MHAM CESO’s KADUGO CEBU PROJECT: A Collaborative Forum with partner institutions in Cebu
The MHAM Community Extension Services Office (CESO) spearheaded a Collaborative Forum with its unrelenting and life-saving initiated program known as Kadugo Cebu Project to partner institutions in Cebu at the Bintana Coffee House, Elizabeth Pond Street, Cebu City last March 16, 2018 from 9:30 in the morning to 12:00 noon.
With the MHAM College Dean, Dr. Ma. Socorro Manaloto; VP for Academics, Dr. Arlene Diaz; CHED RVII Director, Dr. Freddie Bernal; and partner-representatives
Dubbed as “Kadugo Ko, Kaakuhan Ko”, six colleges and universities in Cebu heeded the call to collaborate and to be part of the Kadugo Cebu Project which was officially endorsed by the Director of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region VII, Dr. Freddie Bernal, who graced the meaningful event.
MHAM VP for Academis, Dr. Arlene Diaz; Dean of the College of Medicine, Dr. Ma. Socorro Manaloto; AVP for Administration, Mr. Francisco Bacalla; HR Director, Mr. Pedro Pañares; Community Organizer, Mr. Huberto Zanoria; and Student Council Governor, Mr. Louie Angelo Lopez also graced the signifying forum for a notable cause.
With the CESO Director, Mr. Jarvis S. Prochina, MATS, MAREXA
Aimed to tackle the problem on the lack of available blood supply and how the academic sector can help address such concern, the forum was well-initiated and spearheaded by the current CESO Director, Mr. Jarvis Prochina. A dynamic and goal-oriented servant-leader as he is known, Prochina is also the President of the Philippine Association of Nutrition, Inc. (PAN, Inc.) Cebu Chapter aside from his notable services in MHAM. At present, he is also designated as the Director of the Campus Safety and Security Department.
The collaborative forum with collective input from partner schools for a significant cause in saving lives and beyond…
Representatives from the University of San Carlos, Velez College, Cebu Institute of Technology-University, Cebu Normal College, Cebu Doctors’ University and Mandaue City College collaborated the event with their solicited and collective ideas, insights and suggestions during the forum. A representative from the Philippine Association of Medical Technologist (PAMET)-Cebu also participated the event.
Apart from books, music is life with the MHARMONY…
Gracing the collaborative forum along with their soulful rendition were the singing future doctors from MHAM’s singing chorale, the MHARMONY.
In her welcome address, the VP for Academics acknowledged the participating schools for accepting the invitation. “This is the project of the community extension of MHAM and this has been going on for two years and we hope that with this collaboration we can extend our project and will not only be limiting it to number of people to benefit from this project. It is not easy to acquire blood and with this Kadugo Cebu Project we can track to people with the type of blood that we want”, Dr. Diaz said.
With the current VP for Academics, Dr. Arlene Diaz in her welcome address…
In his remarkable inspirational message, Dr. Freddie T. Bernal divulged that CHED VII was informed of the accomplishments of MHAM including its Medical Research Journals through the Research Department, the operation and engagement of the Nutrition Resource Development Center in Calidngan, Carcar City and the institutionalized extension programs responding to disasters.
With the event-guest, CHED VII Director IV, Dr. Freddie T. Bernal…
“MHAM never fails to amaze me. MHAM practically has risen from a scratch when separated from Southwestern University. Of course it was made possible because of the collective determination, dedication and commitment of the whole MHAM community; the school administration, faculty, non-teaching staff, students, alumni and visionary President Mrs. Elma Sierra”, said Bernal in his inspirational message.
CHED RVII Director, Dr. Freddie T. Bernal…
With the elating news that MHAM once again produced another topnotcher in the March 2018 Physician Licensure Examination, the Regional Director expressed his delight that MHAM made it again.
“With the area of this faction, we know for a fact that MHAM produced board topnotchers. Recently, I was reading the news that Jay Ruyeras Orehuela got second place in the board exam. With board passers higher to the national average, soon enough, MHAM will be transferring to the new building with modern equipments, library, school facilities and laboratories that I have yet to see but I think there’s no need to check”, added the Regional Director.
