The

PHILIPPINE
RED CROSS
HISTORY
PINAO-AN, ZANNIELLE GEA L.
BMLS-1B
CODE 5085
 1899, February 17

Through the initiative of Apolinario

Mabini, the Malolos Republic approved the
Constitution of the National Association of
the Red Cross. Mrs. Hilaria del Rosario de 1900, August 29
Aguinaldo was appointed President of the
Association. Felipe AgoncilloInternational Delegate of
Diplomacy, met with Gustave Moynier, an
original member of the Committee of Five and
ICRC President, for the recognition of the
1905, August 30 Filipino Red Cross Society and application of the
1864 Geneva Convention during, the Filipino-
1905, August 30 American war.
The Philippine Branch of the
American National Red Cross
(ANRC) was organized by Filipino
and American leaders at the
Ayuntamiento.

HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS

 1917, December 4
The Philippine Branch was officiary recognized as a Chapter of the
ANRC.

1934
President Manuel L. Quezon took the initiative to establish an
independent Philippine Red Cross. Not until the Philippines became
independent did this materialize because the Commonwealth cannot
sign the Geneva Conventions.

1942
A Japanese-controlled Philippine Red Cross was created to take
care of internment camps located in the country.

HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS


1945
Upon the liberation of Manila,
local Red Cross officials and
the ANRC undertook to
reconstitute the organization.
1946,
DECEMBER 1
Thirty-six Red Cross chapters were
initially set up in the country. The
first Filipino Red Cross Manager, Dr.
J. Horacio Yanzon, was appointed.

1947, February
14
President Manuel A. Roxas signed
the Treaty of Geneva and the
Prisoners of War Convention.

HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS

 March
22 1947
President Roxas
signed the
March 29
Philippine Red
Cross (PRC)
April 15
Mrs. Aurora Aragon
Charter, Republic Quezon, the first PRC
Act 95. Chairman, received a
cable from Geneva A humanitarian
indicating that the organization that

Sept. 17
ICRC approved to serves as an arm of
recognize the PRC. help during
disasters and
emergencies was The PRC was
established. The admitted as a
Philippine Red Cross bonafide member of
(PRC) was the League of Red
inaugurated in Cross and Red
colorful Crescent Societies
ceremonies at the (now known as the
Malacañang Palace. Federation).

HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS

1981, July 31
Blessing and inauguration of the
Philippine National Red Cross
Headquarters at Bonifacio Drive, Port
Area, Manila.
1992
The year 1992 was a busy one for the
PNRC. Around this time, PNRC had
already made its mark not only in Blood
Services, but also in Disaster
Responses.
HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS
JUNE 12,
1992
The PNRC chapters in Tarlac and
Zambales had their hands full, and
evacuation centers eventually became
overcrowded that makeshift shelters
had to be set up. To help ease the
plight of the evacuees, then Olongapo
City Mayor Richard Gordon came to
offer assistance in San Marcelino,
Zambales. He mobilized a fleet of trucks
and jeepneys that transported a large
number of evacuees from San
Marcelino to Olongapo City.
1995
The PNRC Training Center in
Tagaytay, which was funded by
the Danish Red Cross, was
inaugurated.
1996
The new Vision-Mission of the
PNRC was set towards becoming
the premier humanitarian
organization in the Philippines
and Southeast Asia.

1997, April 15
1997, April 15
The PRC celebrated its 50th
Anniversary.

HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS

2003,
September 2
The new PNRC hotline, #527-0000,
was established to immediately
respond to emergencies.
2004
January 15 – Richard Gordon was
elected by his peers as Chairman
of the PNRC.
HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS
February
26
After hearing of the Super
Ferry tragedy (piers 14 and
15), PNRC Chairman
Richard Gordon sent staff
and volunteers, who
provided first aid and
transported the injured to
various hospitals. The PNRC
also set up a welfare desk to
help trace missing persons
and provided psychological
support to 515 survivors.
 December 23 to 31
Chairman Gordon led rescue and relief efforts in Aurora and
Quezon province for Typhoon Ruby, spending Christmas Eve and New
Year's Eve with the victims of the tragedy.

2006, February 4
Chairman Gordon was first on the ground to instill order in the
chaotic rescue effort and recovery of bodies at the ULTRA Stampede
during the Wowowee anniversary show.

2006, October 7
PNRC was the first to initiate relief and rehabilitation efforts for
the 8,000 families affected by Typhoon Milenyo in the Southern
Tagalog and Bicol regions, especially in Sorsogon, which received
scant attention as the media focused on billboard incidents in
Metro Manila.

HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS

2007
The PNRC Operations Center (OpCen) launched its
Power Text Messaging System, a nationwide
texting system for easier, dependable, purposeful
emergency alert messages to and from local
chapters and other key personnel and volunteers.

2008
In February, the PNRC officially turned over newly
constructed facilities such as barangay halls, health
centers, and public schools to the Municipality of
St. Bernard, Southern Leyte. The project was
established in coordination with the Japanese Red
Cross Society.

HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS

2009
The consolidation
of the Senate Bill 2010
3285 and House
Bill 6509 was Republic Act 10072
signed by President or “The Philippine 2011
Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo, and is now
Red Cross Act of
2009,” authored by
2013
The nationwide
known as Republic Senator and PNRC
Red Cross Million The PRC leadership
Act No. 10072 or Chairman Gordon,
Volunteer Run was called for an
The Philippine Red was signed into law
held, in celebration emergency meeting
Cross Act of 2009. by then President
of the UN with Movement
Gloria Macapagal-
Declaration of the Partners to discuss
Arroyo, officially
year 2011 as actions to be taken to
changing the name
International Year address the needs of
of the organization
of Volunteers, and the vulnerable
from PNRC to
December 5 as population affected by
Philippine Red
International Day of Typhoon Yolanda
Cross (PRC).
Volunteers. (Haiyan).
HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS
2014
To solve access problems
encountered in delivering relief to
affected areas of Typhoon Yolanda,
PRC and delegates from Partner
August 5,
National Societies and the
International Federation of Red 2015
Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(IFRC) agreed to purchase a 195-foot PRC Chairman Gordon led the
military prototype vessel that can inauguration of the Philippine Red
dock even on the shallowest water. Cross Tower. The PRC's new building
Said vessel would be used to aid the stands as a symbol of the PRC’s
movement in its humanitarian efforts growth through the years and a mark
in the Philippines and Asia Pacific. of its strong commitment to
humanitarian service.

HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS

March 24
7,066 shelters have already been built
for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. Five
hundred fourteen classrooms and 85
health facilities have also been
rehabilitated and reconstructed.
May 9
In its 70th Anniversary, the PRC
welcomes the country’s first ever
humanitarian ship, the M/V PRC
Amazing Grace. PRC launched its
humanitarian vessel at the Philippine

June 6 Navy National Headquarters, Roxas

Boulevard, Manila, with the President of
the Republic of the Philippines, Rodrigo
The Philippine Red Cross, through the Duterte, as the guest of honor.
effort of its staff and volunteers has

2017
incessantly stepped up its humanitarian
efforts for the affected people since the
conflict started in Marawi.

HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS

Than k
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