Ang Magiting - The Official Web Site of Rotary Club Makati North

Rotary is Love

By: Spouse Daisy dela Torre
Feb. 16, 2011

Post Valentine and Rotary Anns’ Day was an experience of affinity and a reminder of why Rotarians continue to be Rotarians. Because Rotarians make a difference in the lives of others, and their Anns are true partners in serving others.

PRID Paing Hechanova generously made time to be with the club he formed almost 38 years ago. He recounts that the club only needed 25 members to form the club so it is propitious that PDG Ato Magadia was pulled in at the last minute to be the 26th charter member by his good friend Ces Catalan. PDG Ato is the only remaining Charter member in RCMN. RCMN received its charter papers only 3 weeks after submission, a speed unusual at that time. It’s original meeting venue was the Aberdeen Court, a Chinese restaurant where food was served in food warmers making it an attraction on top of the lively camaraderie among RCMNers which continued even after RCMN transferred to Manila Peninsula. But more than this PRID Paing recalls how RCMN has touched many lives with their many service projects.

PRID Paing also shared what he saw some milestones in the history of Rotary:

1. The growth and internationality of Rotary to 200 countries and geographical regions, and over 1.3 million Rotarians in 33,000 clubs which include the first Rotary Club in the Philippines and in Asia: RC Manila in 1919 and the latest one in Palestine.

2. The Rotary Foundation – pushed by and constituted by Arch Klumph (RI President in 1917) who foresaw that for Rotary to continue its service projects, it needed to find a way for continuous financial sourcing. TRF’s story is not about money but of lives changed and the unselfish volunteer service of Rotarians. He encouraged every Rotarian to se aside $100 annually to contribute to the TRF or P90 every week to help save lives.

3. The global 3-H Program focusing projects on Health, Hunger and Humanity where the Philippines served as a pilot project – the use of tetanus vaccines in collaboration with the Department of Health Secretaries. Its success was instrumental in the RI decision to have the 1st 3H project with the mass polio immunization of 6 million children in the Philippines in 1980-1983. An interesting sidelight included the encounter with then First Lady Imelda Marcos.

4. The eradication of Polio which had its beginnings in the Philippines found itself launched as a global project and as of now, from 136 countries endemic to Polio, only 4 are still afflicted: India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. Partnering in this effort to complete eradication of polio is Bill Gates whose US$255 donation is being matched by TRF by 2012.

5. The opening of membership to women in Rotary in 1989. Today while women account for 15% of membership, women are holding more than 50% in club and district leadership positions.

6. The establishment of long term vision for Rotary thru the RI Strategic Planning process to ensure that Rotary can act with consistency, credibility and continuity. It has brought the goals to 3: strengthen clubs, increase service to the community and improve public image.

PRID Paing is now envisioning the possibility of the Philippine hosting the RI Convention in 2019, on the 100th year of Rotary in the Philippines. He is hoping that younger Rotarians will take up the cudgels for this project and create this milestone for Rotary in the Philippines. That is truly an exciting and inspiring project that Philippine Rotarians can pursue.