Choosing to Live: Dr. Ben's Miracle: Triumph Over Terminal Cancer
By Benjamin R. Sanidad Jr with Cecil Murphy
Hartland Publications, 2001
One beautiful March morning in 1996, Dr. Benjamin R Sanidad, Jr., 51 began the darkest journey of his life. He collapsed while administering anesthesia for surgery at Marion General Hospital. When a friend/colleague looked down an endoscope into Dr. Sanidad's stomach, his eyes filled with tears. By then, Dr. Sanidad writes, "I was ready to hear the diagnosis. But I was not as ready to hear the location." It was cancer of the esophagus, a disease usually fatal within months.
Resigned to die, Dr. Sanidad accepted treatment to appease his colleagues. He tried to pray asking God to draw his family closer. "I didn't even know if God had heard me," he writes. But, after surgery, something changed in Dr. Sanidad. With the support of family and friends, he began to fight for survival. He refused chemotherapy and opted for an alternative, natural treatment. He also renewed and deepened his faith in God. Four years later, Dr. Sanidad returned to work.
Dr Herman L. Reyes, missiologist, revisits Adventist history in the Philippines Corner Redlands and Mt View Ave, Loma Linda, CA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR1uMn8PWzI
RODA clan Wedding homily by Pastor Ann Roda White Memorial Church of Seventh-day Adventists 401 N. State St., Los Angeles, CA 90033, U.S.A. 14 May 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB2gESeq-Co
From Teresa Torres Date: Thur, 26 Feb 2009 Hello Everyone,
It's official! Debbie and Donn got married today! Feb. 26 at 5 P.M. at the Dunn residence here in La Sierra. It was a very small, simple, short but elegant wedding. And preparation time..3 days! Only immediate family members were present, so there were Debbie's parents, Kathleen and Bob, her brother Clark and wife Lena, and their 2 kids, Nicolas and Laila. From our side, there was Romie and me, Val, Andrea and Sydney. All the men wore Barong, even 5 yr old Nicolas, and of course, the black pants.
Torres and Dunn families Debbie had a beautiful gown with a black bolero and looked so elegant and went so well with what the guys were wearing. The rest of the women wore black with different colored pashmina, top or jacket. Val and Andrea will send e-pictures because I don't know how to do that. I'll go to Costco tomorrow and have some pictures printed.
Bob and Kathleen have a very beautiful home. The ceremony took place in the formal dining area with a view of the fountain in the patio and greenery of the garden against the open space and background of the mountains and hills of Riverside.The guys marched out from the kitchen while Debbie came out of the master bedroom, with music playing from a CD put together by Val and Donn. The 2 "best brothers" stood by their side and Sydney and Laila walked out with Debbie with their flower basket.(Sydney decided to sit on the floor for a short time) Sydney wore a long light blue dress with a pretty pair of white shoes. Laila's dress was light yellow and she also had a lovely white pair of shoes. Debbie's bouquet was white and lilac roses. Nicolas was the ring bearer and even handed the right rings to the bride and groom.
Sam Lenor officiated (one of the pastors in La Sierra- I think he's the university campus chaplain.) When the couple was pronounced husband and wife and kissed, the Hallelujah music came on with everyone applauding! After the ceremony, we took a lot of pictures, then went to Mission Inn for dinner. There was dessert with dinner but I brought mango and ube cake and mango and ube ice cream which we all enjoyed. We are so happy that the wedding finally happened. I'm sure, no one is happier than Debbie and Donn. This wedding has been planned 2 other previous times but didn't happen since it was so difficult for Debbie to get away from her job. So we all just accepted that it will happen when it happens. As Andrea said, "I'll believe it when I see it". So, now, it has happened and we'd like everyone to join us in wishing them well. Hopefully, next time they'll be able to know and tell us ahead of time when they can come home so we can plan a reception. Debbie is flying back to Switzerland on Saturday. Donn will leave March 4 but to England first for a band tour,then go on to Geneva.
