Serving one’s community is an honor that each Rotarian is proud to do. However, this doesn’t limit the Rotarian’s capacity to contribute for the betterment of the rest of the world.

This February, the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro joins the Rotary international in promoting the importance of being one with the world in spite of cultural differences and vast distances between countries. This month we celebrate the World Understanding Month.

All Rotary chapters have a reputation of being active in giving assistance and promoting growth in their respective local communities. On the other hand, Rotarians shouldn’t forget that each of them is part of a greater international community. The Rotary International dedicates the month of February for the promotion of international peace and understanding through the simple act of communication.

This month, Rotary Clubs are encouraged to invite foreign speakers and guests to come and share about their respective cultures. This is also the perfect time for the Rotaracts to participate in the Rotary Youth Exchange program and live briefly in another country to better experience and understand their culture.

Understanding and friendship are simple, intangible, yet very strong elements of peace. In line with the Fourth Object of the Rotary, take the initiative to develop friendships around the world. This is a small step which, if everyone takes as well, can lead towards the bigger goal of attaining international peace.

Rotary International Anniversary Celebration

This is also a doubly special month for the global Rotary community. On February 23, 2012 the Rotary International will celebrate its 107th anniversary.

The Rotary Club was founded in San Francisco by Paul P. Harris. He and three others, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele and Hiram Shorey, were the world’s very first Rotarians. Twenty years later this club of four had expanded into a very large international community spanning six continents.

“Service Above Self”

From being an organization that fosters friendships within its members and offers support to each of them in terms of social and professional realms, it also expanded its goals to have a more worldly and constructive purpose: offering their skills and resources in service of communities in need. At present there are Five Avenues of Service that has been the organization’s guide in undertaking activities and projects aimed towards serving the Rotary, each chapter’s local community, and the world at large.

Sec. Ben Elio

The Governor’s Monthly Letter indicated the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro achieving the highest percentage of attendance in meetings in District 3870.  This is so due to the fact that Rotarians of RCCDO enthusiastically put into practice their responsibilities of attending weekly club meetings and participating in local club activities.  The club on the other hand, did not fail to acknowledge the feat of these Rotarians:

100% Physical Attendance for the Month of September, 2011

1. PAG Manny Aliñabon
2. AG Manny Along
3. VP FerdieBernasor
4. PAG Sammy Blanco
5. Rtn. Henry Cay-As
6. Dir. Julius Dulfo
7. Sec. Ben Elio
8. Rtn. IggyGamba
9. Dir. Popo Juarez
10. Pres. Ian Nacaya
11. PE Mar Paano
12. Dir. JJ Ramnani
13. Rtn. Elmer Robas
14. Rtn. Gerry Rosales
15. PAG ChitoSarraga
16. Rtn. Mark Zinski

100% Attendance with Make-up for the month of September, 2011

1. Past Sec. Alvin Benasa
2. Past Dir. Danny Camat
3. Past VP John De Cleene
4. Rtn. AcmadEslamlou
5. PAG RicGabaon
6. PP DudiLagrosas
7. Rtn. Rey Lomarda
8. Rtn. Gus Rodano
9. PAG John Mark Sarraga
10. IPP DietmarSchug
11. Treas. Vince Valencia

100% Physical Attendance for the Month of October, 2011

1. Dir. Bert Acut
2. AG Manny Along
3. VP FerdieBernasor*
4. Dir. Julius Dulfo
5. Sec. Ben Elio*
6. PP Joe Gonzaga
7. PP DudiLagrosas
8. Pres. Ian Nacaya*
9. PE Mar Paano*
10. Dir JJ Ramnani*
11. PVP Maxi Seno
12. Treas. Vince Valencia
13. PP Billy Walter
14. Rtn. Mark Zinski

100% Attendance with Make-up for the month of October, 2011

1. AG Manny Aliñabon
2. PP Jun Bella
3. PS Alvin Benasa
4. PAG Sammy Blanco
5. Rtn. Danny Camat
6. PAG Tony Dela Cruz
7. PAG RicGabaon
8. Dir. Popo Juarez
9. Rtn. Rey Lomarda
10. Rtn. Ariel Pontillas
11. Rtn. Gus Rodan
12. Rtn. Gerry Rosales
13. PAG ChitoSarraga

