The governor paid the club a visit and he was visibly impressed. The visitor is Art O. Tan, incumbent governor of Rotary International District 3860, one of the 10 RI districts in the Philippines.
The club is the Rotary Club of Davao, sometimes called the “Mother Club,” being the first Rotary club organized in Mindanao 79 years ago.
It was part of what Rotarians call Governor’s Visit, which the district governor is obliged to do in his one-year term. Art Tan, the district governor (DG) of Rotary year 2017-2018, has to visit each of the district’s 98 clubs across the Visayas and Mindanao covered by RI District 3860 and see how they are doing with the multifarious projects, programs and advocacies of the great century-old world movement. As of this week, District Governor Art, a lawyer by profession, has visited all but two of the 98 clubs in his district.
The members of the Mother Club headed this year by President Filomeno “Fil” Divino, received the visiting governor in style. Instead of coming to the luncheon meeting at the Kanato Room of the Royal Mandaya Hotel in their usual club uniform and sundry other casual wear, the RCD members arrived in coat and tie, with the lady Rotarians and spouses also in formal attire.
The day’s master of ceremonies was Ferdinand Maranion, a club past president and the chairman of the altruistic Rotary Club of Davao Foundation no less.
The District Governor was accompanied by District Secretary Jose Fortunato “Chi” Fuerte Uy and Assistant Gov. Arthur Uy.
A side event of the Governor’s Visit was the induction of the RCD’s Rotaract Club based in the DMMA Academy. The officers headed by President Harold Banggay were sworn in by past District Governor Salvador “Bading” Angala.
About half of those present were RCD’s past presidents whose leadership and array of projects were legacies in their own right.
It was an occasion for the RCD officers and members to recite the litany of their club projects, done by the chairmen of the various committees, and capped by the report of President Fil, himself.
Among the committee directors who reported out were Rotarians Jimmy Llames, Heumann, Mayette Pavino, PP Arnold Navales, Caesar Cabading, and Bien Nino.
President Fil himself concentrated on club projects along the Rotary’s six areas of focus and avenues of service such as peace and conflict prevention, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, economic and community development, international service, youth service, and community service. In his report, President Fil rattled off decades-old ongoing projects and new initiatives addressing some of the community’s top social concerns.
In his speech, District Gov. Tan encouraged the current RCD team to be aggressive in its membership campaign, to include honorary members whose commitment and resources can enhance the club’s capability to deliver its projects and advocacies. He told the club not to forget to recruit lady members who have their innate outstanding talents and passion for community service .
Images of the some highlights of the day are shared in this spread:
