On August 23rd, a delegation from the Rotary Club of Makati embarked on a journey of impact and collaboration, returning to Cabanatuan to continue the transformative "Tulong Dunong" project. Led by DGN Reggie Nolido, the team included Dir. Neil & Camille Makasiar, and Rtn. James & Jenny Bosch. Their mission was clear: to make a difference in the lives of young students in partnership with St. Nicholas of Tolentine Cathedral Parish and in coordination with RC Cabanatuan North. After a journey of over 3 hours, the team arrived at San Bartolome Parish. Under the warm embrace of the morning sun, a mass was celebrated by none other than Fr. Noy Oliveros, the visionary behind the "Tulong Dunong" project. His dedication and passion set the tone for the day ahead. Post-mass, DGN Reggie Nolido shared heartfelt messages on behalf of RC Makati, while Pres. Martin Esteban of RC Cabanatuan North emphasized the power of collaboration. With an infectious enthusiasm, the Rotary Club members eagerly distributed school bags and essential supplies to 20 children from Brgy. Aduas Norte. This was part of the "Tulong Dunong" project, designed to empower 460 public school students across 23 barangays in Cabanatuan. The goal? To ensure these young minds embark on their educational journey in late August with renewed confidence and purpose. The journey of impact didn't end there. As the team walked over to Calagundian Elementary School, a new chapter unfolded. United by the spirit of "Brigada Eskwela," the Rotary Club members joined forces to contribute to education through the "Books Across the Seas" project. Their generous donation of 500 books is set to enrich the minds of young learners, fostering a love for learning that knows no bounds. In a world where collaboration is key and service is the heart of change, the Rotary Club of Makati continues to shine as a beacon of hope, fostering a brighter future for the children of Cabanatuan. Together, we can create hope in the world.

On a Saturday morning, the Rotary Club of Makati embarked on a journey of compassion and care, led by the Chairman of the Medical Mission, Andrew Prieto. Alongside him, Past Presidents Cesar Campos and Bimbo Mills devoted their time to ensure the health and well-being of the seniors in Rizal. Travelling nearly two hours from the bustling heart of Manila, the RCM team made their way to Pantay Elementary School in Barangay Dalig, Teresa, Rizal. Their destination: Pantay Elementary School, where nearly 100 seniors eagerly awaited the medical care that the RCM team had brought to their doorstep. Upon arrival, messages were shared by Teresa Rizal Mayor Rodel dela Cruz, Past President Cesar, Andrew, and Past President Bimbo, setting the tone for a day of compassion and service. Then, the mission unfolded with each patient given the opportunity to consult with doctors, sharing their concerns and seeking guidance for their health. A dedicated team of medical professionals, sponsored by Zeta Beta Mu Fraternity, provided expert care to address the diverse health needs of the community. After the consultations, patients were guided to the medicines and vitamins section, generously sponsored by RC Makati, ensuring that essential healthcare was accessible to those in need. This mission, made possible through partnerships, saw the collaboration of Zeta Beta Mu Fraternity, Agham Church, and the Teresa Local Government Unit. Approximately 20 medical personnel from Zeta Beta Mu Fraternity worked tirelessly alongside Rotary Club of Makati to bring healthcare to those who need it the most. Special thanks to Teresa LGU for providing free flu and pneumonia vaccines, underscoring the commitment to preventive healthcare. As the sun set on this day of service, the Rotary Club of Makati left behind not just medical supplies but a legacy of compassion and goodwill, ensuring that no one is left behind in the journey towards better health.

