By Cyrus A. Natividad
Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital nurses with their donations from CCINAA.
Central Philippine University conducted relief operations and distribution of food packs and basic necessities to people who were affected by the lockdown in Iloilo City due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CPU administration primarily extended cash donations to the Iloilo Mission Hospital (IMH), and the Iloilo City Government.
On April 2, 2020, CPU donated Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P250,000.00) to IMH and another P250,000.00 to the Iloilo City government through the Iloilo Festival Foundation. The CPU Republic (Student Government) also extended a cash assistance of P50,000.00 to the Iloilo City Government.
The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs in cooperation with the CPUR gave out food packs that included 5 kilos of rice, a half kilo of pork, vegetables, eggs, and beverages to faculty and staff in the campus, and especially to stranded students. The food packs were distributed on April 3 to 150 CPU students who were stranded in their boarding houses and dormitories because of the enhanced community quarantine which included the cancellation of classes and the mass transport system. The students came from different parts of Panay, Mindanao, Luzon, Solomon Islands, South Korea, and Nigeria. The 4th batch of relief donations to these stranded students were given on April 22-23.
CPU Rescue Team distributes relief packs to stranded students.
“A New Testament Bible with an encouraging message was included in the pack for distribution to uplift the spirits of the students”, Acting Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Esther Rose A. Romarate said. The CPU Republic and The Central Echo assisted in contacting the stranded recipients in order to include their names in the relief program.
CPU also distributed food to Iloilo Mission Hospital frontliners on four straight days from April 16 to 19. On April 20 the CHM Reform Alumni in collaboration with the College of Hospitality Management – CPUR Provincial Board distributed food packs in Iloilo City communities, with the theme “Paying it Forward 2.0”. The CPU High School Batch 1978 also distributed food packs in some affected areas on April 23, 2020.
Upon approval of the management committee and University President Dr. Robles, the Student Service Enterprise also extended more than P11,000 worth of food packs to the CPU security personnel.
CPUAAI distributed vitamins in barangays in Jaro through President Atty. Joshua Alim (third from left) and Treasurer Engr. Rey Balogo (first from right).
On the other hand, the Central Philippine University Alumni Association, Inc. (CPUAAI) has donated One Thousand US Dollars to the Iloilo City Government. The CPUAAI, with CPUAAI President Atty. Joshua Alim and CPUAAI Treasurer, Engr. Rey Balogo. CPUAAI also distributed 700 bottles of Vitamin C to Senior Citizens residing in barangays near the campus.
Alumnus Rodolph Lagarto and Family and the College of Medicine distributed through CPUAAI a total of 150 face shields and snack packs to the frontliners of WVMC, IMH Lab, Med Lab, Mandurriao Police Station, Ramon Duremdes District Hospital, Q. Abeto Brgy. Hall, IMH Central Supply, OVP Staff Iloilo, and Barotac Hospital.
The CPU College of Nursing, Capiz Emmanuel Hospital, Iloilo Mission Hospital Nurses Alumni Association (CCNIAA) donated colorful PPEs to the Iloilo Mission Hospital’s Nursing Service Office and Staff Nurses. CPU College of Nursing Dean Atty Salex Alibogha and Former CCINAA President Prof. Cynthia Mendoza turned over the donations to IMH Director Dr. Elmer Pedregosa on April 8, 2020. The PPEs were distributed on April 15, 2020. CCNIAA also donated raincoats, washable masks, alcohol, and Vitamin C to West Visayas State University Medical Center. CCNIAA also delivered donations to hospitals in Guimaras and Panay from March to May.
Members of Reform Organization with stranded students during their relief distribution on April 20.
CPU MedTech Batch 1966 extended cash donation which was used to purchase PPE’s and masks for frontliners at the Iloilo Mission Hospital, West Visayas Medical Center, and West Visayas State University Medical Center. 14 boxes of Vitamin C were also received by nurses of Lambunao District Hospital on April 7 from CPU College of Medicine Alumna Rhodora Parcon.
Centralian Ann Catedrilla Seisa, BSN Class 1977 with her husband and family, and with the support of Centralian alumni and friends from Southern California distributed 25-kilo packs of rice to 254 residents of several barangays in the Municipality of San Joaquin, Iloilo.
There are nameless Centralians all over the world that have contributed in the fight against Covid-19 and its effects. This laudable action of extending assistance to people who have less, with some even running out of food for some days, and the needed necessities for frontliners is what we call the Central Spirit in action!