Good news: Exercising and living a healthy lifestyle means you eliminate at least 30 percent of your risk of getting cancer.

Even better news is that the LJC Restaurant Group’s Good to Dine campaign is back this year after its initial run last year raised almost P200,000, all of which were donated to the Cancer Institute of the Philippine General Hospital.

The LJC group was able to accomplish this by setting aside an amount from the total sales of dining customers in each of the participating restaurants.

“This campaign really helps a lot,” a visibly touched Dr. Jorge Ignacio said during the recent launch at Bistro Remedios in Malate. “For a cancer patient undergoing treatment, medicine alone costs from P10,000 to P300,000. Here in the Philippines, some of our indigent cancer patients don’t even have money to go to the Cancer Institute.”

Cancer, he added, is expected to overtake cardiovascular diseases as the cause of death in Filipinos. No. 1 is infectious diseases. The foremost types of cancers are lung, breast and colon.

Ignacio said it was difficult not to feel emotional as he was touched by the individual stories of the cancer patients he encountered.

Ignacio said he was amazed at the high level of spirituality patients displayed and even wondered if this was the reason why Filipinos were more likely to get better compared to cancer patients of other countries.

“They never lose hope,” Ignacio said.

“There’s hope because the Cancer Institute is there for them to rely on,” said Lorna Cruz Ambas, LJC Group CEO and president.

Ambas is the daughter of restaurateur Larry J. Cruz, who passed away in early 2008 due to thyroid cancer. Cruz was a staunch supporter of various charitable projects such as yearly feeding programs for the less fortunate communities of Manila.

He also provided training opportunities for scholars of the Rotary Club, and subsidized tuition and training of selected Punlaan School scholars who, after finishing the program at LJC’s Asian F&B, would go on to have jobs at LJC restaurants.

After Cruz’s death, the LJC Group continued his humanitarian endeavors by launching in May 2010 the EAC Foundation scholarship program for underprivileged students of Magalang town in Pampanga. The group also supported other projects, including a fund drive for the victims of Typhoon “Ondoy” in September 2009.

As in last year, Ambas said they had chosen the best meals from each of their restaurants based on the popularity of the dishes with its diners. This year, the chosen dishes are Abe’s Morcon at Abe (Serendra/SM MOA/ TriNoma) and Abe’s Farm; Beef Spareribs Ninja at Café Adriatico (Malate/Gateway Mall/ SM MOA); Lunch Buffet at Café Havana Greenbelt 3; Fillet of Dory at Larry’s Café and Bar in Serendra; Maja Blanca Remedios at Bistro Remedios in Malate; Bangus Belly with Kangkong Balachian at Lorenzo’s Way in Greenbelt 5; and Sikreto ni Maria at Fely J’s Kitchen in Greenbelt 5.