For GMA Network, giving blood is not only an expression of love but also a selfless act that could save another person’s life.
In celebration of the love month, GMA successfully held its annual Kapuso Bloodletting Day at the Network’s headquarters in Quezon City as well as in the regional stations in Dagupan, Ilocos, Naga, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and General Santos. The event, which concluded on Feb. 10, yielded a total of 1,638 (737,100 cc) blood bags.
GMA’s Corporate Affairs Division organizes the annual Kapuso Bloodletting Day with the help of the Network’s socio-civic arm GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) and GMA Regional TV Department, in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
More GMA employees, along with their families and friends, were able to donate this year, surpassing last year’s total turnout of 1,580 (711,000 cc) blood bags.
Present during the Kapuso Bloodletting Day in GMA’s Quezon City compound were GMA Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angela Javier Cruz, GMAKF Founder and Ambassador Mel C. Tiangco, GMAKF Executive Vice President and COO Rikki Escudero-Catibog, PRC National Blood Services Director Dr. Christie Monina Nalupta, PRC Quezon City Chapter Vice Chairman Gov. Nesty Isla, and PRC Quezon City Chapter Administrator Amparo Perez.
Shirley Escalante with Kapuso artist Bea Binene, who has been actively participating GMAKF’s activities since she was 7 years old, hosted the event. Also spotted in the event were Jay Arcilla and GMA News’ Raffy Tima who is a regular blood donor.
Tiangco expressed her appreciation of fellow Kapuso nationwide for continuously supporting the activity. “You don’t need to be rich to be able to help the poor. This is the best way to help others without even spending anything,” she said in her speech during the turnover ceremony.
“At the top of that, you are also giving a part of yourself which is such a noble act. Giving away a part of yourself to those in need will bring us to heaven and blessings will overflow. We are thankful for all of you especially now that our donors today are from GMA,” Tiangco added.
Dr. Nalupta also articulated how grateful she is about the strong ties they have with GMA. “We are thankful for the love being given to us through projects like Sagip Dugtong Buhay and the Kapuso Bloodletting Day. This also goes to GMA Network employees for expressing their love through donating blood.”
To encourage more participants, special awards were given to select employees including the Early Bird Award, First Family Award, and group recognitions such as the Dugo-dugo Gang and the Bloodiest Group.
Meanwhile, another successful bloodletting activity also concluded on Feb. 18 with GMA Kapuso Foundation’s Sagip Dugtong Buhay at Ever Gotesco Mall in Commonwealth, Quezon City. The event, in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, Ever Gotesco Malls, and Go Tong Foundation Inc., yielded 1,748 blood bags (786,600 cc).
In support to GMAKF, Kapuso talents Isabelle De Leon, Koreen Medina, Carl Cervantes, Jhustine Miguel, Migo Adecer, One Up, Ron Mclean, Maricar Riesgo, Papa Dudut, and Tessbomb attended the blood drive to entertain the donors and to promote volunteerism through blood donation. The Philippine Army Security and Escort Battalion Combo, X3m, Dimension, and Generation 6 Dancers also participated in the program.
For the second leg of Sagip Dugtong Buhay, GMA Kapuso Foundation will hold another series of bloodletting events in August.