Press Release
August 14, 2009

FVR and Gordon lead blood-letting activity in Camp Aguinaldo

Former President Fidel V. Ramos joined Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.) in leading members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to donate blood to ensure that the country will have adequate blood supply for all necessities.

Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), lauded the men and women of the AFP, not only for their prompt action in removing calamity victims out of harm's way, but also for their noble sacrifice in donating blood during the 45th anniversary of the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) in Camp Aguinaldo.

"Mga sundalo, men and women of our Armed Forces, talagang matindi ang pagsisilbi niyo sa ating bayan. I come here to honor all of you, your sacrifices for the nation. Nagpapasalamat ako sa inyong pagtulong dito. Ang binibigay niyong dugo ngayon ay makakatulong sa ibang tao," he said.

"Sa panahon na ito malaking bagay ang ginagawa niyong pagsasakripisyo. That is why I would like to salute the men and women who are here giving blood para sa ganoon makatulong tayo sa ating mga kababayan," he added.

Gordon noted that the process of blood donation came to a full circle in the occasion because it turned the recipients of blood donations into donors themselves.

"Ang pinakamalalaking blood banks ng Red Cross ay nasa Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Zamboanga, among others, because we do not want our soldiers to run out of blood," he said.

For his part, Ramos pointed out that blood is always a very precious commodity and the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are the biggest recipients of PNRC services, particularly their blood program.

He added that their donations would be a big help to the country's poor and hopeless citizens, who are usually more at risk during accidents and calamities.

"We, in the Armed Forces and in the National Police as well as the concerned civilian community, must always be prepared for the emergency that is sure to come, either natural or man-made," the former president said.

"Tayo ay nagtutulungan bilang isang pamilyang Pilipino. Ang natutulungan nating lahat ay yung mga mamamayang napaka-pobre at walang pag-asa sa buhay because they are the ones who are always at risk in terms of accidents or poor health and sometimes they are the first victims of calamities. Kaya ganyan po kahalaga ang ating donasyon ngayon. Kaya muli, maraming salamat sa inyong lahat," he added.

News Latest News Feed