DISTRICT GOVERNOR EMMA “EMS” NAVA VISITS RC ROXAS

District Governor Emma Nava of RI District 3850 for Rotary Year 2008-2009 will visit the Rotary Club of Roxas today. She arrived yesterday afternoon from Kalibo after her visit to the two Rotary Clubs of Aklan. She was accompanied by Zone 4 Assistant District Governor Carmelo “Mel” Deslate, who is incidentally a past president the Rotary Club of Roxas.
Governor Ems was met by the Rotary Club of Roxas headed by President Pip Acepcion at the Roxas City Arch in Barangay Baliwagan yesterday afternoon.
DG Ems with AG Mel , PP Reubin, President Pip, Director Leah, Assistant Director Bonnie and PP Mark with the welcome banner.
The district governor is set to visit the Rotary Club of Roxas during the club assembly at 6:45 PM today at the Rotary Center. Part of her itinerary is to visit the newly renovated day care center in Barangay Baybay, the mangrove reforestation area in Barangay Punta Cogon, and Olotayan Island, the proposed beneficiary of the PISO Project.
Members of RC Roxas during their relief operations in Olotayan; below, Rotarians Lovelle, Jo and Leah trying to navigate their way to Barangay Punta Cogon at the aftermath of typhoon Frank.
RC Roxas, together with Save Olotayan Foundation is also set to distribute school supplies to the elementary school students of Barangay Olotayan. The island is the lone island barangay of the City and was severely affected at the aftermath of Typhoon Frank. More than 95% of the houses were damaged, including their school. Presently, search and rescue operations are being done in the area for sunken fishing boats. Ninety one people remain missing as of this writing.

ABS-CBN ROXAS SAGIP KAPAMILYA DONATES 350 BOTTLES OF DISTILLED WATER TO RC ROXAS

ABS-CBN Roxas Manager Joanne Dadivas turned over 350 6-liter bottles of Wilkin’s distilled water to RC Roxas for the club’s relief operation in Aklan in a simple ceremonies at the Rotary Center. This is part of agip Kapamilya operations of the station in Panay Island. The goods were received by President Pip Acepcion and were immediately brought to Aklan for distribution through the Rotary Clubs of Kalibo and Metro Kalibo.
President Pip Acepcion formally acknowledging donations of ABSCBN Sagip Kapamilya from ABSCBN Manager Rtn Joanne Dadivas.
The bottles of water were turned over to President Megs Lunn of RC Kalibo and President Rod Solidum of RC Metro Kalibo during the former’s Induction at the Kalibo Rotary Center last Saturday.
The Rotary Club of Roxas has been an active partner of both Rotary Clubs in sending out help to the people of Aklan immediately after the destructions of the recent super typhoon.

PROJECT “LAPIS KAG PAPEL” CONDUCTED

564 students from four different elementary schools in the City were given free notebooks and pencils as part of the disaster rehabilitation program of the Rotary Club of Roxas. The activity was the brainchild of newly inducted Rotarian Chief Inspector Pancho dela Cruz of the Bureau of Fire Protection, and was spearheaded by Dr. Leah del Rosario, director for the club’s service projects.
Grades 1 and 2 pupils from Talon Elementary School, Punta Cogon Elementary School, Barra Elementary School and Libas Elementary School were identified beneficiaries, them being one of the hardest hit areas in the City of the recent super typhoon. It is also at these grade levels that the highest drop-outs are reported due to lack of food and school supplies.
In Barangay Talon, school structures remain dilapidated and the school principal voiced concerns on the lack of proper nutrition among her students. Many of them are reportedly going to school without food. The principal of Barangay Punta Cogon on the otherhand has resorted to asking for used notebooks from other better off public schools in the city to augment the lack of supplies in her area.
The Rotary Club of Roxas has sourced out funds from the donations extended for the relief operations after typhoon Frank. The club, however, wishes to extend more help by organizing feeding programs and facilitating sustainable livelihood to depressed areas in the City.

