More B.R.A. Art from the CMZ B.R.A. A.R.T. Workshop

For those who have followed my blog, you must have a B.R.A. overdose by now. But, I guess that is advocacy is all about, right?!

Advocacy is the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal.*

Health advocacy supports and promotes patient's health care rights as well as enhance community health and policy initiatives that focus on the availability, safety and quality of care.**

The CMZ B.R.A. (Bra to Raise Awareness) Campaign Project advocates for Breast Wellness and Breast Cancer Awareness using old and used brassieres and using ART as the medium.

We had two CMZ B.R.A. A.R.T. (Act Right Together) workshops where CMZ staff, then, with partners in the community joined hands to create fabulous bra art from old and used bras. Along the way, many were inspired to continue to create embellished bras.

We had the "Borloloy Buffet" which is another term for "Blings Buffet"available for participants to choose their art materials then come up with their concepts.

The products of the CMZ B.R.A. A.R.T. workshop are used for the Ciudad De Zamboanga B.R.E.A.S.T. (Bra to Raise Early Awareness for Screening and Technology) Installation Art, but because of very innovative creations, we also have the CMZ B.R.A. Art Exhibit for the chosen embellished bras.

In this post, I will share with you many of the individual decorated bras in several collages using InstaMag. Some of these bras may be viewed with the CMZ B.R.A. Art Exhibit and the others are now part of the  B.R.E.A.S.T. Installation Art.

We have Decorated Bras from our CMZ Staff and Nurse Trainees. We have about 200 bra art from the Hemodialysis Unit; about 50 decorated bras from Medical Records / Rehab Unit group; about 28 from Radiology and about 15 from the OR/DR/NICU group.

We have partners in the community especially, from the Breast Cancer Survivor group (Mindanao Breast Cancer Support and Empowerment Association); our partners in health = Department of Health Region IX, Oficina De Salud, PhilHealth; Western Mindanao Command; our school partners = Ateneo De Zamboanga University, Universidad De Zamboanga, Brent Hospital and Colleges and Nuevo Zamboanga Colleges Inc.; our friends from the banking industry = PNB and Metrobank.

And of course, we have the support of our friends from other parts of the Philippines: Elsie Cubero Lim from the Cebu City Budget Office (pink floral bra); Dr. Joy Santos-De Leon and family from Bocaue, Bulacan (silver bra with teddy bear) and Prescy Valenzuela Yulo of Skin Rejuve with six Manila branches.

Most of all, my friends from Brunei/Singapore also sent bra art made by Molly Yap's daughter, Elene who is 14 years old!

Here is more from our CMZ staff/trainees and from partners in the community...

So, if you are from the Zamboanga City area, please schedule your FREE LECTURES on Breast Wellness and Breast Cancer Awareness at the Ciudad Medical Zamboanga Breast Wellness Center at 992-7330 local 1278!

Let the Awareness start with us!

Early detection and early treatment save lives!!!

CMZ B.R.A.rt (Bra to Raise Awareness) Art EXHIBIT 2014

 Last March 21, 2014 was a special day for the CMZ B.R.A. (Bra to Raise Awareness) Campaign Project as it launched two highlight activities:

* At 11 a.m., the CMZ B.R.A. (Bra to Raise Awareness) Art Exhibit was launched. 

*  At 5 p.m., the Ciudad De Zamboanga B.R.E.A.S.T. (Bra to Raise Early Awareness for Screening and Treatment) Installation Art was unveiled!

Ciudad De Zamboanga B.R.E.A.S.T. (Bra to Raise Early Awareness for Screening and Treatment) Installation Art

For the Launching of the CMZ B.R.A. (Bra to Raise Awareness) Art Exhibit, the very suppportive City Councilor Myra Paz Valderrosa Abubakar (who has been very active with the B.R.A. project from the beginning) and DOTIX Director, Ms. Mary June Bugante did the honors of cutting the ceremonial ribbon! 

The BRA Art is created by CMZ staff and children (Christine 11 y.o.) ; partners in the community such as the Mindanao Breast Cancer Support and Empowerment Association, Sangguniang Panglungsod, Department of Health Region IX Office, Zamboanga City Health Office, PhilHealth, Western Mindanao Command, Nuevo Zamboanga Colleges Inc., Sophie Paris - Zamboanga, PNB, Metrobank, Ateneo De Zamboanga University, WMSU and more; as well as friends from Manila especially Skin Rejuve and JCMI c/o Prescy Yulo; from Cebu City Budget Office c/o Elsie Lim and from Bulacan, Dr. Joy Santos-De Leon. 

Looking for my bra! Hope you find your bra and identify them... then share this exhibit with your friends!

Also note we have Elene Kho, 14 y.o. young lady from Brunei (Singapore-Brunei blood) who also shared her bras. Thanks to her mom, Molly! They are from Brunei (not Filipinos) who mailed the bras to support us. 

Here are the beautifully embellished B.R.A. Art for Advocacy now on display at Lantaka Hotel and eventually, in other places in Zamboanga City!

With Love from Elene Koh, 14 y.o. from BRUNEI

Thanks to all who contributed and most of all to Rameer Tawasil, Sulu-born International artist who conceptualized this project together with Dr. F. Rojo and Dante Corteza!

L-R: Rameer Tawasil, DOT IX RD Mary June Bugante, F. Rojo, Hon. Myra Paz Abubakar, Dante Corteza, Dr. Jonathan Reyes  

seated: DOT IX RD Mary June Bugante and Hon. Myra Paz Abubakarstanding L-R: CMZ AO Ruby Ruzon, CMZ HRD Juvee Calica, Dante Corteza, Rameer Tawasil, Tita Corteza, CMZ MD Filipinas Rojo, RG Antonet Go and CMZ CEO Jhihann Hairun-Natividad

With Zamboanga Ecozone Head, Cris Arnuco, DOT IX RD Mary June Bugante, artist Rameer Tawasil, Dante and Tita Corteza, Camera Club Head Sixto Kwan with CMZ Execom and Managers

Thanks to the press who came over from Zamboanga Times, Zamboanga Today and RMN / GMA.

the Press with RG Antonet Go, Nonong Santiago, Dante Corteza and Sixto Kwan, Camera Club PResident

Please come and visit us at Lantaka Hotel. At a future time, this will be moved to Tony's at Paseo Del Mar and other parts of Zamboanga City.

Thank you so much to Monsi Dela  Cruz and to Alan Dela Cruz for allowing us to display our CMZ B.R.A.rt Advocacy Exhibit at Lantaka Hotel by the Sea and to the Lantaka Staff who were so helpful in putting up the exhibit!

If your bra is not here, do not despair! it is incorporated in the Ciudad De Zamboanga B.R.E.A.S.T. Installation Art!

Come and look for you decorated bra in this giant bra!

Come visit the Ciudad De Zamboanga B.R.E.A.S.T. (Bra to Raise Early Awareness for Screening and Treatment) Installation Art at Ciudad Medical Zamboanga!