On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 1:02 PM, Arturo P Roda wrote:
Cora
I shall work on the music of Come Jesus. The correction in the Lyrics: Breathes now this happy soul
Leon's father - Juan [Demaya] Roda; mother - Zumel (family name, I do not know her first name)
Juan had a first wife (I do not know her name). The older of the two children was (nana) Victoria. Her oldest daughter was (manang) Juana. The second was a nurse graduate from Chinese General Hospital, Juliana, a very tall woman. The third was Natalia. Her son, Dr. Gabriel Factora was my colleague at Kettering Medical Center for three years. His wife was Dr. Myrna, a Tagala. Victoria's only son was a little guy, Pablo, and the youngest Benita was the smallest. A younger sibling of Victoria was Efren, who migrated to Mindanao. I met him only once. I suspect that the Father Roda from Mindanao was his grandson.
Leon's siblings are (in proper order) Sergio (full brother), married to a Tagala from Cavite, (tiya Candida). Their three daughters, Natividad, a nun, Visitacion, organist for a Catholic congregation, and, Fortunata, also a nun. All are retired.
Continuing: Alvaro, Antonino, Bartolome, Rosario (was a man, died early, never knew him), and Manuela the youngest was very beautiful (the Zumels were very Hispanic). Antonino lived with us for many years. Later Manuela lived with us also in Baesa before her demise, a victim of tuberculosis. Tata Tony warned me of our family curse (tuberculosis). He observed that our family was short lived. Tata Tony lived to a ripe old age. Bartolome migrated to the USA before I got to know him. He visited after the war. I was a medical student then. He gave me an American Expresss check, not for my tuition but to spend for my pleasure. He was a veteran of the war in Europe, the western front.
Uncle
Maria Panis and Leon Z. Roda with the first 3 of five children, L-R, Eduardo, Elizabeth and Mercedes
From ARTURO P. RODA to MAR VELASCO [FANDiscussion - Oct 23, 2008]
A little clarification. Alfonso P. Roda was my brother. Antonino Zumel Roda was our uncle, and proud of it. The third of the three pastor brothers was Alvaro. Our father was Leon Zumel Roda, the oldest of the three. He was a student in Manila when at the age of 16 yrs. he and a Manilan named Bibiano Panis opened the door for Elder L. V. Finster to bring the good tidings of the gospel to my mother's family in Sta. Ana, Manila [1909]. So, you see, the Mother Roda you knew in Philippine Union College, Baisa, was a Taga-Maynila. At age 19 yrs. my mother married the 21 yr. old Leon. At age 23 yrs. my father, along with my uncle Bibiano Panis and Emilio Manalaysay, was ordained to the gospel Ministry in 1916; they were the first Seventh-day Adventist nationals to be ordained in the Philippines.
I grew up in the Manila region, particularly Pasay and Baisa. I did learn Ilocano when our grandfather invited our family to stay with him in Sarrat, a suburb of Laoag City, for one year at the age of 4-5 yrs. because of the recent passing away of my father. [Leon died in 1925, when Arturo, the youngest of his 5 children, was only 2 years old.] When we came back to Pasay I quickly forgot to speak the language, although I can still understand sufficiently, so that, hindi niyo ako maipagbibili.
Alfonso and I and our three other siblings were 2nd generation Adventists.
Standing, L-R: Arturo, Eduardo, Alfonso; seated with their mother Maria Panis-Roda, center, were Elizabeth, L, and Mercedes, R.[Eduardo, the eldest of Maria's children, weakened by disease died within a couple of weeks prior to the liberation of Manila by Allied forces during WW2.]
Our family [the Leon branch] is now in its fourth generation; but, the Alvaro branch is now in its 5th generation. Three generations of the Maria Panis and Leon Z. Roda family.
Maxima de la Cruz and Alvaro Z. Roda with the first 3 of ten children, L-R, Rebecca, Esther and David.
We just celebrated our Roda family reunion in August [held in San Diego, CA] with an attendance of 110 out of a present family tree count of about 200. Our theme was Rehearsal for Heaven. I have been crowned by some members of the family as their Living Patriarch. I turned 85 yrs. in my last BD. Every opportunity I have, I like to witness for my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Happy Sabbath, and God bless you all.
ART RODA Mountain View Ave, Loma Linda, CA ...
