First aid volunteers, Red Cross assist Sto. Niño devotees

Tending to the sick is not easy. Yet Albert Ambil and Smart Communications Inc. and his fellow workers volunteered at a first aid station set up by the Philippine Red Cross at the Basilica del Sto. Niño.

They assisted the PRC staff in attending to devotees who needed medical attention during the Sto. Niño procession and the Sinulog grand parade last Jan. 14 and 15.

“This is my devotion.  This is how I want to serve,” said Ambil, senior engineer from Smart’s Technology Services Division-North Cebu who has been a volunteer since Smart partnered with the PRC-Cebu City chapter in 2005 to offer medical aid to participants of the yearly procession.

He and Oaminar Tabiliran, a relationship management executive of PLDT’s Corporate Relations Business, said their families understand their desire to serve the public as their way of paying homage to the Sto. Niño.

Andrew Earl Lou, team leader of the PRC group manning the Basilica station, thanked Smart for the yearly initiative.

Ambil said the complaints were numerous and serious during the procession than during the street dance.

Most of the patients complained of dizziness or faint from hunger, the heat and fatigue, said Marujah Prejido, head of PRC-Cebu’s CSR safety and blood program.

Over 50 PLDT and Smart volunteers signed up to man three first aid stations set up along the critical points of the dance parade route.

Smart, in partnership with PRC-Cebu, has been serving Sinulog grand parade participants and revelers via first aid stations since 2003.

After the grand parade, 30 volunteers from PLDT and Smart conducted a cleanup activity to help the Cebu City Department of Public Services clear the streets in preparation for the next day, a regular working day.

In Kalibo, Aklan, 30 volunteers from Smart  and the PRC-Aklan chapter also manned the first aid stations during the Ati-atihan Festival.