Rotarian environmentalists

About one and a half years ago, several Filipinos concerned about our environment particularly the cleanliness of our surrounding seas and their tributaries, rivers, and waterways, as well as the preservation of the plant, marine and animal life, were in the midst of organizing themselves into a well knit group for purposes of more effectively addressing said concerns. Two things they have in common are that they are all Rotarians and they love sailing and boating activities that enabled them to really have a close look and a clear grasps of the ecological problems besetting our waterways and the marine and biological life in the country.

Since they are all Rotarians and one of the fellowship activities of Rotary International is the yachting fellowship that has something to do with their concerns aside from their more leisurely and expensive boating and sailing activities, this group decided to establish the first International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians (IYFR) in this country. Actually IYFR does not so much require yacht ownership as having a common vision and passion for community and humanitarian service with emphasis on the environment. It just so happened that the moving spirit behind the first IYFR in the country is Jun Avecilla, a yacht owner and an avid yachtsman who attended the Rotary International convention in Chicago on its 100th anniversary in 2008 and got attracted to the booth promoting international yachting fellowship.  

And so on September 18, 2008, 18 members of the Rotary Club of Cubao West formed the first Philippine fleet of the IYFR. After six months, or on March 18, 2009, when the core group already expanded to 30 members, this Philippine fleet was chartered by the RI and became one of the 100 Rotary fleets with 2,600 members in 21 countries. The Chartering Ceremony was held at the Manila Yacht Club officiated by the Area 3 International Vice Commodore (IVC), Terry Stretton from Auckland. Inducted were Jun Avecilla, Fleet Commodore (FC); Max Tan, Fleet Vice Commodore (FVC); Joe Ragos, Fleet Rear Commodore (FRC) and Obet Del Rosario, Fleet Secretary (FS), among others.

Within a year of its existence, the IYFR Cubao West Fleet has formed two other fleets: the “Cebu Mactan Philippine Fleet” and the “Hands on Philippine Fleet”. The Cebu Mactan fleet with 28 members will have its chartering ceremony on March 13, 2010 at the Cebu Marine Resort headed by its FC Sven Olof-Tengelin, FVC Udo Pelkowski and FRC Felix Asoy. IVC Terry and First Mate Meryll Stetton will again officiate the chartering together with IC Terry’s Chief Administrator David Hansen and wife Liz. Two days later or on March 15, 2010, when IYFR Cubao West fleet will celebrate its first anniversary, IC Terry and First Mate Meryll will also officiate in the chartering of the “Hands on Philippine Fleet” with initial 25 members headed by Butch Madarang, president of the Rotary Club of Quezon City Circle, as FC, Asia’ first chess grandmaster Eugene Torre as FVC and Fe Canton as FS.

With three fleets, the Philippines thus became an IYFR Region. So Jun Avecilla has been promoted as the Regional Commodore, Joe Ragos as Regional Vice Commodore and Max Tan as Regional Rear Commodore. Succeeding them as head of the IFYR Cubao West Fleet are Joel Sarmiento as FC and Mel Velasco as FVC who are the incoming president and president-elect of the Rotary Club of Cubao West respectively.

The three Philippine fleets will have the same thrusts and programs of waterways cleanliness and preservation of marine life and environment. They will continue the many drives started by the IYFR of Cubao West which has undertaken the “Save My Bay” beach clean-up drive in Subic Bay during the year. On the other hand, the Cebu Mactan Fleet has also undertaken an island clean-up drive in the Olango Island in Cebu while the Hands on Fleet will launch on March 24, 2010 the “Adopt a Tree” Program in the La Mesa Dam Watershed, the source of potable water for 8 million Metro Manilans. This project is really aimed at reducing the biodiversity losses in the Urban Area particularly Quezon City especially considering that the Philippines is considered as having the highest number of endemic species of flora and fauna worldwide with also one of the highest biodiversity losses.

And so as in all projects these fleets have undertaken or will undertake, fellowship fun and work always goes hand in hand such that in the Rotary aspects of things they can do through their boating or sailing activities, the feelings of pleasure and satisfaction in their accomplishments are always enhanced just as International Vice Commodore Clint wrote in his message to the Rotary Mariners of the IYFR Philippine fleets. It is really encouraging to know that in this part of the world there are people concerned with our environment.

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