32nd National Milo Marathon Elimination Held in Roxas City

The Rotary Club of Roxas hosted for the fourth straight year the National Milo Marathon Elimination in Roxas City last Sunday, July 13, 2008. Even just a few weeks following the onslaught of the super typhoon, the club was able to muster 6,704 runners to run the 3K, 5K and 21K races. Past President and Protocol Officer Mark Ortiz was the club’s over all coordinator for the event.
Mayor Bermejo firing the starting gun with Pres Pip and a Nestle official
Roxas City Mayor Vicente “Vic” Bermejo fired the starting gun at exactly 6 o’clock in the morning beside the Roxas City Hall at the City Plaza.
21K winner Rene Desuyo at the top with Mayor Bermejo, PP MArk Ortiz, Pres Pip and a Nestle official
Rene Desuyo of Bago City, Negros Occidental won the 21-kilometer elimination for males, while Hanny Jean Delfin, a native of Roxas City, won the 21K elimination for women. Both, together with the other top 3 contenders will compete in the marathon finals on November 30 in Metro Manila.
One of the highlights of the marathon is the cheering competition for elementary and secondary schools. This year, Culasi Elementary School bested 6 other elementary schools in the City while, Tanque National High School bested the Filamer Christian College in the secondary schools competition. Judges in this years cheering competition were Rotarian Doctors Leah del Rosario, Cherry Anne Distor and Richie Olandres.
Judges of the cheering competition
The Capiz National High School won this year’s biggest delegation awards.
The awarding ceremonies were held at the Roxas City band stand with Mayor Bermejo, PP Mark Ortiz, RC Roxas President Pip Acepcion and Nestle officials headed by AVP Pat Goc-ong.
This yearly Milo Marathon is a continued partnership between Nestle and the Rotary Club of Roxas as part of the club’s avenue of vocational service.

FIRST SECTIONAL SEMINAR HELD

The Rotary Club of Roxas was able to muster the first ever sectional seminar on addressing the issue of child mortality just before the induction and turn-over ceremonies.
It was a luncheon symposium held at the Provincial Health Office Conference Room attended by members of the Rotary Clubs of Roxas, Metro Roxas, Metro Roxas Central, and Kalibo. Several Municipal Health Officers were also in attendance. There was a very good exchange of ideas among the participants with our resource person Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan.

45TH INDUCTION OF OFFICERS AND TURN OVER CEREMONIES HELD

The 45th Induction and Turn-Over Ceremonies were held last July 5, 2008 in a formal ceremony at the Hall of Governors. The affair was very well attended by other Rotary Clubs in the City as well as from Aklan, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.
Rotary VIPs who graced the occasion were Past District Governor Phil Abello, who was inducting officer the night, Assistant District Governor Dr. Carmelo Deslate, District Secretary Bill dela Fuente, Past President and District Officer Louie Gonzaga, District Director for Fellowship and President of RC Kalibo Megs Lunn, President of RC Metro Kalibo Rod Solidum, President of RC Central Iloilo Richard Angeles, President Nonoy Contreras of RC Metro Roxas, and President Chit Noche of RC Metro Roxas Central.
Guest of Honor, former Health Secretary Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan delved on the thrust of the Rotary International President DK Lee of reducing Under 5 mortalities. He stressed the point that Rotarians in Region 6 should take extra effort in improving maternal health through health education inorder to lower infant mortalities. The region is incidentally on the red line as far as infant mortalities are concerned, which is above the 40% national average.
The Rotarians and guests partied ‘til the wee hours of the morning, enjoying each others fellowship. With overflowing drinks, some jammed with the live band and even extended the party at the Chill bar, owned and managed by Rotarian Rey Fuentes where people sang their hearts out in a very lively videoke party until 4 AM the next day!
The Rotary Club of Roxas is definitely off with a big bang and hopefully will be together in their pursuit of making dreams real for the children of the world.

RC ROXAS MEMBERSHIP NOW 41

Ten new young and quality members of varied professional classifications were inducted to the Rotary Club of Roxas during the 45th Induction and Turn-Over Ceremonies held last July 5, 2008 at the Hall of Governor’s of the Capiz Provincial Capitol. This makes the clubs membership grow to 41 which, according to President Pip Acepcion, is past their quota for 2009.
The new members inducted include Board Member Raymund Locsin of the 1st District of Capiz, pediatrician allergologist/immunologist Dr. Cherry Anne Distor, , Petroleum distributor and the son or past district governor Gabi Viterbo Mr. Mati Viterbo, pediatric orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richie Olandres, Printing Press Owner and Manager Mr. Raymund Malapajo, Chief Superintendent Pancho de la Cruz of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Printing Press Part Owners and Manager Gabi Ignacio and Trina Almalbis-Ignacio, brilliant young and upcoming lawyer Atty. Albert Potato, and Insurance Company Manager Mr. Gudz Gudin.They were inducted by President Pip Acepcion, as his first official responsibility for his term. The charging of new members were done by no less than the District Secretary Bill de la Fuente

TYPHOON FRANK RELIEF OPERATIONS: An Extraordinary Display of "Service Above Self"

The recent super typhoon Frank caught the island of Panay off guard and has claimed hundreds of lives, left thousands homeless, and has placed most areas in severe disaster. While the country’s official weather bureau is reporting that the typhoon’s course will not hit land, strong wind and almost 24 hours of rainfall, flood and mud wrecked havoc to the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo and Aklan, with the latter two receiving the worst blow.

