Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar and Gavel&Block team up for a benefit online auction in support of the Hope for Lupus Foundation this Saturday, Oct. 16, via salcedoauctions.com.
The auction will feature close to 100 lots, with proceeds helping to support the foundation’s work in the illness’ early detection and proper treatment. Among the lots going under the gavel are works by leading contemporary Filipino visual artists such as Emmanuel Garibay, Raffy Napay, Jigger Cruz, Alfredo Esquillo, Jr., Manuel Ocampo, Daniel dela Cruz, Winner Jumalon, and Olan Ventura. Also going under the hammer are sterling silver pieces from Cartier and Tiffany & Co., fine Baccarat and Lalique crystal, as well as jewelry by Riqueza and Janina Dizon.
Lupus is a chronic and life-long autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system turns on itself and attacks the organs, mistaking them as foreign and harmful. Over five million people worldwide have been diagnosed with lupus. Realistically, this statistic can be even higher since a number of lupus cases remain undiagnosed. Even though this condition can affect people of all ages, races, and ethnicities, there is still a significant lack of understanding and awareness around this condition.
The cause hits close to home for Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, who experienced an onslaught of seemingly unrelated health crises when she was 25 years old. What began with skin rashes developed into joint pain and then came the indescribable fatigue, hair loss, and dizziness — all of which she chalked up to stress, back then. Like most lupus patients, it took time for her to receive a proper diagnosis. Apart from the varied symptoms a lupus patient can experience, there are only a handful of specialists for the condition in the country.
After Villar learned of her diagnosis, she dove headfirst into learning all she could about lupus, putting in hours upon hours of research. She felt strongly that her fellow Filipinos should be better equipped to deal with the invisible illness. It was at this time that she decided to raise awareness for the lifelong condition in the country, ultimately creating Hope for Lupus Foundation. Today, the foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to promote the early detection and proper treatment of lupus by increasing awareness about this mysterious condition.
