Doctors and nurses fear going to the far-flung, possibly cholera-stricken town of Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat due to skirmishes in North Cotabato between the military, para-military forces and Muslim rebels, the Red Cross chief said.

"We now have 21 volunteers, including seven doctors and 11 nurses. The problem is that some doctors who want to go to the town feel that they are not secure because of the on-going tension," Philippine National Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon said in a press conference at the PNRC National Headquarters Friday.

During the press conference with representatives from the Department of Health (DOH) and other PNRC officials, Gordon said he already ordered the deployment of Red Cross volunteers and the delivery of medicines to the town, where 147 diarrhea cases were reported.

Out of the 147, 18 died from dehydration and 127 victims were hospitalized.
Gordon added that the villages in Palimbang are home mostly to the indigenous group Manobos.
 
10-hour travel
The Red Cross has difficulty transporting medicines and equipment because the affected town is very far from local health centers.

Gordon said the first cases of diarrhea occurred on July 7, but the report reached them only on August 2 after 18 people had already died.

From the affected sitios to the barangay health center, the volunteers have to walk three hours. Then it's a two-hour travel from the barangay health center to the municipal hospital of Palimbang , followed by a five-hour trip to General Santos City .

Despite long hours of travel, Red Cross volunteers from General Santos Chapter, in coordination with DOH local health workers, immediately brought relief items, food, medicines and rehydration tablets.

Gordon said that Red Cross is planning to send tents via helicopter to Palimbang. These tents will be used as make-shift hospitals so that patients can be immediately provided with the necessary treatment.

The Red Cross will also put up water treatment facilities to prevent further increase in cholera cases since initial reports point to contaminated water as the cause of the outbreak.

"The number of diarrhea cases in the town is really alarming. Urgent action is needed to address the problem. I have already directed the local Red Cross in Sultan Kudarat to closely monitor the situation and see to it that affected residents are immediately provided with proper medication," he said.

For her part, Dr. Cecile Francisco, PNRC Community and Health Nursing Service Director, said they have deployed seven doctors and 11 professional non-health volunteers who used habal-habal (a motorcycle that is the common mode of transportation to reach the interior highlands), just to reach the cholera-affected villages and give aid to the patients. 
 
Cholera outbreak?
Dr. Noel Orosio, Supervising Health Program Officer of the National Epidemiology Center , said the health department has yet to confirm if it was cholera which caused the deaths of 18 people in Palimbang.

But based on their clinical impression and considering the symptoms among the victims, Orosio said it appears to be a cholera outbreak.

Dr. Carmencita Banati, DOH Director for Health Emergency Management, said that the DOH, upon receiving last August 1 the information about the outbreak, immediately sent medicines for the patients and obtained water and stool samples for analysis.

Banati said the results of the tests will be known in seven days. Only then can they confirm if it is really cholera.

However, Osorio said the DOH has yet to study the water and stool samples from the victims.

Cholera bacteria are transmitted by contaminated food and water. Its symptoms include rapid dehydration, rapid pulse, dry skin, tiredness, abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting.

Dr. Arnel Rivera, DOH Operations Manager, said the DOH is currently educating the villagers on proper hand washing, boiling of drinking water, and use of aquatabs or water purifying tablets.
 
Lack of doctors and nurses
Meanwhile, Gordon noticed the lack of local doctors and nurses particularly in barangays.
Gordon said he is thinking why despite a large amount of nurses passing the local board exams, the country still lacks the needed number of nurses especially in remote and far-flung communities which badly need them.

Based on records of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), an average of 50% of the examinees pass the Nursing Licensure Examinations every June and December.
Gordon said, in his capacity as Senator, he will look into this concern, which is a significant public health issue.###

Philippine National Red Cross Chairman and Senator Richard Gordon is calling for the observance and application of International Humanitarian Law in light of the ongoing conflict between government troops and Moro Islamic Liberation Front guerillas in North Cotabato.

 

Gordon said the observance of International Humanitarian Law Day on August 12 has become critical with the ongoing armed conflict in North Cotabato.

