For decades, the University of the Philippines Los Baños’ (UPLB) February Fair has been known not just as a week of music and festivities, but as a protest fair and a space where students assert that celebration and social responsibility can coexist. Born out of resistance during the Marcos dictatorship, the fair has long carried a political and civic undercurrent beneath its bright lights and crowded booths.

This year, that tradition of activism found expression in a different but equally urgent cause. On Feb. 14 and 18, 2026, the Red Cross Youth of UPLB (RCY of UPLB) will stage Bloodiest Rumble 2026, a blood donation drive that transformed the protest spirit of FebFair into concrete action.

By combining humanitarian work with the university’s deeply ingrained organization culture, the event channels the competitive energy of student organizations toward a life-saving goal — proving that protest, at its core, is also about protecting and sustaining life.

Unlike typical blood donation drives, Bloodiest Rumble adds a unique twist: student organizations compete for the coveted “Trophy of Solferino,” awarded to the organization that mobilizes and sends the highest number of qualified donors to the event. This system transforms participation into a collective effort, as members encourage one another to sign up and show up. More than boosting turnout, the tradition strengthens organizational pride and reinforces the sense of unity that defines UPLB’s tightly knit campus community.

Named in homage to the historic Battle of Solferino, the gruesome conflict that inspired Henry Dunant to found the International Red Cross, the event draws from a pivotal moment in humanitarian history. It reframes competition as an act of collective service rather than rivalry for its own sake.

During the two-day event at the College of Arts and Sciences Annex 2 Multi-Purpose Hall 1 on Feb. 14 for day 1 and Baker Hall on Feb.18 for day two, students, faculty, and staff joined forces to answer a critical need: the persistent shortage of safe, voluntary blood supplies for hospitals and emergency patients. Each donation, no matter which organization or person it came from, contributed to a larger humanitarian mission.

In previous runs, the RCY of UPLB recorded strong turnout and steady blood collection. In 2025 alone, the drive drew 180 donors and generated 133 bags of blood, contributing to the Philippine Red Cross’ supply for hospitals in need. With two collection days scheduled this year, RCY of UPLB is aiming to meet, if not exceed, those figures.

More than the numbers, however, Bloodiest Rumble has become a fixture of UPLB’s organization culture. Fraternities, sororities, academic organizations, and socio-civic groups are expected to mobilize their members in a bid for the Trophy of Solferino. The competitive format is designed not merely to increase turnout, but to encourage collective responsibility among organizations.

As preparations continue, RCY of UPLB anticipates broad participation from students, faculty, staff, and nearby residents, underscoring the event’s role as both a humanitarian initiative and a unifying activity during FebFair 2026.

Blood donation remains a critical public health service in the Philippines. Human blood cannot be manufactured, it can only be donated by volunteers willing to give a part of themselves to save others.

The human body contains roughly 6,000 milliliters of blood, of which only about 500 milliliters are drawn during a single donation session, a fraction that the body quickly replaces without adverse effects. For patients in need, however, that contribution can mean the difference between life and death.

RCY of UPLB, in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross Laguna Chapter, City of Calamba Branch, ensures all procedures will adhere to strict safety and health protocols for donors. Prospective donors will undergo health screenings to assess their fitness to donate, including checks on age, weight, blood pressure, and general well-being. Trained medical professionals from the Philippine Red Cross will oversee and conduct the blood collection process to ensure donor safety and comfort throughout the activity.

Participants must meet standard eligibility criteria. Donors should be at least 18 years old, while those aged 16 to 17 may donate with parental consent. They must also meet the minimum weight requirement and be in good overall health.

Bloodiest Rumble is part of a trio of major blood donation activities conducted annually by RCY of UPLB, alongside Bloodline in October and Sanduguan in May. Each event has its own themes and community goals, but all are grounded in the same principle: fostering a culture of volunteerism and humanitarian service among the youth.

As UPLB students and partner organizations prepare to gather and donate, they are expected to contribute to a critical national supply of blood, supporting hospitals across the region in responding to emergencies, surgeries, and chronic medical needs. With blood banks often struggling with shortages, drives like Bloodiest Rumble play an essential role in bridging the gap between supply and demand.

Through initiatives like this, the RCY of UPLB continues to champion not just the act of giving, but a culture that celebrates empathy, volunteerism, and responsible citizenship.

Details about Bloodiest Rumble 2026 and other upcoming activities for prospective donors can be found on the official Facebook page of the Red Cross Youth of the University of the Philippines Los Baños.