December is the happiest time of the year for Filipinos, but last year, it was not, at least for the people of Leyte and Samar and neighboring cities and towns called on by an uninvited guest—Typhoon Urduja. Making landfall in Samar on December 16, Urduja dumped rain that inundated entire towns, forcing hundreds of families to flee their homes and find temporary shelter in cramped evacuation centers. Pres. Jun Jun Dayrit and Community Service Dir. Chris Ferareza immediately went to work, activating the Club’s donations mechanism, and raising P285,000 in a matter of 4 days. With the funds, Dir. Chris worked with COS Ron Dotaro to purchase items most needed in times of disaster. They coordinated with Dir. Boy Arteche, a native Taclobanon, and with the Rotary Clubs of Kankabato and Biliran Island on the must-haves of the relief mission, to make sure every base was loaded and the goods could get to their destinations at once. There was no time to waste. If there was a perfect way to actualize the Christmas spirit of giving through selfless service, this was it. On the 27th, Dir. Chris and Ron took an early flight to Tacloban and spent the entire day handing out relief goods, including sleeping mats and blankets, to people in the evacuation centers. In total, 468 families were served in four towns in Biliran, Leyte—129 in Almeria, 79 in Atupolo, 60 in Larazabal, and 200 in Caray-Caray. They hurried back to Tacloban in the evening, where Dir. Chris turned over to Dr. Jimmy Opinion of the Tacloban City Health Office a check for P51,000 to be used for the construction of three waiting tents. The duo flew back to Manila the following day. On the 23rd, a mere two days before Christmas, Typhoon Vinta struck Mindanao, zeroing in on Davao and Bukidnon. By the time it exited on Christmas day, roads had turned into rivers and people were walking in chest-deep waters. Responding to a request by PDG Miriam Ruth “Jing” Dablio – De la Calzada of District 3870, the Club sent P30,000 worth of relief goods to Valencia City, Bukidnon distributed to 70 families in Brgy. Catumbalon on December 31. Among the many respondents to the appeal for donations were Philip Cea of F1 Hotel and Derrick Tan and Bong Gumban of St. Giles Hotel, who gave bed linens, mattresses and towels for use by the refugees. The items are due to be transported on a C130 plane to Cagayan de Oro for affected families in Marawi. On behalf of the recipients in Leyte, Bukidnon, and Marawi, we thank the following Rotarians for responding with dispatch to the Club’s appeal for donations: Pres. Jun Jun Dayrit, IPP David Ackerman, PP Joe Alejandro, PP Fidel Alfonso, PP Felix Amparo, Felix Ang, Johnny Ang, Dir. Boy Arteche, Louie Aseoche, George Barcelon, Chito Cantada, Roger Collantes, Dir. Michael Escaler, Dir. Chris Ferareza, Louie Fernandez, Eddie Galvez, PDG Sid Garcia, Ric Gindap, Mundy Gonzalez, Wilfred Gui, PP Ric Librea, Julian Lim, Wash Lou, PP Conrad Marty, PN Bimbo Mills, David Nithyananthan, PP Reggie Nolido, Manny Padiernos, PP Tito Panlilio, PE Fred Pascual, Porsche Pena, Andrew Prieto, Gary Phillips, Freddie Placino, Ed Rojas, Rodrigo Segura, Philip Soliven, Johnny Sy, Ann Terry Tambunting, Derrick Tan, Johnson Tan, Wilson Tan, Jolyon Tiglao, PP Roland Young, Sam Young, Dick Upton and an anonymous donor. Thanks, too, to Derrick Tan and Bong Gumban of St. Giles Hotel and Philip Cea of F1 Hotel for the donations of mattresses, beddings and towels; Drexx Laggui for the use of his van for transporting the donated hotel items from F1 Hotel and St. Giles to the RCM Clubhouse; Sec. Boy Arteche for coordinating the needs of the Tacloban City Health Office; RC Kankabato and RC Biliran Island for their assistance with the relief operations; and PP Maita Manlapus of RC Mactan for connecting us to the military on the use of a C130 plane. We reserve our utmost gratitude to Dir. Chris Ferareza and Ron Dotaro for so graciously giving up the better part of the Christmas break to bring much-needed help and a taste of Christmas cheer to the families that suffered the wrath of Typhoon Urduja.

