Events & Conferences, General Awareness

CerviQ on Tinig ng Kababaihan: Cervical Cancer Awareness & HPV Prevention in the Philippines

Posted on by Jesus Randy RIvera
Protecting Filipinas: Early Detection, Lifesaving Action” – CerviQ on Tinig ng Kababaihan
01
May

<Guesting on Tinig ng Kababaihan: Protecting Filipinas Through Early Detection and Lifesaving Action

In observance of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month this May 2026, CerviQ | End Cervical Cancer Philippines had the honor of being featured as a guest organization on Tinig ng Kababaihan, a flagship weekly radio program of the Philippine Commission on Women.

Protecting Filipinas: Early Detection, Lifesaving Action” – CerviQ on Tinig ng Kababaihan

The episode, titled “Protecting Filipinas: Early Detection, Lifesaving Action,” aired on May 1, 2026, and served as a platform to discuss one of the most preventable yet deadly diseases affecting Filipino women—cervical cancer.

A Platform for Women’s Voices and Health Advocacy

Tinig ng Kababaihan (TNK), first aired in 2009, continues to empower Filipino women through meaningful conversations on gender equality, health, and development. Produced in partnership with the Presidential Broadcast Service – Bureau of Broadcast Services, TNK reaches audiences nationwide through radio, television, and digital platforms—bridging critical health information to communities, especially in rural areas.

Gratitude to the TNK Team

Protecting Filipinas: Early Detection, Lifesaving Action” – CerviQ on Tinig ng Kababaihan

Protecting Filipinas: Early Detection, Lifesaving Action” – CerviQ on Tinig ng Kababaihan

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the TNK team for the opportunity to share CerviQ’s advocacy:

  • Ms. Honey Castro, Chief, Corporate Affairs and Information Resource Management Division and TNK Co-Anchor
  • Ms. Jescel Aquino – Social Marketing Section Head | TNK Co-Anchor
  • Ms. Katrina Palisoc – TNK Production Team Lead | Knowledge Management and Media Communications Officer
  • Ms.Jastine Galleto – TNK Production Team Member | Social Media and Video Content Specialist
  • Mr. Mike Lucañas – TNK Production Team Member | Logistics and Administrative Coordinator
  • Mr. JP Barcelona – TNK Production Team Member (Technical Support) | Creative Media Specialist

 

Your commitment to amplifying women’s health issues plays a vital role in saving lives.

🎧 Interview Highlights: Questions & Answers

Q1: Bilang panimula, ipakilala muna natin ang inyong organisasyon. Ano nga po ba ang CerviQ at ang layunin nito?

A:
Ang CerviQ ay isang non-government organization na ang pangunahing layunin ay tulungan ang Pilipinas na ma-eliminate ang cervical cancer.
Naniniwala kami na posible ito—at ito rin ang isa sa mga global targets ng World Health Organization. Sa pamamagitan ng awareness, vaccination, screening, at early treatment, kaya nating bawasan at tuluyang mawala ang sakit na ito.

Q2: Sa simpleng paliwanag, ano ang cervical cancer at bakit mahalagang pag-usapan ito pagdating sa kalusugan ng kababaihan?

A:
Ang cervical cancer ay isang uri ng kanser na nangyayari sa cervix at pangunahing sanhi nito ay ang Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
Nakakalungkot isipin na sa Pilipinas, humigit-kumulang 12 kababaihan ang namamatay araw-araw dahil sa sakit na ito—kahit ito ay preventable at treatable.
Mahalaga itong pag-usapan dahil kung maagapan, hindi dapat ito ikamatay ng sinuman.

Q3: Ano po ang mga karaniwang dahilan at risk factors ng pagkakaroon ng cervical cancer?

A:
Ang pangunahing sanhi ay HPV infection, na maaaring makuha sa pamamagitan ng vaginal, oral, o anal sexual contact.
Ilan sa mga risk factors ay:

  • Maagang pakikipagtalik
  • Maraming sexual partners
  • Partner na may history ng multiple partners

Q4: Pwede po bang maiwasan ang pagkakaroon ng cervical cancer? Paano?

A:
Oo, maiwasan ang cervical cancer.
Bagamat nakakatulong ang paggamit ng condom, hindi nito lubusang napipigilan ang HPV transmission—lalo na sa oral contact.

