The Last Angel Gift-Giving Project has achieved another milestone this year in its mission to bring joy to underprivileged children. With a significant increase in the number of beneficiaries and a substantial amount raised in donations, this year's project has made another impact on the communities that we serve. The project, which is an annual tradition of the Rotary Club of Makati, provided gifts and support to children in need during the holiday season, reaching an astounding total of 3,096 beneficiaries. Behind the success of this year's Last Angel Project is the leadership and dedication of IPP Michael & Papat Escaler, who served as the chair couple for the project. They spearheaded the planning, gift selection, scheduling, and fundraising efforts, ensuring that every aspect of the project was meticulously executed to bring joy to the children. What sets this year's project apart is the thoughtful addition of storybooks for each beneficiary, carefully selected by IPFA Papat. This initiative aims to instill the love of reading among the children and inspire them to envision a brighter future through the power of imagination. The gift-giving festivities commenced on November 17 at Rawang Elementary School in Tanay, Rizal, where RC Makati handed out presents to 91 students enrolled in the club's complementary feeding program. As December unfolded, the RCM Clubhouse in Guadalupe Viejo became a hub of generosity as 80 kids from the Club-sponsored RCC Bukluran and 75 kids from Happy Barangay in Guadalupe received gifts. The occasion was made even more special with a Christmas party organized by the Rotaract Club of Makati, featuring games, entertainment, and Jollibee kiddie meals. The next day, RC Makati distributed gifts to 100 kids in two Gawad Kalinga sites in Brgy. Pinagsama, Taguig. On December 5th, Last Angel gifts reached southern Luzon with the distribution of gifts to 34 students of Gajo Elementary School, located on a remote island in Sorsogon, Bicol. On December 6th, RC Makati visited Malibay, Pasay City, to bring smiles to the faces of 330 children from San Juan Nepomuceno School. The following day, RC Makati's generosity extended to the Stepping Stone School in Sucat, Paranaque, where 114 students were the grateful recipients of the club's gifts. The timing was perfect as it coincided with the school's Christmas party, creating a festive atmosphere filled with joy and excitement. On December 9th, RC Makati visited Bahay Maria in Bel-Air, Makati, to share their warmth and generosity with 19 children. The kids were also treated to Jollibee kiddie meals. The gift-giving efforts shifted towards the beneficiaries of the nutrition programs on December 10th, with 100 children under the Caritas Manila feeding program at the Santuario de San Vicente de Paul Shrine of the Poor in Tandang Sora, Quezon City, and 50 kids from Holy Family Parish in San Andres Bukid, Manila, beneficiaries of the RCM for Babies program in partnership with Lazarus Kitchen, were all provided with gifts. Continuing their altruistic efforts, on December 11th, RC Makati delivered gift bags to 125 wards of Marillac Hills National Training School for Girls. These young women, who are undergoing rehabilitation due to experiences of sexual abuse, trafficking, or conflict with the law, received thoughtful gifts of sleepwear and bath towels, tailored to their individual wish lists. On December 13th, RC Makati distributed gifts for 20 Bantay Bata wards under the care of the MSWD in Tejeros, Makati, and 17 boys at the Makati Youth Home. The gifts provided were carefully selected based on the recipients' wish lists, ensuring that each individual received items that would bring them comfort and joy during the holiday season. On December 14th, the club's efforts reached Pasig and San Juan, where 92 children at the Makabata School Foundation in Brgy. Sta Lucia, Pasig, and 87 children at the White Cross Orphanage in San Juan received thoughtful gifts and meals. The following day, December 15th, the project extended its reach to Manila, where 90 children at the Philippine School for the Deaf in Pandacan, Manila, and 110 children from GK Smokey Mountain in Tondo, Manila, were the recipients of the club's generosity. On December 16th, the focus turned to the 152 children of the PNP Makati, who were delighted to receive gifts. Continuing their efforts, on December 17th, 120 children from two Gawad Kalinga communities – GK Sunshineville in Las Pinas and GK Tatalon in Quezon City – were the recipients of the club's kindness. Undeterred by the busy holiday schedule, the project persisted on December 19th when RC Makati led the distribution efforts for 84 children at GK Laura in Bagumbayan, Taguig, another Gawad Kalinga site. The spirit of giving continued on December 20th when RC Makati represented the Club in the distribution of gifts to 120 kids in St. Claire Parish. The momentum of kindness didn't wane as the 21st brought a flurry of activities. In the morning, 32 female wards of the Laura Vicuna Foundation received gifts based on their wish list that includes school supplies and hygiene kits. Each kids were given also slippers donated by Rtn. Taba Samson. In the afternoon, RC Makati went to distribute gifts to 264 kids of Talon Elementary