The Sanlakbay Program for the rehabilitation of drug users, Pres. Jun Jun Dayrit’s signature project, is moving forward according to plan. Last Friday, 17 March, Pres. Jun Jun led a group of Rotarians—PN Bimbo Mills, Johnny Ang, Sec. Boy Arteche, and Ai-Ai Galvez—on a visit to the San Ildefonso Parish in Brgy. Pio del Pilar, Makati to start the second leg of the program. Sanlakbay is the Archdiocese of Manila’s program to save the drug users who surrendered to the police in response to the government’s sweeping Operation Tokhang. The San Ildefonso visit was three-pronged -- it was: one, a meeting with those in charge of the program in the parish—Dr. Arwin Serrano, Sanlakbay head, and Fr. Arvin Paz, SDB, parish priest; second, the turnover of the Club’s donation of communication equipment—a Lenovo laptop, an Epson printer, and an Epson projector/screen set; and third, a meet-and-greet with the second batch of 50 “kalakbays” (fellow journeyers), erstwhile drug dependents from Bangkal, Palanan and San Isidro who are about to embark on the challenging journey of recovery and reformation. Beginning the program with a prayer, Fr. Arvin delivered a note of welcome, explaining that the program is open to all barangays in Makati. Addressing the program participants, he said that this is the start of change, of a new future for them, and that individual success will depend on their individual commitment to see themselves through. Atty. Claro Certeza, Makati City administrator, recalled the program’s shaky beginning, adding that with perseverance, problems have been overcome. He also lauded the application of the community approach, where the private sector, the Church, the local government unit and the police have come together to solve the complex drug problem. Pres. Jun Jun recounted how a radio program made him decide to adopt the program for RC Makati and how the Club donated to Caritas Manila the same communication equipment (and a utility van) last year. He also shared his plan to invite some of the Sanlakbay graduates to the club meeting on April 17 to deliver testimonials, the better for club members to appreciate the program and see how it is changing lives. Dr. Arwin gave an overview of the program, from its inception in September 2016 at the San Roque Parish in Blumentritt, Manila and its start in Makati in August 2017. He also outlined the components of the Sanlakbay program—catechetical instruction, values formation, individual and family counseling, therapy sessions in music and arts, sports, lakbay-aral, livelihood, random drug testing before, during and after the program, and an after-care program for the graduates—and hammered down the house rules every “kalakbay” should abide by. The fundamental objective of the program is evolving from rehabilitation to prevention, an even more challenging proposition that requires more hands on deck. The parish awarded a certificate of appreciation to the Club for its support and assistance.

The Club was once again a recipient of the district’s highest honor—6-Star Club—at the District Awards held on June 4 at the Sofitel Hotel. Without sounding like we’re blowing our horn, we note that the Club has consistent been a consistent recipient of the district’s highest twin honors, notably the twin awards for the club and president, which we have received six times. There to represent the Club were Pres. JunJun & FA Cecille Dayrit, PDG Sid Garcia, PDG Pepito Bengzon, PP Reggie Nolido, IPP David & Mache Ackerman, Dir. Jun Palafox, Dir. Chris Ferareza, PN Bimbo Mills, PND Peter Manzano, and Eddie Galvez. Pres. Jun Jun was all smiles as he mounted the stage to claim the trophies and plaques the Club had won. 6-Star Club Award Leadership Award for Pres. JunJun • RI Presidential Citation Award • 5 Consecutive Years of Five Star Rating • 100% TRF Giving and EREY Club • Top Five in Annual Fund Giving • Top Five in Annual per Capita Giving Outstanding Club in the Area of Focus of Economic and Community Development for Project Liwanag • Special Citation for Most Outstanding Club Newsletter MAD Award for Outstanding Community Service Project - AQMS Green Initiative Recognition for AQMS Happy Barangay Citation • Outstanding Club in - Administration - Membership (MAD 5, Great 8) - Public Image - The Rotary Foundation - Club Service Governor’s Citation - For Hosting: On to Toronto, DRIA and TRF Testimonial Dinner - For Participation in: Youth Olympics, District Tree Planting, Rotary Day, Support of flagship projects: Tuloy sa Don Bosco and Rotary Homes.

