By Jiann Delumen

Far Eastern University - Red Cross Youth Council (FEU-RCYC) unveiled ‘Pledge ‘25,’ a three-day bloodletting drive, mobilizing Tamaraw donors and opening donation sites at Science Building Rooms 110 and 112 from February 9 to 11.

The initiative drew participants from various institutes through an inter-institute competition, with contributions tallied per institute to promote shared responsibility and campus-wide cooperation in the donation effort.

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, FEU-RCYC Blood Services Committee Officer-in-Charge Adrianna Lyka Menes identified the event as a Philippine Red Cross initiative that encourages individuals aged 18 to 25 to take part in blood services.

“To make blood donation more engaging, the event was organized as a bloodletting competition to boost participation and active mobilization of youth donors… This concept boosts skills such as leadership, accountability, and compassion, which [are] something beyond blood donation,” she explained.

The officer-in-charge further stressed that youth involvement in the initiative extends beyond actual blood donation, noting that students can still contribute in various ways.

“For those who are deferred or not eligible to donate in the initiative, they can serve as advocates of healthy blood donation… For instance, they can assist in the event’s operations or raise awareness by [educating] fellow students about the importance of voluntary blood donation,” Menes underscored.

She added that cultivating informed youth advocates promotes repeat donation, corrects misconceptions, and helps shape a generation that supports blood donation as part of community service and public health.

In addition, the officer-in-charge described the program as a student-driven initiative rather than a one-time activity, stressing that awareness-building and peer encouragement remain central to maintaining involvement in blood services.

Donations proceeded under standard medical procedures, beginning with registration and eligibility screening, including weight measurement, blood typing, hemoglobin testing, and medical assessment before blood extraction.

To protect donor welfare, Menes outlined that waivers were secured to ensure that participants understood event guidelines, eligibility standards were strictly applied, and licensed medical professionals conducted final screenings before donation.

Beyond advocacy, FEU-RCYC linked student participation to immediate hospital needs by highlighting how Pledge ‘25, guided by the theme ‘Wonders Through Curiosity of Blood Donors,’ supports emergency care, medical procedures, and patient treatment through a steady blood supply, while also offering donors routine health screening benefits.

(Photo by James Neil Tamayo/FEU Advocate)