Rotary Club Cebu celebrates 70 years

The Rotary Club of Cebu, better known as the Mother Club, recently commemorated its 70th charter anniversary with a week-long series of activities inspired by the association’s much-revered motto "Service above Self," capped by a formal dinner at the grand ballroom of the Marriott Cebu City Hotel.

With some members of the Philippine Armed Forces extending a helping hand and supported by the Development Bank of the Philippines through the efforts of president Serge Romero, a medical-dental mission attended to the needs of Barangay Tap-Tap, where over 250 families and close to a thousand indigent children reside. Donated medicines from Wyeth Philippines as arranged by past president Joe Suaco were also distributed.

Another worthwhile undertaking was the tree planting on the barren hills of the island with seedlings sourced from the Cebu City government by vice president Ricky Dakay.

With the task completed and the service accomplished, it was time to savor the moment – time to have a celebration.

The auspicious occasion was made even more meaningful by the presence of Rotarians from the clubs of Manila, led by vice president Renato Ampil, Makati with president Robert Kuan, the University District of Quezon City represented by president Kaye Dacer and several members from the various clubs in Cebu. The affair had an Asean flavor with the presence of delegations from the Rotary Clubs of Singapore East, led by president-elect Frankie Chia, and Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia spearheaded by president Victor Chin.

The host club secretary Boni Belen took the guests down memory lane with a sight-and-sound video presentation highlighting the organization’s events and activities through the years. There was joy accompanied by laughter but tinged with a bit of sadness while remembering those who had gone on to the great beyond.

The past presidents were then called upon, one by one, to be recognized and honored by all, and 19 of them made it that evening. The club’s very own past district governor Rex Reyes led the toast.

The much-awaited part of the celebration was the rigodon de honor, an updated version masterfully choreographed by Doy Aradaza, and participated in by 12 couples, led by Cebu First Lady Margot Osmeña with president-elect Antonio Lozada and assistant governor representative Ronald Duterte with partner Rotary Ann Lourdes Parker.

To the Rotary Club of Cebu, the very first one organized in our island, our sincere congratulations for a job well done, for the laudable projects, the services rendered and the friendships fostered.