Typhoon Ulysses came 12 days after Category 5 Super Typhoon Rolly whipped Luzon from end to end, causing great damage to houses and public infrastructure and wreaking havoc on lives and livelihoods. Hardly had the people in Rolly’s path started the painful task of rebuilding their lives than another typhoon blew in, battering practically the same places and levelling what little was left standing. Although a bit weaker, Ulysses dumped incessant rains that triggered massive flooding in many places. Among the areas that suffered the most was the province of Cagayan, on the northeastern tip of Luzon, where many families were forced to spend three days on their rooftops, drenched, cold, hungry and without any sleep. Three factors had conspired to bring about the dire situation: Ulysses’s relentless downpour, denuded mountains surrounding the valley with no trees to hold the water, and the release of huge amounts of water from Magat Dam. They quickly connected with our reliable partner in the north and communicated with District 3770 PDG Pichoy Ramirez through PDG Sid Garcia to inquire about the pressing needs in the affected areas. Pres. Peter Manzano quickly scheduled a Help Cagayan mission and arranged the procurement of relief goods to be given out—blankets and mats, bottled water, canned goods, and rice. PDG Sid added P100K to his initial donation of the same amount towards the relief ops for Tuguegarao. Departing Manila in the evening of November 17, Pres. Peter & First Ann Pam, together with CoS Ron Dotaro and Richard Manilag, travelled through the night for some 13 hours along the Nueva Vizcaya-Isabela highway, arriving in Tuguegarao City at 11:30 AM on Wednesday the 18th. They immediately buckled down to work. The first order of the day was a working brunch, during which RC Tuguegarao briefed them on the situation, the better for them to appreciate the challenge of service that lay ahead. On to the first mission site they motored, through muddy roads that brought them to Brgy. Capatan, 90% of which had been submerged in floodwater for three days. The RC Makati Team worked hand in hand with the Tuguegarao Rotarians and Vice Mayor Ben Ben de Guzman to distribute some 950 bags of relief goods to as many people. After resting a bit in their hotel, they met again with the Tuguegarao Rotarians for a fellowship dinner that was graced by Mayor Jeff Soriano. Day 2 of the Help Cagayan Mission brought the team to Alcala, another town that struggled under the cruel weight of Ulysses, with inundation that lasted a number of days. The convoy of Rotarian vehicles was met by people who had lined the highways on both sides in anticipation of the relief goods. There, the team handed bags of goods to 220 families. They next moved to Brgy. Pagbakeruan, a picture of devastation with the unmistakable marks of Ulysses everywhere—felled trees, muddy roads, houses covered with cakey mud. They were told that the people there had endured days huddled on rooftops, waiting to be rescued. The 180 families that received grocery packs were grateful for the help. Back in Tuguegarao, they paid a visit to Provincial Administrator Darwin Sacramed to turn over 580 sets of blankets and mats and five water filters meant for areas that were as yet inaccessible by land. Before driving back to Manila, RC Tuguegarao treated the RCMakati team to their famous pancit batil patong at a traditional carinderia, capping the two-day help mission the Rotary way—with a fellowship meal. The Help Cagayan mission, done in partnership with RC Tuguegarao through PDG Pichoy Ramirez (close friend of PDG Sid Garcia and the late PDG Robert Kuan) and PP Martin Gumarang), was able to deliver some 1,400 bags of relief goods to three sites and 580 sets of mats and blankets turned over to the Provincial Capitol. We would like to thank Stepping Stone School through ED Dayal Nandwani for lending us their vehicle to transport the goods. Pres. Peter and the RCM team are scheduled to go back north tomorrow, November 25, this time to bring help to Tumauini and Cabagan in Isabela and Baggao in Cagayan.

