The Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges-Red Cross Youth Council (CSPC-RCYC) sent a rescue team, under the supervision of Mr. Alvin Franco A. Agtarap, for the Motorist Assistance Center (MAC) last September 21, 2011 at Milaor, Naga City.

There were 12 First aid volunteers who underwent several drills in preparation for the Motorist Assistance Center (MAC) First Aid Service. The trainings were conducted and supervised by the CSPC-RCYC Adviser Mr. Alvin Franco A. Agtarap. The training composes 4 parts, developing Speed, boosting up stamina and building up strength, last part is for the drill which in turn develops the skill and knowledge of the First aiders. One of the highlights of the practice drills is the half-board management, extrication and ambulance transport. Mr. Agtarap prepared the volunteers for cases of vehicular accidents where in the real situation; an unconscious victim should be safely removed from a vehicle that crashed or suffered from a collision. All the gravest possibilities were anticipated that is why the team was created for further assessment and better management system.

The Motorist Assistance Center (MAC) is a stand-post where the Philippine National Police (PNP), KABALIKAT Civicom, Philippine Red Cross-Camarines Sur Chapter and other agencies are bound to secure the safety and prevent further injury of the pilgrims, devotees and people who would be passing the highways of Camarines Sur heading exactly at Naga City. Since penafrancia festivity is a month long celebration, the Philippine Red Cross- Camarines Sur Chapter scheduled every College Red Cross Youth Council to participate and render first aid service from September 3-27, 2011. As for the CSPC-RCYC, the scheduled dates were September 13 and September 21 but the CSPC-RCYC responded only on September 21 since the college administration didn’t approved for a 2 day voluntary service.

September 21, Around 6:00 am the first aid volunteers traveled to Pili, Naga City since it was the scheduled place for the CSPC-RCYC MAC volunteers but upon arrival at the site, there were no station available so the CSPC-RCYC volunteers traveled again heading at the Chapter office for further assistance. The Safety Service Director, Mr. Romulo V. Cordez, transferred the location of the duty of the volunteers to Milaor. Mr. Cordez driving the ambulance headed for Milaor. Arriving at the site, the CSPC-RCYC volunteers prepared the First Aid station and the equipments to be utilized. After the set up of the station, Mr. Cordez allowed the First Aid volunteers to familiarize the equipments present in the ambulance. With the guidance of Mr. Agtarap, CSPC-RCYC adviser, the volunteers had an Ambulance Orientation and important points were given for better application of concepts. Still with no occurrence of vehicular accidents, the ideal trauma bag was introduced with its contents. Equipment new to the eyes of the volunteers was the scoop stretcher and kendricks extrication device. Those devices were allowed to use for familiarization and every volunteer had the experience to use the equipment during the practice drill in the station.

Fortunately, there were no reported cases of accident or injuries during the service. Only with the advantage of the volunteers that familiarization of rescuers equipment were realized and an increase of knowledge regarding emergency transport.

Bicol is one of the regions in the Philippines with a very strong devotion to the Mother Mary, a manifestation of the great presence of Catholics in this country. Bicolanos from all walks of life will be in Naga City to meet their relatives and partidarios, share food, drinks, and prayers with them, and most of all, to pay homage and make thanksgiving to the Virgin of Peñafrancia, whom the Bicolanos fondly call Ina.

A multicolored pagoda carrying the images/icons of the Virgin of Peñafrancia and the Divino Rostro will pass through the Bicol River. Male, sunburned devotees of the Virgin will adhere to the huge pagoda in a heartwarming display of faith and devotion. Actually, the fluvial procession marks the return of the Virgin from the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral to her home shrine at the Basilica. Upon its arrival, the Virgin will be received in formal religious rites by Roman Catholic dignitaries of the Bicol Region.

In this celebration where groups crowd and travel, different response agencies formulates emergency response teams and groups in cases of emergency situations during the peak of the celebration. Under the Joint Operations Commission (JOC), together with the different medical teams the Red Cross- Camarines Sur Chapter was requested to render First Aid Service and assist in any emergency situations during the Fluvial Procession. The Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges-Red Cross Youth Council under the Red Cross- Camarines Sur Chapter also aided in rendering Safety Services to all pilgrims, devotees and individuals present at the site last September 17, 2011 at the Naga City Public Market.

The maximum number of 20 volunteers was not attained during the assembly of the First Aid Volunteers. Only 15 volunteers were around that day and were able to participate in the first aid service. The First aid volunteers were under the supervision of the RCYC adviser Mr. Alvin Franco A. Agtarap. Again the volunteers were divided in 2 groups, 1st group will be designated at the First Aid Station and the 2nd group will be the mobile team. Leaving CSPC at 10:00 in the morning, the volunteers arrived at the site almost 12:00 noon. The First Aid Station was located on a space at the People’s Mall building at the Naga City Public Market.

It was around 3 pm when the images of Virgin of Penafrancia and Divino Rostro passed along the streets of the Public Market heading the flowing waters of Naga City. From there a multicolored pagoda awaits the approaching icons of devotion. Meanwhile, the mobile group strode to the busy streets of the Public market where barefooted voyadores approached the mobile team for First aid assistance on punctured wounds.

Considered as the biggest and most popular religious event in the Philippines, the Peñafrancia fiesta is in fact a one-week affair that starts on the second Friday of September when the miraculous Ina is transferred from her shrine to the centuries-old Naga Metropolitan Cathedral where a nine-day novena and prayers are held in her honor. Billions of people, devotees and pilgrims flock to Naga City just to witness the Feast celebration and the procession transferring the miraculous image of the Virgin, Our Lady of Penafrancia and of the Divino Rostro to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Naga City locally called as Traslacion. Included in the weeklong Penafrancia festivities are the Civic and Military parades, sports competitions, cultural shows and the coronation of Miss Bicolandia beauties.

