“慶祝扶輪”開放論壇“Celebrate Rotary” Open Forum

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CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF ROTARY, THE MAKATI WEST WAY 

By PDG Guiller E. Tumangan

RC Makati West – District 3830

The Rotary Club of Makati West, having just celebrated its 35^th Year Anniversary, is a club synonymous with dedication, commitment and generosity.  Through good and bad times, it has been in the forefront of numerous community, vocational, international and youth service projects either as stand-alone projects or jointly with other Rotary clubs or non-government agencies. 

The Rotary centennial year showcased new and innovative projects under the leadership of president Larry Ocampo and his board, with sound advice from the Club’s four past District Governors, Jun Tambunting, Tony Rufino, Oskie de Venecia and Guiller Tumangan. 

On Wednesday, February 23, 2005, a group of Makati West Rotarians and their Anns boarded a bus at 9:00AM at the Fort in Taguig.  They were joined by a delegation of Rotarians and Anns from the Rotary Clubs of Coimbatore Midtown, Coimatore East and Salem Midtown in India.  It was a lively bus ride that enabled everyone from getting bored as fellowship, good humor and photo opportunities prevailed through the hour long trip.  The group proceeded to Philippine General Hospital in Manila to kick off (no pun intended) the Libre Paa – Lakad (Walk Free project) by distributing 100 artificial limbs to the amputees. 

The Walk Free project seeks to provide 250 artificial limbs to amputees and other disabled individuals all over the country.  Three technicians were sent to the Philippines from India to measure and create the prosthetics for the project beneficiaries.  Also in attendance for the Jaipur prosthesis project were representatives from RC Makati West, Makati-Ayala, Coimbatore Midtown, Coimbatore East, Salem Midtown, Bacolod Central as well as Philippine General Hospital Director Carmelo Alfiler and Dr. Sharm Ignacio, Chairman of the Dept. of Rehab Medicine and sixteen other physicians.  Also present were the representatives from the Indian Embassy and the Mohaveer Foudation. 

The group proceeded to go to the Zamboanga Restaurant in order for our guests from India to savor Filipino cuisine and to conduct a regular Makati West meeting.  While there, RC Makati West unveiled its Gift of Life Project. Dr. Mon Diaz, a member of the Club and a heart surgeon introduced our first recipient, Vandre Serafico, a two-year-old boy diagnosed with a hole in his heart.  Since his operation last December, Vandre has gained ten pounds and was the epitome of energy and spunk on the stage.  The Gift of Life, Makati West project was conceived with the generous support of Makati Medical Center, the Gift of Life Foundation of District 7230, and RC Elmsford of New York. 

Reports were also presented over lunch to update the membership on the extensive Centennial potable Water projects (23 deep well to be provided to different Barangays) we have that will give benefit to thousands of families in Quezon province and in the district.  Once again, these projects were done in partnership with District 3300 Malaysia thru Matching Grant project 23308. 

Updates were also given on the various medial missions conducted three times prior to the Centennial Celebration that range from optical, diabetic, hypertension, and general medicine to our communities. 

The third leg of the bus tour took the group to Hiyas ng Maynila, a Gawad Kalinga project of Couples for Christ.  The Gawad Kalinga seeks to build communities, not just houses for the poor, by enlisting their assistance in the construction of these houses, and providing pre-school services, livelihood programs, values formation, community awareness programs, and substance abuse rehabilitation, if necessary.  The Rotary Club of Makati West, together with the generous support of RC Sapporo West, Philippine Honorary Consul Kenichi and Ana Maria     Tobe of Sapporo (Japan),

RC de Grasse and RC de Grasse Amiral (France), RC Singapore West, RC Honolulu West (USA), RC Busan West (Korea) and RC de Princesse Pauline (France) will put

up 42 houses at a cost of P2.1 Million of US$38,000.00 for the needy. 

This cooperative coalition of international clubs from six countries will address some of the housing needs of the poor and the intention is to grow Gawad Kalinga and involve even more countries as we increase awareness of this very worthwhile project. 

While these projects highlighted today’s centennial celebration, there remain many more projects which the Rotary Club of Makati West has undertaken or will have to

Undertake.  As if the days worked is not yet enough, the Club’s current and incoming Directors with the club advisers met for dinner to plan for another project for the next Rotary Year.  Over dinner, they have discussed with William Magee-CEO from Virginia USA for the club to conduct Cleff/Palate/Harelip

operation in a continuing basis.  At day’s end, the group from Makati West and India while exhausted knew that it was a day well spent. 

With able leadership from wisdom and experience coupled with a heart that overflows with generosity, there is no task that is too daunting for Makati West Rotaians as it continues to actively serve the less fortunate in society and tries to build a better future for the next generation.  The journey has just barely begun and there are miles to go before we sleep but because of this day, the future looks a little brighter. 

The start of the next 100 Years Service.