Philippine Red Cross

Philippine Cancer Society honors PRC Chairman Gordon as “Man of Exemplary Influence”

Written on October 2, 2023. Posted in Features, News and Events.

Manila, Philippines – The Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) honored Philippine Red Cross Chairman/CEO Richard Gordon as a “Man of Exemplary Influence”, for his decades-long service to the country as a humanitarian volunteer and leader, and an advocate of legislation supporting humanitarian organizations.

At a ceremony last Sept. 27, PCS credited Gordon’s exemplary leadership that spanned decades of unwavering commitment to serve. Gordon, who was a past member of PCS’ Board of Trustees, explored a possible collaboration with PCS to help the most vulnerable, specifically cancer patients.

“I am deeply honored by this award from the Philippine Cancer Society. My parents instilled in me compassion for other people, and this award is a testament to how my parents brought me up – having the values of kusang loob, malasakit, and kapwa-tao,” Gordon said

“To our kababayans who are cancer patients, know that there are people who are ready to support you, and among them are the people at Philippine Cancer Society and its donors,” Gordon addressed cancer patients.

The PCS highlighted Gordon’s track record of public service. As Olongapo City Mayor and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman, Gordon led a joint Philippine-American civilian and military rescue effort in the collapsed Central College of the Philippines in Cabanatuan City and the rescue of thousands of college students stranded in Baguio City for reunification with their parents after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Central Luzon in July 1990. Food supplies were also airlifted to the affected populations. Gordon also co-led the rehabilitation operations of Central Luzon after the earthquake.

As Department of Tourism Secretary, he led the rescue of kidnapped tourists at Dos Palmas in 2001. As Chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross from 2004 to present, he is at the helm of the country’s premier humanitarian organization, leading not just its disaster responses but also its other services, such as blood collection and dispensing and emergency medical services. As senator, Gordon was instrumental in the enactment of a law that requires media companies to allot more airtime to information on emergencies and responses.

PRC Chairman Gordon sees Subic as Asia’s cargo or humanitarian hub

Written on September 29, 2023. Posted in News and Events.

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon proposed to the aviation industry to create a humanitarian air system, as he pushed for Subic to be considered as a cargo or humanitarian hub in Asia.

Sharing his insights on strengthening the role of the aviation industry in humanitarian assistance at the 2023 Aviation Summit, Gordon said: “Speed is the name of the game. When people are suffering, needing all kinds of support, time is of the essence.”

Gordon elaborated that the Philippines can be the cargo or humanitarian hub for Asia to meet the logistical needs of a disaster response, including transporting aid workers. He recommended that Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) be used as a cargo and humanitarian hub not just for the Philippines but for other Asian countries. He believes that SBIA would be an ideal place to preposition goods and facilitate rapid deployment.

Gordon welcomed the aviation industry’s interest in learning how it can have a stronger role in humanitarian response as he shared that at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the PRC had to use chartered planes to have the Covid-19 testing equipment and reagents shipped to the Philippines from China. He added that the PRC had a hard time finding planes that would deliver generators, tents, and other equipment and supplies donated for the earthquake survivors in Türkiye and Syria through the PRC.

He said that SBIA is not operational at the moment, but it would be a wise decision to reuse it and recoup the country’s investment in building it.

The two-day inaugural summit was co-organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), the Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA), and the Department of Transportation (DoTR).

Philippine Red Cross leaders attend Southeast Asia RCRC meeting, forum in Cambodia

Written on September 27, 2023. Posted in News and Events.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Secretary-General, Dr. Gwen Pang, and three (3) Red Cross Youth leaders represented the PRC at the 20th South-East Asia RCRC Leaders Meeting on September 21 and 22 and 2nd Southeast Asia RCRC Youth Forum on September 17 to 20 at Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The South-East Asia RCRC Leaders Meeting allowed the leaders in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement to discuss and decide on issues of interest to the Movement in the region.

Dr. Pang discussed the PRC’s climate action interventions, as well as its challenges in reducing the vulnerability of communities in the Philippines to disasters. Her discussions include Early Warning System and Early Action Protocols, Anticipatory Actions, Nature-based Solutions, Climate Change Education, Food Security, and Waste Management and Circular Economy.

Meanwhile, RCY Lenice Joy Orocio from PRC Capiz Chapter and Camille Baring from PRC Rizal Chapter, with the assistance of PRC Governor Jay-ar Gallos, presented their solutions and prototypes to their identified challenges (i.e., different thematic issues: disaster resilience; climate change; youth engagement; Protection, Gender, and Inclusion; and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) within the Movement during the leaders’ meeting.

