women have the tools and knowledge needed to detect cancer early.
A Collective Commitment to Women’s Health
The BABAYES Women’s Month program reflects a growing movement in Cebu to integrate awareness, screening, and community support into a unified health initiative for women.
Through the continued collaboration of organizations such as:
WOMB (Women of Mandaue Against Breast Cancer)
Parkmall Cebu
Mandaue City LGU
Department of Health (DOH)
Gender and Development (GAD)
City Health Office – Cancer Navigation Clinic
Chong Hua Hospital Mandaue
Rotary Club Fuente
JCI WoMandaue
RAFI, NSFI, and other civic partners
the initiative aims to strengthen preventive healthcare programs for women across the region.
Looking Ahead
With cervical and breast cancers remaining among the most common cancers affecting women in the Philippines, initiatives like BABAYES and Pink Corner demonstrate how community partnerships can transform awareness into action.
As Women’s Month continues, organizers encourage women in Cebu to take time for their health, attend the screening activities, and share the message of early detection with family and friends.
Because when women say “YES” to their health, communities grow stronger.
