The City of Ormoc is a chartered city composing of 29 districts and 81 barangays.  It has only four School Districts that compose the Ormoc City Division of schools namely, Ormoc East, Ormoc West, Ormoc South and Ormoc North.  Presently it has a population of 169,000 with four colleges.

The city is 109 kms. away from the provincial capital City of Tacloban and travel time is approximately 2 hours. It is the nearest port of entry to the Queen City of the South, Cebu City where travel time is two (2) hours by fast craft and five (5) hours by ordinary boat.  Though small in area, its highly industrialized with one sugar mill, two (2) powerplants supplying enegy to Luzon and Visayas and another plant producing raw alcohol.  It has three (3) hospitals, two privately owned and one government.  As to religious beliefs, 70% are Catholics and 30% distributed to different religious sects.  The biggest commercial establishment is GAISANO MALL and Ormoc Centrum, however, there are also several ones but are smaller.  The livelihood of the Ormocanons ranges from agriculture, fishing, family business ventures and company employment.

A Humanitarian Project of the Ormoc City Host Lions Club came to realize by establishing a Blood Bank Extension of the Leyte Red Cross Chapter.  As related to the undersigned by the president, Engr.  Domingo Cesar, determination, courage, time and effort were definitely poured during his term to finally achieve the project which he conceptualized even before his presidency.  True indeed, thru the assistance of other District Lions Club and members to raise funds for a Blood Bank Extension Office was realized on February 16, 1976.  Govenrnor Rosa Rosal, the Chairman of the Blood Program Committee, was their guest of honor and cut the ribbon for the newly opened Blood Bank Extension.  The presence of the Lady Governor- Actress did not draw much crowd as the public did not care what is the significance of the blood bank.  For during this period, the price of sugar was lucrative that professionals from this city ranging from lawyers, doctors and engineers were on sugar plantation farming.  Government employees from this city come from other places and were considered average or mid-income earners, while the sacadas or laborers were the lowest income earners. 

The Blood Bank Extension was manned by a detailed staff from the Leyte Red Cross Chapter, Mrs. Luz C. Yu. After their Opening Program a Mass Blood Typing followed among the employees of the City. A list of about 30 persons was endorsed to the undersigned.  A 20 sq. meter building annexed to a former City Engineering Building was constructed to house the Blood Bank Extension. The building was vacated for a new one of the City Engineering.  The then building was like a raw house accommodating the DILG, Social Welfare Services, City Agriculture, the last door annexed was the Blood Bank Extension, painted white.  There was only one electric meter for the four (4) offices to include the Blood Bank Extension and sometimes cut off for late payments. This building was nearby the pier of the city.  The detailed Medical technologist Staff stayed from its opening until July 02, 1976 or for a period of four (4) months until the undersigned finished the Annual Technical Training Course for Red Cross Staff which started May 02 to June 27, 1976. 
 
 On July 02, 1976, the Leyte Red Cross Chapter Administrator, Miss Consuelo Barte accompanied by her Administrative Assistant, Miss Benita Ricalde  together with the undersigned took the Red Cross Van on its way to the City of Ormoc to relieve the detailed staff.  The trip took us five (5) hours as the road was still rough and uncemented.  We arrived Ormoc at around 3:00 PM.  I could hardly describe my personal feelings as I enter the Blood Bank Extension Office as its physical appearance was far from the National Headquarters building where I was trained and more inferior from the Chapter Building where I applied for my first employment as Medical Technologist as a fresh graduate.

Fronting the Blood Bank Extension Office were different tsangges and a Ferris wheel as the city fiesta was just over for 3 days June 29.  Since this was the only open space of the city. I could hardly sleep for almost a week because of the noise up to the time the establishments pulled out.  The Administrative assistant accompanied me for almost 2 weeks to adjust the place and my new job.  Courtesy calls were made to few public officials and officers of the Ormoc City Host Lions Club who for sometimes visits the office occasionally to invite me on certain family occasions to combat loneliness having been away from my family.

