A heartbeat is something we often take for granted—until it stops.
In the Philippines, heart disease remains the leading cause of death. Studies show that most cardiac arrests occur at home and in the presence of a family member. These are moments when loved ones are closest—yet often feel powerless simply because they have never been trained to respond.
In many cases of sudden cardiac arrest, survival does not depend on hospitals or doctors alone. It depends on the person standing nearest—the bystander who knows what to do and understands that even two hands can mean the difference between life and death.
This urgency is at the heart of Pintig ng Pinas, Bell-Kenz Pharma’s biggest activation to date of its Sagip CPR (Hands-Only CPR) advocacy. In celebration of February as Heart Month, Sagip CPR is staging a nationwide rollout of back-to-back Hands-Only CPR training sessions across Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Since its inception in August 2025, Sagip CPR has trained thousands of students, teachers, parents, uniformed personnel, local government units, and community volunteers—ordinary Filipinos equipped with a simple yet lifesaving skill. Under Pintig ng Pinas, Bell-Kenz Pharma will conduct around 15 Hands-Only CPR training sessions within February alone—making it the most extensive rollout since the program began.
Heart health took center stage on October 10, 2025, in Malolos, Bulacan, as La Consolacion University held a lifesaving training for students and fisherfolk communities.
As the largest Sagip CPR initiative to date, Pintig ng Pinas brings together partners from the public and private sectors, local government units, health advocates, civic and medical associations, and volunteers who share a common goal of strengthening community response during cardiac emergencies. The program also supports broader national efforts to improve emergency preparedness and public health awareness.
By scaling up Hands-Only CPR education across the country—from Metro Manila and Central Luzon to Nabua (Camarines Sur), Polangui (Albay), Panay Island including Iloilo City, Roxas City (Capiz), Aklan and Antique, as well as General Santos City and North Cotabato in Mindanao—Bell-Kenz Pharma is not just teaching a technique, but helping build confidence, readiness, and shared responsibility within communities.
Hands-Only CPR focuses on continuous chest compressions that help maintain blood circulation during cardiac arrest until professional medical help arrives. The approach is particularly recommended for cardiac emergencies and has gained wider adoption in recent years, as it does not require mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
“This initiative reflects a deeper understanding of healthcare and the collaboration needed to generate meaningful impact. Medicines save lives—but so do prevention, education, and rapid response, “ said Patrick Larraga, Corporate Branding and PR Head of Bell-Kenz Pharma.
Being a Kaagapay sa Kalusugan, Bell-Kenz Pharma’s commitment to quality healthcare goes beyond the pharmacy shelf. Through Sagip CPR, it extends into classrooms, barangay halls, workplaces, and homes—where real emergencies happen.”
Students and staff of Mabini Academy in Lipa, Batangas gained vital hands‑only CPR skills during the Sagip CPR Program with the Philippine Heart Association Southern Tagalog Chapter on November 21, 2025.
Pintig ng Pinas underscores that nation-building can begin with something as fundamental as teaching people how to respond when a heartbeat falters—keeping someone alive until help arrives.
In a time when healthcare challenges can feel overwhelming, Sagip CPR offers a practical reminder: saving lives does not always require complex technology or specialized equipment. Sometimes, it begins with knowledge, preparedness, and the willingness to act.
“Our vision is clear,” said Dr. James Cayetano, President of the Bell-Kenz Foundation. “We want Filipino households to have at least one person who knows how to respond during the critical first minutes of cardiac arrest. By equipping ordinary Filipinos with CPR skills, we are strengthening the country’s first line of response during cardiac emergencies. Sagip CPR is more than a campaign; it is a call to action across the country.”
For more information about Pintig ng Pinas and the Sagip CPR advocacy, visit bell-kenz.net
