Blood Olympics’ ends tomorrow

The ongoing Dinagyang Blood Olympics, which encourages young people to donate blood, is scheduled to close tomorrow, January 23.

The program, conducted by the Philippine Red Cross-Iloilo, in partnership with the Iloilo City government and the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc., opened earlier this month with eight schools participating in the event.

“December and January are the most crucial part wherein blood donations are lesser than usual because of activities and festivities,” explained Red Cross chapter service representative Joji Esper Marmolejo. “We are encouraging our youth to donate blood so that, in times of emergency, we [can] cater the needy.”

St. Therese Maritime Training Center Colleges-La Fiesta Site and West Visayas State University are set to host the final days of the event.

“We are [aiming] to collect 100 bags per school,” Marmolejo added. “Last year, we collected almost 300 bags.”

In addition, a digital poster-making contest and short film making contest will be held at the Iloilo Cinematheque today, January 22; and the Grand Blood Drive and Search for Iloilo Ambassador and Ambassadress 2019 will take place at SM City Iloilo tomorrow./WDJ