Aime de Asis-­Fabila, MD
Ma. Theresa Collante, MD

The People Empowerment for ARthritis and Lupus (PEARL) once again assembled with enthusiasm at St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) last March 8 and 15, 2015 for its quarterly gathering. SLMC and University of Santo Tomas Hospital (USTH) rheumatology fellows and staff initiated the activity under the supervision of Dr. Sandra V. Navarra.

The two consecutive Sundays focused and empowered the patients to live a healthy lifestyle. The patients, caregivers as well as the staff invigorate the “Zumba” under the tutelage of Marsha Mallari.

Abegail Calamaya, a lupus with nephritis and “Yolanda survivor” gave her rendition of “My Valentine”. The duet of Dr. Marica Lazo, chief rheumatology fellow of SLMC and Abegail inspired everyone by their own version of “Love me for what I am”.

EJ Anasarias, psoriatic arthritis patient promoted the event of Henshincon on March 21-22, 2015 at Mall of Asia Arena featuring Red mask. The PEARL group pleaded their support to the said event.

Abegail expressed her appreciation to her doctors through her poem entitled “Not just a doctor but a best friend”. Dr. Sandra V. Navarra commenced the graduated fellows namely Dr. Kathleen Geslani, Dr. Joseph Patricio and Dr. Marica Lazo.

The videos of PEARL through the years as well as PEARL at Davao were showed during the program. Glimore gourmet and noodle king catered the healthy lunch. Indeed another flourishing and healthy PEARL gathering. If patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can exercise despite of the pains of their illness, it is a challenge to everyone to start an exercise.