The 31-year-old Baguio City bachelor passed the State Board Nursing Exam in Maryland or NCLEX in September 2005 and was scheduled to assume his first nursing job at Prince Georges County Hospital in Maryland in October when he was rushed to the ER of Inova Fairfax Hospital on Sept. 29.

He was diagnosed to have stage 4 lymphoma (cancer of lymphnodes or tissues) — not melanoma as earlier reported. The cancer cells had metastasized to his lungs which complicated his condition.

Cabanban, who was also a professor at Baguio Colleges Foundation, arrived in the United States on April 19, reviewed and passed the nursing board exam

“He was so excited about building a life in America,” said Mario Manzano, president of BIBAK Northeast USA. “He already got his immigrant visa and had so many plans for his family back home.”

A series of memorial masses was held this week in Maryland, Virginia and at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Letters of condolences or donations for Cabanban’s family may be sent to his brother, Roger Cabanban, c/o Assistance to Nationals (ATN), Philippine Embassy, 1600 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.

For inquiries, call Economic Affairs Attache Grace Valera of the Philippine Embassy at (202) 467-9393.