PP Pepito Bengzon inaugurated the RCMMRCFI Building, which houses the RC Makati clubhouse, on September 14, 2007. He presided over a total of 48 meetings and 13 fellowship Mini Socials, as well as a visit by Luke Hingson, president of the US-based Brother’s Brother Foundation, RCM’s long-time project partner in the Books Across the Seas (BATS) book distribution project. He also welcomed and organized a visit by IMF Managing Director Rodrigo del Rato to the Gawad Kalinga Village in Villa Paraiso on July 31, 2007. At the same village, 36 new houses were built and six health missions conducted that benefited 1,480 patients. Also started was the construction of a water system funded by a TRF matching grant of US$ 32,000. PP Bengzon revived the National Awards for Community Service (NACS) and conferred awards on three distinguished achievers in the field of Education in the country: Fr. James B. Reuter, S.J. and Fr. Pierre Tritz, S.J., both of the Ateneo de Manila University, and Josette Biyo, Ph.D., Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas. This was held on June 6, 2008, during the Yearend Awards Night at the Blue Leaf Pavilion, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Other accomplishments during his term included the following:

Daily meals and milk were provided for six months to 270 malnourished children under the Family Health & Nutrition Program. Medication was provided for six months to 802 TB patients in 32 project sites. Free surgical intervention was provided for 212 patients in 11 inhospital surgical missions at the Philippine General Hospital. Through 12 Rotary Clubs, 257 bicycles were donated to five schools and four communities. The Concentrated Language Encounter Projected was launched, while a Technical Skills Training Program in Basic Metal Welding was initiated for unemployed men in GK Villa Paraiso, in partnership with Tuloy sa Don Bosco Center. Established was new Brother Club relations with the Rotary Club of Balintawak, District 3780 and the Rotary Club of San Pablo Central, District 3820. Foreign trips were conducted to visit Sister Clubs: RC Bukit Bintang, Charter Anniversary; RC Taoyuan, Installation Banquet and Charter Anniversary; and RC Kota Kinabalu, Installation Banquet. Welcomed and hosted were visits by the following Sister Clubs: RC Kuala Lumpur Diraja, RC Kota Kinabalu and RC Bukit Bintang of Malaysia; RC Taoyuan of Taiwan; RC Itako and RC Fukui Ajisai of Japan; RC Singapore; and RC Sydney of Australia. Contributions totaling US$30,000 were raised for The Rotary Foundation from 30 Paul Harris Fellows. Financial assistance totaling P556,000 was given to 13 Rotary Clubs under the Partnership in Service Program (PSP), bringing to P9,656,000 the aggregate amount granted since the start of the project in 1999. Net revenues totalling P849,138 were raised at the 20th Christmas Bazaar, while Christmas presents were delivered to 1,626 children in 16 sites for the Last Angel Project.

PP Bengzon’s term was also marked by numerous awards and commendations, among these the following: 1. Received a total of ten District Awards, including the “Five Star Mark of Excellence,” at the District 3830 Awards Night in Makati on May 31, 2008. The 5-Star Mark of Excellence was for achieving the hallmarks of a total quality Rotary Club. 2. Governor’s Award of Distinction: For exceptionally sharing its resources to enable other Rotary Clubs to serve their respective communities through its Partnership in Service Program (PSP), Books Across the Seas Project (BATS), and Bike for Life Project. 3. Governor’s Distinguished Service Award: In recognition of the Club’s significant service projects, namely: Anti-TB Program, Nutrition & Feeding Program, Surgical Missions, MedicalDental-Eye Missions, and Gawad Kalinga. 4. Zone Literacy Award: For its commitment to share, lead and promote literacy. 5. Governor’s Award for Outstanding Interact Club for the Interact Club of the Gen. Pio Del Pilar National High School. 6. Governor’s Special Citations for: Significant achievement in generating TRF Contribution of US $30,000; Significant achievement in obtaining approval for two Matching Grants – for a second water system project at the Gawad Kalinga Village in Villa Paraiso, and for a new round of Supplemental Feeding Modules; and Setting up a functional website www.makatirotary. org that effectively serves as an electronic bulletin board for the club’s project and activities.

Also received were the RI President’s Citation for the Rotary Club of Makati and the RI President’s Citation for the Rotaract Club of Makati.