MANDALUYONG, PHILIPPINES—The Philippine Hairdressers Association (PhilHair) in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), and other allies kicked off the fourth year of Health and Beauty Caravan on February 4 at SM Megamall Fashion Hall, Mandaluyong City. 

The PRC’s partnership with PhilHair for the Health and Beauty Caravan started in 2022 and has already reached 20,292 individuals. The program offers a wide range of free services such as medical consultations with basic medicines; health and hygiene education lectures; emergency first aid demonstrations for barangay health workers; distribution of hygiene kits, mother’s kits for pregnant women, newborn kits, and vaccination, among others. 

Additionally, 95 vulnerable communities were reached in almost a hundred caravans conducted nationwide in the span of three years. 

PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang shared “Four years ago, tumawag si Mother Ricky na pag-usapan namin ito. Sabi n’ya, alam kong gustong-gusto ni Chairman Gordon ang ganitong programa. Mother shared her goals on how we can better serve communities na hindi lang dapat beauty caravan. Nung nakasama ang Red Cross at Philippine Cancer Society, naging Health and Beauty Caravan na s’ya.” 

“Thank you Mother Ricky for the opportunity for the Philippine Red Cross to join you in all your caravans. Makakaasa po kayo na tuloy-tuloy po ang PRC in supporting your program kasama ang iba pang partners going to different provinces and cities upang magbigay ng tulong. Sabi nga ni Mother, importante na hindi lang maganda ang ating panlabas na kaanyuan, dapat maganda rin ang ating kalusugan,” Dr. Pang added. 

Meanwhile, PhilHair President and renowned fashion guru “Mother” Ricky Reyes pointed out that “The main goal of this caravan is reaching out to people. Maraming tao ang nangangailangan; if no one will reach out, walang mangyayari sa kanila.”

“Kasama ko ang Red Cross on the ground, pag nakikita kong nakapila ang mga tao sa kanila, happy na ako do’n dahil hindi lahat ng tao gustong gawin ‘yan. Pero ang Red Cross na willing sumama all the time, I’m very happy with that.” 

Apart from various humanitarian services that the caravan offers, the PRC also mobilized doctors, nurses, and trained Red Cross 143 volunteers as part of this life-saving initiative.