On May 10, Lupus patients celebrated World Lupus Day, also the birthday of the founder of the Hope for Lupus Foundation Inc. (HFL), and DIWA Party-list representative Emmeline Aglipay-Villar.
Aglipay-Vullar envisions the foundation as an instrument for information dissemination on what Lupus is all about.
A surprise birthday celebration for her, a gift from her husband, Sec. Mark Villar, was held with the press and some patients of lupus. She chose to celebrate World Lupus day with her fellow lupus warriors. Secretary Villar gave inspirational gifts to the lupus warriors so they could continue to fight on and inspire others in HFL.
Aglipay-Villar was diagnosed with lupus in 2007. She underscored how early diagnosis can prevent the disease from worsening or even prevent deaths.
“Many people with lupus die because they were diagnosed when it was too late to do something about it, and more people die undiagnosed. If they had known about the symptoms of lupus and received the proper treatment early on, their lives could have been saved.”
Aglipay-Villar added, “By having this exhibit more people will know about lupus and its symptoms and this will aid in the early identification of the illness in people who have viewed the exhibit or those they know.”