HABAGAT (southwest monsoon) inflicted significant damage on many areas in Luzon last month, most notably towns and cities that lie below sea level. One such place is Pangasinan. Last month, Pres. Fred Pascual received a request for assistance from Pres. Delia de Guzman of the Rotary Club of Lingayen, a brother club of ours. Pres. Fred immediately forwarded the letter to PDG Pepito Bengzon, a native of Lingayen, so he could coordinate with RC Lingayen. The city had once again been submerged by floodwaters spawned by habagat’s unrelenting rains. As in past years, hundreds of families had no choice but to flee to temporary shelters where, in cramped spaces, they would stay for a number of days until the flood subsided. On the 1st of September, PDG Pepito was in his hometown to lead the distribution of goodie bags to 330 families in Brgy. Bantayan and Brgy. Salasa. With PDG Pepz at the helm of the relief effort, the partnership with Puregold, which was initiated during his governorship in 2015-16, was reactivated to facilitate the sorting, packing, and delivery of the goods. PDG Pepz also attended the regular dinner meeting of RC Lingayen last Friday, 31 August. Our ties with RC Lingayen were established in RY2005-2006 during the term of PP Sonny Tambunting.

Last October 9, a check for PhP 1 million changed hands from our club, represented by VP Louie Aseoche and Sec. Eddie Galvez, to Dianne Jean Cruz of the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation. A project of the Office of the Vice President, it will be undertaken by the Yellow Boat Foundation, a nonprofit organization engaged in projects that improve children’s access to education. The money is earmarked for the construction of a dormitory for female students at the Sumilao National High School-Vista Villa Annex in Sumilao, Bukidnon. The dormitory will be able to accommodate up to 30 girls from poor families who live in three far-flung barangays—Lucasi, Occasion and Licoan—that range in distance from seven to 12 kms from the school. They negotiate this distance every day, hiking for hours in the morning to get to school and hours again in the late afternoon or early evening to get home. Along the way there are bridges to cross, one of which overflows during the rainy season. The situation is such that the students arrive in school too spent and sleepy—and often hungry—to pay attention in class, and get home in the evening too tired for homework. Add to that the fact that they get up early in the morning, sometimes without breakfast, to get to school on time. Clearly, the situation leaves little space for learning. It breeds tardiness and absenteeism, with resultant poor grades that leave the students discouraged and demotivated, sometimes with no recourse but to drop out. The dormitory is expected to deliver a safe and healthy environment that is conducive to learning and bring about greater student participation, a stop to tardiness and absenteeism and a marked decrease in the dropout rate. The students would then be able to concentrate on the very reason they are in school in the first place—to learn. The project is taking off at once. Groundbreaking is set to start this month, with the structure programmed for delivery in February 2019. This is the second dormitory project to be undertaken by the Yellow Boat Foundation for Angat Buhay. The first, a facility for male students at the Siayan National High School in Zamboanga del Norte, was opened last February.

covered—decent shelter for its resident families, electricity, clean water flowing from taps, pathways with ornamentals, a multi-faith chapel, a multipurpose hall, a pre-school. And now, a two-story building that houses a health center and an e-library. The two facilities, which were inaugurated and blessed last Saturday, March 26, fulfill two of Rotary’s six areas of focus—Disease Prevention and Treatment and Basic Education and Literacy. And because mothers and their children are sure to avail themselves of the services of the health center, a third area is covered as well—Maternal and Child Health. The e-library will get the residents onto the digital revolution bandwagon, the better to keep in step with change. The building was funded by donations by Rotary Clubs from District 3490, with equipment, tools and materials to be funded by back-to-back global grants by two sister clubs—the library by RC Sanchung North of District 3490-Taiwan; the clinic by RC Paranaque St. Andrew (RCPSA) led by ASTP Edith Bernardo and PP Theda Collantes. D3490 Gov. Concrete traveled to Manila for the inauguration, where he shared the honors at the ceremonial ribbon cutting with PDG Sid Garcia, Rotary Homes Chairman, and PP Mario Jimenez of RC Palanyag Paranaque, representing Paranaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez. PDG Sid, PDG Romy, DG Concrete and PP Mario Jimenez delivered brief messages. Also present were PDG Bruce Allen of D9680-Sydney, past chair of The Rotary Foundation and current manager of Rotary Foundation business at RI’s South Pacific & Philippines Office in Parramatta, Australia; RH Trustee PDG Romy Cruz; our own Pres. David Ackerman, PE JunJun Dayrit, Dir. Chris Ferareza, and RCC vice-chair Manny Padiernos; RCPSA members; other RH trustees, and Stephen Rodgers, keynote speaker at the just-concluded 3830 District Conference. PDG Sid later hosted lunch as the NYPD Restaurant of Resorts World.

