If you are a Red Cross volunteer, read on.

The backstory: Volunteers and victims of Ondoy waited more than 5 hours for donations to be given off at the Quezon City Red Cross Chapter. They were allegedly waiting for Senator Richard Gordon to do a speech before the goods can be distributed. Donations were distributed at about 1-2 PM. Gordon did not show up and blamed heavy traffic.

I took the liberty of screencapping Jaristi Reyes’ (a member of the UP Red Cross Youth) status update (I asked permission from him) and erased the names on the screencap. He was there, along with other members, during the delay of the distribution of goods. If you’re a current member or an alumni, know that the chapter maintains an old and “bulok” system of kissing ass and waiting for protocol instead of using their brains. It won’t change instantly, without anyone’s help. I’m not saying that everyone in the chapter is like sheep. Red Cross volunteers ARE ESSENTIAL, especially in times like these. I salute Red Cross workers and volunteers who are on the front lines with or without media coverage.

Senator Richard Gordon may deny what happened and put the blame on the Chapter and barangay officials, but he should have at least claimed some accountability. Why were the chapter officials so hell bent on waiting for the PNRC chairman even if it meant making hundreds of people go hungry and letting them wait for more than 5 hours in line? I’m sure Senator Gordon did not order this, but if this is what they call PROTOCOL in the Red Cross chapters, THEN SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG.

Mr. Paul Farol has claimed that this never happened and that there is another explanation, maybe some other person TO BLAME for what happened, obviously not Senator Gordon. He says to wait for an email from a Red Cross worker who was also at the scene. Let’s wait for that.

To the Chapter officials, doing some critical thinking never hurts. There were hundreds of victims waiting for more than 5 hours for JUST ONE PERSON. ONE and HUNDREDS. What’s more important?

To UP RCY: Don’t get frustrated.

UP Red Cross Youth needs the chapter, we are bound to go there no matter how trivial the tasks we need to do may seem. We operate under one banner. People in the chapter started out as volunteers as well, just like you. Don’t hate them. Hate the system. I hope we don’t forget that.

If you were on the scene while the donations were being held off, please, write your version of what happened. What I wrote is only a second-hand account. This is to prove that this really happened and this is not black propaganda against a politician who didn’t even come up in ratings in the presidential race.

There will always be corrupt politicians and ass-kissing officials, not just in the chapter. However, don’t let this stop you from volunteering. Always look at the big picture. Don’t lose your fire.

Please tag others who might be interested to read this.

Manolo Quezon III’s posting on his Facebook

Gordon’s answer at Juancountry.com by Carlo Ople

Faith Salazar
UP Red Cross Youth Alumna

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