 The Blood Bank was equipped with one (1) 10 cu. ft. National Refrigerator, Bathroom Weighing Scale, one (1) barometric sphygmomanometer, an enamel tray where two (2) bottle jars for wet and dry cotton balls, one (1) pair surgical scissors and two (2) cot beds, an antique typewriter and two (2) office tables.  A small room partition for both kitchen and refrigerator was in place, small bedroom which serves as my quarter.  The Blood Bank Extension catered a 24 hours service, without my knowledge as I have to extract blood anytime of the day as needed by three hospitals, however for some patients who can afford to buy blood, there was a place where one can buy blood; stocks came from the City of Cebu.  I really have no choice as there is no available stock and even if I’m still attending to my personal necessities, somebody would knock the door strongly and would always say it’s an “EMERGENCY” to gain attention for an immediate service.  It took me a half year to adjust my job as a Red Cross worker and during my first few months, I wanted to give up the job, for fear of some fortuitous events which may happened to me considering the location site of the office was beside the pier, on the other side, I was also thinking of the amount that will I will pay for my training expenses in Manila which I never knew the exact amount and was never notified when I signed the one year service contract.  I didn’t also bother to inquire for as a fresh graduate, I was so excited to land a job in order to earn.

I kept myself busy thru Massive Blood Donation Campaign with the assistance of the officers and members of the Ormoc City Host Lions Club who served as sponsors for snacks and provided cot beds during MBD’s, the members assisted me as I am the lone phlebotomist for donors of 50 persons mostly enlisted personnel and trainees.  At this time, the AFP-MILF conflict in Mindanao was still going on. Without notice my one year service as a Red Cross Worker was over, the demand for blood in the City of Ormoc and the neighboring towns was increasing as the City develops; stab wounds, gunshot wounds, vehicular accidents, etc. challenges me to increase my blood collections and to motivate more people to donate blood at same the time to lessen my sleepless nights when blood is needed, for loans can be extended and served immediately during emergencies.  This time with the assistance of another president of the Ormoc City Host Lions Club, Mr. Climaco Evangelista, we targeted the barangays for disseminations followed by MBD during Saturdays and Sundays schedule in coordination with the barangay captains.  Replacement system was always the problem, for there are times when donors with cards were not accommodated and the undersigned becomes the enemy of the blood donors.  The problems were discussed with the officers and members of the club up to such time some became inactive members, tired of solving the perennial problem.

I was already 3 yrs old in the organization when I finally settled down and added a new role to my life, a housewife, a mother, and a humanitarian worker.  This time I came to know my privileges as an employee.  Sick Leave, Vacation leave, off duties from my job, which I never insist while still single, as I have no reliever according to my Administrator, as the chapter is under staff.  My privileges were now implemented especially Maternity Leave when I delivered my eldest son.

Five years had passed, another phase of development with in the city went on going, the construction of Sangguniang Bayan Building and reclamation of the pier area for the city plaza.  The Blood Bank Extension office and the entire building was totally demolished.  April 14, 1984, the office was transferred to the Ormoc Maternity and Puericulture Center Building, this time turned compressed, only one (1) cot bed and two (2) office tables, a very small room to accommodate the refrigerator and steel cabinet for blood donors’ record keeping.  The two (2) office tables and a bench were expectant mothers sit during prenatal check up were used as bleeding cot beds for oftentimes 3-4 donors are bled at the same time.  Though the office served as a blood bank extension of the Leyte Chapter, it catered relief services during disasters as fires and typhoons with the capability of one staff as to survey and relief distributions.

A significant event caught the attention of the entire region and neighboring provinces when the city’s sugar tycoon, Don Potenciano Larrazabal, the father of the City Mayor and Father-in-law of the Congressman was kidnapped for ransom during the first week of October 1988.  There was a massive military operation on four far-flung barangays, helicopters bombing the areas were terribly felt by the residents that resulted to several family displacements and the bus terminal became the temporary evacuation center.  Families with their animals stayed in one place.  The undersigned reported the incident to the Administrator of Leyte Chapter recommending possible relief assistance to evacuees thru the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Ransom was paid military operations ceased, families returned to their respective barangays and relief goods served. 

 Red Cross vehicles of the ICRC and trucks carrying relief goods with delegates were visible and attracted the attention of the public, this time the alleviation for suffering as part of the Red Cross objective were felt by the sympathizing public and the victims.