School in Amadeo, Cavite. This event coincided with the formal turnover of a renovated school room, a joint effort with RC Las Pinas, showcasing the impact of collaboration in community service. On December 22nd, RC Makati distributed gifts to 110 children in Caloocan. The children and volunteers were treated to a Jollibee meal, adding an extra layer of joy to the occasion. As the holiday drew nearer, the project traveled to Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, just two days before Christmas, to distribute gifts to 100 children enrolled in the recently completed feeding program. RC Narvacan, the brother club, sponsored a Jollibee kiddie party for the kids, creating a festive atmosphere and spreading cheer in the community. Not resting after the holidays, the RCM team was back on the road just four days after Christmas, bringing smiles to 236 children in Rotary Homes Paranaque. Teaming up with RC Paranaque St. Andrew, the club not only provided gifts but also made a significant contribution of P20K for the media noche package, ensuring that each family in the community could partake in the New Year's Eve celebration. The spirit of giving continued into the new year as RC Makati distributed gifts to 150 kids at the Transfiguration Church in Sitio Lower Pintor, San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal. The children and volunteers were treated to a delightful meal of spaghetti and chicken, accompanied by tetra pack juice. Looking ahead, the spirit of generosity will extend into February as the distribution continues to reach even more children. The upcoming distributions will serve 40 kids in Cabuyao, Laguna, 67 kids at Angelita Zobel Elementary School, and 139 kids at Balibago Elementary School, both in Calatagan, Batangas. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our sponsors and partners who made this year's Last Angel Project possible. Your generosity has brought smiles to the faces of thousands of children, and we are truly grateful for your support. From all of us at the Rotary Club of Makati, thank you for helping us spread joy and hope to those in need. Together, we can make a difference in our communities.

The Sanlakbay Program of the San Ildefonso Parish in Makati City has weaned another eight youths from drug dependency, that insidious habit that brings ruin to lives and families. The graduates are among 11 enrolled in the rescue and reformation program run by the parish. Sanlakbay is short for “Sanlakbay Para sa Pagbabagong Buhay” (Journey Toward a New Life); it is the Archdiocese of Manila’s program designed to rehabilitate and reform drug dependents and lead them toward a drugs-free, productive and peaceful life. It was the signature program of IPP Jun Jun Dayrit last year during his term as club president. IPP Jun Jun graced the graduation ceremony on August 15, together with PE Bimbo Mills and Dir. Chris Ferareza. The program began, fittingly, with Holy Mass celebrated by Fr. Antonio Molaven, S.D.B. Also present was Fr. Bobby de la Cruz, head of the Sanlakbay Program at Caritas Manila. Both priests delivered brief inspirational messages, as did IPP Jun Jun who spoke of how RC Makati became involved in the program (he heard Fr. Bobby talk about it on Radio Veritas, the Catholic radio station) and the Club’s contributions to the program—donations of a van, communications equipment, and tiles for a rehab center being built. Pres. Fred Pascual and PE Bimbo Mills are committed to carrying on with the program during their respective terms, this year and next, respectively.

THE Club has been going places lately. Last September 8, the Books Across the Seas (BATS) Project continued its 2018-2019 run in Dingalan, Aurora where it donated books—530 titles—to the Matawe Elementary School. The donation was a joint activity of the Club and the Pangkat ng Kartunistang Mangaakyat (PangKaMa), an organization of mountaineers with a social service bent to which our CoS Ron Dotaro belongs. Ron, representing both the Club and Pangkama, handed over the books to Mr. Fortune Valdez, school principal. They also distributed school supplies and food packs to the school’s 300+ students. In July, the project distributed books to 12 schools and organizations, including four Rotary Clubs. More activities are planned in the months ahead, with the expected receipt of two container van-loads of books in November from the Pittsburgh-based Brother’s Brother Foundation (BBF), our main source of books. At the instance of PDG Sid Garcia, we will soon be conducting a book fair for schools in Bulacan in partnership with District 3770 under DG Celso Cruz. The BATS Committee is chaired by Jolyon Tiglao, with Jay Savage acting as adviser. It belongs to the directorate of Community Service A under PE/Dir. Bimbo Mills. Started in 1988 during the incumbency of then President Gigi Zulueta, BATS is one of the Club’s longest-running projects and has distributed over 15M books to over 65,000 schools nationwide. It has a long-standing partnership with BBF, which has been supplying the books we give away since the project’s inception 30 years ago, and PNB (formerly Allied Bank), which has made available to us a huge warehouse in Novaliches where the books are stored and sorted out prior to release.

