IN PERSPECTIVE : Batangueño Rotarians in Action

Participation to DepEd’s Division Kick-off of OK sa DepEd Program

Batangas City East Elementary School / February 13, 2023

The Rotary Club of Batangas,undertheimaginativeleadershipof GSP Arnel Pulla,joined the Department of Education (Batangas City) during the Division Kick-off of Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd (OK sa DepEd) by participating in the parade with DepEd’s Medical Staff, headed by Dr. Ruskie Clet, Supervisors, Superintendents, and the School Division Superintendent of DepEd Batangas City, Dr. Felizardo O. Bolaños, held last February 13, 2023atBatangasCityEastElementarySchool.Theclubdonateddifferenttypesofmedicine for the public-school students, especially the young student-athletes of Batangas City. GSS Pheng De Chavez, PND Noli Ebora, PN Ady Ilano and Rotarian Lisa Amoto, the DepEd’s SGODChief,alsojoinedinthemorningactivity. OK sa DepEd istheconvergenceofDepEd’s schoolhealthandnutritionprogramfortheeffectiveimplementationattheschoollevel.

PP Do’s Nomination to 1st MC Rotary Star of ExcellenceAwards

MC Rotary Star of Excellence Awards is “RI District 3820’s highest honor” that recognizes Rotarians and Non-Rotarians who demonstrate Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self, by volunteering their time and talents to help others and does works related to Rotary’s 7 Areas of Focus. This award was conceptualized to honor a Big Man, no other than PDG Ramon“Mon” P. Cumagun, in the history of RI District 3820, who devoted much of his time in Rotary service. The award, in consonance to Vocational Service, was hosted by the Rotary Club of Lipa South.

When the 1st MC Rotary Star of Excellence Awards was launched last year, the club already knew that we have a most qualified member Rotarian to nominate for the said award. As GSP Arnel nominated PP Bernardo “Do” C. Hornilla for the Rotarian category, PP Ross Evangelio instantly wrote the most detailed biography out of PP Do’ personal resume. After the biography was finished, GSS Pheng De Chavez singlehandedly did the manual work of printing the seven (7) folders for submission to the seven panel of judges. And the rest is history for the club and PP Do.

FEBRUARY is PEACE & CONFLICT PREVENTION Month

One of the Seven Areas of Focus of Rotary we don’t seem to talk about as much is Peace and Conflict Resolution and Prevention, which happens to be the theme for the month of February. It is often, however, the conflicts that occur throughout the world that are the root causes of poverty, despair, economic hardship, and poor health.

Take for instance the major deterrent to polio eradication: the difficulty in vaccinating children in war torn countries. We see these conflicts as well occurring in some form within our own communities with the same results. Rotary International as an organization understands this relationship and therefore is deeply invested in supporting individuals and programs that will develop leaders who are committed to seeking ways toward peace. The path toward peace begins with understanding and respect for the differences that make us unique.

These are the same types of values that are studied in the peace centers supported by Rotary International in association with several major universities across the globe. The mission of these centers is to “empowers, educates, and increases the capacity of peace builders through rigorous academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities.

These Fellows develop the skills needed to act as “leaders and catalysts for peace and conflict resolution both in their communities and around the globe.” As Rotarians we should all be similarly committed to understanding the conflicts that exist in our own society, to speak out when necessary, and to seek solutions that reflect the values of Rotary. Of the 60 million people displaced by armed conflict or persecution, 90% are civilians. Half of those civilians are children. That’s millions of reasons why Rotary is so engaged in service projects, fellowships, and other Rotary-sponsored campaigns in pursuit of peace in our world.

How Rotary makes help happen?

Rotary train adults and young leaders to prevent and mediate conflict. We aid refugees who have fled dangerous areas. Rotarians also address the underlying structural causes of conflict by relieving millions of people suffering from poverty, inequality, ethnic tensions, lack of access to education and unequal distribution of resources.

In yet another program to achieve worldwide peace, up to 100 Rotary Peace Fellows are selected to attend Rotary Peace Centers to participate in master's degree programs at one of the partner universities. Rotary Peace Fellows study subjects related to the root causes of conflict and explore innovative solutions that address real-world needs. There are more than 1,000 peace fellowship alumni are working in over 100 countries.