“Time flies,” as
current Governor Melvin Dela Serna uttered during his opening remarks at the
District Team Training Seminar for 2012-2013, last February 25, 2012, at the O
Hotel, Bacolod City. Governorship in Rotary is only one year and they serve
July 1 to June 30 of each year.
DTTS as we shortly called
it, is the first of the series of training each Rotary Year, and Gov. Melvin
said, it is an indispensable training seminar for those incoming district team
and thereafter. DTTS define the roles and responsibilities of each team member.
We always open our mind that as Rotarian, we are still students in Rotary –
where we both have goals to attain the vision and mission of the district. As
he reminded everyone in the plenary that, “many were called, but few are
chosen.”
We enjoy Rotary as we
do our best to come together in a fellowship and friendship, and in Rotary,
laughter are wider and smiles wider.
Our incoming governor for
2012-2013 – PP Biboy Jocson (RC Bacolod North) is a full time physician by
profession. As he accepts the challenge of the next Rotary year, he will be a
part time Physician and a fulltime Rotarian soon. He is so proud to share that
his spouse, Emily, will be joining him in his journey to greater heights for
our district (3850) and together, they look forward to the team’s cooperation
and full support.
On his speech, IDG Biboy is
humbled by the presence of the district leaders as they are challenged together
to achieve R.I. President Sakuji’s theme: PEACE THROUGH SERVICE. This coming
Rotary year, we are to look back into the Rotary basics of Rotary where it
serves as our lifeblood and to derive source of opportunity to address the need
of the community. Peace through service is not a literal meaning, but rather,
to serve and seize every opportunity to promote our vocation and instill peace
and harmonious life through service.
Roles and
responsibilities of each district team were facilitated by District Trainer –
PDG Nanette Garcia, together with seasoned facilitator/speakers in Rotary like
the person of PDG Chick Garcia, PDG Dave Villanueva, IPDG James Makasiar, DGN
Mark Ortiz and PP Leilanie Alba (ABS- CBN).
PDG Nanette said, “DTTS is
an excellent avenue to come together to identify challenges and direction of
what we are to face in the next Rotary year. We provide adequate tools and
skills to prepare each one and to open our mind to opportunity to learn and
share.”
Yours truly, I was inspired
to see how strong, organized and pro-active the members of the new district
teams are and that we were all well-motivated to join IDG Biboy to his quest
for Peace through Service.
Incoming Rotary
International Sakura himself inspired all the incoming Governors to enhance
public image through peace and prevention of conflict in all areas of Rotary
Future Visions on peace and conflict prevention/resolution; disease prevention
and treatment; water and sanitation; maternal and child health; basic education
and literacy; and economic and community development. Sakura has this to say, “it
not enough to just work hard, you need to know where you are headed, what do
you want to accomplish and to make every member involved in each project so
they will understand that success depends on them, to create a more peaceful
world.”
One of the highlights of
DTTS is the Rotary Moment. Where each one has to stand to give a 3-min talk on
why Rotary is life-changing. We called
it the - ROTARY MOMENT. Through life-changing stories, we have served as the
walking ambassador of goodwill, with the hope to inspire and change the world
around us. This was facilitated by PP Leilani Alba – a TV personality of
ABS-CBN Bacolod. Incoming Gov. Biboy believes that each member has a
life-changing moment while serving in Rotary.
Yours truly was
inspired when I was elected the 1st lady president of the Rotary
Club of Kalibo, where in one of hundreds of moments I had experienced, was
because of Arnel, our 1st Project Walk beneficiary in 2008. Arnel
taught me how to be selfless and made me realized that, people are the most
precious in life; PP Bert Nellas became tear eyed remembering the children with
hydrocephalus in which he saw their faces of transformation while caring for
them; PP Jack Po, because of sight saver founded Cataract Foundation and have
treated more than 35 thousands of operation around the country that changed his
outlook in Rotary; Rtn. Joel found inner peace, fulfillment with serving the
underprivileged children and is willing to ‘die a little’ just to share himself
time to serve through Rotary; Current governor Melvin Dela Serna found himself
‘marrying’ Rotary first and learned to know himself better by sacrificing
sleepless nights to be able to deliver good results, his resiliency was tested
through the many adversities he went through and said, “no tantamount of problem can
overcome being a Rotarian”; Pres. Bruce Hall found faith in Rotary, for
him it’s like going to church, where everyday he comes to the weekly Rotary
meeting, it helps him learn things about our country, our people, listening to
their stories and that every single week his involvement become stronger and
better; some funny-inspiring stories of some Rotarians like PP Jun-Jun Arceo,
where he went inside the comfort room and coming out a club president of his
club and like many others, there were some who were elected in absencia, and
was forced to become club president or member in Rotary, and realizing in the
end, they found no regrets of joining; and lastly, PP Mike said, “I am
a Rotarian, and Rotary will always be me.”
The training/seminar ended with a blast as fellowship was
dinner hosted by IDG Biboy and spouse Emily Jocson, we all came to enjoy each
other’s company and discovered each talent, where everyone was taught by PP
Buting, how to sing – BUTTER –FLY – BUTTERFULY! (to the tune of Paro-Parong
Bukid).
In discussing Peace through Service, we have a high regard
for fellowship where we can promote and give peace a chance, through Service above
Self.
