Give Love. Give Blood. Give Life.

How did I spend my valentine's day? Here's the answer:

February is the month of love, and every fourteenth of the said month, people from all walks of life, celebrate for one day love in all its possible meanings in different ways.

On February 14, 2011, when all seemed to get busy with buying flowers and chocolates for their special loved ones, a group of young adults gathered around the lobby of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Davao City and were busy arranging, not flowers, but tables, chairs and folding beds. On that day, The Fraternal Order of St. Thomas More in cooperation with the Philippine National Red Cross – Davao City Chapter, with the support from Councilor Leah Librado, Councilor Victorio Advincula Jr, Councilor Jimmy Dureza and Councilor Tomas Monteverde IV, conducted a blood letting program and medical mission. The blood letting program was under the direct supervision of the Philippine National Red Cross – Davao City Chapter and was assisted by volunteer nursing students from the Ateneo de Davao College of Nursing; and the medical mission was headed by Dr. Ma. Pamela G. Grado.

The activity was a way of celebrating love – love for life. Over the past years, it has been recognized that there is a need to keep the supply of blood in the blood bank. As there arises need for blood in different medical situations, the blood letting activity aimed to encourage the donation of blood to contribute to the blood bank’s supply. Further, as a public service, the medical mission was intended to cater to as many as possible as the day would permit and to provide free medicine samples.

The activity was held from 8:00 o’clock in the morning until 12:00 noon. As the program closed, approximately 46 bags of blood were collected from gracious donors; and approximately 90 persons were catered by the free medical check up.

As the program closed, for the organizers, it was a day fulfilled of serving and giving back. Valentine’s Day was the day to celebrate love; and these young adults gave love back to the community – to make a difference to the lives of those who might benefit from the blood collected and to make a difference to the lives of those who might have been relieved of the free medical check up.