“Human Cross formation, Dugoyanihan” highlights on 75th Anniversary of the Philippine Red Cross Baguio Chapter, set on April 15
BAGUIO CITY – In preparation for the upcoming 75th Anniversary of the Philippine Red Cross Baguio Chapter on April 15, 2023, to be held at Grandstand Melvin Jones, Baguio City.
The Philippine Red Cross is a non-profit, donor-funded, volunteer, humanitarian organization.
Our mantra is Volunteers + Logistics + Information Technology = A Red Cross that is Always First, Always Ready, Always There.
In Kapihan sa Red Cross Baguio Chapter office hosted by PIA-CAR officer Joseph Zambrano and co-host with Eddie Carta – BOD chairman for Communication Committee will discuss and enlighten the big blood donation activity as part of the 75th Anniversary of the Philippines Red Cross simultaneous event.
PRC Chair Atty. Carlos Canilao expounded the brief history of the Red Cross Philippines, he said, “Red Cross Philippines can be considered reputable in its humanitarian service because at that time we already have well trained professional trained volunteers who were very active in undertaking the projects, programs, and activities for the Red Cross nationwide and also we look forward for the next 25 years for the centenary of the Philippine Red Cross, we are now 75 and 25 years we will be 100 years.
“And you will notice in the history of the Red Cross not only internationally but also nationwide that we are expanding our humanitarian services to bring back the memory Red Cross started in 1859 when the Founder of the Red Cross was named Henry Dunant from Switzerland.
“Here in the Philippines we are now 103 chapters, we have so many chapters and moreover while the Red Cross started in war we expanded its services into disasters whether manmade or natural kaya napakalawak na ngayon ng humanitarian services ng Red Cross,”
“Highlights of the 75th-anniversary activities here in Baguio are very special and memorable, we invited all our partners, and all the stakeholders contributing cooperation of the Red Cross Chapter so, we have different volunteer organizations and civic organizations cooperating with us,
“The composition of the PRC Baguio Board of Directors is very good mixed of professionals we have people from the government they are councilors: Vladimir Cayabas, Lulu Tabanda, Levy Lloyd Orcales who is in charge of the youth volunteers, from the Media Eddie Carta, Andrei Madeo and Aljhun Cariño, City Health Services Office Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, BCPO City Director Col. Francisco Bulwayan Jr. and School Division Superintendent Federico Martin, PB Evelyn Pit-og – Balisong of Bakakeng Norte/Sur Barangay and we are very lucky to have Mr. Fernando Tiong to be the head of the Fund Generation Committee.
“Here in Red Cross Baguio Chapter is voluntary wala kami suweldo dito so, we have to raise funds in order to operate and administer all the services kaya, very lucky kami we have such generous man, businessman na kasama namin sa board and he is also the treasurer of the Board, Red Cross Baguio Chapter,” Canilao concluded
PRC Baguio Chapter Administrator Jennelyn M. Terre, “We have a meeting with the different chapters administrators and OIC of the Red Cross with the Secretary-General gusto niya I-highlight lahat ng services ng Red Cross not only sa local but international dahil alam natin na ang Red Cross ay pang internationally not just Philippines may Red Cross tayo from different countries doing humanitarian services not only such as disaster, calamities but everyday naryan si Red Cross to give service to our community,”
“Let’s make it blood event simultaneous gawin natin on April 15 magkaroon tayo ng different na activities to highlight the different services of the Red Cross so, ang Red Cross Baguio with the initiative of our board of directors so, we came up this idea na magkaroon tayo ng big blood donation activity, although we are having blood donation every week, every month, pero gusto natin ma highlight, lahat ng partners agency natin, blood donors, partner groups, at mga youth ma involve dito sa ating activity so, we came up this “Dugoyanihan” ito ang naging idea namin na kinuha sa Bayanihan ay ginawa namin Dugoyanihan,”
“With the initiative of councilor Levy Orcales na isama natin ang youth dahil kapag sila ang naghikayat ng mga friends at mga kakilala nila na mag donate, ganun rin ang lahat ng mga SK Chairman sa Baguio ay mag invite ng lima 2 to 3 donors ang target namin sa mga youth kung sa lima na 100 donors ay aabot sa 500 donors na youth on that day.