The Club’s TB Eradication Committee chaired by PDG Tony Quila, in a team-up with the Punta Fuego Village Foundation, our cooperating organization; our daughter club, RC Makati Business District, the San Andres Health Center, medicine supplier Pediatrica, and our long-time service partner, Kabisig ng Kalahi, launched a module of our End TB Now project last April 10 at the Ortega Sports Complex in San Andres, Manila. In attendance were Pres. David & Mache Ackerman, PDG Tony, Pres. Michelle Mantecon of RCMBD, and Dr. Rosana Milan, physician/administrator of the San Andres Health Center. The module covers 70 children, who are expected to complete the six-month medical treatment cycle in October. This is the second module conducted in San Andres. The first, started on December 10 last year, had 39 young patients who are scheduled to complete the treatment in June. The children’s parents who were present heard the self-same message being hammered down: TB is curable; the medicines are free; it is imperative that the children take the medicine as directed every day without fail; the parents’ cooperation is key to the success of the program. Dr. Milan exhorted the parents to reinforce the medication with nutritious food, especially vegetables, while PDG Tony told them that it is the Club’s goal to eradicate TB in the country. This new module brings to seven the number of modules started and to 472 the number of TB-afflicted children being treated since the grand launch of the district-wide project in December 2016. Funding for all seven modules (so far) comes from the Club’s $85,000 global grant from The Rotary Foundation.

Pres. Jun Jun Dayrit, PP Reggie Nolido, Community Service Dir. Chris Ferareza and Dir. Peter & Pam Manzano with their 3 kids took a quick trip to Mt. Pulag last week for the ceremonial turnover of the rehabilitated Mt. Pulag Elementary School to school officials. Badly damaged when Typhoon Lawin tore through northern Luzon in October 2016, the school has been rehabilitated and now looks like new. The reconstruction was made possible with donations by the Club—to the tune of P109K—and by a host of other donor organizations. The Club’s donation consisted of the balance of our disaster relief fund built from contributions from our members. Although the formal turnover took place only last week, the reconstruction of the structure took all of summer and was completed in time for the reopening of classes in June. Aside from the school building, Pres. Jun Jun, PP Reggie, Dir. Chris, and Dir. Peter also brought other gifts: from the Club, two brand-new 40-inch LED TVs, three DVD players, and educational CDs for the school, and 160 raincoats and pairs of boots for the students; and two TV/monitors from Louie Aseoche. The TVs were purchased from Abenson at a discount, courtesy of Wilson Lim. With Typhoon Gorio conspiring with habagat to ruin the planned trip to Mt. Pulag, Pres. Jun Jun et al had second thoughts about pushing through with the trip. But by 2PM on Friday the 28th, they decided that it was a go. They wheeled out of the RCM Clubhouse at 11PM on the 28th and arrived back in Makati at 8:00PM on Saturday the 29th—a tiring trip that took all of 21 hours, 6 of them on the road, in a van, with brief stops for leg stretches and meals: breakfast in Baguio, late lunch hosted by Pres. Jun Jun at the iconic Rose Bowl Resto in Baguio, and the turnover ceremony on Friday morning which, owing to the inclement weather, was moved from the school grounds to an inn. All said, they traveled some 600 km to Pulag and back. Hats off to these stouthearted and caring men and lady for braving foul weather, enduring cramped legs, and giving up sleep and the comfort of home to render “service above self.” This, it must be said, is the stuff RC Makati Rotarians are made of.