In Capiz, about 90% of houses in the coastal areas were destroyed, several municipalities were flooded including some barangays in the outskirts of the city. Electric power was gone for about 2 days in the city proper due to several fallen trees and electric posts.

The day after the typhoon, text messages were circulated by incoming service projects director Leah del Rosario and incoming secretary Raoul Bermejo coordinating on a possible relief operations and just before sunset, we found ourselves braving the knee-deep flood to barangay Punta Cogon, barangay Dumolog and Cogon bringing with us rice, noodles, sardines and bread. The next day, some 10 Rotarians went to distribute goods to barangay Barra and Libas, despite the hardly passable roads due to several fallen trees and light posts along the way.

Treasurer and incoming sec Raoul was a bit worried about our club’s finances at launching relief operations, but the Rotarians persisted by chipping in money just to give aid to those in need. On the first day of operations, we had a total of 16000 pesos cash including pledges and in a matter of two days, donations swelled to reach around 100,000 pesos excluding donations in kind.

The Rotary Club of Roxas also went to the island barangay of Olotayan where the destruction in terms of infrastructures were at its worst. Along with GMA Kapuso, and the Capiz Medical Society, we were able to distribute three bags of goods per family.

President Rod Solidum of RC Metro-Kalibo got in touch with the club asking for support since Aklan was heavily affected. We sent an initial help of 10 5-gallon drinking water, and in two days, a group of Rotarians, on board a firetruck, went to bring a truckload of potable drinking water to Numancia, the town of President Megs of RC Kalibo, and to Kalibo through President Rod Solidum. Last Monday, another group of Rotarians from RC Roxas brought another firetruck-load of drinking water and 300 bags of food stuff which were distributed through the local Rotary clubs in the area. It was a painful sight to see people from all walks of life getting in line to avail of free goods of what should have been their basic necessity – water and food.

“Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage”, as the old adage goes. Typhoon Frank definitely has shown the extraordinary character of the members of the Rotary Club of Roxas… of selfless service and social responsibility.

45TH INDUCTION AND TURN-OVER CEREMONIES OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF ROXAS TONIGHT

The Rotary Club of Roxas will be holding its 45^th Induction of Officers and Turn-Over Ceremonies tonight at the Hall of Governors with former Health Secretary Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan as Guest of Honor.

Past District Governor Phil Abello will be the nights inducting officer. Other Rotarian VIPs coming are District Governor-Elect Edgar Sy, District Secretary Bill de la Fuente, Past President Louie Gonzaga, and the Presidents and incoming presidents of neighboring clubs.

Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan will talk on Strategies of Reducing Infant and Under Five Mortalities in a luncheon sectional seminar with the same title. This will be held at the Provincial Health Office-Capiz Conference Room in Arnaldo Boulevard. This will be on of the first of a series of workshops that is being planned by the club to help guide the new team of officers and directors of possible projects directed towards this thrust.

President Dong Kurn Lee the new Rotary International President has committed himself to projects geared towards reduction of Child Mortality, and he is urging all Rotary Clubs to work along this line.

IP Pip Meets With RC Waxahachie Texas and Warner Center Rotary, Los Angeles

IP Pip Acepcion was in the United States for almost the past 3 weeks for a convention but skipped the Rotary International Convention by just a few days. Instead, he met with individual Rotary Clubs along his way home!

Last June 29, IP Pip had a chance to meet with the Rotary Club of Waxahachie, Texas where he was welcomed by IP Edwin Farrar and some forty club members. It was the clubs regular lunch meeting at the Waxahachie Civic Center. IP Pip had a taste of authentic Mexican Food and was given a 5 minute chance to talk about the Rotary Club of Roxas and its activities. He was presented with the club's banner to bring home.

On June 3, IP Pip had a breakfast meeting with the Warner Center Rotary Club in Los Angeles California. It was a fairly young club, chartered 8 years ago, with a couple of younger members as well. Talking of a few incidental similarities, the Warner Center Rotary Club is also a recipient of 5 district awards during their district conference, foremost are their International service awards wherein they have partnered with several Rotary Clubs in the third world. IP Pip was welcomed by President Tina Wilinski and about 10 members including IP Andy Keowen. IP Pip again talked about RC Roxas and the audience were quite impressed with the present projects and future plans. They voiced out intentions to be closely working with RC Roxas for any partnerships, ie. matching grants. IP Pip was presented with a bag of roast coffee which was labeled Warner Center Rotary Blend. This is one of their fundraising projects that has raised funds for all their international undertakings. It costs $9 per pound.