“All sides involved in the North Cotabato conflict,” Gordon said, “must be made aware of and be committed to the observance of International Humanitarian Law. While International Humanitarian Law does not prevent wars and armed conflict, it does help reduce the inherently terrible effects of war on combatants and non-combatants alike.

 

“International Humanitarian Law, essentially, brings a humane element into conflicts; when observed, it makes sure that mercy, compassion and justice are extended to those directly engaged in combat, and especially toward non-combatants who need protection from the effects of war.

 

“At this very moment, some 130,000 refugees are fleeing war-torn areas in North Cotabato. The Philippine armed forces as well as the MILF are both bound under International Humanitarian Law to protect non-combatants caught in the conflict, and to treat combatants from either side humanely. Even in war, combatants—especially those injured and no longer capable of fighting--still have rights and must not be denied humanitarian treatment,” Gordon explained.

 

More than 10,000 people joined the “Walk for Humanity” organized by the Manila Red Cross Chapter to kick off the nationwide observance of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Day on August 12, 2008.

 

This year’s theme is “Together for Humanity, Dignity & Peace”. The had two starting points, one in Liwasang Bonifacio and the other at the Rajah Sulayman Park along Roxas Boulevard . A short program was held at the Quirino Grandstand where all the participants converged.

 

Delegations from various government, and private organizations participated, including the Department of Education- Manila Division; Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); students from different colleges and universities in Manila; Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); Department of National Defense (DND); Commission on Human Rights (CHR); Manila Barangay Bureau; Manila Health Department; Philippine National Police (PNP); and the Girls Scouts of the Philippines.

The Red Cross mobilized its 143 volunteer and youth members from all over Metro Manila to provide logistical and emergency support to the event.

Guest speakers at the event included PNRC Chairman Sen. Richard J. Gordon; Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim; International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Chief for Asia Sandra Moretti-Carr; Justice Leonor Ines Luciano; and Hon. Amado S. Bagatsing.

 

According to Gordon, the actual provisions and the spirit of International Humanitarian Law are inextricably tied with the core mission of the Red Cross.

“The founder of the Red Cross, businessman Henry Dunant, in the nineteenth century laid the foundation and planted the seed for international humanitarian law, when he spontaneously helped the wounded soldiers and civilians in the Battle of Solferino in Italy.

 

“Like many of us today, Dunant was busy with his own life, conducting his own business and had no advanced plans to be a hero. And yet, when he passed by the scene of the Battle of Solferino, and saw soldiers and civilians were just left on their own, suffering and dying from their injuries, hunger and exposure, he was moved to stop and help them.

 

“It was Henry Dunant, who later wrote a book about his experiences helping combatants and civilians in Solferino, who became the inspiration for the creation of the International Committee of the Red Cross or ICRC in 1863.

 

“It was true then and it is true today: the Red Cross and its various societies around the world exist to extend protection, succor and humanitarian aid; to undertake compassionate action for the sake of those suffering the effects of war as well as other man-made and natural disasters.

 

“It’s no exaggeration to say that without the Red Cross, the ICRC, there might be no International Humanitarian Law today. That’s because the knowledge, experience and spirit of the Red Cross became the foundation for the creation of International Humanitarian Law,” Gordon explained.

Gordon’s birthday celebration, which became a fund-raising event for disaster victims, was hosted by travel media personality Susan Calo-Medina and PNRC Governor Andrew Nocon.

 

It is not so well-known that Gordon usually does not like to hold big parties on his birthday. He would rather prefer a simple celebration with his family and close friends. It was only at the prodding of Buhay Partylist Congresswoman Carrisa Coscolluela that Gordon reluctantly agreed to have a party.

 

For Gordon however, holding such a big event was not just an opportunity to celebrate: he saw fit to put the celebration to good use in order to benefit the unfortunate victims of recent disasters in the Philippines, particularly those who lost their homes, loved ones and livelihood to Typhoon Frank and the sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars.

 

Therefore, Gordon agreed to have his party only if it were turned into a fund-raising event, to generate financial aid for disaster victims through the Red Cross. Essentially, Gordon wanted to give gifts to disaster victims instead of receiving gifts for himself during his birthday.

