ROTARACT: 41 YEARS OF MAKING DREAMS REAL

This article is written by DRR Cathy from District 3830 and lucky to be permitted by their IPDRR Joannie to post here:). It's really good still serving Rotaract after DRRship and maintain more than connection relationships.

This will be featured in Philippine Rotary Magazine come realease.

Here it goes.

ROTARACT: 41 YEARS OF MAKING DREAMS REAL
DRR Cathy Gonzales


















Kids and kids-at-heart are all smiles as the PROMIL mascot entertains them


March 13 is a red-letter day for young people worldwide who shared one thing in common - being proud Rotaractors. This day back in 1968, marks the birth of the first Rotaract Club in the world, the Rotaract Club of North Charlotte in North Carolina, USA.

The Philippines, together with a strong Rotaract movement across the globe, celebrated the 41st World Rotaract Week last March 9-15 with a bang. Rotaract District 3830 was handpicked by the Philippine Rotaract Multi-District Information Organization (MDIO) Representing Districts 3780, 3790, 3810, 3820, and 3830 to spearhead the week-long celebration.

RAC District 3830 started the week through an International Photo and Doll Collection Exhibit aptly titled “Children of Today – the Hope of Tomorrow” as it featured pictures of children from different parts of the country and of the world.

The exhibit, held at the SM Bicutan Activity Center Building A in Parañaque City, opened on March 9 with the presence of no less than RI D3830 Governor Boyet Limon himself. In his speech, Gov. Limon applauded the Rotaract Clubs efforts and emphasized that Rotaractors are the future Rotary. Also present during the opening ceremony were District Coordinating Chair Vhell Arias, District Interact Chair Jojo Josol, and District Rotaract Chair Lilibeth De La Cruz, along with Rotarians and Rotaractors from RI D3830 and D3810.

The exhibit which ran until March 12 became a very good venue to promote Rotary and Rotaract to the general public as most photos showed Rotaract clubs in action, heeding the call of RI Pres. D.K. Lee to MAKE DREAMS REAL for the world’s children.

It was hosted by the Rotaract Club of Parañaque East Paragon, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Paranaque East. On top of the preparations were RAC Pres. Angel Tejuco and D3830’s Director for International Service, IPP Aldrin Buelo. Providing vital support to them were the members of their sponsoring club headed by RC Parañaque East Pres. Alex Ty.

The featured photos were contributed by 28 Rotaract Clubs and 5 Rotary Clubs from 13 RI districts (7 local, 6 foreign). These clubs were:

Rotary Clubs of
1. Makati Central (D3830, Philippines)
2. Makati Legazpi (D3830, Philippines)
3. Parañaque East (D3830, Philippines)
4. Parañaque Metro (D3830, Philippines)
5. Freshwater Bay (D9450, Australia)

Rotaract Clubs of
1. Cubao (D3780, Philippines)
2. Timog (D3780, Philippines)
3. Metro Olongapo (D3790, Philippines)
4. Kalookan North (D3800, Philippines)
5. Roosevelt College System (D3800, Philippines)
6. Manila (D3810, Philippines)
7. Manila Metro (D3810, Philippines)
8. STI Makati (D3810, Philippines)
9. Calamba City – Letran (D3820, Philippines)
10. San Pedro (D3820, Philippines)
11. San Pedro South (D3820, Philippines)
12. Santa Rosa South (D3820, Philippines)
13. Tanauan (D3820, Philippines)
14. Makati (D3830, Philippines)
15. Makati Legazpi (D3830, Philippines)
16. Parañaque East Paragon (D3830, Philippines)
17. Parañaque Metro KAPWA (D3830, Philippines)
18. Parañaque Midtown FYO (D3830, Philippines)
19. SIBAMP (D3830, Philippines)
20. TUP Taguig (D3830, Philippines)
21. Cebu Fuente (D3860, Philippines)
22. Metro Cebu (D3860, Philippines)
23. Munting Pag-asa Davao (D3860, Philippines)
24. Montebelluna (D2060, Italy)
25. Bombay Hills South (D3140, India)
26. Lahore Garrison (D3270, Pakistan)
27. Lalitpur (D3292, Nepal)
28. Sao Paulo United Nations (D4610, Brazil)

Meanwhile, the exhibit also featured traditionally dressed dolls from Rotaract clubs locally and abroad. The collection was previously showcased during last year’s celebration of the 40th WRW. Dolls from the personal collection of DRC Lilibeth De La Cruz and, dolls in Filipino costumes, courtesy of the City Government of Parañaque, through the Livelihood Resource and Management Office were also displayed.

