Reach Within To Embrace Humanity

by MEGS S. LUNN

PP Lyndon, PDG Jason and Megs Lunn

Some 600 Rotarians from Zamboanga, Panay and Guimaras Islands, Negros Occidental participated in this year’s Rotary International District 3850 convention held last April 11-14, 2012 at the Kalantiao Hall, Sarabia Manor Hotel, Iloilo City with the theme – “Reaching Within to Embrace Humanity.”

The three-day conference brought Rotarians together to showcase their festival costumes and dances during the Opening Day and Fellowship Night at Plazuela De Iloilo, like the Dinagyang of Iloilo City, Hermosa Festival of Zambonga City, Masskara Festival of Bacolod City, Lami-Lamihan Festival of Basilan, Udyahan Festival of Kabangkalan, Patuyaw of Antique and Ati-Atihan Festival of Aklan. The second day was filled up with seasoned speakers invited from other districts, Rotary Got Talent, Ballroom competition and awards night. The third day was devoted for business meetings.

Speakers were former Isabela Governor Ma. Grace Cielo Padaca, the founder of Kaya Natin:  A movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership; PDG Dave M. Villanueva, currently the District Trainer of District 3850. Arizza Ann S. Nocum, the youngest among the speakers who is 17 years old and is the Administrator of Kristiyano-Islam Peace Library. She is currently taking up BS Engineering at UP Diliman, Q.C.; Mae Paner a.k.a. Juana Change is a political activist, a TV commercial film director and actor for stage, film and television.

Other speakers were Charter President of the Rotary Club of Centennial Quezon City -  Nominee Erlynda R. Mijares; Dr. Gilbert C. Vilela, the chief of Coronary Artery Disease Section of the Phil. Heart Center, Mr. Abner Tayco from RC Olongapo and is a Response Team Member of Shelter Box Disaster Relief Philippines;  MGen. Jose Mabanta, Jr. of the Philippine Air Force; Mr. Jesse Francis N. Rebustilllo, President of the Philippine Society for Training and Development and consultant of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. 

Meanwhile, the Rotarians spouses had also their own plenary session and program held separately on the last day of the conference with speakers like Ms Patricia Ann Chang Caro from Hawaii, a professional dancer, Polynesian teacher, choreographer & designer, and Ms. Esther Lou P. Altea from Illinois, USA who is now a volunteer social worker in the Good Shepherd Center for the Elderly in Binirayan Hills, San Jose, Antique. 

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog cordially greeted Rotarians and guests where he gave emphasis how the organization Rotary International have helped and is bridging the people to reach within through government partnerships, assisted by other NGO’s, too. Congressman Jerry Treñas, on the other hand, in his message, was amazed how the work of Rotary International brought about positive changes and motivated other businessmen and professionals to practice their professions considering The Four Way Test on truth, fairness to all concerned, building goodwill and better friendship, and benefits to all concerned.

RI President Kaylan Banerjee believes that in order to achieve anything in this world, a person has to use all the resources he can draw on. And the only place to start is with ourselves and within ourselves, thus, the theme “Reaching Within to Embrace Humanity.”

PDG Jason Chan of the Rotary of the Peak, Hongkong. was the representative of The Rotary International president Kaylan Banerjee. “I congratulate your District Governor Melvin Dela Serna for an outstanding year. You have been working extremely hard in particular with the production of one of the most updated and informed newsletters in the Asian Region sharing with you all the remarkable works of District 3850,” Chan said in his special message during the opening of the plenary session. 

A district conference is an annual meeting showcasing club and district activities. It is also a Rotary family event mixed with fellowship, and learning. It allows the participants to become more directly involved with the planning of the district’s future. It is at the district conferences where club can become even more aware of the ways in which Rotary is making the world a better place. /MP