1st quarter (July-Sept. 2011) 100% physical attendance:

1.PAG Manny Aliñabon
2.VP FerdieBernasor
3.Sec. Ben Elio
4.Dir. Popo Juarez
5.Pres. Ian Nacaya
6.PE Mar Paano
7.Dir. JJ Ramnani

Pres. Ian Mark Q. Nacaya

Last week’s regular meeting of our club was graced with the presence of Assistant Governor Edong Espirito who was also our speaker on the current events of District 3870. He expressed his appreciation to our club for being responsive to the call of the District Officials and for fielding a candidate for a District Governor Nominee RY 2014-2015. He wished our suggested DGN, Assistant Governor Manny Along success, especially on this month’s selection.

‘Bring home the bacon’ future Governor Manny Along!

Our meeting had a spark reaction amongst the members upon knowing that our Rotary Anns had to transfer to another place after they were asked by the VIP management to use the glass room in the ground floor since bigger groups had to take their monthly meeting venue. Each year at the start of a new Board’s term, we always remind the management of the Hotel to make available the Casa Real every Thursday lunch time. However, often times we had to go down to the mezzanine floor to give way to bigger occupants at Casa Real. We understand the reason of the management. It’s a business decision.

However, some of our members would like to address this concern as to the regular meeting place of our club. A few had been recommended for the Board to see and observe as our new club’s venue. Our Board will take appropriate steps following considerable consultations with our fellow Rotarians and assessment of the present and future club meeting needs.

We are also taking a serious look at the proposal of PAG Chito Sarraga that we all make experimental review of the suggested venues by holding our meetings in these places. Thank you all for telling us your thoughts on this matter.

On the lighter side, our Rotary Anns had decided to hold our Christmas Party on December 10, 2011 (a Saturday) at the residence of PD Tony & Ann PP Malou de la Cruz in Barangay Bulua. The party theme is ‘winter wonder land.’ This suggests that we all wear the color of snow or a shade of such. A beautifully thought of party concept. Thanks to you, our Anns for a speedy decision and for making our work lighter. As to the 2nd quarter fellowship group of our club, please coordinate closely with our Anns officials in the preparation of the Christmas program.

We would like to thank the dedication and commitment of Director Jj Ramnani to the regular feeding program of our club in Barangay Mambuaya. Same expression of appreciation goes to his wife, Ann Luz for doing the monthly preparation of the food and refreshment we are giving to the kids in the hinterland barangay. Both of them were ably assisted by PD Dexter Bandera – thanks a lot!

We would like to thank our program coordinator in the last week’s meeting, PD Gus Rodano who was an instant substitute to the assigned task. We also express our gratitude to the other program participants: PD Ronnie Apdian, PD Jun Hipona, Treasurer Vince Valencia, PAG Manny Alinabon & PD Tony de la Cruz for a duet number, Secretary Ben Elio, and Rotarian Anton Padilla for teaching us the other meaning of ‘MANPOWER’ services. – hehe —

On this meeting, we shall be announcing our club’s forthcoming activities: turn-over of the San Simon Water System Project, December 2011 Elections, and Zone 1 TRF seminar on the 19th day of this month.

Let us pay the good fortune, blessings forward!

Sec. Ben Elio

The Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro has just concluded another signature project.  Now on its 4th time in 3 years of holding a cataract-extraction operation mission in the island of Camiguin, the latest mission held last Saturday, Nov. 5, benefited 39 patients bringing the total number of beneficiariestodate to 133.  Spearheaded by Assistant Governor Manny Along with his lovely Ann PP Biema, he was joined in the recent mission by PAG Dr. Carlo and Ann Monet Romero, Sec. Ben and Ann VP Jessica Elio, Treas. Vince and Ann Pam Valencia, Pres. Elect Mar and Ann Ophie, Past Secretary Alvin Benasa, Rtn. Sonny Tiro and Dir. JJ Ramnani.PAG Dr. Carlo was ably supported by Drs. Tito Dejos and Lamatan.