The week-long celebration culminated as soundly as its opening activity, when RAC D3830 had the 4th leg of its quarterly district feeding program for the 40 undernourished children of BF Homes, Paranaque City last March 13. The feeding program, adopted under the term of IPDRR Joannie Sitoy, was a project initiative of the Rotaract Club of Parañaque Metro – KAPWA, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Paranaque Metro.

This year’s Rotaract District Committee deemed it appropriate to continue the program in congruence to RI’s thrust of conducting anti-child mortality projects. The project also taught the mothers of its 40 beneficiaries (undernourished children aged 2-8) to prepare nutritious but affordable food through cooking demonstrations.

Held at BF Homes Gym, Phase 1, BF Homes, Parañaque City, the was activity well attended by 58 Rotaractors from 21 Rotaract clubs coming from 6 Philippine districts (3780, 3800, 3810, 3820, 3830, and 3860).

Lending their all-out support were Pilipinas-MDIO Chair Chock Encabo together with District Rotaract Representatives Megs Abarca (RI D3820), Virgil delos Santos (RI D3780), and Mark Arquiza (RI D3860). Visiting Rotaractor Teresa Yong of RAC Kota Kinabalu (RI D3310, Malaysia), who was being hosted by Philippine Rotaractors on the same week, also witnessed the event.

As a testament to their love and support to their Rotaractors, RI D3830 officers graced the event, among them were Rotary Academy Executive Director Sally Tongson and members of the Youth Service Committee –DCC Vhell Arias, DIC Jojo Josol, and DRC Lilibeth De La Cruz. Also in attendance were the ladies of RC Parañaque Metro, led by Pres. Brenda Hernandez.

The feeding program started with the usual admission of the beneficiaries, followed by a simple opening ceremony. Wyeth Philippines, Inc., a partner of the feeding program since 2nd quarter, treated the kids and kids-at-heart, to a thrilling dance number by the Promil mascot. A wet sampling of Promil Preschool Milk took place afterwards.

As the program continued, the children were separated from their mothers for the simultaneous activities. While the mothers listened to the lecture of Dr. Karen Galvan of the Parañaque City Health Office, while the children were busy with a film showing facilitated by RAC Manila Metro.

Then the usual cooking demonstration took on a different turn. Previously, RAC SIBAMP always did the demo for the mothers. This time, they prepared the recipe and ingredients but asked one of the mothers to actually demonstrate the cooking.

Meanwhile, the kids were still very busy having fun with all the games and prizes prepared for them by RAC Makati. Helping them were their big brothers and sisters from RAC Parañaque Midtown FYO, Bgy. Pitogo, Parañaque Southeast, TUP Taguig, and Tramo Dos.

Before the activity ended, Rotaractors distributed their gifts for the kids such as the loot bags from Wyeth and additional giveaways like toothbrush, cologne, crayons and coloring books, and toys donated by RAC Makati Edsa, San Beda College- Alabang, YMNP, Manila, and D3780. Meanwhile, refreshments were shared by Districts 3800 and 3820.

There was no doubt that the overflowing generosity touched the hearts of the beneficiaries. It was bittersweet as the mothers and the kids thanked the Rotaractors, especially those from D3830, who have been with them every quarter for the past year.

Nothing was really extravagant about how the Philippine Rotaractors celebrated 41st World Rotaract Week, but what made the week-long celebration a success is the “happy” feeling it brought not only to the lives of the beneficiaries but also the satisfaction it gave to the Rotaractors.

Next year is another year to make simple dreams real. Rotaractors will always be ready and willing to share their time, talents and treasures to those who are in need most.