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?

They saved the best for last. As in the Oscars. And pretty much in all other awards. RC Makati was called last at the District Awards held last Friday, the 23rd of June at the Dusit Thani Manila not because it was the least but because it was “the most” – Most Outstanding Club, that is. This top prize, the most coveted in the district, was paired with the plum honor of Most Outstanding Leadership Award for Pres. David Ackerman, with the lead “Service for Humanity.” The twin honors were preceded by a shower of 17 other awards, major and minor, in various categories and for various reasons, a happenstance that made Pres. David the most exercised among the 94 club presidents as he went up the stage to receive the trophies from DG Edna Sutter. Billed as the “All Star Awards—a Parthenon of Stars Shining for Humanity,” the event was attended by Rotarians from all 94 clubs in District 3830 who were there to collect awards and/or to clap for those who did. It was DG Edna’s shining moment as well, a time to give due recognition to the clubs that had met or surpassed targets, set new records, reached milestones and otherwise sweetened the service kitty of the district and their respective clubs, and that of Rotary as well. Too bad that by the time the major awards were announced, there were only Community Service Dir. Chris Ferareza and First Ann Mache to cheer for Pres. David as the others who had been there earlier—PE Jun Jun Dayrit, Dir. Boy Arteche, and Dir. Porsche Pena —had to leave at some point for other engagements. In any case, Pres. David had enough friends in the audience to give him a rousing rah-rah-rah. This is the 6th time the Club has won these elusive twin district awards that every club aspires to. The first time was in RY 1988-1989 when the late Gigi Zulueta was president. The others were in 1994-1995 during the term of Carlos del Rosario; 1996-1997 under Ric Librea; 2001-2001 under Jonny Carlos; and in 2002-2003 under Robert Kuan. Awards won by RC Makati at the All Star Awards 23 June 2017, Dusit Hotel 1. Service to Humanity: Most Outstanding Club 2. Service to Humanity Most Outstanding Leadership Award: ASTP David Ackerman 3. Mixed Gender Challenge Award 4. Governor’s Meritorious Award – Chairman Cecile Dayrit /Rotary Satellite Club of RC Makati Spouses 5. Extra Miler Leadership Gold Award 6. Effective Club Citation 6 Stars 7. District Awards Gold Star - 8. 100% EREY Club 9. 100% Paul Harris Fellows Club 10. Governor’s Award -- Continuing and Well-Rounded Project Gold Award for “Stop TB Now Project” -- Continuing and Well-Rounded Project Gold Award for “Supplemental Feeding Program” -- Partnership Project Silver Award for “Teaching the Deaf to Speak Project” -- Partnership Project Bronze Award for “Books Across The Seas (BATS)” -- Partnership Project Bronze Award for “Mentoring the Mentors Project” 11. Membership Champion Gold Award 12. Top 2 Award Highest DISCON Attendance 13. Shelter for Humanity Award – Propagation of Rotary Homes Project 14. The Rotary Foundation’s Centennial Eagle Silver Award 15. Top 8 Award Annual Fund TRF Contribution Per Capita 16. Top 2 Award Annual Fund TRF Contribution Absolute 17. Top 3 Membership Net Gain Absolute 18. The Rotary Foundation Centennial Milestone Award - $2 Million Contribution to TRF on its Centennial Year 19. All Star Distinction Award (6 stars ECC and Gold on District Awards)

The Club’s 2017-2018 board of directors headed by President-Elect Jun Jun Dayrit are prepping for their year of service with their participation in the District Assembly—better known as Distas. The Distas is the major leadership training event for incoming club officers and directors. Held in view of the annual turnover of Rotary leadership each year, Distas seeks to “provide club leaders with appropriate instruction for the tasks they will assume” in the coming year. Held at the Makati Sports Club on May 6, Distas 2017 brought together the incoming leaders of District 3830’s 91 clubs, with District Governor-Elect Ed Afzelius at the helm. Attending for RCM were: PE Jun Jun Dayrit, Club Admin Dir. Porsche Peña, Community Service Dir. Chris Ferrareza, Membership Dir. Boy Arteche, RI Programs Dir. Bom Villatuya, PND Educational Service Dir. Bimbo Mills, Legal Counsel Louie Aseoche, Public Relations Chair Andrew Prieto, and PDG Sid Garcia, adviser. DGE Ed made a presentation on RI and district thrusts, in keeping with the year’s theme: “Rotary--Making a Difference” as enunciated by Incoming RI President-elect Ian Risely. In the morning, discussions on leadership, public speaking, budgeting, developing goals, and the specific roles of the officers and directors were held in simultaneous sessions, while the afternoon saw 21 club clusters breaking out into ten groups for sessions on finalizing club goals and a business session on budgets and club dues. The calendar of events and activities for the upcoming year was also announced. According to an RI publication, the Distas “workshops offer motivation, inspiration, Rotary information and new ideas for club officers, directors and key committee chairmen of each club. Some of the most experienced district leaders conduct informative discussions on all phases of Rotary administration and service projects. The sessions give all participants valuable new ideas to make their club more effective and interesting.” Another important feature of the Assembly is a review by the incoming district governor of the program theme and emphasis of the new RI president for the coming year. District goals and objectives are also described and plans are developed for their implementation. The success of each Rotary club is frequently determined by the club’s full representation and participation in this annual meeting. This year’s Distas was hosted by RC Paranaque Metro, RC Makati Central, RC Makati Gems and RC Paranaque Southwest.