Along with other RCRC youth leaders from Southeast Asia, they formulated these solutions and prototypes during the Southeast Asia RCRC Youth Forum on the preceding days.

PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon has long recognized the vital role of youth in the decision-making process at all levels of management, governance, and service delivery. Hence, the PRC has numerous programs to strengthen youth participation within the organization.

“We provide a seat for the youth at our table. Youth involvement, be it at the global or community level, allows our Movement to create a forward-thinking culture. We have to capacitate them, hear their voices, and include them in every step,” said Chairman Gordon.

Gordon to Bicolanos affected by Mt. Mayon eruption: ‘When the world no longer watches, we do what must be done’

Written on September 20, 2023. Posted in Uncategorized.

When PHIVOLCS reported that Mt. Mayon was on alert level three, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), led by its Chairman and CEO, Dick Gordon, immediately sent a humanitarian caravan to meet the essential needs of the people who were pre-emptively evacuated because of the imminent eruption. The premier humanitarian organization in the Philippines has been alongside the Bicolanos, providing them with clean water, food, health care, and other basic necessities during their stay at the evacuation centers since Day 1.

More than three months later, as Mt. Mayon has not shown signs of being stable, the PRC renews its commitment to the families seeking temporary shelter in evacuation centers. Gordon calls on the families affected to endure, saying that the situation, too, will pass. He assures them that the PRC will continue to be a lifeline during this time of crisis. He encourages them to maintain composure and a positive outlook amidst the situation.

“There is no other way out of a crisis but hope. Do not let your hope get dampened by your surroundings or the mood of the people around you get the better of you. Be a thermostat, which controls temperature, rather than a thermometer, which simply reflects the temperature. The Red Cross will be with you, for as our hymn says, ‘When the world no longer watches, we do what must be done’,” says Gordon.

As of 19 September, the PRC has provided the following humanitarian aid to the families displaced by the Mt. Mayon eruption, among others: 2,580,500 liters of water through the PRC water tankers; 81,352 hot meals; hygiene promotion to 13,342 persons; psychological first aid to 4,016 children and 1,521 adults; 3,662 feminine kits; 2,531 dengue brochures; welfare services to 2,474 individuals through the PRC welfare desks; 2,436 sleeping kits; 2,436 water containers; 2,393 cough and colds brochure; menstrual hygiene management lecture to 1,389 individuals; and 1,210 hygiene kits.

The PHIVOLCS reported in its Twitter account today, 20 September, that Mt. Mayon is on Alert Level 3, as lava slowly flowed from it during the last 24 hours, from 5:00 am of 19 September to 5:00 am today. The PHIVOLCS also said that Mt. Mayon registered nine volcanic eruptions and 147 rockfall events in the same period.

PH Red Cross, partners organize Health Caravan in Angono, Rizal

Written on September 18, 2023. Posted in News and Events. Leave a Comment

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Health Caravan continues to reach people with primary health care services through its Health Caravan. On 09 September 2023, the PRC Health Caravan drove to Angono, Rizal. The outreach program, held at Angono Municipal Gym, provided health consultations to 209 people through eight volunteer medical doctors and two volunteer nurses.

“The Health Caravan is our way of reaching people who, otherwise, find it challenging to access primary health care services because of logistical concerns, such as the distance of their homes to the health facility,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon.

During the outreach program, 40 persons with mobility impairment and senior citizens were also given wheelchairs, while 120 persons received eyeglasses. Hot meals were served to those who participated in the event. Fourteen volunteers from RC143, the PRC’s barangay-based volunteer network, assisted in organizing the event.

“Marami sa ating mga kababayan ang pumupunta sa aming mga health caravan para makakuha ng medical services at iba pang serbisyo, kagaya ng first aid education, Covid vaccination, pati na rin mga libreng gamit, kagaya ng eyeglasses,” explained PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang.

Present in the event were Angono Mayor Jeri Mae E. Calderon and Angono Municipal Councilors Dokdok Villanueva and Elena Ibañez. The initiative was in partnership with the Rotary International, Church of Latter-Day Saints, and Local Government of Angono, Rizal.

A brainchild of Chairman Gordon, the PRC Health Service has reached thousands of persons across the country with medical consultations and other health services.

Philippine Red Cross views SDGs as ‘obligations, not just aspirations’

Written on September 18, 2023. Posted in News and Events.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Secretary-General, Dr. Gwen Pang, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) during her speech at the grand launching of the Philippine Amusement and Entertainment Corporation’s (PAEC) SDG museum, called “Change Maker 2040,” on 16 September.