 Another phase of development, transformed the flourishing City of Ormoc when the City Council passed a resolution to establish an independent Red Cross Chapter.  The incumbent chairman, Honorable Dr. Gregorio A. Yrastorza Jr during the first session of January 1989, sponsored the resolution.  The resolution underwent a bloody deliberation in the city council as the mother chapter strongly opposed; but then it was supported by both the city government represented by the City Mayor the Honorable Ma. Victoria Larrazabal Locsin and the Congressman of the 4th district of Leyte, the Honorable Carmelo J. Locsin.  The resolution to establish a Red Cross Chapter in Ormoc comprises not only its city but all the municipalities under the 4th district considering the accessibility to the city compared to Tacloban City where Leyte Chapter is located.  The mother chapter finally approved after a City Aid of Fifty Thousand (PhP 50,000.00)Pesos frm the Ormoc City government, was remitted to Leyte Chapter as demanded prior to tis endorsement to NHQ, Manila.  December 1989, the Honorable City Mayor Ma. Vioctoria Locsin inquired the status of the resolution thru the undersigned but then the Administrator turned deaf that prompted the Congressman Carmelo J. Locsin to personally follow up its status at NHQ, Manila.  The sincerity toopen an independent chapter was realized few months after.  April 27, 1990, an orientation to the chairman and BOD officers was held and attended by no less than the City Mayor, Honorable MA. Victoria Locsin held at their family owned and newly constructed Hotel, Don Felipe which she offered for free.  The Orientation consisted of film showing which was facilitatyed by Mrs. Marcela Pagasartonga.  Ormoc City became the 84th Chapter of the Philippine National Red Cross.

Ormoc City and its barangays and districts were the only territorial jurisdiction of the chapter.  The 4th district municipalities were excluded.  The first Fund Raising activity was Bingo Social conducted prior to the city fiesta as initiated by BOD Chairman Mrs. Cecilia Torres, held in the middle of June, 1991 whose proceeds was to construct a Chapter building.  The net income was only Thirty Seven Thousand (PhP 37,000.00) Pesos. 

The disasters involving a great number of families tested the service capability of the baby chapter.  Typhoon Ruping and 2 fires within the district of the City occurred on separated months but on the same year, these were at Brgy. Alegria and Brgy. Don Felipe.  The chapter has now an officer in charge, the undersigned and a full time volunteer, miss Gerlie Pantorilla who delivered the relief operation effectively.

On the following year, which occurred November 5, 1991, a crucial trial hit the one year old baby chapter to test a series of service capabilities; this was the Flash Flood “Typhoon Uring” that devastated the heart of of the City causing thousands casualties and damages to infrastructures.  For this disaster the City of Ormoc was known, the attention of the National Societies was focused, assistance from the federation and the member Societies, flooded to the most vulnerable chapter.  Relief management became a chaos but was finally settled.  Relief services were divided into three, Religions, Government, and Red Cross with corresponding areas of assignment.

Rehabilitation project to shelter the 180 homeless families was designed on a duplex bamboo walled houses that costs Forty four Thousand (PhP 44,000.00) Pesos and a total of 90 duplex houses were constructed, with a water system and individual toilets for each family, drainage system was included in the package.  Livelihood projects ranging from meat processing, hanging rice, and other entrepreneurship was financed by the Red Cross.  The housing project was awarded to the 180 families last October 17, 1992, eleven (11) months after the disaster.  The City Planning Architect, Mrs. Maribeth T. Ebcas designed the two-storey chapter building on a 500 sq. meter lot donated by the city government.  The architectural design on its façade became acceptable to the members of the Board of Governors and was adapted by our National Society as official design for all Red Cross Chapter buildings.  This was during the chairmanship of the late General Romeo C. Espino, Dr. Cel;so Samson as Secretary General and Miss Lourdes C. Masing as Manager of Disaster Management Services (DPRS before).  The success of the service implementation from the disaster phase to the post disaster phase were achieved thru the assistance from the youth and specialized volunteers headed by the Board Chairman, Mrs. Cecilia P. Torres as there was only two persons in the chapter, Mrs. Ruby L. Gernale, the Administrator and the Medical Technologist, Miss Gerlie Patorilla.

The fruitful efforts were recognized thru commendation during the 21st National Biennial Convention at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel.  The Chapter received the “CHAPTER OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR 1995” under Category III as the chapter was classified as Class D.

As of to date, January 27, 2006, the Chapter has 5 staff, 3 medical technologists, 1 full time Medical Technologist Volunteer and CSR-SS/RCY and a driver.  The Blood Bank is Category B and the Chapter is Metro C aspiring for a one-step higher category.  The chapter boasts its service capability on Blood Services having the highest number of blood units collected for Region 8 among the Red Cross Chapters and a consistent Awardee of the DOH Center for Health and Development for Visayas and the National Voluntary Blood Service Program, also a consistent Awardee on Fund Generation having subscribe its Annual Goal from 1990-2005.