 

Gordon’s plan was a resounding success: at the end of the party, he was able to raise PhP3.2 million which would be forwarded to the Red Cross and used to help victims of disaster. It also showed his outstanding ability to gather and unite support from the corporate world to high-society to political figures—more than a thousand of whom attended the event--in order to raise money for a good cause.

 

Again, this move was vintage Gordon; the senator and PNRC chief had in fact, earlier declined to accept a talent fee that was due to him after he agreed to endorse a brand of medicated soap. That talent fee, amounting to PhP 6 million, was also forwarded to the Red Cross.

 

 

The turnout for Gordon’s birthday party-turned-fundraiser showed how credible and respected a figure Gordon is among various sectors in society. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself, former President Fidel V. Ramos, Vice-President Noli de Castro, and Senators Manny Villar, Loren Legarda, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Francis Pangilinan, Frank Drilon, Juan Ponce Enrile, Joker Arroyo and (former Senator) Francisco Tatad all came to the event to pitch in for the fund-raising effort.

 

The fund-raising was also gained international support as the Royal Embassy of Cambodia and Austrian Ambassador Herbert Jager gave their respective contributions for the Red Cross.

Representatives from big corporations, all of whom are generous supporters of the Red Cross, also attended the event to heed Gordon’s call to help disaster victims. Philip Morris alone, in fact, donated PhP 2 million. Other corporations who donated include Equitable PCI Bank, Phil. Crop Insurance Corp., Subic Bay Development Management Corporation Inc., Querubin Rubber Corp., Hanjin, International Advertising Corp., Solar Entertainment Corp., and Liwayway Marketing. All of them cited their profound respect for Gordon and the goodwill he created between them and the Red Cross, as the chief reasons for them to extend their support.

 

Gordon’s friends, whether in politics or not, also gave generous amounts for the Red Cross as their gift to the celebrator. Among them are Gov. Enrico Aumentado, Gov. Adelina Rodriguez, Cong. Hermia Roman, Cong. Mary Ann L. Susano, Hon. Pryde Henry A. Teves, Hon. Lorna Silverio, Maj. Gen. Delfin Bangit, General Narciso Abaya, Dr. James Dy, Rosie & Carlos De Leon, Mr. & Mrs. Wilfredo Fernandez, Cesar Virata, Victor Villavicencio, Ramon Moreno, and Victor Lazatin.

 

Even Gordon’s former classmates in the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines Law School Batch 1972 also came not only to celebrate but to also give what they could to the fund-raiser.

Organizations and institutions who showed their support to Gordon and their generosity to the Red Cross are the Liga Ng Mga Barangay-Olongapo City, Reserve Officers Legion of the Phils., APA Law Office, Department of Tourism-Cordillera Administrative Region, PMA Class 72 and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxillary.

 

Gordon’s guests at his birthday bash unanimously expressed one reason for why they are so willing to lend their support: they all believe in Gordon and in the sincerity of his sense of mission to help others. They said that this faith and trust in Gordon’s commitment to help the less fortunate is what spurs them to give their support to the Red Cross swiftly, generously and without a second thought.

 

 

And yet, even a veteran of disaster and emergency response like Gordon could still be surprised—the senator and PNRC chief was moved by the presence of two very special guests at his birthday: Evangeline Triumpante and Salvacion Aguila.

Triumpante and Aguila are two out of thousands of beneficiaries of a housing program that Gordon and the PNRC spearheaded to help victims of super typhoon Reming. All in all, Gordon and the Red Cross—together with families and communities affected by Reming—were able to build more than 13,000 typhoon resistant homes for families who lost their houses and livelihood due to the super typhoon.

 

Gordon told guests at his birthday that the 13,000 homes were built without fanfare and media attention, saying the Red Cross undertook the housing program “silently” and only when it was completed did the news spread through the media.