Incidentally, the mission chairman, AG Manny Along, is the club’s nominee for District Governor for RY 2011-2012.  Being new to the club, your Secretary, in his excitement to belong to a club who will hopefully have another DG, tried to research from RI website to verify AG Manny’s eligibility for the position of district governor, and found out the following:

A Rotarian, to be eligible for the position of District Governor, must

• Be a member in good standing of a functioning club in the district

• Have served as president of a club for a full term, or as president of a charter club from the date of the charter to 30 June, for a period of at least six months

• Demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to fulfill the duties outlined in the RI Bylaws, section 15.090

• Have completed seven years of membership at the time of taking office

AG Manny, in my personal opinion, possesses all the qualifications.  Therefore, what I heard about point system, is an “unwritten” rule, which, just like in applying for a job vacancy, some employers would indicate the word”preferably”, meaning, an advantage for an applicant but not necessarily required.

Our best wishes AG Manny on your interview come Nov. 18, 2011.

Pres. Ian Mark Q. Nacaya

From the time the previous Rotary Board in 2009 had accepted the proposal of AG Manny Along for the Club to sponsor eye-cataract extractions project in Camiguin Island, such medical mission has become an avenue for medical doctors and Rotarians to reach out and help the less privileged people.

On the 5th day of November, the club headed by our recommended DGN for 2014-2015 facilitated the operations of forty cataract patients. We are most thankful of the usual support and voluntarism of Dr./PAG Carlo Romero, Dr. Tito Dejos & Dr. Lamatan and the nurses who gave their time and expertise to improve the eye sights of the mission beneficiaries. The club team was composed by AG Manny & Biema Along, PAG Carlo & Ann PP Monet Romero and their son John Paul, Secretary Ben & Ann President Jessica, Treasurer Vince &  Ann Pam Valencia and their kids, PS Alvin Benasa & his son Miguel, IP Mar & Ann Ophie and daughter Trina, Director Jj Ramnani, and Rotarian Sonny Tiro.

To all of you, who shared your time and resources to help our ‘paisano’ in Camiguin, please accept our heartfelt thanks.

Last week, thirty nine of us attended the club weekly meeting. The latest entertainment portion of the program suggested by our Secretary changed the room atmosphere with group members assigned to table numbers all wishing for their time to do choral presentation… hehehe..  thanks to the first group for sharing your singing prowess. Kindly take note Mr. Entertainment Committee Chair to enlist in the future program Director Bobby Elango to do a solo number.

The talk of IPP Dietmar Schug was very enlightening. It enthuse our desire to be one amongst the Rotarians in the International Community who gave contributions to TRF to help change the lives of many through the services of R.I.

While we are still on a TRF month, we ask the ‘second group for quarterly fellowship’ organized by Vice President Ferdie Bernasor to start its planning for the December-Christmas Program. Several suggestions are being proposed by our fellow Rotarians which are worth evaluating and looking into to stir bigger interest and participation.

If it is not taking so much time in the program, we include the awarding of top Rotarian-pairs who gave Rotary meetings in the first six months their priority.

The Saturday hataw at the Bonifacio Park was a great success with more than forty five attending the weekly exercise. About 16 of them were from PAG John Mark Sarraga’s area that were gathered and brought by Ann PP Ching Sarraga as the 1st week starters Team Leader of our Rotary Anns. Thanks to you, PAG John Mark & Ann PP Ching for your usual support to our community program.

May I thank our program coordinator in the last week’s meeting, PAG Manny Alinabon who was an instant replacement and for sharing jokes from his phone in-box. We also express our gratitude to the other program participants: PD Tony de la Cruz, PD Stallin Baguio, Rotarian Sonny Tiro, PE Mar Paano, IPP Dietmar Schug, and Secretary Ben Elio.

On this meeting, we shall be assisted by our club officers who will be doing table hopping for TRF support and seeking your cooperation for the 1st semester-ending activities.

Let us pay the good fortune, blessings forward!