‘Service above self’

More than 1,500 Rotarians belonging to 85 clubs of District 3810 are happily gathered at the Manila Hotel in a conference hosted by the Rotary Club of Manila, the oldest in Asia and the biggest of Rotary clubs in the Philippines.

The Rotarians, coming with their spouses from Manila, Pasay, Cavite and Occidental Mindoro, are fulfilling the tradition of the Rotary family by recognizing clubs and individuals who have excelled in undertaking humanitarian and community projects.

The celebration is marked by trade exhibits, club exhibits, a bazaar and friendship corner, and speakers talking about relevant concerns. A motorcade of 101 vintage bikes and cars added razzle and dazzle at the start of the affair Thursday.

At the helm of what seems like a victory party is District 3810 Gov. Edgardo "Ed" T. Tumangan, who lives by the Rotarians’ motto, "Service Above Self."

As far as Ed can remember, he always had a soft heart for the less privileged. When he joined the Rotary Club of Manila in 1975, he had the chance to put his ideas into action. He gave a big hand to the "Laging Handa" program in Scout Morato, one of the 10 barangays in District 3810, supervising the planting of eucalyptus trees along the road, holding baseball and biking races for the youth, building public toilets for the 12,000 residents, and organizing a Tanod Barangay. In all these projects, the residents worked alongside Rotarians to make theirs a model community.

District 3810 consists of 90 clubs in Manila, Pasay City, and the provinces of Cavite and Occidental Mindoro. The Rotary Club of Manila, organized in 1919, has as members 450 captains of various industries in the city.

District 3810 is one of Rotary International Club’s 540 districts in 171 countries. Altogether, there are 33,000 clubs which count a total membership of 1.2 million men.

Witnessing the celebration in Manila (aptly called Discon) are Rotary International Representative Ronald Beaubien of Coronado, California and his wife Vicki.

The three-day program is highlighted by inspirational talks of important personalities. Yesterday, Chin-Chin Gutierrez was scheduled to talk on the topic, "Water Conservation an Environmental Protection," Sen. Edgardo Angara on "Health and Hunger," and Patis Tesoro on "Philippine Crafts." Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao was to speak on "Ethics and Good Government." Guest of honor Ron Beaubien’s topic was "The Rotary Foundation." Manila Mayor Lito Atienza gave the words of welcome.

Governor Ed puts time and effort, and some of his own resources, into his district’s projects. One of these is the 10-year Pasig River rehabilitation program. He thinks it is possible to clean up the river, but the job has to be done with the cooperation of the residents along the riverbanks, which is why informal talks with them are part of the program.

Then there is the Ten Outstanding Workers of the Republic (Tower) Awards, which recognizes exemplary blue collar workers and awards them with cash, scholarships for their children, and baccalaureate degrees.

Another project is teaming up with the Free Legal Aid Group (FLAG) to attend to legal needs of the less privileged.

Over a cup of coffee, Ed told me that the Rotary motto, "Service Above Self," is an expression of one’s deep concern "for the community without thought of reward or recognition." He told the story of Father Cha, who tried to help push a log out of the way of survivors in the Infanta, Quezon landslide. In the process, the priest was pinned under rolling logs and was killed. "That is the kind of ‘service above self’ that Rotarians are enjoined to internalize," said Ed. He expressed the hope, too, that when the time came, he would be able to make sacrifices without thinking of his own safety or rewards.

Meetings among Rotarians touch on drumming up awareness for the poor, and Ed considers "immersion" to be part of the process. His own recent immersion had him going over to the Luneta and talking with street children who consider the public park their home. It’s where they sleep, eat, and make merry. Very early in the morning, the kids collect leftovers from restaurants in the area, cook and feast on them. There are about 200 of them, said Ed. The strange thing is that they have turned down the Rotarians’ offer to bring them to halfway homes for free shelter and food and livelihood training. Only one teenager decided to take up the offer.

Ed spoke highly of a Rotary club’s program in Occidental Mindoro called LEARNS. The multi-pronged program with a Mangyan community consists of livelihood training, education, access to water, recreation, nutrition and sanitation. The Rotarians built a school for the children, opened a microfinance system, give training in manicure and pedicure and hair science. They also built a bridge to enable the kids to go to the school.

A project in Manila helps young boys earn by cleaning cars in a vacant lot.

The programs above are models in living for others and above one’s self.

Ed graduated from the UP College of Law and passed the bar exams in 1958, after which he organized the law firm of Tumangan & Partners.

He joined the Jaycees in 1968 and became president of the Capitol Jaycees (Quezon City) in 1970. He also became vice president of the Philippine Jaycees. When he reached 40, he joined the Rotary Club of Manila, and became its president in 2000.

He served as president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Quezon City chapter, and the Capitol Bar Association where he mobilized more than 6,000 lawyers to participate in community issues and the propagation of the "Barangay Justice System."

Ed served the government too. He was a member of the Quezon City Council, was deputy secretary general of the Batasang Pambansa, chair of the Committee on Revision of the Insurance Code of the Philippines, consultant at the Securities & Exchange Commission, and secretary of the Philippines Senate.

He has received numerous awards, among them the Most Outstanding President of the IBP, the Speaker Makalintal Award, and the Ten Most Outstanding Sigma Rhoans of the UP award.

He was judged Rotarian of the Year by the Rotary Club of Manila in 2002, Most Outstanding Club president in his district, and recipient of the Distinguished Club President Award given by Rotary International in 2002.

Tessie Tumangan, wife of Governor Ed, will present the Ladies 101 program with speakers to discuss topics that interest women the most. This morning’s speakers will be led by Lynne Abanilla, incoming District Conference 3810 for 2007.

The compleat woman, Gina de Venecia, who heads the Congressional Spouses Foundation, will take about "Women Empowerment." Unilever CEO Howard Belton will talk about "Adding Vitality to Life," Patricia Evangelista, on "The Youth Today," Majella T. Uzan, CEO of World Partners, USA, on the "Changing Role of Women: Global Women’s Initiative," and Vicki Beaubien, "Women in Rotary."

The Inner Wheel Club of the Philippines District 3810, headed by Beth S. Tagle, and the Inner Wheel Club of Manila, led by Drina R. Ampil, are in charge of the bazaar.

At least 80 members of Rotary District 3810 have set up exhibits featuring club projects and accomplishments. The best display will be awarded today.

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