“We firmly believe that achieving the SDGs extends beyond just aspirations; they are our obligations. Obligations of all. The commitment of the PRC to the SDGs encompasses humanitarian action, health and well-being, inclusivity, education and empowerment, and partnership,” Dr. Pang said.

She further explained that PRC’s mission aligns with the values and objectives of “Change Maker 2040,” where they both envision a sustainable Earth for future generations. She added: “This [Change Maker 2040] is one way to take action, eradicate poverty, inequality, and injustices, and get something done.”

“Change Maker 2040” is a museum that features the SDGs through dioramas and sustainable presentation of Science and Technology. It aims to support the government’s campaigns aligned with the 17 SDGs.

Dr. Pang described the museum as a proof of the power of innovation and collective commitment in addressing global challenges.

Meanwhile, PAEC President and CEO Lawrence Li Tan expressed gratitude to PRC and other partner agencies for their support.

SDGs were adopted by the UN as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

Philippine Red Cross, Bahrain Royal Charity Organization eye future collaborations

Written on September 18, 2023. Posted in Features, News and Events.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Kingdom of Bahrain’s Royal Charity Organization (RCO) Secretary-General Dr. Mustafa Al-Sayed visited Philippine Red Cross Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon yesterday to explore more opportunities for collaboration.

RCO is known globally for its development and humanitarian assistance not only to the people of Bahrain but also to communities in developing countries. In 2014, RCO funded the construction of two PRC vocational training centers – one in Leyte and one in Subic – to help the Filipinos strengthen their economic capability and resilience against hazards.

“Bahrain is our friend and an active ally. As you know, together with the Royal Charity Organization, we constructed two training centers in Subic and Tacloban. This is the commitment of Bahrain to help the Filipinos, especially the Typhoon Yolanda survivors. We are truly grateful for the support and the friendship we built. I’m excited to work with RCO again after our collaboration for recovery and resilience,” said Chairman Gordon.

Dr. Al-Sayed also invited Chairman Gordon to visit Bahrain to evaluate opportunities for collaboration.

The PRC Secretary-General, Dr. Gwen Pang, said the training centers were instrumental to the recovery of typhoon-affected Filipinos. “We were able to provide various programs and courses that enhanced their knowledge and skills needed to land a job or start a livelihood. We are not only fighting poverty here, but also promoting literacy,” PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang added.

The PRC Vocational Training Centers in Subic and Tacloban were constructed to alleviate poverty and lower unemployment by providing accessible, high-quality vocational training and job-creation projects for unemployed and underprivileged Filipinos, especially those from historically disadvantaged communities. These infrastructures, which cost USD400,000 in 2014, were donated by the people of Bahrain, through the Royal Charity Organization of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Gordon, PH Red Cross continue inspiring path set by Amelia Gordon

Written on September 6, 2023. Posted in Features, News and Events.

September 4th marks the birth anniversary of a remarkable figure in Philippine history, the incomparable Mrs. Amelia J. Gordon. Revered as Olongapo’s pioneering female mayor, Amelia’s enduring legacy shines as brightly as her lifelong commitment to children, adoption, and humanitarian causes, which earned her the prestigious Pearl S. Buck International Woman of the Year Award, a distinction shared by only two other Filipino women.

A beacon of compassion, Mrs. Gordon profoundly impacted the lives of countless individuals, adopting more than 50 children and establishing the Boys Town and Girls Home in Olongapo City. These sanctuaries provided shelter and hope to orphaned Filipino children of American descent, etching Amelia’s name in the annals of philanthropy.

Beyond her maternal endeavors, Amelia J. Gordon played a pivotal role in her son Dick Gordon’s journey, who would later become a prominent figure as the Philippine Red Cross Chairman and CEO. Her devotion to humanitarian causes was exemplified by her role as the founder of the Olongapo Chapter of the Philippine National Red Cross.

Amelia’s legacy was not confined to her philanthropic endeavors. She valiantly championed Olongapo’s quest for independence from American rule and played an instrumental role in the city’s elevation to cityhood in 1966. Following the assassination of her husband, James Gordon Sr., in 1969, Amelia became the city mayor, displaying her indomitable spirit and compassionate heart.

During her tenure as mayor, Amelia competently managed Olongapo City during the tumultuous period of the Vietnam War when it served as a recreational refuge for American soldiers. Her strong leadership ensured peace and security for the city’s inhabitants.

Driven by her humanitarian principles, she launched one of the city’s most significant housing development programs, affirming the human dignity of Olongapo’s burgeoning population. Her political acumen culminated in her election as Assemblywoman to the Batasang Pambansa in 1984.