The Stepping Stone School has a new facility—a Physical Therapy Center designed to address concerns of students with physical limitations or disabilities. Funded by a USD 44,950 grant from the Embassy of Japan, the PT Center was officially turned over to Stepping Stone in a ceremony held on the 7th of August 2018. The grant was under the Japanese Government’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Program ( GGP). The grant specifically covered the fit-out and purchase of equipment to support children with cerebral palsy and other physical and mental disabilities. The turnover ceremony was presided over by the Embassy of Japan’s Second Secretary and Health Attache, Dr. Takeo Okada; Third Secretary-Economic Section Mr. Atsushi Kobayashi, and GGP Senior Program Officer Ms. Takahahi Natsuko. Also present were Program Officers Ms. Juno Cabotan, Mr. Ranel Lombres and Mr. Arnel Gonzales of the Japanese Embassy. In attendance were trustees from Stepping Stone represented by PRID Paing Hechanova, chairman, and President Mundy Gonzalez, Trustees Jean Chavez and Rodrigo Segura, Adviser Fred Parungao and Executive Director Dayal Nandwani. RC Makati was represented Pres. Fred Pascual, PE Bimbo Mills, PP Cesar Campos and Rtn. Manny Padiernos, while the Makati Rotary Club Foundation was represented by IPP Jun Jun Dayrit, chairman. After a brief program highlighted by welcome remarks by Pres. Mundy and a short message by Dr. Okada, the guests toured the school facilities, watched a video on the school, and enjoyed light refreshments. Stepping Stone grew from the Makati Research and Development Center (MRDC), a special school established by RC Makati in the mid-70s during the term of PP Art Misner.

The Vocational Service directorate under Dir. Philip Soliven organized a career guidance seminar on March 26 for 52 Rotaractors from seven Rotaract Clubs— Makati West, Makati Legaspi, Alabang Daang Hari, Kabataang West Rembo, Sto. Nino Paranaque, South Signal Village and our own RAC Makati. RI Programs Dir. Bom Villatuya welcomed the Rotaractors and delivered the opening remarks, while RAC Makati PP Magda Gana introduced the speakers—Dir. Philip who pep-talked the participants on “how to stand above the rest” in the corporate world, naming the values that will make this possible; and PP Reggie Nolido who gave them a view of the possible challenges, opportunities and advantages in the legal profession and in education, two fields he has rich experience in. Dir. Philip chairs the Career Guidance Committee, while Dir. Bom heads the Rotaract Committee. Asked to express his views, Dante Sarte, a Rotaractor from Fort Bonifacio Global City, spoke on the learnings he had gained from the seminar, and shared his view that “imagination is greater than knowledge.” The participants received certificates of attendance, while the speakers received tokens of appreciation. Also in attendance were PE Jun Jun Dayrit, Ann Sue Ann Nolido, and IPP Martine Kappel of RC Makati Lumina.

Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. Pres. Peter’s plan to bring cooked food to families in towns and cities around the metro led him to do some pencil pushing with numbers to see how far his budget would go. He asked for quotations from suppliers, for packed meals that are filling and nutritious. He gasped at the quotations—too costly. Is there a way to serve substantial meals that wouldn’t drain the budget, he wondered. Pres. Peter had the answer: YES! His solution to a budgetary problem was to plan, prepare and pack the meals ourselves! It wasn’t an “invention” but a solution only a problem solver would think of. The plan was quickly set to motion. They requested and received permission from Stepping Stone School Exec. Dir. Dayal Nandwani to use the school’s huge and well-equipped state-of-the-art kitchen; they invited members of the RCM-sponsored Rotaract Club of Makati to help in the preparation of the meals, with the staff making sure the inventory of meals would be sufficient. The meals would consist of a cup of boiled rice, one hard-boiled egg, and one viand—choice of pork tocino, longanisa, hotdog, spam or the special, the Paul Harris Fried Chicken. Filling and nutritious meals, as planned. They named the project “Paul Harris Kitchen,” after the founder of Rotary. On November 14, after the Typhoon Rolly relief mission in Albay, they launched the Paul Harris Kitchen with the delivery of packed meals to 500 individuals at the UP Arboretum and Tumana, Marikina. The distribution was done in cooperation with the Concerned Artists of the Philippines in support of UP’s Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan Project. The following day, they delivered meals to 518 individuals in Kasiglahan Village, Rodriguez, Rizal, also in partnership with UP group. On the 16th, 592 meals were distributed to the Jesus de la Peña and Ledigario Elementary School in Marikina on the recommendation of the ABS-CBN Foundation. On the 21st, after the Typhoon Ulyssses relief mission in Cagayan, they prepared and packed another batch of meals. This time, they were joined in the kitchen by Gov. Cha Cha Camacho, PP Jun Jun Dayrit and Dir. Chris Ferareza, who donned aprons to fry pork tocino and pack the food in environment-friendly cardboard boxes. They travelled three hours to reach their destination, even boarding a makeshift boat to deliver meals to 530 individuals in Brgy Daraitan, Tanay, Rizal. The mission was conducted in coordination with RC Midtown Diliman and Mulat Media through Sec. Meric Mara. Last Sunday, the 22nd, they did another PH Kitchen run, their fifth, bringing packed meals to 547 people in three sites in Marikina -- Filipinas Village Gym, Burelak Street and Malanday Elementary School. This time, PP Reggie & Sue Ann Nolido helped with the preparation and packing of the meals. We note that the elder Manzano children, Mico, Zoe and Denise, were there on certain days, too, helping out with various tasks like everyone else. Since its launch on November 14, the Paul Harris Kitchen has brought 2,700 meals to as many men, women and children rendered hungry by the typhoons that swept through our country in recent weeks. We would like to thank the following sponsors and supporters for their invaluable help: Stepping Stone and Dayal Nandwani for allowing us the use of their kitchen and H100 van to transport the goods and our volunteers to various destinations; Lorenzana Food through Vic Floresca for the donation of sacks of rice, bottled water and condiments; and paper boxes from Ben Yam of Fortune Packaging. Knowing that recovery from a tragedy of the magnitude we have seen would take months if not years, Pres. Peter is thinking of carrying on with the feeding missions and resuming kitchen operations whenever the need arises.

The Cerebral Palsy Caravan was in Dumaguet City on April 18-22 for its third and final leg, five days of raising awareness of and support for children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. The first stop was in Hagonoy, Bulacan on January 10-12, the second in Tanauan, Batangas on March 6-10. The project is a joint undertaking with the Philippine Cerebral Palsy, Inc. (PCPI). For the third leg, the Club also joined hands with our daughter club, RC Makati Business District, LGU, specifically, the office of the Mayor of Dumaguete, Mayor Felipe “Ipe” Remollo who, it turned out, is an honorary member of RCMBD. Pres. David Ackerman and First Ann Mache flew to the Negros Oriental capital on the 18th to join the PCPI and 11 volunteers—physical therapists, nurses and other experts. They started off with a courtesy call on Mayor Remollo; then they met with barangay health workers and the administrator of Little Children of the Philippines, where the caravan was staged. It was there, over the 5-day period, that nearly 100 kids from different barangays were evaluated for possible disabilities. The parents gained precious take-home value with lessons on how to take care of their PWD children. The caravan took place from 8am to 5pm every day until the 22nd. In between Pres. David and FA Mache went on tours around the city, to pasalubong shops, and to the mayor’s residence that, sitting on a three-hectare property, looks more like a clubhouse than a private residence. They were also brought to a mountain in the outskirts of Dumaguete for a breathtaking view of the city and on another day, on a side trip to Valencia, another elevated place with Baguio-like climate, and saw the geothermal plants of EDC. Pres. David and FA Mache are in awe of the wonderful hospitality of Mayor Remollo and are infinitely grateful for his all-out support, for mobilizing many of his vehicles to shuttle the PWD kids back and forth, for getting his agencies on a top cooperative mode, and for feeding all the volunteers every single day. On a personal note, Pres. David and FA Mache thank him for hosting them, taking care of their airport transfers, and organizing tours for them—an amazing experience and truly a kind of hosting that, in. Pres. David’s words, “is second to none.”

