PHILUSA Marks 69 Years of Service Through Support for Pediatric Cancer Patients at Bahay Aruga
According to an article published by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), approximately 4,700 to 5,000 Filipino children aged 0 to 19 are diagnosed with cancer every year. Metro Manila consistently records some of the country’s highest incidence rates and spatial clustering, particularly in densely populated areas such as Quezon City and the City of Manila.
Behind every statistic is a family forced into a life they never planned for. A parent or guardian leaves their hometown and livelihood behind. Some take on debt that may take years to repay. For many families whose children undergo treatment at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), the burden extends beyond the disease itself. The cost of transportation, lodging, food, and daily necessities often becomes another battle running parallel to cancer.
For some patients and their guardians, staying in Manila for treatment once meant sleeping on hospital sidewalks and corridors while waiting for their next appointment because they had no place to stay. Others abandoned treatment altogether, unable to sustain the expenses that came with weeks, months, and sometimes years of medical care far from home. It was from this reality that Bahay Aruga was born.
Established on January 20, 2014, Bahay Aruga serves as a free halfway house for pediatric cancer patients of PGH. Many of its residents come from provinces hundreds of kilometers away from Manila. Their treatment schedules require frequent hospital visits, and in many cases, prolonged stays near the medical center. At Bahay Aruga, families find more than a temporary roof over their heads. They receive guidance, medicines, daily necessities, and, perhaps most importantly, a place where they do not have to face uncertainty alone.
With its 69th anniversary, PHILUSA Corporation chose to commemorate the milestone through service. On June 11, the company brought its annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) program to Bahay Aruga, where children undergoing cancer treatment and their families confront challenges that extend well beyond hospital walls. Given the medical condition of the beneficiaries, the team observed proper health protocols and kept the visit within the appropriate duration recommended for the patients.
As part of the activity, lunch packs were distributed to the patients and their guardians. The meals were prepared based on Bahay Aruga’s recommendations and included beef mechado, fried tilapia, pinakbet, rice, banana, and fruit juice. Along with the food distribution, gift packs containing personal care essentials were also provided to the guardians and Bahay Aruga staff. These included MEDIPLAST Face Mask Kids, MEDIPLAST Copper Mask, MEDIPLAST Plastic Strips Bantam 100s, Babyflo Gentle Buds Blue, Cleene Ethyl Alcohol 70%, Cleene CLIO Toothbrush, and Babyflo Baby Wipes Antibacterial.
To bring a moment of enjoyment to the pediatric patients, a balloon-making activity was also conducted during the visit. The balloon artist entertained the children by creating different balloon designs, including flowers, hats, swords, and cartoon characters, providing a brief experience of play and amusement amid their treatment journey.
The program concluded with the turnover of an additional cash donation to help support Bahay Aruga’s facility maintenance and utility expenses. The donation acknowledged a reality often overlooked in conversations about charitable work: caring for children with cancer requires more than medical intervention. It requires functioning shelters, electricity, clean water, safe living spaces, and organizations willing to carry responsibilities that extend long after visitors have gone home.
As PHILUSA celebrates sixty-nine years of service, its visit to Bahay Aruga stands as a quiet reminder that the most meaningful anniversaries are not measured by the years a company has existed, but by the lives it chooses to stand beside while those years continue to unfold.