Kaya ang pinaka-epektibong paraan ay ang HPV vaccination.
Inirerekomenda namin ang HPV 9 (Gardasil 9) dahil mas malawak ang proteksyon nito, kabilang ang HPV type 52 na karaniwan sa Pilipinas base sa mga pag-aaral.

Q5: Bukod sa HPV vaccination, ano pa po ang mga paraan upang maiwasan o mabawasan ang panganib ng cervical cancer?

A:
Mahalaga rin ang regular cervical cancer screening.
Kabilang dito ang:

  • HPV-DNA Testing
  • Pap smear
  • Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA)

Sa CerviQ, pinapalakas namin ang VIA gamit ang speculoscope-assisted VIA visualization, kung saan:

  • Mas malinaw at may magnification ang cervix
  • May image documentation
  • Maaaring ma-evaluate ng doktor kahit remotely
  • Mas naiintindihan ng pasyente ang kanilang kondisyon

Q6: Paano po ba matukoy ng maaga ang pagkakaroon ng cervical cancer? May sintomas po ba ito?

A:
Ang cervical cancer ay dahan-dahang nade-develop sa loob ng 10–15 taon, at kadalasan ay walang sintomas sa early stages.

Kaya hindi dapat hintayin ang sintomas bago magpatingin.
Ang pinakamahalaga ay regular screening, lalo na para sa kababaihang edad 30 hanggang 49.

Q7: Kung sakaling ma-diagnose na may cervical cancer, ano po ang mga posibleng gamutan?

A:
Depende sa stage ng sakit:

  • Early stage – maaaring operahan (surgery)
  • Advanced stage – radiation therapy at chemotherapy, kabilang ang brachytherapy

Mas maganda ang outcome kung ito ay nadetect nang maaga.

Q8: Ano po ang mga karaniwang dahilan kung bakit maraming kababaihan ang hindi agad nagpapasuri?

A:
Ilan sa mga pangunahing dahilan ay:

  • Kakulangan sa kaalaman o awareness
  • Takot at maling paniniwala
  • Kakulangan sa access sa screening services
  • Gastos

Ito ang mga dahilan kung bakit patuloy ang aming advocacy sa education at accessibility.

Q9: Bilang pagtatapos, ano po ang inyong mensahe sa ating mga ka-TNK, lalo na sa mga kababaihan?

A:
Ang mensahe ko ay simple:

👉 Magpabakuna. Magpa-screen. Huwag maghintay ng sintomas.

Sa CerviQ, patuloy naming pinapalawak ang access sa screening gamit ang speculoscope-assisted VIA, na nagbibigay ng:

  • Mas malinaw na visualization
  • Mas mabilis na evaluation ng doktor
  • Mas maayos na referral system
  • Mas magandang patient follow-up

Ang layunin namin ay dalhin ang serbisyong ito sa mas maraming lugar tulad ng:

  • Cuenca at Santo Tomas, Batangas
  • Marikina City
  • Health Screen Laboratory and Diagnostic Center – Makati Branch soon all 12 branches nationwide
  • At iba pang lugar tulad ng Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Isang opsital sa Agusan del Sur, City of Malolos, Municipality of Indang Cavite, at Municiaplity of Los Baños

👉 Dahil ang cervical cancer ay kayang maiwasan—kung kikilos tayo ngayon.

Jesus Randy RIvera

A graduate of the esteemed Far Eastern University - Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation, Dr. Rivera is a radiation oncologist by profession, equipped with specialized training in IMRT and prostate brachytherapy. His expertise has been honed through experiences at renowned institutions such as the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas and the Chicago Prostate Center in Chicago, among others. However, his contributions extend far beyond the clinical realm. Dr Bogs Rivera is the visionary founder of CerviQ, an advocacy group passionately committed to eradicating cervical cancer in the Philippines. Through innovative screening programs, leveraging artificial intelligence and remote diagnostic technologies, CerviQ strives to increase access to cervical cancer screenings in communities, facilitating early detection and potentially life-saving interventions. His leadership not only empowers healthcare professionals but also empowers communities, enabling barangay health workers to conduct screenings efficiently and accurately, with rapid turnaround times for results. Dr. Bogs Rivera embodies the intersection of medical expertise and humanitarianism, dedicated to improving healthcare outcomes and championing the cause of public health in the Philippines.