DISCON FESTIVAL 2012

REACH WITHIN TO EMBRACE HUMANITY

By: PP Megs S. Lunn

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.”

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 1^st 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.

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.

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.”

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.