Celebration: Philippine Red Cross 67th Anniversary

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), the country’s premier humanitarian organization, is celebrating its 67th Anniversary on April 15, 2014. Guided by its motto of “Always First, Always Ready, Always There,” the PRC provides timely, efficient and responsive services, especially to the most vulnerable of the Philippine population. Its mission is in accordance with the principles of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Red Cross (IRC) and Red Crescent Movement, of which the PRC is an active member.

PRC was created by Republic Act (RA) 95, Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Charter, signed on March 22, 1947, and inaugurated on April 15, 1947. Its six major services — Blood Services, Disaster Management, Safety Services, Community Health and Nursing, Social Services, and Volunteer Service — embody the fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality of the global organizations with which it is affiliated.

RA 10072, the Philippine Red Cross Act of 2009, affirms the Philippines’ conformity with the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Statutes of the IRC and Red Crescent Movement. It confirms the PRC as a voluntary, independent, and autonomous non-governmental society in the humanitarian field. RA 10072 changed the name from “Philippine National Red Cross” to “Philippine Red Cross.” The PRC has 100 chapters and sub-chapters nationwide carrying on a wide array of humanitarian services. There are more than a million trained volunteers who respond to emergencies and disasters. The “Red Cross 143 Program” deploys 44 volunteers in each of the nation’s 42,000 barangays. Its youth arm, Red Cross Youth, educates young Filipinos and provides them, through 97 chapters, the venue to use their skills, talents, and idealism in worthwhile activities.

The PRC was set up during Katipunan days when volunteers such as Trinidad P. Tecson, the “Mother of Philippine Red Cross,” took care of Filipino soldiers. The Malolos Republic formed a National Association of the Red Cross on February 17, 1899. The American National Red Cross (ANRC) opened a Philippine Branch on August 30, 1905. An independent Philippine Red Cross was created in 1934. Local Red Cross officials and ANRC reestablished the Red Cross in 1945. Aurora Aragon Quezon, the first PNRC Chairman, received Geneva’s recognition of PNRC on March 29, 1947. The PNRC became a member of the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on September 17, 1947.

We congratulate the Philippine Red Cross headed by Chairman Richard J. Gordon and Secretary General Gwendolyn T. Pang, its National Board of Governors, Administrators, Officials, Personnel and Volunteers, for being always at the service of the Filipino people in our Republic of the Philippines. CONGRATULATIONS AND MABUHAY!