Hercor College Rotaract Club Induction 2016

REGULAR MEETINGS BE LIKE....

Welcoming new Police Director of PNP Capiz

PSSUPT Nacion (PNPAA).

SPEECH OF SEN. RISA HONTIVEROS

53RD INDUCTION AND TURNOVER CEREMONIES OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF ROXAS: ROTARY SERVING HUMANITY Roxas City, Capiz July 16, 2016 ---

Sen. Risa Hontiveros

Maayong gab-i sa inyo nga tanan. Congratulations to the new batch of officers to be inducted tonight. It is an honor for me to be with you tonight, in our beloved home province of Capiz, and the Rotary Club of which my Uncle, Tito Rene, was a chapter member. Your invitation tonight gives me this opportunity to thank all Capiznon for trusting me with your votes, and making me the #2 Senator in Capiz. Madamo guid na salamat sa inyo nga tanan. As most of you might know, the Hontiveros family traces its roots to Capiz, my father and his siblings being born in Capiz and with my grandfather serving as Governor of the province in the early 1900s. Ako ay isa ka proud nga Ilongga! Mula sa isang kasimanwa, madamo nga salamat sa inyo.

Sen. Risa with Roxas Rotarians

Let me say that your theme for 2016-2017, “Rotary serving humanity” inspires me. In the midst of so much strife in the world from Orlando to Baghdad to Nice, when humanity has at times been its own worst enemy, “serving humanity” sounds huge. Larger than life. So I cannot help but admire organizations that aspire towards this. It is also something that resonates with my ideals in life as an activist, advocate and legislator – first in the Lower House and now in the Upper House. My first stint as a legislator started in 2004 as Akbayan Partylist representative in the House of Representatives.

But I would consider my experience in public service to have started when I became an activist at a young age. My worldview has been largely shaped by, on the one hand a world long-suffering from oppression and injustice, and on the other, the enormous potential of the same world for doing good. This perspective has greatly contributed in shaping my principles and has guided my actions, not only as a public servant but as a person. When I ran my campaign for the 2016 elections – yes, my third campaign, or rather, the tail-end of a seven-year campaign – I ran on a platform of universal health. “Healthy Pinoy, Healthy ‘Pinas!” di bala? My healthcare advocacy is framed by the belief that lack of access to health care is its own oppression. Consequently, the fight f

Sen. Risa with cousin Maan Hontiveros during the
Fellowship night singing Top of the World

or universal health is a fight for justice. And, in its own way, a way of serving humanity. Or at least, working within the space I am given, serving the Filipino people.

But what does universal healthcare mean in concrete terms? This means providing adequate, quality health care accessible to all. This means not being okay that 7 out of 10 Filipinos die without ever having seen a doctor. This means believing that universal health care is not just an admirable vision, it is an obtainable mission. That is why last June 30, ‘pag sampa ko sa akong panunungkulan, I filed the first three of my health bills: BHW compensation, expanded maternity leave, and amendment to Republic Act 8344 or the Anti Hospital Deposit Law, the latter creating measures to better implement RA 8344 but also providing tax incentives to private hospitals so that government and the private sector can work together to bridge the public health gap. This week, I filed three more bills – the HIV bill, a bill to create a Health Promotion Institute, and a bill to provide automatic PhilHealth coverage to Persons with Disabilities or PWDs.

(l to r) PP Megs, Inspiration Speaker Ms. Maan
Hontiveros, PDG Mark, Pres. Jo, PP Pip and PP Mel

All these are in line with my vision for universal health care, which I know you share. I am aware of the work that Rotary is doing globally in the field of healthcare: for example, your contribution to the goal of eradicating polio in the developing world. In the Philippines, Rotarians have worked hand-in-hand with the government in helping deliver basic health services. I am aware that you have helped our fellow Capiznon by providing schools and renovating school buildings, especially after Typhoon Yolanda ravaged the Visayas. You inspire me. And I am ready and eager to sit with organizations such as yours to see how we can learn from each other and develop best practices in the service of the Filipino people.

I don’t want to get too serious during an ‘80s party, so let me wrap up now. Dear Rotarians,

consider me your friend and ally in the Senate. I can only hope that we can work together to forward our common goals not only for universal health and access to social services, but for a fairer, more just world for all.

Fellow Capiznon, madamo guid nga salamat!

RY 2015-2016 Valedictory Address

(l to r) Outgoing Pres. Mark, GF Elyza and PP Megs Lunn

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS OF OUTGOING PRES. MARK RENIER CATAHAY * (53^rd Induction Ceremony, July 16, 2016 @ Lakehouse, San Antonio Resort, Roxas City, Capiz)

Good evening everyone.

I’d like to personally thank those members who stayed active during our weekly meetings and projects.

PDG Mark, thank you for shaping our club to be a better one. As the club trainor, your performance was way beyond perfect. You are the person behind all our global grant projects for three public schools amouting to Php15M. You really left a deep footprint to our club’s history.

PP Pip, thank you for making sure that our club meets our goals for our contribution to TRF. Because of your encouragement, we donated more than $5000. That’s another record breaking in our club’s history.

Rtn. Cristy, thank you for being the other of our first Rotaract Club, the Rotaract Club of Hercor College, and for being excessively generous when the club needs your help.

(l to r) PP Mel, Pres. Jo, PDG Mark, Rtn. Rommel, Elyza,
AG Mark Renier, PP Megs and PP Pip

PP Butch, thank you for accepting your vocation as the caretaker of our funds and financial documents. It shows how trustworthy you are.