The Sto. Niño Integrated School in Tanay, Rizal is the latest beneficiary of our supplemental feeding program with the launch on September 17 of two modules covering 84 pupils. Tanay is one of a number of our partner communities for the project. With Chairman PP Freddie Borromeo at the launch were First Ann Menchu Pascual, Taba Samson and Ann Jojo Borromeo. The OVP was represented by Raffy Magno. Partnering with the Club for these modules are the Office of the Vice President’s Angat Buhay Program, our long-time partner Kabisig ng Kalahi under Executive Director Vicky Wieneke, and the municipality of Tanay, represented by Mayor Rex Manuel Tanjuatco. This is the second launch for the feeding program this Rotary year. The first was about two weeks earlier, on September 5, in Bay, Laguna. Tanay is one of a few partner communities the Club has been working with on a regular basis. Our last collaboration with them on feeding was for two modules, where 60 undernourished children were placed under a daily feeding program that ran from April through October 2017. After Ms. Wieneke gave an overview of the program, PP Freddie delivered a message that began with a commendation of the teachers for the cleanliness of the school and went on to explain the ill effects of malnutrition, and to introduce the parents to Rotary, zeroing in on its global anti-polio campaign. For her part, First Ann Menchu, noting the abundance of flora in the school, expressed appreciation of the place and the cleanliness of the oxygen-rich atmosphere and reiterated the importance of healthy food to brain development among children, even naming certain foods—squash, papaya, cassava, carrots—and their specific benefits. Mr. Magno expressed thanks to the Club for its work, specifically, the feeding program, which aims to prevent the onset of mental retardation, or nip it in the bud, with nutrition. Finally, Mayor Tanjuatco thanked VP Leni Robredo and her Angat Buhay and the Club for their work in communities that need help. PP Freddie & Ann Jojo hosted lunch at The Gatherings Café in Tanay.

All roads led to Porac, Pampanga on the 20th of September as Rotarians from District 3830 motored to the Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University to kick off a project that would bring them together in one community –Usbong Katutubo Rotary Village. Representing the Club at the event were Pres. Fred Pascual, PP David & Mache Ackerman, PN Peter Manzano, and Ira Kiener, chairman of the day’s program. The significance of the event was underscored by the presence of D3830 Gov. Al Montecillo, D3790 Gov. Pancracio Nisce, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, and USec Allen Capuyan, Presidential Adviser for Indigenous People’s Concerns, among many others. The project calls for the development of a two-hectare property into a community for Aeta families with, initially, 27 lead clubs in D3830 committed to implement projects under the six areas of focus. Funding for the specific projects of the lead clubs will be provided by our Partnership in Service Program (PSP) to the tune of P2.7 million, assuming that all 27 clubs will be requiring the maximum grant of P100,000 per project. Other clubs in the district that will decide to sign up for the project later may apply for PSP grants as well. From that perspective, it is clear that RC Makati plays a critical role in the project. The Club manifested its seriousness in helping to push the project forward by giving away 1,000 pairs of slippers to the Aetas, a donation from Taba Samson. The projects to be implemented under the six areas of focus aim to build a self-sustaining community and include: Economic & Community Development—agritourism and corporate farming, meat processing, candle and soap making, design and crafting of ethnic jewelry, sewing, tailoring and welding; Basic Education & Literacy—building classrooms, setting up daycare centers, providing school materials, training of Aetas as teachers; Maternal and Child Health—establish a birthing center, licensing and operation of medical equipment, training of Aetas as midwives; Water & Sanitation—build toilets, one for every 3-4 households; Disease Prevention and Treatment—medical and dental missions, conduct workshops on health and disease prevention; and Peace and Conflict Prevention and Resolution—legal advice and orientation on the IPIRA law and other rights