Oct 24, 2008
Mar here to Dr. Roda:
I praise the Lord for having the Roda clan in His family. May your tribe continue to increase! I heard the name Leon Z Roda as one of those who introduced the gospel in Amarao. The first church building was built there as a result of the ministry of the late Leon Z Roda and company. The church was rebuilt about nine years ago with the help of the son of the late Elder [Roy] Hay.
Your brother Alfonso spoke fluent Ilocano. I was privileged to talk with him first hand regarding the issue of the Santuary doctrine after he came back from a series of meetings in Maryland. Nagsalita pa siya ng Ilocano dahil batid niya na bagong salta lang ako sa PUC at nagugulumihanan ako sa sigalot na likha ni Desmond Ford. He was so nice to explain to me the position of Dr. Ford which as rejected by the GC administrators and theologians because of several reasons.
What I am saying is that you have indeed touched the lives of many people in many ways. I shall continue to pray that you will succeed in your desire to witness for our Savior Jesus Christ in spite of your age. But at first glance, I thought you were only 68 or 69 years old. Belated happy birthday. Naimbag a Sabado.
Mar Velasco ...
On Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:42:59 -0400 mvelasco01@aol.com writes: Mar here to Dr. Roda;
Doc, all the while I thought you were brothers with Dr. Alfonso and Dr. Antonino Roda. [The late Pastor Antonino Zumel Roda received a doctorate honoris causa from Southwestern University in Cebu during a Commencement at which time he addressed the graduates as their keynote speaker.] I had the pleasure to meet them when I was very new in the faith. I was first acquainted with Dr. Antonino Roda, a wonderful man of God and well known all throughout Northern Luzon Mission. The first time I heard him speak was in a camp meeting. He spoke with eloquence and I always loved to hear his deep Bacarra like voice. He could speak well in Ilocano, and also Visayan. I was always delighted and encouraged by his sermons to love our Lord Jesus. His "More Than That" story is always treasured in my heart.
Thank you for the nice words for my family. May the Lord continue to bless you and your family.
Mar Velasco ...
Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:57 pm ART RODA here to MAR
It was good meeting you. Now I can put a face on your mails. I know I have met you before, but not being formally introduced I could not put things together. I have long wanted to meet you, because I so admired your children. You have such lively Christian family; yes, that's right, lively as well as lovely. Continue to participate in the FAN discussions. I really do not mind the disagreements, as long as we learn to listen to each other. And I repeat this call to all other participants. We all should learn to welcome the fellowship of believers in different aspects of our day to day lives, and, that includes our continuing growth in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. In due time I shall address this theme [of the Atonement] more extensively. Thanks. And, greetings to your Family
Our family reunion has come and gone and yet fresh memories still linger on. How I wish it didn't end that soon. The three days we were together were incredibly inspiring!... My family and I would like to thank Betsy, Rose, Ayee, Manang Cora, Auntie Lou, Cheryl, Alvin, Alne and many others for the fantastic job of organizing and leading the event; Auntie Pancing, Auntie Cion and family (you are tops!) for the most difficult task of preparing a full array of delicacies that fed over a hundred mouths several times over; and everyone who came for making the event a treasure-trove of memories.
I thoughtI'd share with you our diary of activities following the reunion.............
Our maiden trip to California was a welcome treat. Not only did we reconnect with relatives, we also had the chance to visit places we have been hoping to see for a long time.
Las Vegas. That Sunday after the reunion, my family (Ed, Ria, Irene, Apollo, Zack, Trystan and Sheryl) and I headed off to Las Vegas. The six-hour drive was the beginning of a hectic week ahead. Spending three nights and four days in a city that never sleeps was so much fun. Despite the scorching heat that we from this part of the world are not accustomed to, we enjoyed scrambling around the city and taking in as much of what the city had to offer.
Grand Canyon, Arizona. While Irene and family had to go back to Orange County, the rest of us went on a one-day trip to Arizona that took us to the magnificent Grand Canyon. The picturesque view in all directions was like a dream. As we sat and watch the changing play of lights and shadows, we couldn't help but be amazed at God's handiwork right before our very eyes. Such creation is more than an awe-inspiring phenomenon!... And while we took souvenir shots, guess who we bumped into? Sam and Jedd Villanueva and family! What a small world it is.... Much as we were taken by the mesmerizing beauty surrounding us, we decided to drive back to Las Vegas before dark overtook us. Although Ria and Ed alternated on the wheel, the long daily travels had taken a toll on Ed. Upon our arrival at the hotel, he immediately hit the bed and just slept the night away. After all, he sure needed to rest and recharge before our journey back to California the next morning.
