SHARING THE GIFT OF LIFE THROUGH BLOODLETTING
The bloodletting activity became part of the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2018. The mentioned activity was conducted at Pasonanca National High School on the occasion of their 2nd founding anniversary. The activity was in coordination with the Zamboanga City Medical Centre. The primordial objective of the activity is to help individuals save lives helping to overcome cultural and religious barriers, however, physical and cultural sensitivities were to be considered and respected.
A medical team composed of Nurses, Medical Technologies, Midwives from Zamboanga City Medical Centre spearheaded the preliminary screening and extraction while the registration and the snacks for the blood donors were handled by the teachers and some student – volunteers. Donors flocked to the venue for the activity to include members of Pantawid Program, Parent – Teachers Association, Barangay Officials, Youth sector, Military and security personnel and individuals who came and submit themselves for this noble endeavor.
In an interview with the Peace Link Moderator, Ms. Marisa Paragas she expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the individuals behind this project for choosing their school as the venue of this activity. She further mentioned that she is proud that their learning institution is not a venue for peace building but also a venue to save lives. This bloodletting activity eventually lasted for two days.
The keynote speaker is the Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Iran Hon. Mohammad Jafarimalek also Cultural Counsellor, in his message he expressed the increasing threat of extremism not only in the Philippines but other parts of the world. He said that all of us must have a sense of responsibility to care for every individual’s safety in our community to work as one in spite of differences in faith. The 1st resource speaker is Rev. Fr. Lucio Rosaroso, Jr. the Deputy Chief, Chaplaincy Services, PNP. He shared his experienced before becoming a priest at the same a Police officer, in an anecdote that he shared two friends where on a plane in the right wing is on fire, the other one said “look the wing of the plane is on fire!” the other one answered “Don’t worry mate it is not ours!” in our present society we do not care anymore what is happening around us, we choose to remain silent amidst the chaos that is being happen in front of us why? Is it because we are afraid or it is because we simply don’t care as long as we are safe? This is a challenge for every one of us not to be afraid and to have empathy to our common tao, not only to think of our own selves but to learn to extend our arms to help others especially those in need. As Fr. Lucio also expressed in the Theology of the body that yes we are different and yet we can work together as one.
