Every day, hundreds of patients across the Philippines rely on blood transfusions to survive life-threatening, adverse health events and serious illnesses like cancer and anemia.
Yet, the supply of safe and voluntary blood donations often falls short of demand.
A dedicated social worker is on a mission to organize donation drives while regularly donating blood himself. He aims to inspire others to see the collective impact that even a single drop of blood can have.
Ripples of kindness
Dalfhen Samson, a licensed social worker since 2009, has dedicated his career to serving others.
Currently serving as the project manager for SM Foundation’s health and medical programs, he goes beyond his usual responsibilities of healthcare welfare programs.
In 2010, he made his first blood donation to help a stranger in need—and he hasn’t stopped since.
“I just really wanted to help the patient who needed blood at that time,” he said simply when asked about his first donation experience.
Since then, he has donated blood more than ten times, plus three platelet apheresis donations—one of which was urgently needed for a cancer patient mid-procedure.
“Hindi ko rin makakalimutan ang unang pagkakataong nag-donate ako ng apheresis platelets sa Philippine Blood Center dahil while on going ang donation, sinabi nila na may naghihintay ng cancer patient na sasalinan ng aking dugo,” he recalled.
Passion in action
Even during the height of the pandemic, when most people stayed home, he and his team pushed forward with safe, scheduled bloodletting activities in select SM Malls.
“Blood needs don’t stop during crises, and neither should our will to help,” he said.
As he continues to spearhead the organization of the SM Foundation’s blood donation drives, he shares that many of those who received help from SM’s blood program later returned not as recipients but as donors themselves.
“Marami nang natulungan na sobra-sobra ang pasasalamat at sila mismo ay naging advocate ng bloodletting. Sa pagdami ng mga natulungan ng SM Foundation at ng mga social good partners nito, kasabay din ang pagdami din ng mga donors dahil sila na mismo ang nagkukwento sa kapwa empleyado nila ng kahalagahan ng pagdo-donate,” he said.
He dreams of a future where no patient’s family has to endure the added stress of scrambling for blood. “Pangarap ko na lahat ng pasyente na mangangailangan ng dugo ay mabibigyan kaagad nito. Mithiin ko na dumating ang panahon na hindi na mamomoblema kung hahanap ng dugo dahil alam natin na mahirap ang pagaalaga sa may sakit pati ang mga gastos na kakaharapin.”
You can help, too
For those willing but unsure of how to begin, Dalfhen calls: “If you’re healthy and willing, check the schedule of SM Blood Donation drives at your nearest SM Malls or go to the nearest Red Cross Chapter. There are always people in need—and you might be their lifeline.”
If you want to contribute to this life-saving mission, here are the blood donation schedules for April 2025: SM City Rosario, April 5; SM Center Pulilan, April 16; SM City Tanza, April 21.
Stay tuned to the official website and social media pages of SM Foundation (@SMFoundationInc) for more details and updates: https://bit.ly/SMFI-Blood-Donation
Started in 1927, the Philippines Graphic is the longest-running printed magazine of national circulation that provides relevant news and features and promotes Philippine literature.
