A Woman Named Jocelyn

My name is Dan. And I support Endometrial Cancer Awareness.

Why – you might ask – would a guy like me advocate something which he is totally and physiologically exempt from? Yes, Endometrial Cancer is a silent killer of women, and I could support other causes; however, this issue is particularly close to my heart and let me tell you why.

It’s about a woman named Jocelyn.

She was a firecracker, a thunderbolt of sorts. It’s impossible not to notice Jocelyn even if you throw her amid a cacophony of jungle animals. She never failed to light up any dull and dreary room with her burst of energy. Jolly, funny, witty, and happy are among the many things people would often use to describe Jocelyn.  She was a painter of smiles on everyone’s faces and a refreshing ray of warm sunlight on a cold, gloomy day. She once said that perhaps her only mission in this world was to cheer up those who were down. But to those who loved her, she was much more.

photo not author's own

She was only 4’9” (or 5’1” depending on who’s asking), but she could effortlessly tower anyone twice her size with the enormity of her personality. Jocelyn was a brave little warrior against life’s innumerable and oftentimes extravagant tribulations. With nothing but a chill pill and a purple sword in tow, she was always ready to vanquish many of life’s fire-breathing dragons, especially the one that’s called negativity. She’s arguably one of the most positive people anyone could ever meet. Good vibes always and smile, she would always say. Funny, little girl.

A few days after she turned 53, she was diagnosed with cancer. Endometrial Carcinoma. Stage 4. A little over a year after – on June 13, 2011 – she died peacefully in her home in Dipolog City.

She was my mother.

Driving Miriam Defensor Santiago

Miriam Defensor Santiago stole the spotlight. Yet again. With a fierce glint in her eyes and signature fiery rhetoric in tow, Miriam approached the lectern and called some Supreme Court Justices ‘earthworms.’ I resisted the urge to stand up and clap. But I couldn’t. This woman has bigger cojones than all of the Supreme Court Justices combined. (This piece was written in 2006 – author)

As I was vegetating on my couch half-drunk and pounding on the channel button every 5 seconds, something instantly grabbed my attention. A crazy lady with big hair and funny accent. Then it dawned to me. Miriam. I knew I had to put the remote control down and marvel at her Miriam-ness. Miriam yelled. Miriam screamed. Miriam exploded. Miriam went berserk.

The Issue: She's been removed from the official list of candidates for the Chief Justice position, which will be vacated in a week or two. She suspected conspiracy and sabotage to boot her out of the list. She said she wasn’t angry, but “irate, furious, ballistic, fuming, foaming at the mouth, hitting the roof, homicidal” and basically enumerated every word synonymous with ‘angry.’ That’s my girl!

“I am humiliated! Debased! Degraded! And not only that, I feel like throwing up to be living my iddle years in a country of this nature!“