RCDS@28!!

March 22, 2025 Opinion

Our Rotary Club of Downtown Session, a gathering of service minded businessmen and professionals who conduct humanitarian projects, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations celebrated its 28th year of existence with a service project at Mt.Kabuyao Elementary School where a feeding program for 141 pupils and 8 teachers. The anniversary followed at Café in the Sky in Mt. Sto. Tomas last Friday,
the 21st with our Korean counterparts from the Rotary Club of Chuncheon Hanmeum Korea. As Club “100” way back in 1997, we toyed with the idea of forming a new group during “spirited” discussions in Luisa’s Café, a favorite watering hole along Session Road.

We surveyed the field of prospective candidates for the initial core group and after obtaining positive responses from the target members, we sought authorization from the District Governor to formally organize the new group. The District Governor Lut Lao authorized Godfathers Rudy Asiatico and Roland Wong, assisted in the initial stages of the club’s formation. On October 4, 1997, nine distinguished personalities signified their intention of joining the new club by affixing their signatures on a copy of a Rotary Flyer. The nine included then Congressman and lawyer Ed Avila, fishing businessman Abe Caalaman, Fire Chief Bok David, Doctor Willie Occidental, Certified Public Accountant Mars Esquejo, Broadcaster Roger Mercado, Photo Journalist Toots Soberano, Hotelier Jonathan Go and Lawyer Rolly dela Cruz.

They were followed by Appliance Dealer Victor Keswani, Plumbing Service Specialist Morris Palaroan and Medical Representative Mike Limbo. They decided to meet every Friday to chart the course of the new club including recruitment of prospective Charter Members. It was also agreed that since the idea of forming the club emanated from the famous thoroughfare in downtown Session, the word Session should be included in the name of the club. There was no turning back then and so on December 14, 1997, a Saturday, the first set of officers were chosen. Elected were; Ed Avila-President, Willie Occidental-Vice President, Mike Limbo-Secretary, Roger Mercado-Treasurer, Bok David- Sergeant at Arms, Ed Canave- Director for Club Service, Dave Alunan-Director for Vocational Service, Vic Agcaoili-Director for International Service and Toots Soberano-Director for Community Service. Doc Willie went to the District
Convention in Laoag City to receive the formal pronouncement of the Club’s provisional status on February 8,1997.

The pioneering group’s date with history reached a high point when the late President Ramos himself presided over their Ceremonial Oath Taking on February 17, 1997. The occasion was the Blessing and Inauguration of the newly constructed PFVR Youth Center, a pet project of Charter President Ed Avila. French revolutionary Napoleon Bonaparte described his Army “every private carried a field marshals baton in his knapsack. This tells us that anyone can lead – for as long as he or she is focused on the challenge at hand – and he or she has the guts to get out front and say “Let’s go.” This was the kind of leadership we envisioned as Charter Prexy, for the club which Sun Tzu says is a matter of intelligence, trustworthiness, humaneness, heart, courage and sternness, ahem.

On March 19,1997 – RCDS was officially CHARTERED by Rotary International as Rotary Club No. 50230 Those who led the club based on this dogma were “ Doc Willy A. Occidental, Roberto “Bobby” Burgos, Mike Limbo Jr. Sonny Estavillo, Ed Canave(+), Florentino “Bok” David; Manong Fernan Sanchez (+); Alex Rimando, Vashi Pursnani; Danny Quinones; Ely Adora Santos; Mau Bajada (+),; Laura Montes; Manong Constantino “Morris Palaroan; Sonny Agcolicol; Virginia Jean Rosario; Amado “Dong” Dizon, Orly Tadeo; Joseph Rimando, Karl
Batong Gabaen Jen Herbolario Aritao; Manoj “Mike” Tank; President Kelwyn Tan, Kat Gumaya and husband Architect Ryan Gumaya, the incumbent President. Honorary members Presidents FVR & ERAP, Veep Jojo Binay, Pcso Chair Manoling Morato, President Bongbong
Marcos and Laafayette proprietor Paul Lalwani.

Each member, the present crop included Khristine E. Molitas, Jondee Nider, Christian Cabilatazan, Kristine Tabara, Incoming Prexy & Councilor Angelie Pamela Cariño, Richard Buhayo, CJ Calub, have leadership potentials but more importantly proved to be good followers, thus giving the Club a foundation of unity and solidarity. Segway: Now on its 20th editrion, the annual EMA-CUP GOLF TOURNAMENT Edition presented by RCDS, proved to be the source of funds for the various projects of the Club-augmenting the funding of their present and forthcoming medical missions, feeding programs, scholarship programs, and other worthy projects which they have been on for the past years.

School toilets, water system in Itogon, medical missions in Kibungan and Benguet, blood letting, wheelchair-giving, college scholars and at one point Ema Cup was able to raise almost P5 Million pesos which were given to BGHMC for dialysis patients. Todays 20th Edition will be played at the Pinewood Golf Club with a Car as Grand Raffle Prize and a barrel of consolation prizes/ 28 years and RCDS survived! We pored blood, sweat and tears to make the club reach two decades and four memorable existence and service. There were of course differences in personalities, views, positions, opportunities that came and went; ocean tides that rose and fell; of what might have been had we done this or done that but in the end the unity remained and the moment seized. Carpe diem! Sigh!