The day after a magnitude 6.7 earthquake shook Surigao in the evening of Friday, the 10th of February, the Club’s diligent Community Service team went to work. The Rotary network was put to good use once again, as it always is in times of calamity, to bring clubs and Rotarians together for the task of getting much needed help to people in dire need. Tapping Rotary connections nurtured through years as BATS coordinator, COS Ron Dotaro got in touch with D3620’s PDG Toto Cupin of RC Cebu West, who connected him to AG Ted Amores, who in turn informed him that the most urgent of the needs that cried out to be met was potable water. Pres. David Ackerman and Community Service Dir. Chris Ferareza, tapping into the Club’s disaster relief fund, immediately set aside P50,000 for the purchase of drinking water. By a providential turn, Ron found out that the president of RC Surigao City--Pres. Richie Fortus—is in the business of bottled water distribution, so the task of sourcing the precious commodity was instantly solved. On top of that, Pres. Richie offered a 20% discount, thus allowing us to get 1,000 bottles. That weekend was a busy one for Dir. Chris, who also chairs the Disaster Relief Committee, as he coordinated things from Manila. On Sunday, Surigao Mayor Ernesto Matugas phoned Pres. David to personally thank him and the Club for the donation, emphasizing that it was doubly appreciated because it was unsolicited. The water was turned over to Mayor Matugas and the Department of Social Welfare on Monday, February 13, with Rotarians from RC Surigao City, RC Midtown Jewels, RC Metro Surigao and RC Central Surigao in attendance. (The reason the goods were given to DSWD instead of to the Rotary Clubs is that there is a standing directive to have donors course all donations in kind to the DSWD for a more orderly accounting and distribution.) For his part, Pres. David immediately sent out SMS and viber appeals to RCM members for cash donations; as of press time, P168,000 had been raised. The amount is being considered for use for a suitable rehabilitation project in the quake-hit area. We thank the 33 Rotarians who responded to the appeal for help: Pres. David Ackerman, PP Joe Alejandro, Dir. Boy Arteche, Dir. Louie Aseoche, Cesar Cruz, PE Jun Jun Dayrit, Mon Diokno, Dir. Chris Ferareza, Louie & Tisa Fernandez, Eddie Galvez, Ramon Garcia, Ric Gindap, Wilfred Gui, Butch & Armi Jimenez, PDG Robert & Yvonne Kuan, Sec. Peter & Pam Manzano, PP Conrad Marty, PND Bimbo Mills, David & Renalyn Nithyananthan, PP Reggie & Sue Ann Nolido, Manny Padiernos, Dir. Jun & Wilma Palafox, PP Tito Panlilio, PN Fred & Menchu Pascual, Dir. Porsche Peña, Ed Rojas, PP Carlo Rufino, Philip Soliven, Wilson Tan, Sonny & Terry Tambunting, PP Roland Young, Sam Young, and Dir. Dick Upton/John Robert Powers. Since we have moved from relief to rehabilitation, which requires a more substantial financial outlay, we hope more Rotarians will add to the P168K so far raised.