Orange County. Our overnight stay at the Hyatt Hotel made Disneyland very accessible to us. Ria and Sheryl had a great time doing some of the rides. As for Ed, upon seeing the Merry-Go-Round, the child in him came to life and together with Sheryl he immediately jumped in for a ride! That was really hilarious! I was left behind struggling to take a few shots of him... but I wasn't successful. ... In the afternoon, we watched the "Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams", as well as, Billy Hill & the Hillbillies. At 9:30pm, the Disneyland sky came alive with "Remember Dreams Come True" fireworks. The play of multi-colored lights and sounds was such a beauty to behold.... The day's activities got us so jaded we almost got knocked out. But not yet...we had to drive up to LA where we were booked at the Crowne Plaza Hotel for a couple of days. LA. Not wanting to waste any time, we got up early the next morning as we prepared for our next itinerary - Hollywood. Sheryl's friends took us around sight-seeing. Just looking at the names of celebrities engraved in various parts of the Kodak Theatre was enough to pique our curiosity.... Next was a drive to the Santa Monica Pier. Running barefooted on the white, sandy beaches while enjoying the cool, fresh air was magnificence at its best. The feeling was refreshing as it was liberating.
Ed and I met up with Carol late in the afternoon at the Third St. Promenade, a few blocks away from her apartment, which is located in an upscale neighborhood. She was so sweet to take us to a really nice dinner at the Gaucho Grill. (Ria and Sheryl spent the time out with their friends). To save time, we immediately proceeded to Carol's cozy apartment where we freshened up before heading off to Il Moro Restaurant. There we just lounged and listened to the captivating music of a live jazz band.
To cap the relaxing evening, we navigated around Beverly Hills, with Carol showing us famous spots and boutiques and giving us a peak of BelAir.... It was getting late and Carol had to take us back to our van. Much as we didn't want the night to end, we had to say our goodbyes.... And so off back to the hotel we went. (Thank you so much, cuz, for such a marvelous time!).
San Diego. The following morning took us to Ed's relatives at Deer Canyon Place in San Diego. It was also a reunion of sorts since we haven't seen each other for over two decades. The typical filipino in us emerged as we indulged ourselves to food, food, and more food while reminiscing the past. That evening, we were again treated to an elaborate korean dinner, after which we had to go our separate ways.
Loma Linda. On Sunday, Aug 17, Ria and Sheryl flew back to Toronto. It was now time for me and Ed to go fetch my mom in Loma Linda, where she stayed with Auntie Pancing, Leri, Erli and Orville at their beautiful homes. Mom felt so much at home and, as she tells me now, thoroughly enjoyed her short time with Auntie Pancing. I'm absolutely sure this was one moment in her life that will stay with her for a long time.... It was so nice also of Betsy and Rodney to come and see us. The short time we spent together was so precious and I look forward to more times like this. (Thank you, folks, for making our trip to your place a total delight).
Home Sweet Home. After almost two weeks of gallivanting, we departed LA in the early morning hours of Monday, Aug 18 and arrived in Toronto at 2pm. Coming home and getting a warm welcome by our cuddly, half-pomaranian/half-bizon puppy gave our vacation a fitting conclusion.
"Life gives us brief moments with one another.... but sometimes in those brief moments we get memories that last a lifetime...." - Unknown.
Standing back L-R: Leon, Sergio, Alvaro, Antonino; Seated L-R: Maria with son Alfonso standing to her right, Candida holding daughter Natividad, Maxima holding daughter Esther and son David standing in front, Bartolome?; Seated front, children: Mercedes, (elder daughter of Sergio and Candida who died at a young age), Elizabeth, and Eduardo.
Vising and Sister Naty, RVM, with Chito
Vising and Sister Inmaculada, RVM, with Jonathan
Leon Zumel Roda and Alfonso Panis Roda: A biography by Consuelo R. Jackson
