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| The Rotary Club of San Juanico A Brief History PP Salvador "Buddy" G. Estudillo |
Some 26 years back, a question was posed, “Is the City of Tacloban ready for another
Rotary Club?"
Somehow, that question ran deep into the already Rotary-ideals loaded veins of five
Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Tacloban, and collectively they decided to answer the
question in the affirmative and went ahead to organize one.
These five placed their organizational acumen to the fore and came out with an
answer, without much trying, that indeed TACLOBAN City was ready for another Rotary
Club. These five intrepid Rotarians were: Graciano “Naning” Militante, Antonio “Nits”
Montilla, Jose “Nene” Solis, Gil “Litong” Diaz and Antonio “Tony” Molabola.
They combed the professional circles of Tacloban and came out with 25 new recruits.
The group was diverse, but they blended well and the enthusiasm and exuberance of
resources yet untapped throbbed every time they met.
Sometime in November of 1974, the provisional Rotary Club of San Juanico first met
and elected its first set of officers. The list of this provisional set of officers and other
documents attesting to the birth of the club were sent to the Rotary International for
approval.
Six months later, on May 6, 1975, Rotary International chartered the Rotary Club of San
Juanico and officially recognized its provisional set of officers as the Charter Officers of
the Club.
Charter President Tony Molabola then focused all its efforts to seeing to the first major
activity of the club – its Charter Presentation. Finally on July 12, 1975, two months after
its official charter, District Governor Bading Angala, IPDG Marianing Ilano and DGN
Luing Fran came to Tacloban City and presented to the new club its Certificate of
Charter.
Immediately, a hive of new ideas on how to make the club respond to the ideals of
Rotary came out from its members. Among the most notable, which eventually became
the cornerstone of the club’s community involvement, was the project “Operasyon
Paglaum” - a medical-dental civic action started by the club in 1976.
As subsequent testimonies from its beneficiaries poured in, these greatly infused club
members with greater enthusiasm to further pursue the project. From an initial launch
in a barangay in Tacloban City where free medicines, dental care, primary medical care
and some minor surgeries where performed, the project took off and reached out to
areas outside the city. Eventually, the project would reach barangays in Southern Leyte,
the Island of Biliran, Samar and Leyte benefiting thousand of indigent families.
It was a much anticipated activity that the Spouses, the members of the Rotaract Club
of San Juanico (organized by the club at the then Divine Word University of Tacloban)
and even whole families of member Rotarians would not have second thoughts of
giving their time to the project wherever it was held. Through the project, they found a
profound sense of fulfillment with the conviction that the Rotary Club of San Juanico
could make a difference in the communities.
Eventually the efforts of the club did not go unnoticed. In 1977, the Rotary International
cited this project and awarded the club with the “Most Significant Achievement Award in
1977.” Giving more meaning to the citation was the fact that the Rotary Club of San
Juanico was the only club in the country that year to be given such an award by Rotary
International.
Not resting on this distinguished recognition, the club looked for greater opportunities
for service and eventually helped organize the Rotary Club of Calbayog in 1988 during
the incumbency of Pres. Noel Siozon and the Rotary Club of Limasawa-Maasin in 1989
during the time of Pres. Pabs Quianzon.
As this young club grew, so did its collective efforts become known in the Rotary
International district. This recognition saw the second president of the Club and one of
the original five, Graciano “Naning” Militante, arising to become the first “Waray-Waray”
District Govenor of RI District 3860 in 1980 to 1981. Five years later, 1982-1983 Club
President Roque Tiu followed suit and was elected District Governor in Rotary year
1986-1987. The third San Juanico Rotarian who occupied the highest position in
District 3860 as District Governor for RY 2002-2003 was PP Pablo “Pabs” P. Quianzon.
Over the years, the Rotary Club of San Juanico has grown and found greater meaning
in the various opportunities for Rotary Service.
The Rotary Club of San Juanico - far from being just a challenge and an answer to a
question posed a quarter of a century ago - has carved its niche in Rotary history. It will
continue to further evolve as its membership continue to answer the call for service and
earn for themselves the distinction worthy of being called “Rotarians.”
