Toto’s Lymphoma Chemotherapy Fund

Hello everyone! We are volunteer members of St. Dominic Catholic Church’s English Choir. Our choir director, Melner “Toto” Calvo, was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma and will soon be undergoing chemotherapy. He doesn’t have health insurance and, because of this, the costs to cover his treatment are going to be extremely difficult to pay off if we fail to help him now.

Toto has been an important member of the St. Dominic Community for several years.

Here are a few testimonials from our community:

Melner Calvo is a dedicated person who selflessly gives his time, talent, and treasures for the good of the community. He has volunteered his time training the children in the parish and forming them into a choir who has since been serving the community for more than 15 years. Most of these children have grown now into young adults and still serving as members of the choir.

His selfless acts of kindness and generosity are an inspiration to everyone who meets him and learns to know him. I want to highlight the insanely beautiful person that he is. I want this to be a testimony of his selflessness, and the beauty that radiates from his altruistic ways. Everyone who encounters him certainly will be touched and inspired by the kind of person he is.

Not only does he deserve to feel special and appreciated especially at this difficult and challenging time in his life as he battles with lymphoma, but to keep his selflessness as an untold story would be a disservice to those who do not have the privilege of knowing him on a personal level. We can all learn from the kind of person he is. He always puts everyone's needs ahead of his own and never shows frustration. His love for people is endless and unconditional. It is a special, rare, and strong kind of love. The way he loves completely demonstrates the extraordinary person he is. He cares so deeply and does not expect anything in return.

For his unconditional love, kindness, and generosity, we, his friends, need to come together to help him financially especially to defray expenses for his medical procedures.
        — Fr. Roger Estorque, Pastor of St. Dominic Catholic Church




Kuya Toto is a charismatic, cultured, young athletic man and beloved husband of Ate Gemma. His always smiling attitude brought life to many. Kuya Toto is a go-getter and wonderful giver to help many around him. He is very loyal to his family and friends especially St. Dominic Parish Filipino community whom he loves tremendously. The compassion he shows to the people we serve is an inspiration for us all.

I've noticed how he treats everyone with respect and kindness, no matter what the situation is. I know how stressful it can be for the people who find themselves in need of the services we provide, and his words and actions go a long way toward helping them keep their dignity. I just want him to know that his work hasn't gone unnoticed…the choir is so lucky to have him as a music director, and so are we. And let’s be sure to add here...[his] people skills...make it possible for him to take the full range of talent represented in a volunteer choir and somehow minimize the weaknesses and maximize the strengths of all those who sing to the Lord with gladness. 
        — Fr. Thomas Rayen 




Toto has been the mainstay of our church’s English-language choirs for the past twelve years. His expert guitar accompaniment and beautiful tenor voice have lifted our hearts, while his friendliness and devotion have been an inspiration to all of us—singers, accompanists, and congregation alike. During his tenure, he has encouraged many youngsters in their music performance, and built a chorus of loving hearts, praying for his recovery from B-cell lymphoma. (The Lord bless you and keep you, Toto, my friend.)
        — Laverne Wiles, Volunteer Music Librarian, St. Dominic Church




Toto uses his kindness and talents to encourage the young and the old to participate in the Mass.  He is loved by all and we wish him a complete recovery.  May God bless you on the journey you are on.
        — Theresa Hartman, Volunteer Choir Member




Tito Toto is like a second father to me. I basically grew up with him and I have been knowing him since I was like 6 and I am almost 22 now. Before I started to drive myself to places he would always pick me up and take me to places with him. He was always there for me when I needed him and he always believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself and he is caring and kind. He is very talented and does a lot for the church. He is passionate about what he does and a wonderful person that deserves good things coming his way.
        — Cristal Vera-Padua, Volunteer Choir Member




I am Jean Monta, and I want to contribute to this fundraiser for a person who I consider as another father. Before I was born, my mom was pregnant as she flew from the Philippines to the United States. She did not know anyone here, but she has a group of other Filipinos with her, including Tito Toto. He was the one who took care of her as my dad and older sister were left in the Philippines. Without a driver's license, Tito Toto was the one who drove her to work and back home. Once I was born, he was the one who took care of me as my mom went to work. He took care of me and another child, and we made many fruitful memories together. We watched movies, went swimming, and painted pictures. As I got older, he continued to take care of me along with other children in our church choir. He does not have children of his own, but every single one of us, the children’s choir, considered him as another father. After knowing him all my life, I’ve learned that he will go out of his own way to assist others, and now it is our time to give back to him.
        — Jean Monta, Volunteer Choir Member, and Commentator




For as long as I can remember, Tito Toto has been in my life. He’s done a lot of things, from entertaining me and my antics as a kid to taking time out of his day to give me rides when no one else could. He’s been there for me whether I’ve appreciated it or not at the time, and looking back, I’m very grateful for all of it. And I know I’m not the only one who he’s helped all the years. After finding out about his cancer, it’s high time that we start helping him in return.
        — Mabianca Delosa, Volunteer Choir Member, and Soloist




Tito Toto is such a dedicated and kind person who puts others first before him. He’s always been there for St.Dominic Church, especially the choir, and never fails to attend every single event to provide joyous music. He is such a strong person and I know he will beat this horrible illness and come out stronger. 
        — Justine Haro, Volunteer Choir Member




Please consider donating towards this campaign! Any amount helps. If you are unable to contribute at this time, please share this with as many people as you can! Help us get the word out there.
Thank you for your generosity and support. 


With love and gratitude, 
The Volunteer English Choir of St. Dominic Catholic Church