Volunteers preparing to donate blood. Photo taken from the official Twitter account of the Philippine Nursing Students’ Association (PNSA) – Ateneo de Davao University Chapter
The Ateneo de Davao University community conducted its fifth Dugong Bughaw, a bloodletting project held in celebration of the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola, last July 30 at the AdDU Junior High School Quadrangle.
Led by the Ateneo de Davao Parents-Teachers Community, Inc. (ADTPCI), the Dugong Bughaw is a collaboration between the Philippine Red Cross – Davao Chapter, the Davao City government, and the university.
ADTPCI President Dr. Maria Theresa Atienza-Agawin explained the spirit of the event.
“[The Dugong Bughaw’s] purpose is to gather as much blood as it can [to help the Davao City government and the Red Cross] in times of need, especially now that it’s dengue season once again,” she said.
Volunteers gathered at the Matina campus to donate blood. Most of those who volunteered were students, parents, police officers, Central 911 workers, Davao City Water employees, and soldiers.
Armed Forces of the Philipines 84th Infantry Battalion member Hatam Sangki expressed what he felt as a 4-time Dugong Bughaw volunteer.
“I feel happy because I was able to donate blood,” he said in Filipino.
This year’s Dugong Bughaw collected as many as 170 bags in the morning, with 110 people able to donate. Last year’s bloodletting drive collected 210 bags, 178 from the Matina campus collection, and 32 from the Jacinto campus collection.