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Oct. 27, 1999 |
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What Are We in Power
For?
By
Dennis O. Valdés
What a Halloween Party! Read all about it
in our First Lady's column, because it
was a blast. Sayang lang because the
pictures could not be printed in color in
time for this week's issue. So wait for
them next week!
Last Sunday was a 3-in-1 Rotary project
day. The first project was the Medical
Mission itself in Barangay Magalang,
Pampanga, superbly handled by Sec. Alvin
Co after a handoff by Dong 1, who could
not make it due to family commitments. We
had a Magnificent Seven of Rotarians who
attended: George Juico, Bobby Roxas and
PP Cesar Villanueva were there. Two Baby
Rotarians, already fighting for the Baby
Rotarian of the Year Award, were there:
Eddie Boy Romualdez and George Lagos, who
brought Ann Gina and Baby Ivan. I think
Baby Ivan will win the Award hands down!
Exactly 294 medical patients were served
by our medical team from the Mary
Johnston Hospital. Additionally, our
dental team served another 96 patients.
The doctors and dentists all bused in
together with our 20 Rotaractors, who
once again proved that they are the best
arms and legs any Rotary Club could have.
Of course, the ever-dependable Cc>coy
and Cherry were around, too.
For me, the key achievement of the day
was convincing 15 members of the Rotary
Club of Angeles Centro to join us at the
Medical Mission. Our sister club was very
impressed by the way we handled the
project, with the logistics provided by
our partner organizations and the
medicines funded by a Matching Grant.
They are already fired up to organize
their Med Missions sin-dlarly.
At 1 PM, we all rushed over to the TIPCO
Paper Mill in the neighboring Barangay
Mabalacat. They provided a sumptuous and
authentic Pampangueno lunch, complete
with the fermented rice specialty - buro.
After all 87 of us had been fattened up,
RC Angeles Centro President Philip Quizon
and I formally
signed our sister club agreement for this
Rotary year. A simple thing, but it
counts as Project No. 2 for the day.
Afterwards, we all drove around the TIPCO
property, all 50 hectares of it, seeing
their environmental projects (they are
ISO 14001 certified for their
environmental projects), their vegetable
farm and their tilapia pond from the
cleaned up waste water from the plant. We
also saw the actually paper mills, which
run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We saw
more paper than anyone would want to see
for a long time, and were glad to hear
that 50% of it is exported, thus earning
dollars for our country. The other half
goes to local newspapers, such as the
Inquirer.
It was a very informational and enjoyable
afternoon, and a Plant Visit counts as
Project No. 3. At 4 PM, it was time for
the race home, and with Sec. Al falling
asleep in the front seat, I could
frantically drive back as fast as
possible without having him lose any
hair.
This week is an exciting one. The Butcher
is holding the 4,h leg of the President's
Cup at The Country Club. I heard that
past Sports Chairman Spencer Say may be
handling the event, as The Butcher has
some other golfers to butcher at Mimosa.
Per s Spence will be kinder to us all.
Afterwards, PP Tony is hosting the Hole
in One Blow out at Panciteria San
Jacinto, #20 President's Avenue on Sucat
Road (see map elsewhere in this issue of
Pagkakaisa).
Today we welcome Dr. Martin Camara,
chiropractor extraordinaire, and a
welcome visitor for us aging golfers with
back problems! Martin's older brother
George is married to my cousin Binky, so
he is almost like family, too. I'm sure
he will have our full attention.
Enjoy your breakfast!
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