History of the Rotary Club of
Makati Ayala Charter
Sometime in August 1983, President Giorgio Bonguliclmi of RC Makati presented a Board
Resolution to the General Membership calling for the approval of the organization of a new
Rotary Club in Makati as an answer to the call of President Bill ,Skelton of "Share
Rotary - Serve People."
The idea of setting-up the first breakfast club was envisioned not only to offer something
new to District, but that the new club would evolve itself into a dynamic club of the
District.
The issue then was whether such a breakfast club would succeed, and it was felt that the
best persons in a position to answer the question would be golfers who are accustomed to
be on their feet before sunrise.
The organization of the Committee, called the Extension Committee, was give to PDG Paing
Hechanova who had spearheaded the movement for a new club in Makati. The Committee was
composed of the following Past President-PDG Bert Montinola as Vice Chairman, Nick
Katigbak, Ronnie Velayo, Efren Sales, Froily Aragon and Puno Pena as members.
The Committee met the nucleus of the proposed new club for the first time on August 29. By
the September 21, the number of the proposed members had grown to 15 .by December 7, to 23
and by Charter Presentation Night on March 7, 1984 to 39.
The new club was chartered on December 7, 1983. The first election of officers was held on
November 2, 1983 and elected charter officers were Oliverio Laperal, Sr., Presiden; Ramon
Arenas, Vice-President; Amado S. Lagdameo, Jr., Secretary; Mariano S. Javier, Treasurer-
and Francisco Adriano, Jr., Sergeant-at-Arms. Other directors were Vicente Ayllon, Ramon
Garcia and Mariano S. de Vera. The new Club's Charter Presentation and Induction Night was
held on March 7, 1984 at the Manila Golf Club, with Jaime Zobel de Ayala as guest of
honor.
The Early Years
From the very first one-and-a half years of its existence, where the aim was to establish
not only the viability of the Club and the cohesiveness of membership and preparation for
higher achievements, the vision set by the founders of the Club have found their meaning
in the list of their achievements of the Club during its short decade of existence. During
that year alone, the Club was able to organize and register the Philippine Volunteers
foundation and the RCMA Foundation, and to conceptualize and issue its Bulletin
"PAGKAKAISA", and launched its Orchid Livelihood Project.
The Council of Past Presidents of the Club includes the following:
Oliverio Laperal (RY 1984-85) Discover a New World of Service
Ramon L. Arenas (RY 1985-86) Share Rotary-Serve People
Mariano Javier (RY 1986-87) Rotary Brings Hope
Jose Luis Z. Moreno (RY 1987-88) Rotarion United in Service,
Dedicated to Peace
Vincent G. Villafuerte (RY 1988-89) Put Life Into Rotary-Your
Life
T.R. Mohan (RY 1989-90) Enjoy Rotary
Roberto E. Chan (RY 1990-91) Honor Rotary with Faith and
Enthusiasm
Marcelino B. Lambino (RY 1991-92) Look Beyond Yourself
Antonio C. Laurel (RY 1992-93) Real Happiness is Help
Samuel M. Tanchoco (RY 1992-93) Believe in What You Do, Do What You Believe In
Eligio G. Laforteza (RY 1994-95) Be a Friend
Luis Carlos R. Laurel (RY 1995-96) Act with Integrity, Serve with Love, Work for Peace
Cesar L. Villanueva (RY 1996-97) Build th6 Future with Action and Vision
Jose U. Cochingyan III (RY 1997,98) Show Rotary Cares
Gil Miguel T. Puyat (RY 1998-99) Follow Your Rotary Dream
Indeed, the Club, which has maintained its membership at an average of more than forty
members on a yearly basis, is recognized within District, packed with potent and
distinguished members and past officers, who have gone on to be active in District
affairs.
In International affairs, the Club has maintained its matching relationships with the
Rotary Club of Madras East (District 3230), and the Rotary Club of Bombay Harbour
(District 3140). The Club has consistently aligned itself with the battles of the Rotary
International by not only participating actively in the polio-plus Makati, but it has
annually held dental and medical missions within formally tied-up with the Chino Roces
Foundation (transferred to the Valenzuela Community Development Foundation, Inc.) for the
maintenance of the Mobile Dental Clinic which services not only the Makati area, but also
within other parts of Luzon.
The Club organized and has maintained the first company based Rotaract Club in the
Philippines, which is the Rotaract club of SGV-Ayala, its members confine from young CPA
audits staff members of SGV.
The Club is a founding and sustaining member of the Stepping Stone Learning Center ever
since its very beginning, The Center, a joint project of the nine Makati Rotary Clubs,
provides special training for physically handicapped children.. To bring the Center and
its objectives closer to the hearts and minds of its members, the Club has traditionally
held one regular breakfast meeting in the Center's premises, with performances being
rendered by its students to the yearly delight of the members, the Club has traditionally
held one regular breakfast meeting in the Center's premises, with performances being
rendered by its students to the yearly delight of the members and their Anns,
Over the years, the emphasis of the Club for livelihood projects and vocational service
has been unwavering. Not only does the Club undertake livelihood projects every year, but
it has maintained vocational service achievement by setting-up the RCMA Scholarship tie-up
with Don Bosco Technical Institute-Makati for the training of deserving young men from the
Club's commitment to public service is manifested by the, establishment of the Rotary
Village Corps in Barangay Pembo (RVC at Pembo) and Mabalacat, Pampanga ( St. Joseph RVC).
The Club has achieved many first within the District: it organized the First National
Craftsman Award which its successful launching in September, 1989 for the preservation of
the vanishing crafts across the country. In RY 1992-1993, the Club organized and hosted
the seminar on waste management for sustainable development which became a district
activity. The seminar was the first of its kind within the District, with the
participation of many in the agricultural and industrial sectors. The project has now been
adopted formally by the District as one of its project on environment.
It was then the coming of age of the Club, and the recognition of its maturity, when on
its seventh year, during the term of PP TR Mohan, the Club, with PP Vince Villafuerte as
DISTAS Chairman, was given the honor of hosting the District Assembly for District 3 8 1 0
at the Hotel Inter-Continental Manila, for the training and informational program for the
incoming club officers of the different clubs in the District. The District Assembly broke
many records then existing for such projects at the time it was held by the club for the
District. In the succeeding years, the Club sponsored the establishment of the extension
club of Rotary Club of Makati Paseo de Roxas.
The '90s
When the Mt. Pinatubo tragedy hit the country, the Club was direct and aggressive in its
reply to the call for assistance. It formally tied-up with the outreach program (SACOP) of
the Archdiocese of Pampanga, and formally adopted Barangay Pio, in Porac, Pampanga, which
was one of the most badly affected barrio of the eruption. It has through the years
assisted the barangay through relief operations, livelihood project, rehabilitation of
housed, and the formal organization and funding of its cooperative.
The Club has over the past 16 years continually renewed itself by inducting into its
membership young, talented and highly motivated businessmen and professional, even as it
continue to rely upon its mature members and officers for guidance and direction. Of the
original members of the Club, the following have remained with the Club:
Rtn. Desiderio L. Laperal
PP Antonio C. Laurel
PP T. R- Mohan
PP Jose Luis Z. Moreno
Rtn. Macario S. Rufino
PP Vincent G. Villafuerte
Rtn. Antonio S. Yap
Although the Club is known in the District as a powerhouse of young and mature members and
officers, it continues to renew itself to achieving greater heights, knowing fully well
that the task of public service is never complete. |