Members from different congregations of the San Pablo Philippines Stake (Diocese) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered at the San Pablo Stake Center on May 2, 2026, for a community blood donation drive held in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross San Pablo City Chapter.
The activity brought together volunteers and donors in a coordinated effort to support local patients and medical facilities in need of safe blood supply, a simple act, members said, that carries profound consequence.
Service to God Through Service to Others
Presiding over the event was President Nephi L. Basco, Second Counselor in the San Pablo Philippines Stake Presidency, who set the tone for the day with a reminder of the spiritual weight behind the gesture.
"This opportunity to serve by donating blood is service to our brothers and sisters, and we perform service to God," President Basco said.
His remarks framed the morning not as a medical procedure, but as an expression of the Savior's commandment to love one another, made tangible by every needle, every bag of blood, and every willing arm extended in service.
Seventeen Units. Countless Lives.
Participants and volunteers rolled up their sleeves throughout the morning as the Philippine Red Cross team collected and processed blood donations on-site. By the end of the drive, 17 units of blood had been collected; units that will be directed to local medical providers and facilities to support patients undergoing surgeries, trauma care, and chronic illness treatments.
A single blood donation can save up to three lives. The 17 units collected on May 2 represent a potential lifeline for dozens of patients and families across San Pablo City and surrounding communities.
The Philippine Red Cross San Pablo City Chapter expressed deep gratitude for the Church's partnership in making the drive a success.
"Ang aming koponan ay nakakolekta ng 17 na unit ng dugo. Salamat po sa lahat ng tumulong para po maisakatuparan natin ang taunang proyektong ito. Sana po ay maipagpatuloy pa po natin ang ganitong mga gawain upang marami pa po tayong matulungan na mga pasyente. Muli po, maraming maraming salamat po." ("Our team was able to collect 17 units of blood. Thank you to everyone who helped make this annual project possible. We hope we can continue these acts of service so that we may help even more patients. Once again, thank you so very much.") - Cecil Cortez Manalo, Philippine Red Cross, San Pablo City Chapter.
A Personal Gift of Life
For Lester Matthew Suarez Lim, a donor who participated in the drive, the experience carried a weight that went beyond the brief time it required.
"My personal experience is that I was happy I was able to donate this time," he said. "Last year I was not qualified. I felt that somehow I was able to serve someone who is in need of blood."
His reflection captured what many donors expressed throughout the day, that giving blood is not merely a physical act, but a deeply personal form of service to a stranger whose name you may never know.
A Community That Cares for Its Own and Beyond
Following the blood collection, Stake Relief Society President April Dawn L. Ibo served snacks and warm bowls of sopas (creamy chicken macaroni soup) to all donors, ensuring that each person was nourished and cared for after their donation. Attendees remained at the venue to eat and visit with one another, extending the spirit of the morning from a service activity into a genuine gathering of community.
Local leaders concluded the event by extending an open invitation: eligible members are encouraged to participate in future blood donation drives organized in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross. Organizers noted that while a donation requires only a brief time commitment, its impact extends far beyond the hour spent at the stake center.