5th PHILIPPINE DRRS’ TRAINING IN LA UNION, A RESOUNDING SUCCESS!

5th PHILIPPINE DRRS’ TRAINING IN LA UNION, A RESOUNDING SUCCESS!
by: PDRR Devie Ontolan, Founding Chair – MDIO Pilipinas (Rotaract Club of Cubao, D3780) for devie-on-rotaract.blogspot.com

This year’s 5th District Rotaract Representatives (DRRs) Training was held in La Union last May 30-31, 2009. The event is an annual exclusive gathering and training for Rotaract district leaders and organized by the Multi-District Information Organization (MDIO) – Pilipinas. The training is a major and official event of MDIO-Pilipinas representing Districts 3780, 3790, 3810, 3820, 3830. Districts 3800 and 3860 are now in line for MDIO inclusion and RI’s approval.

An outstanding 8 out of 10 Philippine districts participated this year. District Rotaract leaders came from south to north; from RI D3770 Rotaract Club of Tuguegarao down to RI D870 Rotaract Club of South Cagayan De Oro and Rotary Club of South.
Districts and clubs participated were: RI D3770 RAC Tuguegarao (DRRE Brylle Atienza),RI D 3780 RAC Balintawak and RC Timog (DRR Virgil Delos Santos and incoming DRC Roby Montellano), RI D3790 RAC La Trinidad (DRRE Mealey Ann Pinas), RI D3810 RAC Manila (DRRE Izel Guatno and DRR Charlie Chua), RI D3820 RAC Santa Rosa and RAC Lucena South (DRRE Arelene Bacalla and DRR Megs Abarca), RI D3860 RAC Cebu South (DRRE Rail Letogio) and RI D3870 RAC South Cagayan De Oro and RC South (DRRE Kim Libutaque and incoming DRC Nharz Tan).

Incumbent MDIO executive officers led the success of the event headed by Chair Melchor Encabo of RAC Manila (RI D3810) and Secretary Joannie Sitoy of RAC YMNP (RI D3830).

Pioneering MDIO officers present to assist and guide in different roles were founding Chair Devie Ontolan of RAC Cubao (RI D3780), founding Secretary and now Rotarian Mhon Brazas of RC San Pedro East (RI D3820) and founding Treasurer Rhosenie Villanueva of RAC Manila Metro (RI D3810).

No other than the RI D3790’s District Governor Elect Oyan Villanueva served as the key guest speaker. He emphasized the coming RI Thrust, “The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands”. He also inspired the young district leaders on “Effective Leadership through Organized District Committee”.

Other distinguished speakers were incoming RI D3790 District Secretary Linda Winter for “Protocol and District Programs”, RI D 3800 incoming Rotary Club President / PDRR Paolo Rivera on “DRRs’ Roles and Responsibilities”, and RI D 3820 incoming District Rotaract Chair / PDRR Mhon Brazas for “Enhancing Rotary-Rotaract Relationship”.

The training equipped incoming DRRs a broader perspective on their roles and responsibilities. The training also provided an avenue on how to handle challenges and issues they will face as RY 2009-10 DRRs. This included issue like enhancing Rotary and Rotaract relationship both at the district and club levels. The training also tackled how to act, speak and down to how to dress appropriately as part of DRRs’ “packaging”.

A unique addition to this year’s training was the District Rotaract Chair (DRC) or Rotarians group as participants. DRCs from RI D3780, 3820 and 3870 truly added a wider and deeper scope on “Rotarians’ Forum on Rotaract”. The DRCs’ group was facilitated by Rotaract veteran / Past President of Rotary Lucban from RI D3820.
Incoming District Rotaract Chair (DRC) Roby Montellano of Rotary Club of Timog represented RI D3780 in the Rotarians group. He shared that time is what he thinks lacking from Rotary side to assist ROTARACT to fully grow. This can be justified with Rotarians really can’t catch up the many energy demanding and over 10:00PM Rotaract activities, with numerous Rotary events on the side. In response, he devised a “team” strategy where he will not be alone as DRC but will be of four to five members under the “Rotarians Youth Team”. The great example was the MDIO DRRs’ Training coincided with RI D3780’s Rotary DISTAS. DRC / Dr. Roby participated in La Union training while the other “Rotarians Youth Team” members attended the DISTAS. It is like multiplying their presence so they can better represent, address and assist all possible Rotaract concerns and activities.

According to incoming DRC Nharz Tan of Rotary South (RI D3870), “The MDIO should be able to reach out to help increase Rotaract awareness of the 10 Philippine Rotary districts”. Tapping the council of Rotary Club Presidents and increasing their Rotaract knowledge were just some of his important points.
PDRR Devie served as Election Committee Chair. DRR Megs Abarca of RI D 3820 won as the RY 2009-10 MDIO Chair.

This 2009 DRRs’ Training was hosted by RI D3780 and chaired by its District Rotaract Representative Virgil Delos Santos. Teambuilding, swimming at the pool and beach, and hopping around the pottery shops in La Union were part of edutainment DRRs’ training.