 

Gordon praised Triumpante and Aguila, both women heads of their respective households, bread-winners and sources of hope, inspiration and dignity for their families. The senator and PNRC chief said that the two women represented what is best in the Filipino. He also pointed out that if all Filipinos took inspiration from Triumpante and Aguila, then true peace, progress and prosperity would not be just dreams but a reality for the entire country.

 

Gordon said that Triumpante and Aguila, by leading their respective families in building the typhoon-resistant homes, proved that even in the face of great adversity, the Filipino can rise up and better his or her lot in life.

He recalled his amazement at seeing how, from raw structures the PNRC provided to the two women, they were able to transform these into beautiful, functional homes fit for their respective families.

 

“They will be able to carry this country by themselves…quietly did this…pagbalik namin, semento na yung lapag, built their own…these two people represent a great country.

“What we can do for our country, to uplift this country, bring back the dignity of this country…these two ladies makes me proud,” Gordon said in his speech. 

 

Other surprise guests at Gordon’s birthday celebration included survivors of the M/V Princess of the Stars who thanked him personally for the medical treatment, stress debriefing and other help that they received through the Red Cross.

 

The members of the Aeta tribe who survived the Mt. Pinatubo explosion thanks to Gordon’s efforts to evacuate them were also present, as well as the victims of the Cabanatuan earthquake who were rescued from the rubble, also through the intervention of Gordon and the Red Cross.

 

Gordon has received two Red Cross Gold Humanitarian Service awards for his accomplishments in humanitarian work in the Philippines. He was first conferred the Gold Humanitarian Service Medal during the Red Cross Biennial on December 2007.

 

The first time that award was given however, Gordon politely declined to accept it, citing delicadeza—he felt that as Chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross it would not be proper for him to accept the award. He also said that at the time, he felt that he still did not measure up to the accomplishments of his mother Amelia Gordon, who is a former Governor of the Red Cross and also a recipient of the Red Cross Gold Humanitarian award.

 

On his birthday however, Red Cross Governor Justice Leonor Ines Luciano conferred on Gordon the Gold Humanitarian award, and finally convinced him of the rightness of his acceptance.

In finally accepting the award Gordon said, “the real award is that you know yourself…are worthy, and you said yes, you don’t need any medal.”

 

The conferment of the award to Gordon was witnessed by his mother Mrs. Amelia J. Gordon (also a former Red Cross Governor and Gold Humanitarian Awardee), his children and grandchildren.

The second time that Gordon was awarded the Gold Humanitarian Service Medal was in April of 2008, which was given to him by Japanese Red Cross President Tadateru Konoe. According to Konoe, the Japanese Red Cross awarded Gordon the medal for his humanitarian efforts in saving victims in the 2006 Guinsaugon, Leyte landslide.

 

Gordon highlighted one main tenet of his life in his birthday speech: “To give and not to count the cost”. Ample evidence of Gordon’s deep, personal commitment to this guiding principle was presented to guests through AVPs created by the PNRC Communications team, who wanted to give their own tribute to him.

 

Guests were surprised and applauded enthusiastically upon watching the AVP showing Gordon in action during the disaster of Typhoon Frank: how he cancelled an official trip to the United States as part of the presidential entourage, in order to visit areas hit by the typhoon in order to help victims.

 

The AVP showed Gordon tirelessly moving from one disaster area to another, personally overseeing relief efforts, giving orders to Red Cross staff and volunteers, attending assessment and planning sessions with local officials, traveling by banca, and even wading through waist deep floodwaters if necessary in order to reach victims.

 

Guests expressed amazement over how personally Gordon took his job as PNRC Chairman, making sure that he personally came in contact with victims and listened to their stories and their problems firsthand. They were impressed at how Gordon worked through his own exhaustion, buoyed by his desire to help others, and risked his personal safety at disaster sites.

 

Guests also marveled at Gordon’s efforts and accomplishments at modernizing the Philippine National Red Cross in order to widen its reach and broaden its capacity to help more disaster victims. Guests were particularly impressed at how Gordon was able to acquire high-tech ambulances equipped with the latest communications and life-saving devices, making them mobile emergency rooms and trauma centers.

