The Philippine Red Cross has cited the humanitarian efforts of its donors and partners who continue to support its efforts to reach out and help those who are in need.
Since the end of last year until the beginning of 2020, PRC said that it has been able to respond to a series of disasters such as the Mindanao earthquake, the Taal volcanic eruption, the COVID pandemic, as well as consecutive typhoons “Rolly” and “Ulysses” due to the help of its partners and donors.
PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sen. Richard Gordon noted that in every response, donors were within reach, enabling the PRC help those who have been affected.
“As we move forward, we look back in a tumultuous year – (the) Philippine Red Cross has been in the heart of calamities and the pandemic, providing response and relief to the most vulnerable,” he added.
To recognize their efforts, Gordon led the first “Virtual Donor Recognition” early this week to commend the solidarity shown by its donors and partners which helped and enabled PRC’s services to fulfill its great humanitarian mandate.
“Without the people who lent their hand – we will not be here,” Gordon said. “We in the Philippine Red Cross recognize these heroic individuals and institutions which helped us all the way,” he added.
There were several awardees.
For the Aurora Aragon Quezon Medal Award which is given to leaders who are humanitarian exemplars, the awardees were Megaworld Corp. Chairman and President Andrew Lim Tan, Megaworld Corp. Executive Vice President Kevin Andrew Tan, AUB founder and Republic Biscuit or Rebisco Chairman Jacinto Ng Sr., Rafael Garcia III, Theodore M.H. Huang of TECO Electric & Machinery Co., Ltd., Readycon Trading and Construction Corp. or RTCC President Jesus Ignacio, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairperson and Administrator Wilma Eisma, Security Bank Foundation Chairman Rafael Simpao Jr., Puregold Price Club Inc. Chairman Lucio Co, Dr. Gwendolyn Pang, Frederick Dy of Security Bank, and Geo-Transport and Construction Operations Manager Bryan Chona.
The PRC said the award honors the late Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon who, in selflessness and devotion to duty as first chairperson of the independent PRC, personified the true spirit of the Red Cross volunteer service. Quezon is the wife of the late first Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon.
The Most Distinguished Corporate Partner Award was given to those who showed unconditional commitment to help PRC as the forefront organization in the great fight of the pandemic.
The awardees were RB Health Philippines Inc. or Lysol PH; Okada Manila; Rolex Centre Phil. Limited; Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp.; Nickel Asia Corp.; Metrobank Foundation; Liwayway Marketing Corp.; LT Group Inc.; Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry Inc.; Nestle Philippines Inc.; San Miguel Corp.; Philippine Jaycee Senate Foundation; Ayala Land Inc.; BPI Foundation; and Makati Development Corp.
Last October, PRC reached one million COVID-19 tests which constituted how effective and efficient the organization is in its effort to trace and stop the spread of the virus.
“Such feat has been attained with the help of PRC’s partners which are instrumental in providing both material and financial help that paved way for more molecular laboratories and testing equipment,” PRC said.
The Outstanding Humanitarian Award for Corporate Social Responsibility was given to donors who helped during the disasters which hit the country in the middle of the pandemic.
These donors who made it possible for PRC to reach more and do more were SM Investments Corp.; Procter & Gamble; 3M Philippines; Ronald McDonald House Charities or McDonalds Philippines; Colgate-Palmolive Philippines Inc.; RCBC Bankard Services Corp.; Opentext Philippines Inc.; Sun Life Foundation; Filminera Resource Corp.; Grab Philippines; Suyen Corp.; Lazada E-Services Philippines Inc.; FF Cruz Co. Inc.; Bloomberry Cultural Foundation; Philippine National Bank; Nissan Philippines; Honda Philippines; Tiktok Global;
Rustans Coffee Corp. (Starbucks Coffee); Semiconductor & Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc.; Chevron Holdings Inc.; Chevron Philippines Inc.; Sandoz Philippines Corp.; Unilever Philippines; Pfizer Philippines; Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc.; Medtecs International Corp. Limited; Victory Liner Inc.; United Auctioneers Inc.; Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc.; and Bombo Radyo.
The Spirit of Philantrophy was awarded to personas who demonstrated outstanding civic and philanthropic support and leadership through a proven record of financial support, exceptional generosity, active volunteerism, and commitment in local community involvement with the special participation in Red Cross operations in the Mindanao earthquake 2019.
The awardees were Supreme Master Ching Hai, actress Angel Locsin, Michael Chen, and Vicente “Bong” Cuevas of Creative Pacific Group.
PRC also acknowledged the need to maximize technology in the time of a lockdown, and this has been achieved by young Information Technology practitioners whose expertise in the field was instrumental.
Awarded for IT Innovation is Dennis Mendiola of VoxpTech, who developed the RC143 app, PRC’s contact tracing app which allows users to easily track their risk level, identify and avoid high risk zones, and directly communicate with Red Cross personnel for questions about COVID-19 through the Viber app.
“His project also paved the way in acquiring the partnership of Globe to provide mobile services such as SMS alerts and app advisories, and allowing access to the app free for all Globe and TM customers,” PRC said.
Dashboard Philippines was given the Digital Humanitarian Award for acting as a core of the COVID-19 Tech Response Team of PRC.
“This group of young and talented individuals developed the COVID-19 digital infrastructure of the Red Cross and supported PRC Chairman Gordon during the pandemic,” PRC said. “These volunteers dedicated their time and talent to design and build the COVID-19 platform and database which through digital solutions, demonstrated best leadership practices and active volunteerism,” it added.
Gordon said that the awardees’ immense contributions have fueled PRC’s response, relief, and recovery. “We learn every year from these people which helped us improve and always aim for betterment in helping the most affected.”