by Ma. Ira Louise A. Santos
The Rotaract Club of the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP), sponsored by the Rotary Club of South Davao, reaped major awards during the recently concluded Rotaract District Conference in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
Ma. Christina Frans Briones, outgoing president of the USEP Rotaract Club and concurrently serving in the district as Mindanao council chairman, was the recipient of the Most Outstanding Council Chair Award of District 3860.
The USEP Rotaract Club, a school-based club, was also recognized as an Outstanding Rotaract Club in the district. On the other hand, Rotaract Club of Tolong, a community- based club in Negros Oriental, was adjudged the Most Outstanding Rotaract Club, too.
During her incumbency, President Briones had implemented several club service projects like the five-session feeding program at the Roxas school in Bo. Obrero, several coastal clean-up activities, including Bucana, tutorial classes, marketing of key chains made by abused women, relief goods and used clothings for typhoon Ondoy victims, among others.
Incidentally, Briones and treasurer Ryzabeth Silagan, both graduated cum laude at USEP with a degree in education major in English.
The awards ceremony was held during the District Rotaract Representative’s Ball honoring DRR Rail Emmanuel Letigio where a ceremonial turnover of the mantle of leadership to DRR-elect Kenneth Sotto was also witnessed by Rotary dignitaries led by District Governor Tony Veneracion and DG-elect Ted Locson Jr.
The Rotaract Club of Munting Pagasa won for former District Rotaract Representative Mark Arquiza as the Best Club Secretary and the Best Community Project Award in the international category. Rotaractors from Tolong, Kurt Calijan and Reywin Crisostomo, were also recognized as Most Outstanding President and Most Outstanding District Officer, respectively.
The 3-day event held from April30 thru May 2, 2010 was attended by hundreds of Rotaractors from District 3860 in the Visayas and Mindanao areas. The DisCon was hosted by Rotaract Club of Silliman University under the conference theme “Our Role Today rests our Future”.
Rotaractors Alfredo Zabate Jr., club president-elect, and Ma. Ira Louise Santos led the delegation from the USEP, along with many other Mindanao Rotaract Clubs that included Rotaract Clubs of Munting Pagasa, Mindanao Kokusai Daigakou (Davao), Panabo and General Santos City.
Composed of young adults, between the ages of 18-30, the Rotaractors are members of either the school or community based Rotary sponsored-clubs. “Fellowship Through Service” has been adopted as the Rotaract motto.
As emphasized by Rotary International, “membership of young men and women in Rotaract clubs provides them an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills that will assist them in their personal development, address the physical and social needs of their communities, and promote better relations between all people worldwide thru a framework of friendship and service.”