PP Mel, though you are too busy as the chairman of a new hospital, you proved that your support and service to our club never declined. Thank you for that!

PP Sanny, thank you for always capturing vital moments of our club through your pictures. For sure, it will outlive us all.

PP Mariz, thank you for being the mother of our club. Not to mention, the food you voluntarily bring during our club meetings are the best.

PP Megs, thank you for being our bridge to most of our sister clubs. Thank you also for regularly updating the website of our club. Those are just some of the jobs you did for Rotary. The list goes eternally.

Pres. Jo, thank you for having the courage and will to take over the leadership of this club. I’m certain you will never fail us.

Fellowship night after the Induction Ceremonies...
fun, fun, fun with Sen. Riza Hontiveros singing
Top of the World

Rtn. Philip and Rtn Rey Alovera, thank you for starting as volunteers of this club. Three years ago, they volunteered to help in the distribution and delivery of goods for Yolanda victims. Now, you are proud members of this club. Thank you for your dedication.

Rtn. Rey Dela Cruz and Rtn. Tony Marty, thank you for always making yourself free whenever we have events like this. We have no choice; you both have the best talents and voice for hosting.

Rtn. Kathleen, thank you for taking the place of the late PP Toto Arce in our club. Through you, he will always be with this club.

Rtn. Rexam, thank you for your support especially as a spokesman on the media for the club.

Rowena, thank you for your unconditional support and dedication to this club. You are a true example of service above self.

....and more fun ...

And lastly, Elyza, though you are not yet a member of this club, the support and service you gave is incomparable. Thank you for helping me organize the last district assembly, thank you for checking and correcting all my speeches before I share them to the world, thank you for helping me on the printing of the club’s weekly publication, the Patiyog, thank you for teaching me important values of leadership and time management. And thank you for considering sharing your lovely voice tonight though we left you only two days of practice.

As the saying goes, all good things come to an end. Those were the best two years of my life. Thank you that opportunity.

*Mark is now the youngest Assistant Governor of D3850

ROTARY SERVING HUMANITY

Rotary’s founder, Paul Harris, believed that serving humanity is “the most worthwhile thing a person can do,” RI President-elect John F. Germ said, and that being a part of Rotary is a “great opportunity” to make that happen.

Germ unveiled the 2016-17 presidential theme, Rotary Serving Humanity, to incoming district governors on 18 January at the International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA.

“I believe everyone recognizes the opportunity to serve Rotary for what it truly is: not a small opportunity, but a great one; an opportunity of a lifetime to change the world for the better, forever through Rotary’s service to humanity,” said Germ.

Rotary members around the globe are serving humanity by providing clean water to underdeveloped communities, promoting peace in conflict areas, and strengthening communities through basic education and literacy. But none more important than our work to eradicate polio worldwide, he said.

After a historic year in which transmission of the wild poliovirus was stopped in Nigeria and all of Africa, Germ said we are closer than ever to ending polio.

“We are at a crossroads in Rotary,” he added. “We are looking ahead at a year that may one day be known as the greatest year in Rotary’s history: the year that sees the world’s last case of polio.”

Last year’s milestones leave just two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the virus still circulates. Polio would be only the second human disease ever to be eradicated.

When that moment arrives, it’s “tremendously important” that Rotary is ready for it, said Germ. “We need to be sure that we are recognized for that success, and leverage that success into more partnerships, greater growth, and even more ambitious service in the decades to come.”

Germ, a member of the Rotary Club of Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA, encouraged attendees to return to their clubs and communities and spread the word about Rotary’s role in the fight for a polio-free world.

“People who want to do good will see that Rotary is a place where they can change the world. Every Rotary club needs to be ready to give them that opportunity,” Germ said.

Enhancing Rotary’s image isn’t the only way to boost membership. “We need clubs that are flexible, so our service will be more attractive to younger members, recent retirees, and working people.”

He added: “We need more willing hands, more caring hearts, and more bright minds to move our work forward.”

Find more videos from the event
Download 2016-17 theme logo and materials
Follow the assembly on Facebook and Twitter using #IA2016
Download speech transcripts

By Ryan Hyland

Rotary News

18-Jan-2016

DISTRICT 3850 HANDOVER

(Photos by PP Sanny - July 1, 2016)

KODUS PP MARK RENIER CATAHAY

Thank you for the year that was Pres. Mark Renier Catahay and team.

May we borrow Pres. K.R. Ravi Ravindran's thoughts on the theme BE A GIFT TO THE WORLD, and I quote ..."BE A GIFT YOURSELF....! A gift you have been given...a gift which every few people would be given. To lead a club is a challenge...a responsibility. It will you give some gray hair (not for you probably being the youngest serving president, and now AG in our district 3850 hehe) ...some sleepless night (this is for sure ha ha) . But it is an incredible, in incomparable experience. The greatest gift apart from our heritage, our children, our career, our abilities - is the ability to lead a club. Lead your club, transform the lives of others. Build a monument that will endure forever, living in the hearts of generations to come. It is a life-changing opportunity. Let us not lose sight of it. Let us be a gift to the world." - K. R. "Ravi" Ravindran, President, Rotary International, RY 2015-2016

CONGRATULATIONS PP M.R. AND WELCOME AG MARK RENIER CATAHAY to the ALL STAR TEAM! 

 

(Photos taken from the last regular meeting of Pres. M.R. by PP Sanny and PP Butch.)