News Release

Las Pinas Stake (Diocese), MCHO, AHMC Partner for Blood Drive

Give Blood, Give life. One hundred twenty (120) people participated in the bloodletting activity that the Las Piñas Philippines Stake (Diocese) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized in partnership with the Muntinlupa City Health Office and the Asian Hospital and Medical Center.

 

Held on 29 June 2019 at the Muntinlupa Meetinghouse to donate blood, this is the second time that the three organizations organized a blood drive. 

Joanne Zabalerio-Yap, Blood Bank Coordinator for Asian Hospital and Medical Center, was very pleased with the results and thought that the activity was a success. "If we think about it,” she said in an interview, “donating our blood is an act of love because it's something… that we voluntarily give, because we care for other people."

Rowena Cruz-Cho, Muntinlupa City Health Office, was also pleased with the results and appreciated the efforts everyone exerted in making the activity a success. Several employees from the Muntinlupa City Health Office came to participate and donate blood. A group of 12 City health officers has been donating blood on a regular basis because they think that however small a sacrifice donating blood may look like, it is a sacrifice they are willing to give to be able to save other people’s lives.

Aris Baylon, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, likened the blood-letting activity to Jesus Christ’s shedding of blood to save humankind. “By donating blood, we are following the Savior’s example by helping and lifting other people from their physical needs,” he said.

A week prior to the blood-letting activity, the three partners organized an orientation meeting to prepare the individuals who planned to donate blood. As per the Muntinlupa City Health Office, it is helpful to hold such meetings, or what they call as “pep talks”, because they increase the likelihood of success, particularly to the person giving blood.

The orientation contributed to the success of the bloodletting activity as it prepared individuals, especially those who work night shifts, exercise rarely, and many others. During the pep talk, the city health officers gave out several instructions to help eliminate unhealthy habits and to ensure that each person passes the screening test prior to drawing blood.

With the success of the recent blood-letting activity, the Las Piñas Stake and its two partners plan to hold a similar activity on a regular basis.

They are now preparing to host the third blood-letting series this year with a tentative schedule in September, during the city’s celebration of the National Family Week. They are hoping to increase awareness and invite more people to participate and sacrifice a little bit of their time for the sake of those who are in need.

The first one was done in May as part of the Church’s celebration of the National Day of Service held at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex with an overflow at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center. This month’s activity was hosted by the Church in its Muntinlupa meetinghouse, where a total of 87 members and friends donated blood. 

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