In its eleventh year, the UPOU annual blood donation drive was held last 04 April 2023 at the UPOU Oblation Hall, Los Baños, Laguna. It was organized by the UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross – Laguna Chapter and the UPOU Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration. It has been the University’s tradition to organize a blood-letting activity anchored in its mission of extending public service and its high hopes of saving lives.
An hour before its official start, donors turned up at the Oblation Hall, willingly dedicated to being part of the event. Most were familiar faces from the previous blood donation drives, while a good few were first-time participants. The attendees came from different institutions and organizations, and some even traveled from as far as San Pablo City, Laguna.
Notwithstanding the heat on that day, the number of attendees did not falter until it finally concluded with its 124th volunteer and a total of 79 blood bags. This year’s blood donation drive recorded the highest number of attendees and successful blood donors since its inception in 2012. Among the total 45 deferrals this year, most were due to low levels of hemoglobin, issues with medication and travel, and weighing less than the required 50 kg.
Pastor Edwin Arceo from the Gospel Fundamental Baptist Church, a long-time partner of the UPOU blood donation drive, shared that donating blood brings him joy as it is his own little way of helping others. According to him, “Sa maliit na paraan, ako ay makatulong sa ating mga kababayang nangangailangan ng dugo… Kung kailan pwede, ako ay nagdodonate at isang kasayahan iyon para sa akin.” [In my own little way, I will be able to help our countrymen in need of blood… Whenever I am eligible, I donate blood and it brings me joy.]
First-time participant, Mr. Genesis Banawa from UPLB ASI-CAFS emphasized that he joined the event because donating blood is saving lives.
Mr. Michael Reyes, from IRRI and another first-time participant, mentioned that it is important to donate blood since it is good for the body, and at the same time, it is just as important to save lives. As he shared, “Unang-una para sa ating katawan… at higit sa lahat para makatulong sa mga tao, pasyente, na nangangailangan ng dugo at madugtungan ang kanilang buhay.” [First and foremost, for our body, but above all, to help and extend the lives of people and patients who are in dire need of blood.]
Before officially concluding the event, a short program was conducted to honor the long-time partners and sponsors in the past decade. Dean Diego Maranan of the UPOU FICS opened the program by giving a brief background of how the blood donation drive started and acknowledging its continued success along with the growing total collected blood bags over the years, which would not have been possible without the participation of all the partners in the bloodletting event.
Tokens of appreciation were awarded to the long-time partners: Burning Bush Christian Ministries Inc., Los Baños Christian Reformed Church, Romeo M. Ramirez Transport Services, Philippine Red Cross – Laguna Chapter, and Mga Amiga ni Denielle. Special tokens of appreciation were awarded to Dr. Melinda dP. Bandalaria, Dr. Jean A. Saludadez, and Dr. Melinda F. Lumanta, for having served as the project advisers.
Certificates were also awarded to the sponsors: Drip Kofi, Ms. Elinor T. Lopez, Ms. Paciencia M. dela Peña, Daniela’s, Dr. Roberto B. Figueroa, Jollibee Bay, Romeo M. Ramirez Transport Services, MerNel’s Cake House, SMS Marketing, Ricarea’s Merchandising, Signeffex, Jollibee Grove, Osboy’s Party Needs, Bay-Tek Industrial and Engineering Services, Ms. Alvie Simonette Alip, Ms. Percia V. Secreto and people who opted to remain anonymous, for extending utmost generosity in support of the blood donation drive.
UPOU Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Dr. Jean Saludadez, wrapped up the program by expressing her gratitude to the partner organizations and institutions of the annual blood donation drive. She also highlighted the messages written by the attendees on the freedom wall and emphasized that these were testaments of how the importance of donating blood and saving lives resonated in many individuals.They were people brought together by the advocacy, which turned into a community that makes a difference in a lot of other people’s lives by paying it forward.
Dr. Emely Amoloza of UPOU FICS formally closed the event by honoring all the people and organizations that have helped the blood donation drive become possible throughout the past decade. Above all, she gave her utmost gratitude to the University to which she is deeply indebted to for supporting her passion in the advocacy of paying it forward by donating blood and saving lives. She hopes that there will come a time when the UPOU blood donation drive will be able to sustain itself through the continuous outpour of donations from its long-time and new partners and sponsors. She also hopes to see familiar faces at the next year’s event.
This year’s blood donation drive would not have been possible without the commitment of the partner organizations and institutions who volunteered to donate blood: 4RCDG ARESCOM Camp Eldridge, Burning Bush Christian Ministries, Inc., Christian Reformed Church-Los Baños, Destiny Los Baños, Gospel Fundamental Baptist Church, DENR-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, Laguna Prime Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Laguna Water District Aquatech Resources Corporation, Motorcycle Community Organization for Peace and Security/Great Praetorian Riders Society, MAKBOYS Adventure Team, Los Baños Science Community Foundation, Inc. (LBSCFI), and UPLB College of Public Affairs and Development.
Written by Maria Paula Bautista
Edited by Yrelle Mae Lleva
Contributed by the UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies
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