With the great number of persons involved in the said celebration, the Joint Operations Commission (JOC) and the Department of Health (DOH) as the front-line in the Rescue operations aimed to secure the safety of the participants, devotees and pilgrims during the actual procession of the miraculous Ina. Under the supervision of the Joint Operations Commission (JOC) are the HEMS, DOH and the Philippine Red Cross and other emergency response team.

The Philippine Red Cross-Camarines Sur Chapter organized its Safety Services for the Penafrancia festivities, and one of the activities is the Traslacion held last September 9, 2011. 1 week earlier, the Safety Service Director, Mr. Romulo V. Cordez Jr. called an emergency meeting for all College Red Cross Youth Councils in the entire Camarines Sur. In the meeting, the director presented that the number of the first volunteers must be only at a maximum of 20. And the list of first aid volunteers must be submitted the next day since it must also be forwarded to the Joint Operation Commission (JOC). Mr. Cordez also cited that they will deploy 15 stations and each council must select their positions during the procession. Instructors will be equally deployed to the different stations with the 20 Red Cross Youth volunteers. The Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges-Red Cross Youth Council selected Camarines Sur National High School as their station. Mr. Cordez also instructed the use and completions of the trauma sheets on patients injured.

September 9, 2011 was the date of the Traslacion and all volunteers must be at their respective posts before the road closes at 12 noon. The 20 First Aid volunteers assembled at CSPC around 9:00 am for the short briefing by the CSPC-RCYC Adviser Mr. Alvin Franco A. Agtarap. Mr. Agtarap organized the volunteers and divided them in to 2 groups. 1st group composing 10 members will stay at the First Aid station supervised by Mrs. Taburnal and the 2nd group with the other 10 members composing the mobile group supervised by Mr. Agtarap.  10:00, all equipments are loaded on the vehicle heading for the Camarines Sur National High school.  11:30 am, the CSPC-RCYC arrives at the site unloading all equipments and sets up the First Aid Station. Half of the volunteers were allowed to take their lunch leaving the area, and the next half following the same order.  After a while, Mr. Cordez visited and checked the site if the team is complete and already on their station.

Before the image of Ina was transferred, there were already reports and cases of injury, mostly resulting in Heat exhaustion since the sun’s rays were in its peak that time.  It was around 3:00 in the afternoon when Ina passed the Camarines Sur National High School. During the traslacion, which passed through the main streets of Naga, the miraculous Ina of the Bicolanos is borne on the rugged, muscular shoulders of barefooted voyadores who form a human barricade to protect the Virgin from the unruly crowd.  Several voyadores were rushed in to the First Aid station with the aid of the Mobile group. First Aid measures and interventions were given to relieve the suffering of the voyadores. The station admitted patients with medical and trauma cases while the First Aid volunteers under the mobile team mostly treated a flock of voyadores with bleeding and also trauma cases.

As it was expected, several cases were reported in traslacion and the first aid volunteers intervened successfully on those persons injured. Declaring that there are no more patients and casualty behind, Mr. Agtarap called for a debriefing recalling all works, strengths and weaknesses of the group.

Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges- Red Cross Youth Council (CSPC-RCYC) renders First Aid Service to this year’s College Intramurals held last September 5-8, 2011.

As an annual activity of the institution, it aims for the selection of the best athletes, the CSPC-RCYC found its way of serving the college through activating the Safety Services Committee.  This is an activity allowed by the college primarily aiming at the safety of the individuals who are mainly involved in games, literary, musical event and the cheer dancing competition. Basically, the First Aid Services are for everyone.




Mr. Karl Chester Intia, the Committee Director of the Safety Services organized the set of First Aiders who will volunteer and render their time during the intramurals. The First Aid station was built near the Villafuerte Hall, a location where in immediate health care may be given.

On the First day, September 5, there were only 2 volunteers and those volunteers stayed at the station waiting for any urgent emergency situation and fortunately no cases of injury were reported.

The following day, September 6, heavy rains poured down resulting to the collapse of the First Aid Station. The collapse of the station created a major problem since the First Aiders had no stable location to perform first aid measures. One of the major injuries reported on that day is the suspected right rib fracture of a soccer player. The first aiders responded to that situation and transported the patient to the temporary first aid station. Interventions were given to relieve the pain suffered by the athlete and the first aiders decided to refer the case to the school clinic which was in turn referred to Rinconada Medical Center (RMC). Other injuries reported were bruises, cuts, wounds and abrasions. On September 7, the first aid station was rebuilt and documented case includes the patient who reported vomiting and loose bowel movement.

Another patient was admitted at the station who was suffering an asthma attack. The usual intervention was rendered and was referred to the school clinic for further assessment. On the last day, September 8, that was the last day of the intramurals and the championship games were being held and cases of bruises, cuts and wound are again reported.



Part of the last day program was the announcement of the organizations that topped on the accreditation of the Central Student Council (CSC). Garnering an average score of 94% during the accreditation, the Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges-Red Cross Youth Council ranked 1 among the organizations that submitted their accreditation papers on August 15, 2011.

Generally, the First Aid Service was a success despite the weather. Trauma and medical cases were reported and first aid volunteers successfully rendered their services to injured victims.