In addition, Dr. Bernal stated that the social responsibility of MHAM extends beyond its walls through the institutionalized programs. He also cited the benefits of donating blood taken from his own research just to satisfy his curiosity.
With Dr. Freddie T. Bernal in his inspiring and noteworthy message…
“I am glad that I am invited this morning to grace the Collaboration Forum of the Kadugo Cebu Project, one of the worthwhile extension programs of MHAM. As the Director of MHAM Community Extension Services came to our office several months ago, I was impressed on how the project works to save lives through a webpage data system and I right away said the Commission on Higher Education should fully support the project”, Bernal concluded.
Having been faithfully served the Commission on Higher Education for more than twenty years, Dr. Bernal has risen from the ranks through the years of relentless service with competence and exemplary performances in the government agency.
Inspirational message from CHED RVII Director, Dr. Freddie T. Bernal…
Endorsed by the Regional Office of CHED through Dr. Bernal himself, the forum also paved way for the respective colleges and universities to respond for the “PLEDGE 25” project of the Red Cross Youth Department of the Philippine National Red Cross.
With CHED RVII Director IV, Freddie T. Bernal, PhD
Coined in Cebuano language and developed by MHAM AVP for Administration and ICT Consultant, Mr. Francisco Bacalla, this project aims to provide blood-type compatibility to every individual through a web-enabled system which can be access via internet known as the Donors-Database-Server.
As the donors’ record can be searched 24/7 whether one is at home, inside the office, in internet cafes or wherever internet is available, any blood-searcher can directly login and browse the lists of donors in just a click. Thus, the path of waiting and hardship of seeking for possible donors will be lessened.
With the developer of the Donors-Database-Server, MHAM AVP for Administration and ICT Consultant, Mr. Francisco Bacalla…
Having been actively involved and participated into notable causes to reach out to others using talents and resources, MHAM, as an institution decided to create and establish this Donors-Database-Server with the sole purpose of storing the donors-data taken from the blood-letting activities. Hence, the master listing will be automatically recorded in electronic format with the donor’s full name, blood-type and present address.
The Collaborative Forum of the Kadugo Cebu Project…
As regular blood-letting activities initiated by several agencies and known organizations in Cebu are notably overwhelming with well-received responses, today, countless individuals have been actively taking part of blood donation drive for the pursuit of saving lives and beyond.
As for this noble and non-profit mission and undertaking that has been running since it was created, the MHAM CESO aims to propagate the project to local organizations and LGUs in the time being. According to the representative of the University of San Carlos’ Community Extension Services Office, Mr. Don Bhrayan Singh, USC is willing to tie in for the Kadugo Cebu Project with the hope that the cause will come to its fruition.
Interview with the USC faculty, Mr. Don Bhrayan Singh…
Interview with Mr. Don Bhrayan Singh…
“It is good that we are using this technology to fill the needs of our society and I think with the University we welcome this kind of interaction between MHAM and San Carlos with our brother universities”, said Singh in an interview.
Apart from his services in the Community Extension Office, Singh is also an instructor in the College of Computer Science for five years now.
“Coming here right now with the solicited ideas and concerns I think this is something we definitely would like to be part of, if those ideas will be formulated into concrete plans”, he added.
Drive by his passion, know-how and computer skills, Singh, raised his concern for the project’s web-enabled system especially in handling and administering the data system that entails privacy during the forum.
With the representative of the University of San Carlos’ Community Extension Services Office and CS instructor, Mr. Don Bhrayan Singh…
Why there is a need to donate blood after all? CESO Director, Mr. Jarvis Prochina, in his presentation said that the Kadugo Cebu Project basically connects volunteer blood donors to indigent patients. Moreover, he stated that the national demand for blood is not achieved yearly based from the 2017 data that he gathered.
