14 Years of Giving Life: Rotary Club of Sta. Rosa Centro, Isuzu Philippines, Sta. Rosa City LGU and Philippine Red Cross Celebrate a Legacy of Hope Through Blood Donation
By Bing M. Arias
Sta. Rosa City, Laguna — For fourteen consecutive years, one simple act of kindness has continued to ripple through countless families and communities, an act measured not only in liters of blood collected, but in lives saved, hope restored, and compassion put into action.
On July 30, 2026, the Rotary Club of Sta. Rosa Centro, in partnership with Isuzu Philippines Corporation IPC, the City of Sta. Rosa LGU and the Philippine National Red Cross, once again carried forward this enduring tradition through the 14th year “Dugo Mo, Sagip Buhay Ko” Blood Donation Drive held at the Isuzu Philippines Corporation headquarters in Biñan, Laguna.
What began as a modest community service initiative has evolved into one of the Rotary Club’s most enduring Legacy Projects, sustained by a remarkable partnership among a humanitarian organization, a civic club, and a socially responsible corporation. For fourteen years, the program has demonstrated that genuine collaboration can transform a simple act of donating blood into a lasting commitment to saving lives.
Throughout the years, Isuzu Philippines Corporation has consistently opened its doors to this noble cause, encouraging its employees to become regular voluntary blood donors and exemplifying that corporate citizenship extends well beyond business operations. The Rotary Club of Sta. Rosa Centro, under the leadership of Service Impact President Maria Isabel “Bing” Macatangay Arias, expressed its sincere gratitude to the management of Isuzu Philippines Corporation, led by President Mr. Mikio Tsukui and Executive Vice President Mr. Yasuhiko Oyama, for their steadfast support and unwavering commitment that have helped sustain the project for more than a decade. Furthermore, ever thankful and grateful to our Past President and City Mayor of Sta. Rosa, Arlene Arcillas for her continued support in our club’s Legacy.
Equally instrumental to the program’s success has been the Philippine National Red Cross headed by Ms Charlyn Anne Cabero, DRO, BB Nurse, whose medical teams have ensured that every donation is safely collected, carefully processed, and made available to hospitals and patients in urgent need. Their continuing partnership has become a shining example of how humanitarian organizations, civic groups, government institutions, and the private sector can work together in creating lasting impact within the community.
The numbers gathered over fourteen years tell a remarkable story. Since the program began, Isuzu Philippines Corporation employees have collectively donated an extraordinary 785 liters of blood from 2013-2026. Yet beyond the impressive volume lies an even greater measure of success, the thousands of individuals whose lives have been touched through every donation.
Medical estimates from the Dr. Oracle journal, indicate that a regular adult blood transfusion generally requires between 0.3 and 0.7 liters of blood or blood components. Based on the total blood collected through the program, the donations have potentially benefited approximately 1,121 to 2,617 patients, depending on medical requirements, with an average estimate of nearly 1,570 individuals receiving life-saving treatment.
The impact becomes even greater because every blood donation is separated into different life-saving components. From the 785 liters collected over the years, approximately 2,243 units of packed red blood cells, 2,617 platelet transfusions, and 3,483 units of fresh frozen plasma could be provided to patients with a wide range of medical conditions. Although these figures represent separate medical uses rather than combined totals, they demonstrate how each blood donation has the power to save and improve many lives.
The annual blood donation drive is a meaningful reminder that giving blood is a gift that benefits both recipients and donors. Beyond saving lives, every donor receives a basic health assessment before donating, while regular blood donation has also been linked to improved overall well-being as the body naturally renews and replenishes its blood supply.
Every registered donor also receives a Philippine National Red Cross Blood Donor Card, providing priority access to blood assistance should they or an immediate family member require a future transfusion, a meaningful benefit that reinforces the value of becoming a regular voluntary donor. Warmest congratulations to the two employees of Isuzu Philippines Corporation , Galloners
2024 – PABLITO PENADA and 2025 RONALD BALADAD for having been complete a gallon of blood donation over the years.
As the Rotary Club of Sta. Rosa Centro celebrates the fourteenth year of “Dugo Mo, Sagip Buhay Ko,” the initiative stands as far more than an annual blood donation campaign. It has become a living testament to compassion sustained through time, proving that a single act of generosity can create an immeasurable ripple effect across generations.
For fourteen years, the partnership among the Rotary Club of Sta. Rosa Centro, Isuzu Philippines Corporation, the Sta. Rosa LGU and the Philippine National Red Cross has shown that when organizations unite behind a common humanitarian purpose, they create a legacy measured not merely by liters of blood collected, but by thousands of lives touched, families kept whole, and communities strengthened through compassion.
As Rotary’s enduring motto, “Service Above Self,” continues to inspire this life-saving endeavor, every drop donated becomes a powerful reminder that the greatest gifts often require nothing more than a willing heart, a little time, and the generosity to give life to another. Through this enduring partnership, the organizations continue to create not only hope for today, but a lasting impact that will continue to flow through every life saved for generations to come.
Rotary Club of Sta. Rosa Centro 