Details of IP Pip's trip will be related to us personally when he gets back on June 10.

“I am happy for RC Roxas. She’s like the phoenix rising from the ashes! Really go go… recruit more young ones!”, says Incoming District Governor Emma

Incoming District Governor Emma Nava expressed elation after she received the report form on membership goals and Rotary Foundation fund development goal from RC Roxas.

Incoming President Pip Acepcion promised to come up with a net of 9 new members at the end of Rotary Year 2008-2009 and a contribution of at least $1000 to Rotary Foundation.

During the first club assembly, the membership has agreed to target a maximum of 40 quality members by the end of the next Rotary year which meant recruiting 7 new members and 2 more to replace Rotarians Erin and Anna who will be leaving the country at the end of this month.

RC Roxas Led By Rotarian Leah del Rosario Visits the Summer Interns At Their Workplaces

Incoming Service Projects Director Dr. Leah del Rosario, together with IP Pip, Rotarians Cheche, Jerry, and Anna, visited the Summer Interns today at their respective workplaces.

The interns are now on their first week of immersion and they seem to be very happy with their individual experiences.

1st Summer Internship Starts

Ten volunteer High School students joined RC Roxas’ first summer internship program last May 30, 2008. This activity is envisioned to give the graduating high school students a “peek” into their career paths by experiencing first-hand how it is to be working in the jobs of their choice.

Most of the volunteer students wanted to take up nursing courses, thus they were accommodated by Rotarian Dr. Mariz Gepilano at the City Health Office and by Incoming President Pip Acepcion at the Capiz Emmanuel Hospital. Other Rotarians who brought interns into their respective workplaces were Rotarian Chad del Rosario, Rotarian Rey Fuentes, PP Mark Ortiz, and Rotarian Dr. Stephen Casios.

Rotarian Jerry Lames provided the last minute orientation at the Rotary Center a few minutes before the start of the immersion. He also gave out identification cards for the interns to wear throughout the 10-day Program.

Today, several Rotarians are scheduled to go around their choice workplaces to check on how the interns are. The interns are also expected to be at the Rotary

meeting tonight to give feedback on how the program could still be improved and if there were loopholes along the way.

The Summer Internship Program is expected to end on May 13, 2008 in a simple ceremonies at PP Mark Ortiz’ SandBar in Baybay.

This year’s summer internship program is facilitated by Rtn Leah del Rosario.

Rotarian Jerry Lames Lectures To Members of the Business Chamber On Retirement Options In The City

Incoming Sergeant-at-arms Jerry Lames, himself a US retiree who used to work at Silicon Valley, lectured to members of the Business Sector of this city on the various retirement options. He related how he came to live in Capiz, and how the city captured his heart.

He was very emphatic when he tried to convince the business sector that Roxas City has a very good potential to be one of the retirement haven for foreigners. He enumerated 9 different reasons why Roxas City is a very ideal retirement place which includes having clean, potable water, friendly environment, and excellent health service institutions.

At the start of his lecture, he proudly introduced himself as a ROTARIAN and that he has noble intentions for the city. Rotarian Jerry Lames has in fact done a lot for the city already even surpassing what any Capizeno has done.

RC Roxas Graces Baybay Day Care Center Graduation Ceremonies

President Rommel Lastimoso and Incoming President Pip Acepcion gave inspirational messages to Barangay Baybay and Dumolog during the closing ceremonies of their day care centers last April 25, 2008.

Barangay Baybay day care center is the beneficiary of numerous day care materials and appliances from the Rotary International, and is the adopted day care center of the Rotary Club of Roxas.

Aside from the monthly family days conducted by RC Roxas family of Rotary, both President Rommel and incoming President Pip renewed their commitment in helping out with providing the day care center with clean drinking water and a classroom with a more conducive learning atmosphere.

The barangay officials present and Mam Margot, the day care teacher, were very grateful to RC Roxas for continually helping the maintenance and operation of their daycare center.

Summer Internship Program Launched

The Rotary Club of Roxas launched yesterday another flagship program for graduating high school students of the city. It is a 10-day summer internship program where graduating high school students will be given a chance to immerse in the profession that they would like to pursue with the supervision of a Rotarian.

