BECOMING A ROTARIAN

Membership in a Rotary club is by “invitation only.” Clubs around the world, like the Rotary Club of Batangas, meet twice a month for fellowships & interesting programs in carrying out Rotary tasks of local and global importance.

The “real work of Rotary” takes place before and after the meetings when Rotarians plan and carry out remarkable variety of humanitarian and educational service projects that highly impact and benefit people, mostly the disadvantaged, in their local communities and around the world.

We are the Imaginative Genuine Service Batangueño Rotarians. We are the People of Action.

Interact Club of Batangas (Community Based)

IAC Year 2022-2023 / Chartered: February 2020

Club Officers:

President: Stephanie “Steph” De Chavez

Vice President: Maria Zyrene Aguila

Secretary: Isabelle Celine Contreras

Assistant Secretary: Maria Samantha “Sam” Aguila

Treasurer: Maria Zulita Gondra

Auditor: Maru Lazarte

Club Service Director: Mikhayla Lazarte

Finance Director: Precious Sydney Ramirez

Community Service Director: Marc Jairus Evangelista

Immediate Past President: IPP Julia Ann Marie “Jam” Gonzales

Charter President: CP Franchesca Marie “Yishka” Untalan

Interactor’s Academic and Sports Achievement

Interactor Stephanie R. De Chavez is an excellence achiever in both academic and sports in her school. Steph, as she is fondly called, goes to the University of Batangas for her secondary education. She was recently awarded with the Certificate of Academic Excellence and a medal in her volleyball competition. Steph is the youngest daughter of PND Pheng and Rtn Gboy De Chavez.

RotaKids of Batangas (Community Based)

RTK Year 2022-2023/ Organized: July 2018

Club Officers:

President: Kobe Andrea “Kobe” Balina

Vice President: Santi Atienza

Secretary: Raphaelle Emerrie “Ellie” Untalan

Treasurer: Angel Roise “Jeli” Clet

Auditor: Garnett Cassiedy Bagamasbad

Public Information Officer: Aedan Abacan

Immediate Past President: IPP Marco “Macoy” Gonzales

Charter President: CP Maria Zyrene Aguila

Members:

1. Princess Marinay

2. PP Caithlyn Pulla

3. Matt Andre Clet

4. Brianna Isabella Sumatra

5. Odette Casandra

6. Serena Atienza

7. GAAJ Alday

8. Jerrice Edelwiss Cantre

9. Kylie De Chavez

10. Angela Pielago

11. Angellove Lingan

12. Johan Clet

Rotakid’s Academic Achievement

Gerard Ambida Alday Jr., or GAAJ for short, is the only son of PP Claudette Ambida-Alday. In her Facebook wall, PP Claudette posted message that goes like these; “Flex ko lang anak ko! Congrats ninyo na din po. First time naming eto parehas. And bigay ko lahat praises sa iyo anak na mas madami po sya effort kaysa sa busy na Nanay na kagaya ko! Thank you po Teacher Irish & Teacher Teacher Jo. Bukod po sa recognition eh kampante ako na good citizen ka anak. Sabay mo linangin ang mga aspeto na yan at napakalaking regalo nito! And to all striving students, kudos and salute po! Ang galing-galing mo anak! Ikaw na! Next time ay ikaw na din magbabayad ng tuition. Hahaha! Biro lang! Congrats Gaaj Bear!”

5th Year Existence for ROTAKIDS OF BATANGAS

Rotakids is a fun and meaningful way for 5-12 years old children to engage in an early age for worthwhile activities that will open their young mind to make positive difference in their school, local community and even globally, all while having a great time in the process. RotaKids are sponsored by a local Rotary club in or near the area of scope in which the school or group is located. RotaKids take this sample “Oath of Membership” to demonstrate their commitment to being good citizens: “As a member of the RotaKids of Batangas, I shall endeavor to be fair to all, serve the community and school, and show respect to others.” Hence, the RotaKids of Batangas was the newest addition to the Family of Rotary of the Rotary Club of Batangas, a pet project of Very Inspiring President Armando “Mando” C. Lazarte during his term in Rotary Year 2018-2019. This charter club comprised of pre-teens, mostly sons and daughters of member Rotarians, was patterned in the original RotaKids of RIBI (Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland).

