Blood Donors Month: Building a healthy, resilient, and inclusive Bagong Pilipinas

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. Do you believe in miracles? I do.

- DBM SECRETARY AMENAH F. PANGANDAMAN

I sincerely believe that miracles happen in our midst daily and that each of us has the power to make a miracle happen—that is, through simple acts of kindness. One of these is the lifesaving act of donating precious blood.

Hence, as we observe Blood Donors Month this July, I stand in heartfelt solidarity with every Filipino whose selfless act of sharing their blood voluntarily, without thought of compensation, has touched lives, brought hope, and made a difference for others.

Institutionalized through Proclamation No. 1021 in 1997, the commemoration traces its roots to when former President Ferdinand E. Marcos declared July 17, 1966, as Blood Donor’s Day under Proclamation No. 48, to honor "blood donors' unselfish contribution to the welfare of humanity." Decades later, under the leadership of his son, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM), the legacy of gratitude, service, compassion, and responsiveness in governance lives on.

This year's theme, "Give Blood, Give Hope: Together, We Save Lives!" —adapted from the World Blood Donor Day theme —pays tribute to donors as lifesavers. It also creates awareness and emphasizes the importance and urgency of unity and cooperation among all sectors of society in ensuring that there is an adequate supply of volunteer-sourced human blood. For me, it is also a gentle reminder that kindness and compassion run deep in our hearts.

Donating blood: A gift to others and self