About RCY of UPLB

The Idea that Started it All:
History of RCY of UPLB
An account of the history of RCY of UPLB based on the testimony of Sir Sherwin Lopez

The seed for starting a Red Cross Youth organization in UPLB was planted sometime in 1973 by John Ladjahasan, a former lifeguard at Baker Hall’s swimming pool who was active with the Red Cross movement and conducted life-saving and water safety courses at UPLB under the guidance of the Red Cross Laguna Chapter. With Ladjahasan’s suggestion, encouragement, and guidance, Sir Sherwin Lopez ultimately crafted the idea of organizing the RCY of UPLB in the University in 1975.

The very first thing that Sir Sherwin did was to call for an organizational meeting, wherein only one person came, brod Victor Mercado. Given that, at that time, the Office of Student Affairs required 15 members for an organization to be recognized, both Sherwin and Victor invited individuals, including their siblings, dorm mates, and friends, who were willing to sign up as part of the founder members of the organization.

The founding members also worked on the constitution of the organization, chose Benjamin Torres as the first adviser, and listed the activities and projects of the organization for them to be recognized as an official UPLB organization. Among these projects was the one-peso contribution to fund the organization’s activities. During the first year of the organization, a blood-letting program and a Christmas gift-giving activity were conducted as the organization’s civic and image-building activities, respectively.

Soon, the activities and projects expanded as the organization expanded. In the early years of the organization, they were able to conduct recruitment activities, first aid training, blood-letting programs, gift-giving, concerts, sports meets, and national Red Cross meetings, among many others.

Fast forward decades later, after the organization was first organized, various activities and projects were successfully implemented. The Red Cross Youth of UPLB, with its affiliation with the Red Cross Laguna Chapter, has been conducting a wide range of activities and training, notably blood donations, first-aid training, disaster preparedness management training, free medical and dental missions, first-aid stationing, water safety and survival, and education programs on AIDS, Drug abuse, and the Laws of War (International Humanitarian Law).

The organization has also expanded in the field of youth development with its pool of youth trainers and facilitators trained to cater to requests for Leadership Training Seminars, Parliamentary Procedures training, Youth volunteers’ conferences, HIV-AIDS and Drug Abuse seminars, International Humanitarian Law, and First-Aid demonstrations.