Bridging continents

One heartening sign in our country today is the peoples’ realization that they should not expect the government alone to perform the tasks of nation building as well as the promotion of justice, peace, progress, general welfare and the common good; that they also have to do their part in accomplishing these tasks. This sign is clearly manifested by the numerous non-government socio-civic and humanitarian organizations that have initiated projects and programs designed primarily to help the poor, marginalized and underprivileged sectors in our society.

Here in the Philippines and throughout the world, one non-government organization simply stands out not only because of its size, longevity and strength but also because of its dynamism and effectiveness in delivering the necessary humanitarian and community services. This is the Rotary International  a worldwide service organization established 106 years ago, presently composed of 1.2 million members coming from 33,000 Rotary Clubs in 168 countries and still growing.

 The purposes or mission of Rotary are: (1) to provide humanitarian services; (2) to encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and professions; and (3) to help build peace and goodwill in the world. It has been described as a “marvelous and great universal movement with elements of altruism, sparkling with beautiful gems of the philosophy and science of service to fellow men and society”.

Rotary is dynamic and effective in accomplishing its mission first of all because of its well-knit organizational structure that runs smoothly like a well-oiled machine. For better supervision and ample support in their operations, the Rotary Clubs in specific geographical areas of a country are grouped together into a Rotary District. Each district is headed by a District Governor supported by a staff of Rotarians from the district. The Rotary District is the main cog of the Rotary wheel, the basic engine that enables the club and its members, accomplish their goals. In the Philippines there are already 10 districts covering 801 clubs with a total membership of 22,000. Quezon City is the first city to be established as a single district (D 3780) composed of 95 Clubs with 2,300 members.

Rotary’s dynamism and effectiveness as an organization is of course not only due to its superbly designed organizational structure. Perhaps, more importantly they are due to the kind of members comprising the organization. Undoubtedly, the nobility of its mission mostly attracts simple but genuine and sincere people committed to carry out its motto of “service above self”. Contrary to the general impression, Rotary is not really elitist. While most of its members are indeed men and women who are successful or doing well in various business and profession, it can be said that they have no airs or pretenses about their status in life. They do not hide or cover up their own human weaknesses and shortcomings. Hence as Rotarians they can easily empathize, connect and communicate with each other and with the people of the community they have committed to serve.

On March 24-26, 2011, D 3780 under District Governor (DG) Pablo “Ambo” Gancayco Jr. will be holding its convention (DISCON) at SBMA Convention Center hosted by the Rotary Club of Balintawak. The DISCON is held every year for the purpose of further promoting the objects of Rotary through fellowship, inspirational messages and discussions of matters relating to the affairs and activities of the club in the district.

Highlights of the convention will be the “State of the District” address and Governor’s message by DG Ambo Gancayco Jr.; the “State of Rotary Worldwide” and Inspirational message by Rotary International (RI) Director Stuart Heal who is the RI President’s Representative. Then various speakers will also talk on different topics during the four plenary sessions, namely: Philippine STAR columnist Francis J. Kong on “Promoting High Ethical Standards in Business and Profession”; DOH Undersecretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa on “Building Healthy Communities Through Universal Health Care”; former UP President Emerlinda Roman on Building Communities Through Education/Legacy; DSWD Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman on “Building Communities Through Poverty Alleviation”; Past DG Roberto “Bobby” Viray on The Rotary Foundation of the Future; former Executive Secretary Oscar “Oca” Orbos on “The Relevance of Rotary Today”; and TV host/columnist Mr. Boy Abunda on “Building a Public Image”.

By now it is of common knowledge that the foremost humanitarian program of Rotary is the “end polio now” campaign. But in Quezon City which is the first city to be established as a Rotary District (RD) 3780, composed of 95 clubs with 2,300 members, another significant project with far reaching effects on our lives has been launched and is still continuing up to now. This is the preservation, protection and conservation of Mother Earth.

This project is spearheaded by a special group of Rotarians who formed an international fellowship affiliated with Rotary International known as the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians (IYFR) which is the oldest and largest Rotary Fellowship with 100 “fleets” manned by 3,000 members in 21 countries.

The first Philippine fleet of IYFR was formed by the Rotary Club of Cubao West last March 18, 2009 under the leadership of Past President Jun Avecilla who became the first “fleet commodore”. While the name of the group is “yachting fellowship”, this is only because its pioneers discovered the deteriorating conditions of our oceans while having a fellowship on board a yacht. Membership however extends to all persons with deep commitments to clean and preserve our environment, particularly our oceans, rivers, and other waterways.

 The IYFR Philippine fleet has now grown into five: the Cubao West Fleet headed by fleet Commodore (FC) Joel Sarmiento; Cebu Fleet, FC Udo Pelkowski; Hands on Fleet, FC Butch Madarang; Rainbow Connection Fleet, FC Oyie Valarao; and Mabuhay Fleet, FC Glady Villar. A 6th and 7th fleets are also in the offing. The Cubao East Fleet being formed by PP Dads Calonge and the Silver Fleet, by DG elect Jess Cifra through the effort of Cubao West Fleet Vice Commodore Mel Velasco. Actually when the third fleet was formed last March 18, 2010, the Philippines became an IYFR region with Jun Avecilla being designated as Regional Commodore. Then in September 2010, Jun was elected as International Rear Commodore, who will eventually succeed as the International Commodore by 2013 thus earning the distinction of being the first Asian and Filipino to lead the International Fellowship of Rotary Mariners.

On March 26, 2011, the second day of the DISCON, starting at 6 a.m. the IYFR Philippine fleets will launch a beach clean-up drive at the Subic Bay beach. The clean-up will be participated by all the IYFR Fleet Mariners, Rotarians, students, SBMA and local government officials headed by SBMA Chairman Fil Salonga, Mayor Bong Gordon and the present IYFR International Commodore Terry Stretton and his wife First Mate Meryl.

True enough the D3780 Rotarians are living up to this year’s RI theme: “Building Bridges, Bridging Continents”.