EDITORIAL

July 16 2015

PP Tony Abola

Be a Gift to the World.

This is the theme the new R.I. President K.R. "Ravi" Ravindran has chosen for 2015 -2016. It has been a tradition for the R.I. president to adopt a them for his term in office.  And Pres. Ravi Ravindran has chosen a very short but very eloquent statement as his focus for this year. It may also be added that almost every R.I. president has started his first month in office with so significant and meaningful message for the month. Perhaps a tribute to the almost impeccable way by which Rotary selects its president.

In RI President Ravindran’s first monthly message, he includes a story of two friends at childhood, one becomes king while the other remains in poverty. But at the thought of asking his king friend for help, the poor friend goes to see him with handfuls of rice from his family’s only available food source. Upon their meeting, the poor friend hardly hides his gift to his powerful friend after which they sit down and talk about their younger years together. When the poor friend returns home, he is surprised that his home has been transformed into a stately one and each of his family now well-dressed and having most of their essential needs.

President Ravi starts his message by citing the examples of Abraham Lincoln, Mother Teresa, and Mahatma Ghandi whose lives were their gifts to the world.  Perhaps it is not the intention for each Club or each Rotarian be live exemplary lives. Although it is never a fault to aspire to such high goals. Rather, it may be surmised that Pres. Ravi would like to see the many contributions of Rotary worldwide continue and even be surpassed. It is not an empty dream.. The biggest living example of Rotary’s gift to the world is the Polio Plus, which through the generous contributions of Rotarians has nearly eradicated polio in the world, maybe save for less than a handful of countries nearing polio-free status.

There is no doubt in our Club’s members that the past forty five years, the Club has made many such contributory gifts, maybe in not so grandiose ways nor in headline hogging ones. The projects we have embarked on and the beneficiaries who have enjoyed such gifts are numerous and need no elaborate listing. But the challenge posed by the new RI leader is there as goal for this year to continue and strive to be surpassed.

And as Pres Ravi ended his story of Sudama and Krishna, the two friends who later understood what gift to each other, he leaves us with a very meaningful line “ It is never the material value of a gift that matters – it is the love that comes with it.”

Editorial for July 9, 2015

By: PP Tony Abola

TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY

It is unusual but certainly not impossible that so much enters one’s life through a period of one year. .  IPP Rose’ life through the past twelve/fourteen months has been such a year for her and her family.  The title of this piece seems appropriate. And it is for this very reason why it would be a great disservice and a mark of insensitivity if nothing is written about IPP Rose Rotary Year even if we are into the new Rotary Year.  With apologies to President Jay.  .   

IPP Rose term in RY 2014-2015 as president of the Rotary Club of San Juan is one remarkable one. While perhaps initially a reluctant president, her years helping in various administrative ways starting with her assisting the late PP Ludy Farcon’s achievement-filled presidential year has not daunted her assuming the post.  Seeing the opportunity of the momentum of the past few years activities helped her carry on and bring the Clun through another excellent and project-filled year. 

In fact, projects were already in place and partly started when July 1 of RY 2014-2015 came.  IPP Rose brought some innovations, the Club Bulletin on a paperless but in the modern format on ipads/tablets broke District 3800 ground. Then there were monthly awards featuring the also very unique stand-ins as plagues or tokens. This particular attendance incentive really brought our FDG Benny to break his own record of attending through eleven months of perfect attendance. In between the flow of project-after-project being accomplished. There were projects galore, perhaps topped by the solid waste management project in Baras, Rizal with our partners from Japan and the local government of the town. And many others which centered mainly in our town of San Juan’s schools. The hosting of the Rotary Foundation Night in November 2014  The sponsoring and chartering of the new Club of San Juan United. Not to forget the socials and outings which brings out the high camaraderie among the club members.

All these were duly recognized and rewarded at the District Awards Night, 34 awards in all for the club and the members. And outgoing District Governor Marilou Co outdid herself in recognizing the feat of the club and of Pres. Rose at our Parangal night last June 29.

But almost parallel to these months of Rotary activity and responsibility, IPP Rose endured a period of difficulty in her family. It started with the operation her son Ernest Gabriel or EG for a brain tumor just as she was about to start her term as president of the Club. The care and anxiety and their family’s attention to the care of EG wrought more burdens on her.  Perhaps she was in many Rotary ways partly relieved by her daughter Karla who generously agreed to be a member of our Club and sought to alleviate Rose’s burdens as president. But that fateful and heartbreaking journey ended with EG’s death on June 21. There’s no more deeper sorrow for a parent than lose a child, an only son at that. We all felt Rose’ and Ernie’s sorrow and condoled with them.  And we pray to the Lord that their life can go on with the thoughts of these triumph and tragedy will help them through the following years..