- Philippine National Red Cross
Officially begun in 1947, the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) is member of the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement . The PNRC provides six major services: Blood Services, Disaster Management, Safety Services, Community Health and Nursing, Social Services and the Volunteer Service. [ [http://www.redcross.org.ph/Site/PNRC/About.aspx Philippine National Red Cross - About PNRC ] ]History
According to the PNRC's website, [ [http://www.redcross.org.ph/Site/PNRC/History.aspx Philippine National Red Cross - Brief History ] ] Prime Minister
Apolinario Mabini encouraged the Malolos Republic to form a national Red Cross organization. On 17 February 1899, the Malolos Republic approved the Constitution of the National Association of the Red Cross. The Republic appointed Mrs. Hilario del Rosario de Aguinaldo as President of the Association.Felipe Agoncillo , Filipino diplomat, met withGustave Moynier , an original member of theCommittee of Five andICRC President on 29 August 1900. He sought recognition of the Filipino Red Cross Society as well as the application of theFirst Geneva Convention during theFilipino-American war .On 30 August 1905 the
American National Red Cross (ANRC) formed a Philippine Branch with Filipino and American leaders. The ANRC officially recognized it as a Chapter on 4 December 1917.In 1934 President
Manuel L. Quezon established an independent Philippine Red Cross. However, because the Philippines was a U.S. territory, and later a U.S. Commonwealth it could not sign the Geneva Conventions and therefore it could not be recognized by theICRC .In 1942, during the occupation of the Philippines by
Japan , the Japanese created a Philippine Red Cross that they controlled to care for internees. OnceManila was liberated by United States and Filipino forces in 1945, local Red Cross officials and the ANRC reestablished an independent Red Cross.The Philippines gained independence from the United States on July 4, 1946. Dr. J. Horacio Yanzon, was appointed the first Filipino Red Cross Manager in December 1946 with thirty-six Red Cross chapters initially set up in the country. On 14 February 1947 President
Manuel A. Roxas signed the Treaty of Geneva and the Prisoners of War Convention. On 22 March 1947 President Roxas signed Republic Act 95, the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Charter.The ICRC approved the regocnition of the PNRC, and telegraphed
Aurora Aragon Quezon , the first PNRC Chairman, on 29 March 1947. The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) had its inaugural ceremony on 15 April 1947.The PNRC was admitted as a bona fide member of the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on 17 September 1947.
As of 2008, the Chairman of the PNRC Board of Governors is Senator Richard Gordon. Since 1965, the actress
Rosa Rosal has sat on the Board of Governors. For her activities with the PNRC, Rosal was awarded in 1999 the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service.On
June 4 ,2008 ,Chikka.com founderDennis Mendiola , a former volunteer staff at theSubic Bay Metropolitan Authority during the term of Senator Gordon in1992 , was sworn-n as PNRC Chairman.
=References=External links
* [http://www.redcross.org.ph Official website]
* [http://wiki.alumni.net/wiki/Asia/Philippines/Davao_Del_Sur/Davao_City/Philippine_National_Red_Cross/ Davao City Chapter]
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