The Sydney Shrine Club (SSC), based in New South Wales, Australia, donated P12 million worth of medical equipment and supplies to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) last 10 July during a flag-raising ceremony at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo.

The donation, which includes slightly used medical equipment, life-saving devices and essential items, will be distributed to various AFP hospitals and field units.

The aim is to enhance the military's healthcare capabilities for its personnel and their families.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. accepted the donation from SSC President Lt. Col. Raul Amor. Amor was accompanied by Brig. Gen. Danilo I. Dupiag, deputy for Reserve Force Development (OJ9), and Lt. Col. Michael Odylon Romero, chairperson of the Association of Reservists and Reservist Administrators of the Philippines, Incorporated (ARRAPI) Board of Trustees.

ARRAPI, in coordination with the AFP’s Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserve Force Development, facilitated the donation.

Brawner lauded the "bayanihan" spirit, a Filipino term for communal unity and cooperation, and the international solidarity that led to the donation.

He underscored the importance of ongoing collaboration between the AFP, ARRAPI, non-governmental organizations and international partners to improve the welfare of Filipino soldiers and their families.

Romero, who has been instrumental in mobilizing both military and civilian support, stressed the significance of the partnership.

"This collaboration with our Australian partners — Sydney Shrine Club — highlights the crucial role of the global community in supporting the health and morale of our uniformed personnel," Romero said.

"ARRAPI will now be a bridge to civilian and military efforts to uplift the lives of our soldiers," he added.

Other members of ARRAPI's Board of Trustees present included Lt. Col. Vladimir Mata, Brig. Gen. Charito Plaza, Cmdr. Peter Negrido, Lt. Col. Joy Torres, Col. Yay Lacson-Hizon and Lt. Col. Floreto Solano.

In recognition of their contributions, the AFP presented Plaques of Appreciation to both the Sydney Shrine Club and ARRAPI for their support in advancing the AFP's health services.