With CESO Director, Mr. Jarvis Prochina in his presentation…
The man behind the cause: CESO Director, Mr. Jarvis Prochina, MATS, MAREXA
“For a country to be able to get this national entire demand there will at least be 1% of the total population who will be donating blood. In the Philippines, the statistics is that, if existing blood donors will donate twice in a year then there will be no shortage of blood but right now there is indeed a great shortage for blood donors”, Prochina said.
The CESO director further explained that the initiated project is an online database facility that contains the names of volunteers to donate blood 24/7 with contact details and blood types.
“These volunteers will sign support waivers that at any time of the day or night they will be called for possible blood donation so that in every emergency when every Cebuano needs blood, there will always be blood that is available. We will be able to strike out already our demand statistic in Cebu to the national statistic demand so that they will not anymore have a problem with Cebu. Right now our database facility is already up and running and you can appoint an authorized administrator in your school for you to access the information in the server”, he added.
As the Donors-Database-Server has existed for two years now, Prochina cited that even the Philippine National Red Cross-Cebu Chapter has bombarded requests for blood donors from the database server.
“We decided to expand and offer the service of our database to all schools, communities and even LGUs and because we come from an academe we will start our campaign for our sector. That is why we are called for this Collaborative Forum for the academe sector and later there will be series of collaboration fora with LGUs, civil society organizations, NGOs and private institutions”, Prochina concluded.
With the Kadugo Cebu Project initiator, Mr. Jarvis Prochina…
Among the raised issues and concerns during the forum are the guidelines and legalities to consider including its MOA and bind contract for the rights, privacy and benefits of blood donors of the said project. As clearly agreed, the Kadugo Cebu Project’s governing body should provide uniformity of terms, conditions and guidelines by laws with the donors’ higher chance of being top-prioritized by the time when a volunteer is in need of blood as blood investment.
Interview with the Assistant College Administrator of the Academic Division of Mandaue City College, Mrs. Josephine Rosos…
Assistant College Administrator of the Academic Division of MCC, Mrs. Josephine Rosos…
In a separate interview with the Assistant College Administrator of the Academic Division of Mandaue City College, Mrs. Josephine Rosos, she expressed her delight with how the project will serve to the province of Cebu and it should be specified as a core group with specific terms, conditions and additional enhancement.
“It is best to have it organized and to seek legal advice with clear terms and conditions because the project itself is so noble and we can have as much as volunteers. Our resources are very limiting but we have our own students who can be tapped to serve as volunteers. This group would serve as a core group with equal voting. I know that MHAM initiated this but sometimes there has to be sacrifices to get the full support because the target is Cebu-wide”, said Rosos.
Moreover, this Assistant College Administrator was positive enough that MCC will fully support the Kadugo Cebu Project.
With Mrs. Josephine Rosos…
“The project itself is so humane and we would be instilling good values to our students for them to realize that they can do something in order to save lives by donating blood. I hope this project will sustain and MHAM will not surrender to reach out for more expansion and support because the project is very noble wherein the precious life is being supported”, she added.
Co-facilitated by HR Director, Mr. Pedro Pañares, the forum ended with a hearty lunch and the challenge to make the MHAM-led Kadugo Cebu Project alive in the Cebu communities with MHAM’s initial responsibility to help in the campaign for volunteer blood donors in various sectors.
With the event co-facilitator, HR Director, Mr. Pedro Pañares…
Donating blood is undeniably safe and offers a number of advantages. First and foremost, it saves lives. A unit of blood can save multiple lives. By giving one’s blood to someone, one can become the reason behind someone’s life. In addition, donating blood can refreshes the body’s system as new cells regenerate, resulting to a much-healthier body.
Thus, linkages among academic sectors can promote productivity and effectivity of any humanitarian purpose such as the “Kinabuhi, Kaakuhan Ko” project. Being innovative enough in responding to the needs of the community to improve the living standard, this reputable cause can provide wide-ranging sources of information from the availability of blood-type to availability of listed donors within reach. It does not cost money in donating a pint of blood. For whatever reason, it is just a matter of saving lives and beyond. (Ana Liza Abao)