DAMMAM, 16 August — In a show of solidarity with calamity victims at home, the Philippine School in Dammam (PSD) community yesterday launched their own fund-raising campaign for the benefit of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).
Students, parents, teachers and officials of one of the leading Philippine school in the Kingdom kick-started the campaign during the culminating activities of the Buwan ng Wika, a month-long observance of the Philippine national language.
In addition to the fund-raising campaign, the community will also collect used clothing for the Red Cross.
Spearheading the project are the PSD administration, the Parent Teacher Association Council (PTAC) and the Student Council Organization (SCO).
This is the first time since the PSD was established in 1995 that the three different school bodies joined together to answer the call of PNRC for donations from Filipinos abroad.
PTAC teacher representative Emelita Rojas said that during their meeting last week, council officers unanimously approved the proposal of their president Ferdinand Arana to ask the school in launching a continuing project for the benefit of the PNRC.
Arana explained during the meeting that donations for the Red Cross goes a long way in helping the unfortunate who are affected by such calamities as typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, fire, and fighting.
ìMalay natin, ang mga kamag-anak din natin ang mga makikinabang (for all we know, among the recipients may be our own relatives),î said Arana, noting that ìcalamity strikes anywhere.î
Last Monday, the PTAC president met with PSD principal Lita Rulloda and SCO president Emarc Perri Magtanong, a 4th year student, and agreed in jointly launching a campaign.
Rulloda said that the school had been extending help to Bantay Bata foundation in the past years and it is but proper that they should support the PNRC this time.
She said the campaign is also meant to instill in their students the virtues of sharing and helping those in need.
Magtanong said that the SCO had already launched a project last week which is the Search for the King and Queen for the high school level and Search for the Prince and Princess for the elementary level. Their purpose is to raise funds to finance the SCOís plan to upgrade the sports facility of the school.
But since the SCO is now involved with the PNRC cause, part of the proceeds of the search will be sent to the Red Cross in Manila, Magtanong said.
Judy Paulino and Liza Catanus, both SCO advisers, agreed their full support for the PNRC project. Paulino said that the SCO will spearhead in collecting used clothes, shoes, or any kind which they will send to PNRC.
Catanus said she is more than willing to help the PNRC since she was once a member of the Red Cross team in Iloilo.
Arana, who once worked at the Department of Health in Manila, said that apart from the collective effort of the PSD community, individuals are also encouraged to donate directly to the Red Cross.
According to Teresita Usapdin, the PNRCís acting director for fund generation, organizations and individuals can send their donations to the agencyís dollar savings account, No. 2-151-00218-2, Metro Bank and Trust Co., Anda Circle, Port Area Branch.
Usapdin said all donations will be acknowledged by means of an official receipt to all donors, group or individuals.
In a letter to then Philippine Ambassador Rafael Seguis last June 22, PNRC Secretary-General Lourdes R. Loyola said individual donors will also be sent membership cards and Red Cross pin.
The membership card will entitle any chosen relative or friend (residing in the Philippines) of the donor to avail of a package of health and accident benefits within a period of one year. Individual donors who give a minimum of $20 are entitled to the PNRC card and pin. (AN)
