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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gordon hails Rosa Rosal as embodiment of Red Cross' mission

Gordon hails Rosa Rosal as embodiment of Red Cross' mission

Published Nov 23, 2025 05:43 pm
(PRC PHOTO)
(PRC PHOTO)
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon hailed former PRC governor Rosa Rosal as the “embodiment “of the Red Cross mission as the humanitarian organization mourned her passing at age 97 on Nov. 15.
During the necrological services held on Nov. 19 at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig, Gordon said Rosal exemplified action over words throughout her seven decades of service to the vulnerable.
“We live in a world that is no longer harmonious to some, because we have forgotten the meaning of service and of giving. I always tell the Philippine Red Cross ‘you cannot be a spectator.’ You have to move forward. Acta non verba. Actions, not words—this is what defined Rosa Rosal,” he said.
“Whatever she set her heart on, she pursued. When she saw that the country needed blood, she went ahead and got blood. She expanded her world with courage to the point where she saw the suffering of others—then, she reached out to them. The Philippine Red Cross exists to reach out for the vulnerable, and Rosa Rosal was the very embodiment of that mission,” he went on.
Rosal, who served the PRC for 75 years—including 21 years as a volunteer and 54 years on the Board of Governors—was widely credited with championing nationwide blood donation programs and establishing humanitarian initiatives for women, children, and disaster-affected communities.
PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang said the organization joins the nation in grieving the loss of a humanitarian who dedicated nearly her entire life to serving others.
“On behalf of the Philippine Red Cross, we extend our deepest condolences. We share your grief, and we stand with you in honoring a life that touched so many. Gov. Rosa Rosal—Tita Rose—served the organization for 75 years. She volunteered for 21 years and spent 54 years on the Board of Governors. She embodied love, grace, and humanity. She will forever live in the hearts of everyone who makes up the PRC,” Pang said.
Rosal’s inurnment took place on Nov. 20 at the Heritage Memorial Park in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.
Before her humanitarian work with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Rosal was widely known for her career in Philippine cinema, where she became a familiar and respected screen presence.
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