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Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) members from various local congregations and ecclesiastical districts, in the Philippines, willingly donated blood during recent blood donations. These were made possible through the collaborative efforts of their respective district leadership with the Church’s Social Services Office (SSO), Christian Medical Dental and Paramedical Society (CMDPS), and various medical institutions.
On February 23-24, 2024, a total of 394 blood bags were collected from donors, mostly brethren from the Ecclesiastical District of Central, who gathered at the New Era University-School of Management (NEU-SOM) building situated along Central Avenue, Brgy. New Era, Quezon City. These blood bags were then distributed to beneficiary institutions, including Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital, Valenzuela Medical Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital.
Also on February 24, other ecclesiastical districts and local congregations led same events. The said districts were Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur (22 blood bags collected); Rosales, Pangasinan (55); Rizal (80); Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija, 93; the local congregations were that of Gen. T. de Leon in the Ecclesiastical District of CAMANAVA (54) and Pandacan in the Ecclesiastical District of Manila (52). On March 3, 2024, the Ecclesiastical District of San Jose, Mindoro Occidental collected 93 blood bags.
“Blood donations are vital, especially for those battling illness and relying on blood transfusions for recovery. Each bag of blood donated can truly make a difference in someone’s life, particularly for individuals in dire need of blood,” stated Leslee Joy Legurpa, doctor, and district CMDPS president from the Local Congregation of Molave, Ecclesiastical District of Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.
Before being allowed to donate blood, donors underwent health screening procedures. Gerald Dioquino, donor recruitment officer of Region 1 Medical Center, the beneficiary institution of the said activity in Rosales, Pangasinan, enumerated that among the factors screened are the donor’s weight (must weigh at least 50 kg.), amount of sleep taken the night before donating (must have slept for 6-8 hours), and present blood pressure (must be from 100/70 to 160/100).
“It is my first time to donate blood, and I’m happy for being able to do so. Through this, I will be able to help people who are in need of blood,” expressed Louie Viloria, from the Local Congregation of Yaw-Yawi, Ecclesiastical District of San Jose, Mindoro Occidental.
“We are grateful because, through events like blood donation approved by the Church Administration led by our Executive Minister Brother Eduardo Manalo, we get an opportunity to not only be united with the Church Administration but also extend assistance to our fellowmen,” said Brother Nelcar F. Loberiano, supervising minister of Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur District.
Holding such humanitarian activities is also the Church’s response to calls from both government and nongovernmental organizations for the increase of blood donors to address shortage of blood supply in various regions in the archipelago. — With reports from Ailu Quitoriano and Kimberly Castillo of INC News Section