 

Guests also watched an AVP detailing how Gordon was also able to convince the government of Japan to donate fire trucks to the Red Cross. With these fire trucks, the Red Cross may now help victims struck by massive fires that usually occur in crowded urban poor areas.

PNRC Secretary General Corazon Alma de Leon, in her speech, could only say words of praises to Gordon for his untiring efforts for the Red Cross.

 

“Chairman Gordon is truly a man for others. He is determined to help those who are in need, to be of service to the most vulnerable individuals,” de Leon, who is always with Gordon in visiting disaster areas and also relentlessly extends her hand to give help, said during the event.

 

In his speech, Gordon sought to inspire guests with his vision for a better Philippines and his belief in the power of the Filipinos’ innate yet underestimated and underused capacity for cooperation, volunteerism, bayanihan and compassionate action.

“Let’s move forward and make this country the humanitarian center of the world,” Gordon said.

 

Guests said they all came away from Gordon’s birthday celebration richer in spirit and more inspired by his vision. They said that they saw Gordon—who was earlier given a Gold Award by the Japanese Red Cross for his earlier humanitarian accomplishments—as someone who will go out on a limb to help those in need, and has the ability to unite and inspire others to work together to accomplish great things quickly and effectively, to bring about the greater good. 

Guests at Gordon’s birthday celebration came away more convinced and grateful that he is truly a man of action and a man for others. #

Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Richard J. Gordon (left) receives a facsimile check amounting to Two Million Pesos (Php 2,000,000.00) from Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. (PMPMI) headed by Managing Director Chris Nelson, as the company’s contribution for the relief and rehabilitation operations of the PNRC to the victims of Typhoon “Frank”. This was held during the 63d Birthday of Sen. Gordon last August 5, 2008 at the NBC Tent,The Fort Taguig. The occasion was a fund-raising activity wherein “in lieu of gifts” attendees will donate to the PNRC.

MANILA, Philippines– Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI, formerly known as Caltex Philippines), its parent company Chevron Corporation, sister company Chevron Malampaya as well as the Filipino Employee Network of Chevron (FEN) have pooled their resources for a donation totaling over PhP1.7 million for the survivors of Typhoon Frank.

 

The Chevron group is channeling its donation through the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) to reach the victims who are still in critical need of assistance. Bulk of Chevron’s donation will be devoted to Panay, specifically CPI’s host communities of Iloilo and Culasi in Capiz.

 

The donation consists of a corporate donation of Php1.1 million cash, Php500,000 worth of fuel in the form of Caltex StarCash Cards which PNRC can use to avail of fuel and other Caltex products across the Caltex network nationwide in powering the Red Cross vehicles used in delivering relief goods to disaster areas.

 

The FEN Philippine Chapter, which is composed of employees of the four Chevron companies in the country: Chevron Philippines Inc., Chevron Malampaya, Chevron Geothermal and Chevron Holdings Inc, held a volunteer drive to complement the corporate efforts that resulted in a collection of at least P121,000 in cash and 31 boxes of various food and non-food donations. 

 

In behalf of the PNRC, Gordon thanked Chevron Philippines and its employees, who extended their help through personal contributions, for supporting the organization in its noble cause of serving the most vulnerable individuals.

 

“The PNRC is grateful to Chevron Philippines Inc. and Chevron Filipino Employee Network for their donations and support. But I am sure that the beneficiaries of these donations are the ones who would be more thankful to Chevron for the relief they have provided,” said Gordon.###

1. Chevron Philippines General Manager for Finance Glenn Lynch hands over to PNRC chairman Richard Gordon one of the Caltex StarCash cards that will be used by the Red Cross to avail of the Chevron-donated Php500,000 worth of fuel and other Caltex products for its vehicles to deliver relief goods to disaster areas, with Ms. Beverly Aguilos of Chevron Malampaya.
2. Volunteers of the Filipino Employee Network of Chevron, composed of employees from Chevron Philippines Inc. formerly Caltex Philippines), Chevron Malampaya, Chevron Geothermal and Chevron Holdings turning over the result of their volunteer drive -- a check for P120,000 and 31 boxes of various food and non-food items.