KCAT CAN: A birthday like no other

A birthday like no other
By Maria Katrina Lopez Yarza
Published: May 27, 2013

"When you enjoy what you have, you get happiness. When you share what you have, you multiply happiness.”

Since 2007, I have been celebrating my birth month by holding “MAY Birthday Project,” a gift-giving affair at the Philippine General Hospital where I share my blessings with people I call friends.

KCAT CAN: Addressing a global issue

Addressing a global issue
By Maria Kathrina Lopez Yarza
Published: May 13, 2013

It’S my birthday today! The month of May has always been special to me not only because this is my birth month, but because of a couple of other reasons that calls for a celebration. Most of my family members were born this month – my uncle on the 6th, my dad on the 10th, my cousin on the 16th, my brother on the 17th, my grandmother on the 20thh and my mother on the 27th.

This May 18 will be our 7th annual gift-giving at the Philippine General Hospital and I’m certain that it will be as successful as the previous years. More importantly, it’s also Neurofibromatosis (NF) Awareness Month, and I’ll get to celebrate it with my NF friends who’ll be joining me in my upcoming birthday project to spread NF awareness on May 18. Someday, I wish that we’ll have our own NF event in the country.

When Rachel Mindrup posted a message on our Neurofibromatosis Philippines page regarding her advocacy, I was really amazed with what she did. It’s not every day that you get to receive a message written in Filipino by an American. She is the artist behind The Many Faces of NF, where she raises NF awareness through her art.

KCAT CAN: Help save His masterpieces

Help save His masterpieces
By Maria Katrina Lopez Yarza
Published: April 29, 2013

The Lord is not slow to keep His promise. He is not slow in the way some people understand it. He is patient with you. He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed. Instead, He wants all people to turn away from their sins.” - 2 Peter 3:9

Gilda Fotunata Altez, whom everyone calls “Mommy G,” is one of the 10 finalists of the 2012 CLIS Search for Happiest Pinoy. She established “A Voice in A Storm,” a counseling advocacy group that helps married couples and families regain broken trust and respect and renew their marriage.

The News Today: You Can (Kcat)

You Can (Kcat)
By Dolly Palisada
April 3, 2013 - Iloilo News Today

Mandaluyong City - YOU HEAR THE doctor’s story about another patient with the same diagnosis and that patient is now gone. You see teary eyed visitors in her room and how sullen their faces are. Your husband is not saying a word, yet you hear his voice screaming.

At first they say it is brain tumor. You brush it off. Everything has reasons, you tell your self. There’s nothing to be afraid of because God is on your side. She will have a surgery, the medical expenses will bloat, but life must go on for her because she’s young.

22 days 'til MAY Birthday Project 2013

Our hands will never be too small for helping those who are in need, as long we have the heart to care.

Our 7th annual gift-giving at PGH tagged as MAY Birthday Project 2013 is going to be in less than a month and we still don't have enough gifts to share yet.

KCAT CAN: Living with optimism despite the suffering

Living with optimism despite the suffering
By Maria Kathrina Lopez Yarza
April 15, 2013

It’s always nice to know that you’ve been a big influence in somebody’s betterment, no matter how big or small the improvement is.

Two years ago, I met Karen Bernal, a 30-year-old woman who has chronic kidney disease and is undergoing dialysis. She is suffering from both physical and emotional pain. Although she never lost hope in getting a transplant and being cured, she was constantly sad and fearful because of all the problems that her sickness brought – financial and family problems to name a few. She also indulged in self-pity during those times.

“Maybe I could make Karen realize how beautiful life is,” I challenged myself and from then on we started becoming friends. I often gave her advice, told her jokes, cheered her on, and helped her realize how important her existence is.

KCAT CAN: Knocking on the hearts of others

Knocking on hearts of others
By Maria Kathrina Lopez Yarza
April 1, 2013


Back in 2007, while I was browsing through the internet, I found an implant device that could help me hear the world again. I was so excited and sad at the same time because it costs a million pesos. We just couldn’t afford it.

Wishlist 2013: MAY Birthday Project on May 18

Months before my birthday in 2007, I felt like God had been showering me with a lot of blessings which made me decide to give back something in return. I thought, "I want to celebrate my birthday with the kids in the hospital." Ideas about the event kept rushing in my mind; I want to do this and that but then again, I asked myself, "But we are not rich, how can we fund the event?”

KCAT CAN: Have the heart to share and care

Have the heart to share and care
by Maria Kathrina Lopez Yarza 
March 18, 2013

Our hands will never be too small for helping those who are in need, as long we have the heart to care. This is something that I have learned through our annual gift-giving event dubbed “MAY Birthday Project” at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

KCAT CAN: In sickness and in health

In sickness and in health
by Maria Kathrina Lopez Yarza 
March 4, 2013

One of the nice things about being sick is that you can easily relate to other persons who may also be in a similar predicament. Most often, the support you give to each other becomes the foundation of a beautiful friendship. One of them is Ate Jeneth Catapang, whose family I really admire.