Philippine Red Cross | Humanitarian Organization in the Philippines

PARAÑAQUE, METRO MANILA – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) received P300,000 in donations from the Manila Rose Lions Club, Wang Zhao Zhi, and Manila Volunteer Lions Club to fund the Blood Samaritan Program (BSP), which PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon initiated in 2006.

The three groups contributed P100,000 each for the BSP, which will be used to cover the payment of blood processing fees of legitimate indigent patients in need of blood transfusion.

The donation was turned over at the National Blood Donors Month celebration and recognition ceremony on July 16 at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City, organized by the PRC Rizal Chapter.

On hand to witness the donation turnover were PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang, PRC-Parañaque City Branch Council Chairman Dir. Anson Ong, Parañaque City District 1 Representative Edwin Olivarez, and Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez, along with representatives from the donor groups.

Dr. Pang, speaking on behalf of Gordon, pointed out that the number of Filipinos in need of blood transfusion remains high in the country.

“Unfortunately, in low and middle income countries, problem pa rin ang source of blood,” she said.

She urged the public to become “blood champions” or “blood advocates,” encouraging families, friends, and peers to donate blood through the PRC to sustain its blood banks.

From 2023 to July 2024, the BSP has served 75,544 indigent patients.

The ceremony, themed “20 years of celebrating Giving: Thank you, Blood Donors!,” honors PRC’s private and public sector partners, and its “Galloner awardees.”

###

PARAÑAQUE, METRO MANILA – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on July 16 celebrated National Blood Donor Month with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on the collaboration of blood donation initiatives and emergency preparedness with 19 organizations, institutions, and government agencies.

The event, held at Ayala Malls Manila Bay, also recognized the organization’s private and public sector partners and outstanding blood donors.

PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang, PRC Rizal Chapter Board Member Anson Ong, and other PRC officials  signed the MOA with representatives from St. Mattheus Medical Hospital, Pasay-Parañaque Medical Society, Jose Rizal University, Olivarez College, PATTS College, West Bay College, BF Homes School, Jesus Cares Academy, Creative Minds Learning Center, Angel of the Holy Spirit School, University of Perpetual Help Dalta System, Philippine National Police Parañaque City, Bureau of Treasury, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, First Philippine Holdings, CW Marketing and Development Corp., Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Parañaque, Lions Club International District 301-A4, and Parañaque Filipino-Chinese Five Volunteer Association.

The agreement ensures that the PRC can mobilize medical personnel from hospitals and medical groups to support its large-scale disaster operations. Additionally, the schools, corporations, and institutions have pledged to support PRC’s service delivery programs and humanitarian campaigns, such as blood donation drives, RC143 volunteering programs, Red Cross Youth, and large-scale disaster response. Meanwhile, PRC vowed to train students, employees, and public servants in first aid.

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon expressed gratitude to  PRC’s partners. “We are establishing partnerships with different institutions and organizations to intensify our blood advocacies and prepare for crises and disasters. The partnership between the PRC and these institutions is a crucial step in ensuring preparedness for large-scale disasters,” said Gordon. 

Recognized at the event were blood donors who have reached the milestone of donating one gallon of blood. Dr. Pang commended their contributions to universal access to safe blood supply.

The event, organized by the PRC Rizal Chapter and its branches, aims to strengthen PRC’s humanitarian efforts with key institutions within the chapter’s area of responsibility.

Among the guests were Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez, District I Rep. Edwin Olivarez, and City Councilor Tin Esplana.

###

MANDALUYONG, METRO MANILA – Twelve years and counting. That’s how long the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS) have been teaming up to respond to disasters and mass casualty incidents.

On June 13 they renewed their partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at the PRC headquarters in Mandaluyong.

PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon and PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang signed the MOA with PCS President Dr. Vivencio Jose P. Villaflor III and PCS Treasurer Dr. Joselito M. Mendoza.

In the agreement, PRC and PCS vowed to optimize each other’s assets and medical services, including training surgeons in Emergency Medical Services for mass casualty incidents (MCIs) such as large-scale disasters, especially earthquakes and typhoons.

In the event that hospitals experience a shortage of beds for patients, part of PRC’s standard response is to build Emergency Field Hospitals (EFH). PCS’s member-doctors will then provide emergency medical duties to PRC’s EFH.

Dr. Villaflor cited PRC’s equipment and facilities as key factors in the partnership. These assets include PRC’s Volunteer Emergency Response Vehicles (VERV), Operations Center, and satellite internet.

Gordon thanked PCS for its continued collaboration and pointed out that PRC’s successful operations lie in its two million volunteers nationwide. The PRC, said Gordon, is considered one of the “best Red Cross organizations in the world.”

“We are focused, fast, friendly, flexible, and forward-looking. All of us are trained to act and think immediately when help is needed,” said Gordon.

The PRC-PCS partnership dates back to 2012. Since then, the two organizations have collaborated on several mitigation training sessions, including mass casualty incident simulation exercises, pandemic preparedness activities, and the PRC’s annual Traslacion Operation.

###

Metro Manila, 3 May 2024 – The contributions of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to the progress and development of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Medicine (UPCM) was recognized by UP Manila’s new and 10th Chancellor Dr. Michael L. Tee during his investiture ceremony last April 30. 

Dr. Tee personally expressed his gratitude to PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon for initiating and spearheading the provision of full scholarships to 24 economically disadvantaged students of UPM. The PRC is notably the biggest full scholarship provider of the UPCM, covering the tuition fees, living allowance, and  transportation allowance, among others, of medical students and those enrolled from allied health programs. 

Chairman Gordon congratulated and thanked Dr. Tee for acknowledging the efforts of PRC. He also reaffirmed his commitment to helping the country address its shortage of doctors, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, as the majority of the country’s medical personnel seek better opportunities abroad.

“At the PRC, we only have the “common tao” but we have accomplished a lot. Imagine the possibilities if we could mobilize more doctors for our humanitarian responses. This underscores the importance of investing in the education and future of the youth because it ensures a far-reaching impact for the whole society in the long run,” said Chairman Gordon. 

Dr. Tee also acknowledged the support provided by the PRC during countless fire emergencies at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in recent years while Chairman Gordon also recognized Dr. Tee’s contributions to PRC’s COVID-19 Operations. It can be noted that Dr. Tee, in 2021, led the research study that validated the use of saliva for the diagnosis of COVID-19 –  a collaborative project of PRC, University of Illinois, and UP Manila. 

###