CLARK, PAMPANGA — On Friday, November 28, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) gathered hundreds of blood donors, institutional partners, and community leaders at the Hilton Clark for the 3rd Central Luzon Kadugo Awarding Ceremony, celebrating the individuals and organizations whose sustained support continues to strengthen the region’s life-saving blood services.
A total of 314 awardees from Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales were recognized for their exceptional contributions to the National Blood Services Program. Through years of consistent participation in blood donation drives and community initiatives, these partners have helped ensure that safe and adequate blood remains available for patients in need across the country.
“No Filipino should lose their life because blood was not available. With the continued dedication of our donors, partners, and volunteers, we move closer to a country where every patient gets the chance to live,” said PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon who commended the honorees for the impact of their service.
PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang, who attended the program along with PRC’s National Blood Services Director Dr. Monina Nalupta, highlighted the importance of this year’s theme “Give Blood, Give Hope, Together We Save Lives.”
“For the Philippine Red Cross, this year’s theme is not just a slogan, but a kind of truth we see in our everyday lives. Blood is life, and to donate blood is to give hope. For us in the Red Cross—and for the patients, especially—every bag of blood symbolizes hope because we can give patients a second chance at life. And while the need for blood does not end, through the donations we receive, we give those in need the gift of life,” said the PRC Secretary General.
The ceremony conferred a range of distinctions honoring both the volume of blood units collected and years of partnership, including the Blood Samaritan Award for supporters whose financial assistance enables indigent patients to receive free or subsidized blood; Hall of Fame awards for partners with over ten consecutive years of service and thousands of units collected through mobile blood donation activities; Outstanding Blood Service Partner of the Year citations for institutions that have gathered more than 1,000 units over a decade of continuous partnership; Testimonial Plaques for partners with unique, long-term contributions; Blood Service Platinum Awards for organizations consistently collecting 500 to 999 units over at least five years; Special Awards for exceptional support beyond regular targets; Scrolls of Honor for four consecutive years of service with 200 to 499 units collected; and Diplomas of Service for those who have completed two years of partnership with 100 to 199 units collected.
During his welcome remarks, Gov. Edward Joson, Chairman of Nueva Ecija Chapter and member of PRC Board of Governors shared his personal appreciation to all the partners of the Philippine Red Cross when it comes to blood donation. “When my father, the former Governor of Nueva Ecija, Tomas Joson III needed blood transfusions, platelets, and apheresis for his cancer treatment, we were always able to bring blood. The hematologist would ask us ‘why do we always have blood?’ This is the proof of excellence and beauty of PRC’s blood services program and its blood partners. Even with my father’s blood being an Rh-negative blood type—A-negative—we were still able to provide blood,” said Gov. Joson.
In an interview with PRC Tarlac Chapter’s (BOD) Finance Officer Luciano Paras Jr., he highlighted the need to recognize the partners and blood donors who help keep the blood supply of the country strong.
“I am very happy that we have institutionalized the regional Kadugo Awards. Our benefactors and supporters of our mass blood donations are more dedicated because we recognize them on a regional-level and not just the chapter-level. I see our supporters and they are very happy that their efforts are being recognized throughout Central Luzon. Alongside this, we stay true to the vision of our Chairman and Secretary General of providing safe and adequate blood to every person in need,” said Mr. Paras.
Among the Diploma of Service awardees was the Columban College of Nursing, represented by faculty member Raymond Papa and student Francis Solomon, recognized for helping mobilize students and faculty in regular blood donation efforts. Mr. Raymond Papa expressed gratitude for the recognition and recognized the importance of blood donations, saying, “I started donating blood back when I was 18 years old and I think it’s important that we start teaching our youth to donate blood and start as early as they can. In Columban College of Nursing, our students initiate the blood drives and are helping the community address the shortage of blood supply in the country. Since we started our partnership with the PRC and began our blood drives two years ago, our students have been really looking forward to organizing events and donating blood.”
Now in its third year, the Kadugo Awarding Ceremony drew an estimated 450 to 500 attendees, reflecting the growing engagement of communities in volunteer blood donation across Central Luzon and the steady expansion of partnerships that sustain the program.
The Philippine Red Cross congratulates the awardees of the 3rd Central Luzon Kadugo Awarding Ceremony.
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