The Anti-Smoking Campaign got off to a rousing start on March 16 at the Tandang Sora National High School in Quezon City. With 39 Bb. Pilipinas candidates in attendance, it had a distinctly upbeat air that got everyone excited and expectant. The star of the day was “Yosi Kadiri,” the mascot that was at the front line of the Dept. of Health anti-smoking campaign in the early 90s under Sec. Juan Flavier. A joint project with the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS), together with the Dept. of Health and Bb. Pilipinas Charities, this is Pres. David Ackerman’s signature project, the redemption of a promise he made at his induction to wage war against lung cancer which claimed the life of his dad, Irv. Lending support to Pres. David were PE Jun Jun Dayrit, Dir. Boy Arteche, Dir. Louie Aseoche and Dir. Chris Ferareza. Also present were PCS Chair Antonio Guerrero, PCS Exec. Director Rachel Rosario and representatives from City Hall and the barangay. Both PCS executives delivered messages centering on the ill effects of smoking—on hygiene, looks and health, while Pres. David told the crowd about RC Makati and its major projects and how its members do their best to help those in need. He also shared the “why” of his advocacy against lung cancer and, to show how insidious cancer is, how his dad, Irv, succumbed to the disease 20 years after he quit smoking. While the program was going on, the PCS Mobile Bus conducted cervical cancer screening and breast examination for women of the community. The public info campaign includes an art contest among students, which will be judged on a set of criteria that includes relevance to the anti-smoking theme, originality, creativity and viewer impact. RC Makati Rotarians and PCS representatives are expected to return to Tandang Sora National High School to judge the artworks and award the winners. Other media to be employed are comics, flyers, and a commitment wall, as well as testimonials by surviving cancer patients. The participation of celebrities will be used to heighten awareness of and interest in the project and to get more students and other young people to join the campaign as advocates.

It was a first, something to look forward to and prepare for, if not physically, mentally at least. Five Rotarians signed up—Pres. David Ackerman, IPDG Pepito Bengzon, PP Reggie Nolido, PND Bimbo Mills, and Dir. Chris Ferareza. Leaving Manila at midnight on March 31, they arrived in Baguio four hours later, and got to Mt. Pulag in time for the break of dawn. It was cold, but no one seemed to mind; the view was too breathtaking to complain about the weather; the view alone was well worth the trip--the world as God created it. They were all there for the main event—a look-see at the Mt. Pulag Elementary School, which had been damaged by Typhoon Lawin in October, and the turnover of building materials, school supplies, books, and a P109K fund assistance for its rehabilitation. The money had come from donations collected from club members after the typhoon. The atmosphere must have awakened the child in every one of the Rotarians, as they gamely donned native costumes for a tribal dance to the beat of drums and even played games with the children. When the time came for the recommended rest before the climb, only IPDG Pepito and PND Bimbo checked in at the homestay inn. PP Reggie and Dir. Chris had to motor back to Manila--with Pres. David who, it turned out, was nursing a fever and had decided that begging off from the climb was the prudent thing to do. The trek up to the summit--in pitch darkness, numbing cold made colder by blowing wind, through trails and pathways no one was familiar with and could not even see--was, at the very least, arduous and challenging. To make things tougher, it rained—making the pathways more slippery and the weather icy-cold. It was getting more and more crystal clear that this climb—to the peak of a mountain 2,922 meters above sea level, the highest in Luzon and second highest in the country--was no walk in the park. They moved slowly, gingerly, holding on to one another, lighting each other’s way, and their own, with their head torches. Alas, the objective—to get to the crest in time to catch the first rays of the sun—was not to be. The sun had hidden behind the clouds. But they got there, alright, to the top of the proud mountain, with a carpet of white clouds at their feet and a thick blanket of fog around them. There they unfurled, with pardonable pride, the Rotary Club of Makati banner! Mt. Pulag had become their Everest! The descent proved to be another test. Even with the obstacle of darkness cleared, the downhill hike didn’t come any easier. This time they could see the trails and avoid the stones and muddy potholes. This time they could see the way very clearly and gasped in horror. They couldn’t believe that this was the same path they took on the way up, and how dangerously close they were to the precipice. One wrong step and . . . The ascent took six hours, the descent five—a punishing exercise even for the young. Neither was a breeze. But both were tests passed with flying colors by two Rotarians past their prime—IPDG Pepito, who is 57 years old, and especially, PND Bimbo who is 70! It was by any measure a triumph of the spirit. The Mt. Pulag adventure was shared by other courageous souls with physical strength to match—IPDS Doris Ensomo and the RCM secretariat staff—COS Ron Dotaro, Sandie Sacris, John Palmiano, and Richard Manilag. Guess what—another trip is being planned in May to visit the school, observe the progress of the rehabilitation work, and bond with the children again. And while there, perhaps take another stab at adventure with a trek to the summit. Who’s fit enough in mind and physique to take the challenge?