When the body breaks, the spirit takes flight

From breakdown to breakthrough—from crashing to climbing.

Eric Apolonio knows what it means when life suddenly veers off course.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) spokesperson recounts how his survival became a journey of faith, resilience, and rediscovery—one that began with an unexpected crash and ultimately transformed into a story of courage and hope that he now shares to inspire others.

In his book Journey Begin, Apolonio presents a detailed narrative, accompanied by photos, documenting his battle and survival as a colon cancer patient.

The book’s title, which deliberately disrupts grammatical rules, reflects his life philosophy. Apolonio explained that he chose it because his journey was never written “in complete answers,” symbolizing a life that continues despite uncertainty.

The beginning of the battle

It was 25 November 2021 when everything changed.

After experiencing severe pain and a heavy sensation in his body, Apolonio went to The Medical City (TMC) Ortigas for a check-up. Then came the words that altered his life.

“Uncle Eric, it’s stage three colon cancer,” Dr. Euligio Coz told him.

“For a few seconds, everything blurred. My ears heard the words, but my mind refused to accept them,” Apolonio recalled.

Stubborn by nature, he tried to carry on, like a man accustomed to ignoring pain, smiling through exhaustion, and working despite discomfort. “Kaya pa!” (I can bear it), he told himself, as if the words could make the illness disappear.

But reality soon set in. Telling his family became one of the hardest confessions he ever had to make.

Surrounded by love and support, Apolonio found the strength to face his situation. He even cracked jokes with nurses. This time, when he said “Kaya pa,” it was no longer a denial, but an acceptance.

Beyond the tribulations

Treatment was far from easy. Fear seeped into his bones as doctors explained the risk of the cancer spreading beyond the colon.

It was a torment of the flesh, yet his spirit cried out in faith, calling to God like a child desperately seeking a mother’s care. He prayed relentlessly, welcoming each day and ending each night with a novena.

The hospital became his home. Pain became his constant companion, settling deep within him.

“I began to see my illness not as a punishment but as a path— one that taught me humility, patience, and grace,” Apolonio said, declaring God as the center of his life, reigning even over his suffering body.

The battle lasted 12 long months— months filled with treatments, tubes, and countless sleepless nights. Eventually, the “noise began to fade,” he said.

But the silence brought new fears. He worried that the cancer might return. Still, he continued praying novenas twice daily, this time in gratitude for a renewed chance at life.

From test to testimony

Returning to work at CAAP was both exciting and intimidating, Apolonio admitted.

Through his ordeal, he learned lessons often neglected in today’s fast-paced world.

“I learned deadlines could wait, but family moments couldn’t,” he said.
“I no longer chased every task with urgency. I learned to breathe between the hours.”

It was indeed a difficult journey, one that felt like surviving a plane crash. While his body slowly healed, emotionally he had to accept that fear could return without warning.

Today, Apolonio stands not only as a survivor but as a source of strength for others facing similar battles.

“Sometimes I sit beside patients undergoing chemotherapy and simply listen—no advice, no big words, just presence,” he shared.

“Whenever I share my story, I remind others that healing doesn’t mean the pain never existed. It means it no longer controls you,” he added, reflecting on how faith transformed his trials into triumph.