“Starting from January ang Baguio Chapter it is our honor and pride na kahit maliit lang ang collection natin but we are helping the other chapter so, ibig sabihin our collection dito sa Red Cross Baguio nagbigay tayo ng blood sa ibang chapters kasi for January kaunti lang ang nagdo donate kasama na dun yun group nila sir Stephen na nag donate nung January, kokonti talaga yun blood donors natin nung January so, different chapters konti rin ang kanilang supply so, kahit papano ay nakatulong pa rin tayo sa ibang chapters para magkaron sila ng stock ng blood,”
“And we are very lucky and thankful that our City Mayor Benjamin Magalong pledges 150 blood donors on that day mula sa mga pulis na magdo donate,”
“Human Cross formation ang highlight natin, magpo form tayo ng malaking human cross sa Melvin Jones yun mga invited guest natin ang mag participate para gawin ang human cross formation, magkakaron rin tayo ng lecture demo on basic first aid demo and followed by mini concert will be held para sa mga donors natin until 5 PM ang blood donors activity.
PRC Baguio Chapter Vice-Chair Ryan Dale Mangusan said, “Itutuloy ko pa rin yun Blood Samaritan eto yun mga nangangailangan ng dugo na mga indigent patients na nasa hospital na may mga Dengue, at with the many expenses nila sa hospital kung minsan yun nire request nila na dugo rito sa Red Cross, we do not sell the blood, we pay the processing fee at yan uniform lahat even the hospital iyan ang lagi namin inuulit-ulit namin sinasabi kasi sinasabi nila “nagdo donate naman kami ng dugo, pero bakit kapag kailangan ng kapamilya, kaibigan ay bakit kailangan namin bayaran? So, lagi natin ini explain yan at ipapaliwanag uli ni chair yan na ang dugo hindi natin binabayaran, it is the processing na binabayaran natin dahil dadaan pa ito sa process ng makina hindi naman natin kinukuha yan ng libre, binibili pa rin natin yan,”
“Sa Blood Samaritan we look for donors, we look for partners to help us in fundraising activity kung saan ay naglilikom tayo ng pondo, para itong pondo ay nagbabayad sa processing fee ng dugo sometimes binibigay natin sa talagang indigent at patients natin of course surely certified ng social worker or barangay na kung talaga sila ay indigent patients na kailangan nila ng assistance,
“I will have also to add some of our board of directors, We have business people also on the Board we have Atty. Pooten, Dr. William Occidental, Ret. Judge Francis Buliyat, Ma’am Ampi Rimas, Atty. Ron Perez, BSU Professor Everson, and another businesswoman Carina dela Peña,” Mangusan said
Stephen Atos is a blood donor and partner group of SLU batch boys high batch 87.
He introduced their group as “MOVE 87” Samaritan,
Aton said, “We also form in our group as MOVE Samaritan that’s the reason why our organization Boys High School batch 87’ ito yun mga previous word MOVE dahil sa lahat ng mga hinihngi namin support sa batch namin one test away ang sagot agad “Move”, we ask some batch mate we need some blood, “Move” pag kailangan natin ng tulong sa city, “Move” so, eventually naging gesture na namin ang word na “MOVE 87” that’s why yes action agad and keep Move Samaritan rin,”
“Because all of our activities, all of our community activity, all of our blood relation are all free of service, we give this us a public support to the community to help our city our own people and ganun ang nangyari, we will participate in human cross formation and invite donors, we started actually our blood program, blood donation in 2009 so, we were this was a 14th year and over the last 14 years we donated 2,050 plus blood bags to Red Cross and proud to say through the help of past administrator and with Ma’am Jheng when she was still the head of the blood services here, we were able to come up with some awards na binigay naman ng Red Cross sa amin, we have the diploma service award, platinum award and last year in city hall they gave as the testimonial plaque of award, thank you so much that’s a privilege that’s more than enough na we receive these recognition but sa amin we play low profile as much as possible hindi kami nare recognize because the humility and serve at one to the people should stay that way,”
“We have a lot of families and friends and members during those times nangangailangan ng dugo, eventually since 2009 activity here in Red Cross when we still have small blood services from office proud to say I’m very happy that nag expands na ang blood services dito sa Red Cross Baguio Chapter and every 3 months we pledge that with ma’am Jheng to give blood as much as we can,” Atos concluded. Photos by: Mario Oclaman //FNS