Don’t look now but our “Stop TB Now” project is growing wings and going places! Its last stop: Tacloban City in Leyte where 26 children afflicted with tuberculosis started treatment designed to rid them of the disease after six months of daily medication. Kicked off at the launch of the project on August 18, the medical treatment will end in February 2018. After the project launch at the TB DOTS building at City Hall, they proceeded to the Guindapunan Elementary School in Palo, Leyte, for the turnover of over 500 books to the school library, a donation from RC Kankabato from our BATS Project. Funded by a USD 85,000 global grant from The Rotary Foundation, with a contribution from RC Taoyuan, a sister club and our international partner, and the Punta Fuego Village Foundation as cooperating organization, the Tacloban run of the project is supported by a number of partners—the city government of Tacloban, the city health office of Tacloban, RC Kankabato-Tacloban, and long-time partners Pediatrica and Kabisig ng Kalahi. In the RC Makati party with Pres. Jun Jun & Cecille Dayrit were PDG Tony Quila, Stop TB Now chairman, Chito Cantada, Wash & Pizza Lou, Johnny Ang and Dir. Boy Arteche, a native Taclobanon who virtually played host to the RCM visitors during their stay in his city 17-20 August, rolling out a thick carpet of hospitality for them. Fellowship Rotary style began at the airport as members of RC Kankabato met them and drove them to the Arteche-owned Hotel Alejandro, their home while in the city. That night, the Kankabato Rotarians hosted a welcome dinner, which was graced by Tacloban Mayor Cristina Romualdez. The four-day stay was rich with opportunity to see Leyte up close and personal—the beach in Palo etched in history books as the hallowed ground where Gen. Douglas MacArthur made good his famous “I shall return” promise to the Filipino people; the iconic San Juanico Bridge over the treacherous strait that connects Leyte to Samar; the remains of a ship blown to smithereens by Super Typhoon Yolanda’s 7-meter high, 370 kph storm surge; and a memorial to Yolanda’s long list of human victims. And, being tourists at heart, they did as all tourists do—contribute to the local economy by shopping, notably for the colorful banig bags that are the pride of Leyte. There was dinner at the penthouse of Hotel Alejandro one day and on another day, breakfast on the Arteche Island near the foot of San Juanico Bridge, the last compliments of Dir. Boy, who played his role of grand host throughout with characteristic warmth, humor and aplomb. The Leyte trip hit a number of targets—health, education, economics, history, and culture, woven in a seamless bond by the wonderful glue of fellowship. And then, there was the unique chance to experience first-hand how resilience and the indomitable human spirit have seen the people of Leyte through Yolanda, the deadly nightmare they are not likely to forget.

