Members of the Indian community and Filipino volunteers gathered in Calasiao, Pangasinan for a blood donation drive aimed at helping sustain blood supplies for patients in need, organizers and health workers said.

The activity brought together donors from different backgrounds as part of a yearly blood donation campaign organized by the Sant Nirankari Mission (SNM), a volunteer-based group that has been conducting similar drives since 1986.

Among the donors was Dr. Ashok Vasandani, who said the event gave him a chance to donate blood again after several years.

“Napakasarap, napakagaan ng pakiramdam ko na after 10 years, nagkaroon ako ng opportunity (to donate blood),” Vasandani said.

Filipino volunteers also joined the effort, including 24-year-old Judelyn Lacosta of Barangay Gabon, who said a personal experience inspired her to donate.

“‘Yung pagdo-donate, way ko ng pagtulong sa iba na nangangailangan,” Lacosta said.

Lacosta said she previously suffered from dengue and had once needed blood herself.

Organizers said the initiative reflects the group’s long-standing mission of humanitarian service.

“Ang vision niya kasi is blood should flow in veins not in drains. Nakikita natin ngayon, kaliwa’t kanan, may digmaan,” Sohan Motwani, a volunteer of SNM Philippines, said.

Chander Chandani, a representative of SNM Philippines, said the campaign relies entirely on volunteer work.

“We are all volunteers. Nobody gets one peso. Around the world. Everybody does this because the love to humanity. That’s the only way we can do it,” Chandani said.

The activity was conducted in partnership with the Region 1 Medical Center, which deployed a mobile blood donation team.

Health workers said blood donations are commonly needed for patients with cancer and anemia, as well as pregnant women and accident victims suffering severe blood loss.

While officials said blood bank supplies remain stable, they noted that demand remains high.

“Sa mga potential po o willing mag-donate, huwag silang matatakot mag-donate kasi ‘yung dugo niyo po na nakukuha sa inyo, hindi po ‘yan nasasayang. Nagagamit po ‘yan ng mga nangangailangan,” Mara Augustine Ballesta, in charge of community-based mobile blood donation at Region 1 Medical Center, said.