Three major TV networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) joined in an effort to raise money for cancer research this past Friday night.

"Stand Up To Cancer is more than a rallying cry. It is a galvanizing force created to urgently move cancer research forward.

This is where the end of cancer begins: when we unite in one unstoppable movement and Stand Up To Cancer."

One person every minute. Cancer.

For the 60 minutes that the program aired, I was in the hospital with my dad and my mom. My mom, who has cancer. She was in the hospital because of a fever -- the visit was more of a precaution because the chemo she had the other week has virtually wiped out her immune system. Cancer.

While we were in the ER room watching SU2C, family friends were heavy on my heart knowing that the next morning, they would remember and celebrate the life of their husband, father, uncle, friend. Cancer.

And yet there was hope as I thought about friends who have thankfully been cancer-free for years now. And, grateful that my mom's cancer is in remission. Thankful, that research has been done that has likely improved treatment and prognosis for my mother's type of leukemia.

And hope... remembering that God is our ultimate HOPE and HEALER.

It was inspiring listening to the stories of people who have been affected by cancer and to see the entertainment industry -- so influential in our society -- stepping in to do something about it.

During my mom's very first stay at HUP back in April, I was in the nourishment getting my mom's morning cup of coffee. There filling up his coffee mug was a fellow patient with a baseball cap fitted over his head. On it the words... CANCER SUCKS.

One person every minute? Yes, it does.
But, things can change.

After I mention to someone that I'll be heading to Manila, Philippines the most common question I get is... "You speak the language, right?"

WRONG.

Yes, both of my parents are Tagalog speakers. Unfortunately, I am not.

I grew up hearing Tagalog, but for the most part I saw it as my parent's "secret" language or the "you're in trouble" language. My parents usually used English when speaking to us kids, unless we were in trouble. The did speak Tagalog to each other, but I usually just tuned-out.

Now I can understand SOME things, and can say SOME things, but the truth is...I have to learn the language.

Learning Tagalog isn't required for the work that I'll be doing. In fact, English is often used in business and it is widely used and understood in Manila. But, I AM Filipino. Just looking at me people will expect me to understand and speak the language. I try to prepare myself now for how I will deal with the feelings I'll have when not being able to meet that expectation.

But, learning Tagalog is a life goal of mine. I want to be able to understand fully family conversations in Tagalog. And, I want to be able to contribute to those conversations! I want to learn.

I've tried to learn with/from my parents with very little success. I tried to do book exercises. Helpful, but still need more. So, for my 32nd birthday my parents got me the perfect birthday gift! Rosetta Stone.

This past week I had my first lesson. So far, so good. But then again, after 32 years of Tagalog exposure... I should be able to make it through at least the first few lessons with relative ease.

We'll see... hopefully that will be the case!

Maraming salamat po, Mommy at Daddy!