Director Olivia Lamasan opens up about surviving breast cancer twice
Film director Olivia Lamasan recently shared her experience of overcoming cancer.
In an Instagram post for ICanServe Foundation's Icons of Hope campaign, which highlights cancer survivor stories, Olivia revealed that she beat breast cancer twice.
"My first bout with breast cancer was in 2008. The second one was in 2022. In both instances, I opted for mastectomy... (In my cancer journey, I discovered) that I could love myself, that I could prioritize needs, and that I am not indispensable. So, let go. Be free, and live and enjoy the life God has blessed you with!" she said.
Olivia recounted her journey with cancer, expressing gratitude to God and reflecting on the emotional challenges she faced.
"I am very grateful to God for holding my hand and guiding me through moments of shock, fear, anger, regret, and then through moments of finding forgiveness, acceptance, love, healing, and in discovering and finding myself," she stated.
The former head of ABS-CBN's creative department expressed appreciation to her family and friends, including director Marilou Diaz-Abaya who is also battling breast cancer. She thanked them for their support throughout her ordeal which gave her "invaluable strength and will to survive."
At the end of the post, Olivia credited Kara Alikpala with introducing her to the ICanServe Foundation, a non-profit organization that advocates early breast cancer detection.
"My other guardian angel was Kara Alikpala. I barely knew her (but) I got a text from her, then we met and she introduced me to ICanServe—a world that made me feel that I am not alone; a world that me realize that I am more than the illness; a world that gave my cancer a purpose," Olivia said.
Olivia launched her career in 1986 as a Production Assistant on Nine Deaths of the Ninja. She went on to direct some of the Philippines' highest-grossing and most successful films, including Got 2 Believe, In My Life, In the Name of Love, and Starting Over Again. Her television credits include serving as creative director for the 2000 teleserye Pangako Sa'Yo (starring Kristine Hermosa and Jericho Rosales) and also directing its 2015 remake starring Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla.
