Bench and Red Cross collaborate for Yolanda survivors

MANILA, Philippines -Heartbreaking news items on super typhoon Yolanda’s (Haiyan) casualties, survivors and wreckage have sadly become part of our daily lives for weeks now. The destruction it caused the Philippines’ Visayas region is something the country has never experienced before.

Dubbed as the world’s strongest land-falling storm, Yolanda’s impact is said to be more intense than the effects of one of the deadliest hurricanes to ever hit the United States, Hurricane Katrina. The aftermath of this natural calamity was so alarming that TV networks and newspapers abroad took notice, thus raising international awareness on the gravity of the situation.

But if we are to point out a good side to this tragedy, it would be that it served as an eyeoopener on the need for disaster-preparedness. It also ignited and stirred a sense of bayanihan and pakikipag-kapwataoin many, regardless if they are Filipino or not. Everyone just wants to help and contribute through volunteer work, cash, in-kind, or even blood donation coursed through the Philippine Red Cross.

“When Super Typhoon Yolanda hit the Visayan region, the Red Cross immediately set up four blood service facilities in the areas where survivors need blood the most. The PRC set up one blood station in Tacloban, two stations in Ormoc, one in Capiz, another one in Aklan, one in Guiuan Eastern Samar and another in Basey Western Samar,” PRC chairman Richard Gordon said. “As of the moment we have dispensed 565 units of blood. We are calling for able bodied voluntary blood donors to take their time in donating blood to the Red Cross for us to then have these fresh units of blood readily available to our brothers and sisters in Visayas.”

Now, global Pinoy clothing and lifestyle brand Bench takes part in providing assistance to Yolanda survivors by launching a campaign in collaboration with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC). Featuring PRC and Bench volunteer celebrities like Richard and Lucy Gomez, Kim Chiu, Bea Alonzo, Enchong Dee, Jake Cuenca, Richard Gutierrez, Tom Rodriguez, Dennis Trillo, Paulo Avelino, Borgy Manotoc, Valerie Weigmann, Catriona Gray, the campaign hopes to spread awareness on the need for clean blood for the benefit of those who have been badly injured.Through the simple act of donating blood, just imagine how you can be instrumental to alleviating the sufferings of the Yolanda survivors even when you’re miles away from the affected areas.

There are two volunteering opportunities through Red Cross: Emergency Response Unit Trainee and National Blood Center Volunteer as donor recruiters and blood donors. To donate cash or in-kind, check http://www.redcross.org.ph/donate. To donate blood, check the nearest Red Cross Chapter to you at http://www.redcross.org.ph/chapters and the qualifications for blood donors at http://www.redcross.org.ph/giveblood.

The campaign also aims to spread positive vibes and encourage people to start doing something to alleviate the problem at hand, rather than join the blame game that has sadly been played by so many ever since the onslaught of Yolanda.

 â€œBench and Philippine Red Cross have come together to serve our country through this difficult time,” Philippine Red Cross governor Joanne Zapanta-Andrada says. “I believe that Bench has stepped up over the years. It is no longer just a clothing company, it has become a platform for the youth. And since we believe in the power of the youth for volunteerism and in the fact that the future is held by our youth, we thought, what better conduit or platform can we use that the youth can relate to than Bench.”

The Bench x Red Cross campaign wouldn’t be possible without the help of the following: DPIXL Studio, photographers Paolo Pineda, Mark Nicdao, and Ronnie Salvacion; makeup artists KristBansuelo, Paolo Maranan, Ricci Chan, and Albert Kurniawan; hairstylists Brent Sales, Manuelo de Guzman, Jerry Javier, David Beraquit and Rowena Sonido; food courtesy of Florabel and Marilu Enriquez; behind-the-scenes footages courtesy of Ten Media and Pacific Lights Studio; TBWA agency and writer Grace Libero.

This Christmas, join Bench and Red Cross in their initiative to spread love, generosity and positivity to our kababayans affected by the super typhoon Yolanda. To learn more about how to donate, visit www.benchtm.com.