by Ginyn A. Noble and Charmaine M. Parado
It was in the fateful twenty-fourth of July that the red-loving eagle-slash-maroon* immersed in the vicinities within the centuries-old walls of the historical university along España. Philippine National Red Cross Chair and Chief Executive Officer Hon. Richard Gordon visited UST to grace the quadricentennial UST-Red Cross Youth Council general assembly and induction of officers that warm Saturday afternoon.
Among all the positions Gordon has occupied, his much loved would probably his oldest one, as a Red Crosser. Having his mother, a Gold Humanitarian Cross and Pearl S. Buck award recipient, as his main imbiber of public service and voluntarism, Gordon has been part of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) and Red Crescent movement for forty years already. He has been elected chair of the PNRC since 1986. Since then, he has cultivated an environment of immediacy, justice and continuous development in the organization by aptly implementing several projects of integral causes and rightfully adhering to the institution’s missions and visions.
The Man in Red to the Rescue
Helping has always been the main principle of the Red Cross and Gordon has stayed true to this through leading numerous relief, rescue and rehabilitation operations of the PNRC – and “numerous” is not mere semantics. It would seem as though this man in the red vest (or the red polo shirt even) was always in action in every tragedy that struck the country, might it have been land, air or sea.
As per disaster response and management, Gordon led the evacuation of the residents that were to be affected before the eruption of the Pinatubo in 1991 and the many eruptions of the Mayon. He was also among if not the first to respond to ULTRA-Wowowee stampede by organizing help desks and recovery of bodies. He also managed the rescuing of those trapped in collapsed buildings that were brought about by earthquakes and bombings (such as the Valentines day bombing and the Glorietta blast).
With people as his main object of help, he advocated the freeing of those kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf, especially the 3 workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and countless OFWs that were involved with various conflicts here and abroad. He also initiated the Fruits of Hope project in 2007 which aimed to bring dignified development of the fishermen and farmers in Sulu, Basilan and other parts of Mindanao that are notorious for being war zones through better compensation for their work. Another project that took effect in Mindanao is “Build Homes, Build Hope” in 2008 wherein houses (destroyed during the peak of the clash between the AFP and the rebels in the area) were rebuilt as a uniting community effort of both the Christians and Muslims in Kolambugan and Kauswagan (Lanao del Norte). Because health is one of the main concerns of the Red Cross, Gordon led the health response of the PNRC to those affected by the food poisoning in Bohol (2005) and typhoid outbreak in Laguna (2008).
The PNRC, under his leadership, were also able to help the loved ones of the passengers of the tragically sunken MV Asuncion (1987) and the more recent MV Princess of the Stars (2008). The organ was also active in the relief operations after the several super typhoons such as Didang, Frank (Fengshen), Milenyo, Reming, Senyang, Pepeng and Ondoy. Being not limited to helping the Filipino citizens, PNRC also gave assistance to the victims of the Asian tsunami and the victims of Hurricane Katrina under Gordon’s leadership. These and a whole lot more are ample evidences why Gordon truly embodies the Red Cross leader role.
The Visionary with Coinciding Action
Not limiting himself to plain response to those in need, Gordon also made possible innovation-geared PNRC projects. The Millennium Fund, started in year 2000, acquired from corporate donors a million-peso contribution each year for five years. This fund-raiser has subsidized a PNRC rescue truck equipped with air bags that are capable of hauling loads of debris and pneumatic pliers to break down crumpled structures and rescue victims trapped under collapsed structures. Initiated in 2006, Red Cross 143 (I Love You Red Cross) intends to train 43 volunteers lead by one team leader in disaster management, health and welfare operations/programs and voluntary blood donation drives and advocacies for their respective community. Through this, thousands of 143 volunteers are now active in these missions of the program. The Asian Regional Disaster Training and Logistics Center, through the prompting of Gordon, sponsored the first ASEAN Disaster Management Workshop Seminar (Manila, 1999) to promote readiness in facing calamities and mass emergencies. Gordon, as PNRC chair and CEO, also funded several of emergency response vehicles (ambulances, fire trucks and first aid motorcycles), blood service facilities and new round-the-clock Operation Center equipment. These and more ensures up-to-date sufficiency and efficiency of the services offered by the organization.
The Internationally Acclaimed Leader
Because of his valiant public service efforts and voluntarism, he has been recognized both locally and internationally. Among the honors granted to him were the PNRC Gold Humanitarian Award (2007) for outstanding volunteer efforts in alleviating human suffering, the PNRC Silver Humanitarian Award (2001) and the Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon Peace Award (PNRC, 1991). He was also regarded The Outstanding Filipino of 1996 by the Philippine Jaycees, one of the 1994 50 Young Leaders of Asia honored by Asahi Shimbun (one of Japan’s premier newspapers), and one of the Great Asians for the Future by Asiaweek.
The Nursing Journal asked him what would be the top qualities a leader should possess. Intelligence, communication skills and strength were his top 3. He also stressed the importance of his four Ps: Predict, Plan, Practice and Political Will. As an addition, he said, “The only pressure I allow is [when what pressures me is deciding on] what is best for the common good.” After which, he gave advice on how to handle pressure: “Pressure must be practiced everyday. Learn to take pressure – that’s part of the game. Put a game face on when you’re a professional. Pag galit ka, galit ka. When you’re happy, you’re happy. If you want to cry, cry. Or else, you will implode.”
Feared by some, loved and respected by many – that’s Dick Gordon. He may be a man unapproachable for some because of his superficially fierce façade, but his Red Cross family who know him even beyond that surface begs for that view to differ. He really has this soft spot for helping. However, he still is strong, in every sense of the word – Standing Tough amidst adversities, Reaching Out to his fellowmen in times of need and Nurturing community voluntarism and timely response in the Philippines Genuinely.
The Nursing Journal was given a chance to have a short interview with Mr. Richard Gordon in his dinner-campus press conference after his partaking in the RCYC event. Here is the brief but very inspirational interview that we were able to have with him.
NJ: The UST Red Cross exhibited years of voluntarism. What can you say about it?
Gordon: It’s very good, but you haven’t done your best performance yet… That’s why first, we’ll organize you [so you can reach your goal.] What is your goal? You want the UST Red Cross to play a particular role in the Quadricentennial [celebration] in 2011. You will have different departments. Doctors, nurses, [volunteers]: everybody [will have] a role.
NJ: In an ideal setting, there would be one first aider per family. Are there any formal plans to reach this goal [aside from the Red Cross 143]?
Gordon: That is a slogan; it’s empty. But if we can get all 44,000 students of UST to learn first aid, it’s done ‘di ba?
Gordon further elaborates: All these goals are nice. Can you imagine 44 first aiders in every baranggay? But the 44 in every baranggay, they don’t do anything. That’s why I put up a command control center. If there is a disaster, Ill call in the leaders and they will deploy their people.
NJ: One specialty in Nursing is Community Health, so what are the improvements in that field do your think are very crucial presently and in the years to come? How could the Red Cross be involved in this area?
Gordon: One thing about [the] Community Health [sector] is that they have to contain boutique diseases like SARS, HIV – these are dangerous diseases that affect a big part of the population. These have killed 60 million back in the 70s. Suppose your neighbor is affected with bird flu, what will you do?…You inform the Red Cross!
* Richard Gordon is a Bachelor of the Arts major History and Government yielded by the Ateneo de Manila University and is a lawyer produced by the University of the Philippines College of Law.
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