Bloody Valentine’s Day

Bloody Valentine’s Day
The month of February is usually associated with love, ecstatic relationships and romantic adventures, especially on Valentine’s Day, February 14, a day when lovers hang out to places and enjoy intimate moments. Thus the term ‘Feb-ibig’ month or day, affording special moments to families to go to nearby beaches and recreational areas to take pleasure in each other’s company and strengthen family ties. However for Philippine Red Cross (PNRC) – Davao Oriental Chapter, Valentine’s Day is about sharing and saving life. Last February 14, 2016, PNRC staff and volunteers placed flyers/advertisements in public places and radio stations with the theme ‘Share your Blood and Save a Life on Valentine’s Day’, advertising what they called as ‘Bloody Valentine’s Day’. According to PNRC Davao Or. Chapter Administrator Catherine Ross Mylene Y. Bijis, this is already the 5th year since they had started the ‘Bloody Valentine’ and that they always received positive responses from generous donors. On Valentine’s Day this year, twenty five (25) bags were collected from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon. Bijis narrated that her husband was one of those who had shared his blood and saved some patients from serious illnesses. Having experienced saving lives and witnessing patients regaining from their sicknesses, he decided to generously share his blood so that others may live. Catherine further disclosed how inspired she is by the Red Cross Youth and volunteers who actively participate in the work of service without any remuneration. Moreover, she is scouting for more volunteers to the Red Cross 143 Project who would report disasters that happen in particular areas.

Samahang Pabahay Project for homeless beneficiaries
The Couples for Christ (CFC) Ancop Global Foundation Inc. recently facilitated the construction of new houses in Barangay Dahican, Mati City, for 69 job order employees of the Provincial Capitol in coordination with the Provincial Government (PG) and the Banco de Oro (BDO) Foundation. The CFC provided the social preparation of the beneficiaries for the so-called ‘Samahang Pabahay’ Project while the PG took care of the resettlement site and land development. Designed as a typhoon-resilient community, the one-hectare settlement consists of 38 duplex houses plus one single-detached unit, plus a multi-purpose hall and a chapel to be placed there, among other amenities, including provision of sustaining community development programs on livelihood, education and health.

“This settlement will be more than just an infrastructure project as it is intended to become a community where recipients are going to build their dreams and happily raise their families,” said CFC Ancop President Jaime M. Ilagan. Ancop Foundation which spearheaded the implementation of the project hopes that the beneficiaries would not only take care of their new houses but will ‘also help spread the kindness and generosity to others’. Meanwhile, BDO Davao-Tagum Branch Head and Senior Assistant Vice President German Penales, said that this housing resettlement project is in line with BDO Foundation’s advocacy which is to respond to the needs of the marginalized sector, while he also thanked the bank clients and stakeholders who donated for their cause.