INTRODUCTION
Thank you for inviting me to your 20th Biennial National Convention and for the opportunity for this reunion with the Red Cross family.

The spirit of Red Cross is very much alive in me… It is in the blood.

By giving blood voluntarily since the fifties, I have been privileged to be awarded the unique passport that makes me a member of the Red Cross family, and this has kept me with a young heart.
VALUE FORMATION AND MORAL RECOVERY
The theme of your convention, “red cross: its role in value formation” is relevant and timely.

I am glad that as lead NGO and a strong and dependable auxiliary to the humanitarian efforts of government, the red cross is rallying behind our country’s moral recovery program.

Your having a nationwide network of 85 chapters should substantially help foster greater public acceptance and support for the moral recovery campaign, which to be truly effective, must be a concerted effort.

If we are to achieve our common aspirations, we as a people must be willing to transform ourselves, adopt better attitudes and values. We need no less than a spiritual revolution in this country. We must return to the roots and values of our heritage — our reverence for God, our regard for fellowmen, our respect for nature and our deep love of country.

This transformation should begin with our leaders, whether in government or in the private sector, to make them more effective stewards of the people’s trust. We cannot preach what we ourselves are not prepared to do.

Let us show to the world that we are a mature society who seek to build our economy, our politics and our culture on a stable moral foundation. In doing so, we will be able to command other peoples’ respect, trust and confidence.
SERVICE EXCELLENCE
Red Cross personifies our loftier values. Our people have a high regard for the Red Cross as public servant and as role model.

I am keenly aware of recent developments in the Philippine National Red Cross that serve to inspire every Filipino.

Worthy of praise and continuing public support are far-reaching initiatives beyond disaster emergency services, relief and rehabilitation that you have undertaken for our people. Your new programs for primary health care in remote rural areas, potable water supply, and ecological protection are most helpful to our communities.

It also heartens me that one of your priorities is to help the vulnerable and marginalized sectors of our society — the physically handicapped and the poor, in compliance with the strategic work plan for the nineties developed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

I am sure that the exemplary leadership and devotion to humanitarian service of the Red Cross at all levels continue to win public trust because of its consistent image of compassion, competence and credibility.

As an old-time Red Cross volunteer, I add my own emphasis for all to be guided by the seven basic values of the Red Cross worldwide — the values of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

These values are meaningful not only to the red cross as an organization but especially to each of us as human beings and to our nation as a whole.

Our people will continue to count on the PNRC for many of their needs.

By working together closely with government, the prospects for better service to our people in the years to come will be even brighter and more satisfying than ever before.

Again, congratulations to all and a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

Thank you.