MANILA, Philippines - All men are created equal yet they differ in many ways. Some take life for granted while others try to make each day as meaningful as possible. Among them are Erik Santos and Toni Gonzaga who chose to give instead of receive. They recently joined the humanitarian causes of Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) as they, together with Yeng Constantino and other OPM artists, shared their talent via the album I Move, I Give, I Love.
Erik, Toni and Yeng are the voices behind the PNRC theme song Bagong Umaga which is included in the album conceptualized by the Red Cross together with Star Records in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the International Red Cross Movement.
At the recent album launch, PNRC chair and Sen. Richard Gordon presented a plaque of appreciation to Erik, Toni and Yeng (Star Records’ Annabelle Regalado-Borja received the plaque for Yeng) for their initial involvement in the Red Cross project. They were also recognized as Red Cross singing ambassadors.
Choosing the artists for the project, according to PNRC secretary-general Gwendolyn Pang, was not easy as they “really have to consider artists with great sense of compassion.”
Fortunately, they have found a number of artists fit for the project and all of them waived their talent fees. All proceeds of the album will go to Red Cross.
“Though I’ve been actively involved with other humanitarian projects, this is my first time to be in such big organization as Red Cross,” Erik says. “I can proudly say that I’m a Red Crosser and I am excited to be part of its projects.”
Erik’s awareness about the organization’s causes has greatly increased now that he joined the Red Cross where his cousins are also volunteers. He even recalled donating blood when he was in high school.
Toni, on the other hand, had closely worked with the Red Cross for five years when she was still a barangay councilor in Taytay, Rizal.
“I was in charge of health and sanitation and Red Cross always partnered with us in all our health-related projects like free vaccination or circumcision,” Toni shares. “It is not all about providing blood but also reaching out to people.”
And while it is only now that Toni has become one of its ambassadors, her involvement with the group will be more active this time. She will be joining the Red Cross in its mall tours to make people aware of health issues and the organization’s other causes and projects.
“I’m always ready and willing to help anytime because we, as artists, are not just doing something for ourselves but for the community and for the country as well,” Toni offers.
Eric agrees by saying, “This is not about being an artist but a human being. I think life will be more meaningful if we can help in whatever way we can. It doesn’t matter how big or small your part is as long as you do something that would be beneficial to others.”
Red Cross, indeed, is the answer to Erik and Toni’s objective of spreading love, support and care.