PRESIDENT'S TIMEBy Pastor Mar Reyes
| President’s Message No. 14 |
| UNBROKEN IN SPIRIT |
Many of us suffered in the hands of Ondoy. Yet we did not miss a step in coming to the aid of some of those who need help the most. The day following the wake of Ondoy’s fury, we gave reliefs goods to families in Sapamanay in North Fairview, through Agnes Abad (widow of the late Rtn. Manny Abad) who turned her Asian Health Care Institute into an evacuation center to some 28 displaced families. Later in the day, we gave assistance to families in the neighborhood of Tita Baby Millado in nearby Greater Fairview where IWC’s Hardin ng Buhay used to be.
On Tuesday, we donated SFDM’s share of used clothes and canned goods in the District’s efforts. On Wednesday, our club distributed food bags (3 kilos of rice plus canned goods each) to some 215 families in a devastated barangay (along a creek) in Greater Fairview, organized and supervised by our member, Brgy. Captain Jonel Quebal.
I may miss out some, but I have to acknowledge those who donated: the IWC of SFDM, PP Arnold and IWC PP Armi Guerrero, EIC Noel Babaran, Club Sec Bon and spouse Ingrid Tagum, PP Louie Lopez, Docs Manny and Nits Po, PN Ronnie and IWC Prez Soc Yap, PE John Simon, Gov Spouse City Morales and PP Butch Javier, Joseph Hung, Doc Benny and Spouse Glenda Fragante, Alphan and Runnex Prez Rudy Fernandez, Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity, Rod Banag, PP Paeng and IWC PDC Tess Arcega, our sister clubs RC Urdaneta East and RC Tuguegarao Citadel, friends of Docs Manny and Nits Po, my client Prosperity and Credit Resource Corporation, PP Danny and spouse Delia Tuazon and many more. Thank you all for your generous and compassionate hearts!
Another report will be submitted accounting specifically each donation. I am touched, too, by the gesture of our sister clubs mentioned above for their cash donations.
With the money that came in and goods donated since yesterday, we plan to have relief operations in our own adopted barangays in San Antonio and Del Monte. If more donations come in, we will continue with our relief operations.
The sight of devastation is heart-rending. The “eyes” and “faces” of hundreds of seemingly hopeless souls make you wonder how all these can be happening. Government was a failure in terms of warning and rescue. Relief operations are more from the private sector. Where did all the flood taxes go?
I am glad that there are organizations like Rotary. The scale of help may not be as extensive as we want, but in our own little way, we give hope especially to those who are not within easy sight of government relief operations. We give to the real intended beneficiaries out of our own heart and desire to do “Service Above Self.”
Oct. 4 MSU Mission in Guiguinto
We will continue with our surgical, dental, medical and legal missions in Guiguinto, Bulacan on October 4, Sunday. I again implore my fellow Rotarians, spouses and IWC members to join us and help.
It is with more reason that we have to do these missions. I am sure a lot more became sick because of Ondoy. And even if it now pains our own pockets, may I request some donations in cash to buy more medicines and essentials for the medical, dental and surgical missions. Our partners had to deal with the immediate needs of their own flood victims; thus, we have to augment.
One Member-One Friend
Let me reiterate our program of getting the club to be 100-strong by the end of this Rotary year. We have set a vision of strength, excellence and leadership. With the scale of projects and things we want to do in Rotary, we need to have more quality Rotarians in our midst, to help us push this great club to loftier heights. Our sight – its 50th Founding Anniversary in RY2020-2021. By that time, we celebrate as the biggest and most effective club in the District.
1st QCIM
The QC Government and Runnex decided to continue with the event on October 18, 2009. Their rallying cry in marathon is: the triumph of the human spirit against insurmountable odds. And so we have to mount a saturating drive to get the clubs to join. We have to exert a lot of effort because everyone has been diverted due to Ondoy.
I suggest a change in the paradigm, from Fun Walk to - Walk for a Cause, for the flood victims; and the registration fee reduced. I call the Committee I created, PE John, Dr. Benny and Club Sec. Bon to work double time and visit the clubs to make a pitch. There is practically no more time left.
Program for CICLs
We are set with ACAY to do more projects. First, we are planning to train our lawyers and NTSB social workers the nuances of the law, so we become more effective. Second, we are joining and sponsoring the Round-Table-discussions on December 3, 2009 with judges, prosecutors and other stakeholders, to identify ways and means to expedite CICLs cases. I need the club lawyers to attend these activities.
Meanwhile, I will assign cases to our club lawyers and plan implementation of our “Rotary Center for Justice.” Compañeros, please help.
Update Club Dues and Other Assessments
I have to repeat my calls to update our dues and other assessments to get our financial position sufficient to keep our club going, especially with the projects that still have to be implemented. We are on high-gear and “fuel” is needed to keep the desired pace.
My thanks and congratulations to all my Clubmen! We are doing great. SFDM is becoming a well-oiled machine! Let’s strive to sustain the good work!
God bless to one and all! The future of Rotary is in Your Hands!
