MANILA, Philippines - Mario Mendoza rues having Type 2 diabetes not only because of the money he spends for medication, but also because of the possible complications of his illness.
He wishes to be cured of the disease to again be able to donate blood.
“I can no longer donate blood because I’m insulin-dependent diabetic. I wish I can go back to my old self so that I can donate blood again,” said Mendoza, 49, credit and collection manager of The STAR.
Last Thursday, Operation Damayan embarked on another bloodletting campaign among STAR employees and Damayan scholars at The STAR office in Port Area, Manila. A total of 77 employees donated blood.
All Mendoza could do was assist donors and personnel of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) in administering the blood collection.
“The last time I was able to donate was in 2001. After that, I have been on insulin,” said Mendoza.
Operation Damayan, the socio-humanitarian arm of the STAR Group of Companies, has been doing bloodletting since 2001 during the month of February.
The Red Cross has been calling on the public to donate blood, especially this rainy season, the peak period for dengue cases.
PRC recruitment head Dr. Allan Paul Becina said the primary source of the PRC’s blood supply are students who go on school breaks during the months of April, May, and June.
Becina added there are now many corporations and civic groups that organize blood donation activities and they help the PRC stock up on blood.
“We hope that more companies will organize campaigns like this. It is important for us to always have enough supply of blood for patients,” he said.
Damayan coordinator Emie Cruz said last February, Damayan did not undertake a bloodletting project because of the abundance of blood supply of the PRC and the many bloodletting activities held in celebration of Valentine’s Day.
“We came up with this campaign to allow STAR employees who would like to help others but do not have the financial capability to do so. We know that blood is life so by sharing our blood, we’ll be able to save others,” she said.
ABAKADAmayan scholar Archie dela Cruz, 22, did not think twice about donating his blood when he heard about the program.
He realized the importance of blood when his relative needed it in 2008. This was his first time to donate.
“I wanted to donate after that but there was no opportunity. So when we were told about the blood donation of Damayan, I decided to come,” he added.
On the other hand, the ABAKADAmayan project gives opportunities for high school dropouts to take the Accredited and Equivalency Test of the Department of Education by reviewing and preparing them for the examination.
Those who pass the test are given their high school diploma, enabling them to enroll in college.
Damayan hopes to help as many poor people as it can. It will do so for many years to come with the support of STAR management, employees and friends.