Hope and support for Filipinos living with lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects the lives of at least 5 million people globally, with a significant impact on women.
In the Philippines, this chronic condition presents daily challenges, affecting 30 to 50 out of 100,000 people. Thankfully, recent health-care advancements are bringing the promise of better outcomes for those living with this chronic autoimmune disease.
“Let’s talk about Lupus,” urges Dr. Juan Javier Lichauco, past president of the Philippine Rheumatology Association (PRA), during a recent event commemorating World Lupus Day. “It’s often a mimicker disease, masquerading as other illnesses. By bringing it into the light, we ensure Filipinos living with its daily struggles receive the early attention and treatment they deserve.”
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, which accounts for approximately 70 percent of all lupus cases, is a lifelong autoimmune disease that has no known cure. It occurs when the immune system attacks healthy tissue, affecting the skin, joints, and vital organs.
Dr. Lichauco explained, “We call it a multisystemic, autoimmune, chronic disease with a relapsing and remitting course—it’s unpredictable. It’s not contagious, it’s not cancer, but it can affect many organs.”
Symptoms vary from person to person but commonly include skin rashes, joint pain, and fatigue. The emotional toll is equally heavy, with over two-thirds of patients experiencing anxiety, mood disorders, or depression.
“It affects the way you work, study, have fun with your family. There’s fatigue, pain, and fear because you know something inside your body is not working properly,” said Marilyn Manaay-Robles, president of the Lupus Foundation of the Philippines.
Diagnosing lupus is notoriously complex due to its broad and overlapping symptoms. Dr. Auxencio Lorenz Lucero Jr., PRA president, emphasized, “We don’t rely on just one test. Lupus can mimic many diseases. Diagnosis is based on a combination of symptoms and lab tests—joint pain, rashes, blood tests—and if the kidneys are involved, a biopsy may be needed.”
He also noted how gender plays a role in visibility: “More women are affected, and women are more expressive about their pain. Many men with lupus stay silent, thinking it’s just stress. This leads to delayed diagnosis.”
Dr. Cyril Joseph Tolosa, medical affairs director of AstraZeneca Philippines, said, “Today, lupus is no longer a death sentence. With proper care, patients can live full, productive lives. Our bold ambition is to bring new transformational therapies for multiple immune-mediated diseases, including lupus. We want to move beyond symptom control—our goal is remission, and eventually, a cure.”
He further noted, “There is growing hope, but hope without action is not enough. We must collaborate—clinicians, patients, advocates in the private and public sector—to close the diagnosis gap and ensure equitable access to care.”
Advocacy groups are crucial allies in this movement. Melanie Cuevas, board member of Hope for Lupus, stressed, “We are hopeful that these conversations will help push for a national lupus bill. Patients need government support—access to medicines, disability benefits, and data tracking. A law can institutionalize that.”
Living with lupus is not easy—but no Filipino patient should have to face it alone. With stronger partnerships among doctors, patient advocates, and health leaders, there’s growing momentum toward better care, deeper understanding, and lasting change.
Dr. Cyril Tolosa underscored the urgency: “Let’s make lupus visible. By further raising awareness and pushing for better care, we can help prevent irreversible damage, achieve a low level of disease activity or disease remission, and support patients in living healthier, more fulfilling lives.”
Meanwhile, Lupus Inspired Advocacy researcher and advocate Robelle Tanangunan shared, “This disease tests your resilience—but we’re here to tell you: you are not alone. There is community, there is care, and there is hope.”