In RC Makati, there are “angels”– two kinds, actually. The first are the children in our project sites, adopted communities, and select charitable institutions to whom the Club gives presents at Christmas time under our Last Angel Gift Giving Project. The second are the Anns –and the Rotarians—who go out of their way at Christmastime to bring cheer to the little angels to make their Christmas a truly merry one. This year, there were 1,059 names in the nice-boys, nice-girls list compiled by the Last Angels Committee chaired by Ann Mache Ackerman (as immediate past First Ann) who prudently kicked off the campaign for donations early. Thirty-six members answered the call, bringing in a collective contribution of P261,000 to fund the project. It is an annual exercise in generosity our members have come to look forward to taking part in, year after year since 1998, when then First Lady Angela Quila oversaw its maiden run after it was conceived by Ann Brin Panlilio. It took all of 12 days—from November 27 to December 19—for the committee to deliver the gifts to over a thousand eager kids in 16 sites scattered throughout Metro Manila and a couple of places in Batangas and Rizal. The first stop was at the Marcela Agoncillo Elementary School in Binondo, Manila, one of the sites of our feeding program, on the 27th of November, where 113 kids received Christmas presents from the project’s frontliners—Pres. Jun Jun & Cecille Dayrit, IPP David & Mache Ackerman, Feeding Program Chair PP Freddie Borromeo & Ann Jojo, and Community Service Director Chris Ferareza, among others. The 1st of December saw 96 kids queueing up for gifts at the Santiago Zobel Elementary School and Pedro Palacio Elementary School in Calatagan, Batangas. The two schools being long-time feeding program sites, the kids were treated to additional gifts from the Borromeos. For three consecutive days, the Committee carried on with the gift giving exercise despite the demands of Christmas at work and at home, not to mention the challenge of the horrible traffic in the metro—on the 7th, they were at the Philippine Institute for the Deaf in Nagtahan, Manila, serving 77 pupils; on the 8th, at the Marillac Hills in Alabang, a temporary home for girls and women in crisis, with 195 girls; and on the 9th, in Brgy. San Andres in Manila with 51 kids, who also received Gardenia bread, Krispy Kreme donuts and juice from RCM Business District through their Charter President Mache Ackerman. Also on the 9th, they rounded off the day at the RCM Clubhouse where members of our RCC Bukluran gathered some 100 children from the Guadalupe Viejo neighborhood for their gifts. After a three-day respite, the Committee was back on the road to resume the work. The 12th brought them to Hospicio de San Jose to deliver presents to 51 wards, who were treated to a Jollibee meal by PP Carlo Rufino; to the Makati Social Development Center in Brgy. Tejeros on the 13th, serving 71 wards of the Club’s Bantay Bata Project; to Brgy. Rawang in Tanay, Rizal on the 14th where 60 kids enrolled in the feeding program received gifts from the Club and from PP Freddie and Ann Jojo; and to the Stepping Stone School campus in Sucat, Paranaque, where 103 kids received presents from 14 Rotarians and four Anns. On the 18th, 29 wards of Bahay Maria in Bel-Air Village in Makati received gifts from the Club, with additional presents from Ms. Fionna Borromeo-Casillan, daughter of PP Freddie and Jojo. During the RCM staff Christmas party on the same date, children of the staffers were also given gifts. On the 19th, PDG Robert & Yvonne Kuan took the project to Sagada in the Mountain Province where they treated 50 kids to presents from the Last Angel Committee and some 100 kids to personal gifts from themselves. On behalf of this year’s “last angels,” we thank the following donors for their generosity: Pres. Jun Jun Dayrit, IPP David Ackerman, PP Joe Alejandro, PP Felix Amparo, Louie Aseoche, PDG Pepito Bengzon, PP Cesar Campos, Roger Collantes, VP Mike Escaler, Dir. Chris Ferareza, Eddie Galvez, PRID Paing Hechanova, Manny Javelosa, PDG Robert Kuan, Julian Lim, PP Rene Limjoco, Wash Lou, Peter Manzano, PN Bimbo Mills, David Nithyananthan, PP Reggie Nolido, PP Tito Panlilio, PP Fred Parungao, Porsche Pena, Andrew Prieto, PDG Tony Quila, Ed Rojas, PP Carlo Rufino, PP Charlie Rufino. Johnny Siy, Philip Soliven, PP Sonny Tambunting, Derrick Tan, Bom Villatuya, PP Eddie Yap, and Sam Young.In