From the Editor... A Message from RI Pres. Majiyagbe Bring a Friend... a prospective Rotary Member Member Notes Destination Osaka Rotarians Also Laugh In it for the Long Term

The Philippines is truly a rich country...and it's not really pretending to be poor! Truth is - we are probably the "poorest rich country" in the world! We have so much natural resources, but somehow we have allowed foreign exploiters to get the most benefit from them...we have vast arable lands, most of which has remained idle...we have probably the longest shoreline, but the richness of our seas are lost to poachers from neighboring countries...we used to have lush virgin forest, but these are now depleted by greedy loggers who exported logs to industrialized countries who, in turn, processed and sold us the finished products.

One redeeming factor is that our most valuable asset us our manpower...even if it is now also a major export! The difference is that our exported workers have remained Filipinos - most of them, anyway - and the biggest earners of foreign currency for the country. The OFW is prized and appreciated all over the world because the Filipino abroad - contrary to some perceptions - is most industrious, most skilled, and most disciplined. He is good at his work because he was properly trained. Various agency - both government and private - provide vocational skills for those willing to learn...and this is one of the major projects of Rotary.

October is vocational service month...and we feel the urgency in calling the attention of many clubs to what are now becoming common errors. In many club bulletins sent to us, we notice one error in the Four-Way Test they print...they omit the S in Friendships! The other common mistake is that they still print the OLD version of the Object of Rotary, forgetting that when Rotary decided to accept women members...the Object of Rotary was also amended. The correct version is usually printed in the PRM. Please take note...

Lest we forget...October 24 is the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations - the most significant organization conceived after World War II for the preservation of peace in the world. Rotary played a vital role - and continues to do so - in giving birth and growth of the UN...and we cite a Filipino Rotarian as one of the bright stars of the UN, even if he came from a small country. We refer to the late Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, the first Asian President of the UN General Assembly. CPR has the distinction of having been the director and vice president of Rotary International without serving as District Governor!

It may not just be a coincidence that St. Josemaria Escriva founded Opus Dei on October 2, 1928 and that he was canonized October 6, 2002 - for he is venerated as the saint of modern working man and professional, for he preaches that man can find sanctity in the middle of the working world...in the honest job he is called to do.   In sum.all the things we say about Vocational Service means one resolve : if we have to do anything, let us do it right!"

by PDG Mar Un Ocampo III, Editor-in-chief