Even in her retirement from formal politics, Amelia remained devoted to serving her fellow Filipinos, actively contributing as a Red Cross volunteer. She spearheaded blood donation programs and led relief operations in response to disasters, including the Cabanatuan earthquake and the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.

Amelia’s achievements and dedication garnered her more accolades, including the Silver Humanitarian Service Cross Award from the American Red Cross, the Gold Humanitarian Award, and the Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon Medal award from the Philippine National Red Cross. She was also honored as a Gintong Ina Awardee and received the Philippine Centennial Commission Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award.

Today, as we commemorate Amelia Gordon’s birthday, we celebrate not just a date on the calendar but a timeless legacy of humanitarianism that continues to inspire generations. Dick Gordon and the Philippine Red Cross carry forward her torch, ensuring that the spirit of compassion and service blazes brightly in Olongapo and beyond.

PH Red Cross steps up its assistance as fire rages in Valenzuela City

Written on July 18, 2022. Posted in News and Events.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) quickly responded to aid the affected individuals in a fire that raged in a residential area in Brgy. Marulas, Valenzuela City last Friday, July 15.

At 3:10 pm, the blaze was raised to the fourth alarm; 72 families, with 246 individuals, were affected and an estimated 50 houses were damaged.

The PRC Valenzuela City Chapter, in coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Valenzuela City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (VCDRRMO), and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), dispatched its fire truck and ambulance unit. It served hot meals and distributed drinking water to 150 individuals and gave face masks to 50 persons.

Affected residents have sought shelter in Valenzuela National High School as the designated evacuation center. The blaze was declared under control at 5:00 pm.

“Ang Red Cross ay laging handa sa ganitong insidente. Agad tayong umaksyon upang magbigay ng tulong sa ating mga kababayang naapektuhan ng sunog sa Valenzuela City. Hindi natin sila iiwan hanggang maibigay natin ang kanilang pangangailangan at matiyak natin ang kanilang kaligtasan,” Chairman Gordon said.

Last Saturday, July 16, the PRC intensified its assistance in the community by conducting Health and Hygiene Dissemination and other services until the community reaches its recovery.

Philippine Red Cross intensifies TD Agaton operations in Baybay, other affected areas

Written on April 14, 2022. Posted in News and Events.

Under the direction of its Chairman and CEO, Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) continued its response to TD Agaton in Baybay City and other severely affected areas in Visayas and Mindanao, providing search and rescue, emergency medical services, drinking water and hot meals, and psychosocial first aid. As of April 13, 2022, 108 volunteers and staff are still on the ground for PRC’s TD Agaton operations.

“It should not be a forgotten disaster. The magnitude of the calamity does not matter. Red Cross responds to people in emergencies everywhere,” Chairman Gordon said.

PRC first responders have rescued 25 individuals in Barangay Loctogan, Roxas City, Capiz from rising floodwaters. The teams have assisted 41 persons in Davao de Oro and Leyte to evacuate and 13 residents from Sitio Seguinon, Barangay Libertad, Ormoc City who were forced to evacuate.

The ambulance teams in General Santos City, Leyte, Davao De Oro, Sorsogon, Surigao Del Norte, and Passi City have served 535 individuals, who had their blood pressure taken. Five persons received emergency medical treatment. Six first-aid stations have been set up in Sorsogon, Surigao del Norte, and Negros Occidental. The ambulance teams deployed in Baybay City stand ready to transport patients from lower- to higher-level hospitals as needed.

The PRC teams have distributed hot meals to 7,204 individuals in General Santos City, Davao De Oro, Southern Leyte, Sorsogon, Ormoc City, Leyte, Hilongos, Negros Occidental, Passi City, Iloilo City, and Capiz. Ready-to-eat meals were distributed to 100 persons in Leyte. Bottled water were given to 197 individuals in Surigao del Norte and Leyte.

The PRC water tanker has distributed 620 liters of water in Leyte. Hand sanitizers were also given to 97 residents of Surigao del Norte.

The welfare teams have provided psychosocial first aid (PFA) to 440 adults in General Santos City, Leyte, and Passi City and child-friendly activities designed as PFA for 27 children in General Santos City. Welfare desks have been set up in Sorsogon and Surigao del Norte.

Local governments in Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, and Maguindanao have also tapped PRC volunteers and staff to help them distribute food packs, to 7,116 families and meals, to 664 persons.

PRC has deployed three rescue boats, three ambulance units, one water tanker, two mobile kitchens, two service vehicles, one pick-up truck, and one Land Cruiser.

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Author: Mc Sirbough