ILOILO City — They rush into burning buildings, pursue criminals, respond to disasters and stand ready to protect communities. Their uniforms are symbols of courage, duty and sacrifice.
But some of Iloilo’s firefighters, police officers and Philippine Army reservists are quietly practicing another form of heroism — one that does not require charging into danger, but simply rolling up a sleeve.
For these “men in uniform”, donating blood has become more than an occasional act of charity. It has developed into a personal mission, a lifelong habit and another way of saving lives beyond the call of duty.
Several of them joined the recent Red Brigade of Iloilo, a bloodletting activity organized by the Iloilo Provincial Government through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office at the Philippine Red Cross-Iloilo Chapter – Western Visayas Regional Blood Center.
Fittingly, the activity carried the theme, “Duty Beyond the Call: Donate Blood, Save Lives.”
A PASSION FOR HELPING
Among those who answered the call was Senior Fire Officer 3 Leondi Hulleza, 48, of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Iloilo City.
Hulleza has donated blood more than 10 times. What began as a simple desire to help has since become one of his passions.
“Gusto ko makabulig sa aton community or kun sin-o bala ang nagakinahanglan sang dugo,” Hulleza said.
Like many first-time donors, Hulleza admitted that he was initially frightened by the sight of a needle. The fear, however, became insignificant when weighed against the possibility that his blood could help keep another person alive.
“Ginapanumdom ko lang nga makabulig sa nagakinhanaglan, amo na ang nagapa-inspire sa akon kag ga-motivate sa akon nga mag-donate sang dugo,” he added.
To remain qualified to donate, Hulleza takes care of his health by eating vegetables, sleeping early and taking vitamins. His lifestyle reflects a quiet commitment: keeping himself healthy so he can continue helping others.
A HABIT FORMED IN COLLEGE
For Patrolman Jaykurt Cancional, 27, blood donation has been part of his life since his first year in college.
A resident of Santa Barbara, Iloilo and a police officer assigned to the Tubungan Municipal Police Station, Cancional has already donated blood more than 15 times.
“Na-practice ko na nga halin pag-college. First year college pa lang ako naga-donate na ako,” Cancional said.
Despite his many donations, stopping has never crossed his mind. For Cancional, each successful donation brings a distinctive sense of happiness — the knowledge that a small personal sacrifice may help someone survive an emergency, illness or medical procedure.
“Very happy gid ako kag naga-healthy man ako kun mag-donate sang dugo. Kag makabulig ako sa iban nga tawo nga nagakinahanglan sang dugo,” he added.
OVERCOMING FEAR, ONE DONATION AT A TIME
Victor Gardose, 47, of Barangay Veterans Village in Iloilo City Proper, has also made blood donation a regular part of his life.
A reservist of the Philippine Army’s 604th Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion, Gardose has donated blood more than 10 times, often participating in bloodletting activities conducted by private companies.
“Gusto ko lang makabulig sa isigkapareho kay kadamo gid sang nagakinahanglan sang dugo,” Gardose said.
Gardose admitted that he, too, was once afraid of needles. But after his first donation, fear slowly gave way to familiarity — and eventually to fulfillment.
“Sige-sige na kay daw okay gawa pamatyag mo nga maka-donate ka sang dugo,” he added.
He now encourages others to look beyond the brief sting of the needle. The momentary discomfort, he believes, is easily outweighed by the happiness of knowing that the donated blood could save a life.
TWENTY-NINE YEARS OF GIVING
Perhaps the longest-serving blood donor among them is Fire Senior Superintendent Bartolome O. Beliran, assistant regional director for operations of the BFP Region 6 and former Iloilo provincial fire marshal.
Beliran, 52, has been donating blood consistently for 29 years.
A nursing graduate before entering the fire service, he already understood the medical importance of having an adequate blood supply. His years in the BFP strengthened that understanding as he witnessed how emergencies could suddenly place lives in danger.
“Ako regular na nga naga-donate sang dugo since nagsulod ako sa BFP, even sang cadet pa lang ako naga-donate na ako kay bal-an ko man ang importance or value sang isaka dugo para makabulig sa aton nga mga pumoluyo nga nagakinahanglan. Kumbaga, it’s better nga mag-donate kita para may ara nga ready nga stock kon kinahanglanon sang aton community,” Beliran told Panay News.
Nearly three decades of donating have not completely erased his nervousness around needles. Even now, Beliran still feels a flicker of fear before each donation. But he focuses instead on the life that could be prolonged by the blood he gives.
“Every time daw ginakulbaan ako pag-tublukan sang dagom pero thinking nga a little pain bal-an ta nga mas maka-extend sang kabuhi sang iban nga tawo. So, amo na ang satisfaction namon, mabal-an ta nga ining ginhatag naton nga dugo, nabawasan man kita sang dugo pero may nadugangan man sang kabuhi,” he said.
As a firefighter, Beliran maintains his fitness and operational readiness through regular exercise and healthy eating. As long as he remains physically fit and eligible, he intends to continue donating — unless the Philippine Red Cross itself tells him it is time to stop.
MANY WAYS TO BECOME A HERO
Beliran believes heroism is not confined to dramatic rescues or dangerous operations. A person does not need to fight a fire, arrest a criminal or wade through floodwaters to save a life. Sometimes, heroism can happen while lying quietly on a blood-donation cot.
“Ang pag-donar is a noble act, damo sang pamaagi nga maging bayani, iban naga-responde sa sunog, iban nagapadakop sang criminal, iban naga-responde sa mga baha, sa mga earthquake, ang iban ari di nagadonar sang dugo. So gina-encourage ko ang tanan nga healthy and fit individuals nga ang aton dugo indi ta pagtaguon sa aton kaugalingon, puede ta ini ma-share kay naga-replenish or naga-cycle man ang blood cells. Instead nga magwa lang sa body, why not donate and share para mas mangin meaningful ang aton dugo,” Beliran said.
He urged healthy and physically capable individuals to visit the Philippine Red Cross-Iloilo Chapter or participate in bloodletting activities organized in their communities and workplaces.
National Blood Donors Month is observed every July. This year’s theme, “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives,” captured what Hulleza, Cancional, Gardose and Beliran have demonstrated through years of regular giving.
Behind their uniforms are not only firefighters, police officers and soldiers prepared to face danger. They are also blood donors willing to share a part of themselves so that a stranger may live.
Their heroism may begin with a needle and a small bag of blood — but for the person who receives it, that gift could mean everything./PN