This year, 10 high school students from different secondary schools in Roxas City, most of them Interact Club members, volunteered to experience this pioneer project. This is being facilitated by Rotarian Leah del Rosario, the incoming Service Projects Director

RC Roxas Partners With Roxas Midtown Hotel For Side A Concert

Roxas Midtown Hotel in partnership with RC Roxas is sponsoring the Side A band concert on May 17, 2008 at the Capiz Gymnasium. Entitled “Side A Live in Concert”, it was organized by Rotarian Rey Fuentes for the benefit of the health and education program of the Rotary Club of Roxas.

An agreed portion of the net profit of the concert will be used to fund the health and literacy program of the club for Rotary year 2008-2009. Tickets are being sold at 500, 300, and 150.

The Side A band started out in 1985, singing at hotel lounges and was accepted in the mainstream with hit records in 1989. They have captured a wide audience breaking all barriers between market classes and any music genre. It has been more than a decade now since they started and still one of the hottest act in the industry.

RC ROXAS Celebrates With A Blast!

RC Roxas celebrated its victory for having received several awards at the DISCON last Tuesday, April 15, 2008 with fireworks!

The fellowship coincided with the celebration of the Province’s foundation day which was capped with a fireworks competition at the Villareal Stadium, just a few steps away from the Rotary Center.

Rotarian Jerry lames presented a video presentation of the DISCON as well as the 30 minute video which was featured at ABS-CBN Roxas the week immediately following the district conference.

Fellowship lasted until the wee hours of the morning with Rtn Chad, as fellowship chair and Rtn Cheche as incoming fellowship chair. The Rtn Spice Boys provided the much needed entertainment. The fellowship dinner was courtesy of President Rommel and Secretary Pip.

RC Roxas Victorious With Six District Awards

For the first time in about thirty years, the Rotary Club of Roxas has emerged victorious in the recently concluded District Conference in Bacolod City last April 3-5, 2008. Six Major Awards were received by the club besting more than fifty Rotary Clubs in District 3850.

The Mangrove Greenbelt Project in Barangay Punta Cogon, the club’s pilot project for the year was awarded best community project. At the same time, the club was given recognition for having pursued outstanding avenues for vocations through the Milo Marathon, the Boy’s and Girl’s Week, and the Daigon sa Plaza which was held for the first time this year during the annual Sinadya sa Halaran celebration of the City. The club was also awarded for having the second highest percentage of membership growth pegged at 86.3%, and the second highest number of new and QUALITY members for the year.

In an unanticipated turn of events, Secretary Pip Acepcion was named the Most Outstanding Club Secretary and President Rommel Lastimoso was awarded Outstanding Club President. The latter awards came as surprises since these were not vied for. It turned out that these awards were the discretionary of the district secretary and the district governor.

The Rotary Club of Roxas is definitely resolute in its commitment to SHARE ROTARY and is even more stanch in MAKING DREAMS REAL for the Rotary Year 2008-2009.

To the membership of the Rotary Club of Roxas, BRAVO! For a good Rotary Year… more power!

RC Roxas Goes to DISCON 2008

Fourteen Rotarians from RC Roxas attended the Rotary International District 3850, 2008 Rediscover Bacolod District Conference last April 3-5, 2008 at Planta Hotel and Residences in Bacolod City. This has been one of the biggest delegations from RC Roxas to date.

Rotary International President’s representative Jackson Hsieh, from RC of Taipei Sunrise graced the occasion together with the past district governors as well as the incoming officers of the district.

It was 3-days of Rotary education and fellowships, a bit disorganized, with the latter earning criticisms for not having opened the bar during the fellowship dinners save of the limited free drinks on the last day.

Rtn Leah del Rosario Lectures on Parasitism to Mothers During RC Roxas Family Day at Baybay Day Care Center

Rotarian Dr. Leah del Rosario gave a lecture on parasitism to mothers and care givers at the Baybay Day Care Center last Sunday, March 30. Several Rotarians were present during the activity despite the scorching heat. Aside from the lecture, the kids were treated to a story telling session and processing of the learning session through coloring and drawing.

RC Roxas Distributes Wheelchairs to Indigent Residents of Roxas City

The Rotary Club of Roxas distributed wheelchairs to 10 indigent residents of the city in the presence of PDG Ramon “Toto” Cua Locsin, Roxas City Mayor Vicente Bermejo, and Vice Mayor Ronnie Dadivas. This is part of the matching grant project availed by then district governor Locsin during RY 2006-2007. Together with PDG Toto were PP Art Faro and Ann Asun of RC Iloilo. They were here for an activity of the Philippine National Red Cross Capiz Chapter.

Coffee and pastries were courtesy of Vice Mayor Ronnie.