From the EditorIn 1991 - after Mt. Pinatubo erupted - we were working hard to resettle the Aetas displaced by the destructive phenomenon. One little Aeta approached us, asking for a chance to go to school in the lowlands and REALLY LEARN... and soon enough, more and more of them followed suit. We tried to dissuage them - saying they might not be able to take the taunting jokes of their classmates. But they said they could whatever it took to gain proper education. After evaluation, they had to backslide a grade or two to qualify... but they agreed... they persevered... and they excelled!
To our pleasant surprise, they wanted us to pin their honor-medals on them... but we preferred to have their proud parent do it. And so they came... their relatives and friends (practically the whole tribe!)... and their parents - in their Sunday best - marched up the stage... tiny but erect with pride to pin the medals to the delightful cheers from the crowd. At the simple dinner we tendered in their honor, the tribal leaders offered us what they could bring... fruits and vegetables from their mountain settlement areas.Today, there are more and more of young coming to ask that they be included in our program. It saddens us that the rising costs and our dwindling resources cast doubt on out ability to take them in. On our last (70th) birthday, we asked friends to contribute to our OSF Foundation (in lieu of gifts) so that we could maintain this program that started simply as a literacy/numeracy project of our Rotary Club of Central Tarlac. Many came to greet us and gave generously. We thank them most profoundly. There is always more to do... more help to give!
We heard this from some concerned Rotarians...that PRM is being blamed for the suspension/termination of some clubs in the country. This kind of impression is totally wrong... and it should be corrected. PRM receives a copy of the report on subscriptions to The Rotarian (of R.I.) and we are asked to input our own records opposite the clubs' names, and send back to R.I. The collated reports would show that some clubs are without subscriptions, under-subscribed, or delinquent in their payments. Based on the reports, R.I. sends out suspension notices and/or warnings of pending terminations. We at PRM have nothing to do with suspending/terminating clubs. We are only implementing orders. while we did have strong participation in the discussions leading to this situation.. we are not gloating over this... but fair is fair.
Many years ago - when Rotary chose its leaders conservatively adhering to the principle of "the position seeks the man and not the man, the position" - those who actively sought office in the organization were almost always bound to lose. Alas, this is no longer true. We hold nothing against a Rotarian who makes himself available for higher service. In fact, we hold them in high esteem. It is only when "unacceptable practices" are resorted to in the pursuit of high office that we are "disturbed", to say the least.
In RI District 3770, their new DGN (for RY 2005-2006) has all the qualifications (and more), but he did not aspire for the governorship. The District Nominating Committee - after some deliberation - asked Bebot Gayagoy to make himself available for the position. Reluctantly - with urge to serve pushing him - he accepted the nomination. It will entail a lot of sacrifice on his part (specially his medical practice).. but since he accepted the challenge, he "plunged" into the job and is now actively helping in the district - in preparation for his year of service. We applaud and thank him... in the name of Rotary.
We knew PDG Pete Morales even before we met in Rotary...our business relationship goes a long way back. It was a big shock to hear of his sudden demise as we were preparing to open our District Conference in 3790. We had a chance to work with him closely when he served as chairman of the Philippine College of Rotary Governor (for an unprecedented two terms). We shall long remember him.. and we pray that Citi will carry-on even so strongly! Our condolences.. and prayers.
PDG Mar Un Ocampo III, Editor-in-chief
