Monday, August 11, 2008
Benjie Toledo & Tony Fabella: Of Friends and Loved Ones …
Dear Friends -- We had a beautiful memorial mass for Benjie Toledo at Santuario de San Antonio, Forbes Park last Aug. 4. It was an intimate gathering of his friends from all walks of life.
Hospicio de San Jose nuns, two classmates from the orphanage, CCP and Bayanihan dancers, models, singers, composers, designers, writers, his family in Manila: Tony Fabella, Eddie Elejar and Luther Perez, and NY’s Orly and Leah Bartolome were all there.
The Manila Dance Choir (Tony and Luther’s Manila sector of street kids) sang hymns during mass along with the Hospicio nuns.
Ding Mercado’s rendition of ‘Minahal Kita’ was so moving it drove some to tears. I was asked to read my Multiply blog article on Benjie. Leah too said a few words.
Friends brought food and there was bonding that followed.
I often glanced at Mara sitting at the side of the chapel looking solemnly radiant.
Benjie was definitely beaming. I’m sure he was so very happy that day.
Now, let me continue with news about Tony Fabella, Benjie’s mentor. Tony Fabs or Ton, as we fondly call him, will have an operation on Sept. 5 at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila. His cardiovascular surgeons, Dr. Catalan and Dr. Kaw briefed him and Luther on the procedure and costs. “You know,” Ton said, “when the doctors were explaining everything to us, nothing entered my mind. I just kept nodding.” So it was Luther who gave me the facts that I’d like to share with you.
Early this year, Tony Fabs was diagnosed with colon cancer, stage 1, for which he had to undergo a series of radiation treatment. Let me add that it’s the bane of dancers – and a majority of artists, especially in the Philippines – never to think of insurance policies.
Like the rest of us, Tony Fabs never bothered with these ‘trivial’ insurance policies. He just keeps sharing his craft with anyone who is interested in dance.
When we are still hale and hearty and doing things the body is never meant to do in the first place; dance 8 hours straight, starve, turn 32 times on one leg, leap like a frog, lift bodies overhead, etc., etc., etc., we all believe we are perpetually invincible.
When the diagnosis came and, because he is our beloved Tony Fabs, people rallied round to his aid. Contributions and dance tributes given in his honor raised enough to help meet high medical costs.
Later, Ton told me that he was troubled by a bizarre medical development. Scans revealed that he not only had cancer but also abdominal aortic aneurysm. The doctors said that after radiation treatment, he will be given time to gather strength for another major operation, one that costs a lot more and has higher risks.
Luther roughly explained to me what ‘abdominal aortic aneurysm’ means. “The aorta, which is the main artery of the heart, extends all the way to the stomach. This is what I understood from the doctors. CT scans showed that two veins in Ton’s abdomen collapsed, are inflamed and now getting larger. It’s being clogged creates pressure. Ton’s veins are swollen and on the danger mode. If they burst, he will have an internal hemorrhage.”
They were given two choices by the doctors. One operation costs P300,000 and another about 1 million. These packages include doctors’ fees but not post operation expenses which may come later due to complications. They chose the first option. “It all depends on how strong Ton is.” As it is, they are still short of P120,000 so “… dinedma na lang namin yung 1 million,” Luther nervously adds, feigning a giggle.
He also revealed that the first option is more risky because it is an open surgery. A tube will be inserted to replace the problematic vein and create another passageway for the blood to flow through. Although it has a 95% success rate, Tony’s heart and blood pressure will be monitored extensively after the operation. “If Ton recovers well, he can go home in a little over the week and be active in two months. So please ask everyone to pray for his speedy recovery!”
The second option, recommended for Ton’s age, is less invasive. They will insert a tube from his thigh and it will trace all his veins to locate the problem. “This one is a ‘blind’ procedure, hindi sure, so it can be repeated,” Luther adds. “But it is costly and because of financial constraints we’re going for the first option.”
The previous benefit shows helped them a lot. Another dear friend is planning another tribute in December, “… the time of Ton’s recuperation when post operation expenses may come. We also need six persons for blood donations. Ton is Type O but people can donate blood regardless of their blood type. It’s only meant to replace the old stock.” To inquire about this, please text Luther at 
0917-8317974
.
After his initial radiation treatments his voice did sound exhausted. I’m only too happy to hear his legendary giggle again which means he is getting stronger everyday. I ask everyone to storm heaven with prayers for the success of his operation on September 5 and for his immediate recovery.
I wrote an article about Tony Fabs in the June 2008 edition of Town and Country, Philippines. If you can get a copy, please read it. I will put the article in my blog sometime December since I am to wait for six months before posting it.
Filipino artists are among the few people who bring honor to our country. Yet, the government has not done much to support them. The CCP and NCCA are doing their best but there is still too much state bureaucracy preventing our arts administrators from buoying up full-scale support. Many artists retire in oblivion, poverty and with very little dignity. A few are still asked to practice their craft for free or for a price so ridiculous it is demeaning.
In my opinion, Tony is one of those who have reached a status of prominence that he should be in a pedestal honored not just by younger artists but by the whole country. Artists of his caliber abroad are held in such esteem and reverence. But here, it bounces back to the ‘family’ of artists who end up helping one another. In this context, a group of us has come with with the Artists Welfare Project, Inc. which I will write about soon.
Going back to my beloved mentor, for those who would like to help, please email him at tonyfabz@yahoo.com. He has so much to teach, to give, to create. Let’s keep one of the country’s most fabulous artists on his feet, our much-loved Tony Fabella.
(The photos of Benjie in this blog came from friends who emailed them to me - thanks! The old photos of Tony Fabs were taken by the late Rudy Vidad. They are some of Tony's works for the CCP Dance Company/Ballet Philippines: Prince of the Pagodas, Batuque, Six for Kasilag, Semana Santa. Tony's dancing photos are from his lead roles in Rosalia Merin-Santos' Halina't Maglaro and Alice Reyes' A Midsummer Night's Dream.)
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