Around 1 AM today, 16th of May 2021, a massive fire caught the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), reaching the third floor of its building and affecting significant parts of the hospital, particularly the pediatric ward. According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) report, the fire lasted almost five hours. PGH, located at Taft Avenue, Manila, is currently the country’s biggest COVID-19 emergency hospital. Patients were evacuated and made sure to transfer to nearby district hospitals around Manila.
With PGH, government units call for in-kind donations on essentials such as food, water, face masks, industrial fans, oxygen tanks, and cash.
One of the immediate in-kind responses came from Ms. Rina Navarro, founder of the non-profit organization I Am Hope and CEO and founder of Unfiltered Skin Essentials. Upon hearing the news and seeing the condition of the newborn babies, she felt alarmed and immediately contacted her co-founder Bea Alonzo and great friend Vina Morales. Together in I Am Hope Org, they donated a generous amount of diapers, milk, food, water, and ventilation units directly to the PGH Pedia resident Dr. TJ Ablaza.
They also extended their gratitude to their friends, donating 20 ventilation units, 100 blankets, 50 boxes of diapers, and bottled waters.
Citizens are beyond grateful to those like Ms. Rina Navarro, Ms. Bea Alonzo, and Ms. Vina Morales that never hesitate to help with their capabilities. In one of her statements, Ms. Rina encourages capable individuals and organizations to join forces in helping the affected community of PGH; their I Am Hope is also open to those who wanted to help and organize.