The objective and operation of RotaKids provides the early foundation for being the future members of the Interact club (under 18’s) on to the Rotaract club (ages 18-30) and to Rotary club itself. It also increases the Rotary awareness for Rotakids and gives an understanding of Rotary values and ideals of service to non-Rotarian parents of Rotakids. As they say, young people are citizens of today, not citizens in waiting and for that, RotaKids support our youngest citizens to develop the strength, knowledge, skills, enthusiasm, willingness to serve, and the determination to keep on finding ways to change the world into a more peaceful and gratifying place where people can fully enjoy their lives. RotaKids believe that service, peace, friendship, and pure fun could go hand in hand at even their young age. It is never too early for charity in the community and RotaKids gives those children aged 7-12 the chance to just do that, of having fun and at the same time gaining valuable experience in helping others and learning interesting, new things. It also brings an exciting and practical approach to supporting the citizenship element of the national curriculum to create genuine opportunities for young people to generate social change. By doing so, Rotakids enjoy a boost to their confidence and self-esteem at a key age and develop the understanding of how their noble actions can impact to others. The great thing about RotaKids is that their members can come up with bright ideas and see them become a reality; just about anything that springs to their young mind to help others. It finally shows children when working together with the Rotarians as Rotakids, there is so much they can achieve with service above self.

At the onset of Rotary Year 2018-2019 when VIP Mando Lazarte came up with a bright idea to have these children of 7-12 years old the chance to become Rotakids; many Rotarian parents jump into the ship, so to speak. They encouraged their respective sons and daughters to become Rotakids and be their young version of Rotarian. Initially of just having 15 members during the offshoot of RotaKids’ formation, these fortunate kids have already experienced the beauty of service above self when tagging along with their Rotarian parents. Notably, aside from having regular meetings of their own, they have participated in the club kick-off project last 1st July 2018, the mangrove tree planting and parenting together with the Rotarians and Rotaractors; and they so did their own version of an innovative fellowship that develop their talent, a slime art making activity. They joined in delivering some of Rotary club’s outreach projects, even joining the annual End Polio Fun Run to instill into their young minds the spirit of helping to eradicate the dreaded disease. During their official charter presentation held last October 13, 2018, the then District Governor Jose Boy Garcia was very amazed to witness these Rotakids doing the role of introducing the honorable guests and speakers during the joint induction and turnover ceremonies with the Rotary Club of Batangas. The Rotakids also joined in the dance production number during the rites and even singing Give Thanks as a prayer song for the proceedings. Likewise, PDG Boy said that it was his very first time to see these from happening and as far as he is concerned, this kids’ club will become a key possession of the district in terms of supporting the Family of Rotary. Charter President RK Zyrene Aguila awed the audience with her witty inaugural speech that officially launched the newest “Partner in Service” of RC Batangas, the RotaKids of Batangas. Other key officers of the newly-chartered club were as follows: RK Isabelle Celine Contreras as Vice President, RK Stephanie De Chavez as Secretary, RK Gabrielle Coleen Arce as Treasurer, and RK Maria Samantha Aguila as Auditor; now, they are the future Interactors and Rotaractors, and for sure, destined to be the future generation of Rotary. Last Rotary year, it was the youngest son of IPP Weng Gonzales, Rotakid Marco, who became the 4th president of the RotaKids of Batangas; while for this Rotary Year 2022-2023, the daughter of RS Malen Balina, Rotakid Kobe Andrea, became the 5th club president on this post-pandemic era.

PEOPLE OF ACTION: RotaKids of Batangas

Some of the Projects and Activities Done by the RotaKids of Batangas for the last 5 years