ILOILO City – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) commended the Roberto O. Chua Che Wai Foundation Inc. and Iloilo Society Commercial, Inc. for conducting a blood donation drive.
To mark Father’s Day on Sunday, June 18, the “Winners Meet Heroes 2023” bloodletting was held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hi-Land Complex in Barangay Bolilao, Mandurriao district.
Led by businessman Rex Chua, in cooperation with DYRI RMN Iloilo, the blood donation campaign gathered 425 donor heroes.
The Philippine Red Cross – Iloilo Chapter was grateful for the initiative.
“Ginapasalamatan gid naton ang organizer kag ang nagtambong subong nga adlaw para maghatag sang ila oras para magdonar sang ila dugo,” said Gilbert Paul Valderrama, administrator of Philippine Red Cross – Iloilo Chapter.
Roberto O. Chua Che Wai Foundation Inc. and Iloilo Society Commercial, Inc. have been consistently conducting blood donation drives for the past 10 years.
Dr. Carlo Nolan Carado, Blood Center Manager of the Western Visayas Regional Blood Center, was also thankful.
“I hope magpadayun ang aton blood donation activity sa mga suceeding years in partnership with different organizations,” Carado said.
Meanwhile, Ernie Alenciaga, blood donor coordinator of Roberto O. Chua Che Wai Foundation Inc., Iloilo Society Commercial, Inc. and DYRI RMN Iloilo, said the annual bloodletting activity was finally resumed after this was temporarily halted due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Alenciaga explained that the initiative was sparked when Mr. Chua’s father needed blood, but there was a scarcity. It was when they realized that an annual blood donation drive would help save the lives of Ilonggos.
“We are thankful sa tanan nga nagkadto para mag-participate sa aton blood donation drive,” Alenciaga said.
Among the hundreds who donated blood were natives of Passi City — Fred John Federico, Sr., 53; and his sons Fred John Jr., 35; and John Clef Federico, 23.
According to blood galloner Fred John, it is their way of helping others.
“Halin sang una, amo ni akon bulig sa isig-kapareho ko kay ti pigado man ako. Sa financial wala gid ako, pero once nga mapakuha ako sang dugo daw nalipay ako nga makabulig ang akon dugo sa nagakinahanglan,” he said.
His son, Fred John Jr., has so far donated seven times and John Clef, five times.
They encouraged other Ilonggos to do the same.
Successful blood donors received a “Winners Meet Heroes” T-shirt, a bag of groceries, a free lunch and an additional special surprise for the following tandems: father and son, father and daughter, and husband and wife.
“Winners Meet Hereos 2023” was made possible by the Roberto O. Chua Che Wai Foundation, Inc. and Iloilo Society Commercial, Inc. with the help of the Philippine Red Cross-Iloilo Chapter, DYRI RMN Iloilo, and Jaro Police Station.
June 14 was World Blood Donor Day 2023, and next month, July, will be Blood Donors’ Month; the theme is “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often.”/PN
