REACH WITHIN TO EMBRACE HUMANITY
By: PP Megs S. Lunn
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| PDG Jason Chan of RC Peak, Hongkong as RIPR |
More
than 600 Rotarians from Western Zamboanga, Panay Island, Negros and Guimaras
province participated in this year’s Rotary International District 3850 held
last April 11-14, 2012 at the Kalantiao Hall, Sarabia Manor Hotel, Iloilo City
with the theme – “Reaching Within to Embrace Humanity.”
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| ROTARY PEACE FOR SERVICE: IDG Biboy Jocson, M/Gen. J. Mabanta, Jr. and Gov. Melvin Dela Serna |
The
three-day conference brought Rotarians together to showcase their festival
costume and dances during the 1st day of the Opening Day and
Fellowship Night at Plazuela De Iloilo, like the Dinagyang of Iloilo City,
Hermosa Festival of Zambonga City, Masskara Festival of Bacolod City,
Lami-Lamihan Festival of Basilan, Udyahan Festival of Kabakanlan, Patuyaw of
Antique and Ati-Atihan Festival of Aklan, the second day was filled up with
seasoned speakers invited from other districts, Rotary Got Talent, Ballroom
competition and awards night, and the third day was for business meetings.
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| Warming Up with Gov. Melvin, Spouse Fe, the GSE Team and PDG Jason Chan |
Speakers
were former Isabela Governor Ma. Grace Cielo Padaca, the founder of Kaya
Natin: A movement for Good Governance
and Ethical Leadership; PDG Dave M. Villanueva, currently the District Trainer
of District 3850 and has been an RI President Representative; Arizza Ann S.
Nocum, the youngest among the speakers who is 17 years old and is the Administrator
of Kristiyano-Islam Peace Library and currently taking up BS Engineering at UP
Diliman, Q.C.; Mae Paner a.k.a. Juana Change is a political activist, a TV
commercial film director and actor for stage, film and television; Charter
President of the Rotary Club of Centennial Quezon City - Nominee Erlynda R. Mijares; Dr. Gilbert C.
Vilela, the chief of Coronary Artery Disease Section of the Phil. Heart Center,
Mr. Abner Tayco from RC Olongapo and is a Response Team Member of ShelterBox
Disaster Relief Philippines; MGen. Jose Mabanta,
Jr. of the Philippine Air Force; Mr. Jesse Francis N. Rebustilllo, President of
the Philippine Society for Training and Development and consultant of the
Philippine Daily Inquirer. Meanwhile, the spouses of Rotarians has also their
own plenary session and program held separately on the last day of the
conference with speakers Ms Patricia Ann Chang Caro from Hawaii, a professional
dancer, Polynesian teacher, choreographer & designer, and Ms. Esther Lou P.
Altea from Illinois, USA who is now a volunteer social worker in the Good
Shepherd Center for the Elderly in Binirayan Hills, San Jose, Antique.
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| Gov.Melvin Dela Serna, Ms. Nocum and PDG Jason Chan |
Rotarians
and guests were cordially greeted by Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog where he
gave emphasis how the organization Rotary International have helped and is bridging
the people to reach within through government partnerships, assisted by other
NGO’s, too; while Congressman Jerry
Trenas on the other hand, in his message, was amazed how the work of Rotary
International brought about positive change and motivated other businessmen and
professionals to practice their professions through The Four Way Test – 1. Is
it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build goodwill and
better friendship? 4. Will it be
beneficial to all concerned?
RI
President Kaylan Banerjee believes that in order to achieve anything in this
world, a person has to use all the resources he can draw on. And the only place
to start is with our selves and within ourselves, thus, the theme “Reaching
Within to Embrace Humanity.”
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| The Author with PP Boy Lee |
The
Rotary International president Kaylan Banerjee was represented by PDG Jason
Chan of the Rotary of the Peak, Hongkong. “I congratulate your District Governor
Melvin Dela Serna for an outstanding year. You have been working extremely hard
in particular with the production of one of the most updated and informed
newsletters in the Asian Region sharing with you all the remarkable work of
District 3850,” Chan said in his special message during the opening of the plenary
session.
A district conference is an annual meeting showcasing
club and district activities. It is also a Rotary family event the mixes
fellowship with learning and allows you to become more directly involved with
the planning of the district’s future. It is at the district conferences where
club can become even more aware of the ways in which Rotary is making the world
a better place.
Note: This article will come up in the PRM (as per advised by PRM Editor) soon and have posted in some Provincial and Regional Newspaper, too, for Rotary Public Image.
