A red-shoe day

When Rita Dy, former marketing and communications manager of Singapore Airlines (SIA), invited friends to her oath-taking as president of the Zonta Club of Makati-Ayala, she had one request: come to the oath-taking ceremony at the Sunshine Place on Jupiter Street in Makati City in red shoes. She gave no explanation.

When guests, including the Ambassador of Turkey Esra Cankorur and SM’s Tessie Sy-Coson alighted from their cars, they saw what looked like a yellow brick road from the entrance all the way to the venue of Rita’s oath-taking.

Small wonder then that Rita’s opening salvo in her acceptance speech was short and sweet: “Thank you all for coming in your red shoes!”

Rita, who spent 40 years of her life in the travel industry (most of them with SIA), said that as the new Zonta Club of Makati-Ayala president, she wanted to take the members of her club down the yellow brick road, and in red shoes, like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.

Rita quoted writer Jean Houston, in her book The Wizard of Us: “The journey of Dorothy and her friends displays tremendous courage numerous times, and always, in service to others.” That was the reason she chose this theme for her well-attended installation ceremony.

“This biennium’s board and the members of Zonta Club of Makati-Ayala shall follow in the footsteps of Dorothy, her friends, and even the wizard from now on — acting in wisdom, moving in love, and displaying courage time and time again in the service of others,” Rita said.

“Though it took some time to say I am ready, there will be no turning back with a very public announcement made on national media that after 40 years of dedicated work in the travel industry, my retirement destination of choice is Zonta. Moreover, advancing women’s rights might just be tougher than any other job I have formerly taken on,” she added.

Rita said that to get the club to its goals, she is following in Dorothy’s footsteps: “I point back to the example of Dorothy and her friends. The three drivers that will propel us are there as it was for Dorothy, the cowardly lion, the tin man and the scarecrow — love, wisdom and courage.”

“I will lead our members to love what they do while facing the most challenging projects. We will move in wisdom. As the proverb goes, there is wisdom in the counsel of many. We will push forward with boldness and courage,” she promised.

Chartered in September 1989, Zonta Club of Makati-Ayala is now on its 27th year with 38 members consisting of four charter members, nine past presidents, 19 members who have garnered more than three years of service, and six new members.

Rita launched the club’s newest project in support of the Cameleon Association. Cameleon is a French NGO with two new centers in Passi, Iloilo and, soon, in Negros that rehabilitates sexually abused young girls, some as young as six years old, with many being cases of incest. The group celebrates its 20th anniversary next year, and has thus far helped over 7,000 girls and families, many of these girls are now professionals, with a few actually working in Paris.

One of the girls, Shaline, is now an English teacher and is pursuing her master’s, but she has chosen to offer her services in helping the constituents by moving to Manila and acting in her capacity as their Donor Relations Officer.  Rita introduced Shaline to the audience.

To end her speech, Rita exhorted her fellow Zontians to, “click your heels three times, and let’s make things happen!”

There’s life after retirement for the dynamic Rita Dy. After flying high in the travel industry, she’s determined to soar still. In red shoes!

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