RC Makati, there are “angels”– two kinds, actually. The first are the children in our project sites, adopted communities, and select charitable institutions to whom the Club gives presents at Christmas time under our Last Angel Gift Giving Project. The second are the Anns –and the Rotarians—who go out of their way at Christmastime to bring cheer to the little angels to make their Christmas a truly merry one. This year, there were 1,059 names in the nice-boys, nice-girls list compiled by the Last Angels Committee chaired by Ann Mache Ackerman (as immediate past First Ann) who prudently kicked off the campaign for donations early. Thirty-six members answered the call, bringing in a collective contribution of P261,000 to fund the project. It is an annual exercise in generosity our members have come to look forward to taking part in, year after year since 1998, when then First Lady Angela Quila oversaw its maiden run after it was conceived by Ann Brin Panlilio. It took all of 12 days—from November 27 to December 19—for the committee to deliver the gifts to over a thousand eager kids in 16 sites scattered throughout Metro Manila and a couple of places in Batangas and Rizal. The first stop was at the Marcela Agoncillo Elementary School in Binondo, Manila, one of the sites of our feeding program, on the 27th of November, where 113 kids received Christmas presents from the project’s frontliners—Pres. Jun Jun & Cecille Dayrit, IPP David & Mache Ackerman, Feeding Program Chair PP Freddie Borromeo & Ann Jojo, and Community Service Director Chris Ferareza, among others. The 1st of December saw 96 kids queueing up for gifts at the Santiago Zobel Elementary School and Pedro Palacio Elementary School in Calatagan, Batangas. The two schools being long-time feeding program sites, the kids were treated to additional gifts from the Borromeos. For three consecutive days, the Committee carried on with the gift giving exercise despite the demands of Christmas at work and at home, not to mention the challenge of the horrible traffic in the metro—on the 7th, they were at the Philippine Institute for the Deaf in Nagtahan, Manila, serving 77 pupils; on the 8th, at the Marillac Hills in Alabang, a temporary home for girls and women in crisis, with 195 girls; and on the 9th, in Brgy. San Andres in Manila with 51 kids, who also received Gardenia bread, Krispy Kreme donuts and juice from RCM Business District through their Charter President Mache Ackerman. Also on the 9th, they rounded off the day at the RCM Clubhouse where members of our RCC Bukluran gathered some 100 children from the Guadalupe Viejo neighborhood for their gifts. After a three-day respite, the Committee was back on the road to resume the work. The 12th brought them to Hospicio de San Jose to deliver presents to 51 wards, who were treated to a Jollibee meal by PP Carlo Rufino; to the Makati Social Development Center in Brgy. Tejeros on the 13th, serving 71 wards of the Club’s Bantay Bata Project; to Brgy. Rawang in Tanay, Rizal on the 14th where 60 kids enrolled in the feeding program received gifts from the Club and from PP Freddie and Ann Jojo; and to the Stepping Stone School campus in Sucat, Paranaque, where 103 kids received presents from 14 Rotarians and four Anns. On the 18th, 29 wards of Bahay Maria in Bel-Air Village in Makati received gifts from the Club, with additional presents from Ms. Fionna Borromeo-Casillan, daughter of PP Freddie and Jojo. During the RCM staff Christmas party on the same date, children of the staffers were also given gifts. On the 19th, PDG Robert & Yvonne Kuan took the project to Sagada in the Mountain Province where they treated 50 kids to presents from the Last Angel Committee and some 100 kids to personal gifts from themselves. On behalf of this year’s “last angels,” we thank the following donors for their generosity: Pres. Jun Jun Dayrit, IPP David Ackerman, PP Joe Alejandro, PP Felix Amparo, Louie Aseoche, PDG Pepito Bengzon, PP Cesar Campos, Roger Collantes, VP Mike Escaler, Dir. Chris Ferareza, Eddie Galvez, PRID Paing Hechanova, Manny Javelosa, PDG Robert Kuan, Julian Lim, PP Rene Limjoco, Wash Lou, Peter Manzano, PN Bimbo Mills, David Nithyananthan, PP Reggie Nolido, PP Tito Panlilio, PP Fred Parungao, Porsche Pena, Andrew Prieto, PDG Tony Quila, Ed Rojas, PP Carlo Rufino, PP Charlie Rufino. Johnny Siy, Philip Soliven, PP Sonny Tambunting, Derrick Tan, Bom Villatuya, PP Eddie Yap, and Sam Young.