RC Batangas Attends USAID Seminar for CHANGE

from Ang Kumintang_January 1-15, 2023_17th Issue

ROTARY RESOLUTIONS

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. With a budget of over $27 billion, USAID is one of the largest official aid agencies in the world and accounts for more than half of all U.S. foreign assistance—the highest in the world in absolute dollar term. USAID has missions in over 100 countries, primarily in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East,andEasternEurope.

The Batangas City Government, represented by Honorable City Mayor Beverley Rose Dimacuha-Mariño, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), represented by its Mission Director for the Philippines, Mr. Ryan Washburn, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to seal their partnership for the implementation of the “Cities for Enhanced Governance and Engagement” (CHANGE) Project in Batangas City last January 13, 2023 at Hotel PonteFino inPastorVillage, Bats City.

CHANGE aims to (1) improve the environment for decentralization, (2) enhance the service delivery of the local government, and (3) effectively engage the civil society organizations in governance. Batangas City Vice Mayor Alyssa Cruz-Atienza, honorable members of the SangguniangPanlungsod,andthe city gov’tdepartment heads witnessed the MOU signing.

Prior to this, the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) attended the “Social Accountability as an Approach to Good Governance” training last January 12-13, 2023 at the same venue. They showed their support to the USAID CHANGE Project by signing in the commitment board. GSP Arnel Pulla represented Rotary Club of Batangas as one of the accredited CSOs in Batangas City.

JANUARY is VOCATIONAL SERVICE Month

The Object of Rotary is a philosophical statement of Rotary’s purpose and the responsibilities of Rotarians. The concept of vocational service is rooted in the Second Object, which calls on Rotarians to “encourage and foster”:

Those objectives are:

1. To encourage and foster high ethical standards in business and professions, to recognize the worthiness of all useful occupations, to dignify the Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society.

2. To apply the ideal of service in personal, business and community life.

3. To advance international understanding and goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of businessmen and professional men and women united in the ideal of service.

Paul Harris wrote: "Each Rotarian is a connecting link between the idealism of Rotary and their trade or profession".

Vocational Service is the way Rotary fosters and supports the application of the Ideal of Service to the pursuit of all vocations.

It is the shared responsibility of both the Rotary Club and its members.

The role of the Club is to implement and encourage the objectives by its own actions in dealing with the community and by the development of projects that enable members to use their vocational talents in the service of the community. The role of members is to conduct themselves and their businesses in accordance with Rotary principles, and support the Vocational Service projects that the club has developed.

Vocational Service is the essence of Rotary and serves as the foundation from which we serve our communities around the world. Vocational Service calls on us to empower others by using our unique skills and expertise to address community needs and help others acquire or refine skills and advance their professional opportunities.

During January, Rotarians are encouraged to focus on this important avenue of Rotary service. Discussions on vocational service can lead to projects that not only develop the ethical consciousness and vocational skills of Rotarians but also the talents within their communities.

Vocational Service Month is an opportunity to begin year-long vocational service activities, ranging from Rotary discussions to awards to community projects.

Tournament of Roses Parade 2023

The Rose Parade, also known as the Tournament of Roses Parade (or simply, the Tournament of Roses), is an annual parade held mostly along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, California, United States, on New Year's Day (or on Monday, Jan. 2 if New Year's Day falls on a Sunday).

Produced by the non-profit Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, the parade usually starts at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (UTC–8), and includes flower-covered floats, marching bands, and equestrian units. The parade is followed in the afternoon by the Rose Bowl, one of the major bowl games in college football. It has been uninterrupted except during World War II in 1942, 1943, and 1945, and in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

First held on January 1, 1890, the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee has entered a float in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Rose Parade promoting Rotary International. The parade is watched by a world-wide television audience of over 70,000,000 households and has a live audience of 700,000 who will see the float along the parade route. This is one of the best promotional opportunities for Rotary.

For more than 40-years, the Rotary International has been thrilled to participate in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. Each year, the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee creates a world-class float that showcases Rotary – and with tens of millions of viewers, the Rose Parade is a great opportunity to elevate our message to communities far and wide.

As one of the most highly regarded global membership organizations, we are so proud of the service we provide: eradicating deadly disease, educating communities, providing clean water and sanitation, empowering girls to attain equality in their communities, and so much more. We look forward to riding in this year’s parade and congratulate the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee for their creativity, commitment, and hard work.

GSP/DRR

JOSEPH “Seph” ILAGAN – Epitome of a True-Blooded Rotarian

ILAGAN, is a serviceoriented individual with pure heart and character. Only with 4 years in Rotary service, but he already embodies the true meaning of “service above self”. Inducted in 2018 with PP Michelle Bagui as his Rotary sponsor, he is the incumbent District Rotaract Representative (DRR) and holds the distinction of being the club president for two consecutive years. He holds Rotary Classification of Transportation Management with his car rental business.