Rotary Club?"
Somehow, that question ran deep into the already Rotary-ideals loaded veins of five
Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Tacloban, and collectively they decided to answer the
question in the affirmative and went ahead to organize one.
These five placed their organizational acumen to the fore and came out with an
answer, without much trying, that indeed TACLOBAN City was ready for another Rotary
Club. These five intrepid Rotarians were: Graciano “Naning” Militante, Antonio “Nits”
Montilla, Jose “Nene” Solis, Gil “Litong” Diaz and Antonio “Tony” Molabola.
They combed the professional circles of Tacloban and came out with 25 new recruits.
The group was diverse, but they blended well and the enthusiasm and exuberance of
resources yet untapped throbbed every time they met.
Sometime in November of 1974, the provisional Rotary Club of San Juanico first met
and elected its first set of officers. The list of this provisional set of officers and other
documents attesting to the birth of the club were sent to the Rotary International for
approval.
Six months later, on May 6, 1975, Rotary International chartered the Rotary Club of San
Juanico and officially recognized its provisional set of officers as the Charter Officers of
the Club.
Charter President Tony Molabola then focused all its efforts to seeing to the first major
activity of the club – its Charter Presentation. Finally on July 12, 1975, two months after
its official charter, District Governor Bading Angala, IPDG Marianing Ilano and DGN
Luing Fran came to Tacloban City and presented to the new club its Certificate of
Charter.
Immediately, a hive of new ideas on how to make the club respond to the ideals of
Rotary came out from its members. Among the most notable, which eventually became
the cornerstone of the club’s community involvement, was the project “Operasyon
Paglaum” - a medical-dental civic action started by the club in 1976.
As subsequent testimonies from its beneficiaries poured in, these greatly infused club
members with greater enthusiasm to further pursue the project. From an initial launch
in a barangay in Tacloban City where free medicines, dental care, primary medical care
and some minor surgeries where performed, the project took off and reached out to
areas outside the city. Eventually, the project would reach barangays in Southern Leyte,
the Island of Biliran, Samar and Leyte benefiting thousand of indigent families.
It was a much anticipated activity that the Spouses, the members of the Rotaract Club
of San Juanico (organized by the club at the then Divine Word University of Tacloban)
and even whole families of member Rotarians would not have second thoughts of
giving their time to the project wherever it was held. Through the project, they found a
profound sense of fulfillment with the conviction that the Rotary Club of San Juanico
could make a difference in the communities.
Eventually the efforts of the club did not go unnoticed. In 1977, the Rotary International
cited this project and awarded the club with the “Most Significant Achievement Award in
1977.” Giving more meaning to the citation was the fact that the Rotary Club of San
Juanico was the only club in the country that year to be given such an award by Rotary
International.
Not resting on this distinguished recognition, the club looked for greater opportunities
for service and eventually helped organize the Rotary Club of Calbayog in 1988 during
the incumbency of Pres. Noel Siozon and the Rotary Club of Limasawa-Maasin in 1989
during the time of Pres. Pabs Quianzon.
As this young club grew, so did its collective efforts become known in the Rotary
International district. This recognition saw the second president of the Club and one of
the original five, Graciano “Naning” Militante, arising to become the first “Waray-Waray”
District Govenor of RI District 3860 in 1980 to 1981. Five years later, 1982-1983 Club
President Roque Tiu followed suit and was elected District Governor in Rotary year
1986-1987. The third San Juanico Rotarian who occupied the highest position in
District 3860 as District Governor for RY 2002-2003 was PP Pablo “Pabs” P. Quianzon.
Over the years, the Rotary Club of San Juanico has grown and found greater meaning
in the various opportunities for Rotary Service.
The Rotary Club of San Juanico - far from being just a challenge and an answer to a
question posed a quarter of a century ago - has carved its niche in Rotary history. It will
continue to further evolve as its membership continue to answer the call for service and
earn for themselves the distinction worthy of being called “Rotarians.”
| The Rotary Club of San Juanico RI District 3860 Tacloban City, Philippines |
