GRACEFULLY clad in a modern Filipiniana, Capiz provincial government legal officer Ma. Leobeth D. Delicana is not geared, at least for the time being, for legal documents and business correspondence.
She is among the Blood Galloner awardees during the 12th Annual Provincial Sandugo Awards on July 28 in Roxas City in view of the National Blood Donors Month who recognizes those who made a significant impact on the lives of many by demonstrating compassion and selflessness through blood donation
“As a lawyer, I have dedicated my career to advocating for the rights and welfare of individuals, fighting
for justice and striving to make a positive impact in people’s lives. But it is in the act of voluntarily donating blood that I find a unique opportunity to contribute directly to their well being, providing a lifeline that transcends legal battles and courtroom debates. It is a humbling experience to know
that a simple act of giving can bring hope, healing and comfort to another person and their loved ones,” stressed Delicana, who has already donated blood on 11 occasions.
The lawyer has been a former Red Cross Youth member and presently among the Board of Directors of the Philippine Red Cross – Capiz chapter.
Another lawyer Remia D. Fuentes Bartolome is also a Blood Gallooner awardee after having donated a total of 3,600cc of blood in her last eight
voluntary blood donations.
“My motivation to donate
blood stems from my experience
of helping someone whom I
respect and the realization on
how important it is to have an
equitable access to safe and
quality blood at all times,”
said Bartolome, who is also a
member of the Chapter’s BOD.
The ‘Dugtong Buhay’
bloodletting activity of the Capiz
Information Center (InfoCen)
of the Philippine Information
Agency and its supervised Capiz
Association of Government
Public Information Offi cers
(CAGPIO) was also recognized
as Top 2 Performing Non-Local
Government Unit mass blood
donation activity organizer
for its 204 blood donors who
successfully donated blood last
March 25, 2022.
The Infocen’s life-saving
initiative, now in its 12th year,
was also awarded a Testimonial
Plaque by PRC chair and Chief
Executive Offi cer Richard
G. Gordon or its invaluable
support extended to the PRC
accounting to more than 1,000
blood units of blood supplied
for the vulnerable segment of
the society.
The other awardees
also come from the various
facets of life like fi remen,
nurses, students, government
employees, barangay offi cials,
law enforcement authorities,
vendors, and Persons with
Disabilities, among others.
The award honors the
remarkable achievement of
individuals who have shown
exceptional dedication and
commitment to the cause of
voluntary blood donation in
2022.
The Chapter was able to
serve more than 5,000 patients
out of the 11,006 blood units
collected through the various
mass bloodletting activities
last year. The accomplishment
translates to 1.34 percent of the
province’s total population.
“What distinguishes
this year’s event which is
extraordinary courage that they
have brought out is the truest
selfl ess test of our blood donors
for their donation especially
we have seen this during the
time of COVID-19 pandemic,”
said PRC secretary general Dr.
Gwendolyn T. Pang.
The PRC offi cial added
that blood donation continues to
fl ow in the veins of the Capiceno
even during the pandemic
stressing that a total of 31,166
blood units were collected from
2020 to 2022 amid the pandemic
restrictions and regulations.
Voluntary blood donation
SANDUGO /1 has surpassed the annual
provincial target of about 8,800
in the last three years.
“And what I was so proud
of is that 31,166 units of blood
were able to save 14,119
patients,” she noted, adding
that some of the blood units
collected were also sent to other
parts of the country for the
patients in need of it.
The Sandugo Awards is
a joint initiative of the PRC
and the Provincial Health
Offi ce to shine a spotlight on
the heroes of voluntary blood
donation by acknowledging
their courage, highlighting the
lifesaving impact of their gifts
and encouraging continued
dedication to the noble cause.
It is a call to everyone,
regardless of social status,
to turn their thoughts to and
be inspired to emulate the
men and women who freely
and voluntarily give part of
themselves to those in need of
blood and its components.
Living for others is
undoubtedly a rule of nature, and
life itself is enriched when one
fi nds happiness and it becomes
even more fulfi lling when others
experience happiness because
of you. (PIA Capiz)
